Innovations in Education with David Adams

Michelle Navarre | Character, Crew, and Reflection | Lessons from the Polaris Charter Academy

In this episode of Innovations in Education, host David Adams, CEO of The Urban Assembly [https://www.urbanassembly.org/], sits down with Michelle Navarre, the Founder and Executive Director of Polaris Charter Academy [https://www.pcachicago.org/] in Chicago. A former Golden Apple Award winner for excellence in teaching, Navarre discusses the founding principles of her school and why she believes character development is the essential foundation for rigorous academic growth. Navarre explores the evolution of the charter movement since Polaris opened its doors in 2007, emphasizing that a clear mission and strong adult culture are the prerequisites for student success. From the daily ritual of greeting every student by name to the implementation of AI-driven tools for teacher reflection, Navarre illustrates how Polaris balances traditional human connection with forward-thinking innovation. Key Takeaways: > Character as the Core: Polaris prioritizes educating students to be self-motivated, creative, critical thinkers through the "Points of Polaris": integrity, compassion, exploration, critical thinking, and active citizenship. > The "Crew" Philosophy: Borrowing from Outward Bound, the school uses "Crew" as both a structure for daily meetings and a culture of mutual responsibility where students and staff are "not passengers". > Adult Culture Sets the Ceiling: Student culture never outpacing adult culture, leading Polaris to implement "staff crew" and "leadership touch" exercises to build empathy and gratitude among educators. > AI as a Reflective Tool: Rather than fearing automation, Polaris utilizes AI tools to help teachers analyze their own questioning techniques and discourse practices, freeing them to focus on the human elements of instruction. > Discipline as Learning: Moving away from punitive systems, the school defines discipline through its Latin roots—as a process of learning and developing self-control. Why You Should Listen: Michelle Navarre offers a masterclass in sustainable school leadership. At a time when educator retention is a national crisis, Navarre shares how Polaris maintained a 100% teacher retention rate last year by treating teaching as a respected profession and prioritizing collective "togetherness". Whether you are a classroom teacher or a district leader, this conversation provides a blueprint for creating schools where both students and adults feel seen, known, and challenged to grow. Like, share, and subscribe to Innovations in Education with David Adams wherever you get your podcasts to stay updated on the leaders making public education work. Time Stamps: [00:01:00] Introduction to Michelle Navarre and her career achievements. [00:03:00] The origin story: From a 5th-grade classroom to founding a school. [00:07:00] Non-negotiables and the "one-pager" that built Polaris. [00:13:00] The importance of greeting students and being "known [00:17:00] Defining "Crew" and the power of peer responsibility. [00:23:00] Why student culture cannot outpace adult culture. [00:28:00] Strategies for teacher retention and staff gratitude. [00:32:00] Lessons learned from the virtual classroom during the pandemic. [00:35:00] The "Points of Polaris" and the Light Leader recognition [00:39:00] Utilizing AI to enhance teacher discourse and reflection [00:45:00] Final thoughts: The teacher as a mirror for student potential.

Richard Stopol and Laurie Adams from NYC Outward Bound | Education as an Expedition: Character, Crew, and Democracy

In this insightful episode of Innovations in Education, host David Adams [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-adams-10236721/] of the Urban Assembly [https://www.urbanassembly.org/] sits down with two exceptional leaders from New York City Outward Bound Schools (NYCOBS) [https://www.nycoutwardbound.org/]: founding force and former CEO Richard Stopol [https://www.nycoutwardbound.org/about-us/staff-board/richard-stopol/] and current CEO Laurie Adams [https://www.nycoutwardbound.org/nyc-outward-bound-schools-welcomes-laurie-adams-as-new-ceo/]. We explore a philosophy of education that sees the classroom, and the community, as a challenging expedition requiring both rigor and deep support. Richard Stopol, who led NYCOBS from its 1989 inception, shares the core themes of his new book, Inward and Outward: Reflections on Education, Democracy, and the Human Spirit [https://www.amazon.sg/INWARD-OUTWARD-Reflections-Education-Democracy/dp/B0FLWZ79BK]. He sees a vital link between educational excellence and the health of our democracy, viewing the book as a way to engage on these crucial issues. The essays reflect a surprising strain of optimism, rooted in the belief that we can overcome division by "making the circle bigger"—engaging with those who think differently and tapping into our common humanity. Laurie Adams articulates the organization's mission to bring the transformative experience of an Outward Bound course—"challenge with support"—into the heart of the nation's largest education system. This philosophy is brought to life through the core concept of "Crew, Not Passengers," which offers students a place of belonging and a safe space through an in-school advisory. We hear why this focus on interdependence is essential today. For Laurie, this work is about equipping young people to navigate a rapidly changing world by focusing on critical thinking, civility, and respect. Richard adds that the crew structure is a space where students practice the skills of listening and dialogue, positioning them to find common ground in ways adults often struggle to. Both leaders stress that the goal isn't "fixing" young people, but rather helping them discover their own capabilities and unlock the greatness already within them. The conversation is a powerful argument for a whole-child approach, one that acknowledges that social-emotional learning and academic learning are inextricably linked. Whether it’s facing a difficult task on a wilderness course or engaging in a complex classroom debate, the pedagogy centers on providing a productive struggle. As Richard puts it, the most important thing educators can do is genuinely believe in the potential and greatness of every young person. The "Crew, Not Passengers" ethos, they hope, will prove sticky—not just in schools, but as a framework for how we live in relationship and community to one another. We explore the roots of experiential education—from the philosophies of Kurt Hahn to indigenous knowledge systems—and hear why the courage to stand up for what's right is riskier than ever. This episode provides an essential roadmap for building a support base where students feel safe, even across deep differences, equipping them to lead and thrive in their communities. Subscribe to Innovations in Education with David Adams wherever you get your podcasts to find more conversations with leaders who are making things work in education. 00:00 Introduction to Innovations in Education 00:43 Meet the Guests: Richard Stopol and Laurie Adams 03:00 Richard Stopol's Journey and New Book 07:06 Laurie Adams on Leading NYC Outward Bound Schools 11:29 The Philosophy of Crew and Educational Impact 14:51 Challenges and Hopes for the Future 19:53 Empowerment and Responsibility in Education 23:14 Optimism and Resilience in Society 23:59 Success, Failure, and Persistence 24:39 The Role of Challenge and Support in Education 27:39 Empowering Students Through Community 30:49 Universal Values in Education 35:37 Critical Thinking and Adaptability 40:06 The Importance of Social and Emotional Learning 42:44 Final Thoughts and Book Promotion

