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Rosalia Tierno coaches with support, modeling, and resources image

Rosalia Tierno coaches with support, modeling, and resources

S3 E22 ยท Learner-Centered Spaces
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6 Plays15 minutes ago

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Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Transcript

Podcast Introduction

00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Learner Centered Spaces podcast, where we empower and inspire ownership of learning, sponsored by Mastery Portfolio, hosted by Star Saxton and Crystal Frommer.
00:00:14
Speaker
In each episode, we bring you an authentic conversation with educators, both in and out of the classroom, that will hopefully encourage you to try something new. This podcast is created for educators who want to learn more about how to make the shift toward learner-centered spaces for their students, schools, and districts or education at large.
00:00:34
Speaker
The learner-centered spaces podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network.

Rosalia Tierno's Journey to Education

00:00:40
Speaker
Get ready to be inspired as we dive right into the conversation with today's guest.
00:00:48
Speaker
We are very excited to have Rosalia Tierno on the show today. She is currently a teacher of social studies, which she's been doing for 27 years. She was a coordinator of student activities previously and also an assistant principal at academic culture and student activities for the past four years.
00:01:07
Speaker
We asked Rosalia what her passion was and she says, to ignite a passion for learning and curiosity in others so they are inspired to pursue knowledge in whatever form and share it with others.
00:01:20
Speaker
So we're so glad to have you on the show today. Welcome. Thank you so much for having me. sorry So wonderful. So Ro, since you and I know each other so well, and and there's so much I still don't know about you and I'm eager to learn, we always like to start with learning a little bit about what puts you on your educational path or if there's something specific that you're working on right now that you're really enjoying.
00:01:46
Speaker
I think it's really interesting the story of how I became an educator because it wasn't in the plan originally. um i I guess it happens to a lot of people, but I went to school for pre-law track, um went all the way through and decided that that wasn't for me. didn't really know what I was gonna do. I was kind of lost.
00:02:09
Speaker
And the coordinator of student activities at Wagner College told me that I could be a graduate assistant and figure it out. So that's what I did. And I was put to my academic advisor, kind of put it to me that it had to be business or education. Those were my choices. And I chose education, jumped in, you know, feet first, not really knowing much and quickly fell in love with what was going on in the classroom.
00:02:38
Speaker
And that's so evident with how the kids and now the other teachers you work with respond to you, your passion for being in your school, working with kids and creating these environments where kids can thrive.

Creating Learner-Centered Spaces

00:02:54
Speaker
So i know I'm not sure now if you're back in the classroom completely or if you're still going to be in charge of your team, but can you tell us a little bit about how you define learner centered space and what you hope to see in the classrooms of your colleagues when you think about that idea of learner centered paradigms?
00:03:16
Speaker
Sure. um I am currently an assistant principal at Tottenham High School where i've been for I've been at the same school for 27 years, um starting my 27th year. And I have my principals, I'm fortunate enough to let me teach while I did all of my other jobs at the school. So i think that that's where my passion is, is in the classroom, although i love My new role, which is teaching teachers, is kind of how I put it.
00:03:52
Speaker
Anybody that wants the help or would like to be coached or sometimes, you know, is suggested that they come see me to coach them. um learn it Learner-centered rooms are really what I thrive and thrive on and really kind of push, if that's a nice enough word to say.
00:04:12
Speaker
um And I do try... consistently to support them because a lot of them view it as unattainable. If they're either stuck in a pattern or are newer teachers that don't know what it should look like or what it could look like, that's really right now where I, and what i'm what I'm doing with teachers.
00:04:35
Speaker
um For me, ah learner centered classroom is really just like that highlight on intrinsic motivation. What are they curious about?
00:04:46
Speaker
What makes them want to learn? And I think that those spaces look different for every teacher and for every student. um So that's really, to me, that's That's what it is defined as, somewhere where they can really grow as a person and set their own goals.
00:05:05
Speaker
And you as a teacher are there to guide them. When you talk about it you could look a lot of different ways. Are there specific elements or aspects of what makes a learner-centered space that feel universal, even if they're not completely identical in every space?

Implementing Project-Based Learning

00:05:21
Speaker
Sure. um I do think that there's there' is a presence in those classrooms where there are these higher level or complex questions. There's project-based learning. There's, um you know, real world, real life interaction and problems, I guess we could call them.
00:05:42
Speaker
um There's a lot of collaboration. There's goal setting. So I think that that's consistent. And when you have all of the elements together, you get that really energetic, dynamic room.
00:05:56
Speaker
So question about coaching. I'm just so fascinated by coaching. And i love that your school administration allows you to teach and also work with teachers at the same time. i agree. I'm also a teacher, teach math, and I do other things around the school, but I don't think I could really completely leave the classroom. I just, I find it's my fuel for the day and i love it.
00:06:19
Speaker
um So question for you about coaching. you know when When you're hiring a new teacher into the school, I'm sure that they're looking for mind towards learner-centered teaching and environments. But what if you have a teacher that you're working with that's maybe been there a while or is hesitant to go away from a traditional model into learner-centered student voice type of model?
00:06:46
Speaker
So obviously I'm sure you guys know that that's more common than people think, right? It ranges from a newer teacher all the way to the veteran teachers. Of course, it's more common in someone that's set in a pattern.
00:06:58
Speaker
So I guess it doesn't matter what age or how long they've been teaching, if they're set in a specific pattern, that's it pops up and um it is a very difficult conversation, but um I don't like to have the conversation without real support or resources like at my fingertips, ready to convince them.
00:07:16
Speaker
um I think that my approach is like a sales pitch, almost um trying to convince them to try something different for themselves and um And then, of course, the repercussions or the benefits and consequences end up being that the students can embrace this new style that the teacher takes, never trying to never trying to completely change them all at once, right?
00:07:42
Speaker
small Small shifts in their presentation or their planning or um how they're going to do things. I do really believe in intervisitation. i like to model. um I don't expect teachers to do something that I wouldn't do myself.
00:07:58
Speaker
So I always let them or um invite them, I should say, to come into my classroom. It is only one period a day. so um I do get to plan and have that advantage.
00:08:12
Speaker
And then I get to show them different ways to change their classrooms.

