Podcast
Leading Voices Podcast
Hosted by WestEd · ENGLISH
The podcast where WestEd experts break down pressing challenges in education and human development–and provide insights you can apply to practice and policy.
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Education Leaders Can Reduce Administrative Burden and Reclaim Staff Time
Today00:22:25Tap to summarizeTime is one of the most valuable resources in education, especially in an uncertain funding landscape that demands more with less. Yet many teachers, principals, district leaders, and higher education administrators spend countless hours responding to reporting requirements that are often duplicative, fragmented, or outdated. How can education leaders distinguish between reporting requirements that inform better decisions and those that simply add to the workload? And how can they reduce this administrative burden to devote more time and energy to supporting students? In this episode of Leading Voices, Kelsey Krausen, Director of Education Finance at WestEd, shares what’s driving administrative burden across education and what district and state leaders can do to reduce it. How We Can Help WestEd partners with districts, institutions of higher education, states, and Tribal governments to build effective organizational and policy structures that improve student learning opportunities and outcomes. Learn more about the support Krausen and her team provide. From the Episode Cut the Clutter: How Nevada Is Changing Reporting Requirements to Support Smarter School Funding, WestEd Nevada Department of Education reducing school paperwork, Nevada Appeal
Transcribe →Hooked on a Feeling—Creating a Strong K–5 Literacy Culture
2w ago00:24:03Tap to summarizePhonics is key to developing literacy, but the practice of reading isn’t just about getting the words right; it’s about making meaning with and from texts. How can elementary schools teach children foundational skills while making literacy feel more meaningful for and useful to students? In this episode of Leading Voices, literacy expert Misty Sailors discusses how school leaders can build a stronger culture of literacy that K–5 students, teachers, and visitors can feel the moment they walk into school—from the student work displayed on the walls to the way school leaders talk about literacy. The episode explores phonics instruction, comprehension and disciplinary literacy, teacher agency, and authentic texts and provides practical strategies for helping elementary students become more confident, skilled, and motivated readers and writers. How We Can Help WestEd integrates Multilingual Learner expertise with the science of reading and disciplinary literacy to nurture strong readers, writers, and communicators across all content areas. Contact Misty to learn how you can partner with her team to improve student literacy outcomes, or explore WestEd’s summer professional learning institutes. From the Episode Reading for Understanding Research Initiative (Institute of Education Sciences) Misty’s recommended motivation surveys: Elementary Reading Attitude Survey (ERAS) from McKenna & Kear Motivation to Read Profile (MRP) from Gambrell, Palmer, Codling & Mazzoni Eligible schools and districts can join these WestEd-led research projects to receive support from our team at no cost and contribute to the evidence base that is helping shape the future of learning. Arizona’s Structured Literacy for Success Initiative Reading Apprenticeship Academic Literacy Learning (RA4ALL) Leading Together 30-Minute Webinar Series
Transcribe →School-Based Healthcare Is Expanding. How Can Schools Sustain It?
4w ago00:24:23Tap to summarizeIn recent years, more schools have expanded healthcare, offering everything from vaccines to mental health support. But many schools launched these services with one-time funding, like COVID relief dollars, and are now asking, “How do we sustain school-based healthcare?” In this episode of Leading Voices, Lisa Eisenberg, Child & Youth Health Financing Project Director at WestEd, unpacks the complex intersection of education and healthcare finance systems and discusses how schools can “braid” funding streams, such as Medicaid with grants and community partnerships, to sustain these services. School administrators will hear what the research says about the impact of school-based health centers on student attendance and outcomes and why partnerships with clinics and community providers are essential for sustainability. If you’re thinking about sustaining school-based health, this conversation offers practical insights to guide your next steps. How We Can Help WestEd works with state and local leaders to improve students’ health and well-being by expanding sustainably funded school-based healthcare. Learn more about the support Lisa and her team provide. From the Episode Strategies for Expanding School-Based Health Services Through Medicaid Cost-Benefit Study of School Nursing Services School Attendance Following Receipt of Care From a School-Based Health Center Conferences where you can connect with Lisa in person: 2026 National School-Based Health Care Conference June 23–25, 2026 Washington, DC 24th Annual National Alliance for Medicaid in Education (NAME) Conference September 22–25, 2026 Chicago, IL
Transcribe →Reaching Infants, Toddlers, and Families Who Need Us Most
Nov 1000:36:45Tap to summarizeIn 2023, 540,000 infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities received early intervention services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C, but significant gaps remain. Only half of the children referred to early intervention services ultimately enroll, and fewer than one in four children eligible for services under IDEA Part C actually access services. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres speaks with Leslie Fox, Director of Early Childhood Mental Health, Development, and Disabilities at WestEd, about the Collective Impact Model for Child Find (CIM-C), a model demonstration project that strengthens referral pathways and improves access to early intervention services for young children and their families in underserved and rural communities. Fox discusses how healthcare and early childhood professionals and programs can align screening practices, improve cross-sector collaboration, and support families in advocating for their children’s developmental needs. This episode explores how collaborative strategies and professional learning can close identification gaps and strengthen early childhood systems. Their conversation covers three critical components of the CIM-C project: The establishment of a cross-sector local Child Find team Ongoing engagement with families Cross-sector professional development, professional learning communities, and communities of practice for early childhood providers How We Can Help WestEd works with early childhood professionals and agencies to strengthen the supports for children with disabilities and their families. Through research and evaluation, technical assistance, and systems support, we help our partners implement effective early intervention strategies that strengthen care systems and support the learning and development of all young children. Learn more.
