Innovating Education

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Cheri Dixon—three-time bestselling author, turnaround school leader, TEDx speaker, and founder of Cheri Dixon Consulting, LLC—for a powerful conversation about why teaching is hard precisely because it matters. Drawing on nearly three decades in education, Cheri shares the stories behind her book The Heroes in Our Classroom...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams is joined by Dr. Valcine Brown—educator, researcher, literacy advocate, and author of Credit Recovery Through Demonstration of Mastery —for a conversation that rethinks reading, credit recovery, and assessment from the ground up. Dr. Brown shares how her work moves recovery programs away from seat time toward skills, growth, and demonstra...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Teresa Ramirez—award-winning author, motivational speaker, and self-described kindness ambassador—about how intentional acts of kindness at home and in the classroom can change the trajectory of children’s lives. Teresa shares the story behind her book Raising Kind Children and the tragic school shooting that compelled her to l...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Rob McLeod, international educator, school leader, and host of the Reinventing Education podcast, to unpack his “Three Types of Schools” model: Expert, Coach, and Counselor. Rob explains how each school type shapes structures, roles, and decision-making—and why clarity about your dominant model can reduce friction, deepen r...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Tyler Hunt and Carrie Wright, co-founders of TEACH LLC, to explore how AI-powered tools can lighten the load for educators while keeping relationships at the center of learning. They share how their platform helps teachers streamline curriculum planning, assessment creation, and data analysis so they can spend more time on...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Darren Finnegan, mathematics educator, entrepreneur, and founder of TutorMyMath.com , to talk about transforming math from a source of anxiety into a space for confidence and curiosity. Darren shares his journey from struggling with math and relying on a calculator to earning a master’s degree in mathematics and building a...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Dr. Richard Feenstra, an educational psychologist with a global footprint and creator of the APE (Assess, Plan, Execute) model for decision-making. Dr. Feenstra traces his path from police officer to psychologist and explains why traditional decision-making frameworks often fall short in high-stakes, real-world environments.​ T...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Dr. Amy Downey, an educational leader with more than three decades of experience transforming student learning. Dr. Downey traces her journey into education and explains why meaningful relationships—not grades—are the true engine of student motivation and growth.​ The conversation highlights her work designing initiatives like...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Dr. Aletha Williams about how strong partnerships between universities and school districts can transform teacher preparation and student outcomes. They explore what it takes to build trust among stakeholders, elevate mentor teachers, and design preparation pathways that are both practical and equity-focused. The conversation e...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Dr. Ryan Longnecker, Associate Dean of Online Leadership Studies and Organizational Development at Trevecca Nazarene University. Dr. Longnecker shares his leadership philosophy—playfully likened to Professor Dumbledore—and how he designs supportive, diverse cohort experiences that blend academic rigor with genuine community. Th...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Dr. Jody Miller, director of Coral Reef Academy in the U.S. Virgin Islands, about her two-decade journey transforming special education leadership. Dr. Miller shares how she has built programs that deliver high-quality, individualized services for students with unique needs while maintaining operational excellence and scaling t...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams is joined by Rebecca Bultsma, an AI ethics and education strategist and Chief Innovation Officer at Amplify and Elevate Innovation. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping classrooms and what it means to design AI-enabled systems that are ethical, equitable, and aligned with human values. Rebecca unpacks core issue...

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Dr. Leslie Sparcello, superintendent of Cedars International Schools, to reflect on lessons from her 35-year career in education. Dr. Sparcello shares how servant leadership, empowerment, and adaptability have shaped her approach to building cultures where innovation is possible and people feel safe to try, learn, and itera...

Dr. Brandon Foster, a Harvard-educated thought leader and advocate for systemic transformation in education, joins Dr. Riley Williams to explore how his own story of overcoming adversity—and the mentors who guided him—shapes his approach to teaching and leadership. His dissertation, The Arch of Progress , weaves together Napoleon Hill’s principles with mentoring, tutoring, and growth mindset to bu...