#PTChat Radio

Our guest today is passionate about getting dads involved in schools and their kid's learning. Tune in as he shares keen insights about the promise and challenges of engaging fathers. Follow: @Joe_Mazza @strongfathers @bamradionetwork J. Michael Hall is the father of two sons (18 and 22) and the husband to a beautiful middle school teacher. He has been a special education teacher, a teacher of the gifted and talented, and an intermediate and middle school principal. As an educator, speaker and founder of Strong Fathers-Strong Families, he has worked with more than 130,000 fathers and parents at local schools, Head Starts, and regional and national conferences.

In this segment we explain Twitter hashtags and discuss how this powerful tool is being used to build school communities. Follow: @Joe_Mazza @MNebel @kylepace @lauragilchrist4 @kwesibaby58 @bamradionetwork Michelle Nebel is the Chief Innovations Officer for Excelsior Springs School District in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Laura Gilchrist is 6th grade Teacher of the Year at NKC Schools and a #EdcampKC co-organizer. Kyle Pace is an Instructional Technology Specialist for the Lee’s Summit School District in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Joe Mazza serves as the K-12 Director of Connected Teaching, Learning & Leadership in the 6th largest school district in Pennsylvania.

In this segment we speak with the organizer of the family engagement conference along with the keynote speaker for the event. The centerpiece was the new family engagement framework. Follow: @Joe_Mazza @kwesibaby58 @bamradionetwork Karen L. Mapp, Ed.D., is a senior lecturer on education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and the faculty director of the Education Policy and Management master’s program. Kwesi Rollins, a member of the Institute for Educational Leadership’s Senior Leadership Team, guides IEL’s portfolio of programs designed to develop and support leaders with a particular emphasis on Family and Community Engagement, Early Childhood Education and Community-based Leadership Development. Dr. Joe Mazza serves as K-12 Director of Connected Teaching, Learning & Leadership in the 6th largest school district in Pennsylvania.

In this segment we explore the challenges of using Twitter for professional development. Follow: @TonySinanis @Joe_Mazza @Lisaodavis @bamradionetwork Tony Sinanis, is lead Learner of Cantiague Elementary- Jericho, NY. Lisa J. Davis is a Parent Leader and serves as Past President of the Cantiague Elementary School PTA. Lisa is a co-founder of ParentSchoolPartners, a blog that promotes parent engagement and advocacy. Dr. Joe Mazza serves as K-12 Director of Connected Teaching, Learning & Leadership in the 6th largest school district in Pennsylvania.

Developing literacy begins in the home. In this segment, our guests share strategies and tools for inspiring kids to read and develop their literacy skills. Follow: @NCFL @KnappElementary @Joe_Mazza @bamradionetwork Donna Elder, director of literacy and family learning services at the National Center for Families Learning. Gwen Pescatore is a mother of 3, serving as the home and school association president at and on the planning committee for #ParentCamp. Dr. Joe Mazza serves as K-12 Director of Connected Teaching, Learning & Leadership in Pennsylvania. He is the Innovation Coach at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.