
York Region school life, explained through community voices.
The gist
Tune In YRDSB is a public education podcast grounded in York Region District School Board life. Episodes move between course planning, literacy testing, work experience, special education, math engagement, Pride learning, and South Asian identity.
PRESS PLAY
Find your next episode
About Tune In YRDSB
Tune In YRDSB is a school-board podcast with a practical public-service core. It explains the pieces of York Region education that families, students, and staff often have to navigate at important moments. The tone is calm and procedural, but the episodes are not only checklists. They use conversation to show how policies, programs, and classroom practices affect actual students. Course selection becomes a discussion about compulsory credits, optional courses, prerequisites, MyBlueprint, experiential learning, and planning backwards from future goals. The OSSLT episode turns a graduation requirement into something more manageable, with attention to practice tests, accommodations, stress, sleep, breaks, and perspective. Work experience episodes bring a warmer documentary feel. Students describe confidence, decision-making, technology skills, friendships, leisure days, and workplace learning in ways that make transition programming concrete. The Special Education Advisory Committee conversation reaches into advocacy, family experience, student services, inclusive education, well-being, and the YRDSB transition strategy towards disability justice. A math engagement episode looks at classroom culture through vertical whiteboards, entry points, feedback, problem solving, and math nights that build familiarity between elementary and secondary students. The show also carries identity-focused conversations. Pride Month coverage emphasizes safety, inclusion, visible affirmation, curriculum misunderstandings, and the value of students seeing themselves in school life. South Asian Heritage Month brings student voices to culture, stereotypes, Tamil identity, Indo-Caribbean identity, language, food, and the pressure of being treated as a stand-in for an entire community. Across these subjects, Tune In YRDSB works best when it lets educators and students speak in detail. It is institutional, but not distant. It is resource-oriented, but not only administrative. The show is for people who want to understand the school system through the voices already working, learning, and advocating inside it. Its strongest episodes make board initiatives feel less abstract by attaching them to everyday decisions, relationships, and classroom realities.
Made for: Designed for YRDSB students, families, educators, and community members who want practical context on school programs, requirements, inclusion, and student support. It also suits listeners interested in public education from inside an Ontario school board.
What sets it apart: The show combines official school-board guidance with firsthand student, educator, and committee perspectives. It stands out by moving from graduation requirements and classroom practice to identity, accessibility, and community belonging without changing its service-oriented focus.
In their own words
Welcome to Tune In YRDSB. Tune In YRDSB is the first podcast of its kind in Ontario. Here we will explore a wide range of topics related to education in York Region and beyond. We look forward to inspiring learning through storytelling. *Episode transcripts are available upon request. Please email [email protected] to request a transcript.*
Talks about
Podcasts like Tune In YRDSB
No Hay TosSonoro | Roberto Andrade & Héctor LibrerosHéctor and Beto dissect Mexican grammar, slang, and news in native-speed Spanish conversations.
The Productivity Show (Time Management)Asian Efficiency: Productivity, Time Management, Getting Things Done (GTD),Asian Efficiency's Tan Pham and Brooks Duncan on time management, habits, and AI tools.
Every Little ThingGimletA call-in helpline where listener questions turn into reported science and history investigations.



Episodes
- 1
Course Selection
YRDSB educators explain how students can choose secondary school courses to explore interests, meet graduation requirements, and plan future pathways.
Feb 12, 2026·16m·1 clip - 2
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB explains the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, or OSSLT, as a provincial EQAO requirement first announced in 1998 and first administered in the 2001-2002 school year.
Nov 12, 2025·32m·3 clips - 3
Work Experience Program
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB's "Work Experience Program" follows Annika McNeil and Brian Ashby as they describe a seven-coordinator department that started in 1985 and now places students from community classes into jobs, school roles, and transition supports across York Region District School Board.
Oct 22, 2025·47m·3 clips - 4
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Hidden gemLynn Zeraldo says she has spent 44 years on SEAC because her son moved beyond early intervention and the board still lacked speech-language pathologists, PTs, OTs, psychologists, and social workers.
Oct 8, 2025·47m·3 clips - 5
Work Experience Program
Hidden gemMichael Walters says a larger retail placement felt overstimulating, so he moved to a clothing store block away from his PEAK Central program.
Sep 24, 2025·51m·5 clips - 6
Changing How Students Experience Mathematics
Hidden gemTalia Mar, Sade Rodin, and Karina Park frame mathematics at Richmond Hill High School as a gatekeeper that can shape post-secondary pathways.
Sep 10, 2025·26m·1 clip - 7
Pride Month: Celebrating Students, Affirming Identities
Tune In YRDSB examines how York Region District School Board staff, students, and community partners marked Pride Month through a flag raising, a student-led Trans Day of Visibility event, and educator learning.
Jun 25, 2025·38m·2 clips - 8
South Asian Heritage Month: United by Heritage
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB’s “South Asian Heritage Month: United by Heritage” features YRDSB students Ashwin, Rayan, Farouk, Shabina, Lakshna, and Amrita discussing pride, identity, and school experiences.
Jun 18, 2025·40m·3 clips - 9
Jewish Heritage Month: Exploring Identity, History & Community
Jordan Rappaport, Rebecca Zayant, and Annetta Fishman discuss Jewish identity through Canadian, Ontario, and York Region history, including migration, Holocaust survival, and contemporary antisemitism.
Jun 11, 2025·1h 35m·5 clips - 10
East Asian Heritage Month: Lived Experience & Leadership in YRDSB
Hidden gemElizabeth Fow hosts Rebecca Tam-Nesbitt, Hilda Cosmitas, Seiji Ishiguro, and Jasmine Wong in a discussion of East Asian representation during YRDSB’s 2025 Asian Heritage Month.
