Learning Can’t Wait

 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—Learner-centered, Authentic, Differ...

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 of independent learning, critical ...

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...

In this lively and candid episode, Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Amy Dujon, VP of Education for Community Edu, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing women in educational leadership. Amy shares her personal journey—highlighting resilience formed from early adversity and her commitment to leading with empathy and radical honesty. T...

In her podcast interview with Dr. Neil Gupta, Superintendent of Oakwood City Schools, Hayley Spira-Bauer explores Dr. Gupta’s relationship-driven approach to leadership, highlighting his commitment to listening, community engagement, and collaborative vision-building. Together, they discuss how meaningful, lasting change—like developing coordinat...

Dr. Barron Davis, Senior Advisor at Digital Promise, returns to "The Learning Can't Wait" podcast to share his work building the Collaborative Innovation Studio—a national initiative empowering communities to co-create solutions to persistent educational challenges. He and host Hayley Spira-Bauer discuss authentic partnership, the value of centering student voice, and the power of collaboration and feedback in drivi...

AI strategist and K-12 innovation consultant Merissa Sadler-Holder joins Hayley Spira-Bauer on "The Learning Can't Wait" podcast to share her journey from French teacher to tech advocate and founder. Merissa discusses how the pandemic and GameStop phenomenon sparked her move into edtech innovation, the empowering parallel between teaching students and guiding AI tools, and her call for educators to reject martyrdom and own their va...

Chéla Wallace’s journey from science teacher to school founder is shaped by family adversity, a passion for STEM equity, and a drive to revolutionize girls’ education. Through candid reflection on her career pivots and the mentors who helped along the way, Chéla shares her plans for a new K-8 STEAM school in Greensboro focused on social justice, innovation, and empowering girls of color. Her story underscores the im...

This podcast episode features Dr. Kiesha King discussing her innovative approach to education, from her early adoption of technology in the classroom to her current leadership at T-Mobile, where she champions digital equity through initiatives like Project 10 Million. The conversation covers the importance of creativity, student agency, and inclusivity in schools, the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration to cl...

In this special episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, three visionary Long Island superintendents—Dr. Kusum Sinha, Matt Gaven, and Dr. Jared Bloom—reveal how they’re leading the charge to integrate artificial intelligence in their schools. Through candid conversation, they share practical strategies, ethical considerations, and the power of collaboration in preparing students, educators, and communities for an AI-driven futur...

In this powerful episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, certified academic language therapist Sheridan Hotung shares her deeply personal journey from luxury branding to literacy advocacy, revealing how her struggle to help her own children learn to read led her to develop accessible, research-based tools that are transforming lives in classrooms and even correctional facilities. Sheridan’s story is a testament to the impact of...

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, Jennifer Schwab, CEO and founder of ENTITY Academy, shares her inspiring journey as a female entrepreneur determined to close the gender gap in business and tech. From her early career struggles without female mentors to building a social impact company that empowers women through mentorship, upskilling, and access to high-growth careers, Jennifer reveals how ENTITY is reshaping t...

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, Adrienne Emerson, a passionate STEM educator and implementation specialist at Sphero, shares her journey from a curious high school student to a leader in robotics education. Adrienne discusses how hands-on learning, accessible technology, and relationship-building can transform student engagement—especially for those who might not see themselves in STEM. Her insights on making ST...

In this episode, Dr. Eddie Blass, founder and CEO of Inventorium, shares her personal and professional journey from a disengaged student in London to an educational innovator in Australia. She reflects on her experiences with privilege and the shortcomings of traditional education systems, particularly their inability to serve students who don’t fit the mainstream mold. Through Inventorium, Blass has designed a personalized, one-on...

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, national literacy consultant Kathryn Starke shares her journey from a childhood surrounded by teachers to becoming a passionate advocate for literacy education. Starke discusses the importance of matching children with books that interest them, the ongoing debates around literacy instruction and the science of reading, and the critical role of qualified teachers who build relation...

In this episode, Sunil Gunderia, Chief Innovation Officer at Age of Learning, shares his remarkable journey from first-generation immigrant and CPA to leading educational innovation at one of the most influential edtech companies. Sunil reveals how his finance and consulting background fueled his passion for problem-solving and systems change, ultimately guiding him to help build research-based, evid...

This podcast episode features three educational leaders—Mike Felton, superintendent of St. George Municipal School Unit; Michael Marrone, president of Liguori Academy; and Mike Gonzalez, executive director of the Rural School Innovation Zone—who connected through the Yaas Prize, an education award recognizing innovative and community-rooted work. Each shares their unique backgrounds and passion for transforming education through ha...

In this episode of the "Learning Can't Wait" podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer interviews Dr. Tony Hemingway, superintendent of Fairfield One, about his journey from a student who once failed 11th grade English to leading a school district and writing a book titled "Make Something Out of Yourself." Dr. Hemingway credits pivotal mentors, including a supportive summer school teacher and a superintendent who hired him, for helping him ...