What’s underneath the behavior we see from children and teens? And how can stronger relationships and a greater sense of belonging help them navigate stress and build resilience to thrive? In this episode of School Talk, Superintendent Aaron Spence sits down with clinical psychologist, educator and author Dr. Doug Bolton to discuss his book, Untethered: Creating Connected Families, Schools and Communities to Raise a Resilient Generation. Together, they explore student mental health, emotional regulation, behavior and the role parents, educators and communities play in helping young people feel connected, supported and capable of building a healthy future.

Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence is joined by AASA Chief Advocacy & Governance Officer, Noelle Ellerson Ng, to discuss the current climate of Federal government in assisting K-12 education and the threat to some programs, such as the E-rate. For more information, please visit the AASA website at https://www.aasa.org/advocacy/key-issues/e-rate-technology

LCPS Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence speaks to authors Dr. Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple about their book, Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity. The book dives into the importance of dignity and belonging, while it might appear to be self-evident at first glance, it’s not until these concepts are truly unpacked, that educators realize the dire need for belonging through dignity. Once these fundamental human needs are understood, educators can gain clarity of the barriers to meaningful student relationships, especially across dimensions of difference. Even the most relational and responsive educators need this clarity due to the normalization of what the authors refer to as dignity distortions.

This week on School Talk with Dr. Spence, we’re talking workforce development and why it starts long before graduation. Special guests Ed Hidalgo and Dr. Steve Regur, CEO of the Educator’s Cooperative, share how partnerships, early exposure and purposeful learning can transform student opportunities. A must-listen for educators and families alike!

LCPS Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence speaks with high school students Skyla from Woodgrove HS and GU from Potomac Falls HS about their experiences and opinions on opportunities for LCPS students to learn outside the classroom and discover their passions.

In this episode of School Talk, Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence sits down with education leader Dr. Doug Reeves to explore what parents want most from their children’s schools when it comes to teaching and assessment. Together, they discuss how meaningful learning, thoughtful feedback, and high expectations help prepare students for success after graduation -- whether that path leads to college, career, or beyond.

Dr. Aaron Spence talks with Jen Evans, director of LCPS’ Student Mental Health Services, and Brennan, an 11th-grade student at Heritage High School, about the upcoming United for Wellness Conference. Jen shares what you can expect at the conference, and Brennan provides reasons to attend. Learn more about the conference at www.lcps.org/wellness (This podcast is an audio recording of the February Think Fast video).

This month on the LCPS Podcast, Dr. Spence takes on one of the most important and rapidly evolving topics in education today: generative AI in K-12 schools.

Joined by Dr. Tom Ryan of the K-12 Strategic Technology Advisory Group and LCPS Chief Technology Officer Aaron Smith, the conversation explores where schools are right now with AI -- and where it’s headed next. From instructional impact and academic integrity to student readiness and responsible implementation, this episode unpacks both the promise and the practical realities of AI in the classroom.