WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.060 --> 00:00:03.070 Jethro: Welcome to this special edition of Principal P L 00:00:03.100 --> 00:00:05.340 N with Guest Host Ross Romano! 00:00:06.691 --> 00:00:09.471 Ross Romano: If you're interested in impactful education, innovation, 00:00:09.471 --> 00:00:10.301 you're in the right place. 00:00:10.501 --> 00:00:14.281 Today, we're kicking off a four part series discussing career view 00:00:14.281 --> 00:00:17.711 XR and its alignment with four core principles that have the potential 00:00:17.711 --> 00:00:21.771 to drive student outcomes, a positive student outcomes for every child. 00:00:22.431 --> 00:00:26.331 I'm Ross Romano, host of the Authority Podcast here on the BE Podcast Network. 00:00:26.971 --> 00:00:30.141 I'm joined today by Matt Shosey for this special episode. 00:00:30.451 --> 00:00:31.511 Matt is the CEO. 00:00:32.161 --> 00:00:36.121 Be More Colorful, a Midwest based immersive media production studio 00:00:36.121 --> 00:00:40.531 whose platform, CareerViewXR, is rapidly gaining national attention. 00:00:40.941 --> 00:00:44.651 CareerViewXR provides students and adult career seekers across the country 00:00:45.331 --> 00:00:49.081 with an unprecedented opportunity to experience real world careers 00:00:49.381 --> 00:00:51.491 through virtual reality technology. 00:00:51.541 --> 00:00:55.051 And it was recently selected from a field of over 2, 000 applicants 00:00:55.431 --> 00:00:59.171 to be one of 33 semifinalists for the prestigious Yaas Prize. 00:00:59.471 --> 00:01:00.431 Matt, welcome to the show! 00:01:00.441 --> 00:01:00.501 Thank you. 00:01:00.896 --> 00:01:01.686 Matt Chausee: Hey, thanks, Ross. 00:01:01.736 --> 00:01:02.766 I appreciate you having me. 00:01:03.421 --> 00:01:03.761 Ross Romano: So... 00:01:04.611 --> 00:01:07.471 You know, we're setting the stage here for you know, for a number of 00:01:07.471 --> 00:01:11.051 conversations where we're going to get a chance to dive pretty deeply into 00:01:11.051 --> 00:01:14.201 these four principles, which we'll talk about what they are in a moment. 00:01:14.431 --> 00:01:16.961 But you know, for our listeners who are tuning in and we're just getting 00:01:16.961 --> 00:01:22.171 to know you wanted to give you a chance to describe, be more colorful and 00:01:22.211 --> 00:01:26.361 career view XR and how you got started with the company and the growth you've 00:01:26.361 --> 00:01:28.601 experienced over the past few years. 00:01:28.926 --> 00:01:29.946 Matt Chausee: Yeah, absolutely. 00:01:30.036 --> 00:01:35.016 So Be More Colorful is a virtual reality and immersive media production studio. 00:01:35.016 --> 00:01:38.736 We're based in Fargo, North Dakota, and we actually started in 2016 00:01:38.746 --> 00:01:42.716 thinking we were going to change the game for residential real estate. 00:01:42.766 --> 00:01:47.236 And when home virtual tours weren't we weren't able to sell home virtual tours, 00:01:47.246 --> 00:01:49.071 it was like, well, Boy what can we do? 00:01:49.091 --> 00:01:49.721 How do we pivot? 00:01:49.721 --> 00:01:52.301 How do we make this why isn't it working? 00:01:52.341 --> 00:01:56.461 And as we started doing some of that self reflection, start realizing boy, we're not 00:01:56.461 --> 00:02:00.511 solving a big problem that there's, there are opportunities here to use this media 00:02:00.521 --> 00:02:04.991 for things that can be much more impactful than just helping someone choose how 00:02:04.991 --> 00:02:10.571 to buy a home both Katie and I my wife, Katie and I are a husband and wife team. 00:02:10.591 --> 00:02:11.751 And we decided, you know what? 00:02:12.181 --> 00:02:13.951 We're going to, we're going to make this happen. 00:02:13.951 --> 00:02:15.461 We're going to go all in on this thing. 00:02:15.461 --> 00:02:17.621 We're going to figure out where our right fit is. 00:02:17.631 --> 00:02:21.781 Cause we'd started to see a little bit of traction in tourism, which then kind 00:02:21.781 --> 00:02:25.891 of led to workforce developments and economic developments, and that then 00:02:25.901 --> 00:02:27.751 started getting us connected with schools. 00:02:27.751 --> 00:02:31.851 And we're both very passionate learners and educators and it was like, boy, 00:02:32.131 --> 00:02:37.031 We can use these immersive media technologies to help students make 00:02:37.051 --> 00:02:41.711 more informed choices about what their future path is by creating 00:02:41.721 --> 00:02:47.141 visibility to the wide array of options that, that's not just students, but. 00:02:47.371 --> 00:02:50.441 educators and parents are not even that familiar with. 00:02:50.441 --> 00:02:52.191 So that's the nutshell version. 00:02:52.191 --> 00:02:54.421 It's a seven year journey to get to this point. 00:02:54.461 --> 00:02:57.961 So obviously there are a lot of additional rabbit holes to go down there. 00:02:58.351 --> 00:02:59.971 But really that's the overall focus. 00:02:59.971 --> 00:03:04.661 It was it started off as a set of features in search of a problem. 00:03:05.386 --> 00:03:10.996 Repositioned as boy, we need really need to understand the problem and the people 00:03:10.996 --> 00:03:16.986 that's affecting first and then we build a solution that helps solve that problem. 00:03:17.546 --> 00:03:22.216 Ross Romano: Yeah, how did you get confirmation that focusing on careers 00:03:22.216 --> 00:03:24.526 was the right place to put your energy? 00:03:24.806 --> 00:03:25.886 Matt Chausee: Well, it was interesting. 00:03:25.896 --> 00:03:28.366 It was because we had, I said, we started in real estate, then 00:03:28.366 --> 00:03:30.286 we moved into travel and tourism. 00:03:30.326 --> 00:03:33.246 It was actually at a tourism conference where I ran into North 00:03:33.246 --> 00:03:36.366 Dakota's Commissioner of the Department of Commerce at the time. 00:03:36.796 --> 00:03:39.946 And I've always loved the show Dirty Jobs, like Mike Rowe is a hero. 00:03:40.801 --> 00:03:42.691 aNd I've always been passionate about learning. 00:03:42.691 --> 00:03:43.531 I did a lot. 00:03:43.791 --> 00:03:45.321 So, okay, here's my story. 00:03:45.661 --> 00:03:49.191 Six and a half years in college for my four year math degree. 00:03:49.191 --> 00:03:50.941 And it wasn't because I failed any courses. 00:03:50.941 --> 00:03:53.101 It's because I couldn't decide what I wanted to do. 00:03:53.151 --> 00:03:54.721 I had too many major changes. 00:03:55.191 --> 00:03:57.311 But I've always loved learning. 00:03:57.371 --> 00:04:00.381 And that's kind of a core principle of our company. 00:04:00.991 --> 00:04:04.101 And when I ran into the director of the Department of Commerce, I realized that 00:04:04.181 --> 00:04:08.681 I read an article recently talking about this workforce issue that North Dakota, 00:04:08.681 --> 00:04:11.071 as well as many other states are facing. 