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The Making After-School Cool Podcast is an essential part of the CASE for Kids push to increase the awareness of resources that improve quality in the after-school and out-of-school time field. Join Mike Wilson and field experts as they discuss best practices, the growth mindset, project-based learning, social emotional learning, restorative practices and student engagement all with after-school providers in mind. Brought to you by Case4Kids
Episodes

Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
This is a periew of episode 114 of the Making After School Cool podcast. This episode centers on recognizing academic enhancement services available to youth and features Mary Davis-Baumann with Levy’s Tutorial and Enrichment Center. The learning strategies and techniques Mary teaches in tutoring sessions can be applied in the student's classroom and in the student's personal lives.

Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
This episode of the Making After School Cool podcast features my discussion with AJ Crabill concerning engaging educational leaders, school board members and community stake holders to focus on improving student outcomes regarding.
During this podcast you will learn more regarding the following:
- What inspired Mr. Crabill passion for educational issues and reform?
- What Mr. Crabill means when he states “student outcomes don’t change until adult behavior change”.
- Crabill’s description of the role of school boards and who he thinks think would make excellent members?
- What is the difference Between Being a Board Focused on Student Outcomes vs Adult Inputs?
- What are the four types of ineffective School Board styles versus the most effective School Boards?
- Who should read his book “Great On Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Become Effective”
Guest
AJ Crabill is an education reform advocate and public speaker on education reform. He currently serves as the national school board governance leader at the Council of the Great City Schools. Prior to this position, he was Texas Education Agency's Deputy Commissioner for Governance. Crabill served eight years (2008–2016) on the board of the Kansas City Public Schools, serving as president for a majority of his tenure.
In April 2016, the new Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath appointed Crabill as one of his Deputy Commissioners. In his role, Crabill developed and frequently facilitates leadership and governance training sessions to educate current and potential school administrators and board members on how to better execute the responsibilities of their positions. He was in charge of the agency's efforts to improve schools and ensure accreditation. Crabill, frequently states, his main focus is "improving student outcomes".
Resources
Mike Wilson
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids

Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
This is a preview of episode 115 where I discuss with AJ Crabill the importance of engaging educational leaders, school board members and community stake holders to focus on improving student outcomes. Mr. Crabill is an education reform advocate and public speaker on education reform. In 2016, the Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath appointed Crabill as a Deputy Commissioner responsible for developing and facilitating leadership and governance training sessions to educate school administrators and board members on how to better execute the responsibilities of their positions

Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Ep 114: Young Audiences of Houston Self Care Labs featuring Dr. Christine Phares
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Today’s episode of the Making After School Cool podcast features my discussion with Dr. Christine Phares regarding Young Audiences of Houston is collaboration with schools to make safe spaces for students for social emotional learning. The topic of this episode highlights spaces for students to access when they are experiencing severe anxiety, depression, or another extreme negative emotional outburst.
During this podcast you will learn about the following:
- Information regarding the Self Care Labs, how it works, and how long as it been in existence.
- The steps for establishing a Self-Care Lab site
- The best way for anyone who would like to get more information regarding the Self Care Labs or have access to resources?
- Data on the benefits to the students
Guest
Dr. Christine Phares currently serves as the Program Director for Young Audiences of Houston, supporting programs across more than two hundred site partnerships, overseeing 184 teaching artists, and leading the YAH Education Committee. Prior to joining Young Audiences, Christine has worked as an Educator in public and independent schools, an Education Consultant, and with the Metropolitan Opera Guild.
Christine also holds experience as an opera singer and has performed with The Miami Music Festival, Rockwall Symphony, UNT Opera, Lamar Opera, and the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices. She holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in music and education and a doctorate in education.
Published research includes a study on classroom management and gender with additional research on the impact of Music Education on Texas Standardized Test Scores.
Christine is the recipient of the Harris County Department of Education Spirit of Excellence Award – Community Connection Champion, has recently served as a panelist on pathways for diversifying teaching artist networks at the Arts & Action Conference, serves as a Grant Panelist for Texas Commission on the Arts and Houston Arts Alliance, and volunteers on the Scholarship Review Committee with Greater Houston Community Foundation.
Resources
Dr. Christen Phares
christine@yahouston.org
Mike Wilson
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Today is a preview of episode 114 of the Making After School Cool podcast and features my discussion with Dr. Christine Phares regarding how Young Audiences of Houston is collaborating with schools and OST professionals to make safe spaces for students with and emphasis of social emotional learning. A few suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) Schools can use a variety of strategies to help students improve their emotional well-being and connectedness with others. Thus, the topic of this upcoming episode highlights spaces for students to access when they are experiencing severe anxiety, depression, or another extreme negative emotional outburst.

