LinkedUp: Breaking Boundaries in Education

What does it take to turn a big idea into meaningful action? Meet the “Kipinator” aka Dr. Kip Glazer, principal of Mountain View High School, a California Distinguished School, and author of Ready to Lead with AI. Kip joins Jerri and Jamie to talk about building a strong school culture, helping educators navigate AI, and leading change with purpose. From the everyday realities of school leadership...

What does meaningful technology integration look like when big ideas meet the everyday realities of school? Jerri and Jamie sit down with Samantha Armstrong, an instructional coach and hands-on technology integrator who brings a practical perspective to AI and classroom innovation. Samantha keeps the conversation focused on what teachers and students actually need. Together, we explore how instruc...

AI in education is changing faster than most schools can keep up. So what actually deserves educators’ attention right now? This week, we're welcoming Dan Fitzpatrick, The AI Educator, for a practical look at where AI is headed and what it means for teaching, learning, and leadership. Fresh from hosting the Back to School AI Summit, editing the latest edition of "The Educators’ AI Guide,&...

When everything feels urgent, how do you decide what truly deserves your time? This week, Jerri and Jamie sit down with Sean Precious to explore how principals can bring more intention to demanding days and make room for the work that matters most: supporting teachers, connecting with students, and leading learning. Sean shares a practical five-step method for understanding where time goes, creati...

Three years after his first LinkedUp appearance, what has actually changed about AI in education? Dr. Wednaud Ronelus, Chief Metaverse Scientist at Alchemist Club Studios and AI Ambassador for the AFT/UFT, rejoins Jerri and Jamie to explore the “cognitive offload crisis,” why keeping students away from AI can do more harm than good, and how educators can redesign curriculum so AI becomes a scaffol...

What happens when we stop asking AI to do things faster and start using it to design learning better? Jerri and Jamie talk with Phillip Alcock, co-founder of PBL Future Labs, about moving beyond one-off prompts and building intentional AI workflows for project-based learning. Together, we explore how AI can help educators strengthen ideas, create meaningful milestones and micro-targets, and design...

What happens when we stop gripping so tightly to control, perfection, old expectations, and the belief that leaders should have every answer? Jerri and Jamie sit down with educator, leader, and author Glenn Robbins to explore the central idea behind his new book, Unclench Your Fist . Drawing on stories from history and his own leadership journey, Glenn shares practical lessons about trust, intenti...

What if your story could reach far beyond your classroom? In this episode of LinkedUp, Jerri and Jamie sit down with education editor Jacquie Gardy to explore what it takes to turn an educator’s experiences, ideas, and passion into a book that can influence and inspire others. Jacquie takes us behind the scenes of editing and publishing, sharing how editors help authors find their voice, shape the...

What if group work keeps failing because we’ve been doing it wrong? In this episode, Jerri Kemble turns the mic on co-host Jamie Saponaro to talk about her new book, Transforming Classrooms: Building a Culture of Collaboration . Drawing on three decades of coaching teachers, Jamie shares why traditional group work falls short and what it takes to build collaboration that actually works. Listen in...

What's keeping you from making your next move? This week, Jerri and Jamie sit down with award-winning educator, inspirational speaker, and author Marlon Styles, Jr. to discuss his new book, Make Your Move , and the mindset shifts that turn intention into action. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Marlon shares practical strategies for building courage, gaining clarity, and making pur...

What changes when you truly understand your purpose? Jerri and Jamie welcome longtime educator, author, speaker, and thought leader Barbara Bray to discuss the launch of her new Grow Your WHY coaching platform and the power of leading with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience, Barbara shares how discovering your WHY can shape the way you lead, communicate, and navigate change. Whether you&#39...

Strong leadership starts with strong communication, but it's a skill that's often overlooked. This week, Jerri and Jamie join Dr. Chantel Manahan to discuss her new book, Communication Essential, Capes Optional, and why intentional communication is one of the most valuable tools district leaders have. From strengthening communication with staff to building trust with families and the commu...

