In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Betsy Potash, former English teacher, curriculum creator, and host of the Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. We explore how teachers can move away from teacher-centered instruction and create classrooms where students have more voice, choice, and ownership over their learning.

Betsy shares practical strategies that help make that shift feel possible, including project-based learning, podcasting, silent discussion, and hexagonal thinking. We also talk about why creative structures matter, how they build confidence and engagement, and what it looks like to design learning that feels relevant beyond school. Join us to explore fresh ways to spark agency, discussion, and deeper thinking in the classroom.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• How teachers can step out of the spotlight and create more student-centered learning
• Why agency, real-world context, and authentic audience increase engagement
• How hexagonal thinking helps students make connections across texts, ideas, and lived experience
• Why silent discussion creates space for every learner to participate and build confidence
• How contemporary, multimodal approaches can make ELA more relevant and creative

Resources:

• The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast
• Toolkit for getting started with hexagonal thinking
• The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast Instagram

Produced by NOVA

In this milestone 300th episode of Learning Unboxed, we celebrate with Ashley Price, Director of Student Experiences and All Things Summer and Out-of-School Programming at the PAST Foundation. Together, we explore how immersive, student-centered learning helps young people build confidence, discover new interests, and connect classroom skills to real-world challenges in meaningful ways.

We also dig into what makes these experiences work: student voice and choice, transdisciplinary design, authentic audiences, and the freedom to fail forward. Ashley shares how small shifts in practice can help educators create learning spaces that feel more engaging, relevant, and joyful for students. Join us to explore how we can make school feel a little more like summer camp and a lot more like real learning.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• How student voice and choice shape deeper engagement and confidence
• Why real-world, transdisciplinary challenges make learning more meaningful
• How authentic audiences help students grow as communicators and creators
• Why failure, revision, and redesign are essential parts of learning
• What educators can do to bring informal learning practices into formal classrooms

Resources:

• Student Experiences at PAST Foundation

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Hillary Summerbell, founder and CEO of Summerbell, a literacy technology company transforming how visual dyslexic learners experience reading. Drawing from her own struggles, Hillary shares how rethinking text layout through her positional reading arc can reduce overwhelm, improve comprehension, and build confidence.

We explore how a simple shift in formatting can unlock access for millions of learners and why dyslexia is often misunderstood as a comprehension issue rather than a visual one. Hillary also walks us through the development of her technology and its potential as both a classroom tool and diagnostic support.

Join us as we rethink what reading can look like and how design can make learning more equitable for all.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• How visual dyslexia impacts reading and learning
• The science and design behind positional reading arcs
• Using technology to reduce visual clutter and increase comprehension
• The importance of equitable literacy tools in classrooms
• Reimagining education through creativity and learner-centered design

Resources:

• Summerbell Literacy Tools: (Explore the reading and writing tools designed for visual dyslexic learners)
• Summerbell Chrome Extension
• Summerbell Research Page
• Johns Hopkins School of Education

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Keith Parker, Colina Bartlett, Tiffany Dudley, and Kelly Cowell from the ECPPS Microschool in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Together, they share the story behind launching an innovative public microschool designed to reimagine what learning can look like for today’s students. With small cohorts, flexible learning environments, and a strong emphasis on relationships and real-world experiences, the team is building a student-centered model rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and community.

We explore how the district moved from listening to community needs to rapidly designing and launching a new learning environment in less than a year. The conversation highlights the role of educators as guides, the power of project-based learning, and the importance of removing bureaucratic barriers to innovation. At its heart, this microschool is about creating meaningful choices for families and ensuring public education continues to evolve for the future. Join us to explore what’s possible when a community decides to do school differently.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• Why districts are turning to microschools to reimagine public education and create new options for families
• How student-centered learning, project-based experiences, and the “guide” model shift the role of teachers and empower learners
• What it takes for a school district to remove bureaucratic barriers and experiment with new models that better prepare students for a changing world

Resources:

• ECPPS Microschool – Learn more about the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools microschool initiative
• Ascent Microschool – The innovative school model in Austin, Texas that inspired the ECPPS team’s design work
• North Carolina School Boards Association – Learn more about the organization that hosts the annual conference where ECPPS students presented their work
• Rock by Rock – Explore the project-based science learning program used by the microschool

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Krystal Popov, founder of Futurepreneur, a program designed to help kids ages 6–16 turn creativity and tech skills into real-world ventures. Drawing on her own journey as a serial entrepreneur and parent, Krystal shares why entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting businesses, but about building problem-solvers who can thrive in a rapidly changing world.

We explore the core skills at the heart of her work: seeing problems as opportunities, developing grit, and learning to communicate with confidence. Krystall walks us through how her “business-in-a-box” kits guide kids through branding, budgeting, marketing, and sales while engaging families and communities along the way.

