Learning Can’t Wait

In this special episode of Learning Can’t Wait, host Hayley Spira-Bauer talks with  Lisa Tarshis , Executive Director of the Primer Foundation , about the innovative world of micro schools and the impact of personalized learning. Tarsus introduces the Primer Fellowship, a program empowering educators to create community-driven micro schools tailored to students' unique needs. Listeners will learn...

In this episode of Learning Can't Wait, we dive deep into the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education with Dr. Vicki Phelps and Marisa Janicek . Our guests explore how AI can enhance personalized learning, streamline teacher tasks, and foster more engaging classroom experiences. They address critical ethical considerations surrounding AI, such as data privacy and bias, whi...

Continuing our AI Mini Series, host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Dr. Muhsinah Morris , the visionary behind Morehouse College ’s Metaversity program, to discuss the transformative role of technology in creating equitable, accessible learning environments for all students. Dr. Morris shares her unique perspective on access, going beyond socioeconomic divides to include accessibility for neurod...

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, our host Hayley Spira-Bauer chats with Alex Kotran , co-founder of aiEDU , about the current AI hype cycle in education. Alex discusses why we may be both overhyping and underhyping AI, the expected slow progress in the next three years, and the potential breakthroughs over the next eight. He highlights the risks of AI replacing human jobs and st...

To kick off our AI in Education Mini Series, we dive deep into the future of education with Mike Yates from the Reinvention Lab at Teach for America . Yates shares his journey of working with tech giants like Google and AWS to empower students to transition from passive consumers of technology to active creators. He discusses the opportunities and challenges AI presents in education, from in-perso...

In our latest episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, our host Hayley Spira-Bauer is joined by Chad Aldeman , founder of Read Not Guess , as they unpack two massive topics; the national teacher shortage crisis and preparing educators in an effective way. Chad shares his perspective on training, recruitment, and retention and potential ways to take them to a higher level. Learn about boosting t...

On our latest Learning Can't Wait episode, out host Hayley Spira-Bauer is joined by Amanda Bickerstaff , Founder and CEO of AI for Education as they dive into how AI can be effectively used in today's classroom. This incredibly insightful conversation covers Amanda's personal and professional path, the quick trajectory of AI for Educaiton, and what the future may hold for the company. Hayley and A...

🌟 WELCOME TO SEASON 6 🌟 To kick off this season of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Siya Raj Purohit , from the Education Go-to-Market Team at OpenAI and general partner at Pathway Ventures , for an inspiring and insightful conversation. Siya shares her remarkable journey from being an ESL student to becoming a leading voice in the education and technology secto...

On this SPECIAL EPISODE of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast , our host Hayley Spira-Bauer chats with chats with 8th graders from Montgomery County ESC during their lifestyle fair. From interests to student support to advice for incoming middle schoolers, these students use their real life experiences to inform thoughtful conversation.  Tune in to gain insight on what it's really like to be a middle...

🌟 SEASON 5 IS A WRAP! 🌟 From NYC to rural America, this incredibly powerful season covered it all. In today's episode, our host, Hayley Spria-Bauer recaps all that season 5 held. Thank you to our wonderful, inspiring guests this season. Your work in the education space is critical to our youth's and our nation's futures! And, thank you to YOU, our listeners! Stay tuned for what Season 6 will bri...

In this episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast , our host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with  Emmanuel George , New York Regional Superintendent at Democracy Prep Public Schools . At the top of the episode, Emmanuel thanks his mother and other family members who helped form his values of humility, respect, and civic-mindedness. Democracy Prep has a large focus on direct participation in civics...

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer continues her miniseries on rural education with Dr. Amy Azano , a professor at the School of Education at Virginia Tech and the founding director of Virginia Tech's Center for Rural Education . Dr. Azano shares her journey from a small town in the Shenandoah Valley to becoming a leading scholar in rural education. She dis...

Join host Hayley Spira-Bauer in this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast as she continues the Rural Education mini-series with insightful guests Heather Bookstaver , Ann Lewis, and Taylor Gump . Featuring perspectives from two seasoned educators and a passionate student teacher, this episode explores both the unique charms and challenges of teaching in rural areas. Heather, Ann, and Taylor...

