Send us a text Matt Kennard is the CEO of BetterLesson (which offers High-quality K-12 professional development for educators and administrators, ensuring successful districtwide implementation of HQIM.) and former CFO & Head of Operations for LearnZillion, a K-12 digital core curriculum provider. At LearnZillion, he oversaw the expansion of curricular offerings through partnerships with leading OER curriculum providers and led the company's sale to Weld North Education. Previously, Mat...
Feb 05, 2025•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Tigran Sloyan is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of CodeSignal , the leading skills platform empowering teams and individuals to discover and develop the skills that will shape the future. Tigran is a recognized voice in the industry—a TED speaker, active Forbes Technology Council member, frequent keynote, and contributor to major publications. He is passionate about the intersections of technology, education, and talent acquisition, and his innovative insights are regu...
Feb 03, 2025•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text This Week in EdTech, join Ben Kornell and special guest host Jomayra Herrera , Partner at Reach Capital , as they unpack the latest in edtech, AI, and education policy. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:03:16] 🤖 OpenAI’s new O3 "reasoning" model sparks AGI debate. [00:07:14] 🏗️ OpenAI’s $500B Stargate Project aims to dominate AI infrastructure. [00:16:49] 📱 TikTok shutdown and divest-or-ban law shake up digital learning. [00:24:15] 🍎 U.S. schools add 121,000 staff in 2024 de...
Jan 31, 2025•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text 2024 was a remarkable year for EdTech, with advancements that redefined teaching, learning, and the role of technology in education. But what’s next? In Part 2 of our year-end special, Alex and Ben invite a panel of visionary leaders from across the EdTech ecosystem to share their reflections on 2024 and predictions for 2025. 🎙️ Featuring insights from: Jomayra Herrera , Partner at Reach Capital Amit Patel , Managing Director at Owl Ventures Ben Wallerstein , CEO & Co-Founder...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Happy New Year! Welcome to the first Week in EdTech episode of 2025! Join hosts Ben Kornell and guest co-host Matt Tower as they dive into the biggest stories shaping the education technology landscape, from AI innovations to major edtech funding and cybersecurity challenges. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:03:16] 🌐 OpenAI introduces a feature enabling ChatGPT to handle reminders and to-dos. [00:05:04] 🔥 LA schools face closures and damage as wildfires disrupt education. [00:22:54] 🔐...
Jan 24, 2025•2 hr 42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Sara Leoni is the Founder and CEO of Ziplines Education , a career accelerator that partners with universities to deliver industry-recognized certificate courses that prepare professionals with the in-demand skills, knowledge and confidence for today’s tech-driven world. Jeff Sample was the Founder and CEO of Clicked , now the VP of Product for Ziplines Education. His background and unique perspectives as a transitioning Management Consultant and Adtech Executive led him to develo...
Jan 22, 2025•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Dr. Yair Shapira is the founder and CEO of NovoDia , an EdTech company innovating educational publishing through AI technology. Previously, he founded and led Amplio Learning to significant growth before its acquisition. With expertise in technology and educational tools, Yair is dedicated to enhancing educational equity and efficiency. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and is an active contributor to the EdTech community. 💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Nov...
Jan 20, 2025•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Jonathan Katzman , Director of Product Management at YouTube Learning, drives initiatives that leverage educational content across school, work, and life. Before joining Google, he served as the founding Chief Product Officer of Minerva Project, a pioneering university and ed-tech company offering accredited degrees and innovative curriculum design. Jonathan’s career includes leadership roles in successful startups and major tech companies, showcasing his expertise in education an...
Jan 17, 2025•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Yossi Matias , Vice President of Google and Head of Google Research, leads groundbreaking efforts in foundational machine learning, quantum computing, and AI for societal impact in education, health, and climate. A world-renowned AI expert, Yossi has pioneered conversational AI, driven Google Search innovations, and launched transformative initiatives like AI for Social Good and Google for Startups Accelerator. His work focuses on leveraging AI to address global challenges and imp...
Jan 16, 2025•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Shantanu Sinha , VP & GM of Google for Education, leads the development of tools like Google Classroom and Read Along, serving over 150 million educators and students globally. Previously, as founding President and COO of Khan Academy, he championed free, personalized learning on a global scale. Shantanu combines deep expertise in computer science, math, and cognitive sciences from MIT with strategic consulting experience from McKinsey. Jennie Magiera , Global Head of Educatio...
