AUHSD Future Talks

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda interviews Shana V. White, Director of CS Equity Initiatives at the Kapor Center. During the talk, Dr. White discusses her workshop at the AI Summit, equity and technology, teaching methodologies, the Kapor Center, working collaboratively, meeting schools and teachers where they are, empowering students and helping them find their identity, algorithm bias, expenses in artificial intelligence, and words of advice for education leaders.Dr. White is working on Equitable CS Initiatives, supporting both CSforCA and CSforGA, and working with stakeholders in Georgia to improve teacher professional development and increase participation and success for students of color in K12 CS courses. Prior to joining the Kapor Center, she worked for sixteen years in K12 education, serving in both public and private schools as a teacher and instructional technology specialist in metro Atlanta. 

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda talks with AUHSD's Principal/Coordinator of Alternative Education, Jose Lara. During the talk Principal Lara discusses his journey, equity and social justice, strategies and the Community Schools model at Gilbert High School, civic engagement projects, the future of alternative education, and the new schools equity advisory board.

Steven Butschi is the Director of the North American Google Education Sales team, which works with school districts, universities, and colleges to leverage Google’s Workspace and Chromebook products to personalize learning.  During the talk, Mr. Butschi discusses his journey that led him to Google, A.I. to help foster a human connection,  efficiency and familiarity with A.I., responding to concerns of students cheating with A.I., understanding how to use new tools effectively, prompt engineering, A.I in the workforce, addressing the costs of accessing new tools, and the A.I. K12 Deeper Learning Summit.After working in IT consulting and volunteering as an adult English Language Learner (ELL) teacher, Steven combined his interests in education and technology by joining the Google Education team in 2009.  During his 13+ years at Google, he has helped universities migrate to Google Workspace for Education; worked on the founding team to bring Chromebooks to the education market, which have become the #1 device in K-12 education in the U.S.; and launched Google’s efforts to bring Google Cloud Platform to researchers, universities and EdTech companies.  

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda interviews Jean-Claude Brizard, President and CEO of Digital Promise. During the talk, Mr. Brizard discusses Digital Promise, equity and technology, the promise/problems of artificial intelligence, the cost of artificial intelligence, collective powers of school districts/states, A.I. as a partner in teaching, and the A.I. Summit.Jean-Claude Brizard is President and CEO of Digital Promise, a global, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on accelerating innovation in education. He is the former Senior Advisor and Deputy Director in U.S. Programs at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he focused on PK-16 education across five communities in four states. He also led several strategies to help close the racial and economic achievement gaps in Washington State’s educational system, as well as to support the growth and sustainability of the state’s public charter school sector. He is the former Chief Executive of Chicago Public Schools. Prior to his appointment in Chicago, he was Superintendent of Schools for the Rochester City School District in New York. 

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda interviews Hafsa Kaka, Sr. Advisor of Homelessness in the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsome. During the talk, Kaka discusses her journey, the profile of homeless people, support systems for homeless people, nimbyism, the tiny homes movement, demography of homelessness, mental health and substance abuse in homelessness, and housing and homelessness as priority issues in California.Kaka has a history of government, public, non-profit human services, executive leadership & direct practice positions & experiences that utilize post MSW experience and evidence-based practices in effective macro and micro level interventions in implementing success for at-risk populations. She is seasoned in systemic transformation of services, community outreach, strategic partnerships with an emphasis and passion to educate and advance racial and social justice through inclusive lens & equity driven approaches. 

Episode 100: AUHSD A.I. Panel Special EpisodeIn this special 100th episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda has gathered an AUHSD panel, including teachers Rob Gaudette, Paola Rosenberg, Tyler Sherman, and Ray Solorzano to discuss the role of artificial intelligence in education and the AUHSD A.I. Summit. During the talk, the panel discusses the why behind the A.I. Summit, building a more humanized A.I. approach, a personalized education via artificial intelligence, the benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence, and advice to A.I. Summit participants.

