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Today the Getting Smart team is bringing back a past episode of an interview they did with Dr. Pam Moran. Last summer, Pam wrapped up 32 years with Albemarle County Public Schools. Starting as a science teacher and concluding with a dozen years as superintendent, Dr. Moran quietly became one of America’s leading educators because the work she leads is so compelling. With two of her Albemarle colleagues, Moran published a book of lessons learned called, Timeless Learning: How Imagination, Observation, and Zero-based Thinking Change Schools. In this interview, Tom talks to Pam about the process of writing her book with her co-authors Ira and Chad, their collective philosophy on education, and the contents of the book. Pam also talks about why she originally wanted to become a teacher, some of her key focuses in education, and her thoughts on multi-age spaces and the ways in which schools can help ready students for adulthood. Key Takeaways: [:14] About today’s throwback episode! [:54] Tom welcomes Pam to the podcast and she describes her passion for her career. [3:42] When did Pam decide she wanted to be a teacher? [5:56] When and why Pam decided to write her book, Timeless Learning with co-authors. [15:10] Pam talks about one of her key focuses: seeing children more clearly. [17:30] About Pam’s and her co-authors’ collective philosophy. [25:22] Pam talks about multi-age spaces and the benefits of children learning in these spaces. [31:10] About an initiative Pam is working on, and one of the major ways schools can help ready students for college and career. [36:10] If Pam were going to write a headline for each of her co-authors, what would they be? [38:25] How did Pam and her co-authors write the book? [42:01] Why Pam and co-authors decided to include the “take action” section at the end of each chapter. [45:06] Pam reflects on and gives her thoughts on Better Together. Mentioned in This Episode: Albemarle County Public Schools Timeless Learning: How Imagination, Observation, and Zero-based Thinking Change Schools, by Ira David Socol, Pam Moran, and Chad Ratliff Virginia School Consortium for Learning MakerEd.org Better Together: How to Leverage School Networks For Smarter Personalized and Project Based Learning, by Tom Vander Ark and Lydia Dobyns Wiley Publications Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe. Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include ‘Podcast’ in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list! |