Coaching and Professional Development

00:08:16
Speaker
They often reciprocate with an invitation to their room so that I can kind of see what's going on. And once I have that, and try to put together an action plan.
00:08:26
Speaker
um And although some stubbornness exists, if you get one thing that they really like or that they're really good at and you can shift it, they seem to cling on to that and they like it. And that's what I focus on.
00:08:42
Speaker
That's fantastic. And your school is very lucky to have ah ah instructional coach on campus. That's fantastic. There are many teachers out there who have been in the classroom for some time and maybe they want to venture into teacher training or coaching or just something that's outside of the classroom.
00:09:01
Speaker
What advice would you give someone who's interested in that career shift? um I do think that there are so many resources because the Internet just exists.
00:09:12
Speaker
Right. But I think that if a school could have an instructional coach or an instructional lead. um they they Therefore, they can set this professional development for people. And if they do like it, then they can pursue it.
00:09:29
Speaker
um It's one of the advantages that I have that I do help plan the professional development that teachers will get in the building. And then those teachers that might really enjoy it and want to make that kind of shift,
00:09:44
Speaker
um you know, I think that they are able to learn um from others and any type of really any educational website that offers those type of webinars.
00:09:58
Speaker
um I often make them a toolbox, like a list with links so that they could go to these different places, these different workshops, these different professional learning opportunities, just so they can decide whether or not that is something that they want to do.
00:10:17
Speaker
Okay, Ro. So, first of all, thank you so much for sharing that. And I could definitely attest to the fact that roe does all the things she just said. And I've been fortunate enough to work with her for several years and her amazing teachers.
00:10:33
Speaker
And i will say that there's... There's few schools I've worked in that so many people are so open to just doing right by the kids.

Building Trust and Innovation in Schools

00:10:44
Speaker
And if that means changing their process or trying something new, you've really created an environment in your space where your people trust you enough to take that leap.
00:10:56
Speaker
And it's really beautiful to watch as I've, I've had the opportunity to work with you. So you know, i'm I'm glad that you're still working in that capacity. Thank you so much.
00:11:08
Speaker
And to that end, we always like to kind of ask our guests to shout out people that we should be following, listening to. So are there people, social accounts or different organizations that you think are really important for our listeners to know about so that they could stretch themselves in in their own learning?
00:11:35
Speaker
I don't have any unique ones, but I do really, with my teachers, facing history is such an interesting way to learn both professionally and knowledge-based.
00:11:48
Speaker
um They have great webinars, they have great resources, they even have lesson plans. um Just it's, you know, of course I'm social studies based, that's where where I was rooted, but um in this society, in our modern day,
00:12:02
Speaker
They're doing so many current events that apply to the ELA classroom, even the science classroom. So I do really like all of the stuff that they're doing.
00:12:14
Speaker
I don't, of course, I can have to shout out Star and Crystal. um You know, if you're not if you're not already following all of ah all of what they put out, you should. um I just, I think that's really, my my basis is, you know,
00:12:31
Speaker
Anything Edutopia puts out, I always, you know, always share. ah try to break it down, go down to the root of the author. um Michael McDowell is working with our school and I'm a big fan.
00:12:44
Speaker
So I think that anything that he writes puts out, people should read. And really, if you're if you dealing with work-based, project-based learning, he's really a very good resource for that.
00:13:02
Speaker
Well, speaking of what we put out, I'm curious, do you have an online presence where our listeners could follow you, like a LinkedIn or something like that? i do have I do have a LinkedIn.
00:13:12
Speaker
I have all the socials. Actually, Star is a big one of my career coaches, and she has inspired me to start writing. So I think I'm going start a blog, but I don't have one just yet.
00:13:26
Speaker
Well, we appreciate you being on the show today and I hope our listeners do find you online and connect with you and also all the shout outs that you gave. So thank you Ro for being on the show. oh thank you.

Conclusion and Contact Information

00:13:39
Speaker
Thank you for learning with us today. We hope you enjoyed the conversation as much as we did. If you'd like any additional information from the show, check out the show notes. Learn more about Mastery Portfolio and how we support schools at masteryportfolio.com.
00:13:54
Speaker
Please sign up for our monthly newsletter for resources to support your learner-centered pedagogy. You can follow us on LinkedIn on our Mastery Portfolio page. We'd love for you to engage with us. If you'd like to be a guest on the show or know someone who would be an inspiring guest, please email us. Look for our contact information in the show notes.
00:14:15
Speaker
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