JFYNetWorks Podcast

Practical insights on using AI to support teaching, learning, and student thinking. As artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday classroom experience, educators are being asked to respond—thoughtfully and effectively. In this conversation, JFYNetWorks explores what responsible, practical AI integration can look like in real schools today. JFYNetWorks recently announced the launch of its AI...

NOVEMBER 2025 PODCAST -- Exciting information about JFY's upcoming professional development courses and AI tools are detailed in this podcast as we explore how artificial intelligence can support teachers and students, helping them become better prepared for post-secondary education, career opportunities, and civic life in an increasingly unpredictable future.  PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS [23:10 – 23:51] "...

SEPTEMBER 2024 PODCAST -- This podcast features highlights from our April edition, featuring Brockton High School principal Kevin McCaskill, who began his tenure in Brockton at the start of 2024. Described at the time as, “…a new chapter for our entire community” by Mayor Robert Sullivan, McCaskill discussed how Brockton High School was once a beacon of educational excellence in Massachusetts and...

JULY 2024 PODCAST -- This September will mark the 50th anniversary of Judge Arthur Garrity’s decision to implement busing in the Boston Public Schools as a strategy to desegregate the school system. This past year, JFYNetWorks has featured three individuals who have had direct knowledge and experience in the long struggle for equity in education then and now. This podcast highlights our conversati...

Dramatic Academic Progress at East Boston High School MAY 2024 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features a preview of a collaborative presentation to take place at the MassCue Convention on May 31st and June 1st at Polar Park in Worcester. Audrey Schindler, East Boston High School’s Director of ELA and Humanities and Dean of Students, will partner with JFYNetWorks for a presentation on East Boston...

‘A New Chapter’ Brockton High School Principal Has Faith Kevin McCaskill, ‘I know that we can achieve at high levels’ APRIL 2024 PODCAST -- This podcast features newly appointed Brockton High School principal Kevin McCaskill, who began his tenure in Brockton at the start of 2024. Described as “…a new chapter for our entire community” by Mayor Robert Sullivan, McCaskill discusses how Brockton High...

JFY Deputy Director, ‘Education Equity, Still a Struggle’ FEBRUARY 2024 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features JFY’s Deputy Director Paula Paris, who has been with JFY since 1995. She has contributed to the growth and diversification of the organization first as Director of Development and then as Deputy Director. Paula shares her personal history beginning as a bus safety monitor during the des...

Lew Finfer, Quiet Leader, Thundering Results NOVEMBER 2023 PODCAST -- JFY’s podcast this month features Lew Finfer, a Boston community organizer since 1970. In an article published last year in the Boston Globe , Lew was described as “a quiet leader who spent the past four decades orchestrating some of Boston’s biggest campaigns for social and economic justice.” PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS 'You have to do...

Boston’s Historical Civic and Social Landscape: A Personal Account SEPTEMBER 2023 PODCAST -- This month, JFYNetWorks will take the opportunity to expand on some of the history that Hubie Jones shared with our listeners when he was a guest for three JFYNet podcasts last year. [ Podcast 1 , Podcast 2 , Podcast 3 ] Recently, PBS, in conjunction with local affiliate GBH, debuted the documentary “ The...

David P. Driscoll, former Education Commissioner, responds to: MCAS Chatter, ‘déjà vu’ all over again’ AUGUST 2023 PODCAST -- Our podcast this month features part two of our conversation with former Commissioner of Education David Driscoll. His 49-year career in public education leadership includes being appointed deputy commissioner in 1993, interim commissioner in 1998, and commissioner in 1999....

David P. Driscoll, former Education Commissioner, responds to: ‘Is it time to reconsider the Education Reform Act?’ JULY 2023 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features David P. Driscoll, who served as the 22nd commissioner of education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1998 to 2007. In his 49-year career in public education, Dr. Driscoll was a math teacher, an assistant superintendent, a su...

'SCI-FI to AI' Fiction to Fact. A discussion with Mike Mino, Education Development in Technology Professional. JUNE 2023 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features Michael Mino, founder of MM Development Services, a provider of innovative education development services to schools and classrooms. With his over 25 years of experience working at all levels of education, he has a strong track record of...

