What happens when schools stop banning AI and hand the keys to students? Join us for an exceptional episode featuring Jeremy Hill, an e-learning specialist at Richmond High School, and his remarkable tech team: high school students Sophie, JJ, Annabella, and Matt. This dynamic group leverages technology to support their school community and lead the integration of AI, showcasing students not just learning about, but actively implementing, responsible AI usage across the district. This episode ex...
May 21, 2026•37 min•Season 3Ep. 16
In this episode, Cait Russell, COO of Multiple, shares her journey from occupational therapy to leading a nonprofit accelerator for autism-focused technology. She explores how innovation can scale impact beyond individual support, helping better serve neurodivergent individuals across education and employment. The conversation highlights the need for more meaningful career pathways, inclusive hiring practices, and stronger connections between schools, employers, and emerging tech. Cait also offe...
May 14, 2026•34 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Benjamin Franquiz, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education and Student Support Services, and Kathleen Petrenko, Director of Special Education, at Eastport-South Manor Central School District, are leading with a clear focus: every student matters. Through systems thinking and collaborative leadership, they align instruction, intervention, and student well-being to build a strong, inclusive special education program. In this episode, they share how their district leverages AI, streamlines d...
May 07, 2026•35 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Annie Payne, Director of Special Education at Enterprise Elementary School District, brings a deeply personal and purpose-driven approach to inclusive education, rooted in her passion for serving students with diverse needs. With a strong commitment to equity and growth, she leads district-wide efforts that empower both educators and learners to thrive. This episode delves into Enterprise Elementary's innovative approaches to fostering inclusion for students with intensive needs, alongside their...
Apr 30, 2026•33 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Evan Abramson, Director of Innovation and Technology at the Morris Union Jointure Commission, is a dynamic leader dedicated to redefining what’s possible for students with special needs. A champion of innovation and inclusion, Evan believes in leveraging technology to empower all learners while fostering meaningful relationships that drive real impact. Known for his energetic leadership and “fail forward” mindset, he challenges educators and partners alike to rethink traditional systems and prio...
Apr 23, 2026•37 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Rebecca Burton, Deputy Superintendent for Special Education and Student Services at Lemon Grove School District, joins us to discuss her deeply personal 'why' for education and how it fuels her passion for creating inclusive and equitable learning systems. This episode explores the critical role of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in supporting diverse student populations, from academic interventions to social-emotional well-being. Rebecca shares insights into Lemon Grove's journey in impl...
Apr 13, 2026•33 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Dr. Jeff Hadley is the Superintendent of Avonworth School District in PA, a district nationally recognized for its innovative and inclusive approach to education. Dr. Hadley shares how Avonworth champions every student's growth through unique programs like unified sports, the JAMbethekindkid movement, and a student-run coffee shop. This episode explores Avonworth's groundbreaking World of Work program, which uses the RIASEC code to help students discover their talents and connect them to future ...
Apr 03, 2026•32 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Chandler Cross is the Assistant Superintendent of Shenandoah School Corporation, a high-performing rural district in Indiana with graduation rates consistently near 99%. His approach is simple but powerful: build strong relationships, create intentional systems, and never lose sight of the student experience. In this episode, Chandler shares actionable strategies behind Shenandoah’s success, including collaborative team structures, a fully integrated virtual school serving students across the st...
Mar 26, 2026•36 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Dr. Georgeanne Warnock, Superintendent of Terrell Independent School District, is a forward-thinking leader committed to strengthening public education through connection, courage, and innovation. Grounded in the belief that public schools are the foundation of thriving communities, she leads with both strategy and heart. In this episode, we explore transformational change in action – from implementing a four-day instructional week that boosted recruitment and academic growth, to expanding bilin...
Mar 19, 2026•37 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Lisa Hartman, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at Lewis Central Community School District in Iowa, is a visionary leader driven by a deep commitment to human-centered educational change. Passionate about collaborative systems improvement, she works to advance structures that meaningfully support students, educators, and communities. In this episode, we explore systems change in action through Lewis Central’s districtwide literacy plan, and the development of in-house paraprofe...
