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/ 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. 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 arts, and also served as a dean of students—experience that gives him a whole-school lens on teaching and learning. Arthur's purpose is clear: to change how we think about assessment so it truly serves t

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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@masteryportfolio.com

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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 Literature); independent consultant as instructional and leadership coach Past role(s): Systems analyst/programmer (abt 12 yrs for companies including Harris Government Communications Systems and Prodigy when it was still Trintex and just getting started); math/computer science

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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 AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

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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.danagoodier.com Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

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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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