State of Ed Podcast

Marc Isseks and special guest co-host, Karen Walsh sit down with Dan Thomas, a recently retired STEM teacher who spent his entire 32-year career at the same school he graduated from in Jamestown, New York. Now consulting and speaking under his Coach Thomas Tech brand, Dan brings a hands-on, PBL-driven philosophy to educators looking to make learning visible, meaningful, and yes, actually usable by Tuesday morning. This conversation covers a lot of ground: why AI has finally moved past the shiny-new-thing phase and into real implementation, how the Tuesday Test reframes professional learning (if you cannot use it tomorrow without hand-holding, what is the point?), and why AI may be the first tool that makes genuine differentiation possible at scale. Dan and Karen, a veteran English teacher known for her commitment to creativity and reinvention, bring decades of classroom experience to a discussion that is as practical as it is forward-looking. The takeaway: the teacher who embraces this moment has more power than at any point in the history of education. Follow Marc: WebsiteX (Twitter)TikTokYouTubeCAPTIVATE on AmazonLinkedIn Find State of Ed: Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon Musicstateofedpodcast.com GUEST LINKS Dan Thomas | Coach Thomas Tech coachthomastech.com@coachthomastech on X (Twitter)LinkedIn: Dan Thomas (coachthomastech)The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast on Apple PodcastsThe TechEd Clubhouse Podcast on Spotify

Nick and Marc sit down with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket, elementary school principal, adjunct professor at McDaniel College, TEDx speaker, president of the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals, and one of the top 100 influencers in education. She is also the author of two bestselling books, The Principal's Journey and Relational Intelligence. Dr. Edoho-Eket shares the leadership lesson she wishes every aspiring principal understood before stepping into the role, why relationships are the engine of every great school, and how consistency, communication, and presence build the kind of trust that makes the hardest parts of the job possible. She also opens up about navigating imposter syndrome as a new principal, the surprising challenges of moving from assistant principal to principal, and why you don't need all the answers - you just need to know who to ask. The conversation also tackles one of education's most pressing topics: AI in the classroom. Dr. Edoho-Eket shares her district's pragmatic approach to ethical AI implementation, why "guidance" beats "policy" in a fast-moving landscape, and how schools can build a strong foundation in digital citizenship starting at the elementary level. Find Dr. Edoho-Eket: website, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's latest book, CAPTIVATE

Nick and Marc spend time with Dr. Cynthia Taines, a sociologist, associate professor, and author of The Metropolitan Community: Partnering for Equality Across the Educational Divide. They discuss the many inequities facing our nation's schools and the potential solutions that could bridge existing divisions. Find Dr. Taines: website, Instagram, Facebook Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's latest book, CAPTIVATE Click HERE to watch this episode of State of Ed Podcast

In their ongoing FETC series, Nick and Marc sit down with Jeff Piontek, an education leader, author, and international speaker with more than 25 years of experience advancing early literacy, instructional design, and school leadership. Jeff is the former director of instructional and informational technology for the NYCDOE. His work focuses on protecting the human foundations of learning while thoughtfully integrating emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. Jeff is also the creator of the AI, EI, O, and You framework, a practical model designed to help educators and leaders balance innovation with well-being, oral language development, and human agency. Find Jeff Piontek: website, X, LinkedIn Check out Kibeam. Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's latest book, CAPTIVATE Click HERE to watch this episode of State of Ed Podcast

In their ongoing FETC series, Nick and Marc sit down with Austin Levinson, Director of Learning at MEGAMINDS. They discuss the shifting landscape of edtech and how MegaMinds is leveraging artificial intelligence to create more meaningful learning experiences for students in schools. Follow Austin Levinson on LinkedIN See MegaMinds in action. Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's latest book, CAPTIVATE Click HERE to watch State of Ed Podcast

First-timers at the FETC Annual Conference in Orlando, Nick and Marc got to meet many incredible educators from across the country. In this episode, they sit down with the incomparable Barbara Bray, who gushes about her love of teachers and addresses the importance of remembering your "why." Get to know Barbara Bray: online, Grow Your Why Podcast, her books Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

Nick turns the tables and interviews Marc about his book, Captivate as well as the message he is sharing with educators across the country as a featured speaker at conferences. They discuss challenges faced by today's school leaders, ways to leverage educational technology in the classroom, and how to effectively mentor new teachers. Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE https://www.amazon.com/dp/1990566898