In this special episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda talks with youth leaders, Alyssa Muldong and Luqman Mohammed from the National Healthy Schools Collaborative Youth Council (NHSC) sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.   In addition, Staci Boretsky, from Kaiser Permanente, a long time supporter of AUHSD, discusses why Kaiser Permanente believes it is important to invest in youth voice and leadership.During the talk, participants discuss their interest in student mental health, the 5Cs versus test scores, recommendation for teachers/curriculum, workshops with Kaiser Permanente, why Kaiser Permanente launched National Healthy Schools Collaborative Youth Council. For the last year, the NHSC youth council, made up of 17 students from around the country, have been studying how to improve the mental health of students in schools.  The youth leaders have developed 15 recommendations for K12 schools on this important topic.Three of our talented students, Luqman Mohammed (Oxford Academy), Michelle Bacilio Guzman (Savanna High School), and Alyssa Muldong (Magnolia High School), have been appointed to the National Healthy Schools Collaborative Youth Council. Luqman is addressing mental health and school transportation, Michelle focuses on body image and mental health, and Alyssa is improving school food quality and promoting sustainability. This opportunity, backed by Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools, empowers them to shape healthier school environments nationwide.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda talks with Christian Pinedo who serves as the Chief of Staff at aiEDU and leads strategic initiatives for the organization. During the talk, Mr. Pinedo discusses his journey, his role at aiEDU, aiEDU's purpose, using A.I. for equity, challenges to resistance in A.I. in education, policy initiatives around artificial intelligence, A.I. literacy and ethical considerations, the costs of artificial intelligence, the purpose of the A.I. Summit, and a hope for education and A.I. integration.Mr. Pinedo works with school district leaders, nonprofit partners, and other stakeholders who help advance aiEDU's mission to create equitable educational experiences to excite and empower learners everywhere with AI literacy. He is an educator with classroom experience teaching STEM and developing programs that implement equitable education. Most recently, he worked at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI where he collaborated with the multidisciplinary communities surrounding artificial intelligence to pursue cutting-edge research, create useful and responsible AI, and respond thoughtfully to the societal and ethical implications of AI. He believes in a commitment to driving effective social and societal change via equitable AI education.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda talks with Dr. Mette Miriam Boell, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Center for Systems Awareness and research director at the MIT Systems Awareness Lab. During the interview Dr. Boell discusses her journey, the misalignment between public education and testing, the disconnection between public education and the real world, having conversations on the purpose of education, compassion in education, and preparing young people for emotional resiliency. Dr. Boell is a biologist and researcher with a specialization in the evolution of complex social systems, mammalian play behavior, and philosophy of nature. She holds a Ph.D. in organizational ethology and has extensive training in contemplative leadership and the philosophy and history of science. Boell's work primarily focuses on understanding how emotions and feelings influence social relations and, in turn, shape larger human systems, particularly in the context of education. She co-founded the Center for Systems Awareness with Peter Senge, emphasizing the integration of contemplative social-emotional learning and systems thinking in education. Boell also played a pivotal role in the Triple Focus Initiative and the Garrison Global Collaboration for Integrative Learning. In 2018, she joined MIT as a Visiting Research Scientist, working with The Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL) and later co-founded The MIT Systems Awareness Lab in 2022, where she is the Research Director. Her work at the Lab involves studying compassionate systems change in education and developing Systems Awareness methodology. Previously, Boell was head of research at Metropol University College and taught neuroscience of emotions. She is a key figure in various research and educational initiatives, focusing on generative social fields and living systems change.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda talks with Dr. Edgar Lampkin, CEO of CABE. During the talk, Dr. Lampkin discusses his journey from Mexico to the United States, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE), navigating a polarized community, equity in education, assets-based education, and the CABE conference.Dr. Edgar Lampkin is a highly respected leader in the field of bilingual education, renowned for his visionary approach and tireless advocacy for equitable learning opportunities. With an extensive background in linguistics, multicultural education, and educational leadership, Dr. Lampkin brings a unique blend of expertise to his role as CEO of CABE.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda talks with Karen Hunter Quartz, Director of the UCLA Center for Community Schooling. During the talk,  Professor Quartz discusses her journey, what the UCLA Center for Community Schooling does, what community schools represent, whole-child perspective on assessment, student voice and career pathways, the role of artificial intelligence, and community schools funding.Professor Quartz's scholarship examines community school development, teacher autonomy and retention, and social transformation. In 2007, she led the design team to create the UCLA Community School and in 2017 served on the design team for a second site, the Mann UCLA Community School. She currently oversees a portfolio of research-practice partnerships at both schools designed to advance democracy, justice, and education.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda talks with June Ahn, Professor of Learning Sciences and Research-Practice Partnerships at the UC Irvine (UCI) School of Education. During the discussion Professor Ahn discusses his journey, collaborating with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)/AUHSD/UCI, analyzing student perspectives and stories with new technology, the role of artificial intelligence to support teachers and students, identification and development of student talent, connection of pedagogy and emotional health, and the A.I. Summit. Professor Ahn conducts research at the intersection of participatory design, technology, education, and community partnerships.