Friday Feb 10, 2023
Friday Feb 10, 2023
Ep113: Teaching Youth to Dress for Success featuring Michael Williams with Ties Required Plus
Today’s episode of the Making After School Cool podcast focuses on the importance of youth knowing how to dress for success and features my conversation with Mr. Michael Williams, founder of Ties Required plus
Proper etiquette and the way an individual dress communicates what kind of person they are to other people. Their behavior and appearance reflect what kind of character they have, and people take notice of it.
During this podcast you will learn more about the following:
- Why is important for young men to be aware that how they present themselves can either expand or limit their opportunities?
- How business wear can be a form of self-expression
- What are the basic items of dress needed for a job interview
- The importance of the color of the clothes you wear when trying to impress other.
- Why is knowledge of etiquette important.
Guest
Michael Williams founder of Ties Required Plus, has over 25 years’ experience in the retail men’s clothing industry. He helped countless men, suiting up for successful interviews as well as helped them with key interviewing techniques that allow them to highlight their job skills and personal attributes. Additionally, Mr. Williams has authored 3 books, How to Win in the Game of Dress for Success, Would You Hire Me? And If You Want a Job Done Right, Hire a Woman, and also produced a DVD entitled How to Tie a Tie (5 knots in 15 min.). He currently presents to youth and adults in churches, schools and non-profit community groups.
Resources
Michael Williams
Ties Required Plus
Professional Etiquette | Tiesrequiredplus
Mike Wilson
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
This is a preview of episode 113 the Making After School Cool podcast which focuses on the importance of youth knowing how to dress for success and features my conversation with Mr. Michael Williams, founder of Ties Required Plus.
Understanding what is expected for various environments can help people avoid embarrassing situations. But there's more to it than knowing the correct way to sit at a formal function. It really comes down to relationships between people.

Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Ep 112: Discussing Body Diversity of Youth featuring Pam Luk
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
This episode of the Making After School Cool podcast tackles the subject of discussing body diversity with youth and features my conversation with Pam Luk, Founder at Ember & Ace. The perceptions of body image changes when kids go through puberty, is shaped by the media, and what others say about beauty standards. During this time in their lives youth need educators, parents and other adults in their lives to do things to help support a child's healthy body image.
During this Podcast you will learn more about the following:
- Advice parents can give to youth regarding how they could help kids love their bodies.
- Why is it important for parents to be aware of how they speak around youth regarding beauty standards and body types?
- Why is it important to use the term body diversity to when discussing how people come in all shapes and sizes
- Why it is important for parents and other caring adults to have small conversations with youth concerning different body types as well as listen to kids concerns regarding the issues.
Guest
Pam Luk, Founder at Ember & Ace. In 2021, Pam left behind the world of tech product management to start a new athletic clothing line specifically for bigger-bodied kids. Ember & Ace is an athletic wear brand designed exclusively for plus size kids.
Resources
Pamela Luk
Ember and Ace
Mike Wilson
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Preview Ep 112: Discussing Body Diversity of Youth featuring Pam Luk
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
This is a preview of episode 112 of the Making After School Cool podcast which will tackle the subject of discussing Body Diversity with Youth. The perceptions of body image grow over time. It changes when kids go through puberty and shaped by the media and what others say about beauty standards. During this time in their life’s youth need educators, parents and other adults to help support a child's healthy body image.
Therefor this upcoming episode of the Making After School Cool podcast features my conversation with Pam Luk, founder of Ember and Ace.

Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Welcome back for part 2 of my 2-part interview with my guest Julia Gabor and Michelle Pina with Kid- Grit. During this episode you will hear our ongoing discussion concerning the importance of students being resilient and having grit. This is a continuation of our previous interview so it is already in progress.
During this podcast you will learn more about the following:
- How do parents and educators teach students patience and a strong work ethic
- Services available to adults, which compliments the training given to students
- How the skills present in kid-grit are transferable to the corporate sector
Guest
Julia Gabor is an award-winning educator and national speaker. She is the co-founder of kid-grit. kid-grit supports students (PK-12) with curriculum and workshops and supports educators with evidence based professional development and coaching. Currently, kid-grit is expanding into corporate learning space in partnership with Academic Solutions Group. She designs, trains, and facilitates workshops for educators, small businesses, mentor programs and students. Julia has been teaching/leading groups since she was a teenager working alongside her mother, who is a master acting teacher, and coach in the USA and Europe.
Michelle Pena education background began as a toddler accompanying her mom to college classes, helping her set up her elementary classrooms, and eventually as a substitute teacher while her mom was a middle school principal. Michelle’s professional career launched as middle school teacher and quickly evolved into administrative roles. Her experiences include professional development coordinator, program evaluator, federal grant director, and out-of-school time program director for school districts. She has over 15 years of experience in leading and starting up self-funded OST programs for school districts and 25 years in education management. More recently, Michelle has worked as a consultant, with out-of-school time organizations, technology companies and various non-profits in the areas of business development, strategic and sustainability planning, professional development, curriculum design and grant writing.
Resources
kid-grit
Mike Wilson
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids