Teach Smarter

In this episode, Stephanie talks with Haili Hughes about why so many teachers feel worn down and what actually helps. Haili explains how shared curriculum and clear systems give teachers more time, more confidence, and more control of their work. They unpack the difference between agency and autonomy, why doing everything alone does not make teaching better, and how small shifts in practice can cut workload without cutting quality....

In this episode, Peter talks with Dr. Sabba Quidwai about how educators keep agency with AI. Sabba explains why design thinking is action, not PDFs, and how her SPARK interview turns vague goals into five day wins. They dig into teaching AI as habits and mindsets, the leap from desktop thinking to mobile thinking, what to automate, and what to stop doing. They also cover the skills schools need next, learn to learn, take initiative...

In this episode, Pete and Stephanie talk with Josh Czupryk about how the education job market is changing as ESSER funds expire and districts face tighter budgets. Josh shares what his data shows about which roles are shrinking, which ones are growing, and why clarity of value matters more than ever for organizations serving schools. They dig into what’s really driving teacher turnover, the one question every school leader should a...

Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Pete and Stephanie talk with Catlin Tucker about what blended learning actually looks like when it’s done well. Catlin unpacks the core skill set teachers need to move beyond whole-group instruction, how to design intentional station rotations, and why balancing online and offline experiences matters. They explore the connection between blended learning and Universal Design for Learning, how to r...

In this episode, we sit down with Monica Burns to talk about the real role of technology in today’s classrooms. We look at how teachers can bring AI and other digital tools into their instruction without losing sight of what matters most—teaching, learning, and student engagement. Monica shares practical strategies for using technology to support great pedagogy rather than replace it, and we explore how educators can make thoughtfu...

In this episode of Teach Smarter, part of our Leaders from the Classroom series, I talk with Nick, a middle school history teacher, about how he builds writing skills through in-class modeling, real-time feedback, and consistent practice across the year.

We dig into why he doesn’t let students write essays at home, how he’s adapted writing instruction to fit his content area, and the challenges AI introduces when students rely on it...

In this episode, Pete and Stephanie talk with Bill Bass, Innovation Coordinator for Parkway School District and former ISTE Board President, about transforming school libraries and reframing what educator resistance really means.

Bill oversees 29 school librarians, 16 of whom have been named Teacher of the Year. He shares why some educators aren't actually resistant to change, but are instead keepers of tradition who are protect...

Zaretta Hammond joins us to explore how AI and edtech can either reinforce a pedagogy of compliance or unlock true cognitive justice for students. We dig into over-scaffolding, feedback loops, the science of learning, and how teachers can reclaim their role as personal trainers of student thinking instead of just content deliverers.

Zaretta is the author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain and a national consultant with ...

What does it take to create educational technology that actually works? Dr. Rachel Schechter knows better than most. With a background researching Dora the Explorer and now as founder of LXD Research, she's spent her career understanding how kids learn through media and technology.

In this episode, Rachel pulls back the curtain on EdTech research, sharing why most digital tools fail to deliver and what educators can do about it. She...

In this conversation, Dr. Adam B. Lockwood discusses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on school psychology and education. He shares insights on how school psychologists are currently using AI, particularly in areas like IEP goal creation and crisis intervention. The discussion also covers ethical concerns surrounding AI, its potential to democratize cheating, and the implications for creativity and critical thinking in st...

I had the privilege of presenting at the MATSOL Conference, where I led a session on using AI to support multilingual learners. This episode breaks down what we covered, including how to pair WIDA Can Do descriptors with tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and NotebookLM.

If you're planning for MLLs and looking for ways to scaffold without lowering expectations, this one's for you. I share practical strategies, sample prompt...

Teachers know parent communication matters, but knowing how to do it well is another story. In this episode, Stephanie sits down with educator and author Crystal Frommert to unpack what meaningful communication with families actually looks like. They talk about why newsletters fall short, how to build trust without burning out, and when it's time to stop emailing and just pick up the phone. They also dig into how AI tools can suppo...

In this episode, Pete and Stephanie sit down with Tricia Friedman—Director of Learning & Strategy at Shifting Schools—to unpack what AI literacy should look like if we want students (and educators) to actually be ready for what’s coming next.

Tricia introduces her REFRAME framework, explains the concept of futures literacy, and shares practical ways educators can shift from fear-based policies to curiosity-driven conversations. ...

In this episode, I talk with Chris Hull, a former teacher and the co-founder of Otus, a platform that helps schools manage assessment, data, and instruction in one place. We dig into how Otus came to be, what makes edtech actually usable, and how AI can support teachers without getting in the way.

The conversation centers on one tool, but the focus is on what it means to build solutions that come from real classroom experience.

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AI isn’t just changing how students complete assignments—it’s forcing colleges to rethink everything from course design to institutional purpose. In this episode, Dr. Nik Janos, sociology professor at California State University, Chico, joins Pete and Stephanie to talk about what higher ed needs to confront in the age of AI. From assessment systems written before the internet to the collapse of the TA pipeline, they explore what’s ...

In this conversation, Elliot Hedman (Build Empathy) shares insights from his research on how students are using generative AI in schools, often in ways that go unnoticed by educators. Drawing on his experience designing digital learning tools for companies like LEGO, McGraw-Hill, and i-Ready, Elliot discusses the limitations of AI detection tools, the rise of paraphrased outputs, and why banning AI may be doing more harm than good....

In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Kassorla discusses the integration of AI in the writing classroom, emphasizing the shift from teaching against AI to teaching with it. She highlights the importance of formative assessment, the need for a focus on process over product, and the significance of teaching voice, tone, and audience awareness. Dr. Kassorla also addresses the challenges of AI's limitations, the necessity of transparency ...