Universal Design for Learning: The Shift to Student Led

Podcast Outline: Universal Design for Learning: The Shift to Student Led

Segment 1: Intro: What is UDL? (00:10-3:02)

Segment 2: Interview with Jillian Filbert-Earth Science Teacher from Wellsville (00:00-26:12)

How do Project‑Based Learning and Universal Design for Learning come together in your classroom? What does that look like, feel like, or sound like?

When you say learning is “student‑led,” what does that actually look like day to day?

How do you give students real voice and choice during a project in your classroom?

How do you make sure all students can access learning, even when they learn in different ways?

What flexibility do students have in how they show what they know, while still meeting high expectations?

What routines or structures help students collaborate and manage their learning independently?

How do feedback, reflection, or self‑assessment keep students at the center of the learning process?

What impact have you seen on student engagement, confidence, or equity since using Project Based Learning with Universal Design for Learning?

For educators who want to make this shift; what’s one place you’d recommend they start? One piece of advice you would give them.

The interview with Jillian Filbert prompts thoughtful consideration of the intentional work taking place both within classrooms and across the broader educational context. Her reflections establish a foundation for a deeper dialogue—one that emphasizes professional insight, reflective practice, and ongoing growth. In the Q & A that follows with author Katie Novak, Jillian Filbert is joined by Deb Wagoner from Belfast Central, Jerry Parisi from Salamanca City School District, Kelsey Judware Coordinator for Exceptional Ed Pd & Support, and myself as we examine how our work intersects with student learning, professional collaboration, and the greater school community.

·Bonnie: “Thank you for joining us in our conversations about Universal Design for Learning and the Shift to Student Led. As we close out today’s episode, we hope something you heard today sparked a new idea or perspective. We thank all the teachers who joined us in our conversations, and especially Jillian Filbert from Wellsville Secondary School and Author Katie Novak for her insights. Thank you for listening, and we hope you stop back for the next CA Today episode.”

Show notes:

Join host Bonnie Wagner, CABOCES, as she speaks with Jillian Filbert, an Earth & Space Science teacher at Wellsville Secondary School, to reflect on key insights from the book study The Shift to Student-Led Learning and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and explore practical ways to support this shift in classroom practice. This episode explores essential themes such as access for all students, learner agency, project‑based learning (PBL), and how these ideas align with Portrait of a Graduate. Listeners will discover how intentional lesson design, proactive use of assistive technology, and innovative instructional strategies can support all learners from the start. This podcast also includes a Q & A Session held during the book study with Author Katie Novak and how we can support our students in the classroom as we create Universally Designed Instruction Together.

Thank you to today's host!

Bonnie Wagner- Coordinator Exceptional Education

Resources From Today's Episode · ⁠

https://www.novakeducation.com/

The Shift to Student Led by Katie Novak and Catlin Tucker

Join us! View our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠registration page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to view upcoming CABOCES regional workshop opportunities and have your district representative, responsible for registration, sign you up!

Don't Forget to Connect! Subscribe and Review wherever you like to listen! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠catodayedu@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to offer future show ideas or share something you're excited about, what's happening in your school or classroom!

What does resilience actually look like?

In this episode of CA Today, host Kelli Cullen, Community Schools Coordinator, speaks with Jomar Gomez, Behavior Management Coordinator at Randolph Academy, about resilience and grit—brought to life through real experiences. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the conversation moves beyond definitions to share personal and professional stories of overcoming adversity.

Jomar reflects on his own journey with resilience and how it shapes the way he supports students facing some of life’s toughest moments. Honest, inspiring, and deeply human, this episode highlights the power of turning challenges into purpose.

🎧 Tune in for:

• Real examples of resilience and grit
• Insights from supporting students through adversity
• A personal story that inspires growth and connection

An episode that’s meaningful, timely, and worth the listen.

Thank you to today's hosts!

⁠Kelli Cullen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Community Schools Coordinator

Join us!

View our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠registration page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to view upcoming CABOCES regional workshop opportunities and have your district representative, responsible for registration, sign you up!

Don't Forget To Connect! Subscribe and review wherever you like to listen!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠catodayedu@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to offer future show ideas or share something you're excited about, such as what's happening in your school or classroom!

Join todays episode to hear an interview with Matt Bucholz of CABOCES. He is the STEM Coordinator for Instructional Supports Services. He helps districts with the Trout in the Classroom program. This podcast also includes audio footage of Julie Sylor and her class at Franklinville Elementary School as they released their fish into the Ischua Creek.

Thank you to today's hosts!

Rick Weinberg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Curriculum Coordinator/Professional Development

Matt Bucholz- CABOCES STEM Coach

Join us!

View our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠registration page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to view upcoming CABOCES regional workshop opportunities and have your district representative, responsible for registration, sign you up!

Don't Forget To Connect! Subscribe and review wherever you like to listen!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠catodayedu@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to offer future show ideas or share something you're excited about, such as what's happening in your school or classroom!