2023 Podcasts Look at Teacher Recruitment and Retention, School Climate, and More

December 17, 2023

In 2023, the Leading Voices and Budgeting for Equity podcasts delved into crucial issues that are top of mind for educators.

Leading Voices explored diverse ways of advancing research and evidence-based practices that support positive and equitable outcomes for children and adults. The episodes covered a range of pressing topics, including school climate and teacher recruitment and retention, and also provided an exciting glimpse into WestEd’s future as we welcomed our new Chief Executive Officer, Jannelle Kubinec.

Budgeting for Equity, presented by the California Association of School Business Officials and WestEd, spoke with seasoned experts about how educators can better understand and allocate resources to meet the needs of all students.

If you missed any of these insightful and most-listened-to episodes, you can listen to them at the links below. Make sure to subscribe to stay updated and informed on the latest trends and issues in education and human development.

Leading Voices

Building on a Solid Foundation: WestEd’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jannelle Kubinec, and former CEO Glen Harvey, who stepped down in 2023 after 26 years at the helm, discuss WestEd’s history, values, impact, and more.

How Students Can Help Shape School Climate Policy and Practice: Rebeca Cerna, Director for the California Center for School Climate, and special guest, Julian Berkowitz-Sklar, a graduating senior at Saratoga High School in California, discuss how schools are working to better support students’ physiological, social, and emotional growth in addition to their cognitive development as a part of their school improvement efforts.

Advancing Evidence-Based Practices in the REL West and Northwest Regions: Dr. Katie Drummond, Director of the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northwest, and Dr. John Rice, Director of the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) West share how the RELs are addressing the effects of the pandemic and more.

The REMIQS Project and State School Accountability Systems: Dr. Raifu Durodoye, Senior Research Associate at WestEd, discusses the REMIQS project, a multi-state, mixed-methods investigation designed to explore how we can best serve our most vulnerable learners.

How States Can Attract and Sustain Teachers: Caitlin Beatson, Deputy Director of the Region 2 Comprehensive Center at WestEd, and Kate Wright, Director of the Region 15 Comprehensive Center, talk about the importance of sustaining the educator workforce and how the federally funded Comprehensive Centers partner with states to address challenges and implement evidence-based and actionable solutions.

Budgeting for Equity 

Big Lifts and Launches: Sarah Neville-Morgan, Deputy Superintendent at the California Department of Education and longtime early education policy leader, discusses the why and how of Universal Transitional Kindergarten and Universal Prekindergarten implementation and more.

Building Systems Alignment and Coherence to Meet Students’ Needs: Personalized Learning in Lindsay USD: Two dynamic leaders from Lindsey Unified School District—Grant Schimelpfening, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, and Cheri Doria, Early Childhood Education Director—provide an “under the hood” look at the systems and culture their district has built to help advance equity through a personalized learning plan for each student.

Scoping Out the Current Educational Equity Landscape With Veteran School Business Leader Nina Boyd: Nina Boyd, a school business official, administrator, and statewide leader, shares insight and perspectives about advancing equity, educator authenticity, and more.