Transcribe →5 Strategies for Overcoming the Opioid Epidemic in Schools and Communities
Oct 2300:35:40Tap to summarizeAlthough opioid overdose deaths have recently declined, tens of thousands of families still lose loved ones to the epidemic each year. Overcoming the epidemic requires a comprehensive approach that spans education and prevention, treatment and recovery, justice reform, cross-sector collaboration, and supportive policies. How can communities integrate these areas effectively to save lives and support long-term recovery? In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Grace Westermann speaks with Jennifer Loeffler-Cobia, Director of Justice and Public Health Policy and Practice at WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center. They discuss the root causes of youth opioid misuse; the barriers that prevent schools, healthcare, law enforcement, and community organizations from working together; and the role of data in building coalitions that are more effective. Drawing on her expertise, Loeffler-Cobia outlines five evidence-based strategies for addressing the epidemic and explains why breaking down silos across sectors is critical to saving lives. Their conversation covers the following topics: Why schools are critical sites for spreading awareness and reaching youth through education and prevention programs How comprehensive care addresses medical, mental health, housing, and employment needs in treatment and recovery services How drug courts and diversion programs balance accountability with rehabilitation as alternatives to incarceration Why breaking down silos across sectors and building coalitions that share resources and use data effectively is essential How supportive policies, sustained funding, and evidence-based practices can drive lasting change through legislative reform Resources From This Episode WestEd Justice and Prevention Research Center Addressing the Opioid Overdose Epidemic
Transcribe →Advancing Economic Mobility Through Postsecondary and Workforce Strategies
Aug 1100:35:13Tap to summarizeEducation and job training can lead to good jobs and living wages; but for many adult learners, that path to greater prosperity is anything but straightforward. Structural barriers, disconnected systems, and outdated models often make it difficult for individuals to gain the skills and credentials they need to advance their careers. How can we modernize education and workforce systems and create opportunities for all learners? In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Kathy Booth, Director of the Center for Economic Mobility at WestEd, and Randy Tillery, Director of Economic Mobility and Postsecondary and Workforce Systems at WestEd and Co-Director of the Center for Economic Mobility. They discuss the challenges many adult learners face—such as balancing work, caregiving, and school—and why short-term training alone often falls short. They emphasize the value of cross-sector partnerships between community colleges, employers, and workforce organizations in building systems that are more responsive to both learners’ needs and local labor markets. Their conversation covers the following topics: How valuable it is to build partnerships that connect education institutions, employers, and workforce systems How labor market data can inform program design and improve outcomes Why lifelong learning and skills-based hiring are essential in today’s economy How systems can adapt to support learning across all stages of life Read the Transcript Additional Resources WestEd Center for Economic Mobility (Website) The Credential Value Index (Website) What Gets in the Way of Education Reforms? (Blog) About the Center The Center for Economic Mobility at WestEd brings together employers, educational institutions, and workforce systems to codesign solutions that meet the needs of both learners and employers. By strengthening linkages between systems, the Center aims to foster greater access to education, job training, and credentials so that learners can build stable and rewarding careers. Visit economic-mobility.WestEd.org to learn more.
