Learner-Centered Spaces

Welcome to Learner-Centered Spaces podcast produced by Mastery Portfolio. Our hosts are Starr Sackstein, Emma Chiappetta, and Crystal Frommert. We are educators sharing our experiences of being the lone wolves of de-emphasizing grades in a traditional grades school. Starting the shift toward standards-based grading is no easy task when the community (colleagues, parents, students, and admin) is expecting a number grade on assignments and report cards.

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March 1, 2026

Pam Zetterval inspires learners

@PamZettervall- X and Insta, and LinkedIn @JetwithZet Hosted by Starr Sackstein & Crystal Frommert Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Feb. 15, 2026

Steve Martinez encourages educators to think differently.

Linkedin Website: https://www.underhatpod.com/ Hosted by Starr Sackstein & Crystal Frommert Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Feb. 1, 2026

Amos Fodcuk says technology literacy breaks barriers

ALP LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amos-fodchuk/ Hosted by Starr Sackstein & Crystal Frommert Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Jan. 18, 2026

Katie Mead re-learned what education could be

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-mead-6a95888a/ Hosted by Starr Sackstein & Crystal Frommert Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Jan. 4, 2026

Sierra Holtzheuser says value results in buy-in.

Growth Over Grades Podcast: ttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-growth-over-grades-podcast/id1760177088 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-growth-over-grades-podcast/id1760177088] https://open.spotify.com/show/2JujzaMu9vUiaCO8dj3eEO LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sierraholtz/ H…

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Dec. 21, 2025

Tziri Lamm asks what we actually want students to know and do.

tziralamm@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/tziri-lamm/ Hosted by Starr Sackstein & Crystal Frommert Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Dec. 7, 2025

Arthur Chiaravalli grows beyond grading.

https://growbeyondgrades.org/ LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-chiaravalli-0903a51/] On today's episode, we're joined by Arthur Chiaravalli, House Director at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, Vermont. Over his career, Arthur has taught ELA, math, technology, and media ar…

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Nov. 23, 2025

Tom Guskey never lets his expectations be limited by what he thought was possible.

Tom Guskey never lets his expectations be limited by what he thought was possible. https://tguskey.com/ LinkedIn Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfol...

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Nov. 9, 2025

Frank Shaw promotes change with teacher collaboration

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Oct. 19, 2025

Rosalia Tierno coaches with support, modeling, and resources

LinkedIn Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Sept. 21, 2025

Elaine Roberts teaches AI as a tool.

linktr.ee/ejroberts Bluesky: @ejroberts.bsky.social Threads: @elainejroberts Elaine Roberts: Adjunct Professor, Dept of Communications (writing and gen ed literature) and Division of Education (Children’s and Adolescent Liter...

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Sept. 7, 2025

Stephanie Dinnen and Peter Siner ask teachers what they need

https://www.teachsmarteredu.com/ Teach Smarter LinkedIn Stephanie's LinkedIn Peter's LinkedIn Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Aug. 24, 2025

Mark Erlenwein says to assign less and engage more

www.markerlenwein.com Instagram: @Merlenwein Twitter: @Erlenwein Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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Aug. 10, 2025

Joey Brewer values local history

Forgottoniaproject.com (Oral History of Forgottonia section in particular is where student projects live) Email - joeybrewer8989@gmail.com Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

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July 27, 2025

Rob Baier and Chris Luzniak says we can teach math with debate

BlueSky Debate Math Podcast Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

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July 21, 2025

SL Rao designs better systems for learning

Contact SL @ Optimistic.design/contact Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Contact us: Starr@masteryportfolio.com crystal@masteryportfolio.com

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July 13, 2025

Toni Rose Deanon helps educators personalize learning

Modern classrooms free course: https://learn.modernclassrooms.org/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/modernclassproj/ FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/modernclassrooms Instagram @ClassroomFlex: https://www.instagram.com/classroomflex/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonirosedeanon/ Music by Au…

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June 29, 2025

Eric Walters says teaching is real-world storytelling

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewaltersscience/ Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

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June 15, 2025

Dana Goodier encourages educators to take care of themselves

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-goodier-edd-98815815/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outoftrenchespc/?hl=en FB, X, BlueSky @danagoodier Threads: @outoftrenchespc YouTube: @outoftrenchespc Website: www.danagoo...

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June 1, 2025

Devon Houghton says trust must come first

Connect with Devon: dhoughton@plainville.k12.ma.us Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

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May 4, 2025

Todd Bloomer says assessment is a flashlight, not a hammer.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-bloomer-2bb167168/ Website: https://www.toddmbloomer.com/ Twitter https://roadtoawesome.net/ Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

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Learner-Centered Spaces

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