EdTech Startup Showcase

Implementation Series, Part 3: What Happens to Family Engagement When Instructional Practice Changes? with Elisabeth O'Bryon and Rayna Flye

Today we're sharing part three of the implementation series from Family Engagement Lab. Elisabeth O'Bryon of Family Engagement Lab and Rayna Flye of Illustrative Mathematics join us to discuss: When families say "this isn't how I learned math," what are they really reacting to? What teachers understand about today's math instruction that families never get to see Why the disconnect often starts with the day-one communication that goes home The difference between informing families about instruction and helping them participate in it What family math nights and bite-sized, curriculum-aligned communication actually change Who owns this work — teachers, school leaders, or curriculum providers? The risk a district takes when it adopts a strong curriculum but doesn't bring families along Listen to Implementation Series, Part 1: The Missing Instructional Layer: https://etss.bepodcast.network/episodes/implementation-series-part-1-the-missing-instructional-layer-with-vidya-sundaram-and-elisabeth-obryon Listen to Implementation Series, Part 2: Why Good Ideas Fail Quietly in Schools: https://etss.bepodcast.network/episodes/implementation-series-part-2-why-good-ideas-fail-quietly-in-schools-with-vidya-sundaram-and-elisabeth-obryon Learn more about Family Engagement Lab: https://www.familyengagementlab.org Learn more about Illustrative Mathematics: https://www.illustrativemathematics.org About the guests Elisabeth O'Bryon is co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of Family Engagement Lab. Elisabeth was previously the Director of Research and Evaluation at GreatSchools where she worked to design and implement evaluation projects, with a particular focus on rapid-cycle research approaches. Before GreatSchools, Elisabeth was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence where she contributed to the development and evaluation of school-based social and emotional learning programming for children, teachers, and families. Elisabeth has a doctorate in psychology and experience providing school psychological services to preschool through high school-age students in both English and Spanish. Elisabeth recently co-authored 45 Strategies that Support Young Dual Language Learners, a resource that provides practical, developmentally appropriate strategies for supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds and creating inclusive early childhood classrooms that foster the success of young DLLs. Elisabeth is enjoying the many adventures of parenthood with her husband and sons. Rayna Flye, PhD, is Senior Specialist in Market and User Insights at Illustrative Mathematics, where she leads research with families, teachers, and district leaders to understand how high-quality math curriculum is experienced in classrooms and at home. A social scientist by training, Rayna specializes in research design, survey development, focus group facilitation, and qualitative and quantitative analysis, and her work on family focus groups informs how curriculum providers and schools communicate instructional change to the families they serve. About the host David Cicero is the host of Education Talk Radio on the Be Podcast Network. Listen to Education Talk Radio at https://edutalk.bepodcast.network Learn about more shows at https://bepodcastnetwork.com

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Implementation Series, Part 2: Why Good Ideas Fail Quietly in Schools with Vidya Sundaram and Elisabeth O'Bryon

Today we're sharing part two of the implementation series from Family Engagement Lab. Co-founders Vidya Sundaram and Elisabeth O'Bryan join us to discuss: When schools launch family engagement initiatives, what typically happens over time? What does it mean to "fail quietly?" What it typically looks like when a strong idea starts to lose momentum in a school system The most common (and least visible) reasons these efforts break down What do we miss when we treat this as a teacher or family problem instead of a systems problem? Listen to Implementation Series, Part 1: The Missing Instructional Layer Learn more about Family Engagement Lab: https://www.familyengagementlab.org About the guests Vidya Sundaram is co-founder and CEO of Family Engagement Lab. Over her nearly 20-year career in family engagement, Vidya has managed development, research, and strategy for digital resources used by more than half of US families with school-aged children. Before founding Family Engagement Lab, Vidya led research and insights at GreatSchools, championing a test and learn culture across the organization. Vidya also has an extensive background in software engineering and technology project management to engage diverse partners, and implement and study digital programs. She holds a degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, a Masters in Public Policy from UCLA and her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Vidya is mom to two kids and proud to be part of a lively multigenerational household.​ Elisabeth O'Bryon is co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of Family Engagement Lab. Elisabeth was previously the Director of Research and Evaluation at GreatSchools where she worked to design and implement evaluation projects, with a particular focus on rapid-cycle research approaches. Before GreatSchools, Elisabeth was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence where she contributed to the development and evaluation of school-based social and emotional learning programming for children, teachers, and families. Elisabeth has a doctorate in psychology and experience providing school psychological services to preschool through high school-age students in both English and Spanish. Elisabeth recently co-authored 45 Strategies that Support Young Dual Language Learners, a resource that provides practical, developmentally appropriate strategies for supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds and creating inclusive early childhood classrooms that foster the success of young DLLs. Elisabeth is enjoying the many adventures of parenthood with her husband and sons. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and host of The Authority Podcast. Listen to The Authority at https://authoritypodcast.net Learn about more shows at https://bepodcastnetwork.com

