The Out of the Trenches Podcast

Episode # 410: Tim Shanahan

Tim Shanahan is distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He served as the director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools, is the former president of the International Literacy Association, and served on the advisory board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. In 2007, he was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame & is a former first-grade teacher. He is the author of the recently published book Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives: How Students’ Reading Achievement Has Been Held Back and What We Can Do About It. Find him online: https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHpWWTBya3FkWE9Va3lDSVJUUTZzakVLcl85Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttNnRwdTBhYVNGNFBTTkJHQjRFZ0Y5UVF0dGxkSkRZTm9GSWtJVmFidllmbVFDazBXWUN0b2d6cnlWV2dPSUtXdjFJUGM5d2o0WnNRaW5naVJhVjVvWlpOSzlsaGhCYUxMdzBxQ1BUaVFrbTVFR2dpQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shanahanonliteracy.com%2F&v=91kqP9AXr7w] -has literacy blogs w/ teachers’ comments. FB, X, Linkedin, Bluesky @shanahanonliteracy

Episode # 409: Patty McGee

Patty McGee is a nationally recognized literacy consultant, speaker, and educator with a passion for transforming classrooms into spaces where language and learning come alive. With decades of experience as a teacher, coach, and advocate for delightful literacy practices, Patty has worked alongside educators across the country, partnering to unlock the full potential of their students through innovative and practical teaching strategies. "Not Your Granny’s Grammar" is her third book. Connect with Patty at www.pattymcgee.org [http://www.pattymcgee.org] or on LinkedIn & IG: @pmgmcgee

Episode # 408: Brig Leane

Brig Leane is an education consultant and former principal of Fruita Middle School in Colorado, which under his leadership became a national Model Professional Learning Community. A veteran of the United States Coast Guard, he began his 2nd career as an educator in 2000, and has served as a principal, assistant principal, and teacher at the middle and high school levels in inner-city, suburban, and rural schools. He has also been an adjunct professor at Colorado Christian University. Brig's work has been published in Phi Delta Kappan, Principal Leadership, and elsewhere, and he's the author of Singletons in a PLC At Work as well as the new book The PLC Dashboard: Implementing, Leading, and Sustaining Your Professional Learning Community at Work. Visit Brig's website, www.BrigLeane.com [http://www.BrigLeane.com] Follow Brig on X, IG @BrigLeane

Episode # 407: Andrea Bitner

Return guest Andrea Bitner is an English Language Learner (ELL) educator, author, and speaker based in Philadelphia, PA. With 25 years in public education, she has taught K–12 students from around the world. Her debut book, Take Me Home (2021), shares the powerful true stories of 11 former EL students navigating bilingualism in America, while her second book, When Niagara Falls, inspires resilience, belonging, and growth for students and educators alike. Andrea also co-authored The Impact of Influence – Volume 3: 100 No-Nonsense Things ALL School Leaders Should STOP Doing, and contributed to Culture First Classrooms and other works by Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld. Recognized by the state of Pennsylvania for her innovative teaching, she was featured in PSEA’s The Voice for her work with EL learners. Currently, Andrea teaches EL students daily while traveling nationally to train educators on confidently supporting EL learners, connecting with families, and creating inclusive school communities. Find her online: Connect with Andrea at www.andreabitnerbooks.com or on LinkedIn, IG and Twitter @andreabitnerbooks

Episode # 406: Jen Otte

Jen Otte is an innovative educational leader with over 20 years of experience as both a teacher and an administrator. After teaching high school social studies for 17 years, Jen stepped into her current role as a high school associate principal. In both positions, and as a stepmom of two teenagers for over a decade, Jen began to realize there was a lot that she - and her fellow educators - needed to learn and understand about the teenage brain. She is the founder of The Teenage Brain Thing, a resource and professional development framework and action plan to help educators tap into the potential of the teenage brain. Jen believes that if teachers understand and embrace the unique needs of the teenagers sitting before them, then they will increase their job satisfaction, fall in love with teaching again, and see more academic success from their students. Find Jen online: www.theteenagebrainthing.com [http://www.theteenagebrainthing.com] @the_teenage_brain_thing on IG