00:04:11.591 --> 00:04:15.431 And I asked her, I said, Hey I want to show I had a VR headset in my hand. 00:04:15.431 --> 00:04:18.826 I said, I want to show you this virtual experience and then ask you a question 00:04:19.246 --> 00:04:23.966 and she tried it on and had I think it was it was a pitchfork steak fondue 00:04:24.196 --> 00:04:28.126 which is they actually use pitchforks and they're cooking steaks and that's oil. 00:04:28.573 --> 00:04:30.953 She took off the headset and like, wow, it felt like I was really there. 00:04:30.953 --> 00:04:31.523 And I said, yeah. 00:04:31.638 --> 00:04:36.878 What would you think about using this technology to help increase awareness 00:04:36.908 --> 00:04:38.918 of some of the in demand occupations? 00:04:38.948 --> 00:04:39.998 And she said, I love it. 00:04:39.998 --> 00:04:42.958 You need to come talk to the Governor's Workforce Development Council. 00:04:43.428 --> 00:04:47.678 So we did that and immediately out of that meeting, this was a couple 00:04:47.678 --> 00:04:51.018 months later, we're back now, this would have been June of 2019. 00:04:51.553 --> 00:04:54.963 We had that meeting and immediately out of the meeting, we got our first two 00:04:55.293 --> 00:04:58.373 clients, which were the North Dakota Building Trades Unions and General 00:04:58.373 --> 00:05:03.083 Equipment and Supplies, who is a heavy equipment sales and service dealership. 00:05:03.483 --> 00:05:07.063 They said, we need this, that it is so difficult for us to go 00:05:07.063 --> 00:05:09.923 into a school and to tell kids. 00:05:10.188 --> 00:05:12.398 what these careers are. 00:05:12.408 --> 00:05:13.848 That it's just, it's impossible. 00:05:13.848 --> 00:05:17.468 You can't try to explain what it's like standing next to an excavator 00:05:17.818 --> 00:05:21.268 to a middle school student if they've never, if they don't know the difference 00:05:21.278 --> 00:05:25.318 between an excavator and a bulldozer and a front end loader, right? 00:05:25.978 --> 00:05:27.638 They need to be able to get them there. 00:05:27.718 --> 00:05:33.028 But You can't for things like a lot of trades for even health care. 00:05:33.028 --> 00:05:37.598 You're constrained by these time, geography, financial safety, privacy 00:05:38.078 --> 00:05:42.058 limitations that prevent us from getting kids into those locations. 00:05:42.458 --> 00:05:44.508 So that's where we saw the opportunity. 00:05:44.928 --> 00:05:49.008 From there, we started working directly with students and teachers. 00:05:49.048 --> 00:05:51.648 We really, we did not want to, we didn't want to make the same mistake 00:05:51.648 --> 00:05:53.268 we made initially in real estate. 00:05:53.298 --> 00:05:56.248 We wanted to make sure let's understand the problem first. 00:05:56.528 --> 00:06:00.118 And we know we've got this tool set and we'll build a solution that 00:06:00.118 --> 00:06:03.508 is tailored to solving the problem that the students, counselors, and 00:06:03.518 --> 00:06:06.378 educators are informing us about. 00:06:08.651 --> 00:06:11.331 Ross Romano: Can you kind of paint a little bit of a picture 00:06:11.341 --> 00:06:14.841 for listeners about what this looks like in the classroom when 00:06:15.211 --> 00:06:17.461 students are using CareerView XR or 00:06:17.511 --> 00:06:17.931 Matt Chausee: absolutely. 00:06:17.941 --> 00:06:22.361 So, so in the classroom, what this looks like, CareerVXR it's a platform with 00:06:22.401 --> 00:06:24.171 two different formats for the media. 00:06:24.221 --> 00:06:27.551 We learned early on that just providing virtual reality content 00:06:27.611 --> 00:06:29.831 creates, introduces new barriers. 00:06:29.996 --> 00:06:32.436 that, that we cannot have in the classroom. 00:06:32.436 --> 00:06:36.076 You can't introduce new media and have it be dependence on a new type of 00:06:36.076 --> 00:06:39.716 hardware because then you're creating more problems than you're really solving. 00:06:40.166 --> 00:06:44.971 So the two formats that we provide, one is a web based format that students and 00:06:44.971 --> 00:06:48.951 teachers can access from any device they only need an internet connection and 00:06:49.201 --> 00:06:54.951 while most schools weren't one to one in 2019, as soon as 2020 hits and we had 00:06:54.951 --> 00:06:58.971 to go to virtual learning, that there are very few schools now that don't have 00:06:59.071 --> 00:07:03.351 a school issued device available for students and even in public charter and 00:07:03.351 --> 00:07:05.571 homeschool there, there's availability. 00:07:05.591 --> 00:07:06.701 of standard devices. 00:07:06.701 --> 00:07:10.491 So all of our content can be accessed from any device with an internet 00:07:10.491 --> 00:07:14.291 connection, whether it's a phone or a tablet or a Chromebook, but we also 00:07:14.291 --> 00:07:17.701 have supplementary career videos. 00:07:17.711 --> 00:07:21.431 So supplementary immersive videos that if you have a VR headset and you're 00:07:21.431 --> 00:07:25.231 loading these, if you're watching one of these videos on that headset, 00:07:25.561 --> 00:07:27.581 you're completely immersed in. 00:07:27.816 --> 00:07:28.926 What that career is like. 00:07:28.926 --> 00:07:32.756 You're on top of the wind turbine, you're in the emergency room, you're 00:07:33.036 --> 00:07:37.826 riding along in the squad car with with the community support officer. 00:07:38.116 --> 00:07:39.856 That, that's really what it is. 00:07:39.856 --> 00:07:44.256 And it's tough to, if you've not tried VR before, it's tough to explain that. 00:07:44.306 --> 00:07:45.356 It's tough to show it in video. 00:07:45.496 --> 00:07:49.166 It's tough to explain it you know, on, on a podcast, but one of the 00:07:49.166 --> 00:07:52.826 ways that we love showing that is, is just with demonstrations of students 00:07:52.836 --> 00:07:54.476 engagement and interactions with it. 00:07:54.546 --> 00:07:57.216 And the responses have been super, super positive. 00:07:58.091 --> 00:08:04.001 Ross Romano: so you were at a pivotal time in the company's, evolution, right? 00:08:04.211 --> 00:08:09.451 When the pandemic disrupted schools and education and society 00:08:09.451 --> 00:08:11.671 as a whole, how did that affect? 00:08:12.491 --> 00:08:15.901 your progress during that time and the growth you were seeking as you were 00:08:16.151 --> 00:08:19.701 starting to kind of get your footing in education, right, and get the new focus. 00:08:19.731 --> 00:08:25.191 And you know, that was a time where it was a unique time for technology. 00:08:25.446 --> 00:08:30.836 Matt Chausee: It was and we were, we had just started with CareerVXR, we 00:08:30.836 --> 00:08:34.266 had produced those experiences with the Building Trades Unions and with 00:08:34.296 --> 00:08:38.586 General Equipment, and we were just starting to get those out and visible. 00:08:38.586 --> 00:08:42.646 We'd had meetings with with Educators and career and technical 00:08:42.646 --> 00:08:45.216 education professionals, and we're getting good feedback. 00:08:45.596 --> 00:08:48.476 And we were starting to line up what our next shoots would be like. 00:08:48.926 --> 00:08:53.396 And then the pandemic hit and the production partners we added up had 00:08:53.396 --> 00:08:55.576 lined up, started canceling their shoots. 00:08:55.936 --> 00:08:59.416 And we're saying, Oh my gosh, we're we're this husband and wife company. 00:08:59.466 --> 00:09:04.126 We've literally gone all in solar house, Lake place, one of our cars, and we're 00:09:04.126 --> 00:09:05.756 living in an apartment at the time. 00:09:05.806 --> 00:09:07.886 And we've been able to survive based on. 00:09:08.281 --> 00:09:12.441 These production projects that have come, been coming in and it basically 00:09:12.441 --> 00:09:15.851 got killed because nobody's willing to even let a company that's filming 00:09:15.881 --> 00:09:17.571 come on site for the risk of. 00:09:18.241 --> 00:09:19.671 Spreading coronavirus. 00:09:20.351 --> 00:09:26.281 buT what came out of that was a new understanding from schools 00:09:26.291 --> 00:09:30.141 in particular of the value of the services that we were providing. 00:09:30.451 --> 00:09:34.351 It completely changed the conversation because Schools. 00:09:34.381 --> 00:09:38.751 I mean, it's critically important to be able to show kids what these pathways are. 00:09:38.781 --> 00:09:43.311 Let them experience it in person, but it's always been a little bit difficult 00:09:43.381 --> 00:09:45.191 to schedule field trips and job shadows. 00:09:45.191 --> 00:09:49.151 Not impossible, but I mean, the options are relatively limited based on your 00:09:49.151 --> 00:09:50.721 geography and what's around you. 00:09:51.401 --> 00:09:55.731 But what the pandemic ended up doing is really shined a spotlight on how 00:09:55.741 --> 00:10:01.631 woefully Insufficient, our ability to bring kids to job sites is what we, 00:10:01.751 --> 00:10:03.031 the little bit we were able to do. 00:10:03.031 --> 00:10:04.481 Now we can't do that at all. 00:10:04.781 --> 00:10:06.281 So that got people thinking. 00:10:06.281 --> 00:10:08.901 better than being there in person, but more accessible 00:10:09.051 --> 00:10:10.231 than being there in person. 00:10:10.231 --> 00:10:12.911 And that's the thing that I love about what we're doing. 00:10:12.961 --> 00:10:17.281 And the silver lining for us from the pandemic was that people had an innate 00:10:17.291 --> 00:10:20.701 understanding of, boy, you create virtual field trips and virtual job shadows. 00:10:20.701 --> 00:10:22.841 So now we don't have to worry. 00:10:23.111 --> 00:10:25.031 At first it was, we don't have to worry about coronavirus, 00:10:25.031 --> 00:10:27.456 but then it turned into, Oh, We don't have to worry about buses. 00:10:27.876 --> 00:10:29.816 We don't have to worry about permission slips. 00:10:29.816 --> 00:10:33.076 We don't have to worry about all these other things that, that 00:10:33.076 --> 00:10:36.496 prevented them from doing all of the in person types of career 00:10:36.496 --> 00:10:38.036 exploration that they would want to. 00:10:38.651 --> 00:10:39.141 Ross Romano: Yeah. 00:10:39.251 --> 00:10:39.631 Yeah. 00:10:39.791 --> 00:10:40.771 So so that. 00:10:41.436 --> 00:10:45.826 Innovation that work in the education space leads us to the prize that 00:10:45.826 --> 00:10:48.536 I referenced in the opening. 00:10:48.536 --> 00:10:53.616 And you're one of the semifinalists out of more than 2000 applicants, 00:10:53.646 --> 00:10:55.526 one of only 33 semifinalists. 00:10:55.536 --> 00:10:58.876 So clearly there's something there that's working. 00:10:59.856 --> 00:11:03.136 One, can you fill people in on what that prize is all about, who 00:11:03.136 --> 00:11:04.296 might not be familiar with it? 00:11:04.296 --> 00:11:06.026 And how did you come to get involved with it? 00:11:06.666 --> 00:11:07.336 Matt Chausee: Yeah, absolutely. 00:11:07.336 --> 00:11:11.906 So, the Yaas Prize is an Education Innovation Award and it's a national 00:11:11.976 --> 00:11:16.826 award That is backed by the Center for Education Reform and it celebrates and 00:11:16.826 --> 00:11:21.876 rewards innovators in education as you mentioned, there were 2, 000 around 2, 00:11:21.986 --> 00:11:26.556 000 applicants this year from across the country, and the applicants were all 00:11:26.566 --> 00:11:31.176 applying to Show the work that they're doing, innovating in education, not just 00:11:31.196 --> 00:11:35.066 ed tech, but other innovative approaches that could include using tried and true 00:11:35.066 --> 00:11:39.136 methods, but in a new and innovative manner and really showing how they align 00:11:39.136 --> 00:11:44.496 with the Oz prizes, stop principles and stop stands for sustainable, outstanding, 00:11:44.546 --> 00:11:46.586 transformational, and permissionless. 00:11:46.896 --> 00:11:50.256 And today we'll be talking more about the sustainable aspect of 00:11:50.256 --> 00:11:51.786 that and how career view and. 00:11:52.446 --> 00:11:56.786 Be more colorful line there, but that's really the emphasis of the Oz prize 00:11:56.786 --> 00:12:01.146 is to celebrate those educators that are being innovative and creating new 00:12:01.176 --> 00:12:06.536 approaches to learning that ultimately lift up schools, students, and parents for 00:12:06.546 --> 00:12:10.836 helping their kids do that most important thing, which is by the end of the. 00:12:10.976 --> 00:12:15.026 time they're in school, figure out what's next and be confident. 00:12:15.066 --> 00:12:18.896 Be confident in that choice and be happy with that choice that, that they've made. 00:12:19.536 --> 00:12:23.006 So we, we applied thinking, boy I hope we make it. 00:12:23.426 --> 00:12:24.816 You know, it'd be amazing if we did. 00:12:24.826 --> 00:12:28.596 And in September we were notified that we were one of 64 quarter finalists. 00:12:28.616 --> 00:12:32.106 And actually my internet wasn't working well and it cut out right before 00:12:32.106 --> 00:12:33.166 they were making the announcement. 00:12:33.166 --> 00:12:34.586 I didn't actually get to hear it. 00:12:34.916 --> 00:12:37.376 My, I was remote at a conference and. 00:12:37.701 --> 00:12:39.221 I start getting messages from my team. 00:12:39.221 --> 00:12:39.701 Oh my God. 00:12:39.701 --> 00:12:40.101 Oh my God. 00:12:40.101 --> 00:12:40.501 We made it. 00:12:40.511 --> 00:12:40.891 We made it. 00:12:40.891 --> 00:12:42.351 We're in, we're one of the quarter finalists. 00:12:42.351 --> 00:12:44.371 So that was how our journey started. 