Implementation Series, Part 1: The Missing Instructional Layer with Vidya Sundaram and Elisabeth O'Bryon

Today we're excited to bring you part one of a series from Family Engagement Lab. Co-founders Vidya Sundaram and Elisabeth O'Bryan join us to discuss: How the common idea of “family engagement” differs from what families actually need The “missing instructional layer” in school-home communication The difference between communication that informs families and communication that actually supports learning How this shift changes the role of teachers, school leaders, and the system If schools got this right, what would families experience differently day to day? Learn more about Family Engagement Lab: https://www.familyengagementlab.org About the guests Vidya Sundaram is co-founder and CEO of Family Engagement Lab. Over her nearly 20-year career in family engagement, Vidya has managed development, research, and strategy for digital resources used by more than half of US families with school-aged children. Before founding Family Engagement Lab, Vidya led research and insights at GreatSchools, championing a test and learn culture across the organization. Vidya also has an extensive background in software engineering and technology project management to engage diverse partners, and implement and study digital programs. She holds a degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, a Masters in Public Policy from UCLA and her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Vidya is mom to two kids and proud to be part of a lively multigenerational household.​ Elisabeth O'Bryon is co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of Family Engagement Lab. Elisabeth was previously the Director of Research and Evaluation at GreatSchools where she worked to design and implement evaluation projects, with a particular focus on rapid-cycle research approaches. Before GreatSchools, Elisabeth was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence where she contributed to the development and evaluation of school-based social and emotional learning programming for children, teachers, and families. Elisabeth has a doctorate in psychology and experience providing school psychological services to preschool through high school-age students in both English and Spanish. Elisabeth recently co-authored 45 Strategies that Support Young Dual Language Learners, a resource that provides practical, developmentally appropriate strategies for supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds and creating inclusive early childhood classrooms that foster the success of young DLLs. Elisabeth is enjoying the many adventures of parenthood with her husband and sons. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and host of The Authority Podcast. Listen to The Authority at https://authoritypodcast.net Learn about more shows at https://bepodcastnetwork.com

Trading the Classroom for a Startup with Mike Cronley

In this episode of the EdTech Startup Podcast, host Jeff Bradbury interviews Mike Cronley, co-founder and CEO of Class Composer and former third-grade teacher. Mike shares his journey from the classroom to entrepreneurship, sparked by a casual conversation with his school's music teacher about students being incorrectly placed together. This "aha moment" led him to develop Class Composer, a software solution that helps elementary schools create balanced, equitable classroom rosters. Over seven years, Mike transitioned from teaching while developing his idea as a side project to fully committing to his startup. The conversation explores the challenges of the traditional paper-based class placement process, the importance of listening to customers, and advice for educators considering entrepreneurship.

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Family Engagement Lab with Vidya Sundaram & Elisabeth O'Bryon

In this EdTech Startup Showcase episode, host Jethro Jones interviews Vidya Sundaram (CEO) and Elisabeth O'Bryon (Chief Impact Officer) from Family Engagement Lab. The conversation explores how their platform bridges the gap between classroom learning and home support through bite-sized, actionable text messages that help families understand what their children are learning and how to reinforce those skills at home. The founders share their personal motivations—Elizabeth's experience as a bilingual school psychologist working with diverse families, and Vidya's childhood experience of disconnect between her immigrant family's educational values and school communication. They discuss their FAST Talk model (Families and Schools Talk), which has supported over 70,000 students across 50+ districts, and their new AI learning coach that provides personalized support for parents' questions. Key Takeaways Family engagement works best when it's accessible and actionable Short text messages (160 characters) with specific, grade-level appropriate activities are more effective than lengthy emails The impact is greatest for underserved students Research shows the most pronounced learning gains for students whose families don't share a common language with teachers and those who started the year behind academically Parents want to help but need the right information Families have passion and interest in supporting learning but often lack insight into what's happening in the classroom and how to help at the right developmental level Sustainable implementation requires cross-functional coordination Success comes from communications experts working alongside curriculum teams to create a shared responsibility for family engagement AI can personalize family support Their new AI learning coach allows parents to ask specific questions about their child's needs and build their own confidence in supporting learning at home

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Jamie Rosenberg, Founder & Executive Chairman of ClassWallet

Jamie Rosenberg is a two-time founder of technology platforms, including education philanthropy platform AdoptAClassroom.org, and the subject of today’s conversation, ClassWallet. We discuss: Jamie's entrepreneurial background and how he got into education The problem ClassWallet is aiming to solve How many states, districts, and schools ClassWallet is working with If Jamie was starting the company again today, what would he do differently? With the growth of ESAs and personalized funding, what do the next 5 years look like? Learn more at https://classwallet.com About the guest Jamie Rosenberg is a visionary entrepreneur and a two-time founder of technology platforms that have transformed how public funds reach communities in need to drive large-scale, systemic change. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of ClassWallet, a transformative digital wallet financial technology company reimagining how public funds are distributed to citizens, and spent. Prior to ClassWallet, he founded AdoptAClassroom.org, one of the country’s leading education philanthropy platforms, ensuring classroom teachers get the support they need. With a lifelong passion for social impact, Rosenberg has dedicated his career to reducing poverty and inequality by leveraging technology to improve educational opportunities, enhance government efficiency, and foster trust and transparency between citizens and public institutions. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and host of The Authority Podcast. Listen at https://authoritypodcast.net

Inside Greenville County's System for Improving Instruction Through Classroom Observation Data

Ben Gustafson, founder of Classroom Mosaic, returns to the show along with Jeff McCoy, associate superintendent for Greenville County Schools in South Carolina. Jeff and Ben discuss: How Greenville "electronicized" observation with Classroom Mosaic Greenville's objective to get more insight into classrooms and transform instruction Helping principals become better instructional leaders and the impact on student achievement Excellent support for new administrators and new coaches How to use proven frameworks and modify them for local needs Hear more about Classroom Mosaic: We help K-12 leaders support, develop, and retain their teachers. For over a decade, we've worked with educators worldwide from districts large (100k students) and small (150 students) to transform instructional practice, guide professional development, and impact student learning. We believe every student deserves a great education. And a great education starts with great teachers supported by great leaders. Learn more: classroommosaic.com twitter.com/ClassroomMosaic linkedin.com/company/classroommosaic/ twitter.com/Ben__Gustafson linkedin.com/in/bengus28/ About today's host: Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies. He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here: https://fabulouslearningnerds.transistor.fm

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Relevancy and Authenticity with Kali Frederick of High Tech High Graduate School of Education

It's a delight to be joined by Kali Frederick, Professional Learning Designer with the High Tech High Graduate School of Education who has 20 years of teaching and designing learning experiences in PBL classrooms at High Tech High and NYC. In this insightful episode, she and Scott discuss: How Inkwire supports collaborative curriculum design at High Tech High How Kali learned the necessity of relevance in lesson design The design principles that enable High Tech High students to have a transformative experience Using Inkwire to support project-based learning Building a space for innovative educators About today's host: Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies. He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here: https://fabulouslearningnerds.transistor.fm

Class Composer CEO Mike Cronley on Addressing Inequitable Elementary Class Assignments

Today we're thrilled to introduce Class Composer, the newest startup to join the show. We speak with CEO and co-founder Mike Cronley. Class Composer is a software solution designed to create balanced and equitable classroom assignments. Mike shares his journey from being a third-grade teacher to developing a tool that addresses the challenges of inequitable class assignments. The conversation explores the inception of Class Composer, its functionality, customer feedback, and the future of the product as it aims to expand its impact in education. About today's guest: While some big ideas are born in the boardroom, others are born in the lunchroom. In his 12 years teaching third grade near Denver, Colorado, Mike shared the frustrations of many colleagues enduring inequitable classes – for example, classes having an imbalance of low readers or students with challenging behavior. These imbalances weren’t surprising, given the student placement process was done with pink and blue paper cards. Over lunch one day in 2007, the school’s music teacher was venting to Mike about some unruly students who mistakenly ended up in her class together, even though they were supposed to have been separated based on their disruptive behavior the year before. Wouldn’t it be great, they mused, if there were some software to create class lists and avoid these basic errors? As a self-professed technology geek, Mike started dreaming about the possibility of creating his own solution. That dream grew into an obsession, and he found himself spending evenings and weekends consumed by research – driving his wife crazy. The result was Class Composer, software built on Mike’s tech savvy, his teacher’s perspective, and his commitment to creating positive learning environments. Mike, who received his B.S. in Psychology from the Ohio State University and an elementary teaching certificate from the University of Colorado Denver, is no longer in the classroom, but is an educator at heart who loves making a positive impact on the lives of teachers and students. He lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and two poodles, and he loves to ski, bike, and camp with his family, including his college-age son and daughter. About today's host: Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies. He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here: https://fabulouslearningnerds.transistor.fm

Ethics and AI with Priten Shah

Priten Shah, the founder and CEO of Pedagogy.Cloud and Pedagog.ai, returns as guest. He gets us caught up on the company's latest work, sets the context for ethics and AI, and discusses some of the key questions educators need to be asking about AI. Hear about: Embracing tech for a meaningful purpose Finding new uses for AI and being realistic about some of the persistent challenges Priten's updated outlook for what we can expect from educators, students and AI Broadening our concept of future success to include more than careers Overcoming tech resistance About Pedagog.ai: Pedagog.ai is focused on supporting educators in adapting to the age of artificial intelligence in education. The company offers a variety of professional development options, including books, online courses, webinars, and in-person workshops, to help teachers learn about the latest advancements in AI and education. Their suite of tools is designed with educators in mind, aiming to enhance curriculum development and workflow efficiency through AI technology. They also provide tools tailored for student use, enabling them to engage in assignments that leverage AI capabilities in a classroom setting. Learn more: http://pedagog.ai/ https://twitter.com/pedagogycloud https://www.instagram.com/pedagogycloud/ https://facebook.com/pedagogycloud About today's guest: Priten Shah, M. ED and B.A, Harvard, is the CEO of Pedagogy.Cloud, which provides innovative technology solutions to help educators navigate global challenges in a rapidly evolving world. He is also the author of the Wiley’s Jossey-Bass publication, “AI & The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.“ Pedagogy.Cloud has worked with over 200 different educational organizations to adapt and innovate during major world events including the Covid-19 Pandemic. He and his team are currently focused on helping educational organizations adapt to the ever growing capabilities of AI. Priten is also the founder of United 4 Social Change, a civics education nonprofit that focuses on helping teachers integrate interdisciplinary education into their curricula through animated videos, lesson plans, and innovative classroom activities. Connect with Priten: http://linkedin.com/in/pritenhshah https://twitter.com/pritenhshah About today's host: Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies. He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here: https://fabulouslearningnerds.transistor.fm

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Christel Reaves on Knowing Your Strengths and Being a Resilient EdTech Entrepreneur

We're excited to have Christel Reaves, founder and CEO of Connected Class, back on the show. Today she shares some of the big developments with Connected Class over the past six months and a lot more: Hear about: Earned insights on scaling a startup Knowing your strengths as a founder and building the right team around yourself Providing resources that give parents options to support their child's education Literacy, math and social-emotional development The resilient mindset required of an edtech entrepreneur in changing times About Connected Class We build communication between the classroom and home environment through exciting games, strategies, and activities to help students succeed academically. Learn more: www.connectedclass.com https://twitter.com/connectedclass_ https://www.instagram.com/connected_class https://www.linkedin.com/company/connected-class About today’s guest Christel Reaves, founder and CEO of Connected Class, is an enthusiastic educator dedicated to improving learning and equipping educators to succeed. Her passion for ensuring family engagement throughout the learning process is evident and at the core of every product and service provided by Connected Class. She oversees a team of Instructional Specialists to support schools, focusing on helping educators analyze data, develop action plans, implement instructional strategies, and enhance family engagement for improved student achievement. Before Christel was the founder of Connected Class, she was a classroom teacher, county resource educator and district administrator. She worked closely with the state to remove low performing Title I schools from Intervene status. Over the past 25 years, she has helped many schools improve their student performance and engage families. About today’s host Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies. He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here: https://fabulouslearningnerds.transistor.fm

