Welcome! and thank you for joining us on the very first episode of Education Influencers. Today Dr. Carla Sparks interviews Dr. Lisa Hassler, who earned her doctorate in 2021 from National Lewis University. Dr. Hassler shares her remarkable achievements, including becoming a national conference advisor, a peer reviewer for academic journals, and collaborating with renowned theorist Dr. Michael G. Moore.

She discusses her influential podcast 'The Brighter Side of Education,' now CPD accredited, offering professional development credits to educators. Additionally, she and Dr. Sparks talk about her bestselling book, 'America’s Embarrassing Reading Crisis,' and its impact on education policies and practices. Dr. Hassler also highlights her role as a school board member, environmental educator, and the significance of service in influencing change and making a difference in educational communities.

⁠Find more about Dr. Lisa Hassler⁠

⁠Connect with Dr. Sparks!⁠

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Education Influencers

00:18 Meet Dr. Lisa Hassler

01:46 Dr. Hassler's Post-Doctoral Journey

02:27 Impactful Roles and Achievements

12:08 Transforming a Podcast into Professional Learning

16:37 America's Embarrassing Reading Crisis

29:22 Environmental Advocacy and Community Engagement

34:28 Advice for Aspiring Change Makers

35:41 Conclusion and Gratitude