Are we prepared to pay the mental health bill for our nation’s students?
We need schools to help all students reach their full potential. During the pandemic, nearly 17 million students were locked out of virtual school options because their families lacked the home internet access necessary to support online learning. How can we assist and support our most vulnerable students and take what we learn into the future?
Kevin talks with famed author and ‘godmother of Silicon Valley,’ Esther Wojcicki, and Dr. Tammy Pawloski who has crisscrossed this nation to support children of poverty. Esther, a noted educator, scholar, and all-around ambassador of U.S. education, discusses her latest book on how to raise successful children and Tammy shares her powerful message about those most often forgotten about in our country.

Listen to the Full Audio
Guests
Credit: Jo Sittenfeld
Meet Esther
Esther Wojcicki is a leading American educator, journalist, and mother. She is famous for three things: teaching a high school class that changed the lives of thousands of kids, inspiring Silicon Valley legends like Steve Jobs, and raising three daughters (YouTube CEO, Founder of 23AndMe, College Professor) who have each become famously successful.
A leader in blended learning and the integration of technology into education, she is the founder of the Media Arts programs at Palo Alto High School. Wojcicki serves as vice chair of Creative Commons and was instrumental in the launch of the Google Teachers Academy. She blogs regularly for Huffington Post and is coauthor of Moonshots in Education.
Meet Tammy
Dr. Tammy Pawloski is a professor of education and the director of the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty at Francis Marion University (FMU). She holds a PhD from the University of South Carolina (USC), and, prior to joining FMU, she served on the faculties of USC, Ventura College, and Pepperdine University.
She has led more than 1,500 professional learning events and is a noted expert because of her breadth of knowledge. However, what resonates most with teachers and school leaders is her ability to deliver an uncommon combination of actionable research and examples for practice that engage, empower, and challenge.
In addition to her work with under-resourced students, Tammy’s research interests include the science of learning; family, school, and community partnerships; and best practices in early childhood education.