Live in the Lab Schools

05/29/2026

We're on summer break in the Lab Schools, but we've got one last episode for you with Ben and Andy just reflecting on their year. At the end of the episode, stick around to hear two amazing soon-to-be Kindergarteners tell you what you need to know about Pre-school. Ben and Andy are great, but Owen and Grant are WAY cooler to listen to this week.

We're back in August -- enjoy some time to reset! Head to https://www.linktree.com/liveinthelabschools to listen to this week or catch up on other great conversations.

05/21/2026

AND THIS WEEK! Ben sits down for a Reset chat with Meg Flanagan-Rudd (English), Emily Telford (Biology), and Lauren Denofrio-Corrales (Chemistry) from University High School, Normal IL as they talk about their years and the moments that have profoundly shaped them (as well as lot of reference to millenial energy). They're featured in the lefthand column

You'll enjoy what they have to say. Head to www.linktree.com/liveinthelabschools to listen!!

Over the next two weeks, you're going to see two episodes featuring some of our amazing staff members! This week on the pod, the Metcalf Teacher's Lounge Chat features Holly Zehr (Metcalf Librarian), Jessica Wargo (Pre-K), and Dr. Rachel Wells (Speech Language Pathologist, HILIA). Featured on the right column of our graphic, they chat with Andy about their years, standout student moments, and the ways they are uplifted here at the end of the school year.

Head to https://linktree.com/liveinthelabschools to listen to this week's episode! Stay tuned for next week's lounge chat with a group from U-High! After that, one last episode for the season before we take a summer break!

05/14/2026

Over the next two weeks, you're going to see two episodes featuring some of our amazing staff members! This week on the pod, the Metcalf Teacher's Lounge Chat features Holly Zehr (Metcalf Librarian), Jessica Wargo (Pre-K), and Dr. Rachel Wells (Speech Language Pathologist, HILIA). Featured on the right column of our graphic, they chat with Andy about their years, standout student moments, and the ways they are uplifted here at the end of the school year.

Head to https://linktree.com/liveinthelabschools to listen to this week's episode! Stay tuned for next week's lounge chat with a group from U-High! After that, one last episode for the season before we take a summer break!

05/09/2026

Sitting here this morning giving this another listen— check this conversation out!

05/07/2026

This week on the pod, Ben and Andy sit down with some of our new hires in the Lab Schools!

We talk to Megan DeBarr (2nd Grade at Metcalf), Caitlin Smith (Social Sciences at U-High), and Derek DeBarr (Social Sciences at U-High) about what they learned as they joined us and the joy they have found in becoming a part of our schools. It's a super fun, uplifting, and deeply moving conversation.

Head to https://linktree.com/liveinthelabschools to give it a listen—truly one of our best conversations!

Pengu Gif courtesy of GIPHY

05/03/2026

Congrats to Superintendent Allen! Listen to our conversation with her from our pod a few weeks ago! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2551463/episodes/18510626-ep-9-inside-roe-17-partnerships-innovation-and-teacher-pipelines-with-molly-allen

A huge milestone for ROE #17!

This morning, Molly Allen was officially sworn in as our Regional Superintendent of Schools by Judge Sarah Duffy. We are incredibly proud of Molly’s dedication to education in our community and can’t wait to see our office continue to grow and thrive under her leadership.

Congratulations, Superintendent Allen!

04/23/2026

This week on the pod, Ben and Andy spend a little bit of time talking about Artificial Intelligence in schools. Their convo weaves through their approach to the tools, how they've helped lighten the load, but also some critical considerations to think about as these tools make their way through schools. We mention Grammarly , MagicSchool.ai, Perplexity AI, Google, Microsoft, Notion, ChatGPT, and other tools we use.

To be clear, these tools are here, so let's talk about them!! Head to https://linktree.com/liveinthelabschools to listen!!

Disclaimer: Andy and Ben's conversation is just that - their conversation. Their statements are not to be taken as the official policy or stance on Artificial Intelligence of the ISU Laboratory Schools.

Image Credit: Adobe Firefly (using Gemini/Nano Banana 2) - taken from Ben's favorite metaphor for AI use!

04/15/2026

No new episode this week for us -- we're in the midst of teaching and almost end of year stuff that we need just a bit more time to get some good conversations on the record.

We've got some GREAT content you can check out though! Head to https://linktr.ee/liveinthelabschools to catch a listen to our episodes with leaders, discussions with area partners, or even just listen to us chat about education.

We appreciate you listening - hang tight for some more conversations with some really cool people in the Lab Schools - coming soon!

04/02/2026

This week on the pod, Ben and Andy chat about some traditions in our schools. We talk the big events, some cultural things we live in, and also invite our listeners to tell us what we should talk about! This clip is all about Class Night at University High School, Normal IL!

Want to connect with us - hit us up - let us know what you want to hear. Think we missed a tradition - drop it in the comments and we'll feature it in our next episode we record.

To listen to today's episode, head to https://linktree.com/liveinthelabschools.

03/19/2026

Today on Live in the Lab Schools, listen in to learn more about HILIA (Heart of Illinois Low Incidence Association) - a special education cooperative, and third part of the Laboratory Schools at Illinois State that provides specialized services primarily for students who have low vision or are blind, as well as students who are Deaf/Hard of hearing.

On the pod, we sat down with HILIA Director Lisa Kendall, Lead Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Dr. Molly Turner, and Lead Itinerant Teacher of the Visually Impaired Lisa Tabaka. We talk about site-based and itinerant teaching, the mission and governance of HILIA (shoutout to ROE #17), and the multitude of ways that students get the support they need to thrive through this team of amazing educators and professionals who have bags and bins and backpacks full of amazing strategies, tools, and resources for their students.

Go to https://linktr.ee/liveinthelabschools to subscribe and give today's episode a listen!