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Data is the Differentiator — AI to Support 504s and IEPs with Marlee Strawn

In this episode, we welcome back Scholar Education co-founder Marlee Strawn for a deep conversation about developing "good AI" that solves pressing challenges for educators. Marlee and Scott discuss: Going from teacher to administrator to founder Starting Scholar Education and building BaxterBot Generating meaningful data insights Putting real education expertise and context behind the data An AI tool with a purpose - supporting students with 504s and IEPs Providing actionable steps for parents to support their child What Marlee has learned in the first 18 months of entrepreneurship About Scholar Education Scholar Education is an AI-powered classroom enhancement platform that offers a suite of AI tools designed to deliver a personalized learning environment, with a specific focus on implementing and tracking accommodations for ESE, 504, and ELL students. Learn more at https://www.joinscholar.com About today’s guest Marlee Strawn's career started as a high school teacher and reached a significant milestone when she became the founding principal of the top-performing charter high school in the seventh largest district in the nation. Following her successful tenure as principal, Marlee transitioned to a new role in the education technology sector. As the Co-Founder and Head of Education at Scholar Education, Marlee leads the development of an AI-powered classroom enhancement platform designed to eliminate administrative burdens for teachers. She was also recently selected as a 2024 EDSAFE AI Alliance Women in AI Fellow. About today’s host Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies. He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here: https://fabulouslearningnerds.transistor.fm

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Using career exploration to give kids hope for the future with Dr. Shannon Putman

In this episode, Barb Flowers speaks with Dr. Shannon Putman. Shannon is owner of Putman XR Consulting, focusing on immersive technology education, training, and support. She was a special education teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools (KY) for 15 years. Hear their conversation about: Using VR for virtual field trips and job shadowing Understanding how virtual reality gives students the real experience of different jobs that are otherwise hard to access (such as working on wind turbines) Connecting with professional mentors through immersive technology Giving students of various backgrounds exposure to a range of careers Giving kids hope about their options for the future Advice for teachers to get familiar with new technology About today’s host Barb Flowers is a certified Life Coach and former Elementary Principal with a PhD in K-12 leadership from Kent State University. She is host of the following podcasts: The Principal’s Handbook — Lessons on communication, time management, overcoming overwhelm, and more, designed to help school leaders become more confident and well-rounded. The Teacher Burnout Podcast — This show explores the complex issue of teacher burnout and shares practical solutions to support your well-being and reignite your passion for education. About Be More Colorful Be More Colorful, based in Fargo, North Dakota specializes in immersive technology solutions for solving workforce development problems. Co-founded by husband-and-wife team Matt and Katie Chaussee, the company has been at the forefront of creating immersive media solutions that help people make better decisions about where they choose to live, learn, work and play. Learn more: https://www.bemorecolorful.com https://www.facebook.com/careerviewxr https://www.facebook.com/bemorecolorful https://www.linkedin.com/company/careerviewxr https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-more-colorful https://www.instagram.com/bemorecolorful https://twitter.com/bemorecolorful https://www.tiktok.com/@bemorecolorful

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Creating authentic learning experiences with Dr. Adrienne Usher

