Episode Notes

Justin Lopez-Cardoze Instructional Coach and Curriculum Coordinator, Capital City Public Charter School

Ron Berger Ron is Senior Advisor, Teaching & Learning for EL Education. Ron was a public school teacher and carpenter in rural Massachusetts for 25 years. His writing and speaking focus on inspiring quality and character in students, specifically through project-based learning, original scientific and historical research, service learning, and the infusion of arts. He works closely with the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he did his graduate work and now teach a course that focuses on high-quality student work. He has authored or co-authored eight books, An Ethic of Excellence and A Culture of Quality; and with EL colleagues, Leaders of Their Own Learning, Transformational Literacy, Management in the Active Classroom, Learning That Lasts, The Leaders of Their Own Learning Companion, and We Are Crew.

Arria Coburn Arria Coburn is the principal of The Springfield Renaissance School, a 6-12 EL Education School located in Springfield, Massachusetts. She is entering her sixth year as principal and has been in education for 14 years. Prior to becoming a principal, she worked as a special education teacher before transitioning into the role of an assistant principal. Under her leadership the school earned the title of Secondary Magnet School Merit Award of Excellence. In 2018 she was named the Magnet School 2018 Region 1 Principal of the year. She entered the EdD program in Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership (CTLL) at Northeastern University during the fall of 2018 with an interest in studying how to use student centered learning strategies to increase the achievement of African American students. Her research on student centered learning strategies has given her a deep understanding of how to utilize student voice to build a sense of community for all students.

Laina Cox Laina Cox is the Middle School Principal at Capital City Public Charter School, a PreK3-12th grade EL Education School, in Washington DC. She also currently serves as a School Ambassador Fellow for the United States Department of Education, one of seven educators from around the country, chosen to help improve education for students in the development and implementation of national education policy. Laina graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in Psychology and received an Ed.M in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University.  She began her career in Boston Public Schools, first as a teacher and later as an Assistant Principal. She worked as a School Designer for EL Education for two years prior to becoming the founding principal of the Middle School at Capital City PCS. Laina was named a Ted Sizer Principal Fellow through the Coalition of Essential Schools, she was the recipient of the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Fellow for Hopkins School, her high school alma mater in New Haven, CT., is currently a mentor principal for EL Education, and is a member of the Trinity University Coalition on Education. In 2018, Laina was named the recipient of the Silverberg Leadership Award for EL Education, awarded annually to one exemplary school leader who raises student achievement through deep implementation of EL Education practices. And most recently, in 2020, Laina was selected as a member on the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent’s Principal’s Advisory Committee. Laina is an active member of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College, where she founded the Blueprint Conference for Middle and High School Girls as well as a mentoring program for Middle & High School students.  She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the proud wife of Winston and Mommy to Jaida (13) and Solomon (9).