The What School Could Be Podcast: Sarah Renfrow, Master Teacher of Teachers

Producer and Host of the national “What School Could Be” podcast, Josh Reppun, first learned about Real World Learning from the Kauffman Foundation’s educator-in-residence, Bill Nicely. Eventually, “after being knocked out by what Real World Learning is doing in the Kansas City area,” he asked Nicely to name someone to be a guest on his show. Nicely named Sarah Renfrow who previously taught at Raymore-Peculiar and is now an ELA teacher in the Blue Springs School District. Renfrow is also a consultant for the Kauffman Foundation as the RWL Teacher Network Leader. 

Here’s how Bill Nicely introduced Sarah Renfrow to host Josh Reppun:

True “Master Teachers” are an amazing gift.  And even knowing this, to say that Sarah Renfrow is a Master Teacher is to make a significant understatement.  Sarah is, of course, a master teacher, one of the best I’ve observed.  She is also a master teacher of teachers.  The best I’ve observed.  Her understanding of how to strategically integrate Client Connected Projects into core content high school courses is amazing. Still, her ability to help teachers do the same is her true talent.  

When done well, integrated Client Connected Projects are synonymous with Competency-Based Learning and can very quickly become over-complicated and burdensome for teachers.  Sarah’s real skill lies in simplifying the process to manageable pieces while conveying a low-pressure, “just try it” disposition.  The result for teachers is they not only learn a new and better way to engage students, but they also find themselves equally engaged themselves, especially as they transition from teacher to facilitator of learning.  All the while, Sarah, in a whispering kind of way. checks for understanding and moves to the next step in the process.  Before you know it, teachers implement with fidelity, and students are learning content and discovering new things about themselves and the world around them.  

Sarah’s real skill lies in simplifying the process to manageable pieces while conveying a low-pressure, “just try it” disposition. 

Dr. Bill Nicely
Educator in Residence in support of Real World Learning
Ewing Marion Kuffman Foundation

It is this approach and her talent that have helped to catalyze Kansas City’s Real World Learning Collaborative. Someday, when we step back and ask ourselves, “How did this initiative take hold to benefit so many students?” One response will surely be, “We had Sarah Renfrow.”