From lemonade stands to neighborhood helper services, these experiences help young people set goals, stick with challenges, and discover where they shine. Join us to explore how entrepreneurship can reshape learning for the next generation.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• Why entrepreneurship builds problem-solving, resilience, and leadership skills
• Engaging families and communities in authentic learning experiences
• Barriers to entrepreneurship in traditional school settings and how to navigate them

Resources:

• Follow Krystal Popov on Facebook and Instagram
• Futurepreneur – Explore youth entrepreneurship kits and programs
• Free Futurepreneur™ Starter Kit: Teach Your Kid to Dream
• Free Kid Biz (Lemonade Stand Freebie) – Download a starter business plan
• Lehman Academy of Excellence – Learn more about the charter model mentioned

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Belén Quellet, Executive Director of The Learning Quest, to explore what it really looks like to turn an entire city into a learning environment. Belén shares how Falls Church, Virginia is becoming an open-walled learning ecosystem where curiosity, repair, and real-world problem solving guide learning far beyond the classroom.

Together, we dig into learner voice, community partnerships, and why experiences like repair clinics, education passports, and local internships matter just as much as traditional academic pathways. Belén also reflects on shifting definitions of success, the future of work, and the importance of helping parents reimagine what learning can look like for their children.

This conversation is a thoughtful look at how communities can stitch together existing resources to support agency, exploration, and lifelong learning. Join us to explore what’s possible when learning truly belongs to everyone.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• What a citywide learning ecosystem looks like in practice
• How repair and sustainability spark curiosity and problem solving
• Elevating learner voice through real community roles
• Rethinking credit, credentials, and success beyond classrooms
• Building trust with parents around nontraditional learning paths

Resources:

• The Learning Quest
• Education Reimagined: Learn more about learner-centered education and ecosystem labs nationwide
• Repair Café: Discover how community repair events support sustainability and hands-on learning
• Acton Academy: Learn more about learner-driven education models influencing Learning Quest’s work

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we sit down with Ishan Shivanand, founder of Yoga of Immortals and author of the international bestseller The Practice of Immortality. Together, we explore why resilience training and inner work are becoming essential supports for students and educators navigating rising levels of stress, burnout, and disconnection. Ishan shares how his research-backed, non-pharmaceutical approach blends breathwork, meditation, and cognitive awareness to improve mental health and overall well-being.

Our conversation digs into what resilience training actually looks like in practice and why even small, consistent moments of awareness can make a measurable difference in learning environments. We also discuss how schools can integrate these tools in culturally respectful, non-theological ways that support both students and teachers. Join us to explore how building resilient minds can reshape the future of learning.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• The growing mental health challenges facing students and educators
• Research-backed resilience training and its impact on learning
• Burnout, anxiety, and sleep issues in high-performing students
• Practical ways to integrate mindfulness into classrooms
• Why inner work is a lifelong skill, not an add-on

Resources:

• The Practice of Immortality by Ishan Shivanand
• Yoga of Immortals – Learn more about the research-backed mental health program and its applications in education
• Peer-reviewed research in Frontiers in Psychiatry

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re reconnecting with returning guest and “serial school starter” Nathan Gorsch, executive director and principal of the Colorado Springs School of Technology. Nathan shares how his experience launching Village High School shaped the vision for this new, industry-driven high school designed around immersive, future-focused learning. We explore how a powerful coalition of district leaders, higher education, and local industry came together to create a tech-focused ecosystem serving both students and the regional workforce.

We also dig into what school actually looks and feels like for students: flexible, workplace-inspired spaces, pathway-based coursework in aerospace, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and short, high-impact industry sprints led by professionals. Nathan reflects on why ethical leadership matters just as much as technical skills—especially in fields like AI—and hints at what’s coming next in the broader innovation zone. Join us to explore how schools can truly partner with the community to prepare students for emerging careers.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• Launching the Colorado Springs School of Technology as an industry-driven innovation high school
• Lessons learned from Village High School and applying them in a new context
• Designing flexible, workplace-inspired learning spaces and student-centered pathways
• Monday “industry sprints” with professionals in branding, ethics, design thinking, and rocketry
• Embedding ethical leadership and social responsibility into high-tech career preparation
• Envisioning an innovation zone with future medical, public service, and middle school models

Resources:

• Colorado Springs School of Technology – Explore the school’s pathways in aerospace, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and leadership to see how an innovation high school can partner with industry.
• Village High School – Look into Nathan’s first school startup to understand the blended, learner-agency model that inspired this next chapter.
• Colorado Springs School District 11 – Learn more about the district context and its commitment to a school of innovation and a broader innovation zone.
• Challenger Learning Center – Check out their 3D printing, rocketry, and aerospace experiences that support hands-on learning for CSSOT students.
• DECA– Discover how student participation in business and marketing competitions builds real-world skills and confidence.
• Portfolio School (NYC) – Explore other innovative school models experimenting with short, intensive projects and student-centered design.
• Follow Nathan Gorsch on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA