Exploring Education Policy, Innovation, and School Choice with Sheila Vanhoose

From Knowledge Transfer to Human Development: A New Purpose for School from Jane Shore

PODCAST Season 6 EPISODE 12 Jane R. Shore Founder, School of Thought; Author, People-Based Learning: The Future of Learning is Human Quotes of the Podcast:  “The stars we are given, the constellations we make.” Rebecca Solnit  Introduction of Guest BIO –  Jane R. Shore, EdD is the founder of School of Thought PHL, and a learning scientist and research visualizer devoted to the idea that learning is, at its core, a human act. She is especially drawn to the hard-to-measure dimensions of learning - connection, reflection and action, and to the conditions that allow them to emerge. Her work explores how People-Based Learning offers a way forward in a world overflowing with information, but starved for meaning, bridging the space between rapidly expanding knowledge, emerging technologies, and our enduring need to learn with and through one another. Through her publication School of Thought, Jane translates research into practice using visual storytelling and lived experience. She is also the co-creator of The Art of Being Human, a collective art project with Sam Chaltain that invites reflection and connection through making and shared inquiry. Her keynotes, workshops, and learning designs create spaces where ideas are not just understood, but felt. Jane’s work has been published across academic journals, book chapters, and research reports, and she also illustrated two books for children, Imagine Song and For All the Curious Girls. Her forthcoming non-fiction book, People-Based Learning: The Future of Learning Is Human, (Routledge, March 2026) brings together research, stories, and design practices to show how learning with and through others makes learning meaningful and lasting. Interview Agents of Change: Leaders/Innovators.  * 30,000 Ft. View – Why do we, as a society invest in education? * What drew you to education? * School of Thought - School of Thought exists to make People-Based Learning visible, intentional, and possible everywhere we live, work, and gather. We sit at the intersection of learning science, storytelling, art, and community, translating research into forms people can feel, see, and use. * People-Based Learning (PeBL), the essential learning we do with and through one another. PeBL is an orientation defined and described through research, stories and experiences in my book! (Routledge, 2026). * Measuring the important intangibles * What are the biggest challenges to you? * What would you like decision makers to know?”   Podcast/ website/ book shoutouts My School of Thought substack: https://schoolofthought.substack.com/ [https://schoolofthought.substack.com/] My The Art of Being Human Substack created in collaboration with Sam Chaltain: https://theartofbeinghumanproject.substack.com/ [https://theartofbeinghumanproject.substack.com/];  People-Based Learning: The Future of Learning is Human: https://www.routledge.com/People-Based-Learning-The-Future-of-Learning-is-Human/Shore/p/book/9781041089858?utm_source=cjaffiliates&utm_medium=affiliates&cjevent=2dd4af965df611f181da002f0a82b836 [https://www.routledge.com/People-Based-Learning-The-Future-of-Learning-is-Human/Shore/p/book/9781041089858?utm_source=cjaffiliates&utm_medium=affiliates&cjevent=2dd4af965df611f181da002f0a82b836] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2038558/support] Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P athttps://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox [https://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox] Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions [https://www.dxaudio.com/]

Exploring Education Policy, Innovation, and School Choice with Sheila Vanhoose

PODCAST Season 6 EPISODE 11 Sheela Vanhoose Shareholder, The Southern Group Founder, TSG Advisors Introduction of Guest Bio Sheela Vanhoose is a Shareholder at The Southern Group, where she helps organizations navigate Florida’s political and policy landscape with a focus on strategy, relationships, and long-term positioning. Her work sits at the intersection of government, education, business, and emerging policy trends, supporting clients ranging from educational institutions and technology companies to private sector leaders seeking to better understand how policy, procurement, funding, and public perception shape markets. Sheela is also the Founder of TSG Advisors, an education-focused consulting firm created to help organizations move beyond advocacy and into deeper work around implementation, strategy, and institutional change. What began as a founder-led initiative has grown into an education advisory practice with its own leadership and momentum. Before her work in government relations, Sheela was a competitive athlete and member of the United States National Karate Team, an experience that shaped her leadership style with discipline, resilience, and calm under pressure. Her work reflects a belief that the best outcomes rarely come from the loudest voice in the room, but from understanding people, timing, and how policy decisions ripple far beyond politics. Interview Agents of Change: Leaders/Innovators. * 30,000 Ft. View – Why so we, as a society invest in education? * What drew you to education as a practice? ·       00:00 Insight on Southern Group's education lobbying ·       04:22 Stages of Public Policy Implementation ·       07:10 Expansion of School Choice Programs ·       12:23 School districts leveraging excess capacity ·       13:26 Rethinking higher education models ·       18:20 AI in Education Legislation ·       19:56 Embracing AI in Education ·       23:32 Improving education through collaboration ·       28:18 Discussing policy work phases ·       32:11 Evaluating Policy Implementation Timelines ·       34:47 Challenges of personalized education policy ·       36:40 The challenge of understanding legislation Podcast/ website/ book shoutouts   Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashankp1/] Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions [https://www.dxaudio.com/]   Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2038558/support] Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P athttps://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox [https://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox] Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions [https://www.dxaudio.com/]

