BustED Pencils

Happy Saturday, Pencil Busters! Today, we catch up with the incredible work the Wisconsin Public Education Network is doing, led by Executive Director Heather DuBois Bourenane. With 86 of Wisconsin’s 421 public school districts already going to referenda in the spring elections, WPEN’s been busy. They held a Day of Action at the state capitol […]

Guest: Heather DuBois Bourenane

Sat Mar 8, 2025

45:33

Pencil Busters, can you believe we’re in the playoffs for winter sports already? Today, we catch up with Chad Holmes, host of the WXCO morning show and Civic Media sports broadcaster. He’s been extremely busy covering playoffs for wrestling, hockey, and basketball. With the end of the season upon us, he shares updates, surprises, and lessons […]

Guest: Chad Holmes

Fri Mar 7, 2025

20:42

Welcome to class, Pencil Busters! Today, we’re discussing “Dear Colleague” letters, following up on our Homeroom session from Monday. Last week, the Office of Civil Rights within the federal Department of Education sent out a “Dear Colleague” letter to all schools subject to the department. So today, Dr. Tim and Dr. Johnny break down what […]

Wed Mar 5, 2025

23:37

Class, let’s get into the news for this week. President Trump’s administration made clear that they do not value diversity, equity, or inclusion. Though those words “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” separately rarely prompt any vitriol, together they form a rallying cry of- ironically- discrimination from some. Diversity is a basic truth of life, none of […]

Mon Mar 3, 2025

19:15

From smart boards to grading systems and email, teachers rely on ed tech- education technology- to optimize their workloads. As we discussed with Chris Hull on Wednesday, all of those disparate systems can be overwhelming. That’s why he created Otus, a one-platform solution to all the noise, giving teachers more of their most valuable resource: […]

Sat Mar 1, 2025

45:33

Class, this is an extra special session. On many prior Fridays, we’ve talked with coaches, players, and sports directors and editors. Today, we hear from two young women who support a sport team. They are essential contributors to an essential part of an educational experience. Natalia Nayes and Mallory Brock, award-winning social media managers for […]

Guests: Mallory Brock, Natalia Nayes

Fri Feb 28, 2025

19:16

Data, as we’ve discussed frequently on BustED Pencils, is neither good nor evil. Whether we like it or not, actors both beneficent and hostile collect and analyze and use our data constantly. From healthcare records to social media networks, our personal data circulates each day. In schools, students’ data- test scores, attendance and class participation, […]

Wed Feb 26, 2025

22:49

Pencil Busters, let’s get into this new week! In this time of absolutely overwhelming and frankly scary news regarding the funding of our schools and democracy itself, let’s focus on what we do best. We’re educated educators, talking education. So that’s what we have for you today, a Homeroom lesson on ways to learn. Coming […]

Mon Feb 24, 2025

24:33

Class, welcome our newest Pencil Busters, our friends at 100 Gardens! Co-founder and Executive Director, Sam Fleming, and Education Director, Kelli Howe, join us to share the incredible education and community work of 100 Gardens. Founded in 2011 as a humanitarian aquaponics nutrition program in Haiti, 100 Gardens began growing into the education world naturally. […]

Guests: Kelli Howe, Sam Fleming

Sat Feb 22, 2025

45:29

Jimmie Kaska, Civic Media sports editor and recurring Pencil Buster, joins us to talk change. Change abounds for Wisconsin’s essential curricular sports for high school. From adjustments to gender requirements for sports teams by the WIAA to playoff changes for next year’s football, Jimmie’s got the details. Plus, it’s playoff time for the winter sports! […]

Guest: Jimmie Kaska

Fri Feb 21, 2025

22:04