Beyond the Bell
A college-and-career counseling podcast designed to provide students with tools and tips to look beyond the bell of their high schools into their futures (be it, college, careers, trade schools, or gap years) where bells do not exist. Beyond the Bell is hosted by Evelyn Lauer, who has worked in education for nearly 25 years, serving primarily as a high school English teacher, but also assuming roles as an instructional coach, college writing instructor, workshop leader, and journalism/media advisor. Lauer is also currently a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she is studying school counseling. She is a mother to two sons, who are in 10th and 7th grade. She also serves on the board of Friends of Amundsen High School. Topics discussed will include: college admissions, college essays, trade schools, gap years, finding one’s passions and future careers.
Lauer's work has been published in The Huffington Post, Education Week, The English Journal, Sentence, and elsewhere. She served as the PR/Publications director for the Journalism Education Association for six years and is currently serving that organization as a mentor teacher. BTB was highlighted in the New York Times Education Briefing during the pandemic. Episodes from 2020-2022 are about teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. They include interviews with educators from across the United States about their experiences teaching remote, hybrid, and in-person during the pandemic.
Beyond the Bell
Kaine Osburn
K-8 superintendent Kaine Osburn and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the decisions schools must make while the pandemic continues and Omicron spreads. Lauer describes her own experience with Covid-19.
Osburn is an educational leader who believes equity is the real engine for growth in student achievement and innovation in learning. He has broad and deep experience as a high school English teacher, union leader, principal, and district leader. He currently leads Avoca District 37, a high performing K-8 district in the near north suburbs of Chicago, which sends students to New Trier High School.
As a superintendent, previously he led large-scale community engagement and strategic planning, a successful $78M bond referendum, installation of a new staff training center through an innovative community partnership, and he developed powerful relationships with civic and business leaders on behalf of students. As a Deputy Superintendent and a Principal, he engaged in multiple sectors across larger and smaller school districts -- from operations, to curriculum and instruction, to finance, human resources, and community relations. He also has experience working directly with elementary and secondary families, teachers, principals, and community leaders.
Follow Kaine on Twitter @AvocaOsburn
Follow Evelyn on Twitter @evelynalauer