Education Reform in Action: Insights from Josh Thomases

This episode of Innovations in Education with David Adams features Josh Thomases, a seasoned educator, leader, and CEO of IPsquared [https://www.ipsquared.org/], a leadership consulting firm, discussing his decades of experience at the intersection of education, equity, and innovation. Why Listen? * Solving Education's Toughest Problems: Josh shares insights from his extensive career, including his time at the Great Oaks Foundation, Bank Street College of Education, and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). He highlights how he helped launch over 350 small schools in New York City, a model proven to significantly improve graduation and college outcomes for underserved students. * Transforming a System: Learn about the challenges faced by the NYCDOE in the early 2000s, such as inconsistent accountability, a favor-based system, and stagnant graduation rates. Thomases explains the "Children First initiative" and the shift towards a system of "great schools" where the school itself was the unit of change. Key Innovations Discussed: * Fair Student Funding: Discover how shifting funding from a per-teacher basis to a per-student basis incentivized schools to take on more challenging students and promoted equity. * Accountability Systems and Comparison Groups: Understand the development of public report cards and comparison groups that allowed schools to contextualize their performance while still being held accountable for student outcomes and growth. * New School Development: Hear about the strategy of closing large, underperforming schools and opening new, smaller schools to drive innovation and improve outcomes. * Operational Excellence: Thomases emphasizes the importance of central departments adopting a service mentality, ensuring essential functions like timely teacher payments, efficient busing, quality school food, and facility repairs operate smoothly to support educators. Key Takeaways: * Data-Driven Decision Making: The importance of transparency and utilizing data to understand student needs and drive continuous improvement. * Fostering Innovation: How large school systems can foster innovation without "experimenting on students" by creating opportunities for diverse approaches. * Collective Responsibility: The fundamental idea that a school system must take responsibility for educating every child in its community, regardless of perceived challenges. * Learning from Experience: The need to systematize how schools and systems learn from their successes and failures, moving beyond anecdotal evidence. * Embracing the Political Nature of Schools: Acknowledging that schools are political spaces and fostering dialogue across differences within these community institutions. This episode offers valuable lessons for current education reform efforts, emphasizing that good policy and a focus on incentives, accountability, and systemic support can drive positive outcomes. Don't miss future episodes – subscribe to Innovations in Education wherever you get your podcasts today. To learn more, visit us the Urban Assembly [https://urbanassembly.org].

Bridging the Education and Workforce Gap with Dr. Jonah Schenker and Peter Harris from Ulster BOCES

Join host David Adams, CEO of the Urban Assembly [https://urbanassembly.org], as he welcomes Dr. Jonah Schenker, District Superintendent, and Peter Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Career Pathways, from Ulster BOCES [https://www.ulsterboces.org/] to the Innovations in Education. Dr. Schenker and Mr. Harris explain BOCES' role as an educational service agency focused on shared services, efficiency, and economic benefits for school districts in Ulster County, New York. The conversation centers on IPark 87 [https://www.ipark87.com/], a new initiative designed to address the persistent mismatch between educational outputs and labor market needs. Peter describes IPark 87 as an "agglomeration project" focused on bringing together resources to become a workforce developer for the campus and the county through CTE and adult education. This innovative approach aims to fill labor gaps by offering agile labs for both high school students and adults, encompassing fields like aviation, culinary arts, healthcare, finance, and criminal justice. The discussion also tackles the stigma often associated with career technical education, emphasizing that the outdated vocational model is no longer relevant. Instead, Ulster BOCES focuses on fostering engagement, relevancy, and joy in learning, leading to increased enrollment in CTE programs despite declining overall school enrollments. To hear more great content around innovations in education, subscribe to the podcast. Visit us at the Urban Assembly [https://urbanassembly.org] to learn more.

Opening Minds with International Education with Shaun Carver, CEO and Executive Director at International House @ UC Berkeley

This episode of Innovations in Education takes us beyond the K-12 sector to explore the vital role of international education in higher ed. Host David Adams speaks with Dr. Shaun Carver, CEO and Executive Director of the International House at UC Berkeley [https://ihouse.berkeley.edu/], about the importance of creating inclusive communities that embrace diverse perspectives.   Dr. Carver shares insights from the I House's century-long commitment to fostering intercultural dialogue, addressing critical questions about the value of diversity in education, the complexities of free speech, and how we can cultivate the next generation of empathetic, globally-minded citizens. Like what you're hearing? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at The Urban Assembly [https://urbanassembly.org] to learn more.