Mar 12, 2026•38 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Kirk Koennecke is the Superintendent of Indian Hill Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio—one of the state’s highest-performing public school districts. With nearly 30 years in public education and recognition as the 2023 Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents, Kirk shares how Indian Hill has built an intentional leadership pipeline, elevated student voice, and created a truly student-centered culture. Listen to our podcast as Kirk dives into the realities of grow...
Mar 05, 2026•34 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Julie Schafer serves as the principal of Early Elementary school in Early ISD in Texas. She is leading success in every child’s education by implementing early dyslexia screenings for dyslexia intervention and training programs. She fosters open communication and collaboration among educators to drive the best possible learning outcomes. Listen to our podcast with Julie to learn more about ISD’s innovation, “Success room,” where students thrive in an emotionally supportive learning environment t...
Feb 26, 2026•39 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Steve Iglesias is the Chief Innovation Officer at Mater Brickell Academy in Miami, Florida. A former baseball coach turned educational innovator, Steve builds tech- and entrepreneurship-focused programs that expose every student to real-world tools and emerging fields. Grounded in his belief in “failing forward,” he designs learning experiences that prioritize resilience, problem-solving, and purpose over test scores and tradition. Listen to our podcast with Steve to discover how reframing failu...
Feb 19, 2026•34 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Jeffrey D. Hartmann, superintendent of Galion City Schools in Ohio, draws on his international experience to highlight the importance of establishing common direction among teachers and administrators as the foundation for effective learning. He prioritizes student-centered decision-making to ensure every child’s education is meaningfully impacted. Listen to our podcast with Jeffrey to learn more about Galion City Schools’ tagline, “Courage to Climb,” and their commitment to helping students, pa...
Feb 12, 2026•39 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Bryan Ballenger serves as the Superintendent of the Gustine Unified School District. Through his focus on innovative instructional practices, Bryan ensures that all students have access to equitable learning opportunities. By emphasizing teacher voice, emotional growth, and progress monitoring, he’s helping redefine how success is measured in schools. Listen to our podcast with Bryan to learn more about his journey in education, the district’s shift toward inclusive practices, and how his approa...
Feb 05, 2026•27 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Superintendent Marie Hanna and Co-Directors of Special Education, Erin Fatafehi and Rekha Manakkal, serve on the administration board at Ohio Connections Academy. Together as a team, they cultivate a flexible virtual learning environment for all needs in a student’s education goals across all disabilities. They are challenging the standard brick and mortar school setting, demonstrating that effective learning can thrive beyond the classroom and empower every student to reach their fullest potent...
Jan 29, 2026•39 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Meagan Drapkin serves as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Dunellen Public Schools. She leads her district with compassion by advocating for an effective prevention program through the implementation of MTSS structures. Through leveraging data collection, building interventionist support systems and integrating community-based resources, she ensures that every child receives the individual support they need to thrive academically. Listen to our podcast with Meagan to learn more about...
Oct 31, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Dr. Malasia Walker is the Director of Special Education for the William Floyd School District. Drawing on her own school experience and the mentorship that changed her path, she leads with relationships—pairing students with trusted adults, starting early-credit pathways, and meeting learners where they are. Listen to our episode with Dr. Walker to discover how meeting students where they are, credit-earning in middle school, and simple accountability rituals drive persistence. She reframes pare...
Oct 23, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Tiffany Law is the Chief Operating Officer of the Institute for Education Innovation. Inspired by her father, a principal who championed diversity and women’s leadership, she continues his mission of empowering emerging leaders, amplifying their successes, and fostering authentic relationships within and between EdTech organizations and the school systems they serve. Listen to our episode with Tiffany to hear more about how she drives progress in technology and education through strategic part...
Oct 15, 2025•20 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Kelly Carpenter is the Chief Academic Officer Emeritus of Gananda Central School District in Rochester County, NY. She has dedicated her career to personalized learning, implementing equity and inclusion in every child’s education. Inspired by her brother and father, who struggled in traditional school systems, she shifted classrooms from rote memorization toward problem-solving and critical thinking. Listen to our episode with Kelly to learn more about how she implements MTSS, instructional pla...
