This is an encore episode — and with good reason.

As the school year winds down and summer approaches, the “summer slide” — the loss of academic progress over the break — becomes a very real concern once again.

Without intentional learning opportunities, students can lose ground they’ve worked hard to gain, making each new year harder than the last.

In this conversation, Kevin revisits a timely discussion with Aaron Dworkin, CEO of the National Summer Learning Association, about how the right summer programs don’t just prevent learning loss —

they help students come back stronger, more confident, and ready for what’s next.

Because summer doesn’t have to be a setback.

It can be a springboard.

This is what I know.

Meet Aaron

Aaron Dworkin is the CEO of the National Summer Learning Association, which works to ensure all young people in America, especially the most vulnerable, can access and afford a high-quality summer learning experience every year.

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K12's innovative programs give students a head start on their healthcare career journey.

Enrolment is open at K12! Join over 3 million students who have chosen a K12-powered education for tuition-free, personalized online public schooling from the safety of home. With state-certified teachers trained in virtual instruction, an innovative curriculum, and extensive family support, K12 empowers students in grades K-12 to succeed.

Our accredited program offers engaging classes that support learners of all levels, including advanced students and those with special needs. Experience more family time, engaging class connections, and the opportunity for your child to thrive academically.

Apply today to secure your spot and discover why families choose K12 for their online education needs.

Explore K12's healthcare pathway options and other career-focused programs: https://go.k12.com/mps/national/podcast/?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D11001665815673379801328021772854664479

—----------------------------------------

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Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review—let’s reshape the conversation around education.

During lockdown, a math teacher and his son 3D-printed a board game on their kitchen table.

Now it’s transforming how students feel about math—and school in general.

In this episode, Eric Olsen, principal of Idaho Technical Career Academy, joins Kevin to share how his creative approach to teaching, including developing innovative tools like the board game “Glyphics,” inspires students and shapes the future of education.

Jump to:

03:09 – School Without Walls

04:48 – Future-Proof Pathways

05:11 – Glyphic: Born on a Kitchen Table

07:30 – Pictionary for People Who Hate Math

08:26 – TED Talks, But Make It Personal

10:55 – Students Choose the Lesson

13:04 – Outsmarting AI

15:57 – Learning From Kids

16:58 – “Not as Bad as I Thought”

17:31 – Full Circle

🎲 Learn More About Eric & Glyphic

📰 Read: Math Teacher Game Idea – Interview with Glyphic’s Designer Eric Olsen

https://casualgamerevolution.com/blog/2022/10/math-teacher-game-idea-interview-with-glyphics-designer-eric-olsen

👤 Connect with Eric on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-olsen-88250630/

Explore K12-Powered Education & Career Pathways

K12’s innovative programs give students a head start on their future.

Enrollment is now open! Join over 3 million students who have chosen K12-powered tuition-free online public schooling for a flexible, personalized learning experience—all from the safety of home.

✅ State-certified teachers trained in virtual instruction

✅ Accredited curriculum supporting all learners, including advanced students & those with special needs

✅ Career-focused programs, including healthcare pathways & more

✅ More family time, stronger class connections, and academic success

Apply today to secure your spot and see why families trust K12 for their child’s education.

🔗 Learn more about K12’s career pathways, including healthcare programs:

https://go.k12.com/mps/national/podcast/?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D11001665815673379801328021772854664479

🔗 Discover K12 Tutoring for personalized academic support:

https://tutoring.k12.com/?utm_source=k12&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=k12-podcast-tutoring-feb-25

Join the Conversation!

📢 Use #WIWTK on social media to share your thoughts on today’s episode!

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🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to leave a review and let us know what you think!

Fluorescent lights. Constant noise. Rigid schedules. For a lot of kids with special needs, school was less a place to learn and more a daily test of endurance.

In this episode, Jenny Kendall—a national leader in special education—joins Kevin to talk about what happens when you take students out of a system that was never designed for them and build something better. Virtual learning isn’t a compromise. For many, it’s a relief.

They get into how online education strips away environmental distractions, how real success hinges on teamwork between families and educators, and why AI and assistive tech might be the biggest breakthroughs in special education—if outdated policy doesn’t slow it all down.

