SuperSpeaks

In an age of ambiguity and uncertainty, having a clear vision and understanding of what it takes to meet the moment is refreshing, encouraging, and empowering. This is especially true for school leaders preparing to lead staff through the first back-to-school season in the age of generative AI. The CEO of ISTE offers keen insight informed by a unique window on the education community. Follow on Twitter: @ISTEofficial @RCulatta @hyphenatic @shellthief @jonHarper70bd @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork Related Resources: Emerging Practices Guides Exploring new opportunities with AI in education | Microsoft EDU Collaborating to bring AI innovation to education | Microsoft EDU Empower educators to explore the potential of artificial intelligence – Training | Microsoft Learn Richard E. Culatta is the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and ASCD. Prior to holding this position, he was the chief innovation officer for the state of Rhode Island and the director of the Office of Educational Technology for the U.S. Department of Education. Richard is the author of the new book, Digital for Good: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World.

We checked in with a school leader in the Loudon County School District who shared a wicked-smart approach to using education technology more efficiently and effectively. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @LoudonCountyPD @Jonharper70bd @MicrosoftEDU @ISTEofficial #ISTElive23 @bamradionetwork #BacktoSchool2023 Related Resources: Emerging Practices Guides Exploring new opportunities with AI in education | Microsoft EDU Collaborating to bring AI innovation to education | Microsoft EDU Empower educators to explore the potential of artificial intelligence – Training | Microsoft Learn Jennifer Malone has worked as an educator in Tennessee for both elementary and middle schools for thirty-four years as a teacher, Vice-Principal, and Principal. In her current position since 2011, she serves as the Technology/Middle School Supervisor for the Loudon County Schools District Office. She is a Visionary Leader, Consensus Builder, and Highly Qualified Educator with an Educational Specialist Degree coupled with twenty years administrative experience at elementary, middle, and district levels. She has a proven track record of improving student achievement, securing resources, and implementing effective programs. Her background includes ten years as a classroom teacher and four years of private business experience.

We had an eye-opening discussion with a PLC coach about the tech tools her teachers and students can access but may be unaware of the features or how to use them. This is often the case with AI features that have long been available in classrooms. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd @MicrosoftEDU @ISTEofficial #ISTElive23 #BacktoSchool2023 Related Resources: Literacy Solutions Emerging Practices Guides Exploring new opportunities with AI in education | Microsoft EDU Empower educators to examine the potential of artificial intelligence – Training | Microsoft Learn Kimberly Livingston has been at Craigmont High School for nine years. She taught English I, II, and III at the school before becoming the PLC Coach four years ago.

The summer of AI series continues with a look at the need for education technologists and school leaders to collaborate, take necessary risks and prepare teachers and students for the future of generative AI. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd @MicrosoftEDU @ISTEofficial #ISTElive23 #BacktoSchool2023 Related Resources: Emerging Practices Guides Exploring new opportunities with AI in education | Microsoft EDU Collaborating to bring AI innovation to education | Microsoft EDU Empower educators to explore the potential of artificial intelligence – Training | Microsoft Learn Kristen Nan has been an educator for 23 years, Kristen’s passion for building relationships with her students, colleagues, and community continues to ignite change for the better! Kristen has served as an emotional support teacher, learning support teacher, and classroom teacher from Pittsburgh, PA. With keeping a future-ready mindset at the forefront for every child, she has been recognized as an award-winning educator for innovative practices. In addition to her current role as a 3rd-grade teacher, you can connect with her interests and passion for blogging by visiting her website at www.kristennan.com. Kristen is co-author of the book, All In: Taking a Gamble in Education.

The summer of AI series continues with a look at the challenges, opportunities, and ethical considerations school leaders face as we shift from the pandemic era to the age of generative AI. What are school leaders thinking and doing to adapt? Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @AskAdam3 @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd @MicrosoftEDU @ISTEofficial #ISTElive23 Related Resources: Emerging Practices Guides Dr. Adam Phyall is a former high school science teacher who recently served as the Director of Technology and Media Services for Newton County School System in Covington, GA. Since Adam got his first laptop in college, he has been hooked on the fantastic things that technology can add. Early in his teaching career, Adam began having students create videos and podcasts to explain advanced science concepts. Once Adam saw the impact that technology had on learning in his classroom, he began to share his activities and strategies with his peers. This led to Dr. Phyall working as a Building Instructional Technology Leader, later as a Technology Facilitator, and as the former Director of Technology & Media Services. Adam sits on the board of ASCD and ISTE. Since 2017 Dr. Phyall has worked as a Future Ready Schools as a Thought Leader and later as the Technology Leaders lead advisor. As a facilitator and panelist, Adam has supported Future Ready Schools at in-person and virtual events. Adam also co-hosts the Future Ready Schools’ “UnDisrupted” podcast with Carl Hooker. In their podcast, Adam and Carl break down many of the challenges that district-level leaders face each day.

New York City was one of the first school districts to block ChatGPT in its schools. The district reversed that decision, and now, schools in and around New York City are leaning into generative with ambitious plans. We joined the Summer of AI series by sitting down with a Brooklyn superintendent in a discussion on how he prioritizes what matters most as generative AI accelerates in education. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd @MicrosoftEDU @michaelprayor1 @ISTEofficial #ISTElive23 Related Resources: Exploring new opportunities with AI in education | Microsoft EDU Collaborating to bring AI innovation to education | Microsoft EDU Michael Prayor started his career as a special education teacher and spent time as an assistant principal before becoming the principal of a Brooklyn High School. He was named the Superintendent of Brooklyn South in 2014. Michael has also dedicated his time to engaging with families and parent leaders, serving as the Superintendent liaison to the Citywide Council on High Schools.

Schools are more normal this year, but there are still scenarios where virtual learning solves problems that have routinely disrupted traditional classrooms. In this episode, we discuss four common situations where maintaining the virtual option can strengthen any school’s ability to serve all students. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd @ocsdltfdir Related Resources: Onslow County Schools provides a lesson in effective hybrid learning How Onslow Schools Use Microsoft Solutions to Support Students | Microsoft EDU Stephen Taylor is the Director of Digital Learning and Teaching Services at Onlsow County Schools in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Taylor is a graduate of East Carolina University. He brings a wealth of experience to the position, having served OCS as a middle school teacher and a digital learning and teaching facilitator. For the past five years, Taylor has been the OCS digital learning and teaching coordinator.

Illinois’s largest elementary school district has an exceptionally positive school culture and the receipts to prove it. In this episode, we talk with the superintendent about the step-by-step process they used to build theirs, based on the Happiness Advantage. Stanford University researchers placed this school district in the top two percent of all schools in America in student growth. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd @drf4331 @Andy_DuRoss Related Resources MicrosoftEDU: K12 Blueprint – Learning Next As the superintendent of the largest elementary school district in Illinois since 2013, Andy DuRoss prioritizes investing in people as the key to ensuring the academic success and social-emotional well-being of the more than 15,000 students and 2,000 employees of School District 54. DuRoss believes a positive culture is another key to the success of students and staff. In 2017, he brought the positive psychology principles outlined by Harvard Researcher Shawn Achor to District 54. This training demonstrates how happiness and optimism fuels performance and leads to success. When he talks about student success, he is not just speaking about academic success but social and emotional success as well. DuRoss is committed to the happiness of his students and employees. Under DuRoss’ leadership the positive culture in District 54 continues to thrive and student achievement continues to grow. Stanford University researchers found District 54 to be in the top 2% of all schools in America in student growth, stating that District 54 students achieved six years of growth in five years. Money Magazine ranked Schaumburg the 9th best place to live in America, with education being a major factor.

In this episode, we look under the hood to see how school chief information officers and chief academic officers work together to manage the "four buckets" of responsibilities required to achieve educational goals. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd @drf4331 Related Resources MicrosoftEDU: K12 Blueprint – Learning Next Dean Folkers is the Director of Education Data and Technology at the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). CCSSO is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions.

In this episode, we talk with the Director of Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University about the challenges of managing ESSER funds spending requests from various internal and external stakeholders, setting priorities for ESSER funds investments, and ensuring the best results based on your school’s long-term objectives. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd @MargueriteRoza @EdunomicsLab @McCourtSchool @Deb_Britt Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: Microsoft-Equitable-Education-post-pandemic-Whitepaper2021.pdf (azureedge.net) Marguerite Roza, Ph.D., is Director of the Edunomics Lab and Research Professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, where she leads the Certificate in Education Finance program. Edunomics Lab is a Georgetown University research center dedicated to exploring and modeling complex education finance decisions to inform education policy and practice. The end goal is the betterment of education, writ large. Established in 2012, the center is nationally recognized as a leader in the field of education finance.

