Send us a text Open the gates to the golden age of nonfiction literature with Dr. Lisa Hassler and Melissa Taylor, founder of Imagination Soup, as they unravel the often-overlooked power of nonfiction books in education. Did you know that 84% of first graders show a preference for nonfiction, yet these books are not as prevalent as they should be i…

Send us a text What if the key to managing childhood anxiety lies in the stories we tell? Discover how storytelling can transform anxiety from a daunting monster into a friendly guide, as Dr. Anna Housley-Juster, a licensed mental health clinician and author of "How to Train Your Amygdala," joins us. With a blend of empathy and humor, Anna shares h…

Send us a text Unlock the powerful role of music in transforming education with insights from Dr. Lisa Hassler and guest, Dr. Giuliana Conti, Director of Education and Equity at Music Workshop. Prepare to discover how music education can boost adolescents' mental well-being, with research backing its impact on neural connectivity and emotional heal…

Send us a text What if schools could transform chaos into community strength during a natural distaster? Join me, Dr. Lisa Hassler, as we promise a deep dive into the critical topic of hurricane preparedness in American schools. In this episode, seasoned educators Mary Guarino and Beth Donofrio, share their poignant experiences in preparing and dea…

Send us a text What if mathematics could be as captivating and enjoyable as a symphony concert? In our latest episode, we promise you'll discover innovative ways to make math not only accessible but genuinely fun for everyone. Join me, Dr. Lisa Hassler, alongside Cindy Lawrence, the inspiring Executive Director and CEO of the National Museum of Mat…

Send us a text What if we could transform education to truly empower every student, regardless of their background? Join me, Dr. Lisa Hassler, and our inspiring guest, Dr. Emily Affolter, as we uncover the potential of building just and inclusive educational environments. Drawing from Paulo Freire's "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" and Jean Anyon's "Soc…

Send us a text Dual language programs are growing as the value of linguistic diversity is seen as a strength to be leveraged, not a challenge to be overcome. Peek into the inner workings of the dual language program with Katherine Hamilton, the Senior Vice President of Programs at Ensemble Learning. Discover how these programs not only boost academ…

Send us a text "Our traumas can either be our greatest problem or our greatest superpower," (Dr. Robyn Koslowitz). Which do you believe it is? Reflect on childhood trauma with Dr. Koslowitz, a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, who dives deep into her personal journey and professional insights to help us understand how trauma can be hidde…

Send us a text How can understanding and integrating Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) impact the way we educate and nurture young minds? Join us as we explore SEL with Dr. Maggie Broderick, Associate Professor in the Teacher Education Department of National University’s Sanford College of Education, where she serves as a Dissertation Chair and Facul…

Send us a text Ever wondered how the commodification of education affects our teachers' mental health and the quality of education? Join us as we explore this pressing issue with renowned healthcare executive and leadership consultant, Dr. Roger Gerard. Together, we unpack the alarming rise in teacher burnout and anxiety, exacerbated by the pandemi…

Send us a text Want to change your approach to teaching? Join us with Jessica Cavallaro, co-founder of The Agile Mind, as she uncovers the transformative power of Agile methodologies in the classroom. Discover how Jessica embraced Agile principles, reshaping her educational environment into a vibrant space of collaboration and student-driven proble…

Send us a text Can questioning transform teaching more effectively than lecturing? Join us on The Brighter Side of Education as we welcome Dr. Eric Mazur, the Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Harvard University, to discuss social learning and assessment. Dr. Mazur is the innovator of Peer Instruction and Perusall. His motivatio…

Send us a text Discover how AI can transform your classroom with insights from EdTech AI consultant Jessica Lyons. Learn how ChatGPT can simplify lesson planning and administrative tasks, drastically cutting down the time educators spend on preparation. Jessica shares her compelling journey from teacher to AI advocate, revealing how ChatGPT’s conve…

Send us a text Tap into the symphony of learning with us as we explore sound-based teaching techniques in the classroom. Author, Hayes Greenfield, brings over three decades of experience to the table as a jazz musician and film composer, sharing the magic of his Creative Sound Play learning system and offering a glimpse into his upcoming book, Crea…

Send us a text Unlock the secrets to teaching your children the priceless skill of financial literacy, as we welcome Anthony Delauney to share his expertise and heartwarming journey as a Family Financial Planner and author of Owning the Dash children's book series. This episode is packed with engaging stories and practical advice that will change t…

