
School Talk with Reaching Higher NH
By Reaching Higher NH
As part of Reaching Higher NH’s effort to support New Hampshire’s public schools, School Talk brings you conversations and stories that illuminate important issues in education. Visit reachinghighernh.org for more stories about NH schools.

Always a Teacher
Always a Teacher
School Talk with Reaching Higher NHJan 09, 2023
00:00
21:04

Always a Teacher
Always a Teacher
Reaching Higher policy analyst and former teacher Matt Gerding draws connections between the marvelous world of middle school and his current work as a policy analyst.
Jan 09, 202321:04

Putting the Why in Policy
Putting the Why in Policy
Kayla Provencher experienced the inequities between NH's schools firsthand as a young person, when her family moved from one town to another. Now Reaching Higher's Policy Researcher, she's passionate about making education policy accessible to those most affected by it and determined to stay focused on the real reason Reaching Higher exists: the students.
Aug 30, 202233:47

A Taste of Medicine
A Taste of Medicine
A new healthcare pre-apprenticeship offers high school students the chance to prepare for a registered apprenticeship in one of three fields while working at Dartmouth Hitchcock in Lebanon and taking classes at River Valley Community College in Claremont. It's one of several partnerships and initiatives designed to address the healthcare worker shortage and open doors for students.
Mar 23, 202219:36

Spotlight on School Boards
Spotlight on School Boards
What exactly does a school board do? Why does it matter? How do board members get elected? And what does it take to serve effectively on a board? In this episode, we talk with Barrett Christina, Executive Director of the New Hampshire School Boards Association, and two current school board members, to learn what it's like to run for and serve on a school board.
Jan 12, 202214:09

Little Learners, Big Ideas
Little Learners, Big Ideas
To support their youngest learners this year, educators are rethinking classroom structures and focusing on building relationships
Dec 13, 202111:05

Claremont, Part Two
Claremont, Part Two
After the release of the Claremont decisions, the state legislature responds. So why are school districts still suing the state today?
For more stories about New Hampshire school funding, check out our website: https://reachinghighernh.org/
Oct 15, 202152:14

Claremont, Part One
Claremont, Part One
In the early 1990s, five school districts sued the state of New Hampshire. But why?
For more stories about New Hampshire school funding, check out our website: https://reachinghighernh.org/
Sep 14, 202137:33

A Firsthand Look at "First Gens"
A Firsthand Look at "First Gens"
First-generation college students face specific challenges such as decoding the "hidden curriculum" of college life, but they also bring strong positive traits such as perseverance to the table. Hannah Harding, a summer intern at Reaching Higher, talks about the research she's conducting on "first gens" at UNH as well as her own experiences as a first generation college student.
Aug 04, 202112:42

Ready, Set, Graduate
Ready, Set, Graduate
What do today’s graduates need in order to succeed and thrive? One school district is taking a hard look at itself to answer that question and make sure its students are ready for the world.
Jun 14, 202117:03

Test Day
Test Day
An interview with Scott Marion, executive director of the Center for Assessment in Dover, about school tests, their value and limitations, and the challenges educators face in administering and using them this school year.
Mar 31, 202133:11

Pandemic Reflections
Pandemic Reflections
As we round out a year of pandemic schooling, the Reaching Higher staff discuss our own experiences as parents guiding our children through these challenging times.
Mar 03, 202127:55

On Our Own
On Our Own
During the late spring and summer of 2020, the small town of Hopkinton, NH found itself in deep political turmoil as its school board struggled to pass an operating budget for the 2020/2021 fiscal year. While this event came as a surprise to many, the roots of polarized school politics go back decades in town.
For more stories about school funding, check out our website: http://reachinghighernh.org/
Feb 15, 202147:17

Return of the School Voucher Bill
Return of the School Voucher Bill
In this episode, Reaching Higher Policy Director Christina Pretorius discusses what's coming up in education legislation, including a familiar-looking school voucher bill.
Feb 05, 202112:07

New Year, New Chapter
New Year, New Chapter
A conversation with Reaching Higher's Policy Director, Christina Pretorius, about the upcoming Legislative session, and a story about 2021 Teacher of the Year, Danielle Boutin, and the support network she's helped create for families at Ledge Street School in Nashua.
Jan 03, 202122:51

ConVal Case Explained
ConVal Case Explained
On Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, The NH Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the ConVal Lawsuit, which claims the state is failing to adequately fund its public schools. John Tobin, who is representing the 26 school districts who’ve signed onto the brief, discusses what the lawsuit means for New Hampshire schools.
Dec 17, 202012:35

Quest for Equity
Quest for Equity
New Hampshire’s Commission to Study School Funding released its final report on Dec. 1. In this episode of School Talk four members of the Commission discuss their key findings and what they could mean for students and taxpayers.
Dec 02, 202031:25