00:12:44.371 --> 00:12:48.311 Just this excitement to have this validation from this nationally renowned 00:12:48.361 --> 00:12:53.371 award say, yes, the work you've been doing for these past years is valuable. 00:12:53.381 --> 00:12:55.701 It's meaningful for teachers and students. 00:12:55.751 --> 00:12:58.441 And we're recognizing that it just, it was pretty incredible. 00:12:58.441 --> 00:12:58.961 And we're. 00:12:59.276 --> 00:13:02.556 grateful and honored to be a part of that awardee group. 00:13:03.116 --> 00:13:05.556 Ross Romano: Yeah, so you referenced those, the stop. 00:13:06.246 --> 00:13:09.816 Principal, Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, Permissionlism. 00:13:10.196 --> 00:13:13.336 And so with this being the first of our four conversations, 00:13:13.336 --> 00:13:14.616 we're focusing on Sustainable. 00:13:14.826 --> 00:13:18.486 There will be more episodes of a variety of our network shows 00:13:18.496 --> 00:13:20.746 to come, focusing on the TLP. 00:13:20.766 --> 00:13:24.141 We'll clue everybody in on those at the end of the episode here. 00:13:24.391 --> 00:13:28.511 So this sustainable pillar they call it, right, the core pillar, it's the first one 00:13:28.511 --> 00:13:34.311 in the what's it about and what makes it so foundational to, the entirety of this 00:13:34.781 --> 00:13:36.631 series of principles they've laid out? 00:13:37.196 --> 00:13:40.126 Matt Chausee: Yeah, I think the sustainability piece of it is really 00:13:40.126 --> 00:13:44.496 a focus on how can all of these, each of the entities involved, how can 00:13:44.496 --> 00:13:50.951 they create educational models and approaches to education that, that Aren't 00:13:50.951 --> 00:13:56.871 dependents on continued philanthropy that are not restricted to only those 00:13:56.871 --> 00:14:00.351 families that have a ton of money available to be able to send their kids 00:14:00.351 --> 00:14:02.391 to really really nice private schools. 00:14:02.661 --> 00:14:07.341 How do we create equitable education that lifts up all students by providing 00:14:07.731 --> 00:14:10.211 parents and teachers and students some. 00:14:10.496 --> 00:14:15.956 Well, parents and students in particular, a bit of latitude in what it is they want 00:14:15.966 --> 00:14:23.216 to learn and how they want to learn it and doing that in a way that there, there 00:14:23.216 --> 00:14:27.636 are dollars available to make it happen, that it doesn't have to be something 00:14:27.636 --> 00:14:32.156 that is taxing on families, that you know, we can really create it happen. 00:14:32.156 --> 00:14:32.166 Thanks. 00:14:32.766 --> 00:14:37.796 choices in education in a fair manner that allow all students and families to 00:14:37.806 --> 00:14:39.616 be able to have those choices to make. 00:14:39.686 --> 00:14:44.516 From our standpoint sustainable means building a platform 00:14:44.616 --> 00:14:47.296 that is not restrictive. 00:14:47.296 --> 00:14:51.796 It is not something that can only be accessed by larger school 00:14:51.796 --> 00:14:53.436 districts with big budgets. 00:14:53.466 --> 00:14:58.736 It's something that we want every single charter school and micro 00:14:58.796 --> 00:15:02.726 school and home school student to be able to afford because it's so 00:15:02.726 --> 00:15:06.606 critical to be able to become aware of what those career choices are. 00:15:06.606 --> 00:15:10.766 So I think sustainability, there's a financial component to it, 00:15:10.776 --> 00:15:14.046 making sure that the dollars are available for all of these schools 00:15:14.096 --> 00:15:16.126 to operate the way that they need to. 00:15:16.726 --> 00:15:20.766 But there's also kind of sustainability in terms of innovative approaches 00:15:20.816 --> 00:15:25.996 to Finding other ways to other ways to bring some of those dollars in 00:15:25.996 --> 00:15:27.146 and support your organizations. 00:15:27.146 --> 00:15:29.616 They're really cool organizations that are doing things like 00:15:29.616 --> 00:15:31.106 partnering with partnering with. 00:15:31.561 --> 00:15:35.901 Organ, excuse me, partnering with companies and employers and really 00:15:35.901 --> 00:15:39.171 finding ways to engage publicly to show that, hey, the output we're 00:15:39.171 --> 00:15:43.831 getting from these schools are really engaged and passionate students, which 00:15:43.841 --> 00:15:48.141 then emphasizes the importance of putting dollars into those programs. 00:15:50.138 --> 00:15:50.748 Ross Romano: Have you found that... 00:15:51.478 --> 00:15:55.978 Schools when they're discussing with you some of their goals, the programs 00:15:55.978 --> 00:15:59.578 they're trying to bring to their students their efforts centered around 00:16:00.208 --> 00:16:04.938 equitable access and opportunities and knowledge about, right, career 00:16:04.958 --> 00:16:07.208 pathways, future options and what. 00:16:07.718 --> 00:16:13.148 A variety of different success pathways could look like beyond K 12 that they're 00:16:13.248 --> 00:16:18.858 looking to you and to CareerViewXR as a solution that's able to you 00:16:18.858 --> 00:16:23.048 know, get them closer to accessing what they want for their students. 00:16:23.978 --> 00:16:24.198 Matt Chausee: Yep. 00:16:24.238 --> 00:16:25.848 And that's, that's key, right? 00:16:25.978 --> 00:16:30.048 I'm not going to, I'm not going to sit here and say that our solution is going 00:16:30.048 --> 00:16:34.068 to line every single student across the country with exactly the perfect career. 00:16:34.398 --> 00:16:36.908 But what we do is we broaden their base knowledge. 00:16:36.908 --> 00:16:42.728 We provide an authentic glimpse into a wide variety of career experiences that 00:16:42.728 --> 00:16:44.858 they'd never be able to see before. 00:16:44.858 --> 00:16:49.588 And some of the stories that, that come out of this, I mean, it just we've got. 00:16:50.153 --> 00:16:51.263 Kids that are inspired. 00:16:51.463 --> 00:16:54.873 One kid we always ask students what they want to see, and you would 00:16:54.873 --> 00:16:57.223 expect that these students are going to be asking for, Oh, I want to 00:16:57.233 --> 00:16:58.373 see, I want to see football player. 00:16:58.373 --> 00:16:59.753 I want to see NASCAR driver. 00:16:59.753 --> 00:17:01.703 I want to see social media influencer. 00:17:02.193 --> 00:17:03.753 And we get those occasionally. 00:17:04.728 --> 00:17:08.278 But by and large, when I ask a room of students what they want to see, they're 00:17:08.278 --> 00:17:12.888 asking for things like teacher and accountant, and there was one class where 00:17:12.888 --> 00:17:16.898 two kids wanted to see an agronomist experience, and I never thought I'd 00:17:16.908 --> 00:17:22.098 hear an elementary kid or middle school student say, I want to see an agronomist 00:17:22.098 --> 00:17:25.818 experience, but they haven't had a chance, they've heard about it, but they've 00:17:25.818 --> 00:17:28.268 never had a chance to go there in person. 