Marc is joined by author, podcaster, speaker, and instructional technology expert, Alana Winnick. Recorded at the School Administrators Association of New York's Annual Conference, amid the picturesque backdrop of Lake George, Marc and Alana discuss the role of AI in today's classrooms, the challenges of implementation, and the incredible opportunity available to our schools and students in this generative age. Find Alana Winnick online, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE https://www.amazon.com/dp/1990566898

Marc is joined by author, speaker, and former school superintendent, Dr. Joe Sanfelippo. Recorded at the School Administrators Association of New York's Annual Conference, amid the picturesque backdrop of Lake George, Marc and Joe discuss critical elements of district leadership, how to hire, train, and retain the very best people, and ways to shift culture to ensure that learning environments produce the best possible outcomes. Find Dr. Sanfelippo online, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

Marc is joined by international consultant, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author, Rosalind Wiseman, whose book Queen Bees & Wannabees inspired the popular film and musical, Mean Girls. They discuss how to foster schools that promote student voice, the differences between respect and dignity, and the challenges facing educators and young people in a social media world. Find Rosalind Wiseman online, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's latest book, CAPTIVATE

In this conversation, Marc and Nick discuss the intricacies of lesson planning, emphasizing the importance of structured questioning and engagement techniques. They explore how to effectively plan lessons that foster student participation and understanding, while also considering the role of AI in education and the balance between creativity and structure in teaching. Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

Marc and Nick sit down with Dr. Colleen Kelley, retired chemistry professor, TEDx speaker, and author of Kids' Chemistry comic books. Dr. Kelley shares how her passion for science has led her on a journey to bring molecular literacy to elementary school students through story telling and fun. Show Notes: Dr. Kelley's website TEDx Talk PBS Documentary Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

Marc and Nick sit down with Jake Miller, author, personalized learning specialist, and host of The Educational Duct Tape Podcast to discuss how to leverage instructional technology, increase students' intrinsic motivation, and strategies to help shift how educators approach teaching in today's schools. Show Notes: Jake Miller's socials Bluesky Twitter (X) Instagram Facebook Website Podcast Website YouTube TikTok LinkedIn Pinterest Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

Marc and Nick sit down with Laura Williams, author, consultant, and 21st century learning specialist to discuss increasing student engagement, leveling up cooperative learning, and how to make a meaningful impression on your classes. Show Notes: Laura Williams on X, BlueSky LinkedIn Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE https://www.amazon.com/dp/1990566898

Marc and Nick sit down with Jennifer Womble, chair of the Future of Education in Technology Conference (FETC), the largest gathering of its kind in North America. They discuss the many challenges faced by educators and schools impacted by an ever-evolving technological landscape. Show Notes: Jennifer Womble on X, BlueSky LinkedIn Follow Marc on X, online, TikTok, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

Catch the second part of Marc and Nick's in-depth conversation with Dr. Todd Whitaker (author of What Great Teachers Do Differently and What Great Principals Do Differently). It is a master class in instructional leadership from the classroom to the superintendency. Show Notes: Dr. Whitaker on X, website Follow Marc on X, online, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

There are so many great lessons in this conversation we couldn't fit it into one episode! Don't miss Dr. Todd Whitaker (author of What Great Teachers Do Differently and What Great Principals Do Differently) share gems on how to hire and retain the very best teachers, improve classroom management, and be the best leader you can be for your school community. Dr. Whitaker on X, website Follow Marc on X, online, or YouTube Pick up a copy of Captivate

Marc and Nick sit down with two outstanding school leaders, Dr. Michael Lubelfeld and Dr. Nick Polyak to discuss the importance of promoting and supporting cultures of innovation and inclusivity to meet the needs of all students. This is a masterclass for educators in leadership roles as well as those learning how to lead. Show Notes: Dr. Lubelfeld on X Dr. Polyak on X Follow Marc on X, online, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

Marc and Nick sit down with Neulight co-founder, Dr. Andrew Lawrence to discuss how his company is helping educators leverage the power of A.I. to implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) more efficiently and effectively than ever before. Show Notes: Check out Neulight Dr. Lawrence on LinkedIn Follow Marc on X, online, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

In their first visual podcast, Marc and Nick sit down with the one-and-only Vicki Davis, known worldwide as the Cool Cat Teacher. Topics include: the role of AI in teaching and learning, computational thinking, and the power of making meaningful connections with students. Show Notes: You can explore Vicki's insights, projects, and resources at CoolCatTeacher.com. Follow Marc on X, online, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE