Joel Kupperstein, Chief Product Officer at Project Lead The Way, shares field‑tested product principles for K–12. He explains why “easier before better” should be every product leader’s mantra, how empathy beats features, and what decades of experience have taught him about building tools teachers actually adopt. The conversation tackles AI’s rapid spread, with practical uses in teacher support, student personalization, and development workflows.

What does it take to shift from degrees to skills-based hiring while tackling the AI skills gap? Lydia Logan, VP of Global Education and Workforce Development at IBM, joins host Laura Hakala to discuss how IBM’s SkillsBuild program and its culture of lifelong learning are helping close global skills gaps. She shares what it takes to build responsible AI guardrails, maintain meaningful digital credentials, and design learning that actually drives employability. A sharp and practical conversati...

What turns “edutainment” into real learning that lasts? Clarence Tan, co-founder of Boddle Learning, shares how thoughtful game design can keep students engaged without losing instructional focus. He unpacks strategies to reduce cognitive load, signals districts should track to judge impact, and the AI guardrails that keep student data safe. The conversation also explores what makes rollouts smoother and adoption stick, with lessons any K-12 product team can apply.

What does it take to put career services at the center of the college experience? Christine Cruz‑Vergara, Chief Education Strategy Officer at Handshake, joins Eric Stano to unpack why higher ed’s value is under pressure, what today’s students expect, and how campuses can respond to close the trust‑usage gap. Christine shares what Handshake is seeing in student behavior and pragmatic ways to integrate GenAI across disciplines.

Students with ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences are often underserved by traditional school systems. Diana Heldfond, Founder and CEO of Parallel Learning, joins Tech In EdTech to unpack how edtech can help close that gap. Drawing from both personal and professional expertise, Diana shares how districts can deliver precision interventions, measure real outcomes, and use AI responsibly without losing the human judgment that special education requires. The conversation also looks at...

As AI, automation, and talent shortages reshape the future of work, Bijal Shah, CEO of Guild, offers a clear, practical roadmap for building teams that bend, but don’t break. In this episode, she shares how to support frontline talent, track the real ROI of learning programs, and build a workforce that adapts, evolves, and drives business forward. If you're focused on aligning learning pathways to real jobs and measurable outcomes, this conversation delivers insights you won’t want to miss.

Vadim Polikov, CEO of Legends of Learning, joins Dipesh Jain to explore what it takes to make game-based learning effective in K–12. He breaks down the difference between gamification and true game-based learning, the importance of curriculum alignment, and how AI is driving personalization and collaboration across edtech tools.

In this episode, Adam Reid, Online CTE Teacher at Anchorage School District, joins Sean Strathy and talks about what it takes to run effective virtual Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. He shares insights from his unique approach at his school district in Alaska, balancing course breadth with access, using industry partnerships to enrich learning, and why sparking student curiosity often matters more than certification. A valuable listen for curriculum developers, edtech lea...

In this episode, Brainscape CEO Andrew Cohen joins Olivia Lara-Gresty and talks about how edtech products can better support serious learners preparing for high-stakes exams and certifications. Find out why active recall and spaced repetition still outperform AI shortcuts, how to design study tools that reduce learning fatigue, and what truly motivates learners without relying on gamified features.

In this episode, Olivia sits down with Sara Leoni, CEO of Ziplines Education, to talk about what learners truly need: credentials that carry weight, hands-on simulations that reflect real work, not busywork, and support that builds confidence along the way. They dive deep into why higher ed is still stuck on outdated skill sets, what practical, long-lasting skills look like today, and why small businesses might be the most underused training ground we have. If you’re rethinking what it a...

Dr. Annalies Corbin, CEO of the PAST Foundation and author of Hacking School, brings an anthropologist’s lens to educational change. In this episode, she breaks down why many EdTech initiatives fail to stick, pointing to short funding cycles, lack of strategy, and cultural disconnects. For EdTech leaders aiming to build products that go beyond temporary fixes, her insights offer a clear path to lasting impact. This is a conversation about designing with purpose and helping schools adopt techn...

How do you protect a school from threats you can’t predict? Philip Selton, CEO of Lockdown Experts, unpacks the realities behind school safety technology - what works, what doesn’t, and what most people get wrong. From the fire alarm systems we take for granted to the rising debate around metal detectors, reinforced doors, and AI surveillance, this conversation dives deep into the practical, the ethical, and the personal decisions behind keeping schools safe.

In this episode of Tech in EdTech, Sean Strathy sits down with Jason Kahn, Founder and Chief Science Officer at Mightier, to explore how digital play can power real emotional growth in children. They dive into timely topics like the urgency for SEL programs in schools, the impact of the pandemic on social development, the difference between gamification and true play, and how to design digital tools with therapeutic value. The conversation also covers screen time balance, the evolving SEL pol...

Nathan Holbert, Associate Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, talks about the thoughtful integration of AI and other technologies into education. The conversation goes beyond AI’s “wow” factor to discuss how teachers, learners, and the broader school culture interact with new tools. The main thread is a call for intentionality and theoretical grounding when adopting AI. Rather than treating AI as a quick fix or a “faster” solution, he emphasizes how technology should support t...

Juanita Serrano, Head of Impact at Cengage and founder of Code Connect, has an insightful discussion with Laura Hakala about delivering real impact in workforce education. Drawing from her personal experience as a workforce program participant, Juanita shares how Cengage measures impact through various metrics and shares essential insights into employer-aligned training, AI-driven skills mapping, the evolving role of boot camps and microcredentials, and how community partnerships can close cr...

Christine Looser, Senior Academic Director of Minerva Project, shares insights on transforming higher education through active, skills-based learning and institutional partnerships. She discusses Minerva’s innovative approach, which prioritizes "durable, transferable skills" rather than just technical knowledge. The discussion also addressed AI’s role in education, the importance of reflection in learning, and strategies for overcoming institutional resistance to change. With a focus on...

Anna Edwards, Co-founder and Chief Advocacy Officer of Whiteboard Advisors discusses current trends and future directions in education policy and technology. She shares insights on federal education policy changes, state-level innovations in accountability measures, and the growing emphasis on career and technical education (CTE) through public-private partnerships. The conversation explores how AI is being integrated into K-12 education, both as a teaching tool and as a subject for student l...

In this episode, Matthew Kennard, CEO of BetterLesson, discusses transforming professional development in education. Matthew shares how districts can move beyond one-off training days to create ongoing support for teachers, even with limited budgets. He highlights the need to use data to guide decisions, tailoring learning to teacher needs, and practical ways to connect training with real classroom results. The conversation explores how technology and emerging tools can support more responsiv...

In this episode, Dan Cogan-Drew, Co-founder and Chief Academic Officer at Newsela, shares insights on how technology can genuinely support teachers and make learning more engaging for students. Dan discusses AI in education, explaining how it can be a useful tool when thoughtfully applied, and shares practical advice for school leaders on trying new tools without overwhelming teachers or students.

In this episode, Dr. Dax Parcells, Ed.D., Chair of Education, Psychology, and Sociology at Palm Beach State College, shares his experience integrating AI into higher education. He discusses the impact of Gen AI on teaching, academic integrity, and critical thinking while highlighting personalized learning and learner engagement. Dr. Parcells also explores the role of AI in curriculum design, the importance of faculty development, and how publishers and edtech can bridge gaps by embedding AI t...