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AVID Open Access

If it relates to education and matters to you, we're talking about it on our podcasts. Unpacking Education shares in-depth conversations each Wednesday on timely topics with guests who share their expertise and experience—from teaching strategies, to educational technology, to equitable access to future-driven skills for all students. Tune in every Tuesday for a new Tech Talk For Teachers. 5 minutes jam-packed with practical and actionable tech integration strategies and tool tips you can immediately apply in your classroom.

Unpacking Education & Tech Talk For Teachers

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Darrell Potts, Principal of Northridge Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina. As an AVID alum, former AVID teacher, and now AVID-focused leader, Darrell shares how he’s cultivated a schoolwide culture rooted in the belief that every student is an achiever. 

In fact, at Northridge Middle School, success is not an abstract ideal but rather a daily practice, fueled by a shared mantra: “We will strive for excellence in all that we do . . . because we are achievers.” Darrell embodies this belief in every facet of his leadership, using AVID as the framework to embed college and career readiness into the school’s culture. His approach centers on building systems that empower both students and teachers to believe in their potential and work toward it, one step at a time.

Whether it's through the Triple A initiative that rewards attitude, academics, and attendance, or the intentional use of student voice to shape school incentives, Darrell prioritizes relevance, recognition, and relational capacity. His advice to fellow educators is clear: Start small, lean on your network, and don’t be afraid of the struggle because without it, there’s no progress. This episode offers powerful insights for leaders looking to build a culture where excellence isn’t just expected, it’s achieved. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Striving for Excellence in the Middle School, with Dr. Darrell Potts

In today’s episode, we'll explore the features and functionality of Google Gemini's image generation tool, Nano Banana. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

AI Image Generation with Nano Banana

Dr. Rosalind (Rose) Henderson, principal of March Middle School in Moreno Valley, California, shares how an experiment with student-led PD evolved into a transformative movement at her school. You’ll hear how middle school students are taking charge of real instructional design, presenting to teachers, and even leading sessions at teacher conferences. With high expectations, authentic ownership, and a belief in every child’s potential, Rose explains how student-led PD builds skills, confidence, and schoolwide culture.

Student-led PD positions students as experts, coaches, and collaborators in shaping the very instruction they receive. Rose shares, "We're future builders," which is a belief that runs deeply through her leadership philosophy.

This episode highlights the profound shift that occurs when students are trusted with real responsibility. These young learners are becoming confident speakers, critical thinkers, and advocates, not just for themselves but for their peers. As Rose reminds us, “How do you become responsible if you’re not given the opportunity to be responsible for something?” Her story is a compelling reminder that when we co-create knowledge with students, we are going beyond teaching and are truly transforming lives. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Student-Led PD, with Dr. Rosalind Henderson

In today’s episode, we'll explore Gems, custom chatbots created in Google Gemini. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Google Gems

In honor of National Principals Month, Unpacking Education is kicking off a new series this October to spotlight school leaders making a difference. In this episode, Brett Bowers, Vice President of School District Leadership at AVID Center and a former principal of two award-winning high schools, joins the conversation to reflect on his leadership journey.

Through the lens of a powerful “general contractor” analogy, Brett shares what it takes to lead a school with vision, adaptability, and trust. This episode offers valuable insights for any educator committed to building schools that truly serve students, as Brett discuss empowering teacher leaders, navigating budget constraints, and sustaining long-term success. Tune in for practical strategies, candid stories, and a celebration of the unsung complexities of the principalship. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

A Principal's Journey, with Brett Bowers

In today’s episode, we'll explore the features and functionality of TeacherServer, an AI tool designed to support teachers. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

TeacherServer

In this episode, we’re joined by Tyler Moberg, an AI learning and training specialist and founder of Amplified Impact. Drawing on his rich experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and professional learning designer, Tyler shares how educators can embrace AI as a powerful tool to streamline planning, boost creativity, and achieve meaningful results without losing the human touch. Tyler includes both mindset shifts and practical strategies in his guidance on how to invite AI to the table, not as a replacement, but as a collaborator. This conversation will help you rethink what’s possible when educators use everyday AI to amplify their impact. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Amplifying Your Impact with Everyday AI, with Tyler Moberg

Suno, An AI-Powered Music Tool

In today’s episode, we'll explore Suno, an AI-powered tool that allows users to create songs through text and audio prompts. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Suno, An AI-Powered Music Tool

What does it take to pursue a lifelong career in science, and what unexpected paths might lead there? In this episode, Dr. Ray Wheeler reflects on his 36-year career as a senior scientist and plant physiologist at NASA, where he helped pioneer research in growing plants for space travel. From Boy Scouts to botany to breakthrough innovations at the Kennedy Space Center, Dr. Wheeler shares how curiosity, collaboration, and perseverance guided his journey.

Listeners will gain insights into the scientific process, the value of interdisciplinary teamwork, and the vital role of education and durable skills in shaping future scientists. Whether you're sparking student interest in STEM or looking for real-world applications of classroom learning, this episode offers a fascinating look into the possibilities of a career in science.

Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

A Career in the Sciences, with Dr. Ray Wheeler

In today's episode, we'll explore three tools you can use to introduce Machine Learning to your students: Google's Teachable Machine, Micro:bit CreateAI, and Grammarly's Complete Guide to Machine Learning. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Entry Points Into Machine Learning

As teachers, a metaphor that often resonates with us is the teacher as gardener. While we can't force a plant to grow, we can water it, provide light, add any extra nutrients that are needed, and speak gently to it to encourage growth. And sometimes, we need to support these young plants with a stake for a little while, until they’re strong enough to stand on their own. Project-based learning (PBL) is a nutrient-rich soil that provides ripe growing conditions for our students. We’ve spent time exploring PBL during our last two episodes. Given PBL's complexity and richness, we believe a closer look at three critical questions about PBL will help teachers as you consider implementation during distance or hybrid learning. Visit AVID Open Access for the resources mentioned in this week's podcast.

Digging Deeper into Project-Based Learning

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