Warning: This episode contains discussion of mental illness, self-harm, and suicide, and may not be suitable for all audiences. Nothing contained in the podcast should be interpreted as medical or mental health treatment or advice. Please follow your medical provider's advice and direction. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Listener discretion is advised.    What is an ally?  You may relate the term to countries that have formed military relationships to fight together against their enemies. When one country in the alliance goes to war, the other countries take on that war as their own. While this is one definition, the term reaches beyond the military to a far more personal war – a war against hate, bigotry, and oppression.   A simple internet search will produce official historical references to the queer community in the U.S. as early as the Revolutionary War, but the term ally appears as recently as 1969 with the beginning of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. LGBTQ+ rights, acceptance, and support has come a long way in recent history but there’s still much work to be done.   Educators have a responsibility to support and guide their students. Statistics show that LGBTQ+ students who have a support system – at school and/or home – are more confident and successful in their educational journey. Anyone can be an ally if they’re willing to listen and learn. But where do you start?  The second and final part of a two-part special edition of inspirED podcast focuses on how being an ally supports the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth as part of our Education Equity series.  In this episode, our panel of education and mental health professionals, and LGBTQ+ allies will discuss what it means to be an ally, the importance and impact an ally can have on the development of LGBTQ+ youth, and ways you can work to becoming an ally for your students.   Subscribe to inspirED on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode. Check out our website at www.pltw.org/podcast for the latest episodes and catch-up on previous episodes.        PLTW Links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn    Subscribe Links: iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, pltw.org/podcast    Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].   

Warning: This episode contains discussion of mental illness, self-harm, and suicide, and may not be suitable for all audiences. Nothing contained in the podcast should be interpreted as medical or mental health treatment or advice. Please follow your medical provider's advice and direction. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Listener discretion is advised.   “A safe and welcoming school environment is essential for student success. Educators are a critical component in creating an environment that enables all students to thrive!” – Lily Eskelsen Garcia, President of the National Education Association You’ve probably heard a phrase like, “that’s so gay” at one point or another. It might be a second grader who heard the phrase on TV, a seventh grader trying to fit in with peers, or a high school junior “teasing” a friend. Regardless of where it comes from, phrases like this can make students feel unsafe, unwelcome, and uncomfortable. Students spend more waking hours attending school – either in-person or virtually – than anywhere else, and they should expect the classroom to be a safe and nurturing environment. A study from GLSEN reported 86 percent of LGBTQ+ students were harassed or assaulted at school in 2019, and overwhelmingly felt safer and more supported with anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies, gender and sexuality alliances, supportive teachers and staff, and LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum. You might be thinking, "It’s not my responsibility to change culture" or "I can’t make change so there’s no point in trying." It is, you can, and you should! National Coming Out Day was Oct. 11, and we’re celebrating by releasing the first part of a two-part special edition of inspirED podcast as part of our Education Equity series. This episode is all about inclusivity as it relates to mental health and wellbeing with LGBTQ+ youth. In this episode, our panel of education and mental health professionals, and LGBTQ+ allies will discuss what it means to be part of the LGBTQ+ community, how words and phrases can have a negative impact on students’ mental health and well-being, and how you can work towards becoming an ally to support your LGBTQ+ students regardless of where learning takes place. Subscribe to inspirED on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode. Check out our website at www.pltw.org/podcast for the latest episodes and catch-up on previous episodes.     PLTW Links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn    Subscribe Links: iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, pltw.org/podcast    Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].

In 1930, one phrase – “I think I can.” – uttered by a train taught millions of people about courage, perseverance, positive thinking, and self-determination.   Unlike that little train, every day educators see students quit something before they even start because they fear failure. It’s easy to assume this is a self-confidence issue but it’s more than that – this is a self-efficacy issue. Self-efficacy is the overall belief in our ability to succeed in a specific situation.   An important part of developing inclusive learning environments is encouraging students to develop a strong sense of self-efficacy so they know that with the right mindset, you can succeed regardless of who you are, where you come from, or where you’re going.   In this episode of our special series of inspriED dedicated to education equity, a group of education professionals discuss self-efficacy and the role it plays in classrooms, share challenges they’ve experienced, and offer actionable ideas and strategies they use to promote self-efficacy with their students.   Subscribe to inspirED on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode. Check out our website at www.pltw.org/podcast for the latest episodes and catch-up on previous episodes.      PLTW Links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn   Subscribe Links: iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, pltw.org/podcast   Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].  

