Episode Details

Learners in K-12 settings have changed over the past 25 years, and what were considered best practices in the 1990s may no longer work for learners in the 2020s.

Much of this is due to technology, the invention of the Iphone, and the skills young adults need when entering the workforce.

There’s a large amount of debate on how to address these evolving needs effectively, and that’s why I wanted to invite Dr. John Burkey to the “De Facto Leaders” podcast to talk about his experiences on the forefront of technology initiatives in the schools.

Dr. John Burkey is the executive director of the Large Unit District Association of Illinois. The organization represents and supports 55 of the largest unit school districts in Illinois. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Northern Illinois University where he teaches aspiring superintendents and school business managers. Burkey was previously the superintendent in Huntley Community School District in Illinois for 12 years. He also served as a middle school teacher and principal earlier in his career. He has three degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In this episode, he discusses:

✅How the invention of the Iphone has impacted students’ mental health and ability to be engaged in the learning process.

✅How do we address concerns about attention span while allowing opportunities to build self-discipline and allowing access to phones for unexpected emergencies.

✅Considering learner needs, age, and brain development when establishing classroom cell phone rules.

✅What questions should we be asking to determine the impact and effectiveness of 1:1 device initiatives in schools? 

✅Homework policies: Why asking “Is homework effective?” is the wrong question, and what we should be asking instead. 

You can learn more about how to connect with Dr. Burkey at the Large Unit District Association website here: https://www.ludaillinois.org/

 You can listen to his podcast for school leaders, Forward to the Future here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-to-the-future/id1563555302 

In this episode, I mention the School of Clinical Leadership, my program that helps related service providers design services that support executive functioning in K-12 settings. You can learn more about the program here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership

Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:

Learn more about Renaissance:

As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students,