How do you build an education system that actually fits the student—not the other way around? And what happens when technology moves faster than the rules meant to govern it? This might be what you want to know.

03:12 – Why the Classroom Was the Barrier

06:05 – Success = Commitment + Customization

08:30 – Online vs. In-Person: Who Does It Better?

11:35 – How a Virtual School Day Actually Looks

14:10 – Fixing the Special Ed Teacher Shortage (Hint: Go Remote)

16:20 – Autism, Anxiety & The Safety of Learning at Home

19:00 – AI Knows Your Kid Is Struggling Before You Do

21:15 – Outdated Laws vs. Next-Gen Learning

🔗 Explore Stride’s Approach to Special Education:

stridelearning.com

🔗 See How Assistive Technology Powers Learning:

stridelearning.com/assistive-tech

👤 Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/in/jennykendall

Forget one-size-fits-all. K12’s online programs are built to adapt—especially for students with exceptional needs.

Join the millions of families choosing a flexible, personalized path:

✅ Certified teachers specializing in virtual special education

✅ Tailored IEP support & advanced assistive technology

✅ Safe, customized home learning environments

✅ Career-readiness programs designed for diverse learners

🔗 Secure your spot today: https://go.k12.com/mps/national/podcast/

🔗 Need extra support? Explore K12 Tutoring: https://tutoring.k12.com/?utm_source=k12&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=k12-podcast-tutoring-feb-25

Got thoughts on virtual learning and special education?

📢 Use #WIWTK to share your perspective.

📱 Follow us:

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🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review—let’s reshape the conversation around education.

Since the pandemic, the demand for online tutoring has surged by 200%, with families seeking flexible, effective, and accessible academic support for their children.

But does virtual tutoring truly measure up to in-person sessions? Research from the Annenberg Institute and Johns Hopkins University suggests that well-designed virtual tutoring can significantly boost student performance—often rivaling traditional face-to-face methods.

So, what sets the most effective virtual tutoring programs apart? And beyond academics, can they build confidence and spark a love for learning?

To explore these questions, Kevin P. Chavous is joined by Jennifer Moore, General Manager of K12 Tutoring. With firsthand experience leading K12’s nationwide online tutoring service, Jennifer shares key insights into what makes virtual tutoring successful and how it’s shaping the future of education.

—--------------------

Explore K12-Powered Education & Career Pathways

K12’s innovative programs give students a head start on their future.

Enrollment is now open! Join over 3 million students who have chosen K12-powered tuition-free online public schooling for a flexible, personalized learning experience—all from the safety of home.

✅ State-certified teachers trained in virtual instruction

✅ Accredited curriculum supporting all learners, including advanced students & those with special needs

✅ Career-focused programs, including healthcare pathways & more

✅ More family time, stronger class connections, and academic success

Apply today to secure your spot and see why families trust K12 for their child’s education.

🔗 Learn more about K12’s career pathways, including healthcare programs:

https://go.k12.com/mps/national/podcast/?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D11001665815673379801328021772854664479

🔗 Discover K12 Tutoring for personalized academic support:

https://tutoring.k12.com/?utm_source=k12&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=k12-podcast-tutoring-feb-25

—------------------------

Join the Conversation!

📢 Use #WIWTK on social media to share your thoughts on today’s episode!

📱 Follow & Connect:

🔹 Twitter/X –https://x.com/wiwtkpodcast

🔹 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wiwtkpodcast

🔹 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wiwtkpodcast/

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to leave a review and let us know what you think!

During lockdown, a math teacher and his son 3D-printed a board game on their kitchen table.

Now it’s transforming how students feel about math—and school in general.

Meet Eric Olsen, the STEM rebel behind Glyphic, and principal of Idaho Technical Career Academy, where Zoom school gets a creative upgrade.

From TikTok-style math reels to student-led TED Talks, Eric’s not just teaching equations—he’s rebuilding confidence, attention spans, and joy in learning.

(Yes, really.)

So what happens when you let kids teach? What happens when you stop lecturing and start building?

Let’s find out.