“It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education.” – Nelson Mandela  What is education equity? Merriam-Webster defines equity as “justice according to natural law or right; freedom from bias or favoritism.” Recent events have brought out many different perspectives on equity in education and raises the question, what can we do to ensure every student receives a quality education that prepares them for the future.   In this first episode of our special series of inspirED dedicated to education equity, a group of education professionals explore how education equity manifests in classrooms across the U.S. and how those experiences impact students inside and outside the classroom. Our guests share their personal experiences with education equity and discuss ways you can actively work towards creating equity every day in every part of your classrooms, schools, homes, and communities.   Subscribe to inspirED on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode. Check out our website at www.pltw.org/podcast for the latest episodes and catch-up on previous episodes.   PLTW Links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn  Subscribe Links: iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, pltw.org/podcast  Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].

Eunice Health is one of our country’s top STEM professionals, working for one of the world’s largest STEM companies, and she sees firsthand just how important it is for all of today’s students to be developing STEM knowledge and skills to help meet the challenges our growing world population. From increasing diversity to teaching ethics, our classrooms today are truly the front lines for solving the world’s future challenges. For more InspirED, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!   Follow links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Subscribe links: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, email newsletter Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].   GUEST: Eunice Heath - LinkedIn HOSTED BY: Jennifer Erbacher - LinkedIn, Twitter

When he looked around his classroom and saw unused manufacturing equipment, PLTW instructor Chris Townsend had an idea. Why not put it to use year-round through a student-run manufacturing business? Two years later, Eagle Manufacturing is helping high school students develop real-world skills and cut their teeth in real-world jobs, right in their high school. Instructor Chris Townsend and student manager Caleb Doss break talk about its beginnings, successes, and challenges. For more InspirED, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Subscribe links: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, email newsletter Follow links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].   GUEST: Chris Townsend and Caleb Doss – Website, Twitter HOSTED BY: Jennifer Erbacher - LinkedIn, Twitter

Nick Ragone: An Employer’s Perspective on Preparing for High-Demand Careers Healthcare is the fastest-growing industry in the United States, with more than 2.4 million new professionals needed by 2026. Nick Ragone from Ascension, the nation’s largest nonprofit health system, talks about the need they’re facing and what students and teachers can do today to prepare for those careers. For more InspirED, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Follow links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Subscribe links: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, email newsletter Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].   GUEST: Nick Ragone – Twitter, LinkedIn HOSTED BY: Jennifer Erbacher - LinkedIn, Twitter

Rural school districts often have their own set of unique challenges that can make starting or sustaining a STEM program difficult. But in Lapeer, Michigan, the district has found success with a formula of engagement, funding, and yes, duct tape. Listen as District STEM Coordinator Jaime Ratliff shares their keys to success. For more InspirED, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Follow links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Subscribe links: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, email newsletter Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].   GUEST: Jaime Ratliff – Twitter, LinkedIn, Email HOSTED BY: Jennifer Erbacher - LinkedIn, Twitter

Kate Kreamer: Building High-Quality CTE Programs Career and Technical Education programs today are not the programs of the 1980s and 90s. Hear from Advance CTE as deputy executive director Kate Kreamer shares the benefits for all students and how your district can raise the bar on programs that prepare students for career success. For more InspirED, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! PLTW Perkins Funding paper: [insert link] Follow links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Subscribe links: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, email newsletter Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].   GUEST: Kate Kreamer – LinkedIN HOSTED BY: Jennifer Erbacher - LinkedIn, Twitter

Students often do as they're told or follow the “normal” path throughout PreK-12 education, missing vital opportunities to develop skills and have experiences that would further their career goals. Not Letizia Moro. She’s a high school senior in Boise, Idaho, who has never followed a straight line when it comes to her PreK-12 education. Listen as she shares how her unique experiences have led to innovation and entrepreneurship, and her advice to other students who have big ideas they want to pursue. For more InspirED, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!   Follow links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Subscribe links: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, email newsletter Feedback or suggestions: Email us at [email protected].   GUEST: Letizia Moro - Email, LinkedIn HOSTED BY: Jennifer Erbacher - LinkedIn, Twitter