Jan 15, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Benedict Gomes , SVP of Learning & Sustainability at Google, leads efforts to transform education and tackle global climate challenges. His organization develops tools like Google Classroom, ReadAlong, and YouTube-based learning platforms, empowering educators and learners worldwide. Ben also drives sustainability initiatives, including decarbonization and creating global environmental data solutions. Maureen Heymans , VP of Engineering, Learning & Sustainability at Google...
Jan 14, 2025•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this special episode, Edtech Insiders brings you to the heart of Google’s "Learning in the AI Era" event, held on 11/20/2024, in Mountain View, California. Hear exclusive interviews with the following Google leaders: Ben Gomes , SVP, Learning & Sustainability, Google Maureen Heymans , VP of Engineering, Learning & Sustainability, Google Shantanu Sinha , VP & GM, Google for Education Jennie Magiera , Global Head of Education Impact, Google Steven Johnson, E...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text SiSi (SiSi pronounced “See-See”) is a transformative all-in-one platform that brings together everything schools need—student records, learning tools, financials, admissions, communication, and more—into one simple, seamless system. Designed for educators, SiSi replaces the chaos of juggling multiple platforms with an intuitive solution that saves time, reduces complexity, and strengthens school communities. With features like AI-powered insights and automated processes, SiSi empo...
Jan 10, 2025•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Dr. David Yeager is the Raymond Dickson Centennial Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin . He earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University. His groundbreaking research focuses on the processes that shape adolescent development, examining how social cognitive factors interact with structural and physiological elements to influence youth trajectories. Dr. Yeager is also dedicated to uncovering ways to positively impact these psychological processes to enhance dev...
Jan 06, 2025•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Mark Angel is the CEO and Co-founder of Amira Learning , the company bringing the science of reading and AI together. Amira is the first intelligent reading assistan for teachers and is now working with two million students in all 50 states and 14 countries. 💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Amira Learning uses AI to revolutionize reading education. The importance of efficacy studies in edtech product adoption. Strategic partnerships for scaling AI-driven tools in educ...
Dec 30, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text 2024 was an incredible year for EdTech, filled with transformative shifts and groundbreaking innovations! In this special year-end episode, Alex and Ben dive into the defining trends of the year—from the ESSER funding cliff reshaping K-12 strategies to the rise of AI-powered learning tools. They also look ahead to 2025, making bold predictions about the future of education technology, including the potential of gaming, assessment overhauls, and micro-company innovation. Stay tuned...
Dec 26, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text With the holiday break just around the corner, join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell for a timely look at the latest developments in education technology. From exciting AI advancements to shifts in curriculum policy, this episode captures the key trends shaping the future of learning. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:03:16] 🧠 OpenAI's New AI Tool "Sora" Makes Waves in Video Generation [00:06:01] 🎥 The Era of Multimodal AI: Google, Meta, and Microsoft Compete on Video an...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text As CEO and Co-Founder of Learnosity , Gavin Cooney still talks about the company he helped build over a decade ago with an infectious zeal. It’s easy to see why: what began as a project in a garden shed (a cliché maybe, but 100% true!) has matured into an internationally renowned tech company with a 200-strong crew of problem-solvers. Since Gav believes that all social ills can be remedied through education, his modus operandi is pretty simple: give education the standard of techn...
Dec 16, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Trish Sparks leads Clever as CEO. Previously she was VP of Customer Success and Sales. Trish came to Clever with a wealth of executive leadership experience at companies such as LinkedIn, where she scaled a global customer success organization, and at DemandBase, where she was Chief Customer Officer. As a North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholar, she started her career as a middle school teacher in Wake County Public Schools. Trish holds BS degrees in Business and Education as well...
Dec 09, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell in this Thanksgiving edition of "Week in Edtech" as they explore the latest developments in education technology, from groundbreaking AI innovations to edtech controversies and funding milestones. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:03:16] 🧠 Edtech Insiders publishes AI tool market map with 300+ tools across 60 use cases [00:05:39] 🌐 Google AI Summit recap featuring LearnLM and Gemini’s memory feature [00:14:57] 🎥 OpenAI’s leaked Sora vide...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Laura K. Ipsen is president and chief executive officer of Ellucian , the leading technology solutions provider for more than 2,900 higher education institutions in more than 50 countries. She has more than 25 years of experience as a technology executive in Silicon Valley, driving transformation in the public and private sectors and spurring adoption of comprehensive solutions in high-growth industries at Oracle Corporation, Microsoft and Cisco Systems. Earlier in her career, Ips...
