Nearly 30 million U.S. children and teens participate in some form of organized sports. While sports have physical health benefits for kids, they can also benefit their mental, emotional, and social health.  How can sports help kids heal, grow, and thrive? Why is it essential to provide kids with high-quality, healing sports?  And what can parents and schools do to ensure a healthy sports environment for their students?   In this episode, Megan Bartlett joins Kevin to share how sports can help kids heal, grow, and thrive. Meet Megan: Megan Bartlett is the founder of The Cen ..read more

Revisit this episode on whether college is the best path for students to have successful careers with Mark C. Perna. For the past few decades, there’s been a significant push for students to enroll in a four-year university immediately after high school. But according to a recent survey, almost 70 percent of parents would support their children entering the workforce right after high school. What’s causing parents to accept and seek alternative routes for their children? What skills do students need to thrive in today’s careers? And is college the right fit for all students?  Meet Mark: M ..read more

Public charter schools currently serve more than 3.7 million students. In fact, according to a report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, enrollment in public charter schools grew by more than 300,000 students between 2019 and 2023.   What are charter schools? What are the benefits of the charter school model? And how can charter schools create opportunities for our students?  In this episode, Cheryl Stahle joins Kevin to discuss how charter schools can create opportunities for students.   Meet Cheryl Cheryl Stahle is the academic advisor at West Virgi ..read more

As the school year ends and summer begins, many parents and teachers worry about the “summer slide.” The summer slide is the tendency for students to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year.  To combat this learning loss, many districts are focusing on providing additional opportunities for students to learn over the summer.  How can we combat the summer slide? Are summer learning programs the answer? And how can we ensure all students have access to these programs?  In this episode, Aaron Dworkin joins Kevin to discuss if summer learning pro ..read more

More than 7.5 million students in the United States have disabilities that qualify them for individual education plans. However, teachers trained in special education are in short supply. In fact, a survey found that 65% of public schools report being understaffed in special education. What is causing this shortage? How is this affecting teachers and students across the country? And what can we do to combat the shortage of special education teachers?  In this episode, Kimber Wilkerson shares how we can combat the shortage of special education teachers. Meet Kimber Kimber Wilkerson is a pr ..read more

Revisit our episode on digital safety featuring Titania Jordan, chief marketing officer and chief parent officer of Bark Technologies. Technology can open up doors to more information and content than ever before. That can be good – and bad – for kids. How can we teach kids healthy tech habits? What are the risks of cyberbullying, access to predators, image distortion, or self-harm? And how should personal devices be managed in the classroom?  In this episode, Kevin discusses healthy digital use with tech parenting expert Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies.  ..read more

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, revisit our episode on promoting mental health with Anne Brown, President and CEO of the Cook Center for Human Connection. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly 20 percent of youth in the United States age 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder and suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10- to 14-year-olds. With so many youth struggling today, most parents are left feeling helpless and concerned. In fact, a report found that mental health is the greatest concern among parents. How can parents help their childre ..read more

Storytelling is one of the most powerful learning devices. Not only does it play a role in a child’s language and cognitive development, but it can also teach them about the world around them. What are the benefits of storytelling? How can children’s literature help develop important skills? And how can we encourage a love of storytelling in our students?  In this episode, Jesse Byrd joins Kevin to discuss the importance of storytelling for children.   Meet Jesse Jesse Byrd is an award-winning children’s book author and the youngest African American NPR Foundation Board Member ..read more

Studies show that every school year almost 3 million public school students receive one or more out-of-school suspensions, while more than 100,000 students are expelled.  Along with doing little to reduce children’s misconduct, one out-of-school suspension increases a child’s chance of dropping out of school and increases their chances of entering the juvenile justice system.  How can we keep students out of the school-to-prison pipeline? How can trauma-informed teaching benefit students and schools? And what can we do to help schools address the needs of youth? In this episode, Dr ..read more

Research finds that mindfulness can help decrease stress and anxiety while strengthening resilience and emotional regulation in adults and children. This is why the use of mindfulness programs in schools is becoming more and more popular.  What exactly is mindfulness? What are the benefits of mindfulness on students? And how can we incorporate mindfulness into the classroom? In this episode, Linda Ryden joins Kevin to share how we can incorporate mindfulness into the classroom. Meet Linda: Linda Ryden is the founder of Peace of Mind, a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping childre ..read more