{"podcast":{"title":"Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators","slug":"shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439","podcast_index_feed_id":721439,"rss_url":"https://shiftingourschools.libsyn.com/rss","website_url":"http://www.shiftingschools.com","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/1/2/2/b/122be1b60ba51c69d959afa2a1bf1c87/shifting.png","author":"Jeff Utecht","episode_count":300,"summary":"Shifting Schools is a thought-provoking podcast that explores the latest trends, strategies, and tools in K-12 education. Hosted by educators Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman, the podcast provides a platform for teachers, administrators, and education thought leaders to share their experiences and insights on how to improve teaching and learning. From innovative approaches in classroom management to leveraging technology for personalized learning, Shifting Schools tackles the most pressing issues facing K12 educators today. Whether you are a seasoned teacher or a new educator, this podcast will inspire you to think outside the box and shift your educational approach. Tune in to Shifting Schools to gain new perspectives, share ideas, and join a community of passionate educators who are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of their students. Follow us at @shiftingschools on Twitter and @shiftingschoolspod on Instagram and Tiktok","last_synced_at":"2026-07-19T14:21:10.479438+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439"},"episode":{"title":"When Students Go After Real Problems","slug":"when-students-go-after-real-problems","published_at":"2026-07-18T15:18:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439/when-students-go-after-real-problems","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439","url":"https://pod.shiftingschools.com/","audio_url":"https://pdrl.fm/f0d9c7/pdcn.co/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/shiftingourschools/18th_july_mixdown.mp3?dest-id=621226","summary":"When Alex Campbell set out to teach sociology through true crime, he wasn't trying to catch a murderer. He was trying to make the stakes real. Nine years later, his high school students in Appalachia have restored names to victims of the \"redheaded murders,\" helped families, and become the subject of a limited series with a perfect critic score. But as Alex tells it, the thing that mattered most was never on the syllabus: how much his students came to care. In this conversation, Alex and Tricia dig into what it actually takes to hand young people a real problem — and why that's the whole point. In this episode: Why sociology and murder aren't apples and oranges — and how high stakes bring out the best in students The surprise Alex didn't plan for: students connecting with victims who died decades before they were born Schools as \"the institution best at separating people\" — and how project-based learning breaks down the walls His three-part test for a real project: passion-driven, community-focused, interdisciplinary Practical, permission-giving advice for teachers who find this exciting and scary — start small, start with a partner, use the resources that already exist \"You don't work for me\": how buy-in reframes classroom management and reaches the students who've stopped believing in school's promises Civics you can feel — freedom-of-information requests, and why John Benet Ramsey has a thousand websites and Lori Pennell had almost none The creative gamble behind the series: victim-forward, not offender-forward, and a true-crime story that doesn't end tied up in a bow Portraying Appalachia and teenagers with authenticity instead of stereotype Using the series for professional development — what to watch for, and why it might matter more than you'd expect Building a…","meta_description":"When Alex Campbell set out to teach sociology through true crime, he wasn't trying to catch a murderer. He was trying to make the stakes real. Nine years…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1948,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439/episodes/when-students-go-after-real-problems/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439/when-students-go-after-real-problems.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}