What’s the AI impact on education, work, and society in general? A discussion with JFY APRIL 2023 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features Dr. Michael Marrapodi, the Dean of Academic Affairs, Cambridge College Global at Cambridge College, in a recent conversation with JFY’s Executive Director Gary Kaplan, discussing the latest developments in artificial intelligence and how they may impact educati...

Is ChatGPT a Threat in the Classroom, Or a Tool to Embrace? MARCH 2023 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features Michael B. Horn, a writer, and speaker who advocates for the transformation of education through innovation to improve the learning and the lives of all students. In this podcast, Michael and JFYNetWorks executive director Gary Kaplan discuss how ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence (AI)...

Rejecting society's norm, Rita Smith became a nationally recognized and celebrated Educator FEBRUARY 2023 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features Professor Rita Smith, a lifelong educator and the 1985 recipient of Time Magazine’s Teacher of the Year Award. Professor Smith’s career as an educator spans 44 years, beginning as a high school teacher and then spending nearly two decades as the chair o...

Missing voices in the classroom… Does not make good sense DECEMBER 2022 PODCAST -- In this month’s podcast, JFYNetWorks Executive Director Gary Kaplan continues our conversation with Hubie Jones. A recent recipient of the Norman B. Leventhal Award from the organization A Better City, he continues to impact the civil and social landscape. This month, he shares his many ideas about how to ensure Bos...

Bucking the downward trend OCTOBER 2022 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast celebrates the MCAS results of two JFYNetWorks Partner schools: East Boston High School, an open enrollment Boston Public School, and Northeast Metro Tech, located in Wakefield and serving students from 11 surrounding communities. We feature JFY’s own Cathie Maglio and Joan Reissman as they discuss how both schools posted subs...

A leader in the formation of countless community organizations SEPTEMBER 2022 PODCAST -- This month, JFY continues our conversation with Hubie Jones. Hubie has not only witnessed Boston history for 67 years-- he has also shaped and defined the civic and social landscape. He has been a leader in the formation of at least thirty community organizations in neighborhoods across the city, most recently...

JFY Highlight podcast part 2 – Boston History, a focus on education, civil rights, and social services AUGUST 2022 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast is the second installment of highlights from the past year, focusing on Boston history. Today you’ll hear excerpts from our conversations with civil rights leader Hubie Jones and his re-creation of a citywide daylong strike in Boston; Higher Ground Exec...

Students at Needham High School, Dr. John Brown, Michael Horn, Isa Zimmerman, and Ed Lambert JULY 2022 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features highlights from our podcasts during the past year, focusing on educational topics. Today you’ll hear excerpts from our conversations with Bayley, Jason, and Jack (students at Needham High School), Dr. John Brown, Michael Horn, Isa Zimmerman, and Ed Lambert...

JFY Chats with Ed Lambert to chat about the status, challenges of our educational system. JUNE 2022 PODCAST -- One might assume that Ed Lambert, the executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, was a career-long dweller of the business world. But that assumption would be far from the truth. In fact, Ed’s career has traced a long trajectory of public service and educatio...

Taking an active role in history making events. MAY 2022 PODCAST -- It’s hard to believe one man has had such an influence on Boston’s civic and social landscape. A leader of reform in Boston politics and civic leadership since his arrival from New York in 1955, Hubie Jones has been involved in the creation of more than 30 community organizations, spearheaded the laws that guarantee educational ri...

The link between history, literature and our world view. APRIL 2022 PODCAST -- Do the winners really get to write history? Quincy College Professor Steve Dooner does not think so and explains why on the April edition of the JFYNetWorks Podcast, which features the link between history, literature and our world view. Professor Dooner recently directed and appeared in a performance of the play The Au...

Sharing the early challenges of bringing technology to schools, and envisioning its future there MARCH 2022 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features Isa Zimmerman, the principal of IKZ Advisors, LLC, where she serves as a resource for people in MA, and around the world, who are interested in STEM education. She served two terms on Governor Deval Patrick’s STEM Advisory Council and is the co-editor...

JANUARY 2022 PODCAST--  This month’s podcast features a conversation between JFY Executive Director Gary Kaplan and Michael Horn, author, speaker, and Distinguished Fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute, discussing blended learning and the future of technology in education. Michael is the author and co-author of multiple books, white papers, and articles on education, including the award-win...