Innovation Station Podcast

Episode 5: Battle of the Books

Battle of the Books

In this episode, we discuss the District and Campus Battle of the Books Program at our elementary Schools. Elementary Lead Librarian Kristen Jurek and Blanco Vista Librarian Amy Schutze have partnered together to plan this great event for our schools and students. Listen in to enjoy how they instill a love of reading for their students as well as support classroom reading instruction! We are lucky to have these great librarians in our district. 

Podcast Resources:

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Episode 4: Language Opportunities for our Multilingual Students

Language Opportunities for our Multilingual Students

In this episode, we discuss language opportunities available for our multilingual students in our district, focusing on two practices: bridging and contrastive analysis. Ms. San Miguel Delgado shares her training and expertise with us and we are lucky to have her in Hays CISD! 

Podcast Resources:

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Episode 3: Increase Student Engagement during Vocabulary Instruction

Increase Student Engagement with Flashcard Factory

In this episode, we chat with Amanda Gonzales from Buda Elementary about how she has increased student engagement during vocabulary instruction time with the use of Flashcard Factory and Headbanz.

Podcast Resources:

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Episode 2: Teacher Created Videos

Teacher Created Videos

Listen in to find out about how Ms. Jennifer Higa-Rolls from Tobias Elementary uses teacher created videos in her classroom to help build classroom culture, independent learning skills and differentiate for learners in her classroom. 

Podcast Resources:

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Episode 1: All Things TCEA

Part 1:
Best in Show @TCEA
with Emily Herrin

In this episode, our host, Emily Herrin, shares highlights from the 2023 TCEA conference. These include several presentations about teacher and student creation resources, as well as her presentation on Setting Goals with Students. 

Podcast Resources:

To access via Spotify outside of the district network, click here:

Part 2:
All Things Esports
with Dr. Eric Rodriguez

In this episode, our guest, Eric Rodriguez, shares his highlights from the 2023 TCEA conference, including all things eSports and effective coaching. His favorite session was "So You Want to Host an eSports Tournament?" to which he answers with a resounding "YES, let's do it!" This was a fruitful conference where many connections were made and strengthened. 

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Part 3:
All Things Student Agency
with Brandi Snead

In this episode, our guest, Brandi Snead, shares her highlights from the 2023 TCEA conference, including Pairing Tech with TEKS, Chromebook Class for kids, and All things Student Agency.  Student choice and voice were a huge topic discussed at TCEA as to how empowering is it for student learning and ownership. 

Podcast Resources:


Perfect Pairing Tech to TEKS
Chromebook Class for Kids
Allocation Agency

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Part 4:
It's Just Good Teaching
with Melissa Ivicic

In this episode, our guest, Melissa Ivicic, shares her highlights from the 2023 TCEA conference, including All the Things to all the People, Chromebook Class for Kids, The One with All the Coaches, and Unveiling the Magic Within Your Tier I Instruction.  Melissa talks about how important it is for digital learning teams and coaches to build authentic relationships and create buy-in from all stakeholders to create real change within  a school district. She also speaks about how important it is for instructional leaders to be able to identify and model good Tier I instruction for teachers. Finally, she talks about her own TCEA presentation, Teacher Created Videos In a Blended Learning Classroom. 

Podcast Resources:

Chromebook Class for Kids
The One With the Coaches
Unveiling the Magic Within Your Tier I Instruction

All the Things to All the People

Teacher Created Videos in a Blended Learning Classroom

To access via Spotify outside of the district network, click here:

Part 5:
Engaging Learners
with Shelly Plumley 

Technology is changing education. We need ways to leverage it for learning and to engage our youth. TCEA is at the front of this challenge alongside educators. We recently attended TCEA’s annual conference to learn and grow in our craft so we may do the same for our teachers and students. In this episode, Shelly Plumley, HaysCISD Digital Learning Coach, discusses her takeaways from the TCEA conference and learn about what she shared with other educators in her TCEA presentation: Making Learning Come Alive with Augmented and Virtual Reality.

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Part 6:
Student Accessibility and  Personalized Learning
with Amanda Respondek 


In this episode, our guest, Amanda Respondek, shares takeaways from the 2023 TCEA conference, including sessions on designing learning experiences that are accessible for all students, as well as one school district's journey into transforming their Algebra I, English I, and English II courses with personalized learning. Amanda also shares about "Finding Student Voices Through Literature Circles and Podcasting,"  the poster presentation she co-presented with Emily Herrin.

To access via Spotify outside of the district network, click here: