The Learning Pod

Columbus Dispatch reporters Sheridan Hendrix, Megan Henry and Michael Lee discuss the Columbus City Schools’ facilities master plan and what the future of the district’s buildings is.

K-12 schools are back in session after winter break and many universities are set to resume classes next week, but with the new Omicron variant causing a spike in COVID-19 cases, this new semester has been anything but normal.

Reporters Sheridan Hendrix and Megan Henry talk to returning guest and fellow USA Today Network reporter Anna Staver about Election Day 2021, the school board winners and losers on this November’s ballot, and some updates at Ohio’s State Board of Education.

Reporters Sheridan Hendrix and Megan Henry talk to returning guest and fellow reporter Anna Staver about how the Ohio State Board of Education recently repealed an anti-racism resolution and replaced it with one condemning any teachings that "seek to divide."

Columbus Dispatch education reporters Sheridan Hendrix and Megan Henry discuss the current protocols that Columbus City Schools has in place to help curb the number of positive coronavirus cases. Next, we talk about nurses in the district and how they have more responsibilities due to COVID-19 and how long it takes to complete contact tracing for just one student who tested positive for the virus. Finally, we question the current virus safety model and the shortage of nurses throughout the district and ask how long this is sustainable for them.

Columbus Dispatch education reporters Megan Henry and Sheridan Hendrix discuss which college universities have required coronavirus vaccines on their campuses, speculate how these schools might enforce these vaccination mandates, and talk about if there are any know exemptions so far.

On this episode of the Learning Pod, Dispatch education reporter Alissa Widman Neese, Sheridan Hendrix and Megan Henry reflect back on Alissa's career at The Dispatch.

On this episode of the Learning Pod, Dispatch education reporters Alissa Widman Neese, Sheridan Hendrix and Megan Henry discuss the 2021-22 back to school season. Next, we talk about what school districts are doing regarding masking polices, COVID-19 protocols, and vaccinations for those are eligible. Finally, we also mention what polices have been announced so far on college campuses throughout Ohio and what we can expect this fall with the Delta variant on the rise nationwide.

On this episode of the Learning Pod, Dispatch education reporters Alissa Widman Neese, Sheridan Hendrix and Megan Henry discuss three words that have recently ignited a national debate regarding K-12 education: critical race theory. What is it? What isn't it? And what impact could the uproar have when students return to classrooms this fall?

Columbus Dispatch education reporters Sheridan Hendrix and Alissa Widman Neese speak with special guest Anna Staver on the latest episode of The Learning Pod. During this podcast we talk about how Ohio’s budget has been passed and what this means for the new school funding formula. Finally, we talk about the school voucher program and the new changes to this that will apply.

Dispatch education reporters Sheridan Hendrix, Alissa Widman Neese and Megan Henry talk about how Capital University announced earlier this year that it has a new plan to increase student success rates: iPads for everyone. Project Indigo, Capital's new digital initiative, will provide an iPad to all of the university's 2,600 students, staff members and faculty members. These iPads will eliminate any divides caused by a lack of access to technology.

Columbus Dispatch education reporters Sheridan Hendrix, Alissa Widman Neese and Megan Henry speak with special guest Anna Staver It's that time of year again when Ohio lawmakers are tasked with creating the state’s biennial education budget. In February, Gov. Mike DeWine announced his proposed two-year budget, which kept funding for K-12 school education relatively flat. He said at the time that he wanted to leave the decision about how to fund Ohio's public schools up to state lawmakers. As it turns out, the House and the Senate have two very different ideas about how to tackle it.

Dispatch education reporters Sheridan Hendrix, Alissa Widman Neese and Megan Henry discuss how in person graduations are returning for the spring class of 2021. We further talk about how things will look different this year with virus protocols being put in place to help keep students and their families safe.

Dispatch education reporters Sheridan Hendrix, Alissa Widman Neese and Megan Henry discuss the impact and rollout of the coronavirus vaccines across Ohio’s school and college campuses. Next, they talk about what the response has been from students and educators who are now finally eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and what getting this shot means to them.

Dispatch education reporters Sheridan Hendrix, Alissa Widman Neese and Megan Henry discuss hazing on college campuses and the lasting impacts it can have. During this episode of The Learning Pod, they discuss how 20-year-old Bowling Green State University student Stone Foltz died from alleged fraternity hazing earlier this month. They also talk about how Collin’s Law has been reintroduced by Ohio senators, what can be done to prevent hazing, and how education on hazing in Greek life and student organizations could help.

The Learning Pod is new podcast on everything education from The Columbus Dispatch. Join education reporters Sheridan Hendrix, Alissa Widman Neese, and Megan Henry on this bi-weekly program as they examine what is going on in Ohio schools. During this episode we talk about how Ohio was the first state to announce it would shutter schools after classes ended on March 16, 2020, to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Finally, we speculate what the new normal will look like for education and schooling even after COVID-19 is over.