In this episode, Peter talks with Dr. Sabba Quidwai about how educators keep agency with AI. Sabba explains why design thinking is action, not PDFs, and how her SPARK interview turns vague goals into five day wins. They dig into teaching AI as habits and mindsets, the leap from desktop thinking to mobile thinking, what to automate, and what to stop doing. They also cover the skills schools need next, learn to learn, take initiative, listen well, and ship work.
About Dr. Sabba QuidwaiDr. Quidwai is a former Apple Education executive, researcher, and course designer who helps schools and organizations use design thinking to shape their future with AI. She built a pioneering iPad program at USC, completed research on AI and design thinking in 2020, released a documentary in 2022, and teaches technology and media literacy at UC Irvine.
You can learn more about Sabba’s work at designingschools.org
In this episode, Pete and Stephanie talk with Josh Czupryk about how the education job market is changing as ESSER funds expire and districts face tighter budgets. Josh shares what his data shows about which roles are shrinking, which ones are growing, and why clarity of value matters more than ever for organizations serving schools. They dig into what’s really driving teacher turnover, the one question every school leader should ask by October, and how respect—not money alone—keeps great teachers in the classroom.
About Josh CzuprykJosh Czupryk is a former assistant superintendent, consultant, and education data analyst who tracks hiring trends across school systems, nonprofits, and edtech organizations. He helps educators navigate career transitions and advises leaders on building healthy, high-retention school cultures.
You can find his work and connect with him at k12jobsblast.org/contact.
Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Pete and Stephanie talk with Catlin Tucker about what blended learning actually looks like when it’s done well. Catlin unpacks the core skill set teachers need to move beyond whole-group instruction, how to design intentional station rotations, and why balancing online and offline experiences matters. They explore the connection between blended learning and Universal Design for Learning, how to remove barriers for diverse learners, and what it takes to build a culture where teachers embrace their role as lead learners.
About Catlin TuckerDr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international speaker, and veteran educator known for her expertise in blended learning, student-centered instruction, and professional learning design. She has written multiple influential books including Blended Learning in Action, Power Up Blended Learning, and Elevating Educational Design with AI (co-authored with Katie Novak).
You can find her work, free resources, and upcoming events on her website catlintucker.com.
In this episode, we sit down with Monica Burns to talk about the real role of technology in today’s classrooms. We look at how teachers can bring AI and other digital tools into their instruction without losing sight of what matters most—teaching, learning, and student engagement. Monica shares practical strategies for using technology to support great pedagogy rather than replace it, and we explore how educators can make thoughtful decisions about new tools without getting overwhelmed. It’s a conversation about keeping innovation grounded in what works for kids and teachers.
Guest Links
Website: https://classtechtips.com
Podcast: https://classtechtips.com/podcast
EdTech Essentials (2nd Edition): https://www.ascd.org/books/edtech-essentials
Tasks Before Apps: https://www.ascd.org/books/tasks-before-apps
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips
In this episode of Teach Smarter, part of our Leaders from the Classroom series, I talk with Nick, a middle school history teacher, about how he builds writing skills through in-class modeling, real-time feedback, and consistent practice across the year.
We dig into why he doesn’t let students write essays at home, how he’s adapted writing instruction to fit his content area, and the challenges AI introduces when students rely on it too early. He also shares how he uses writing portfolios, gives individualized feedback, and tracks student growth from day one to the end of the year.
Nick is a middle school History teacher with a decade of experience in the classroom. During this time, he’s played an integral role in the development of curriculum, and is a key figure in History writing instruction and development for his local district.
In this episode, Pete and Stephanie talk with Bill Bass, Innovation Coordinator for Parkway School District and former ISTE Board President, about transforming school libraries and reframing what educator resistance really means.
Bill oversees 29 school librarians, 16 of whom have been named Teacher of the Year. He shares why some educators aren't actually resistant to change, but are instead keepers of tradition who are protecting what works. He also walks through his three-part framework for shifting librarians from task-doers to school leaders and explains why his district’s librarians are never on the chopping block during budget cuts.
About Bill Bass:Bill Bass is an award-winning educator and former English teacher who now serves as Innovation Coordinator for Instructional Technology, Information, Library Media, and Federal Programs in Parkway School District in St. Louis, Missouri. As an international speaker, writer, and professional developer, he focuses on systemic, sustainable technology integration across all grade levels. Bill served as President of the ISTE Board of Directors and was named one of NSBA's 20 to Watch EdTech Leaders. He is an ISTE Certified Educator, Google Certified Innovator, Google for Education Certified Trainer, and author of four books including Leading from the Library (ISTE 2019, 2024).
Learn more at billbass.tech
Zaretta Hammond joins us to explore how AI and edtech can either reinforce a pedagogy of compliance or unlock true cognitive justice for students. We dig into over-scaffolding, feedback loops, the science of learning, and how teachers can reclaim their role as personal trainers of student thinking instead of just content deliverers.
Zaretta is the author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain and a national consultant with over 25 years of experience helping educators deepen their instructional equity practices. Her upcoming book expands on this work, challenging educators to rethink how we coach cognition in an AI-saturated classroom.
Guest Links:
Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain — https://crtandthebrain.com
Rebuilding Students’ Learning Power (preorder) — https://www.amazon.com/Rebuilding-Students%27-Learning-Power-Instructional/dp/1544376960
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaretta-hammond-2b122ba/
Commissioner Angélica Infante Green joins us to talk about what it actually takes to create lasting change in education. From improving attendance to implementing high-quality curriculum with fidelity, she shares how Rhode Island is staying focused without chasing the next big thing. We also get into how AI can support good teaching without replacing it, and what it means to lead with clarity in a shifting landscape.
