AASA Radio- The School Superintendents Association

It's dawning on the education community that general artificial intelligence will have a major impact on education and the world at large. What are the big questions school leaders will need to ask and answer to ensure their schools and students are ready to thrive in the age of GAI? Follow on Twitter: @cosn @keithkrueger @JimmyMinichello @AASAHQ @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Keith R. Krueger is CEO of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), nonprofit professional association organization that serves as the voice of K-12 EdTech leaders in North America. CoSN’s mission is empowering educational leaders to leverage technology to realize engaging learning environments. He was selected by Ed Tech magazine for it’s 2021 K-12 IT influencers. In 2016 Technology & Learning selected him as one of the “big 10” most influential people in ed tech, and the Center for Digital Education identified him as a Top 30 Technologist/Transformer/Trailblazer. In 2008 he was selected by eSchool News as one of ten people who have had a profound impact on educational technology over the last decade. In 2016 he received a Special Recognition award from the Council of Great City Schools.

Many students and teachers are close enough to see the end of the current school year, but school leaders are already thinking about how to graduate more students next year. This discussion takes a practical and research-based look at expanding pathways to graduation for all students. Follow on Twitter: @bobbalfanz @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @JimmyMinichello Robert Balfanz is a research professor at the Center for Social Organization of Schools, Johns Hopkins University School of Education, and director of the Everyone Graduates Center. His work focuses on translating research findings into effective school improvement strategies and educational reforms. He publishes, conducts research, and organizes technical assistance efforts on secondary school reform, improving high school graduation and college readiness rates, early warning systems, chronic absenteeism, social-emotional learning, and instructional improvements in high-poverty schools. Currently he is leading a Cross-State High School Redesign Network with five states and 70 high schools, the GRAD Partnership a collaborative effort of non-profits and school districts to scale the use of high quality student success (on-track) systems and the National Partnership for Student Success Support Hub, part of a public-private partnership with the US Department of Education and AmeriCorps to bring additional evidence based student supports (mentors, tutors, success coaches, post-secondary advisors and wrap around supports) into the schools and communities most impacted by the Pandemic. His work was featured in PBS Frontline’s The Education of Omarina and been awarded the Alliance For Excellent Education’s Everyone a Graduate Award and the National Forum’s to Accelerate Middle Grade Reform Joan Lipsitzs Lifetime Achievement award. In 2013 the Obama White House recognized him as a Champion for Change for African American education and he has served as an Education Fellow for the G.W. Bush Institute.

Today’s kids are fundamentally different on many levels. Their self-concept is different, their view of the future is different and what is required to reach and teach them is different. Join us as we explore how some school leaders are adapting to the changing needs of today’s students. Follow on Twitter: @greggbehr@AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @JimmyMinichello Gregg Behr, executive director of The Grable Foundation, is a father and children’s advocate. For nearly 15 years, he has helped lead Remake Learning—a network of educators, scientists, artists, and makers he founded in Pittsburgh (USA)—to international renown. Remake Learning has turned heads everywhere from Forbes to the World Economic Forum for its efforts to ignite children’s curiosity, encourage creativity, and foster justice and belonging in schools, libraries, museums, and more. He is the co-author of When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids.

As school leaders, we’ve all heard and talked a lot about self-care and ways to approach it in the wake of the pandemic. In this discussion, we explore a few overlooked practices, including the need to disconnect to reconnect. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @FCSSuper @AASAHQ @AASADan @JimmyMinichello @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Brian Creasman, Ed.D. is currently superintendent of Fleming County Schools in Kentucky and is the 2020 Kentucky Superintendent of the Year. He is a published book author including his recent book, Prioritizing Health and Wellbeing, and he has served as an assistant superintendent, a high school and middle school principal and assistant principal, and an instructional technologist and classroom teacher. He is also a graduate of the AASA national superintendent certification program.

The world outside of our school districts is changing more rapidly than the thinking, practices, and culture inside of our classrooms. In this episode, we spotlight a few trends that impact what school leaders will need to successfully navigate tomorrow. Follow on Twitter: @SPNconnet @aesanetwork @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Bill Daggett is the founder of both the Successful Practices Network and the International Center for Leadership in Education. He recently co-chaired the AASA LEARNING 2025: National Commission for Student-Centered, Equity-Focused, Future-Driven Education and is now leading the National Demonstration Network for AASA. Dr. Daggett, who is the author of 26 books, is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move preK-12 education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. For 30 years, he has crisscrossed our nation, as well as the industrialized world, to lead school reform efforts to effectively prepare students for their future. While an avid supporter of public education, he also challenges all of us to be more focused on our children’s future than on maintaining the schools of our youth. His insights and leadership have caused nearly every major education association in the country, hundreds of school districts, numerous political and business leaders, publishers, and others to seek out his advice and guidance. Dr. Daggett began his career as a teacher, local administrator, and then director with the New York State Education Department. He spends much of his time providing leadership and guidance to the National Dropout Prevention Center and the Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center, which are part of the Successful Practices Network.

We begin the new year with a segment on women in leadership and the challenges they still face getting a seat at the table with C-level executives. Our guest has climbed the organizational ladder and offers a glimpse of the personal and professional challenges many women must navigate to stay at the table once they secure a seat. Follow on Twitter: (AASA?) @LaurenLLawson @JimmyMinichello @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Lauren Lawson-Zilai is an external communications executive for Goodwill Industries International, North America’s leader in workforce training and development, job placement, and other support services for people looking for employment or career advancement. As spokesperson for Goodwill®, she has been quoted frequently in the media including, the Associated Press, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Forbes, MarketWatch Radio, The New York Times, The NonProfit Times, PEOPLE, PR News and USA TODAY. Lawson-Zilai has spent the majority of her career using marketing and communications to drive social change and impact and elevate the brand awareness of mission-driven nonprofit organizations in both a for-profit and pro bono capacity. Lawson-Zilai invests time to share best practices and lessons learned as a speaker, moderator or panelist at various venues from corporations, professional associations, nonprofit organizations and universities including, Capitol Communicator, IABC, Microsoft, the National Digital Roundtable, PR Summit, PR News, PRSA, Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), University of Maryland, George Mason University and George Washington University, to name a few.