00:17:28.413 --> 00:17:33.839 The other thing that I think is really important for schools and teachers and 00:17:33.849 --> 00:17:39.789 parents is to be thinking beyond what we know about different career pathways. 00:17:39.789 --> 00:17:44.669 You'd be amazed the number of careers that I'm learning about by being, you know. 00:17:44.854 --> 00:17:48.764 by, by what we're doing with CareerViewXR is just incredible. 00:17:48.764 --> 00:17:53.144 I mean, things like sterile instrument processing in hospitals, that you can 00:17:53.144 --> 00:17:58.824 be a critically important role in a hospital, that if you, if your role 00:17:58.824 --> 00:18:01.804 doesn't exist, the hospital ceases to function, but you can do that 00:18:01.804 --> 00:18:03.494 without interacting with any patients. 00:18:03.514 --> 00:18:07.744 If you ask a student what jobs there are at a hospital, the response 00:18:07.744 --> 00:18:10.854 you're going to get 90 percent of the time is doctor or nurse. 00:18:11.184 --> 00:18:16.334 And creating Just that awareness of everything that's out there is so 00:18:16.334 --> 00:18:21.104 important and we find that it really opens the eyes of the students and the 00:18:21.104 --> 00:18:24.764 counselors and the teachers of thinking about, well, how can we be thinking 00:18:24.764 --> 00:18:27.904 about career exploration differently and getting those students thinking 00:18:27.904 --> 00:18:30.164 what's the right path for me, but also. 00:18:31.084 --> 00:18:33.934 Is this something that I thought I was interested in, but it's really 00:18:33.934 --> 00:18:38.884 not what I thought was what I thought it was at the end of the day, having 00:18:38.884 --> 00:18:41.554 students see a career experiencing, they would say, yeah, I'd like to 00:18:41.554 --> 00:18:44.034 learn more or no, that's not for me. 00:18:44.044 --> 00:18:46.524 Those are both equally successful outcomes. 00:18:47.274 --> 00:18:47.604 Ross Romano: Right. 00:18:47.604 --> 00:18:52.684 And I mean, even adults have a pretty limited perspective on the 00:18:52.714 --> 00:18:56.924 variety and number of different types of roles and jobs and occupations 00:18:56.924 --> 00:18:59.754 that are out there within different industries and organizations. 00:18:59.974 --> 00:19:04.534 There's certain things that we know about, but there's all these other layers. 00:19:04.804 --> 00:19:09.584 And you know, I would suppose the part of the sustainability is helping. 00:19:10.254 --> 00:19:18.404 Students or even adults to be able to make better decisions earlier about the things 00:19:18.414 --> 00:19:24.354 they really want to do and get all that right so that they are for example, when 00:19:24.354 --> 00:19:29.404 we think about things like the cost of higher education and you mentioned your 00:19:29.404 --> 00:19:31.484 six and a half year journey, right, if. 00:19:31.684 --> 00:19:34.854 You know, if you're not really sure what you want to do, and maybe even 00:19:34.864 --> 00:19:39.624 by the end of that four year program, you're like, I'm just doing something 00:19:39.624 --> 00:19:44.014 for now, but I I'm not sure if it's the right thing, because I don't really 00:19:44.134 --> 00:19:48.214 quite understand the options or how to go the pathway I want to go to. 00:19:48.714 --> 00:19:49.574 Then that's. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:54.939 You know, it's anti sustainable because ultimately resources are limited, right? 00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:58.699 And but in this case saying, look, it's not that everybody has to make a 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:02.579 decision about what they want to do for the rest of their life when they're 16. 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:07.479 But if you have a really good idea of the types of things that really drive you and 00:20:07.489 --> 00:20:10.569 motivate you and are really interesting to you, you can learn much more about 00:20:10.569 --> 00:20:14.029 those things and have a better chance at. 00:20:14.729 --> 00:20:19.199 accessing those careers, if that's what you want to do, then certainly you would 00:20:19.199 --> 00:20:20.579 if you didn't know about them at all. 00:20:21.954 --> 00:20:22.644 Matt Chausee: Yeah, absolutely. 00:20:22.644 --> 00:20:26.654 And that's one of the things that I'm really excited about in the sustainability 00:20:26.654 --> 00:20:28.344 model that we're working to build. 00:20:28.584 --> 00:20:31.334 We're based in North Dakota, so we're starting this here. 00:20:31.594 --> 00:20:36.014 But we look to expand it across the country is getting employers involved. 00:20:36.024 --> 00:20:39.494 Employers have to be more involved in the K 12. 00:20:39.554 --> 00:20:43.184 process to be able to help support schools and to be able to help 00:20:43.194 --> 00:20:46.554 provide guidance for what's the output that we're looking for. 00:20:46.554 --> 00:20:50.624 I mean, we run a virtual reality and immersive media production studio 00:20:50.624 --> 00:20:53.194 and we get people thinking, Oh, well, you must be hiring programmers. 00:20:53.204 --> 00:20:55.564 Well, no, yes and no. 00:20:55.604 --> 00:21:00.314 We need programming aptitude or logical aptitude, but we hire creatives and 00:21:00.314 --> 00:21:04.824 filmmakers and writers and we need people that have those soft skills and. 00:21:05.014 --> 00:21:09.394 Really schools that are focusing on work based learning and providing 00:21:09.414 --> 00:21:12.744 output that's going to get students ready for the workforce. 00:21:12.744 --> 00:21:16.354 And I think ultimately sustainability, dollars need to be going to schools 00:21:16.354 --> 00:21:17.484 that are proving that they're. 00:21:17.814 --> 00:21:18.404 doing that. 00:21:18.404 --> 00:21:23.264 I think probably the least sustainable model is you know, you go through this 00:21:23.344 --> 00:21:28.454 progression of core standards and then you graduate and you go to college and you 00:21:28.454 --> 00:21:32.834 figure out what you're going to want to do, and then you find out that it was all 00:21:32.834 --> 00:21:35.994 for the wrong stuff which was what I did. 00:21:35.994 --> 00:21:37.444 And I'm not complaining to be clear. 00:21:37.444 --> 00:21:42.504 I liked my education, but there are way too many students that don't have 00:21:42.514 --> 00:21:48.134 that opportunity to have someone really individualize what's what approaches 00:21:48.134 --> 00:21:49.644 are going to work best for them. 00:21:49.744 --> 00:21:55.744 I kind of went down a rabbit hole there, but on, on our CareerVXR side, we've 00:21:55.744 --> 00:21:59.784 been working really closely with making those connections between employers 00:21:59.804 --> 00:22:05.434 and Educators across the states, and we were actually successful this year in, 00:22:05.444 --> 00:22:09.204 in working with the North Dakota State Legislature to get funding that was 00:22:09.204 --> 00:22:13.264 appropriated to the Office of Career and Technical Education that they then decided 00:22:13.264 --> 00:22:17.664 to use to purchase CareerViewXR and deploy that across the state of North Dakota. 