Send us a text Discover the untold challenges of generational poverty and how it shapes the educational journey of countless children. I'm Dr. Lisa Hassler, and in a heartfelt conversation with Michael Coleman, CEO of Heart of Alabama Food Bank, we peel back the layers of societal norms and hidden barriers that dictate the success or failure of our…

Send us a text Discover the transformative power of Montessori and project-based learning as we journey with Michaela Cucera, a veteran Montessori educator from the Roots Nature and Leadership Academy, through the captivating terrain of individualized education. Prepare to be inspired as we unravel the secrets behind sensory-rich classrooms and mix…

Send us a text Realize the full potential of your child's early education journey with guidance from Autumn McKay, a former teacher turned author whose passion for hands-on learning shines through every page of her work. Autumn details how parents can support their child's academic journey by creating intentional learning experiences at home. Even …

Send us a text Embark on an educational adventure where the whispers of the forest merge with the laughter of learning. Justine Wilson, the innovative mind behind Curious and Kind Education, welcomes us into a world where classrooms have no walls, and the sky's the limit for curiosity. She's not your average educator; her story of transitioning fro…

Send us a text Explore the educational revolution where AI becomes the teacher's ally, not the adversary. Unlock the promise of a tailored learning journey as we unpack the integration of artificial intelligence into the classroom setting. With insights from the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Educator Confidence Report and the expert knowledge of Amanda…

Send us a text Imagine a classroom where every child reads confidently, their eyes alight with understanding. Today literacy sage, Dr. Joseph Lockavitch, unveils the blueprint to literacy success for non-readers. We tackle the daunting educational crisis head-on, discussing Dr. Lockavitch's revolutionary Failure-Free Reading Program, dissecting the…

Send us a text Have you ever felt a poem tug at your heartstrings, or stumbled upon lines of verse that perfectly captured your emotions? Today's podcast is a treasure for anyone who’s ever been moved by the power of poetry. We’re joined by the poet Sarika Singh, whose insights into the transformative impact of poetry on education are nothing short…

Send us a text Discover how the gentle art of trauma-informed yoga can impact our approach to mental health and education. Join me and my inspiring guest, Kim Louria, from Roots, Nature and Leadership Academy, as we unpack the profound effects this practice can have on alleviating the impact of trauma on learning. You'll hear heartfelt stories and …

Send us a text Unlock the secrets of fostering a deep, enduring connection between children and the environment through the power of art and nature. Join me, Dr. Lisa Richardson-Hassler, as I talk with Jenna Saulo, researcher and art educator from Roots Nature and Leadership Academy. Together, we explore the integration of natural elements into art…

Send us a text Step into the world of dance with professor of dance and head of dance education at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Stephanie Milling, and uncover the magnificent role it plays in education. Can you imagine how dance can lead to higher test scores, pro-social behavior, and increased school and community engagement? This episode…

Send us a text Ever wonder about the magic that happens when little toes tap and small voices hum along to catchy tunes? We guarantee you'll begin to see pre-school music and movement in a transformative light in our chat with specialist Nick Young, who's been instrumental in music curriculum design for early childhood classrooms. He shares his ins…

Send us a text Ever thought about the profound role art plays in education? Get ready to be enlightened as we join Dr. Andrea Kantrowitz, an artist, researcher, and educator, in an enriching conversation on the impact of art on cognition. Taking us through her significant research findings, we delve into the surprising correlation between an integr…

Send us a text Looking to create a lasting impact on your students? Tune in as we turn the spotlight on the power of theater education. We're joined by Brad Wages, actor and seasoned theater education maestro from Venice Theater's Education and Community Engagement Department. We dive deep into a discussion about his journey in the world of theater…

Send us a text Season 1 of The Brighter Side of Education was a remarkable journey! Together, we laughed, we learned, and we sparked conversation on how to transform classrooms, one discussion at a time. We've heard about the challenges educators, parents, and students face, and the innovative solutions that various communities have implemented. It…

Send us a text In today's episode, we have a special guest joining me as co-host - my husband, Dr. Gregg Hassler, Jr. He's not only a dentist but also a former school board president and, as he always likes to say, my biggest advocate. We are thrilled to celebrate The Brighter Side of Education's one-year anniversary! A big thank you goes out to al…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on digital communities with Katy Kappler. Why do we need them and how can it increase student completion rates in distance education? The potential of technology in education is so great that there is a steady increase in the number of online courses available in higher education every year. Distance educatio…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on history in education. Why study history? Joining me to discuss these intriguing facets of the study of history is historian of education, Dr. Christopher Berg. He is a history professor specializing in pre-modern World history with research and writing focused on creating a "usable" past that meets the nee…