Transcribe →Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Jams: An Innovative Approach to Problem-Solving
Jun 10, 202500:21:19Tap to summarizeUniversal Design for Learning (UDL) is an effective framework for creating flexible learning environments by designing learning experiences that give students choices in how they learn, what materials they use, and how they show their understanding. But can this framework be applied beyond the classroom as an engaging and innovative approach to solving enduring challenges within systems? WestEd’s UDL Lab and "UDL Jams” use the principles of the UDL framework to bring people together in real time to collaboratively solve complex problems. Inspired by the improvisational and collaborative nature of jazz, these sessions create a space where participants bring their unique expertise to co-create meaningful, actionable solutions. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Dr. Zach Smith, Senior Project Director, and Dr. Jose Blackorby, Director of Research and Learner Variability, both from WestEd’s Special Education Policy and Practice team. They explain the origins of UDL, how their UDL Jam model works, and why this approach is gaining momentum among educators, system leaders, and innovators across sectors. Their conversation covers the following topics: How UDL framework inspired UDL Jams Sessions The four core questions guiding UDL application in learning and leadership Why jazz serves as a perfect metaphor for inclusive, improvisational collaboration Transcript Additional Resources WestEd’s Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Jams Inspires Creative Problem Solving (Blog Post) CAST Universal Design for Learning Framework (Website)
Transcribe →Assessing Student Readiness for Accelerated Math in Middle School
May 20, 202500:30:10Tap to summarizePlacement into accelerated mathematics courses can open doors for students, paving the way toward advanced high school coursework, college readiness, and future career opportunities. But ensuring students are placed accurately requires a rigorous, evidence-based approach. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Scott Firkins, Director of Assessment Content at WestEd, and leaders from the Palo Alto Unified School District in California, Dr. Guillermo López, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, and Janine Penney, Manager of Assessment. They discuss how the district collaborated with WestEd to transform its placement process for accelerated mathematics in middle school. The result is a fair and evidence-based mathematics validation process designed to accurately place students in the right course in the mathematics pathway. Their conversation covers the following topics: Why Palo Alto Unified School District sought to redesign its validation assessment The role of high-quality assessment development and psychometric validation in the redesign How ensuring transparency builds trust within the community What early results are revealing about the new process and student readiness and success Transcript Additional Resources PAUSD Validation Test Research Brief (PDF) Palo Alto Unified School District Mathematics Program (Website) Designing High-Quality Assessment Solutions with WestEd (Website) Comprehensive Assessment Solutions (Website)
Transcribe →Education Savings Accounts (ESAs): Research, Accountability, and Transparency
Mar 17, 202500:17:43Tap to summarizeEducation Savings Accounts (ESAs) have expanded across the United States in recent years. These accounts provide state education funds, originally allocated for students to attend public school, to be redirected to families to use for educational services of their choice. These programs enable parents to use these funds for a wide range of educational services, such as private school tuition, tutoring, distance learning options, and more. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with William Berry, Research Associate with WestEd’s Charter and School Choice team, and Robin Chait Project Director with our School Choice team. They discuss how ESAs work, three primary accountability mechanisms, and the need for research on student outcomes. Their conversation covers the following topics: The growth or popularity of ESAs over time Variation and flexibility among state ESA programs Three types of accountability mechanisms Transcript Resources Mentioned in this Episode Education Savings Accounts and Accountability: A Landscape Analysis Across States (Report) Charters and School Choice (Website)
Transcribe →Early Signs of Distress: Identifying and Implementing Systemic Improvements
Aug 12, 202400:42:15Tap to summarizeHow can district and state leaders identify signs of school distress long before they are designated as in need of improvement by state accountability systems? In 2020, WestEd partnered with the National Charter School Resource Center (NCSRC) to develop and conduct a portfolio of research (listed below) that identified signs of early distress in schools, or "indicators of distress," and described an approach to support school improvement efforts. When states and education decision-makers wanted to take the work further into implementation, what emerged is WestEd's Indicators of Distress, an evidence-based early detection system that can help charter and traditional schools meet and surpass accountability standards while fostering positive learning experiences for students. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Aimee Evan, Senior Research Associate and School Improvement Specialist with the School Choice team at WestEd and co-author of the NCSRC reports, and two state education agency leaders, John Carwell Jr., Education Associate at the Delaware Department of Education, and David Frank, Chief of Staff and Assistant Commissioner, Education Policy, at the New York State Education Department. They discuss the Indicators of Distress approach and how the Delaware Department of Education and the New York State Education Department worked with WestEd to identify needed systemic improvements and implement processes and procedures that helped lead to sustained success. Their conversation covers the following topics: Implementing the Indicators of Distress approach in Delaware and New York Using data to inform decision-making Building a reliable model for school improvement Transcript Resources Mentioned in this Episode Indicators of Distress (Webpage) Indicators of Distress: A Proactive Approach to Identifying and Supporting Schools in Need of Improvement (Blog) Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools: Part 1 – The Role and Perspective of Charter School Authorizers (PDF) Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools, Part 2: The Roles and Perspectives of Charter School Leaders and Board Members (PDF) Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools: Tools to Support Authorizer Data Collection (PDF)
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