Adrienne Usher, Assistant Superintendent of Bullitt County Public Schools in Kentucky, is today’s guest. She discusses her work to bring engaging project-based learning to her district and more: Profile of a graduate and building key competencies into academics Creating authentic learning experiences focused on productive collaboration and innovative problem solving Change management through simple shifts Collaborative learning and documenting the learning journey with Inkwire How to establish a vision for learning and choose technology that supports it appropriately About today’s host Barb Flowers is a certified Life Coach and former Elementary Principal with a PhD in K-12 leadership from Kent State University. She is host of the following podcasts: The Principal’s Handbook — Lessons on communication, time management, overcoming overwhelm, and more, designed to help school leaders become more confident and well-rounded. The Teacher Burnout Podcast — This show explores the complex issue of teacher burnout and shares practical solutions to support your well-being and reignite your passion for education. About today’s guest Dr. Adrienne Usher currently serves the students, staff and community as Assistant Superintendent in Bullitt County Public Schools in Kentucky. In her role, she provides direct consultation to the Superintendent and is responsible for overseeing, promoting and implementing curriculum, instruction and assessment programming, PreK-12, alongside district and school leaders while aligning federal, state and local resources to support the instructional vision and mission for the district. Adrienne has experience in both Kentucky and Tennessee, and has served as a teacher, school counselor, instructional coach, principal, and district level administrator prior to her present role. About Inkwire In a world in which generative AI has called into question the value of traditional curriculum and assessments, Inkwire is a platform that engages students in real projects and helps them demonstrate their original thinking & skills through portfolios. Learn more: https://inkwire.co

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Unlocking the science of reading with Edsoma CEO Kyle Wallgren

Welcome to this special episode of the EdTech Startup Showcase, part of our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF). Our guest today is Kyle Wallgren, a startup coach, investor, and CEO of Edsoma, whose AI-powered app unlocks the science of reading. Hear about: Kyle’s entrepreneurial background and motivation to make an impact in education How Edsoma works and the challenges it addresses for students, parents, and educators What makes Edsoma unique and the latest exciting developments, including investment from Shaquille O’Neal Insights for other founders in the edtech space About today’s host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the BE Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano Listen to his other shows: The Authority — deep-dive interviews with the leading minds in leadership, management, education, and personal development. Sideline Sessions — conversations with successful coaches and performance experts from professional, collegiate, and youth sports.

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Educate AI with Joel Backon — Simulcast with The Authority Podcast

Joel Backon is the editor-in-chief of Educate AI Magazine, a new platform dedicated to supporting those who seek to enhance learning through artificial intelligence. The Be Podcast Network is collaborating with Educate AI to share podcasts and other content advancing educators’ understanding of AI tools and trends. In this bonus episode, you'll hear about: How Joel got involved with Educate AI and the publication’s “why” Topics covered in the magazine: use cases, opportunities and risks, AI’s evolution How educators are discussing their experience with AI The value Educate AI seeks to provide Opportunities to get involved About today’s guest Joel Backon is the editor-in-chief of Educate AI Magazine. Before joining Educate AI, Joel launched and was the founding editor of Intrepid Ed News, an online education publication that grew to almost 100,000 readers. For most of his career, he was an independent school teacher and administrator, teaching history and government while leading the school’s instructional technology effort, running a dormitory, coaching basketball, and chairing several committees. Immediately following college, Joel spent 15 years in the printing and publishing industries. About today’s host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the BE Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano Listen to his other shows: The Authority — deep-dive interviews with the leading minds in leadership, management, education, and personal development. Sideline Sessions — conversations with successful coaches and performance experts from professional, collegiate, and youth sports.

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Supporting the modern skill-based economy with Richard Kincaid and Matt Chaussee

Today, we’re discussing the skill-based economy, modern career and technical education, and redefining college and career pathways with CareerViewXR’s Matt Chaussee and Richard Kincaid from the Maryland State Department of Education. Hear about: Career is the goal. College is one of several ways to get there.” Redefining College and Career Pathways How career exploration can help define goals and begin with the end in mind Maryland’s apprenticeship efforts Improving the quality of the discourse around “college vs. non-college” Compelling reasons/data to evolve CTE programs Supporting educators and improving partnerships Predictions for the next decade About today’s guests Matt Chaussee is co-founder and CEO of award-winning immersive media and virtual reality production studio Be More Colorful, which is revolutionizing career exploration for students with the groundbreaking product, CareerViewXR. Richard Kincaid is the Senior Executive Director for the Office of College and Career Pathways at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). In December 2023, he was a finalist for ACTE’s National Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year. Richard serves on the national Board of Directors for SkillsUSA and is actively involved as an appointed Commissioner on the Apprenticeship 2030 Commission and on the Maryland Technology Development Corporation’s Equitech Growth Fund and Commission. Prior to joining MSDE, Richard was the State Director of Career and Technical Education at the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education and co-led a $65 million initiative to close equity and opportunity gaps through the development of DC’s first Advanced Technical Center, drawing national attention from the US Department of Education, the National Office of Cybersecurity, and the White House. About today’s host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn. Listen to his other shows: The Authority — deep-dive interviews with the leading minds in leadership, management, education, and personal development. Sideline Sessions — conversations with successful coaches and performance experts from professional, collegiate, and youth sports.

