MASB Executive Director Don Wotruba is no stranger to interviewing guests of MI SoundBoard. But what happens when the script is flipped and he's put in the hot seat? What about when the one doing the interviewing is none other than his daughter? Tune in to this special episode to hear what happens when we did just that.

MI SoundBoard

Flipping the Script

It's no question the upcoming school year, even more than others, is going to be critical for public education. In this episode, we talk about MASB's Get On Board MI campaign which focuses on recruiting civic-minded and student-focused individuals to run for school board seats in Michigan. You'll hear about tips, resources and much more on how to #GetOnBoardMI. 

Filling School Board Seats

Over the past few months, we've talked to policymakers and education leaders from across the state since COVID-19 struck. But how have students coped with the historic pandemic and its impact on their education? In this special episode we talk with five Michigan high school students about exactly that.

Hearing from High Schoolers

In this episode, leaders from Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators, Michigan School Business Officials and Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals join host Don Wotruba once again to discuss current hot topics in public education. 

Michigan's Education Leaders: Together [Virtually] Again

SET SEG Executive Director Tim Averill joins us for this episode to discuss what they're doing for schools in Michigan. He and MASB Executive Director Don Wotruba, CAE look at the benefits of being a SET SEG school district, as well as the history of the organization as it strives to meet the needs of school districts across the state.

SET SEG Supporting Michigan Schools

Debbie Stabenow was the first woman from Michigan elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Sen. Stabenow joins us for this special edition episode to discuss what's happening in D.C. in response to the coronavirus, what we can expect in Michigan and across the country, and much more.

Special Episode With U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow

What is it like to lead when a national pandemic strikes? What is it like to prepare to lead during a national pandemic? The current President and President-Elect of MASB join us to discuss this as well some of the initiatives they're overseeing and will continue to prioritize for school board members across the state.

Passing the Torch In Uncharted Times

Teachers and administrators aren't the only ones that can benefit from being trauma-informed. Dean Transportation, one of the nation's largest private school bus companies, has invested in ensuring its drivers are well-trained in empathy for their riders. In this episode, leaders from Dean Transportation join us to discuss in detail this training and some background to how it came to be.

Trauma-Informed Bus Drivers

Culture, to many people, boils down to be defined by skin color, as guest Marcy Peake explains in this episode. As you'll hear, Peake's definition encourages everyone to move the idea of culture from a telescopic lens to a microscopic one. We dive into the idea that the meaning of culture is how we live, love, work and play.

Zooming in On Culture

In this episode, MASB's Executive Director sits down with Legal Counsel Brad Banasik, J.D. and Director of Government Relations Jennifer Smith to discuss how the coronavirus has impacted public schools in Michigan and operations for boards of education both legally and legislatively. While things are changing nearly every day, this episode provides some answers and guidance to education leaders across the state. For more resources, timely updates and other information regarding COVID-19, please visit masb.org/COVID19.

COVID-19's Legal & Legislative Impact

We all strive for students to have an accessible and equitable public education. However, we also want to ensure they go beyond K-12 education and complete some form of postsecondary education. We sit down with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Policy Advisor for Postsecondary Education and Workforce Development to talk about how policies statewide are helping kids in Michigan aim higher. 

Preparing Students Through Policymaking

Research has shown zero tolerance policies in schools contribute to high rates of suspension, especially for minority populations.1 Restorative justice is a conflict management approach that focuses on healing rather than punishment. In this episode, we talk with the Michigan Department of Education's Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations Kyle Guerrant to further unpack these philosophies, principles and practices.   1American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, 2009, p. 23; Advancement Project, 2010; US DOE, Office of Civil Rights, 2014

Restorative Justice: An Encouraging Approach

Term limits change the dynamics of politics, especially when it comes to building relationships with lawmakers. In this episode, we sit down with Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis, who chairs the appropriations subcommittees for the Department of Education and the School Aid Fund to talk about term limits, K-12 funding and much more.

The Faces Behind K-12 Funding

As 2020 progresses, the Legislative Cycle amps up and Gov. Whitmer's State of the State nears, which all means priorities for the Legislature and funding will be further solidified. In this episode, we sit down with new Launch Michigan staff to discuss what Phase I includes in hopes of shifting public education in Michigan by way of this historic coalition of business, education and philanthropic communities. 

Launch Michigan: Next Steps

Each individual student may learn at a slightly different pace than their peers. How is one school district in Michigan embracing a style of education that delivers personalized learning? In this episode, we sit down with Alpena Public Schools Superintendent John VanWagoner to unpack competency-based learning for listeners. 

The Ins and Outs of Competency-Based Learning

MI SoundBoard is the Michigan Association of School Boards' ongoing dialogue on the current state of public education in Michigan and nationwide. Listen along as MASB Executive Director Don Wotruba invites prominent education voices from across the nation to speak about what’s happening and the possible impact on students.

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