Podcast artwork thumbnail for The Fires in Grading

The Fires in Grading

Garth Larson, Becky Peppler, Don Smith

Booking Overview

This education-focused expert discussion show examines assessment reform, standards-based grading, school leadership, and implementation challenges, with occasional external practitioners such as special education professionals joining the three regular hosts. Suitable pitches include assessment consultants, school administrators, standards-based learning specialists, special education experts, and authors with practical school-improvement experience; booking difficulty is likely medium because external guest appearances appear selective rather than frequent.

Metrics

Episodes: 35

Frequency: Every two weeks

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Estimated listeners: < 100

Gender skew: Neutral

Listener location: USA

Instagram: 185 followers

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

don@firsteducation-us.com

info@firsteducation-us.com

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Host

Garth Larson - Education professional and co-host focused on assessment and grading reform.

Becky Peppler - National consultant focused on assessment and grading reform and author of Reassessment That Works.

Don Smith - Education leader and author of The Confidence to Lead, co-authored with Jenni Donohoo, focused on leadership and grading reform.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
Practitioners or subject-matter experts in assessment reform, standards-based grading, school leadership, special education, or instructional improvement, with direct experience applying these approaches in schools.
Required Achievements:  

Recent Guest Discussions

Danica Lewis - The Relationship Between Special Education And Standards-based Grading, Including Ieps, Accommodations, Modified Expectations, Grading Practices, And Student Support Systems.

Recent Topics

Education, Assessment, Standards Based Grading, School Leadership, Special Education

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
The Fires in Grading
:

Episode 35: Reassessment That Works

October 16, 2026

In Episode 35 of the Fires in Grading Podcast, Garth Larson and Don Smith sit down with co-host and author Becky Peppler to explore ideas from her new book, Reassessment That Works: Overcoming Challenges and Building Systems That Improve Learning. The conversation tackles common reassessment challenges—including student responsibility, unlimited retakes, relearning, and teacher workload—and explores how schools can create practical, sustainable systems that keep the focus where it belongs: im...

Episode 34: How Are Colleges and Universities Handling SBG?

October 02, 2026

In Episode 34 of Fires in Grading, Don, Becky, and Garth tackle one of the most common questions surrounding standards-based grading: “But what about college?” They’re joined by Sharona Krinsky and Robert Bosley, hosts of The Grading Podcast, to explore what is actually happening with grading in higher education. The conversation examines both sides of the college question, from how universities view students coming from standards-based systems to the growing movement among professors who are...

Episode 33: Gratitude to Those That Have Influenced Us

September 18, 2026

In Episode 33 of Fires in Grading, Don, Becky, and Garth reflect on three influential voices who helped shape their thinking about assessment and grading: Ken O’Connor, Tom Guskey, and Rick Wormeli. The team explores how each challenged traditional grading practices, influenced the standards-based grading movement, and continues to shape the work happening in schools today. More than a look back, this episode is a tribute to the ideas and people who continue to push educators to question, ref...

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Dont Call On Me, The Dyslexia Podcast · Medium booking difficulty · 100 - 1,000 listeners

Frequently asked questions

Here's some frequently asked questions for
The Fires in Grading
:

How do I get in touch with The Fires in Grading?

The Fires in Grading is hosted by Garth Larson and Becky Peppler. Its publicly listed emails are don@firsteducation-us.com and info@firsteducation-us.com. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for The Fires in Grading?

The publicly listed emails for The Fires in Grading: don@firsteducation-us.com and info@firsteducation-us.com.

How many listeners does The Fires in Grading have?

Podseeker estimates The Fires in Grading reaches fewer than 100 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for The Fires in Grading?

The Fires in Grading typically books working professionals with real expertise. Typical guest background: Practitioners or subject-matter experts in assessment reform, standards-based grading, school leadership, special education, or instructional improvement, with direct experience applying these approaches in schools. Recent guests include Danica Lewis.

How hard is it to get booked on The Fires in Grading?

Medium. Guests usually need solid credentials in the topic and an idea that fits the show.

What topics does The Fires in Grading cover?

Recent episodes cover Education, Assessment, Standards Based Grading, School Leadership, and Special Education. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.

Publicly listed emails

don@firsteducation-us.com

info@firsteducation-us.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

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