"And Is the Higher Bar" Reflections on School Reform and More with Coursemojo Co-CEO Dacia Toll

In this episode of Innovations in Education, host David Adams, CEO of the Urban Assembly, welcomes Dacia Toll, co-founder and co-CEO of Coursemojo. They discuss the importance of showcasing educational success stories and the role of innovative solutions in improving public education. Dacia shares the idea that "and is the higher bar" when it comes to our goals for our kids and our schools. Dacia shares her journey from founding Amistad Academy and leading Achievement First to her current work with Coursemojo bringing AI tools into the classroom. They explore the challenges of teacher recruitment and retention, the potential of AI in education, and the evolving landscape of educational reform. The episode concludes with a lightning round addressing calculus vs. data science, college for all vs. career pathways, and the future role of AI in education. Don't miss this one! It's a "must-listen." Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Innovations in Education 00:49 Meet Deysha Toll: A Leader in Education 02:29 Founding Achievement First: Breaking the Demographic Trap 04:03 Expanding to New York: Collaboration and Teacher Training 06:02 CourseMojo and the Future of Public Education 10:21 Challenges and Changes in Educational Reform 17:05 Reflecting on Successes and Future Goals 22:04 Expanding the Definition of Student Success 23:04 Addressing Challenges with AI in Education 23:35 CourseMojo's Approach to Middle School ELA 25:00 Supporting Teachers with AI Tools 26:06 Interactive and Differentiated Learning Experiences 27:00 Teacher Support and Real-Time Dashboards 28:03 The Role of AI in Enhancing Classroom Learning 34:52 Lightning Round: Quick Takes on Education Topics 35:38 Balancing College and Career Pathways 37:16 The Purpose of Public Schooling 44:26 Developing Effective EdTech Solutions 46:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts