Olivia Wahl
17 April 2026
In part two of my S5E33 Schoolutions conversation, Colleen O'Brien, Ed.D., reveals what decades of research and classroom teaching experience taught her: the gap between civic knowledge and civic participation isn't apathy, it's confidence. Colleen and I explore: 🔹 Why low engagement in civic life is really a confidence problem, not an apathy problem 🔹 What inclusive teaching and nonpartisan facilitation actually look like in practice 🔹 How student participation in structured discussion prepares kids for real-world advocacy 🔹 The role of instructional leadership and school culture in making civics education consistent and high quality 💫Make sure to watch Part 1 & Some Episode Mentions: Civics for Colorado Colorado Youth Advisory Council Center for Civic EducationiCivics Bill of Rights Institute Street Law Common Cause "This I Believe" More Information & Upcoming Events from ColleenChapters 0:00 – Welcome Back & Part 2 Overview 1:45 – Civic Knowledge vs. Civic Behavior: What's the Difference? 4:00 – Civics Education Then vs. Now: What's Changed? 6:20 – The Real Reason People Don't Participate (It's Not Apathy) 7:45 – Building the Bridge: From Understanding Democracy to Showing Up 9:00 – Training Facilitators & Reading the Room 10:45 – How to Model Nonpartisanship When Everything Feels Partisan 12:30 – Teaching Values vs. Teaching Partisanship 14:00 – Where Is Civics Education Headed? 15:30 – What This Journey Taught Colleen About Herself 16:00 – National Resources for Educators Everywhere 17:00 – Closing Takeaways Next week: What happens when a teacher truly believes in a child? Not just says it, but proves it? Muriel Summers, co-creator of Leader in Me and co-author of Teacher Believed in Me, reveals why entrusting kids with real responsibility is the most powerful thing an adult can do and why holding back might be the most dangerous. You don't want to miss it. When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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