Rebecca Boltsma, an AI ethics researcher and K-12 strategist, shares her journey from a communications background to becoming deeply immersed in AI ethics driven by her fascination with ChatGPT. She discusses the cognitive dissonance she experiences between excitement for AI's potential and concern over its ethical challenges, particularly in education and society. Rebecca highlights the importance of curiosity, inquiry, and co-creating policies around AI, focusing on transparency and trust-building in schools. She emphasizes teaching ethical values through modeling and conversation rather than direct AI literacy at an early age. Rebecca advises educators to personally explore AI tools first and engage students in open dialogue about responsible AI use while acknowledging the need for parent advocacy and learning.

Season 9 ends with a bang. Check out this highlight episode covering the incredible guests and conversations that made this season our best one yet.

This episode of "Learning Can't Wait" features JW Marshall, Vice President of Marketing at Summit K-12 and a seasoned podcaster, who shares his journey from growing up in a learning-rich environment to becoming a passionate advocate for EdTech and multilingual learners. JW discusses the evolution of EdTech from its early days to the current competitive market, highlighting the importance of storytelling and authentic customer voices in marketing. He emphasizes the power of podcasts in building relationships, sharing impactful education stories, and advocating for student and teacher voices, especially in underrecognized areas like multilingual education. JW's heartfelt stories, including recognizing dedicated teachers and encouraging districts and students to start podcasts, underscore how storytelling can inspire change and build community in education.

Kimberly Smith and Seth Walker discuss the transformative power of education and innovative cybersecurity pathways for students, especially in rural communities. Kimberly credits her parents for emphasizing the value of education that changed her life trajectory, and Seth echoes this by sharing how mentorship and opportunity helped him find his passion in cybersecurity despite early challenges. Together, they highlight a nationally expanding cybersecurity program that blends industry credentials, hands-on competitions, and regional collaboration to create thriving talent pipelines, retain local youth, and prepare students for a future shaped by cybersecurity and emerging technologies like AI.

Tara Carrozza, Director of Digital Learning and Innovation at New York Public Schools, shares her unique journey from college basketball and acting to teaching and leading digital innovation in the largest U.S. public school system. She emphasizes the centrality of people in technology integration, focusing on equity, personalized support for teachers, and the importance of foundational skills and data infrastructure before leveraging AI. Tara discusses creating AI literacy, gathering student voice, and developing an AI governance framework that ensures safe and responsible use. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to shifting mindset away from mere technology consumption to demanding educational tools that meet real needs, while fostering trust and psychological safety for educators and students alike.

Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), shares her journey through education and leadership, emphasizing the critical need for better identification, support, and advocacy for students with learning disabilities (LD). She discusses the broad scope of LD, the importance of universal screening, the challenges of absenteeism among students with disabilities, and the systemic issues in teacher preparation and compensation. Dr. Rodriguez advocates for a professionalized education system that supports both general and special educators to better serve vulnerable learners.

Danya Sundh, Coordinator of Coaching and SEL at Libertyville School District 70 in Illinois, shares her deep passion for education rooted in her upbringing and her community ties. Her district embraces innovation by integrating emerging technologies like AI into classrooms through an opt-in professional development program called SPARK, which fosters collaboration, experimentation, and continuous learning among educators. Danya highlights the critical role of social-emotional learning (SEL) in supporting students' use of technology and emphasizes the importance of relationships, grit, and flexibility as essential skills for navigating today’s rapidly changing educational landscape. She offers encouragement to educators to take risks, embrace failure, and build strong networks to thrive.

Alana Winnick, Chief Technology Officer and multi-faceted education leader, shares her innovative approach to integrating technology in schools with a strong emphasis on student voice and empowerment. She highlights the importance of including students in technology adoption and leadership, breaking down barriers through student-led innovation clubs, and how AI is reshaping education by leveling the playing field for diverse learners. Alana discusses her journey of stepping into roles that didn’t previously exist, the critical role of building-level leaders in successful tech adoption, and the importance of setting clear expectations over time for technology use in schools.

AJ Crabill shares his journey from an accidental start in student leadership development to becoming a transformative education leader known for centering students and changing adult behaviors to improve student outcomes. He discusses the importance of empowering students to lead culture and climate in schools, highlights the need for adult behavior changes to support student success, and reflects on his district turnaround successes with a focus on instructional leadership and community collaboration. AJ also emphasizes the value of coaching for superintendents and leaders to maintain high-impact focus on student learning.

Aruna Gilbert, Chief Program and Policy Officer at the Early Learning Coalition, shares her journey from economics and global environmental work to a deep lifelong commitment to early childhood education. She discusses the transformative power of early learning, the critical role of early educators—often underappreciated women—and innovative approaches using data-driven tools to support children’s development, educators, and families. Aruna emphasizes relationships as the foundation of learning and shares her hope for equalizing educational opportunities for all young children.

Dr. Michael Stone, superintendent of Lee County School District in Arkansas, shares his journey from growing up in a large single-parent family in Lee County to becoming a passionate educator and community leader. He discusses the shift in community values, the challenges and benefits of technology in schools, especially the impact of cell phones, and the importance of fiscal responsibility in school administration. Dr. Stone emphasizes community engagement and mindset shifts among parents and staff, underlining how rural communities thrive around their schools. He also shares practical advice for new teachers, stressing continuous learning and passion for student growth.

This episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast brings together three thought leaders in education technology—John Gamba from Penn GSE, Jason Green of Your Way Learning, and Will Krasnow from SwiftScore—to discuss the evolving role of AI in education. They explore how AI is reshaping classrooms by enhancing teacher practice and student engagement when paired with the right mindset and research-backed methods. The conversation covers the challenges and opportunities in AI adoption among educators and school leaders, emphasizing starting with solving real educational problems rather than AI itself. Together, they highlight the importance of research-informed, learner-centered approaches and share strategies for successful AI integration to support teachers and improve outcomes for students.

This podcast conversation between Nate McClennen and Hayley Spira-Bauer explores the transformative potential of AI in education, focusing on reducing teacher workload, reimagining the school day to enhance human connection, and integrating media literacy as a core skill for students. They discuss the challenges of scaling project-based learning within compliance-driven systems and envision a future where AI acts as a co-pilot for personalized learning, fostering student agency and passion-based education while meeting standards. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of media literacy in navigating misinformation and preparing students for an AI-influenced world, underlining that teachers remain central to providing meaningful, joyful learning experiences.

Dr. Jeff Carlson shared insights from his diverse experiences in education, from rural Idaho schools to urban New York City classrooms, emphasizing the critical role of public education in community life and equity. He highlighted challenges rural schools face, such as limited access to advanced coursework and technology, and expressed concern about policymakers burdening schools with societal issues instead of addressing them directly. Carlson advocates for thoughtful integration of technology in classrooms, family engagement, and realistic, equitable expectations for public education’s role in empowering all students.

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, Dr. Kaycee Brock, a candidate for the Atlanta Public School Board, shares her journey from educator to education consultant and now to political candidate. She discusses her motivations for running, emphasizing her passion for equity in education, her extensive background in various education roles, and her commitment to being actively involved in the community. Dr. Brock highlights the disparities within Atlanta Public Schools and stresses the importance of providing all students with quality opportunities, advocating for reading interventions and clear pathways to college and career success.

The episode features Dr. Malcolm Jones II, Assistant Superintendent of Forest City School District, discussing his journey from a young athlete to an educational leader who values academic and personal development. He emphasizes the importance of academic standards set by his parents, the lessons learned from sports, and the transformative leadership led by the district’s superintendent, which has uplifted a historically challenged school district. Dr. Jones highlights the integration of AI in education, its potential to revolutionize teaching and learning, and the necessity to adapt instructional methods accordingly. He also shares insights on restorative justice practices in schools, advocating for behavior education rather than punitive measures, and stresses the power of relationships in creating a positive learning environment. Finally, he encourages new teachers to seek mentorship and remain lifelong learners.

Auditi Chakravarty shares her unique journey from growing up as a child of immigrants in rural America to becoming a passionate educator and the CEO of Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF), an organization pioneering advanced inclusive Research and Development (R&D) in education. She highlights the critical disconnect between learning Sciences, Education Ecosystems, and Practitioners, advocating for research that includes educators and learners as partners. The episode explores how AERDF's approach uses iterative, time-limited programs to accelerate learning breakthroughs, especially in technology like AI, while addressing equity and the future needs of education systems.

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, Douglas Wilson, principal of Avondale High School in Michigan, shares insights into his leadership philosophy focused on continuous improvement, collaboration, and embracing failure as a learning opportunity. He highlights the school's diversity and commitment to equitable education for all students, emphasizing reflective practice and creativity among staff. Wilson also discusses the importance of integrating emerging technologies like AI thoughtfully and intentionally in education, advocating for preparing students to use these tools responsibly while evolving assessment methods to match technological advances.

 In this episode of the Learning Can’t Wait Podcast, Andy Shean, Chief Learning Officer at Penn Foster Group, shares his personal journey from situational poverty to education leadership and underscores the transformative power of education. Shean describes his work at Penn Foster Group, a radically affordable, direct-to-career institution serving 300,000+ students, and introduces the LADDS model—Learner-centered, Authentic, Differentiated, and Skill-based learning—as a scalable framework for driving completion and equity in online education. He highlights innovations such as generative AI-powered feedback and multimodal learning, all designed to create high-quality, accessible learning for diverse communities. Shean closes by emphasizing the human side of online teaching and the importance of curiosity, belonging, and restlessness in effective education.

In this episode of The Learning Can’t Wait Podcast, Dr. Sabba Quidwai, CEO and founder of Designing Schools, shares how her journey from graduating during a recession to becoming a leader in design thinking and educational innovation has shaped her belief in empowering students and educators with the mindsets and skills to adapt in a rapidly evolving, AI‑powered world. She discusses the importance of independent learning, critical thinking, and empathy, debunks the “digital native” myth, and highlights how design thinking equips individuals to navigate ambiguity and shape their own destinies. Drawing from her work with future educators at UC Irvine, she describes shifting students’ skepticism about AI to optimism through hands‑on, reflective experiences—reinforcing that the human element in education is irreplaceable and essential for preparing learners for an uncertain future.