Send us a text In this episode, I discuss the benefits of bilingual immersion programs. How can a dual language education impact student achievement? Joining me today to discuss bilingual education, is educator and administrator Eric Franzen (www.idealschool.education). He is the founder of Ideal School, a Cognia-accredited dual language internatio…

Send us a text What are the current trends as well as the academic steps needed to help students reach their college goals? In this episode, we discuss the changing landscape for college admissions with College Admissions Advisor, Julie Keisheimer. Julie works with Great Minds Advising, which is the remotely-based college advising wing of the tutor…

Send us a text In this episode, I explore the fascinating findings on working memory, its impact on academic attainment, and the promising avenues for intervention and support. How does working memory determine student success and how can it be improved? Over the years, studies conducted by Dr. Tracy Packiam Alloway (www.tracypackiam.com) have prov…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on school facilities design. How does the design of school buildings and classrooms impact student learning? Mary Ruppenthal discusses future trends in school design. She is a registered architect and an Associate Principal at HED, one of the oldest and largest architecture and engineering firms in the countr…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on teacher attrition. What can administrators do to retain teachers? In 2021, The National Education Association (NEA) recommended districts make significant changes to reduce stress and improve morale in schools to avoid a "Great Resignation." It's 2023, and I don't think many school districts listened. Teac…

Send us a text In today’s episode, I continue with my personal background in education to discuss the research I conducted and how it led me to podcasting. Dr. Gregg Hassler, Jr. DMD joins me as a co-host. He was a school board president, is a dentist, but most importantly, is my husband. He's always said that it’s important that my audience gets t…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on struggling readers in middle and high school. Adolescent-literacy expert, Matt Bardin is with us today to discuss how to increase the reading levels of middle and high-school struggling students. He is an educator with 25 years of experience and founder of Zinc Learning Labs. He has written on adolescent l…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on the reading habits of teenagers with high school English teacher, Beth Donofrio. Beth has her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education for English and her master’s degree in Children and Adolescents at Risk from Harvard. She is a conference speaker, editor, and author of the book, Champions Way: Inspiring …

Send us a text In this episode, I talk about my path in education and what brought me to podcasting. I took a temporary detour in my regular guest show structure to give you the back story to what brought me to this table. The story is long, twisty, and raw. It's a personal tale of my journey. Here are the beginning cliff notes highlights: pregnant…

Send us a text Today, I focus on a classical curriculum. Can using a classical curriculum approach to teaching students in pre-school through grade12 increase student reading and overall academic achievement? Reading and math rates across the nation are spiraling down with no end in sight. It begs the question; how did we get here as a nation and w…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on inclusive classrooms for students with intellectual disabilities with filmmaker Olivier Bernier. How does inclusivity impact student success? There are an estimated 7.3 million children with disabilities, accounting for 14% of the students enrolled in our public school system. According to The Individuals …

Send us a text How can we improve children’s mental health to increase academic success? In this episode, JoAnn Tomer discusses her experience as a mental health therapist and her work with children and horses as we focus on children’s mental health and its effects in the classroom. According to the CDC in 2022 on the state of Children's Mental Hea…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on school boards and their effect on student achievement. What makes a school board effective? Research over the past 20 years clearly links the beliefs, actions, and relationships of school board members with student outcomes. Scholars compared districts with similar levels of poverty and disadvantage to det…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on life coaching for young adults with Pam Burke. How can a life coach help your child through the transitional college years to increase their odds of success? Every year, over a million college students drop out of school. The majority are first-year students with an average dropout rate at 24.3%. Younger s…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on virtual school in special education as a variable with Barbara Southwick. She discusses how virtual school in special education is an untapped resource that opens up possibilities in students with disabilities. In 2021, I published a study comparing third grade reading proficiency levels in virtual schools…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on curriculum as a variable for student success with education writer and author Natalie Wexler. She discusses the importance of using a knowledge-based curriculum in schools and explains how cognitive science plays a vital role in how we teach it. Studies identifying comprehensive, content-rich curriculum as…

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on theory as a variable. How can theory affect positive change in education? Here to discuss theory in education is Dr. Michael Grahame Moore. He first defined distance education in his Theory of Transactional Distance in 1972 and then expanded on that in 1997. He was named as “one of the 128 most important, …

Send us a text In this episode, I focus on culture as a variable. Educating the young Black girl is becoming an increasing problem for American educators. The Black girl is characterized as sassy, aggressive, bossy, and disrespectful. Because of these perceptions, they often are subjected to more frequent and harsher disciplinary actions. From kind…