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer returns to the Rural Education mini-series with guests Mike Barrera , Superintendent of Premont ISD , and Conrad Cantu , Superintendent of Freer ISD . Both guests bring valuable perspectives from their roles in the Rural School Innovation Zone (RSIZ), sharing their expertise on the unique challenges faced by rural schools....

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer returns to the Rural Education mini-series with a conversation featuring Richard Wright, superintendent of Agua Dulce ISD , and Michael Gonzalez , executive director of the Rural School Innovation Zone (RSIZ). They discuss the unique challenges and innovative solutions in rural education, emphasizing the importance of comm...

On this special episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, we take a brief detour from our Rural Education Miniseries to sit down with Arne Duncan, former Secretary of Education and current Managing Partner of Emerson Collective. Arne brings a wealth of experience from his time at Chicago Public Schools and the Obama Administration, offering unique perspectives on what officials at local, state,...

Welcome to Episode One of our Rural Education mini-series on the Learning Can’t Wait podcast! This week, Hayley Spira-Bauer hosts a panel of three incredible education leaders to help us dispel myths about rural America:   Melissa Harris - Senior Fellow at Transcend Allen Pratt - Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association Taylor McCabe-Juhnke - Executive Director at Rural Schoo...

This week on the Learning Can’t Wait podcast host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Jessica Sie, Chief Academic Officer at Zeta Charter School.   In this inspiring episode, Jessica describes her passion for breaking down systemic and structural barriers to education. We learn how Jessica defines innovative work and why she believes some of the most exciting ideas to transform education might be co...

Welcome back to the Learning Can’t Wait podcast! This week, Hayley Spira-Bauer hosts a thought-provoking conversation with Juliana Finnegan, VP of Educator Experience at Vivi.     Tune in as Juliana shares her thoughts about the role of technology in the classroom and how it can support effective instruction without replacing essential human connection.  Hayley and Juliana also discuss Learning La...

This week on the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, Chief Strategy Officer at Mrs. Wordsmith.   In this delightful conversation, Brandon describes how both rigor and play are central to his work helping kids to read and tackling the ‘30 million word gap’.  Brandon also shares lessons from his early career and what it’s like to work on educ...

Welcome back to Season 5 of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast! Today, Hayley Spira-Bauer hosts a conversation with Doug McCurry, Former Co-CEO and Superintendent of Achievement First, now working as a consultant. Doug shares insights on the resilience learned from his father and son, the impact of smartphones on school and mental health, and  why summer is a great time for both students and teacher...

Welcome back to the Learning Can't Wait Podcast! This week, we're excited to present a panel discussion on innovation in education featuring Brett Roer, Jacob Kantor, and Candice Sears. Tune in as host Hayley Spira-Bauer talks to our respected guests about what makes them hopeful about education today. They'll explore how we can make technology work with, not against, traditional teaching methods....

Join us today for a special solar eclipse episode of the Learning Can't Wait Podcast! Host Hayley Spira-Bauer dives into the universe of STEM with John Dedeax Davis Jr., an Education Specialist at NASA's Office of STEM Engagement, and Talia Milgrom-Elcott, the Founder and Executive Director of Beyond100K. In this captivating discussion, they explore how NASA shares scientific concepts with the pub...

In this week's installment of the Learning Can't Wait Podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer engages in a captivating dialogue with Chrissybil Boulin, the visionary force behind Jump Start Tutoring and the CEO of Vero Learning. Tune in to this enlightening exchange as Chrissybil shares her journey, revealing how a setback—failure to gain admission into her desired college—propelled her into the realm of...

On this week’s episode of the Learning Can’t Wait Podcast Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Senior Research Analyst at the Center on Reinventing Public Education, Dr. Steven Weiner. Listen to this delightfully nerdy discussion where Steven shares his research on unconventional learning environments and what insights we can gain from them.  Hayley and Steven also discuss why they both believe that...