Oct 08, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Anthony Lue is a motivational speaker, accessibility consultant, and Paralympic hand-cycling athlete. Drawing from his journey—from standout high-school athlete to paraplegic survivor—he brings expertise in resilience, disability inclusion, and adaptive sport, dedicated to inspiring authentic growth and barrier-free communities. Listen to our episode with Anthony to hear how he turns adversity into advocacy, builds more accessible environments, and trains toward his Paralympic dreams. His story ...
Oct 01, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Maggie Broderick is an associate professor at National University and the faculty lead for social-emotional learning. With expertise in online graduate education, curriculum design, and trauma-sensitive teaching, she is dedicated to fostering inclusive learning environments that support both academic growth and emotional well-being. Listen to our episode with Maggie to hear how she integrates SEL into higher education, champions educator well-being, and builds meaningful connections in virtual c...
Sep 24, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Candice Sears is a forward-thinking educational leader with a passion for personalized learning and inclusive curriculum. With expertise in homeschooling, gifted education, and instructional leadership, she is committed to equity and innovation that meets the needs of all learners. Listen to our episode with Candice to hear how she supports homeschooling families, designs inclusive curriculum for gifted and diverse students, and adapts instruction for 21st-century learning. Her work is a powerfu...
Sep 17, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Wanda Lopez Ramirez is a Bronx-born educator and principal who leads with heart, equity, and deep community ties. With decades of experience, she champions culturally responsive teaching, inclusive leadership, and creating meaningful opportunities for all students. At PS1, she fosters a school culture where every child feels known, seen, and empowered. Listen to our episode with Wanda to hear how she builds strong community partnerships, integrates technology to support equity, and empowers stud...
Sep 10, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 1
As COO/CAO of Fullmind, Hayley Spira-Bauer is a visionary leader and lifelong advocate for education. Passionate about driving transformative change, she has dedicated her career to building–whether it’s fostering the potential of students and teachers, founding innovative schools, or leading businesses to scale with impact. A working mom, disability advocate, and lupus warrior, she brings a unique perspective to her work, championing equity and resilience in all she does. As host of the Learnin...
May 14, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Dr. George Philhower is the superintendent of Eastern Hancock Schools, where his intentional leadership and commitment to inclusion helped earn the district recognition as one of Indiana’s best places to work. In this episode, he shares key strategies such as the Joy Jam Conference, and his CAFE (Community and Family Engagement) initiative to strengthen the districts’ education quality and school culture. Drawing from his background in special education, George leads with four guiding promises: ...
May 07, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 6
As an EdTech academic advisor and former educator, Jerri Kemble is a passionate leader in the education space. She is the National Academic Advisor at ClassLink, podcaster of the LinkedUp podcast, and she’s a former superintendent and principal of multiple school districts. Jerri's motivation to enter education stems from her desire to make a difference for students who struggle in traditional school settings. From her experiences, she believes that technology can empower students, and that desi...
Apr 30, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Luke St. Amand is the co-founder and CTO of Lectec, an EdTech company aiming to inspire young minds through hands-on STEM learning experiences. Luke and his co-founder, Jared, were inspired to build Lectec after Jared’s nephew was intrigued by the mechanics of a newly gifted electric skateboard, leading them to develop build-it-yourself kits designed for students. Lectec recently aired on Shark Tank in February 2024, helping Luke and Jared gain significant exposure, including reaching over 3.2 m...
Apr 23, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Dr. Dan Cox is a veteran superintendent and founder of Endurance Edge. Dan's commitment to wellness, balance, and resilience impacts his perspective of leadership within the education world. With his background in education leadership, Dan is passionate in ensuring success for all students, and he firmly believes in the effectiveness of meaningful discourse in the education space. Beyond his role as a superintendent, Dan loves to run marathons, and he calls on other educators—and all listeners—t...
Apr 16, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Jennifer Womble proudly serves as the Conference Chair of the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC), the premier EdTech event bringing together passionate educators and innovators. At FETC, she oversees all content and development of events, plans executive summits, and collaborates with various sponsors and associations. She is also the Board of Directors at iTeach Innovations, a service unit at Kennesaw State University focusing on integrating instructional technology. Listen to our...
Apr 09, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 2