In this special episode of AUHSD Future Talks, AUHSD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Dr. Jaron Fried, hosts and discusses a new book, Educating for Purposeful Life, with authors David Brazer and Michael Matsuda. During the talk Mr. Brazer and Mr. Matsuda discuss what inspired them to write the book, preserving the value of education, the Career Preparedness Systems Framework, the art of implementation and making it real, systems thinking, changing the culture of an organization, Site/District/Community levels, the Anaheim Collaborative, and student success stories.David Brazer is principal consultant at Brazer Education Consulting and a former teacher, high school principal, and professor of education leadership at Stanford. Michael Matsuda is superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District, an urban public school district with twenty secondary schools for grades 7-12.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda interviews Western High School teachers Karen Clark Yamamoto, Sean Manning, and Raquel Solorzano-Duenas. During the interview they discuss some of the innovative projects happening at Western such as the iLab, equal opportunities for young entrepreneurs/inventors, Empowered, Market Day, AIME/Kindset, exposure to creation/innovation, and the Vacant Lot project.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda interviews ROP Superintendent Dana Lynch. During the talk, Superintendent Lynch discusses his journey, descibes what ROP is and ROP's relationship with AUHSD, industry experienced ROP teachers, servicing all students, an ROP regional hub/center, Providence and the TGR Foundation, workplace learning and mentoring, and ROP board members.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda interviews author and former AUHSD English teacher, Kelly Gallagher. During the talk, Kelly discusses his latest book (Four Essential Studies), rethinking the essay in the classroom, "writing small" narratives, poetry, digital composition, curriculum that is "tuned in" to students, artificial intelligence in education, book clubs, book banning, a new diverse books/revolutionary characters book club project, and empathy and democracy.Since 1985, Kelly Gallagher has devoted himself to the teaching of reading, writing, listening and speaking—first and foremost, as a high school ELA teacher in the Anaheim Union High School District at Magnolia High School, and also as an author/consultant who works with educators around the world.  Today, he is considered one of the leading voices in literacy education.Always in search of a better way, Kelly honed his craft by taking on leadership positions in several key literacy programs, including the California Reading and Literature Project, the South Basin Writing Project at California State University, Long Beach, and the Puente Project, a University of California outreach program that prepares under-represented high school students for transition into universities.  For several years, he taught secondary literacy courses as an adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton, and, most recently, he served as the president of the Secondary Reading Group of the International Reading Association (IRA). In 2005, Kelly received the Award for Classroom Excellence from the California Association of Teachers of English, the state’s highest honor for English teachers. In 2018, the California Association of Teachers of English presented Kelly with their Distinguished Service Award. Inspired by his classroom and professional development experiences, Kelly has written numerous books for teachers, many of which are used in education schools around the world. 