What does it take to create educational technology that actually works? Dr. Rachel Schechter knows better than most. With a background researching Dora the Explorer and now as founder of LXD Research, she's spent her career understanding how kids learn through media and technology.
In this episode, Rachel pulls back the curtain on EdTech research, sharing why most digital tools fail to deliver and what educators can do about it. She tackles uncomfortable truths about classroom expectations—like why it's impossible for teachers to truly individualize instruction for 30 students—and offers practical strategies for evaluating technology that actually improves learning outcomes.
Connect with Dr. Rachel Schechter:
In this conversation, Dr. Adam B. Lockwood discusses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on school psychology and education. He shares insights on how school psychologists are currently using AI, particularly in areas like IEP goal creation and crisis intervention. The discussion also covers ethical concerns surrounding AI, its potential to democratize cheating, and the implications for creativity and critical thinking in students. Dr. Lockwood emphasizes the need for professionals to adapt to AI's growing presence in education and the importance of open dialogue about its use.
Connect with Dr. Adam Lockwood:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 lockwoodconsulting.net
I had the privilege of presenting at the MATSOL Conference, where I led a session on using AI to support multilingual learners. This episode breaks down what we covered, including how to pair WIDA Can Do descriptors with tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and NotebookLM.
If you're planning for MLLs and looking for ways to scaffold without lowering expectations, this one's for you. I share practical strategies, sample prompts, and a few common mistakes to avoid.
Want to try writing your own AI prompt? Head to teachsmarteredu.com/teachprompting and use the free TEACH Prompting Generator.
Teachers know parent communication matters, but knowing how to do it well is another story. In this episode, Stephanie sits down with educator and author Crystal Frommert to unpack what meaningful communication with families actually looks like. They talk about why newsletters fall short, how to build trust without burning out, and when it's time to stop emailing and just pick up the phone. They also dig into how AI tools can support communication without losing the human connection.
Find Crystal's Book Here:
Connect with Crystal on Linkedin Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-frommert/
In this episode, Pete and Stephanie sit down with Tricia Friedman—Director of Learning & Strategy at Shifting Schools—to unpack what AI literacy should look like if we want students (and educators) to actually be ready for what’s coming next.
Tricia introduces her REFRAME framework, explains the concept of futures literacy, and shares practical ways educators can shift from fear-based policies to curiosity-driven conversations. From classroom assessment redesigns to conflict mediation bots and dolphin communication, this episode is about expanding how we think—not just automating what we already do.
Explore more from Tricia:
→ LinkedIn
→ Free guides + REFRAME framework
In this episode, I talk with Chris Hull, a former teacher and the co-founder of Otus, a platform that helps schools manage assessment, data, and instruction in one place. We dig into how Otus came to be, what makes edtech actually usable, and how AI can support teachers without getting in the way.
The conversation centers on one tool, but the focus is on what it means to build solutions that come from real classroom experience.
Learn more about Chris at linkedin.com/in/chull9.
AI isn’t just changing how students complete assignments—it’s forcing colleges to rethink everything from course design to institutional purpose. In this episode, Dr. Nik Janos, sociology professor at California State University, Chico, joins Pete and Stephanie to talk about what higher ed needs to confront in the age of AI. From assessment systems written before the internet to the collapse of the TA pipeline, they explore what’s becoming obsolete, what still matters, and how backward design can help educators rebuild with intention.
AI tools like ChatGPT, MagicSchool, and SchoolAI are becoming go-to lesson planners for busy teachers. But are they actually building strong instruction? In this episode, Pete and Stephanie dig into new research that says not quite. They unpack what these tools are getting wrong, why it matters, and how educators can start using AI with more intention and less guesswork.
In this conversation, Elliot Hedman (Build Empathy) shares insights from his research on how students are using generative AI in schools, often in ways that go unnoticed by educators. Drawing on his experience designing digital learning tools for companies like LEGO, McGraw-Hill, and i-Ready, Elliot discusses the limitations of AI detection tools, the rise of paraphrased outputs, and why banning AI may be doing more harm than good. He emphasizes the need to focus on student thinking over polished output and shares healthier, more authentic ways to integrate AI into classroom practice. The discussion also highlights two of Elliot’s free tools, Level Up and Wonder.io, which help students engage more meaningfully in writing and reading through collaborative AI use.
In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Kassorla discusses the integration of AI in the writing classroom, emphasizing the shift from teaching against AI to teaching with it. She highlights the importance of formative assessment, the need for a focus on process over product, and the significance of teaching voice, tone, and audience awareness. Dr. Kassorla also addresses the challenges of AI's limitations, the necessity of transparency in AI use, and the distinction between academic integrity and academic dignity. The discussion concludes with insights on how AI can enhance critical thinking and prepare students for the future of writing.
In this episode, we’re joined by Julie Foss of True Nexus Consulting to cut through the noise around AI in education. Julie brings two decades of experience as a teacher, leader, and consultant—and she’s not here to hype the latest tool. Instead, we talk about what really matters: strategic implementation, change management, and how to align AI with the actual goals of your school or district.
In this episode, Pete and Stephanie dive into Notebook LM, a Google AI tool designed to help users synthesize information from multiple sources. They explore its key features, practical applications in education, and how it can support teachers in implementing curricula more effectively. The discussion also highlights Notebook LM’s interactive mode, which allows users to engage dynamically with the generated content. The episode wraps up with a podcast segment created on Notebook LM during the conversation.