00:22:18.154 --> 00:22:18.604 Now. 00:22:18.954 --> 00:22:21.064 That isn't sustainable in and of itself, right? 00:22:21.064 --> 00:22:24.824 Because those are appropriated dollars and we all know that in, in lean times, 00:22:24.834 --> 00:22:28.354 those things can get taken away, but what we're going to do over the next two 00:22:28.354 --> 00:22:34.664 years is work with those employers that you've got 65 amazing experiences that are 00:22:34.664 --> 00:22:40.734 paired with equally amazing employers that now have an opportunity to present what 00:22:40.754 --> 00:22:46.294 they've got to schools and we can start working on a sustainability model where 00:22:46.414 --> 00:22:52.364 those employers can help provide access to those experiences through, through, 00:22:52.394 --> 00:22:56.164 through us where we don't have to, we want to in two years from now, we want to have 00:22:56.164 --> 00:23:01.184 a model where this is entirely privately funded and to have that be a model that is 00:23:01.224 --> 00:23:03.884 is able to be replicated in other states. 00:23:04.419 --> 00:23:09.939 Ross Romano: Yeah, I mean, that's a major part of not only the sustainability, 00:23:09.939 --> 00:23:16.659 but the viability of any educational solution is the ability to partner 00:23:16.659 --> 00:23:21.879 with schools to find the creative, innovative funding solution, right? 00:23:21.929 --> 00:23:23.349 And one. 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:29.039 You know, certainly for equity purposes to say that, okay, the school that 00:23:29.179 --> 00:23:33.809 doesn't have a lot of resources shouldn't be prevented from accessing 00:23:34.199 --> 00:23:36.379 a useful tool because of that. 00:23:36.739 --> 00:23:41.549 But also because ultimately, most schools, most public schools have, 00:23:41.919 --> 00:23:44.179 are going to have resource challenges. 00:23:44.429 --> 00:23:45.709 And so for... 00:23:46.174 --> 00:23:49.584 A new solution coming to market to be able to get in there it takes 00:23:49.584 --> 00:23:52.824 some creativity and it really takes partnership and getting on the same 00:23:52.824 --> 00:23:56.674 page and an alignment and talking to them about their goals, what they need, 00:23:56.674 --> 00:23:58.604 what do they see working together. 00:23:58.614 --> 00:24:06.164 And it's clear that you've been going down that road thus far and finding that out. 00:24:06.234 --> 00:24:09.684 That's you know, a clear illustration, I think, of the 00:24:09.694 --> 00:24:11.144 types of things that you can. 00:24:11.749 --> 00:24:16.729 Continue to do and it's going to look different case by case, as you 00:24:16.789 --> 00:24:20.469 said the funding is always changing where it's coming from where it is. 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.349 And that's why it's a hard job. 00:24:22.769 --> 00:24:25.999 But at the same time the reality is. 00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:29.339 You have, you share the same goals with these schools, right? 00:24:29.929 --> 00:24:34.789 You know, everybody has the goal of ensuring that these students are prepared 00:24:35.189 --> 00:24:39.869 for success through and beyond their schooling years and into their life. 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:46.299 And the only way to make that work is to really be working together in integration. 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:49.449 Otherwise, there's too many gaps, too many holes. 00:24:50.129 --> 00:24:50.999 Matt Chausee: Yeah, absolutely. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:53.559 And I'm really glad that you mentioned that working together and 00:24:53.569 --> 00:24:58.219 integration because that's another core principle of the YAS Prize. 00:24:58.219 --> 00:25:01.569 I kind of ended our YAS journey on we were selected as quarter 00:25:01.569 --> 00:25:05.749 finalists, but where it went from there is they actually flew all of the 00:25:05.749 --> 00:25:07.609 quarter finalists out to Cleveland. 00:25:07.909 --> 00:25:11.344 And then we had an opportunity to meet all of the other finalists. 00:25:11.374 --> 00:25:13.274 quarter finals, and we only had a day and a half. 00:25:13.274 --> 00:25:16.934 So there wasn't a lot of time to get into deep conversations, but we're able to 00:25:16.934 --> 00:25:20.564 meet these folks in person and learn about the other innovation that's happening. 00:25:20.904 --> 00:25:26.074 And yes it is, there is a competitive nature to it, but it's only to. 00:25:26.344 --> 00:25:29.344 make all of the participants better, right? 00:25:29.664 --> 00:25:35.564 And collaboration really is as much or more a part of this whole this 00:25:35.564 --> 00:25:37.574 whole initiative than anything else. 00:25:37.574 --> 00:25:40.244 And one thing that they've been really stressing throughout the entirety 00:25:40.244 --> 00:25:45.719 of it is you are now part of, This you're part of this group, you're 00:25:45.719 --> 00:25:50.369 part of this family, and everyone is here to support you and your efforts. 00:25:50.369 --> 00:25:53.269 And you're here to support all of them in their efforts. 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.959 And I just I love that approach. 00:25:54.989 --> 00:25:58.679 One of our one of our core company values is celebrate collaboration. 00:25:58.719 --> 00:26:02.739 And I couldn't think of an organization that is doing that better. 00:26:04.109 --> 00:26:05.369 So we're all in Cleveland. 00:26:05.369 --> 00:26:06.169 We're meeting each other. 00:26:06.169 --> 00:26:10.799 We're talking, I'm talking with folks from New York and and there, 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:13.599 there's another school from North Dakota that we're visiting with and 00:26:13.609 --> 00:26:16.189 Wisconsin and, I mean, just everywhere. 00:26:16.629 --> 00:26:19.559 Hawaii, we had a great quarterfinals that was from Hawaii. 00:26:19.569 --> 00:26:20.199 I got to meet him. 00:26:20.199 --> 00:26:23.139 Never would have gotten a chance to do that if it weren't for this award. 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:28.524 And we're all there talking about collaborating and everyone's hopeful 00:26:28.524 --> 00:26:32.644 they'll move into the semi finals and the, on the second night is when they 00:26:32.644 --> 00:26:37.884 have the announcements and we were just elated to be there and I wasn't sure 00:26:37.884 --> 00:26:40.734 where we would land on it and when I saw Be More Colorful come up on the 00:26:40.734 --> 00:26:44.209 screen it just, it goosebumps, right? 