Episode 052 of the ClassCast Podcast features Sandy Sullivan, president of the Loudoun Education Association (LEA), speaking with host Ryan Tibbens about the LEA, its short and long term goals, collective bargaining in Virginia, pandemic safety measures, community outreach, and more.  This is Sandy's second (non-consecutive) term as LEA president; otherwise, she has spent her career teaching early elementary education in Loudoun and Montgomery (MD) counties. In this conversation, she explains the changes in Virginia's collective bargaining laws, the need for union representation, how education associations and unions function, as well as what is best for teachers and students. Whether you're for or against teachers' unions, this episode will help you better understand the issues and better contextualize their impacts in local communities.

Contact Sandy Sullivan and/or the Loudoun Education association at their website, on Facebook, or by email.  You might also check out the Virginia Education Association and National Education Association. 

Be sure to like, share, follow, subscribe, and leave a positive review wherever you get your podcasts.

​​Table of Contents

1. 0:00-3:40 -- Sandy's LEA Involvement
2. 3:54-8:51 -- Sandy's Path through & to Education
3. 8:52-11:41 -- Member involvement in the Loudoun Education Association
4. 11:41-20:08 -- Political Climate in 2020
5. 20:08-34:14 -- How LEA Works & Unionization/Collective Bargaining ***
6. 34:14-46:33 -- Short Term LEA Goals ***
7. 46:33-52:26 -- What's Best for Teachers? (And Students?)
8. 52:26-57:06 -- Sandy's Ideal School
9. 57:06-59:54 -- Final Thoughts on Teacher Motivations & Collective Bargaining ***
10. 59:55-1:07:19 -- Sandy's Book/Movie Recommendations & Wrap-Up

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)!

2020 has been a special year in many ways, most of them bad.  But for the ClassCast Podcast, 2020 was a year of learning, development, and growth. These discussions about improving education reached thousands of listeners spread across six continents.  In 38 episodes this calendar year, I spoke with passionate students, innovative teachers, reflective administrators, industry-leading CEOs, elected officials -- all kinds of smart, purposeful people who are challenging the status quo of education in the United States and abroad. 

​This special episode offers a quick reflection on ClassCast Podcasts from 2020, goals for 2021, and an overview of all the content generated this year. 

The two lists below represent some of the top content posted this year.  The first list is based entirely off downloads and streams -- these are the ten most listened-to episodes of the year.  The second list was much harder to create -- these are ten other "must-listen" episodes that offer great insights while landing just outside the "top 10" by downloads.  I strongly believe that every episode offers immense value, and I'm grateful for every guest who has taken the time to share their ideas and advance this conversation.  But, in the name of reviewing the year and helping new listeners check out older content they may have missed, I've generated what I believe to be the Top 10 Host Picks.  

If you have questions or comments about any episodes, or if you have suggestions for topics and guests to feature in 2021, let us know! ​

In terms of total listeners and downloads, 2020 has been good to the ClassCast Podcast.  After a successful launch in 2019, we've steadily attracted a larger, more dedicated audience. While factors such as topic, timing, and guest's personal supporters can lead to varied download statistics, I consider every episode this year a success.  Based purely on total downloads and streams -- from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, YouTube, other streaming services, our web app, and here at ClassCastPodcast.com -- THESE ARE THE MOST DOWNLOADED EPISODES OF 2020!

1) Ep.043 -- Tibbens -- Censorship, Banned Books Week, Antiracism, & Huckleberry Finn (10/1/2020)

2) Ep.045 -- Tibbens -- DL, Hybrid, & Concurrent Models: Getting "Back to School" (10/25/2020)
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3) Ep.044 -- Matt Bass -- Candidate for Clarke County Board of Supervisors on Life & School in a Small Town (10/16/2020)

4) Ep.051 -- Devin Siebold -- America's Favorite Teacher-Comedian (12/20/2020)

5) Ep.046 -- Taylor Freeman -- Virtual & Augmented Reality: Schools of Tomorrow, Today (11/1/2020)