In this episode, we check in with the Chief Information Officer at the department of education in a state that has successfully gone from ranking among the lowest in academic performance to one of the fastest growing. Our guest shares some of the practical strategies behind the transformation and the biggest concerns that still keep him up at night. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @MissDeptEd@Jonharper70bd Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: Microsoft-Equitable-Education-post-pandemic-Whitepaper2021.pdf (azureedge.net) John Kraman is the Chief Information Officer at the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE). For the past decade, John has served in senior leadership roles in three state education agencies (SEAs) – in Oklahoma, New Mexico and now Mississippi – working to align data and data systems with the agency strategic policy and reform goals. In the decade prior to his time in SEAs, he served are the research director of multiple national education policy programs, including the American Diploma Project and the Common Core State Standards Initiative. John is currently leading the $200+ million MSConnects program at the MDE, rapidly establishing a statewide digital learning program to support teaching, learning, and innovation.

School leaders charged with increasing equitable education in their schools are well-positioned to glean invaluable insights from disrupted education systems around the world. Join us as we talk with a global education leader who shares insights from his work in 145 countries. Follow on Twitter: @RobertG_Jenkins @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd @UNICEFEducation Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: Education Reimagined: Remote to Hybrid Learning Robert Jenkins is the global director of education for UNICEF. Robert joined the organization in 1995. He brings over 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian programming in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Jenkins served as the UNICEF Deputy Director, Division of Policy and Strategy in UNICEF Headquarters from 2009-2014. Mr. Jenkins earned a Doctor of Education Degree from the University of Bath and a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom.

This episode is part of a series on the exceptionally creative and resourceful ways educators around the world are teaching during the pandemic and getting students back on track. Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: Education Reimagined: Remote to Hybrid Learning Alain Pascua is a proud product of public elementary education, having studied in Gerona North Central School in Tarlac. Raised by academicians, both his parents were public school teachers, who spent all their working years teaching in various public schools until their retirement. He then went to Mary Help of Christians Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan, where he studied classic secondary education. He has served the government in different capacities — as Executive Assistant in the Employees Compensation Commission, as Assistant Secretary of the National Anti-Poverty Commission or NAPC, and as Chief Political Affairs Officer of Senator Ping Lacson. Upon the recommendation of Secretary Briones, then newly appointed head of DepEd – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte appointed him Undersecretary of the Department of Education, where he now supervises three major services with 8 divisions, one bureau with 3 divisions, and three other major divisions. These offices are: the Administrative Service with the Asset Management, Cash, Records and general Services Divisions under it; the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service; the Information and Communications Technology Service with the Solutions Development, Technology Infrastructure, and User Support Divisions and the newly created Educational Technology Unit, under it; the Bureau of Learner Support Services with the School Health, School Sports, and Youth Formation Divisions under it; the Education Facilities Division, the Baguio Teachers Camp, and the Central Security and Safety Office in its operational aspect. When the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the nation and the whole world, he and the entire Administration Strand—in cooperation and coordination with other offices outside his strand—were able to handle the DepEd Task Force Covid-19, the DepEd Commons, DepEd TV, DepEd Radio, DepEd TV Facebook, DepEd TV YouTube Channel and the DepEd Learning Management System, among others. These undertakings earned DepEd the citation Policymaker EdTech Champion. Unknown to DepEd, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) nominated it to the prestigious EdTech-centered non-government organization that is focused on the sustainable and evidence-driven role of technology in advancing quality education. In addition, DepEd TV was one of the Honorable Mentions under the Crisis and Conflict Response category at the same awards event.

'This school year is actually a primary opportunity for learning,' says Jody Spiro, director of education leadership at the Wallace Foundation. In this episode, she explains why and walks us through the new mindset required to effectively lead schools this school term. Follow on Twitter: @wallacefdn @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: Education Reimagined: Remote to Hybrid Learning Jody Spiro, director of education leadership at the Wallace Foundation. Jody began working at the foundation as a senior program officer in 2002. Her career as a senior educator and manager of education programs has spanned the private, public, nonprofit and international sectors. Her areas of specialization include leadership, facilitating active learning and systemic change processes. She is the author of Leading Change Step-by-Step: Tactics, Tools, and Tales and High-Payoff Strategies: How Education Leaders Get Results.

Daniel Domenech is executive director of the American Association of School Administrators. A native of Cuba who moved to the U.S. at the age of nine, Domenech has more than 36 years of experience in public education. Prior to joining AASA, Domenech served as senior vice president of the Urban Advisory Resource for McGraw-Hill Education and served for six years as superintendent of the Fairfax County, Virginia. Host of AASA Radio.

