NYKids Deep Dive

About NYKids Deep Dive

Hello and welcome to the NY Kids Deep Dive podcast where we engage in our principles to Inform, Inspire, and Improve New York State Schools through conversation with educators, leaders, researchers, and advocates for high-quality education from across the state. We invite you to join us in an exploration of practices, policies, and research so you can be part of making the changes you want to see in our educational system.

Publisher

NYKids

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Feb 2025

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

23 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Embracing Change and Supporting Innovation in New York State Schools

   The latest episode of NYKids Deep Dive features Rory Glass (https://www.albany.edu/education/faculty/rory-glass), Regional Director for the Master Teacher Program, and Tim Backus (https://www.casdany.org/team), Executive Director of the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA), in a thoughtful conversation about the future of education and the challenges of implementing New York's emerging vision for teaching and learning. As New York schools begin to engage with initiatives such as New York Inspires (https://www.nysed.gov/ny-inspires) and specifically the Portrait of a Graduate (https://www.nysed.gov/grad-measures/new-york-state-portrait-graduate), Glass and Backus reflect on one of education's most persistent challenges: change. "In education, we can be slow to change," Glass observes, noting that educators often struggle to move beyond familiar routines and structures. He suggests that one of the biggest barriers is "getting out of our own way" and trusting both educators and students to embrace new possibilities. Backus echoes this concern, arguing that schools have often been "slow to adjust" to how students learn today. While technology and society have evolved rapidly, many educational structures remain largely unchanged. At the same time, leaders and educators must navigate uncertainty, balancing the freedom (and imperative) to innovate with regulations, schedules, and other constraints that shape school systems. A key theme of the conversation is the distinction between schooling and educating. This podcast’s guests explore how the goals outlined in New York's Portrait of a Graduate call for learning experiences that foster curiosity, collaboration, critical thinking, and real-world problem solving. Achieving this vision requires both leadership and collective effort. The discussion offers a hopeful reminder that meaningful change is possible when educators, leaders, and communities work together toward a shared vision of student success. Join the conversation and check out some of NYKids latest positive outlier case studies (https://ny-kids.org/research-report/) for inspiration and practical and promising practices you can implement today!

2. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Building Community at Kendall Elementary School: A Conversation with Principal Kevin Watson

   In our latest episode of NYKids Deep Dive, Assistant Director of Research at NYKids, Aaron Leo, sits down with Kevin Watson, principal of Kendall Elementary School (https://www.kendallschools.org/KendallElementary.cfm?subpage=132) – one the positive outlier schools featured in NYKids’ latest study (https://ny-kids.org/wp-content/uploads/ES.25_26.Case_.study_.Kendall.FINAL_.pdf)! During the episode, Principal Watson recounts a number of ways that he and staff members at KES have built ties to the community and strengthened the relationship between the school, local businesses and organizations, and families. Let us know what you think by reaching out to nykids@albany.edu (mailto:nykids@albany.edu) or following us on LinkedIn, (https://www.linkedin.com/company/nykids-ualbany) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NYKids.UAlbany/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nykids_/?hl=en), and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/nykids.bsky.social)! You can read more about Kendall Elementary School in our full case study report here (https://ny-kids.org/wp-content/uploads/ES.25_26.Case_.study_.Kendall.FINAL_.pdf).

3. 

   29 Jun 2026

   From 1784 to Today: How the NYS Board of Regents Is Shaping the Future of Education

   The latest episode of NYKids Deep Dive features Regent Roger Catania, a lifelong educator whose career has spanned teaching, school counseling, and district leadership in New York's North Country. In this conversation, Regent Catania offers an inside look at the New York State Board of Regents—one of the state's most influential, yet often misunderstood, institutions. Established in 1784, the New York State Board of Regents is one of the oldest educational governing bodies in the nation, predating the U.S. Constitution. Early members included Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, reflecting the Regents' longstanding role in shaping education and public life. Today, the Board's responsibilities extend far beyond Regents exams. It oversees P–12 and higher education, cultural institutions such as libraries and museums, professional licensing across more than 50 fields, and adult education. As Regent Catania explains, the Regents serve as an independent policy body that helps guide education and professional standards across New York State. One of the Regents' most significant initiatives is reimagining high school graduation requirements. Rather than centering student success solely on standardized testing, the Board is advancing the Portrait of a Graduate framework, which emphasizes critical thinking, communication, creativity, global citizenship, and readiness for college, careers, and civic life. Regent Catania notes that this vision is intended to influence teaching and learning across the entire P–12 system. While many educators welcome the shift, successful implementation will require thoughtful professional learning and support to ensure all students have opportunities to develop and demonstrate these competencies. Beyond statewide policy, Regent Catania highlighted local efforts to address educational inequities. About a decade ago, he helped establish Lake Placid's Educational Opportunity Fund (Ed Fund) to expand access to enriching academic and cultural experiences for students who might otherwise lack those opportunities. The nonprofit partners with the school district to provide experiences that build students' knowledge, social capital, and future aspirations. Although created to meet local needs, the Ed Fund offers a model other communities can adapt to help close opportunity gaps through strong school-community partnerships. This episode explores how history, policy, and local innovation intersect to shape the future of education in New York. We invite you to listen and reflect on questions such as: What should a meaningful high school diploma represent today? How can schools successfully implement the Portrait of a Graduate? What can communities learn from initiatives like the Ed Fund to expand opportunity for all students? 🎧 Listen to the full episode, and be sure to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts by contacting ⁠nykids@albany.edu⁠ (mailto:nykids@albany.edu). We'd love to hear how these ideas connect to your work and how we can support Portrait of a Graduate implementation in your school or district.

Who has been a guest on NYKids Deep Dive

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Jenay F E Willis
• Dr Lucy Sorensen
• Dr Chuck Dedrick
• Dr Dawn Anderson-Butcher
• Joseph Otter

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 20 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

26

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32