Good Brain/Bad Brain: Mark Sparvell on Thriving Amidst Educational Change

Mark Sparvell Director Of Education, Microsoft Author: Good Brain Bad Brain Quotes of the Podcast: Schools are places where society is created and recreated, so, it follows, teachers are the architects of that preferred future. Introduction of Guest BIO –  Mark Sparvell is a global award wining educator and leader, currently a Director of Marketing at Microsoft, specializing in education. He leads strategy, messaging, and customer storytelling across AI, data, and cloud solutions, partnering with K‑12 and higher education leaders globally to drive meaningful, responsible digital transformation Interview Agents of Change: Leaders/Innovators. * 30,000 Ft. View – Why so we, as a society invest in education? * What drew you to education? * EI * AI * What are the biggest challenges to you? * What would you like decision makers to know?” Podcast/ website/ book shoutouts My Superspeaks podcast http://aka.ms/superspeakspodcast [http://aka.ms/superspeakspodcast]  Buy my book http://bit.ly/goodbrainbadbrain Book a keynote http://marksparvell.com [http://marksparvell.com] Explore education stories http://aka.ms/educustomerstories [http://aka.ms/educustomerstories] Explore education videos http://aka.ms/educustomervideos [http://aka.ms/educustomervideos]  Try Reading Coach http://coach.microsoft.com [http://coach.microsoft.com]   Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashankp1/] Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions [https://www.dxaudio.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2038558/support] Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P athttps://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox [https://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox] Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions [https://www.dxaudio.com/]

Grammar as Art: Patty McGee’s Transformative Approach to Teaching Language

PODCAST Season 6 EPISODE 9 Patty McGee Author, Educator, and Consultant  Quotes of the Podcast: That is a wildly difficult question for a literacy person. So, I have narrowed it down to my favorite quote from the last book I read. “And when you open your heart to rewilding a landscape, the truth is, you’re opening your heart to rewilding yourself.” Once We Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy Introduction of Guest BIO –   Patty McGee is a nationally recognized literacy consultant, speaker, and educator passionate about 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 Interview Agents of Change: Leaders/Innovators  * 30,000 Ft. View – Why so we, as a society invest in education? * What drew you to education? * A whole new approach to grammar instruction * What are the biggest challenges to you? * What would you like decision makers to know?” Podcast/ website/ book shoutouts Not Your Granny’s Grammar [https://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Grannys-Grammar-Instruction/dp/1071941674/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V1Y9L9KIL002&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Iu4cRE1XTe_ET4mBhrUgi8cxgzj6CzcIPx5kde91WPYm6acsh3qwtjJDi51r6QSTSkPHoaJgkR958_JImGWcLaAIpV5Glegw2umyl_r6g5MQyS0m6GXk-zIPkWOp3HUB0E58DKRBxKn0LFKWIRVq8g.lX7PXCo5ZylotYaLiXPjDWXATVPpnq5IJbG27oH7RX0&dib_tag=se&keywords=Not+Your+Granny%E2%80%99s+Grammar&qid=1775070457&sprefix=not+your+granny+s+grammar%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-1]   Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashankp1/] Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions [https://www.dxaudio.com/]   Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2038558/support] Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P athttps://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox [https://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox] Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions [https://www.dxaudio.com/]

How Yes-And Thinking Can Transform Teaching Neurodiverse Students with Mandy Ralston

Amanda "Mandy" Ralston Founder of NonBinary Solutions  CEO of KidsChoice Therapy Quotes of the Podcast: “Wisdom is like frequent-flyer miles and scar tissue; if it does accumulate, that happens by accident while you're trying to do something else.” Barbara Kingsolver  Introduction of Guest BIO –  Amanda “Mandy” Ralston, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, is a CEO, behavior analyst, and serial founder with more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of autism services, applied behavior analysis, and technology-driven innovation. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of KidsChoice Therapy, leading multi-site pediatric therapy and autism service operations with a focus on clinical excellence, scalable systems, and equity-centered care. Known for her signature nonbinary thinking framework, Ralston speaks nationally on compassionate care, cognitive flexibility, and the future of behavioral health, bringing a pragmatic yet creative voice to conversations about ethics, outcomes, and neurodiversity-affirming practice. Interview Agents of Change: Leaders/Innovators.  30,000 Ft. View – Why so we, as a society invest in education? * What drew you to education? * How nonbinary thinking can help educators move beyond “compliant vs. noncompliant” and really understand student behavior in context.  * What truly neurodiversity-affirming classrooms look like and how schools, families, and clinicians can partner so kids don’t have to be three different people in three different settings.  * Using nonbinary thinking to rethink “behavior problems” in schools   * What neurodiversity-affirming practice actually looks like in real classrooms   * How schools, families, and clinicians can work together instead of in silos  * How we move past binaries like “good/bad kid” or “compliant/noncompliant” and into more flexible, compassionate ways of understanding behavior. That ties into neurodiversity-affirming classrooms and better partnerships between educators, families, and therapy providers. * What are the biggest challenges to you? * What would you like decision makers to know?”   Podcast/ website/ book shoutouts Thanks to Dr. Karly Kordvoa and the RBT Textbook that I was recently asked to contribute to. We also just talked about it on her podcast The Grey Area [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gray-area-with-sean-illing/id1081584611].  Dr. Genevieve Leonard Series by Estelle Ryan [https://www.amazon.com/Genevieve-Lenard/dp/B074CH3BJL/ref=books_amazonstores_desktop_mfs_kss_ap_sba_0?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=OrN47&content-id=amzn1.sym.a9b2f790-2337-4bd0-92a6-d6faa77cb826&pf_rd_p=a9b2f790-2337-4bd0-92a6-d6faa77cb826&pf_rd_r=137-0581596-2460350&pd_rd_wg=FUCEO&pd_rd_r=1e431c94-a7e4-4837-a458-d8812db6a8e4] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2038558/support] Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P athttps://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox [https://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox] Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions [https://www.dxaudio.com/]