Art Works for Teachers

Send a text Fredricka Reisman has spent decades championing creativity in education... and she learned from the best. In this conversation with Susan, she shares her personal mentorship with Dr. E. Paul Torrance, the origins of the RDCA assessment tool, and why awareness - not talent - is the key to creative growth.

Send a text When students struggle to show what they know, it’s often not a lack of learning, it’s a barrier in how we teach or assess. In this episode, Susan sits down with Dr. Rhoda Bernard to explore how accessible arts education helps students build identity, confidence, and belonging. You’ll hear real stories and walk away with simple, practical shifts that make arts learning more inclusive -...

Send a text Everyone says creativity matters... but can you actually prove it moves the needle? In this episode, creative leadership expert Michael Ackerbauer is with us to unpack the measurable impact of creativity in schools, teams, and classrooms. If you've ever struggled to justify creative work to data-driven stakeholders, this conversation will give you the language (and the confidence)...

Send a text “Why don’t people like me?” It’s a question no child should have to ask, and one that stuck with our guest Kirsti Lewis for years. In this conversation, she and Susan talk about how the arts can open doors to empathy, inclusion, and real connection... and why this work matters more than ever in our schools.

Send a text Students shine when learning feels connected... and the results are remarkable. In this episode of Art Works for Teachers, Sally Baker takes us into Georgia classrooms where students tackle real-world challenges in creative ways. From protecting local wildlife to turning data into stories that actually matter, she shows how mixing science, math, tech, and the arts gets kids thinking, e...

Send a text In today’s digital world, even a friend’s post might not be what it seems. As AI-generated content floods our feeds, Susan explores the growing skepticism shaping how we view truth, connection, and credibility online. This honest conversation dives into what happens when we can’t tell real from artificial, and how that uncertainty reshapes our ability to trust. It’s a timely reflection...

Send a text Think the future is something we have to invent? Think again. Astrobiofuturist Billy Almon shows us how nature’s own designs hold the keys to dreaming big, adapting fast, and thriving through change. This one will leave you rethinking what’s possible... for your classroom and your world.

Send a text Sometimes the smallest shifts make the biggest difference. Stand Tall Steve Bollar shares how simple, consistent actions can transform school culture... and why leaders - and teachers - can’t afford to ignore them.

Send a text Teaching and leading can be messy... but also full of joy. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Tracey Severns about how humor, vulnerability, and storytelling can strengthen relationships, boost creativity, and make school culture more positive, with practical ideas you can try right away.

Send a text Great ideas don’t come from the loudest voice in the room. In this episode, creativity expert Birna Birgisdóttir shares how teachers can design brainstorming that lifts every student’s voice and sparks deeper creativity.

Send a text Creativity takes shape when we take action, navigate doubt, and practice trusting our ideas. In this episode, Dr. Zorana Pringle explores how emotions, persistence, and practical strategies shape the creative process, offering educators actionable ways to foster creativity in themselves and their students.

Send a text Our students’ future depends on more than test scores. Stanford's Jo Boaler is with us to reveal why struggle is the secret ingredient for deeper learning... and why now is the time to change how we teach.

Send a text What if the reason your lessons (or your students’ projects) fall flat isn’t the solution, but the problem itself? We're explore why defining the right problem is the secret to creative breakthroughs and how something as simple as drawing can rewire the way we think with guest Anne Brisson.

Send a text Teacher communication shapes how lessons land, how parents engage, and how colleagues collaborate. This week, Susan and Paul unpack proven techniques from advertising that help educators cut through jargon, build empathy, and make every message stick.

Send a text Big changes in education often fail because they come in like a revolution... loud, disruptive, and exhausting. Cyndi Burnett invites us to think differently: what if the secret to lasting creativity in schools is small, evolutionary shifts that actually stick?

Send a text If you’re ready to finally see creativity as a teachable, practical skill (and discover the simple shift that could change the way your students think, solve problems, and innovate), you can’t afford to miss this conversation.

Send a text The future is full of unknowns, so how do we prepare students for challenges we can’t yet see? April Michele, Executive Director of Future Problem Solving, is with us to share how a six-step model is equipping students with creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills they’ll need to thrive in an uncertain world and why creativity is the most essential future-ready skill.

Send a text In a world that values "human doings" over "human beings," this episode challenges the traditional focus on achievement in education. Susan introduces the Be, Do, Have model, a powerful framework for educators to shift their mindset and truly become the leaders they want to be.

Send a text There’s a growing sense among educators that something fundamental isn’t working... but most of us don’t have the time, space, or support to name what’s really going on. In this powerful conversation, we explore how community, clarity, and a willingness to “compost” outdated systems might just help us build something more honest, more human - and more hopeful.

Send a text What does it really take to lead creative work under pressure and how do we help students do the same? In this episode, we unpack the rhythms and risks of creativity, the emotional labor behind teaching, and how to foster true bravery (not just boldness) in ourselves and our students with "accidental author" Todd Henry. You'll walk away with a powerful reframing of failu...

Send a text Is it possible to honor both creativity and accountability in today’s test-driven schools? In this episode, Harvard psychometrician Dr. Andrew Ho joins Susan to unpack what test scores really mean and how educators can use data without sacrificing authentic learning. If you’ve ever felt torn between the test and what really matters, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Send a text Ever notice how your best ideas come when you’re short on time? This episode flips the script on creativity and shows why setting limits can actually lead to better thinking—for you and your students. If you’re planning for back-to-school, this one strategy might just change the way you teach all year.

Send a text Too many kids think they’re “bad at art” when really, they just haven’t been shown how to trust their own taste. Illustrator Andy J. Pizza unpacks how neurodiversity, guilty pleasures, and personal struggle can fuel breakthrough creativity... and why educators hold the key.

Send a text With major funding shifts underway, many educators are asking, “What now?” In this vital episode, Susan shares practical, creative ways to move forward... without panic. Discover where funding still exists and how to build lasting support through partnerships and purpose-driven strategy.

Send a text Tired of chasing the latest tech trend only to see it fade? In this episode, Jeff Bradbury shares how he went from orchestra conductor to edtech leader, and why real school transformation happens not through tools, but through purpose-driven systems and coaching.