Jump to:

03:09 – School Without Walls

04:48 – Future-Proof Pathways

05:11 – Glyphic: Born on a Kitchen Table

07:30 – Pictionary for People Who Hate Math

08:26 – TED Talks, But Make It Personal

10:55 – Students Choose the Lesson

13:04 – Outsmarting AI

15:57 – Learning From Kids

16:58 – “Not as Bad as I Thought”

17:31 – Full Circle

🎲 Learn More About Eric & Glyphic

📰 Read: Math Teacher Game Idea – Interview with Glyphic’s Designer Eric Olsen

https://casualgamerevolution.com/blog/2022/10/math-teacher-game-idea-interview-with-glyphics-designer-eric-olsen

👤 Connect with Eric on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-olsen-88250630/

Explore K12-Powered Education & Career Pathways

K12’s innovative programs give students a head start on their future.

Enrollment is now open! Join over 3 million students who have chosen K12-powered tuition-free online public schooling for a flexible, personalized learning experience—all from the safety of home.

✅ State-certified teachers trained in virtual instruction

✅ Accredited curriculum supporting all learners, including advanced students & those with special needs

✅ Career-focused programs, including healthcare pathways & more

✅ More family time, stronger class connections, and academic success

Apply today to secure your spot and see why families trust K12 for their child’s education.

🔗 Learn more about K12’s career pathways, including healthcare programs:

https://go.k12.com/mps/national/podcast/?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D11001665815673379801328021772854664479

🔗 Discover K12 Tutoring for personalized academic support:

https://tutoring.k12.com/?utm_source=k12&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=k12-podcast-tutoring-feb-25

Join the Conversation!

📢 Use #WIWTK on social media to share your thoughts on today’s episode!

📱 Follow & Connect:

🔹 Twitter/X – https://x.com/wiwtkpodcast

🔹 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wiwtkpodcast

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🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to leave a review and let us know what you think!

Imagine spending 17 hours competing in one of the biggest fencing tournaments in the world and winning a bronze medal. That's exactly what Joseph Guth, a student at Ohio Virtual Academy, did at the Paris Foil Competition.

But his story is even more incredible because he's also an eighth grader balancing his schoolwork with training for international events.

In this episode of What I Want to Know, Joseph shares how online school can make chasing big dreams possible.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

1:21 - How Joseph got involved in fencing

3:08 - Training in unconventional spaces and starting a fencing club

5:04 - The grueling Paris Foil Competition explained

6:49 - Managing nerves during high-stakes matches

7:14 - Training in Italy and preparing for the Cadet National Championship

8:12 - Balancing academics and international fencing with Ohio Virtual Academy

10:02 - Joseph's academic achievements while pursuing fencing

10:56 - Advice for other student-athletes considering online learning

12:38 - The future of personalized education and Joseph's experience

13:48 - Overcoming skepticism about online learning and socialization

14:49 - Final thoughts and advice for students and parents

Read More on Joseph:

https://www.cleveland.com/community/2024/03/joseph-guth-of-pepper-pike-earns-bronze-medal-at-international-fencing-tournament-in-paris.html

https://clevelandfencingacademy.com/the-bronze-chase-joseph-guths-marathon-journey-at-the-paris-foil/

https://www.chagrinvalleytoday.com/communities/pepper_pike/article_e23b65e6-8c81-11ef-aa36-7b8cba9dff85.html

—-----------------------------------------------

K12's innovative programs give students a head start on their healthcare career journey.

Enrolment is open at K12! Join over 3 million students who have chosen a K12-powered education for tuition-free, personalized online public schooling from the safety of home. With state-certified teachers trained in virtual instruction, an innovative curriculum, and extensive family support, K12 empowers students in grades K-12 to succeed.

Our accredited program offers engaging classes that support learners of all levels, including advanced students and those with special needs. Experience more family time, engaging class connections, and the opportunity for your child to thrive academically.

Apply today to secure your spot and discover why families choose K12 for their online education needs.

Explore K12's healthcare pathway options and other career-focused programs: https://go.k12.com/mps/national/podcast/?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D11001665815673379801328021772854664479

—----------------------------------------

Join the conversation using #WIWTK on social media and be sure to leave a review!

WIWTK Twitter – https://x.com/wiwtkpodcast

WIWTK Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/wiwtkpodcast

WIWTK Instagram –https://www.instagram.com/wiwtkpodcast/