What happens when trust in information starts to break down but the pace of change in education keeps accelerating? This week, Jerri and Jamie sit down with internationally respected education leader and thought partner Al Kingsley for a candid conversation on the challenges and opportunities shaping education worldwide. From AI and literacy to leadership and governance, Al shares practical insigh...

This week, Jerri and Jamie sit down with internationally recognized sketchnote artist and creativity champion Manuel Herrera to explore creativity, visual thinking, and the power of simply getting started. Known for his dynamic visual storytelling and innovative use of technology, Manuel shares how creativity isn’t reserved for artists: it’s something anyone can develop with curiosity and confiden...

Did you know only a small percentage of podcasts ever make it to 200 episodes? Welcome to Episode 200 of the LinkedUp Podcast: a milestone that means so much to us! Many podcasts end after just a handful of episodes, making this moment a true testament to the power of meaningful conversations, innovative ideas, and a community committed to breaking boundaries in education. To celebrate, Jerri and...

AI in the classroom isn’t the headline anymore. What students do with it is. In this episode of LinkedUp, Holly Clark joins Jerri and Jamie to shift the focus from teacher use to student impact. A globally recognized speaker and co-author of The AI Infused Classroom , Holly shares how schools are using AI to fuel thinking, not shortcuts. They dig into AI as a true thought partner, the impact of re...

How do you teach balance in a world that never logs off? Jamie and Jerri sit down with Carl Hooker, author of Zengaged and AI Evolution, to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing students today: navigating screens, social media, and everything in between. Carl keeps it real with us; this isn’t about restrictions, it’s about intention. From modeling healthy habits to building digital awareness...

What if every student is already a leader just waiting to be activated? This week, authors (and hosts of The Play Ed3 Podcast) Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth are flipping the script on leadership with their new book, Today's Learners, Tomorrow's Leaders . Together, we dig into Tisha and Rick's tools and practical strategies to bring leadership and entrepreneurship into everyday lear...

This week, we sit down with Amiya—a student who isn't just learning about leadership... she's living it. Alongside educator Alana Winnick, Amiya is part of a dynamic, student-led team redefining what leadership looks like in the age of AI. From delivering a keynote at FETC to launching an international, student-driven conference, they are creating space for real conversations around the et...

This week, Eric Curts sits down with Jamie and Jerri to share a story that proves just how powerful one educator can be. The kind of impact that does not just shape a classroom, but an entire life. If you know Eric, you know he is all about making tech make sense. From Google tools to what is next, he has helped thousands of educators cut through the noise and focus on what actually works. Togethe...

What does edtech look like beyond your borders? This week, we're going global. Jennifer Surujpaul joins LinkedUp to share an international perspective on educational technology — what's working, what's evolving, and what's keeping leaders up at night. From the exciting possibilities of AI and innovation to the very real concerns around privacy, equity, and implementation, Jennifer...

The rapid spread of GenAI has schools at an unprecedented inflection point. While districts may not have all the answers yet, the need to act is clear. Preparing students for a future shaped by AI requires more than reactive guardrails. It calls for thoughtful planning, clear policy, and classroom practices that put student need—not technology—first. That’s why this week we’re sitting down with Am...

School leadership isn’t getting simpler. It’s getting louder, faster, and far more complex: surprise challenges, constant interruptions, a to-do list that multiplies by the hour. This week on LinkedUp, we’re joined by educator, speaker, and author Rich Czyz to talk about his new book, Autopilot , and what it really takes to lead without burning out. Rich makes the case for “going on autopilot,” no...

Robert Martellacci is known for a simple mantra: "Keep the learning curve steep." In this episode, he sits down with Jamie and Jerri to break down how curiosity, humility, and a commitment to continuous learning have shaped his work across countries, cultures, and classrooms. From building global edtech communities to connecting educators and innovators worldwide, Robert reminds us that...

Edtech isn't about more technology: it's about better purpose. This week we're joined by Stacy Hawthorne (Board Chair, CoSN) to talk about what purpose-driven digital learning really looks like in today's schools. From unpacking CoSN's Screentime Toolkit and exploring the focus of her book-in-progress " Purposeful Technology, Powerful Learning ," Stacy shares her insi...