00:26:44.239 --> 00:26:48.439 It's further validation of all of this hard work that we've been doing. 00:26:48.669 --> 00:26:52.439 And to be clear, not just us, all of the partners that have helped make 00:26:52.439 --> 00:26:56.249 this happen and are making this whole thing sustainable, it's validation 00:26:56.249 --> 00:26:58.069 of all of their efforts as well. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:01.789 So we're now on this journey where now we're one of 33. 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:05.649 Semi finalists that are engaging in further collaboration and how can we 00:27:05.649 --> 00:27:10.809 really change the landscape and work together to make sure that 21st century 00:27:10.809 --> 00:27:16.879 technologies and tried and true approaches that are re imagined can be used to 00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:19.409 uplift students all across the country. 00:27:20.034 --> 00:27:20.394 Ross Romano: Yeah. 00:27:20.494 --> 00:27:24.304 And so in that spirit of collaboration, are there some of the other semi 00:27:24.324 --> 00:27:27.484 finalists that you'd like to highlight or shout out with respect 00:27:27.504 --> 00:27:29.754 to this sustainability pillar? 00:27:29.754 --> 00:27:34.314 Of course, they're all doing, right, work that aligns with all of the principles, 00:27:34.334 --> 00:27:36.574 but since this is our conversation today. 00:27:36.829 --> 00:27:37.949 Matt Chausee: Yep, absolutely. 00:27:37.949 --> 00:27:40.619 So I'm gonna, I'm gonna list eight that I really like from a 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:45.659 sustainability standpoint, but I want to be clear that all other 32 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:48.359 semifinalists here are doing phenomenal. 00:27:48.389 --> 00:27:51.789 I mean, they wouldn't be here if they didn't check that, that sustainability 00:27:51.789 --> 00:27:55.544 box as well as the Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless. 00:27:56.104 --> 00:27:58.934 So we're actually going to highlight all 32 of them throughout the course 00:27:58.934 --> 00:28:02.694 of this series, but I want to call out updates that I really like what they're 00:28:02.694 --> 00:28:04.944 doing from a sustainable standpoint. 00:28:04.954 --> 00:28:08.454 So, first one would be Detroit Achievement Academy. 00:28:08.454 --> 00:28:11.294 They're building a sustainable model by providing innovative 00:28:11.294 --> 00:28:13.044 approaches that create. 00:28:13.054 --> 00:28:14.824 civically engaged students. 00:28:14.824 --> 00:28:18.078 And if you've got a student that's invested in their community, that is a 00:28:18.078 --> 00:28:21.278 student that's thinking about their school and how to give back to their school. 00:28:21.278 --> 00:28:23.258 You're creating sustainability there. 00:28:23.628 --> 00:28:27.128 Families Empowered focuses on parent empowerment and support 00:28:27.128 --> 00:28:31.538 services and showing sustainability by providing resources and options 00:28:31.538 --> 00:28:33.348 to family who are seeking choices. 00:28:33.418 --> 00:28:34.408 in education. 00:28:34.868 --> 00:28:39.218 There's Lutheran Urban Mission, and excuse me, Lutheran Urban Mission 00:28:39.228 --> 00:28:43.078 Initiative, or LUMEN which is in Wisconsin, and they blend curriculum 00:28:43.078 --> 00:28:46.798 and comprehensive studies, and they've created a long term model. 00:28:46.798 --> 00:28:48.808 They've been around for 20 plus years. 00:28:48.838 --> 00:28:51.178 I mean, what a, what an inspirational thing, right? 00:28:51.573 --> 00:28:55.553 There's a National Fellowship for Black and Latino male educators who focuses 00:28:55.553 --> 00:29:00.633 on recruiting educators and serving low income students and creating opportunities 00:29:00.643 --> 00:29:06.273 for Black and Latino males to position them into senior level and C suite roles. 00:29:06.663 --> 00:29:07.193 And. 00:29:07.638 --> 00:29:10.568 If you're creating a school that's bringing people into those upper level 00:29:10.568 --> 00:29:13.728 roles, now you've got companies that are looking back at the schools that 00:29:13.728 --> 00:29:18.038 help bring their leadership there, and that, that helps create some of those 00:29:18.038 --> 00:29:21.478 sustainable opportunities where now the companies are supporting the schools. 00:29:21.988 --> 00:29:24.388 There's, well actually, there's two odysseys here, 00:29:24.398 --> 00:29:25.018 but I'm going to start with. 00:29:25.213 --> 00:29:26.983 Odyssey, the EdTech platform. 00:29:27.393 --> 00:29:32.383 Odyssey the EdTech platform, they've got a platform where parents can help identify 00:29:32.383 --> 00:29:37.163 funding opportunities and educational, navigate educational savings account 00:29:37.483 --> 00:29:41.963 initiatives at varying states to figure out how do we, how do they use dollars 00:29:41.963 --> 00:29:46.238 that are available to help support their Children's Individualized Learning. 00:29:46.738 --> 00:29:50.278 Then there's Odyssey Charter School, and they've got a commitment to it. 00:29:50.298 --> 00:29:54.848 It's a dual Greek English language immersion program, which 00:29:54.958 --> 00:29:56.218 I just think is really cool. 00:29:56.268 --> 00:30:00.953 And to create something that's so nuanced and really, I mean, You've got 00:30:00.953 --> 00:30:04.873 to be passionate, right, about Greek language to go into a program like that. 00:30:04.873 --> 00:30:08.513 And that kind of passion then turns into sustainability. 00:30:08.563 --> 00:30:10.353 There's On Your Mark Education. 00:30:10.753 --> 00:30:14.063 They've got a virtual tutoring platform focused on literacy. 00:30:14.383 --> 00:30:17.943 And I think one of the biggest struggles for kids learning to read is, are there... 00:30:18.498 --> 00:30:21.748 people in the area that are going to teach them how to read. 00:30:21.858 --> 00:30:25.138 If there aren't, you can't bring people in, but a virtual solution 00:30:25.468 --> 00:30:26.888 solves that problem, right? 00:30:26.928 --> 00:30:29.848 There are definitely enough people that are passionate about teaching 00:30:29.848 --> 00:30:33.528 kids how to read across the country to meet the needs of the students. 00:30:34.053 --> 00:30:36.153 Distributed in other areas of the country. 00:30:36.153 --> 00:30:37.923 I just I love what on your mark is doing. 00:30:38.413 --> 00:30:40.833 And then there's West Virginia Academy, and they're one 00:30:40.843 --> 00:30:42.303 that on the financial side. 00:30:42.303 --> 00:30:43.653 They're They're showing sustainability. 