From very early on, Anna Kontos knew to listen to her heart and intuition to lead her. When her heart told her education was her path, she leaned in. She supplemented part-time leave term consulting gig with substitute teaching, which she enjoyed way more. She was part of the cohort of students who took the education program and stayed a semester after graduation to student teach and gather more in-class tools. She particularly loved how her creative side was grounded by her understanding of cognitive science. But she also knew that intuition—or the art of teaching— can take you only so far and that being the best resource to kids would require more science. She pursued that science and then found many ways to apply it, teach it, and center it at the core of her own practice.In this episode, find out how from Anna how mixing science, art, and a very special sauce can create the alchemy needed to excel.

About This Episode’s Guest

Anna Kontos is a Learning Specialist, Private Tutor, and an educator of educators. She recently co-founded Canvas & Cortex, an integrated consultancy in the Boston area that provides family and school consulting, executive-functioning and ADHD coaching, and workshops that blend creativity with research-backed strategies for student success. She lives with her husband and two sons in the Boston area, close to her large extended Greek family.

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Last we spoke with Matthew Wiltshire, he had returned to his beloved Nashville with an eye toward serving the people there. He was doing that in economic development and housing and then a bigger opportunity appeared. He took a shot at running for Mayor of the City of Nashville and learned through the process that there are many ways to serve. He also found that the health of a city and a family has a lot to do with home.//In this episode, find out from Matt how sticking with what seems most pressing can provide some of the best payoffs…on Roads Taken Revisited with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode’s Guest

Matthew Wiltshire is a native of Nashville, Tennesse. After a valiant run in the Nashville mayoral race in 2023, he is currently the President of the Pathway Housing Fund, which utilizes low-cost capital to acquire naturally-occurring affordable housing properties in Tennessee that are at risk of becoming unaffordable and provides quality housing for residents. Prior to joining Pathway, Matt worked at MDHA, Nashville's public housing authority, and served as the Director of Economic and Community Development for the city. And somehow along the way, in addition to the properties, he has acquired six kids who keep him busy, and worried, and deeply in love.

For Matt’s first appearance on Roads Taken, listen to The Home Stretch.

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Last we spoke with Maryam Kia-Keating, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a mom of two, she was already a full professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in its school of Education’s Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology. Nearly four years later, she still has all her skills and expertise and desire to empower individuals, families, schools and communities. She’s just taken the time to discern where she could make the most impact, which has led her to walk through some unexpected doors.

In this episode, find out from Maryam out how making decisions based around potential impact can open up all sorts of potential…on Roads Taken Revisited with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode’s Guest

Maryam Kia-Keating is an author, psychologist, educator, and lifelong storyteller. After serving on the active faculty at the University of California, Santa Barbara for 18 years, she is now Professor Emerita there. Currently she serves as the director of counseling at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, California, and continues to serve as a consultant for children’s media. A producer of children’s media herself, she is the author of the forthcoming A Suitcase Full, a picture book inspired by her own journey across the world as a child. Find out more about the book (and how to pre-order it) at maryamkia.com.

For Maryam’s first appearance on Roads Taken, listen to Research in Action.

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com