In this special episode, Rod flips the script as a solo host, while Jal and his co-author Libby Woodfin give us a behind-the-scenes look at their upcoming book on “human schools.” This lively conversation explores what makes a school truly human — where both students and teachers can bring their whole selves, experience agency, and learn in ways that matter.
Libby Woodfin is a writer and educator from western Massachusetts. She has authored or co-authored nine books for teachers and published numerous articles and blogs for educational outlets such as EdWeek, Middleweb and Educational Leadership. Libby began her career as a fifth and sixth-grade teacher at the original lab school for the Responsive Classroom in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and went on to become a counselor at a large comprehensive high school. Highlights from the conversation include: a little background on Libby's "hockey" playing career; the definition of a "human school" and why it matters now more than ever; tackling the question of what kind of human beings our world needs, and what role can schools play in creating those human beings; real world examples from various sites both Libby and Jal have visited; reflections on the future of learning; how schools are grappling with AI and how it fits within the human school model; and a lightning round that has everyone facing their fears!
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