Notes from the Backpack

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Notes from the Backpack

A Podcast for Parents, by Parents

PTA is working to ensure our public schools provide a high-quality and equitable education for every child to reach their full potential. Notes from the Backpack is a PTA podcast designed for millions of parents and the decisionmakers they influence.

Through the unique combination of expert, parent and educator guests, each episode features engaging conversations that offer real-life advice and ideas on how to support children’s learning and development—all in parent-friendly language.

Real Experts. Real Parents. Real Conversations.

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Current Episode

Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023

Biance Myrick

71 | Raising Children Who Love the Environment


Bianca Myrick

There is so much children can learn from the great outdoors! We spoke with Bianca Myrick, executive director of the Virginia Association of Environmental Education to learn how families can explore the environment together and raise kids who care for the planet. Bianca shares ideas on how you can replace screentime with green time at home and advocate for environmental education in your child’s school.

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Recent Episodes

Brodrick Clarke

70 | Finding the Best Summer Program for Your Child


Brodrick Clarke

Choosing a summer program that is fun, educational and affordable is no easy task. Brodrick Clarke, VP of Programs at the National Summer Learning Association joined the show to help. He talks about the tools families can use to find high-quality summer programs and offers tips for finding a program that will be a good fit for your child.

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Laura Tierney

69 | Social Media 201: Embracing the Digital World


Laura Tierney

When our kids talk about the latest social media trends, it can feel like they’re speaking a foreign language. Founder and CEO of The Social Institute, Laura Tierney, joined the show to help us understand how we can best support our children in navigating the current social media landscape. She highlights the importance of positive social media education and shares how technology can support our children’s mental health and even their study habits.

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Stefan Lallinger

68 | Why Your Child’s School Isn’t More Diverse


Stefan Lallinger

While segregation may seem like a thing of the past, it’s still a major issue affecting our schools today. We spoke with Stefan Lallinger, executive director of Next100, to explore why schools aren’t more diverse and how we can advocate for systemic change. He also shares his insight on the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action and its implications for the future of K-12 education.

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Jean Eddy and Elliana Cabellon

67 | Your Child's Career Exploration Starts Now


Jean Eddy and Elliana Cabellon

We often ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, but how often do we help them figure out the answer? We invited Jean Eddy, Executive Director of the American Student Assistance (ASA) and ASA’s “Solve It” contest winner and high school student, Elliana Cabellon to talk about career exploration. They share how families can help kids follow their passions, plan for their futures and explore STEM career pathways.

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Dr. Darcy Hutchins

66 | How Policy Shapes Family-School Partnerships


Dr. Darcy Hutchins

Is your school district prioritizing Family-School Partnerships? The Director of Family-School  Partnerships at Colorado Department of Education, Darcy Hutchins, shares how states and districts can embed best practices into their protocols to ensure strong family-school partnerships. She also offers advice for where families can look for information about policies affecting their own communities.

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Rosazlia Grillier

65 | Speaking Up for Every Child: Tips from a Parent Advocate


Rosazlia Grillier

What does it mean to be an advocate for all children and how can you jumpstart your own advocacy journey? We discussed the answers to these questions and so much more with Rosazlia Grillier, a founder and governing council member of the United Parent Leaders Action Network (UPLAN). She shares her own experience, how you can find the leader in you, and how to get connected to a network of advocates and take action.

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Dr. Pamela Cantor

64 | Helping Your Child Through Crises


Dr. Pamela Cantor

Since the start of 2020, it feels like we’ve experienced—or witnessed—one crisis after another. How should we talk with our children about these challenging topics—and how can we cope with them ourselves? We interviewed Dr. Pamela Cantor, founder and senior science advisor at Turnaround for Children to get her advice. She shares how relationships, routines and resilience can help us traverse these tumultuous times.

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Eugenio Longoria Saenz

63 | Overcoming Math Anxiety


Eugenio Longoria Saenz

Do you start sweating when your kids ask for help with math homework? Lots of parents struggle with math anxiety—our child’s and our own—but math is everywhere and it’s our job to help our children embrace it. We sat down with Eugenio Longoria Saenz, founding director of the Center for Family Math at The National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE). He shares how you can overcome your own math anxiety and help your child learn how to approach math with curiosity and an open mind.

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Jon Deane

62 | An Inside Look at School Ratings


Jon Deane

What goes into a school rating? School ratings often leave families feeling confused, wondering what a singular number tells them about the quality of a school. To get to the bottom of this, our hosts interviewed Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools.org who shares how families can use school ratings as a starting point for making informed choices for their child’s education.

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Deborah Farmer Kris

61 | Supporting Children Through School Transitions


Deborah Farmer-Kris

School transitions can be hard—and not just for the kids, but for parents, too! Our guest, child development expert and author, Deborah Farmer-Kris, has tips for making school transitions a little smoother. Whether your child is struggling to get out the door in the morning, experiencing anxiety in the classroom or melting down when they get home, Deborah has advice to ease your back-to-school transition.

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