Oct 17, 2018
If you follow education social media, you’ve probably heard of Salisbury Superintendent, Randy Ziegenfuss. Randy has been the Superintendent for almost four years but prior to that held different roles in education, teaching music and technology. Over the last few years, he’s become a leading advocate of learner-centered education and blogs all about it at WorkingAtTheEdge.org. With his Assistant Superintendent, Randy has also produced more than 40 episodes of the Shift Your Paradigm podcast, where he explores learner-centered education and leadership.
Recently, Tom got the chance to catch up with Randy to find out what motivates and informs his leadership. Tom and Randy discuss his earlier roles in education, his current role as Superintendent, the shift in education to more student-centered education (rather than school-centered), the framework his district is using to help shape this, more about his podcast with co-host, Lynn Fuini-Hetten, and what they set out to accomplish with it.
Key Takeaways:
[:16] About this week’s guest, Randy Ziegenfuss.
[1:06] About Randy’s early education.
[4:11] Does Randy think that music teachers have a special
appreciation for personalized and competency-based learning? And
that every learner is on a different journey?
[8:43] How being a band director teaches you humility.
[10:48] How Randy moved from his position teaching music, to
teaching technology, to becoming Superintendent.
[15:17] About next week’s iNACOL Party in Nashville. Email
Editor@gettingsmart.com to get your name on the list!
[15:36] Randy speaks about the analog-to-digital learning shift in
education and how it has helped to provide perspective on the
current shift from school-centered to student-centered.
[19:26] When student-centered learning really clicked for
Randy.
[21:13] Did Randy adopt Education Reimagined’s student-centered
learning principles as part of his strategic plan at Salisbury?
[23:55] Randy’s journey at Salisbury and his progress in shifting
the schools to more student-based learning.
[31:44] How Randy’s framework is helping to shift the mindsets and
allow time for reflection.
[33:25] Randy’s thoughts on the tension between innovation and
equity (when progress is happening at different speeds in the
district).
[35:35] About Randy’s podcast, Shift Your Paradigm, and what he’s
trying to accomplish with it.
[41:37] Looking forward, what is Randy most curious about in
transforming education?
[44:22] Parting words and thanks from Tom and Randy.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Randy’s Twitter
Randy’s LinkedIn
WorkingAtTheEdge.Org
Shift Your Paradigm Podcast
Lynn Fuini-Hetten’s Twitter (Randy’s podcast co-host)
Social Good Summit
Johns Hopkins University
Education Reimagined
Pioneering Newsletter
If you want to hear another great discussion with a
student-centered leader, listen to:
Episode 63: Listening to Kids and Designing from Scratch for
Timeless Learning with Pam Moran
Get Involved:
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