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Integrating technology to give students and teachers choice with Bonny Lorenzo

Bonny Lorenzo, an instructional specialist with Connected Class, is today’s guest. Bonny has more than 35 years of teaching and leadership experience at the elementary and high school levels. Integrating classroom technology that doesn’t distract from the learning experience Tailoring instruction to individual student needs Using technology to give teachers choice Helping educators balance in-person and virtual learning Educators’ most common professional development needs About today’s host Barb Flowers is a certified Life Coach and an Elementary Principal with a PhD in K-12 leadership from Kent State University. She is host of the following podcasts: The Principal’s Handbook — Lessons on communication, time management, overcoming overwhelm, and more, designed to help school leaders become more confident and well-rounded. The Teacher Burnout Podcast — This show explores the complex issue of teacher burnout and shares practical solutions to support your well-being and reignite your passion for education. About Connected Class We build communication between the classroom and home environment through exciting games, strategies, and activities to help students succeed academically. Learn more: www.connectedclass.com https://twitter.com/connectedclass_ https://www.instagram.com/connected_class https://www.linkedin.com/company/connected-class

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Leveraging AI for Curriculum and Instruction with Nina Bamberg

In this episode, you’ll hear insights on valuable applications of AI for teachers. Find out how to use AI tools to create better assignments, enhance students’ critical thinking skills, save time on various tasks, differentiate instruction, and more. About today’s guest Nina Bamberg is Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Pedagogy.Cloud and Director of Programs at United 4 Social Change. About today’s host Barb Flowers is a certified Life Coach and an Elementary Principal with a PhD in K-12 leadership from Kent State University. She is host of the following podcasts: The Principal’s Handbook — Lessons on communication, time management, overcoming overwhelm, and more, designed to help school leaders become more confident and well-rounded. The Teacher Burnout Podcast — This show explores the complex issue of teacher burnout and shares practical solutions to support your well-being and reignite your passion for education. About Pedagog.ai: Pedagog.ai is focused on supporting educators in adapting to the age of artificial intelligence in education. The company offers a variety of professional development options, including books, online courses, webinars, and in-person workshops, to help teachers learn about the latest advancements in AI and education. Their suite of tools is designed with educators in mind, aiming to enhance curriculum development and workflow efficiency through AI technology. They also provide tools tailored for student use, enabling them to engage in assignments that leverage AI capabilities in a classroom setting. Learn more: http://pedagog.ai

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Scholar Education co-founder Marlee Strawn on implementing and tracking accommodations with AI

Today we’re excited to welcome a new company to the Showcase, Scholar Education, in this conversation with Marlee Strawn, the company’s co-founder and Head of Education. Hear about: Vision and goals of Scholar Education Who Scholar Education’s solutions are designed to support in schools The challenges the company is solving Marlee’s career in education What educators are sharing about their experience with the tool How Marlee got involved with AI About Scholar Education Scholar Education is an AI-powered classroom enhancement platform that offers a suite of AI tools designed to deliver a personalized learning environment, with a specific focus on implementing and tracking accommodations for ESE, 504, and ELL students. Learn more at https://www.joinscholar.com or join the teacher waitlist: bit.ly/ScholarWaitlist About today’s guest Marlee Strawn's career started as a high school teacher and reached a significant milestone when she became the founding principal of the top-performing charter high school in the seventh largest district in the nation. Following her successful tenure as principal, Marlee transitioned to a new role in the education technology sector. As the Co-Founder and Head of Education at Scholar Education, Marlee leads the development of an AI-powered classroom enhancement platform designed to eliminate administrative burdens for teachers. She was also recently selected as a 2024 EDSAFE AI Alliance Women in AI Fellow. About today’s host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn. Listen to his other shows: The Authority — deep-dive interviews with the leading minds in leadership, management, education, and personal development. Sideline Sessions — conversations with successful coaches and performance experts from professional, collegiate, and youth sports.