6) Ep.030 -- Leleda Beraki -- Class of 2020, Better Schools, Pandemics, Racism, & More (6/11/2020)

7) Ep.033 -- Tibbens -- School Reopenings: Composure & Compromise (7/8/2020)

8) Ep.050 -- Tibbens -- In Defense of Snow Days (12/16/2020)

9) Ep. 019 -- Tim "The Shop Teacher" Gregory -- On Why We Need Shop Class, Vo-tech, Hard Work, & Failure (3/4/2020)

10) Ep.041 -- Tibbens -- Antiracism, Hypocrisy, Protests, & Education (9/14/2020)

While every guest offers a valuable perspective, there are some conversations that spark both personal and intellectual connections between audience and speakers. The list below celebrates the episodes that received the most passionate commentary and feedback while landing just outside the top ten in terms of total downloads. 
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• Ep.037 -- Jeremy Wayne Tate -- Classical Education, School Choice, & the CLT Exam (8/8/2020)
• Ep.031 -- Camryn Thompson -- Racism in Schools (& What to Do about It)    (6/18/2020) 
• Ep.034 -- Catina Franklin Sweedy -- Unschooling, Self-Directed Education, & Progress (7/16/20)
• Ep.028 -- Safa & Falak Koreshi -- Homeschooling, Unschooling, Public Schooling, & Improving Education (5/31/2020)
• Ep. 023 -- Jim Dunning -- College, High School, & Critical Thinking in the Era of COVID-19 (4/9/2020)
• Ep.027 -- Julia Rogers -- Gap Years, Travel, & Improving the College Experience (5/24/2020)  
• Ep.047 -- Shane Lawrence -- The Ed Podcast & Making School Better (11/12/2020) 
• Ep.042 -- Joe Pizzo -- 47 Year Veteran Teacher & AMLE 2020 Educator of the Year (9/24/2020) 
• Ep.038 -- Janet LoSole -- World Schooling, Travel, & the Chicken Bus (8/14/2020) 
• Ep.039 -- Mike Bergin & Amy Seeley -- Standardized Tests & the Rest (8/16/2020)

Every Episode from 2020

ClassCast Podcast Ep.051 features Devin Siebold, America's favorite teacher-comedian, sharing his thoughts on education, school improvement, and why school can be so hilarious (and so tragic). Devin discusses his beginnings in comedy, his classroom experiences, and his ever-growing fanbase (up to 10 MILLION views per month).  If you've ever laughed at Devin's YouTube videos (what teacher hasn't?) and wondered what kind of teacher makes those videos, or wondered how his administrators react, this episode will make it all clear.  Throughout this conversation, Devin shares his personal career goals, sincere hopes for school improvement, and insights into comedy as an art form.  You can learn more about Devin Siebold, his upcoming events, and his social media presence by checking out his website, DevinComedy.com. 

​Be sure to like, share, follow, retweet, subscribe, leave a positive review, and send passenger pigeons to everyone in your region in support of the ClassCast Podcast!

Table of Contents

1. 0:00-8:00 -- Intro to Devin Siebold, Teacher-Comedian*
2. 8:00-12:04 -- Devin's Favorite Comedian & Getting Started
3. 12:04-17:01 -- Being a Funny Teacher
4. 17:01-22:17 -- Becoming a Teacher
5. 22:19-27:31 -- Becoming the Teachers' Comedian*
6. 27:31-41:35 -- Avoiding Admin's Wrath & the Most Embarrassing All-Staff Ever**
7. 41:35-45:42 -- Favorite YouTube Clips & Coworker Conditions
8. 45:44-51:11 -- Devin's Ideal School: The Magic School Bus Meets Unschooling**
9. 51:14-53:11 -- A New Joke: Christmas Sweatshops
10. 53:12-56:29 -- Devin's Book/Movie Recommendations
11. 56:30-58:22 -- Upcoming Shows & Wrap-Up

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(*Highlights)

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Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)!