Jun 4, 2025·1h 1m·5 clips - 11
Sikh Heritage Month: Significance of the Patka & Dastar
Hidden gemTuneIn YRDSB examines the significance of the patka and dastar, including how schools can respond when a Sikh student’s head covering comes off.
Apr 30, 2025·33m·2 clips - 12
Persian Heritage Month: Celebrating Persian Identities
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB brings together Sherry Morgan, Iranian-Afghan Educators Affinity Group members, and Persian Admin Leaders OPC Affinity Group members to discuss Persian identities in York Region District School Board.
Apr 24, 2025·43m·3 clips - 13
Paving the Way: Women in Sport
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB’s “Paving the Way: Women in Sport” features Emily Carr Secondary School students Julie and Stefania discussing basketball, soccer, hockey, and student-athlete demands.
Mar 26, 2025·29m·2 clips - 14
Elementary STEM & Makerspaces
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB's Elementary STEM & Makerspaces features Alison McPherson, Nassim Cohen, Zoe, and Ava discussing Central Park Public School's library learning commons.
Mar 18, 2025·34m·2 clips - 15
Supporting Black Students
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB examines how Heather Henry, Dionne Tape, Dane Smith, and Sam Samuel Quendo support Black students through graduation coaching, Black Student Associations, family engagement, and staff capacity-building.
Feb 24, 2025·1h 14m·5 clips - 16
Tamil Heritage Month: Arts, Music & Culture
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB's Tamil Heritage Month episode brings together teacher and singer-songwriter Lakshmi Sivaneswaralingam, Bharatanatyam dancer Kashmia Balabaskaran, and producer Jansen to discuss Tamil arts in Canada.
Jan 31, 2025·39m·2 clips - 17
Family Literacy: Building Connections
Tune In YRDSB examines family literacy with Heather Young, Stephanie Gauthier, and Ashley LeBlanc, focusing on communication, early reading, writing, and home-school relationships.
Jan 27, 2025·39m·2 clips - 18
Experience YRDSB: Performing Arts
Jillian Stambolic, Nadia Ghalam Hussain, and Arshida Haddishi discuss how Richmond Green Secondary School’s musical-theater class used student-led focus groups for vocals, choreography, directing, costumes, photography, and production.
Jan 16, 2025·32m·2 clips - 19
The Role of Muslim Student Associations in Schools
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB brings together host Zahra, teacher Saida Hajju, students Mariam and Padmeera, and Muslims in Canada Archives archivist Mitra to discuss Muslim identity in schools.
Nov 29, 2024·59m·4 clips - 20
Beyond 2SLGBTQIA+ History Month
Hidden gemTune In YRDSB examines how GSAs support 2SLGBTQIA+ students through safe spaces, educator connections, and school activities.
Nov 21, 2024·27m·1 clip - 21
Teens in a Digital World: Social Media & Mental Health
Nov 12, 2024·20m - 22
Supporting Black Student Mental Health
Oct 10, 2024·39m - 23
Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Gender and Sexuality Alliances
Jun 21, 2024·55m - 24
Experience YRDSB: Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Jun 12, 2024·32m - 25
Experience YRDSB: Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Jun 12, 2024·29m - 26
Indigenous Education in Action: Making Moccasins
Jun 10, 2024·51m - 27
South Asian Heritage Month
May 30, 2024·50m - 28
Experience YRDSB: Hospitality
Kristen McDald introduces the hospitality and tourism career sector, highlighting job data and skills, and previews an interview with a department head.
May 24, 2024·46m - 29
Jewish Heritage Month
May 15, 2024·1h 15m - 30
Social Anxiety & Supporting Healthy Relationships (ft. Youth SPACE)
May 6, 2024·34m - 31
Asian Heritage Month
May 2, 2024·53m - 32
Experience YRDSB: Media Arts & Digital Design
Apr 11, 2024·19m - 33
Sikh Heritage Month
Apr 5, 2024·49m - 34
International Women's Day
Mar 28, 2024·43m - 35
Shine Episode 6: Heather Greenwood Davis
Mar 21, 2024·28m - 36
Welcome to Experience YRDSB
Mar 7, 2024·32m - 37
Tamil Heritage Month
Anita Subramaniam introduces Tamil Heritage Month and the formation of Educators for Tamilsen's Success to support Tamil students affected by the Sri Lankan civil war.
Feb 1, 2024·56m - 38
Play, Learn, Thrive: Welcome to Kindergarten
Jan 24, 2024·57m - 39
Inside the Role: Student Trustee Experiences
Jan 18, 2024·48m - 40
Hindu Heritage Month
Dec 5, 2023·43m - 41
Hindu Heritage Month
Dec 1, 2023·47m - 42
Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month
Nov 2, 2023·23m - 43
Elevating Women's Stories: Celebrating Women's History Month
Oct 26, 2023·1h 30m - 44
Islamic Heritage Month
Oct 12, 2023·19m - 45
Indigenous Education: Students' Perspectives
Sep 8, 2023·42m - 46
Transition to Secondary School
Guidance consultant Kelly Bradshaw and student leaders discuss tips for transitioning to high school, focusing on setting routines and healthy habits.
Aug 28, 2023·34m - 47
(Part 3) Supporting 2SLGBTQI+ Students
School social workers host a conversation with parents about supporting 2SLGBTQI+ students in schools and communities.
Jun 30, 2023·52m - 48
Next Steps in Indigenous Education
Jun 21, 2023·1h 8m - 49
(Part 2) Supporting 2SLGBTQI+ Students
School social workers discuss supports and resources for 2SLGBTQI+ students in York Region District School Board.
Jun 16, 2023·42m - 50
Supporting Student Mental Health During Exams
Jun 12, 2023·44m