Learning Can’t Wait

Lindsay Fuller, Executive Director of The Teaching Well and a legacy educator, shares her deep commitment to addressing educator burnout and mental health crises in education. Drawing from her experience as a teacher, administrator, and nonprofit leader, she highlights the systemic challenges educators face including understaffing, under-resourcing, and the lack of adequate mental health support....

In this episode of Learning Can't Wait, Dr. Bill Chapman, Superintendent of London ISD in Texas and president-elect of NREA, shares his journey from initially resisting a career in education to embracing leadership in rural schools. He discusses the unique qualities of rural education, including close-knit communities and student engagement through multiple activities, and addresses challenges suc...

Emily Hartnett, Executive Director of Women Leading Ed, shares her journey from being a first-generation college student and teacher in post-Katrina New Orleans to leading a national nonprofit supporting women leaders in education. She discusses the unique challenges women face in education leadership, including higher standards of behavior and expectations, lack of training in negotiation and fin...

Matt Winters, an AI Education Specialist, shares his unique journey from a radio DJ to a key player in Utah’s AI education landscape. He discusses Utah’s leadership in AI policy and infrastructure, emphasizing collaboration, open expertise, and strategic investment that supports schools statewide. Matt highlights projects like teacher professional development, AI policy advising, and the recent cr...

Rebecca Boltsma, an AI ethics researcher and K-12 strategist, shares her journey from a communications background to becoming deeply immersed in AI ethics driven by her fascination with ChatGPT. She discusses the cognitive dissonance she experiences between excitement for AI's potential and concern over its ethical challenges, particularly in education and society. Rebecca highlights the importanc...

Season 9 ends with a bang. Check out this highlight episode covering the incredible guests and conversations that made this season our best one yet.

This episode of "Learning Can't Wait" features JW Marshall, Vice President of Marketing at Summit K-12 and a seasoned podcaster, who shares his journey from growing up in a learning-rich environment to becoming a passionate advocate for EdTech and multilingual learners. JW discusses the evolution of EdTech from its early days to the current competitive market, highlighting the importance of storyt...

Kimberly Smith and Seth Walker discuss the transformative power of education and innovative cybersecurity pathways for students, especially in rural communities. Kimberly credits her parents for emphasizing the value of education that changed her life trajectory, and Seth echoes this by sharing how mentorship and opportunity helped him find his passion in cybersecurity despite early challenges. To...

Tara Carrozza, Director of Digital Learning and Innovation at New York Public Schools, shares her unique journey from college basketball and acting to teaching and leading digital innovation in the largest U.S. public school system. She emphasizes the centrality of people in technology integration, focusing on equity, personalized support for teachers, and the importance of foundational skills and...

Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), shares her journey through education and leadership, emphasizing the critical need for better identification, support, and advocacy for students with learning disabilities (LD). She discusses the broad scope of LD, the importance of universal screening, the challenges of absenteeism among students with disabilit...

Danya Sundh, Coordinator of Coaching and SEL at Libertyville School District 70 in Illinois, shares her deep passion for education rooted in her upbringing and her community ties. Her district embraces innovation by integrating emerging technologies like AI into classrooms through an opt-in professional development program called SPARK, which fosters collaboration, experimentation, and continuous...

Alana Winnick, Chief Technology Officer and multi-faceted education leader, shares her innovative approach to integrating technology in schools with a strong emphasis on student voice and empowerment. She highlights the importance of including students in technology adoption and leadership, breaking down barriers through student-led innovation clubs, and how AI is reshaping education by leveling t...

AJ Crabill shares his journey from an accidental start in student leadership development to becoming a transformative education leader known for centering students and changing adult behaviors to improve student outcomes. He discusses the importance of empowering students to lead culture and climate in schools, highlights the need for adult behavior changes to support student success, and reflects...

Aruna Gilbert, Chief Program and Policy Officer at the Early Learning Coalition, shares her journey from economics and global environmental work to a deep lifelong commitment to early childhood education. She discusses the transformative power of early learning, the critical role of early educators—often underappreciated women—and innovative approaches using data-driven tools to support children’s...

Dr. Michael Stone, superintendent of Lee County School District in Arkansas, shares his journey from growing up in a large single-parent family in Lee County to becoming a passionate educator and community leader. He discusses the shift in community values, the challenges and benefits of technology in schools, especially the impact of cell phones, and the importance of fiscal responsibility in sch...

This episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast brings together three thought leaders in education technology—John Gamba from Penn GSE, Jason Green of Your Way Learning, and Will Krasnow from SwiftScore—to discuss the evolving role of AI in education. They explore how AI is reshaping classrooms by enhancing teacher practice and student engagement when paired with the right mindset and research-bac...

This podcast conversation between Nate McClennen and Hayley Spira-Bauer explores the transformative potential of AI in education, focusing on reducing teacher workload, reimagining the school day to enhance human connection, and integrating media literacy as a core skill for students. They discuss the challenges of scaling project-based learning within compliance-driven systems and envision a futu...

Dr. Jeff Carlson shared insights from his diverse experiences in education, from rural Idaho schools to urban New York City classrooms, emphasizing the critical role of public education in community life and equity. He highlighted challenges rural schools face, such as limited access to advanced coursework and technology, and expressed concern about policymakers burdening schools with societal iss...

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, Dr. Kaycee Brock, a candidate for the Atlanta Public School Board, shares her journey from educator to education consultant and now to political candidate. She discusses her motivations for running, emphasizing her passion for equity in education, her extensive background in various education roles, and her commitment to being actively involved i...

The episode features Dr. Malcolm Jones II, Assistant Superintendent of Forest City School District, discussing his journey from a young athlete to an educational leader who values academic and personal development. He emphasizes the importance of academic standards set by his parents, the lessons learned from sports, and the transformative leadership led by the district’s superintendent, which has...

Auditi Chakravarty shares her unique journey from growing up as a child of immigrants in rural America to becoming a passionate educator and the CEO of Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF), an organization pioneering advanced inclusive Research and Development (R&D) in education. She highlights the critical disconnect between learning Sciences, Education Ecosystems, and Pra...

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, Douglas Wilson, principal of Avondale High School in Michigan, shares insights into his leadership philosophy focused on continuous improvement, collaboration, and embracing failure as a learning opportunity. He highlights the school's diversity and commitment to equitable education for all students, emphasizing reflective practice and creativity...

 In this episode of the Learning Can’t Wait Podcast, Andy Shean, Chief Learning Officer at Penn Foster Group, shares his personal journey from situational poverty to education leadership and underscores the transformative power of education. Shean describes his work at Penn Foster Group, a radically affordable, direct-to-career institution serving 300,000+ students, and introduces the LADDS model—...

In this episode of The Learning Can’t Wait Podcast, Dr. Sabba Quidwai, CEO and founder of Designing Schools, shares how her journey from graduating during a recession to becoming a leader in design thinking and educational innovation has shaped her belief in empowering students and educators with the mindsets and skills to adapt in a rapidly evolving, AI‑powered world. She discusses the importance...

In this episode of The Learning Can’t Wait Podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer speaks with Dr. Jeremy Owoh, Superintendent of Jacksonville North Pulaski School District in Arkansas, about his journey as an educator, the district’s unique history, and his reflective leadership approach. Dr. Owoh shares how the community built a new district from the ground up in 2014, prioritizing student voice, caree...