In this episode of Learning Labs, we sit down with Nicholas Maddron, a teacher with the Collaborative for Educational Services in Massachusetts, for a conversation about relationships, authenticity, and helping young people reconnect with themselves as learners.Nick shares how he unexpectedly found his way into juvenile justice education and why relationship-building became the foundation of his classroom practice. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on the importance of creating learning environments where students feel respected, supported, challenged, and capable of success.As the discussion unfolds, a larger theme emerges around what might be called “The Coach Approach” — the idea that educators can encourage and hold students accountable while also refusing to give up on them. Nick talks about communicating high expectations, helping students develop confidence and pride in their work, and creating opportunities for students to take ownership over their learning.From celebrating student work through his classroom “Wall of Fame” to simply taking the time to genuinely know his students, Nick offers practical insights and heartfelt reflections on what it means to create classrooms rooted in trust, purpose, persistence, and belief in young people.

In this special episode of Learning Lab, we’re sharing a live conversation from BreakFree Education’s Cultivate Series featuring Grammy-winning artist and poet Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank and the Bangas. Recorded live at Baldwin & Co. Books in New Orleans, the conversation centers on intrinsic motivation and the ways creativity, identity, and trusted relationships help young people develop resilience, purpose, and belief in themselves. Tank reflects on the role creativity has played in her own journey and discusses the importance of helping young people stay connected to their voice and humanity, even when systems attempt to define them otherwise. The episode also features student poems from Words Unlocked, BreakFree Education’s national poetry initiative. This conversation offers a powerful reminder of the healing, connection, and possibility that can emerge when we create space for young people to tell their stories and be fully themselves.

In this special episode of Learning Lab, we’re sharing a live conversation hosted by David Domenici featuring Arne Duncan and Cedric Hawkins from Chicago CRED on the transformative role restorative practices can play in schools, communities, and juvenile justice spaces. The conversation examines how restorative practices can reduce violence, strengthen relationships, and create environments where young people feel valued, supported, and seen for their full humanity. Arne and Cedric reflect on the importance of building systems rooted in trust and dignity, particularly for youth impacted by trauma and the justice system, and discuss what it takes to create communities focused on healing rather than harm. This episode offers a powerful look at how restorative practices can transform not only classrooms and schools, but the broader systems and relationships that shape young people’s lives.

In this episode of the Learning Lab, Christina and Kaylah sit down with Kimberly McKenzie, a teacher in a mid-level security facility, to explore what she calls a “why not” mentality in education. From hatching chicks and raising classroom animals to integrating AI and student-led inquiry, Kimberly shares how creating experiences—not just lessons—builds engagement, responsibility, and real-world skills. This episode highlights how curiosity, care, and creative “side quests” can transform learning, even within the structure of standards and testing.

In this episode of the Learning Lab, Kaylah chats with Rachel Lewis, a New Orleans-based educator and leader with deep experience in trauma-informed care, restorative practices, social-emotional learning (SEL), and special education. In this conversation, Rachel reframes SEL as essential skill-building—not “soft skills,” but the tools young people need to advocate for themselves, regulate emotions, and navigate conflict. She shares practical strategies for embedding SEL into daily classroom routines, from greeting students at the door and starting class with emotional check-ins to creating cool-down corners and modeling vulnerability as adults. Rachel also explores why SEL must be taught when students are regulated. When practiced consistently, emotional regulation becomes like muscle memory—something students can access when they need it most. This episode highlights how building connection, teaching emotional language, and intentionally creating space for SEL can transform classroom culture and support meaningful growth for young people.

In this episode of Learning Lab, Christina and Kaylah sit down with Jackie to talk about what it means to show up with honesty, consistency, and dignity in juvenile justice classrooms. Jackie shares her journey into JJ education as a special education teacher and reflects on the importance of being real with students—naming hard truths, challenging limiting beliefs, and reminding young people that needing help is part of being human. The conversation explores rejecting labels, honoring students as still-developing individuals, and teaching self-advocacy through consistent care and presence. Jackie’s approach is a powerful reminder that when educators meet students where they are and show up every day, real growth becomes possible.

In this episode of Learning Lab, Christina and Kaylah sit down with Chyrl Johnson, a cosmetology teacher at Macon YDC in Georgia Preparatory Academy, to explore parent engagement rooted in empathy, respect, and humanity. Chyrl shares how treating students the way she would her own children shapes everything. Through monthly phone calls, letters home, and joyful family engagement events, she shows how consistent, caring outreach strengthens trust, increases student engagement, and sparks meaningful conversations between students and their families. Chyrl reframes parent outreach not as an obligation, but as a meaningful responsibility, grounded in the belief that families deserve to be part of their child’s story, even in secure settings. This episode is a powerful reminder that when educators treat students as humans and families as partners, everyone benefits.

Christina and Kaylah sit down with Kimberly Molidor, an ELA teacher at the Academy for Academic Excellence Henry Wade campus, to explore multi-level teaching and the power of thematic units. Kimberly shares how flexible design, student choice, and shared themes create one cohesive classroom where students can work at different levels while moving toward common goals. From starting small with short thematic units to identifying standards that span grade levels, this episode offers practical strategies—and encouragement—for educators navigating the complexity of multi-level classrooms.

In this episode of Learning Lab, Christina and Kaylah talk with educator Katharine Jones about the critical process of Cultivating Relationships with Secure Care. Katharine illustrates how when adults are intentionally aligned, the result is significantly calmer, more predictable classrooms for students. The conversation highlights practical alignment strategies, including establishing consistent routines, creating clear channels for daily information exchange, and explicitly sharing expectations with students so they always know what to anticipate. This practice reduces student frustration and builds trust. Katharine shares her powerful philosophy of treating every challenge as a creative opportunity, reminding us that successful partnership begins when we shift the mindset from "Don't tell me how I can't do it, tell me how I can." This episode champions a "village" mindset, emphasizing shared goals and offering concrete first steps for teachers seeking to build stronger, more unified relationships with their secure care staff.

In this episode of Learning Lab, Christina and Kaylah sit down with Ben Wiebesiek, a graphic design teacher at Lookout Academy in Colorado. Together, they explore how Ben's classroom turns student designs into real-world business assets, fostering professional skills and dignity. Ben shares how he uses the critique process, working with authentic clients, to teach students the essential life skill of receiving and applying feedback. The conversation goes beyond design mechanics, diving into how Ben guides students to challenge misconceptions about artistic symbolism, particularly regarding colors and shapes often misidentified as gang signifiers. Ben reminds us that by validating students’ creative choices and allowing them to explore deeper meaning, we foster resilience, professional communication, and the powerful self-expression necessary for students to feel their unique vision is seen and understood.