The Education Innovators Podcast

Athletics AND Academics – Remove the Compromise   Andy Williams is the Founding Head of School at Masters Academy International, a new boarding and day school opening this fall in Stow, Massachusetts. Designed for student-athletes in grades 6–12, Masters Academy pairs elite athletic development with a rigorous, forward-thinking academic model. A lifelong educator, Williams previously held leadersh...

Is Your Best Teacher Getting Paid Less than Your Worst? This is a short solo episode by Eric Byron as he talks about teacher agency and how we can do better at rewarding teachers for being innovating instead of rewarding just length of service and playing it safe. Eric doesn’t pull any punches in this hard-hitting criticism of how we fail to compensate teachers and how the system neglects to give...

Why Good Ideas Die in Schools   Rebecca E. Wolfe is an education innovation and systems scholar dedicated to advancing equitable, personalized, and competency-based learning. As the Founder and Director of Threadwell Solutions, she brings over 20 years of experience in field-shaping initiatives that bridge the gap between research and practice.   Rebecca previously held senior leadership roles at...

The Future of Education Report   This is a short solo episode that reviews the Future of Education Report from the Future Design School. Eric discusses the tension between being a for-profit business while trying to provide legitimate services that have a positive impact on learning in schools.   The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspe...

Make New Rules – David Bryan says, “Why Not?”   A 50+ year career in the trades, business, and education, has prepared David Bryan to be a curious and eager student of many fields. Dr. Bryan has taught at the middle school, high school, and university levels at various institutions in the United States. In 1995 he co-founded New Roads School, a unique independent school in southern California, whe...

Khan TED Institute   This episode is another in Eric’s regular reviews of Sal Khan’s efforts to revolutionize education. He’s at it again, this time getting ready to launch the Khan TED Institute, offering low-cost accredited college degrees. It’s an interesting proposal and Eric attempts to be more objective in his review of this initiative.   The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversa...

Mr. Metacognition   Nathan Burns is one of the premier experts of metacognition in the UK. Having established himself as an effective classroom practitioner in a number of roles across schools in the East Midlands, primarily as a Head of Maths, Nathan now works full-time in delivering high-quality metacognitive training and change support across educational contexts, both in the UK and worldwide....

Khanmigo – Why Kids Don’t Use It   This is a solo episode, inspired by a recent announcement by Sal Khan admitting that Khanmigo, Khan Academy’s AI tutor, failed to revolutionize education, as he had previously predicted it would. Eric Byron bought into the early hype around Khanmigo, and this is his reflection on why he was also wrong about its potential.   The Education Innovators Podcast is a s...

Tools by Teachers: An Accidental Entrepreneur   James Myklebust-Hampshire is a teacher and didn’t set out to become an EdTech founder. He built a tool during naps when he was on parental leave and that tool is now being used by over 20,000 teachers. During his next parental leave he built a second product, a niche project management tool designed specifically for schools doing project-based learni...

Why schools resist change This is a short solo episode where Eric Byron talks about the challenges with getting teachers, who thrived as students in the current system, to help innovate and change the system they are so comfortable with. The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative id...

EdTech Evidence Crisis   Natalia Kucirkova is a Professor of Early Childhood and Development at the University of Stavanger and Executive Director of the International Centre for EdTech Impact. She leads global initiatives to improve education through applied research, strategic advisory, and capacity building, particularly in underserved communities. With 15+ years in education policy, her work i...

This is a short reflection on the importance of experiential learning as a component of education. Eric shares some of his recent experience visiting Iceland and encourages teachers to get their students out of the classroom.   The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and pr...

Experiential Learning – The Intimacy of Service   Kimberly Haley-Coleman is the founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, a US & Canada based nonprofit that leads and mobilizes volunteers for short-term service projects in over 25 countries (since the year 2000). With a background in international business development and finance, she previously held leadership roles at global firms inclu...

Writing Skills Still Matter   This is a short solo episode where Eric questions why writing skills still matter and then gives his two cents worth about why writing skills are critical for cognitive development, especially in an age of AI.   The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovativ...

This is a special edition of the Education Innovators Podcast for Podcasthon featuring Crossroads Foundation. Crossroads is a charitable organization. Crossroads Foundation is a Hong Kong based, non-profit organization serving global need. We believe that, in a broken world that sees too much suffering, we should do all we can to link those who are in need with those who can provide help. So, we p...

Firm goals, Flexible means: Designing learning that works for all students   Katie Novak, Ed. D., is a force of nature - part educational powerhouse, part motivational coach, part witty storyteller. With 25 years of experience in education, a doctorate degree, and real-world experience as a former teacher, curriculum coordinator, and assistant superintendent of schools, she brings unmatched credib...

From Charter School Rock Star to EdTech Entrepreneur   In 1999, Dacia became the founding principal of Amistad Academy in New Haven, CT, which went on to post the greatest achievement gains of any middle school in the state. Dacia then co-founded and co-led Achievement First (AF), which became one of the nation's leading charter school networks with 41 schools across the Northeast and college grad...

Support Your Local Schools This is a short solo episode where Eric talks about the importance of communities and reflects on all of the guests on the show who have raised this topic. Learning is a social activity, with the best results happening in a safe and supportive environment. The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of educati...

Grades & Punishments are Curiosity Killers   The theory that rewards and punishments have negative long-term effects on performance, isn’t new, but Doug Bolton puts a new spin on the science behind this and offers practical advice for how teachers, administrators, and parents can help students be more emotionally resilient and engaged in school.   Doug Bolton  is a Clinical Psychologist and Di...

Are we grading intelligence or compliance?   This short solo episode takes a practical look at how we fuel curiosity through questions and how we make it important by measuring it. Eric acknowledges the challenge around the subjectivity of measuring curiosity buts makes the case that we can and should try.   The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests f...

PBL meets Montessori   Kyle Wagner is the Inaugural IMS Middle School Director and Founder of Transform Educational Consulting Limited, an organization that empowers forward thinking schools and educators to create more globally, socially and emotionally aware citizens through project-based learning. Kyle fell in love with project-based learning as a teacher at High Tech High (the most prominent P...

Teachers are Our Superpower   This is a short solo episode as Eric looks back on 2 years of doing this podcast and reflects on some of what he has learned. This is a powerful call to action in time of radical change that is both necessary and dangerous. Empowered teachers will make the difference!   The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all a...

Enlightenment education – developing independent thinkers   Marsha Familaro Enright is an educational entrepreneur, writer and speaker with a rare blend of scientific training, liberal‑arts expertise and institution‑building experience. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Northwestern University and an M.A. in Psychology from the New School for Social Research. Her broad scholarly interests range fro...

Looking Ahead This is a short solo episode where Eric previews 6 of the episodes that will be published in the coming weeks. Season 4 has an amazing line up of diverse educators who are bravely innovating and making a difference. The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and...

Let Them Play   Dr Amanda Gummer is a research psychologist, passionate about children’s play. She is the CEO of the research consultancy Fundamentally Children, home of Dr Gummer’s Good Play Guide. Amanda is also the independent chair of the Association of Play Industries. In addition, she is an NED for Families in Focus CIC and is on the advisory board of a small number of mission-led businesses...