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

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/]

Rethinking Education Systems: David Cook on Changing Educational Paradigms

David Cook Lead Strategist, Learning Ecosystems Design Consulting Quotes of the Podcast: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." — Alvin Toffler Introduction of Guest BIO –  With three decades working with schools, school systems, regional and state agencies and national education organizations David Cook, Principal Strategist at Learning Ecosystems Design, is an expert on what it takes to make change happen in education systems. David is a nationally respected voice in the transformation conversation. He retired in 2024 from the state agency level after 27 years at the Kentucky Department of Education, the last 15 as Director of Innovative Learning. During his tenure he has: · Oversaw a statewide initiative to shift assessment, accountability and the credentialing of learning from a one size fits all state level approach, to one where communities design Local Accountability Models that measure the competencies found in a Portrait of a Learner/Graduate and provide a public facing dashboard for those local indicators. (2021-2024).   ·   Directed Kentucky's development of a competency-based education system including the initial efforts in developing a Portrait of a Learner · Co-authored and implemented the first district level innovation zone program in the country, Kentucky's Districts of Innovation Program (2013).  · Designed and implemented the longest continuously operating statewide remote learning system in the country, Kentucky's Non-Traditional Instruction Program (2011). · Authored Kentucky's award-winning Education Recovery Program (2010). · Has authored and co-authored numerous pieces of legislation and Kentucky Board of Education administrative regulation.  Interview Agents of Change: Leaders/Innovators. * 30,000 Ft. View – Why so we, as a society invest in education? * What drew you to education? * The Driving Test, * The Need for A NEW Education System * The AI Telescope * What are the biggest challenges to you? * What would you like decision makers to know?” Podcast/ website/ book shoutouts What School Could Be [https://www.amazon.com/What-School-Could-Be-Inspiration-ebook/dp/B0795BFPM3/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0] - Dintersmith The End of Average [https://www.amazon.com/End-Average-Succeed-Values-Sameness-ebook/dp/B00R1JU7P6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JPLRXPSC1C35&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qedg-y8ebwBAJ53accNQvGZ03hUF0ydyu4bD98fk-37Bf6pljgX_IsJJTk5c_tparGJX3QV_fSs42JDSQbOfNhQthLVCsOkDABuMaGPLRpR-Jt90QAgH2fil7GFXOGmT7OPvusbP85cy-e18vDSEaAIvQN-5H4lP8XtjTt-ttSvyGIGnjLp2iMaKTFBmzXSZg46_B7kWKebCCVUTW4MNX6vT2cE5_KwvNw8pgJ7e3dA.LIc8pMaji5TcWcjU_JAYIRql4UZ2PGpJT5ERVmgRaTk&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+End+of+Average&qid=1774043065&s=digital-text&sprefix=the+end+of+average+%2Cdigital-text%2C168&sr=1-1] - Rose 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/]