Emily Hartnett, Executive Director of Women Leading Ed, shares her journey from being a first-generation college student and teacher in post-Katrina New Orleans to leading a national nonprofit supporting women leaders in education. She discusses the unique challenges women face in education leadership, including higher standards of behavior and expectations, lack of training in negotiation and financial management, and the pressure to balance professional and personal responsibilities. Emily emphasizes the power of collective networks among women leaders for sharing opportunities, learning from mistakes, and pushing forward education equity and excellence. She also highlights current challenges such as AI in education, literacy, and fiscal uncertainty, while advocating for sustainability and resilience among women superintendents.

Matt Winters, an AI Education Specialist, shares his unique journey from a radio DJ to a key player in Utah’s AI education landscape. He discusses Utah’s leadership in AI policy and infrastructure, emphasizing collaboration, open expertise, and strategic investment that supports schools statewide. Matt highlights projects like teacher professional development, AI policy advising, and the recent creation of an AI-infused student and educator portrait, underscoring the importance of human-centered AI use and fostering creativity in classrooms.

Rebecca Boltsma, an AI ethics researcher and K-12 strategist, shares her journey from a communications background to becoming deeply immersed in AI ethics driven by her fascination with ChatGPT. She discusses the cognitive dissonance she experiences between excitement for AI's potential and concern over its ethical challenges, particularly in education and society. Rebecca highlights the importance of curiosity, inquiry, and co-creating policies around AI, focusing on transparency and trust-building in schools. She emphasizes teaching ethical values through modeling and conversation rather than direct AI literacy at an early age. Rebecca advises educators to personally explore AI tools first and engage students in open dialogue about responsible AI use while acknowledging the need for parent advocacy and learning.

Season 9 ends with a bang. Check out this highlight episode covering the incredible guests and conversations that made this season our best one yet.

This episode of "Learning Can't Wait" features JW Marshall, Vice President of Marketing at Summit K-12 and a seasoned podcaster, who shares his journey from growing up in a learning-rich environment to becoming a passionate advocate for EdTech and multilingual learners. JW discusses the evolution of EdTech from its early days to the current competitive market, highlighting the importance of storytelling and authentic customer voices in marketing. He emphasizes the power of podcasts in building relationships, sharing impactful education stories, and advocating for student and teacher voices, especially in underrecognized areas like multilingual education. JW's heartfelt stories, including recognizing dedicated teachers and encouraging districts and students to start podcasts, underscore how storytelling can inspire change and build community in education.

Kimberly Smith and Seth Walker discuss the transformative power of education and innovative cybersecurity pathways for students, especially in rural communities. Kimberly credits her parents for emphasizing the value of education that changed her life trajectory, and Seth echoes this by sharing how mentorship and opportunity helped him find his passion in cybersecurity despite early challenges. Together, they highlight a nationally expanding cybersecurity program that blends industry credentials, hands-on competitions, and regional collaboration to create thriving talent pipelines, retain local youth, and prepare students for a future shaped by cybersecurity and emerging technologies like AI.

Tara Carrozza, Director of Digital Learning and Innovation at New York Public Schools, shares her unique journey from college basketball and acting to teaching and leading digital innovation in the largest U.S. public school system. She emphasizes the centrality of people in technology integration, focusing on equity, personalized support for teachers, and the importance of foundational skills and data infrastructure before leveraging AI. Tara discusses creating AI literacy, gathering student voice, and developing an AI governance framework that ensures safe and responsible use. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to shifting mindset away from mere technology consumption to demanding educational tools that meet real needs, while fostering trust and psychological safety for educators and students alike.

Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), shares her journey through education and leadership, emphasizing the critical need for better identification, support, and advocacy for students with learning disabilities (LD). She discusses the broad scope of LD, the importance of universal screening, the challenges of absenteeism among students with disabilities, and the systemic issues in teacher preparation and compensation. Dr. Rodriguez advocates for a professionalized education system that supports both general and special educators to better serve vulnerable learners.