The Out of the Trenches Podcast

Episode #308: Ken Burrows

Ken Burrows is currently an English learner coordinator and owner of the business Rap Opera for Kids that uses Hip Hop and rap music to teach language arts skills using song lyrics. He taught as an English learner teacher in Virginia for 12 years, and through his experiences in the classroom, he developed several strategies and methods based on English language instruction research and best practices combined with rap music to develop the lessons and activities he shares with teachers through Rap Opera for Kids, helping them achieve high student engagement with cultural relevance.

Find Ken online: www.rapoperaforkids.com or @rapoperacentral on YouTube

Episode #307: Mike Beyer

Michael Beyer was an award-winning, National Board Certified K-12 teacher and principal. He transformed a school on the south side of Chicago, then led the merger of two schools, one being the wealthiest in Chicago and the other in the Cabrini Green housing development.

Since leaving education he has worked as real estate broker, Chief of Staff of an environmental nonprofit, and currently a change management consultant. Mike served overseas in the US Air Force and has received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, two master’s degrees in Art History and Education, and a doctorate in Education Leadership.

Mike is married to his wife of more than twenty years, with whom they have two children. Taught middle school self-contained 8 years, was an administrator PK-12 for close to 10 years. He still engages with educators through consulting. They reside in Oak Park, Illinois.

Mike be reached via LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/mmccbeyer Mike is available for consulting, coaching, and speaking engagements.

Episode #306: Matthew Ebert

Matthew Ebert is a human-centered leader with 20+ years of experience in education, primarily focused on school leadership in urban settings. Matthew’s consulting is grounded in his experiences as a teacher, director of academic innovation, academy leader, and a decade of successful leadership as a public charter school principal. Throughout his leadership tenure, Matthew has developed teams that exceed expectations, consistently achieving strong results. He is committed to cultivating healthy work and learning environments in which individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. In addition to helping team members consistently attain their personal and professional goals, Matthew has facilitated dramatic and consistent growth in student achievement in both Baltimore and Boston, in metrics focused on academic achievement and school climate. Matthew’s leadership is based on the idea that we are all here to take care of one another.

Find Matthew online: Website: www.eberteducationalconsulting.com

Twitter (X): @eberteducation

Instagram: @eberteducationalconsulting

Facebook: @matthew ebert

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/matthewebert1982/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebert-educational-consulting

Episode # 305: Katie Kinder

Katie Kinder, author of Untold Teaching Truths and Hallway Leadership, is a highly sought after professional learning facilitator; she has been an educator since 2006. She brings her message of hope, fun, and real strategies to educators all over the nation. She believes that life is fun, and learning should most definitely be fun. A teacher of the year, top five district finalist, Speaker, Author, Professional Development Leader, a Mom, a Wife, a Fierce Advocate for Education, Katie has learned a trick or two in the classroom, so come on in, and have some fun, and hook your students from day one!

Find Katie online: Katie Kinder – Education Consultant Sharing Untold Teaching Truths www.katie-kinder.com, @KatieKinder1 on X

Episode #304: Mark Aaron Alsip

Mark Alsip is a computer scientist and former fundamentalist Young Earth Creationist. Indoctrinated at the age of 6, conflicts soon arose over his love of science. Mark is alarmed at the intrusion of fundamentalism into all aspects of our society (especially government), believing it has led to book bans, science denial, anti-LGBTQ legislation, and denial of women's reproductive rights. His new book, "Journey to Reason" describes how he broke free from fundamentalism and offers a stark warning of its dangers to society. Mark also writes the long-running Bad Science Debunked blog (https://www.BadScienceDebunked.com), where he does lighthearted takedowns of urban legends, science denial, and the abundance of misinformation available on social media.

Find Mark online: www.alsip.net @MarkAlsup on FB

Episode #303: Ari Gerzon-Kessler

Ari Gerzon-Kessler leads the Family Partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District (Colorado) and is an educational consultant working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family partnerships. He has been an educator since 2000, having served as a principal, bilingual teacher, and SEL trainer. Ari is the author of the book, On The Same Team: Bringing Educators and Underrepresented Families Together (Solution Tree, 2024).

Find Ari online: LinkedIn @arigerzonkelzler, also on FB email: arigerzonatgmail.com

He can do coaching support, presentations, to help other districts.

Episode #302: Johnathan Cranford

Johnathan has seven years of experience as a special education teacher at a therapeutic campus for students with severe emotional disturbance and five more years as an in-school suspension teacher at two middle schools. After discovering how in-school suspension programs are failing to meet the needs of our most at-risk students, Johnathan created a trauma informed in-school suspension program to address the current disciplinary, academic, and SEL requirements of our student populations. After successfully establishing ISS programs on multiple campuses, he created a roadmap for others to follow in his latest book The Art of In-School Suspension.

Find Johnathan online: Trauma Informed In-School Suspension Training System: https://www.amazon.com/Art-School-Suspension-Discipline-Benefits/dp/B0B7QHWZ73/

The Art of In-School Suspension Book: http://www.theartofiss.com

www.theartofiss.com

Twitter @mrcranfordiss

Episode #301: AJ Bianco

AJ Bianco is a husband and proud father of three, who has dedicated his professional life to the field of education. Currently serving as the Assistant Principal at East Brook Middle School in New Jersey, AJ brings experience and a passion for innovative teaching practices to his role. One of AJ's primary areas of focus is on empowering and supporting educators. He takes great pride in coaching teachers, guiding them towards strategies that not only elevate their teaching skills but also maximize the potential of their students. AJ is a firm believer in the transformative power of technology in the classroom and consistently advocates for its integration to enhance the learning experience. Known for his commitment to progressive educational approaches, AJ champions Blended Learning practices, Personalized Learning, Project-Based Learning, and the Flipped Classroom model. He believes in tailoring teaching methods to the unique needs of each student, fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.

AJ's influence extends beyond the school walls through his engagement with the education community. An avid podcast listener himself, AJ is not only the host of the ReflectEd Podcast but also the co-host of PodcastPD. Through these platforms, he shares his insights, interviews thought leaders, and explores the latest trends in education, all with the goal of inspiring and informing educators worldwide. AJ maintains an active online presence through his website and podcast at www.ajbianco.me. Here, he shares resources, reflections, and valuable content related to education and leadership.

You can connect with AJ and join the conversation on all social media platforms by following X, FB, LinkedIn, IG @AJBianco or Podcast PD,

Episode #300: Dr. Rob Martinez & Holly Stuart

Holly Stuart is the Education Specialist at Foldscope Instruments. She has over 10 years of science education experience in both indoor and outdoor classrooms ranging from 3K through 12th grade. She is currently a Teach Better Team Ambassador and Mentor Ambassador. 

Find Holly on X & Instagram: @hollyastuart Foldscope Website: https://foldscope.com/

Dr. Robert A. Martinez is currently the Chief of Human Resources for the Antioch Unified School District. HIs new book, "Recipes for Resilience, Nurturing Perseverance in Students and Educators" was recently released and is available on @Amazon. He shares messages from his life and lessons learned. His life's work has focused on helping others live courageous, resilient lives.

Find Rob online: @ResiliencyGuy on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and Linkedn.

Episode #299: Tom Hoerr

Tom Hoerr led schools for 37 years and is now a Scholar In Residence at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he teaches prospective principals. Tom began as a teacher and then moved into a leadership role as a principal in the School District of University City. He worked with the Pershing School faculty to achieve significant improvements in student performance at the same time that the school population became more impoverished. In 1981, Tom became the head of the New City School in St. Louis, a school founded on a commitment to progressive learning and respect for human diversity. During Tom’s 34 years at New City, the school raised funds to renovate the building, expand the campus, refurbish the theater, build the MI library, and establish an endowment for need-based financial aid. He was given Emeritus status when he retired in 2015.

Find Tom online: www.thomashoerr.com email: trhoerr@aol.com