00:30:43.653 --> 00:30:47.593 They're a public charter school who's been able to successfully leverage public 00:30:47.873 --> 00:30:52.233 funds for an expansion of educational benefits that are that are benefiting 00:30:52.483 --> 00:30:54.243 traditionally disadvantaged students. 00:30:54.633 --> 00:30:55.193 So those are the eight. 00:30:55.353 --> 00:30:57.173 I wish I could go through all of the other 24. 00:30:57.173 --> 00:31:00.563 We're going to hit all other 24 on the other three episodes though. 00:31:00.593 --> 00:31:04.243 But yeah, we're just, we're honored to be listed amongst these folks that are 00:31:04.243 --> 00:31:06.523 just doing amazing things in education. 00:31:07.348 --> 00:31:07.548 Ross Romano: Wonderful. 00:31:07.558 --> 00:31:09.838 So what are the next steps for the OzPrize? 00:31:09.888 --> 00:31:11.858 How can listeners support you? 00:31:12.463 --> 00:31:16.043 Matt Chausee: Well, the next steps are we're actually moving into a virtual 00:31:16.043 --> 00:31:20.203 accelerator program over the next four weeks where we'll have remote sessions. 00:31:20.203 --> 00:31:23.283 We'll be learning a lot more about the initiative, about our fellow 00:31:23.333 --> 00:31:27.443 semifinalists and learning from some Sal Khan where I'm going to hear 00:31:27.443 --> 00:31:29.723 from him in a couple hours on a call. 00:31:29.723 --> 00:31:30.963 So I'm just, I'm excited. 00:31:31.538 --> 00:31:32.238 to learn. 00:31:32.248 --> 00:31:36.798 It is a, the next four weeks are a learning opportunity that then 00:31:36.808 --> 00:31:41.908 culminate in a week long boot camp in Miami where we'll have an opportunity 00:31:41.908 --> 00:31:46.368 to refine our pitch and then actually pitch for the 1 million YAS prize. 00:31:46.448 --> 00:31:50.768 So that's what a lot of that's A lot of the next few weeks are going to entail 00:31:51.078 --> 00:31:54.348 but there is one other opportunity that I want to make sure that we call out 00:31:54.368 --> 00:31:56.398 and that's the parents choice award. 00:31:56.478 --> 00:32:02.418 Every one of the semi finalists is eligible for for a parents for the Parents 00:32:02.418 --> 00:32:06.878 Choice Award, which is actually selected by a vote from the general public. 00:32:07.188 --> 00:32:09.418 And this is a little different, this, it's a little interesting, because 00:32:09.458 --> 00:32:12.538 the Parents Choice Award, you have to decide what you're going to do 00:32:12.568 --> 00:32:15.308 with the funds, and it doesn't have to be something that necessarily 00:32:15.308 --> 00:32:17.058 directly aligns with those stops. 00:32:17.263 --> 00:32:18.093 initiatives. 00:32:18.633 --> 00:32:23.143 And what we've opted to do if we if we're the winner of the Parents Choice Award, 00:32:23.513 --> 00:32:27.693 we're going to take that 100, 000 and we're going to put that into a fund that 00:32:27.693 --> 00:32:34.453 will seed an ongoing an ongoing investment that allows schools that don't have 00:32:34.453 --> 00:32:38.913 the resources to purchase VR hardware, to be able to help offset those costs. 00:32:39.343 --> 00:32:42.093 And that's something that I would love anybody listening to 00:32:42.103 --> 00:32:44.569 be able to go out to yasprize. 00:32:44.969 --> 00:32:51.184 org slash vote and give us a vote for for if you believe in helping us accomplish 00:32:51.184 --> 00:32:52.934 that, we'd love to see votes there. 00:32:53.304 --> 00:32:56.414 But I also want to say that in the spirit of collaboration, you 00:32:56.414 --> 00:32:57.844 actually get two votes every day. 00:32:57.844 --> 00:33:00.954 So I want to make sure to call out that you should research and look 00:33:00.954 --> 00:33:02.694 into these other 32 organizations. 00:33:02.694 --> 00:33:04.014 They're doing incredible things. 00:33:04.014 --> 00:33:06.684 And as much as we'd love your vote, you got to vote your heart too. 00:33:06.694 --> 00:33:10.164 Like vote, vote for whoever you think is furthering what you believe 00:33:10.164 --> 00:33:11.884 needs to happen most in education. 00:33:12.629 --> 00:33:12.979 Ross Romano: Right. 00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:18.269 Yeah, it's a great opportunity for everyone out there to just, it's click 00:33:18.269 --> 00:33:21.599 away and we'll put the link below in the show notes to where you can 00:33:21.639 --> 00:33:25.209 go and vote, but to really be able to make a difference, to have those 00:33:25.209 --> 00:33:31.549 funds go toward Giving schools and as a result, teachers and students the 00:33:31.549 --> 00:33:36.299 ability to access solutions that really could help them to be successful. 00:33:36.369 --> 00:33:40.499 We want to make sure that you know about this four part conversation 00:33:40.499 --> 00:33:43.119 and stay tuned to the rest of it across the Bee Podcast Network. 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:43.379 So. 00:33:44.084 --> 00:33:47.594 Today, you've heard about the Sustainability Principle, you'll hear 00:33:47.614 --> 00:33:52.034 about the Transformational Principle on Transformative Principal coming up soon. 00:33:52.334 --> 00:33:55.224 You'll hear about the Outstanding Principle on De facto leaders and 00:33:55.224 --> 00:33:58.434 permissionist learning, permissionless learning, did I say that right? 00:33:58.464 --> 00:34:03.374 On Rebel Educator both of those episodes are coming up later this month so make 00:34:03.374 --> 00:34:07.014 sure that you subscribe and listen to those wherever you get your podcast to 00:34:07.014 --> 00:34:08.594 hear the rest of these conversations. 00:34:09.009 --> 00:34:13.129 And further, be sure to check out our new EdTech Startup Showcase 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:15.399 Series, which is coming very soon. 00:34:15.409 --> 00:34:18.429 You're going to hear a lot more from Be More Colorful and a handful 00:34:18.429 --> 00:34:22.899 of other great startups from across the country all year long. 00:34:22.909 --> 00:34:25.699 We're going to do a year long series there. 00:34:26.299 --> 00:34:28.949 It's a great chance to hear about the journeys of building these 00:34:28.949 --> 00:34:32.049 companies, the work they're doing with schools and the difference 00:34:32.049 --> 00:34:33.989 it's making in school communities. 00:34:33.999 --> 00:34:38.349 So follow the Bee Podcast Network on Twitter or LinkedIn to learn more about 00:34:38.349 --> 00:34:42.949 that series as we get ready to launch or subscribe to our email list at beepodcast. 00:34:43.759 --> 00:34:44.709 network for updates. 00:34:44.979 --> 00:34:46.589 Matt, thanks so much for being here. 00:34:47.244 --> 00:34:47.774 Matt Chausee: Absolutely. 00:34:47.774 --> 00:34:48.764 Thanks for having me, Ross. 00:34:48.764 --> 00:34:50.224 And thanks everyone for listening.