Empowering Educators and Championing Student-Centered Classrooms with Dr. Kaylah Holland (EP162)

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Dr. Kaylah Holland is passionate about empowering educators through professional development, one-on-one coaching, and innovative lesson design. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Instructional Design and Technology with extensive research in active learning environments. Driven by a passion for a student’s potential that cannot be confined, Kaylah works to restore justice and shares her accidental journey as an educator, author, and advocate for justice-involved youth. Kaylah shares the importance of books over bars, education over incarceration, and her book, Putting Out Fires. 

Your WHY

I foster active learning environments for ALL students to succeed in school and life while empowering educators to make a huge impact in classrooms around the world. Students need to receive a high-quality education. Education matters and can change someone’s life. 

Background in Education

I am a Google Certified Innovator, Trainer, and Coach, a college professor, and an ISTE Community Leader. I am a part-time adjunct professor for a couple of universities in the United States. She works to educate and empower teachers beginning their careers in their Master’s degree programs.

I was presented the “20 to Watch” award by ISTE in 2022 and was recognized by EdTech K-12 Magazine as a top 30 influencer in 2023. I was selected as a featured voice at the ISTE Live 2024 conference. 

Accidental Journey

In 2016, I received my Doctorate of Education in Instructional Design and Technology with extensive research in active learning environments. This is what I worked hard for, but I had no job. That’s when I lived as an ex-pat full-time in Haiti. There was lots of problem-solving. I fell in love with the people, the place, and the culture. When the pandemic happened in 2020, I had to leave.

Be a voice, not an echo. ~Albert Einstein

BreakFree Education

As the Director of Instructional Technology and Blended Learning for BreakFree Education, I empower educators to foster innovative, sustainable, and active educational experiences inside juvenile justice facilities across the United States offering students held in confinement a path to success in school and life.

As an ISTE Community Leader, I work to empower educators around the globe. I am directly involved in managing the For Coaches, By Coaches monthly meetups and am part of the Global Group. I amplify the voices of educators across the globe through the Featured Educator program. I was a pivotal part of the organizing team to create the Global Impact Virtual Conference hosted by ISTE Community Leaders in April 2024. The virtual conference included 13 live sessions and 50 pre-recorded sessions representing 25 countries. 

Your Book, “Putting Out Fires”

I published Putting Out Fires: A Framework for Solving Problems in Your Classroom and School in June 2024. This book will help educators solve problems using the author’s “Putting Out Fires Framework,” which demonstrates how sorting possible solutions – into Extinguish, Detect, Contain, and Prevent categories – can help teachers and administrators think through the impact of various solutions and make a more informed decision before implementing a solution.

I’m celebrating a Book Birthday Bash at ISTE on Sunday, June 23rd, 2024 (3 pm to 4 pm MT) at the Denver Firefighters Museum. For more information, go to www.kaylahholland.com/puttingoutfires 

I’m speaking at ISTE on “Inside and Outside” with four incarcerated students on a panel on Monday, June 24th, 2024 at 4MT.

Dr. Kaylah Holland’s Contact Information

Twitter (X) https://twitter.com/HollandKaylah 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylahholland/ 

Email: kholland@breakfree-ed.org
holland.kaylah@gmail.com 

Website: www.kaylahholland.com

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I hope you enjoy the conversation with Dr. Kaylah Holland and me on my virtual porch. I met Kaylah at SXSW EDU. We just felt like we’ve known each other for years. She shared her story about BreakFree education and working with 10-24-year-old incarcerated students and I was hooked.  Her journey will blow you away. I know you will love it. I hope you, my listeners, enjoy the podcast and check out Kaylah’s amazing journey on this post. Please share this podcast and the post with your friends.

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