Unlike many schools and school districts, Greenwood Academies was well ahead of the curve technologically. In this episode, we talk with the academy’s school administrator who discovered that the most vulnerable populations in his school system included himself. Follow on Twitter: @graham_feek @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: Education Reimagined: Remote to Hybrid Learning Graham Feek is Deputy Chief Executive of Greenwood Academies Trust, who run 36 academies across the East Midlands, and also Executive Director of Our Learning Cloud, who provide cloud computing services to schools. Graham is passionate about supporting young people to be able to succeed in life and has led the establishment of many large-scale programs to support pupil development and skills, many focussing on physical and mental wellbeing. This is what particularly drew him to get involved with Active Notts initially. Graham is a qualified accountant by profession and previously occupied a number of senior roles in local government, including in Children's Services. Graham has a wide experience of delivering services to schools and also leading major capital programs such as Building Schools for the Future. Graham enjoys the outdoors, and running in particular, and has been an enthusiastic badminton player for nearly 40 years.

In this episode, we look at some of the strategies a very diverse school district used to quickly come up to speed and thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how equity scans and a pedagogical help desk provided essential data to allocate resources where they were most needed. Follow on Twitter: @p_gartland @Coquitlam_IntEd @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: Education Reimagined: Remote to Hybrid Learning Ms. Patricia Gartland has been Superintendent of Schools for School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) since 2015 and is responsible for overseeing B.C.'s third largest school district with 32,000 students and 4,000 employees in over 70 schools and facilities. During her career, Patricia has filled a variety of roles as French Immersion teacher, Teacher-Librarian, Program Coordinator, K-12 School Administrator, District Principal, and Director of Instruction, among several other senior leadership positions leading to her present role as Superintendent. Ms. Gartland holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in French Language and Literature from UBC, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from SFU, and is proficient in several languages. She has earned the accolades of her many colleagues and peers including being presented with the BCCIE Distinguished Leadership Award in 2012.

2020 opened our eyes to the gaping holes in our capacity to ensure learning continuity under all conditions. In this episode, we speak with the superintendent of Duval County School system, one of the largest in the country about how they responded to their wake-up call. Follow on Twitter: @DuvalSchools @DrDianaGreene @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @Jonharper70bd Related Resources - MicrosoftEDU: Education Reimagined: Remote to Hybrid Learning | Duval school leaders share tips for transitioning to remote learning Dr. Diana L. Greene began her tenure as Superintendent of Duval County Public Schools (DCPS), the 20th largest school district in the nation, on July 1, 2018. She arrived to this role with extensive classroom and leadership experience, beginning with her first elementary teaching position at Mamie Agnes Jones in Baldwin, Florida. Prior to becoming a superintendent in Duval County, Dr. Greene served as Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services in Manatee County. During her 33-year career as an educator, she has spent time as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal as well as in curriculum development, staff development and in senior executive leadership.

In this episode, we talk with the assistant superintendent at a large school district in Florida about how they navigated pandemic learning. Join us as we zero in on the ways the experience has changed how their school system is approaching learning, learning loss, and working with faculty. Follow on Twitter: @1SLPS @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: St. Lucie Public Schools Education Reimagined: Remote to Hybrid Learning In the summer of 2015, Dr. Jonathan Prince accepted the position of Deputy Superintendent of St. Lucie Public Schools. Leaning on his proven track record and experience of turning around struggling schools as a school principal, he has assisted with orchestrating the Superintendent’s vision of accountability, high standards and rigor in St. Lucie Public Schools. Dr. Prince is a proud advocate for public education, believing that equity and access to accelerated coursework will create a thriving community in St. Lucie County.

Many of us are still struggling with the challenges of teaching during the pandemic. Join us as we talk with the superintendent of one of the largest school districts in the US about the four creative ways they resolved their biggest barrier to remote teaching and learning. Follow on Twitter: @RajAdusumilli @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU- Arlington School District Education Reimagined: Remote to Hybrid Learning Raj Adusumilli is the Assistant Superintendent for Technology / Information Services in Arlington Public Schools since December 2012. Mr. Adusumilli joined APS in 2008, and has served as assistant director of information systems and director of enterprise solutions. Before joining APS, Adusumilli spent 11 years at Oracle Corporation and has a combined 20 years in the technology industry before joining APS. Adusumilli has a Bachelor’s Degree in technology from Nagarjuna University in India. He also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Duke University and a Masters in Computer Science from George Mason University. While at APS, Adusumilli has been responsible for the operations of all information systems including design, development, deployment, training and operations of all information technology solutions for APS business and instructional users. He has significant experience in grant writing for technology, conducting workshops and training on the use of technology, as well as leading technology initiatives K through 12.