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda interviews Robert Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz is Professor Emeritus of Practice in Educational Policy and Administration at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  During the talk, Mr. Schwartz discusses the four-year degree, education opportunities, dual enrollment, community colleges, exposure to the world of work and careers, challenges of employer internships/engagement programs, the impact of artificial intelligence, and advice to educational leaders.Mr. Schwartz held a wide variety of leadership positions in education and government before joining the HGSE faculty in 1996. From 1997 to 2002, Schwartz also served as president of Achieve, Inc., an independent, bipartisan, nonprofit organization created by governors and corporate leaders to help states improve their schools. From 1990 to 1996, Schwartz directed the education grantmaking program of The Pew Charitable Trusts, one of the nation's largest private philanthropies. In addition to his work at HGSE, Achieve, and The Pew Charitable Trusts, Mr. Schwartz has been a high school English teacher and principal; an education adviser to the mayor of Boston and the governor of Massachusetts; an assistant director of the National Institute of Education; a special assistant to the president of the University of Massachusetts; and executive director of The Boston Compact, a public-private partnership designed to improve access to higher education and employment for urban high school graduates. Mr. Schwartz has written and spoken widely on topics such as standards-based reform, public-private partnerships, and the transition from high school to adulthood. In recent years Mr. Schwartz has contributed to three volumes published by Harvard Education Press: Teaching Talent(2010), Surpassing Shanghai(2011), and The Futures of School Reform (2012). He currently co-leads the Pathways to Prosperity Network, a collaboration among a group of states, HGSE, and Jobs for the Future designed to ensure that many more young people graduate high school, attain an initial postsecondary degree or credential with value in the labor market, and get launched on a career while leaving open the possibility of further education.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda interviews Dr. Tommy Chang, CEO of the New Teacher Center. During the talk, Dr. Chang discusses the New Teacher Center, the teaching profession, Dr. Chang's journey, challenges facing Gen Z, the recent affirmative action decision, artificial intelligence in education, the miseducAsian podcast, and advice to young people.Dr. Chang brings over 25 years of education experience and leadership to this role, including significant positions in schools, districts, and nonprofit organizations. Before this current position, he spent four years as a consultant and coach to school system and non-profit leaders. He also serves on several nonprofit boards such as Leading Educators, Silicon Schools Fund, Families in Schools, as well as Education Leaders of Color, an organization dedicated to elevating the leadership, voices, and influence of people of color in education to lead more inclusive efforts to improve education. Dr. Chang has served many roles in public education. He was the Superintendent of Boston Public Schools and a local area superintendent in the Los Angeles Unified School District.  He is a former biology teacher and high school principal.A native of Taiwan who immigrated with his family to the U.S. at age six, Dr. Chang grew up in Los Angeles and holds an Ed.D. from Loyola Marymount University, M.Ed.’s from the Principals Leadership Institute and the Teachers Education Program at the University of California Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

In this episode of AUHSD Future Talks, Superintendent Matsuda interviews Mrs. Adriana Badillo, Director of CSUF's Center for Educational Partnerships. During the talk, Mrs. Badillo discusses the definition of a partnership, GEAR UP, the Anaheim Innovative Mentoring Experience (AIME), the Pledge, learning walks, and advice for conference participants.

In this special episode of AUHSD Future Talks, an AUHSD panel joins Superintendent Matsuda to discuss artificial intelligence in education. During the talk, the panel discussed Chat GPT in the classroom, personalized learning for students with artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence and the end of mediocrity, A.I. professional learning, challenges and ethical concerns surrounding the use of A.I. in education, how to start learning about and bringing A.I. into the classroom, and a preview of the AUHSD A.I. Summit.A special thank you to our panel, including Julie Foy, Dr. Jaron Fried, Rob Gaudette, Sean Manning, Madalynn Mavis, Paola Rosenberg, Ray Solorzano, John Bautista, and Michael Matsuda.