Dec 02, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Matt Given is an experienced education technology leader and the CEO of Seesaw , a groundbreaking learning experience platform designed for PreK-5 students. With over 20 years of experience in education and edtech leadership, Matt has held executive roles at Kaplan, Catapult Learning, and EdisonLearning. Known for his expertise in universal design for learning and his ability to bridge the gap between home and classroom, Matt is a driving force behind Seesaw's mission to crea...
Nov 25, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Arman Jaffer is the founder and CEO of Brisk Teaching . Brisk is an AI tool that helps educators personalize their instruction and save hours of time on administrative tasks. Emily Bennett currently serves as a Principal investor at Owl Ventures . 💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Brisk Teaching’s AI tools streamline teacher workflows and enhance instructional efficiency. The vision for AI in edtech, focusing on student-centered, adaptive learning through tools like Br...
Nov 18, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell for a post-election edition of "Week in Edtech," featuring insights from Anna Edwards and Ben Wallerstein of Whiteboard Advisors . ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:02:16] 🇺🇸 New trends in education policy post-election [00:04:42] 🏛️ Why state policies will shape the future of K-12 education [00:08:10] 💸 The looming financial gap for districts as ESSER funds expire [00:10:57] 🏢 Republicans’ potential plans to restructure or abolish the...
Nov 13, 2024•2 hr 43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Chuck Cohn is the Founder, Chairman & CEO of Nerdy (parent company of Varsity Tutors ). Chuck founded the company in 2007 during his junior year of college after experiencing frustration finding the personalized help he needed for a calculus course. He spent his early career working in energy & power investment banking at Wells Fargo Securities (Wachovia) and healthcare private equity at Ascension Ventures, an $800M AUM private equity fund. Chuck bootstrapped Nerdy before ...
Nov 11, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Mark Miller is the founder and Managing Director of Good Harbor Partners (GHP) , a boutique M&A advisory firm specializing in the education technology and publishing sectors. With over 20 years of experience as an edtech entrepreneur and advisor, Miller has a proven track record in guiding Pre-K-12, Higher Education, and Workforce clients through strategic growth, fundraising, and successful exits. A co-founder of LearnLaunch and a dedicated member of Cornell’s Entrepreneurshi...
Nov 08, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Libby Hills co-leads the Jacobs Foundation ’s global EdTech investment portfolio, focusing on the intersection of technology, research, and education. With over 15 years in education, including roles in teaching, tech leadership, and charity boards, she also co-hosts the Ed-Technical podcast. Libby holds degrees in Education and Social Business from Oxford and LSE. Owen Henkel is an AI in Education researcher at the University of Oxford, specializing in natural language processing...
Nov 04, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the political and technological currents reshaping education, from college ROI and student loans to AI’s expanding role in higher ed. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:04:28] 🗳️ Election’s Impact on Education Policy [00:12:11] 🎓 Debating the Value of College Amid Rising Costs [00:15:12] 📉 Freshman Enrollment Sees Largest Drop Since Pandemic [00:18:02] 🛠️ SchooLinks Raises $80M to Expand Career Pathways [00:27:01] 🤖 Half of Higher...
Oct 31, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Roosh X is an investment arm of Roosh Investment Group. Nathan Maynard is the CEO and Founder of HighFive , a company using mobile technology to foster connected school communities and reduce recidivism for negative classroom behaviors. With over 11 years of experience as a youth worker, teacher, and school administrator, Nathan co-authored the best-selling book "Hacking School Discipline," and is a global thought leader in reimagining discipline practices in education. ...
Oct 28, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the latest in education technology, AI developments, and key edtech funding moves. ✨ Episode Highlights : [00:02:53] 🗽 Recap of New York EdTech Week, highlighting key themes and vibrant energy from the event. [00:04:37] 📈 Discussion on the rise of micro companies, with lower barriers leading to a surge in niche startups. [00:12:36] 🤝Convergence between philanthropy and EdTech, focusing on how partnerships can drive sustaina...
Oct 24, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
