Voices for Excellence

Today's kindergartners will retire in 2082, but are we preparing them for that world or ours? In this episode, Dr. Michael Conner sits down with Stewart Brown, Director of Partnerships at Code4Kids, to challenge the "21st century" trap that's already widening the gap for Generation Alpha and Beta.Stewart and Michael dig into why coding is becoming as essential as cursive, a fundamental literacy every student needs, not just a technical skill for future developers. They explore how cross-curricular computer science can bridge math, science, arts, and social studies, and why the education system urgently needs to move beyond outdated frameworks and embrace what Stewart calls 22nd-century thinking.The conversation unpacks why understanding technology matters far more than becoming a software engineer, and how Code for Kids is already reshaping what digital literacy looks like in practice, through connective, curriculum-integrated education that gives students real agency in a technology-saturated world.Stewart Brown is a multiple founder of international EdTech companies and a trusted voice in AI literacy in education. Code for Kids, launched in 2018, integrates coding, robotics, digital literacy, and STEAM across the curriculum.This is essential listening for educators, administrators, and parents asking the question that matters most: how do we truly prepare students for their future? Subscribe to Voices for Excellence for conversations that challenge education's status quo.

What does it take to build a legacy that lifts others as it rises? In this powerhouse episode of the Black Excellence Series, Dr. Michael Conner sits down with Dr. David Heiber—renowned educator, visionary entrepreneur, and founder of Concentric Educational Solutions—for a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership, systems disruption, and unshakable commitment to our youth.With raw honesty and unmatched insight, Dr. Heiber traces his path from humble beginnings to building a multimillion-dollar enterprise grounded in one core principle: meet students where they are—literally. From knocking on over 75,000 doors during the pandemic to reconnect students with school systems, to constructing a scalable model of student-centered engagement rooted in research and community trust, Dr. Heiber reveals the deeply human and deeply strategic layers of his journey.Now stepping into a new chapter with Redemption Social Solutions, Heiber expands his mission to empower the next generation of Black leaders and business-builders—launching the Black Educational Business Alliance (BEBA), a bold framework for funding, mentoring, and sustaining Black-owned education ventures.This episode is more than a conversation—it’s a blueprint for equitable systems transformation through authenticity, sacrifice, and relentless devotion to student success.What you’ll learn in this episode:Bold Leadership Begins Within: Why self-knowledge, vulnerability, and authenticity are the roots of true empowerment. From Theory to Impact: How Dr. Heiber built a scalable model aligned to his "Centricity" framework and Afrocentric theory of change. Startup Real Talk: The unfiltered truths about venture capital, profit margins, and learning to speak the language of business as a Black founder.One Door at a Time: How face-to-face engagement is still one of the most powerful levers for fighting chronic absenteeism and building trust.Black Excellence as Collective Power: Why BEBA (Black Educational Business Alliance) is reimagining venture funding for Black-led education companies.The Grind is Real: Sneak preview into Dr. Heiber’s upcoming book and 10 essential principles for building a thriving Black business in education.Dr. Heiber challenges us to sacrifice for the collective, to create space for grace, and to build enduring structures that outlive us—all while staying hungry for justice and excellence. This is a call to build, collaborate, and lead differently.Subscribe and share to continue driving the future of education for all.

How do we move beyond the limits of a single test score to truly see the brilliance and potential of every child? In this riveting episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner is joined by two extraordinary education leaders who bring over six decades of combined insight to answer that very question.Dr. Mark King, Vice President of Education at Arts for Learning Maryland and author of The Middle School Master, joins Melinda Cook, Head of Assessment Strategies at Riverside Insights, to reimagine what it means to educate and evaluate the whole learner. With a fierce devotion to equity, they dismantle outdated models that narrowly define success, instead championing structures that are developmentally responsive, cognitively rich, and rooted in relationships.From rethinking the master schedule to unlock deeper learning, to providing teachers with purpose-driven professional development, to using multiple measures of data that recognize each student's unique capacity—Dr. King and Ms. Cook offer a framework for systemic transformation. Their stories and strategies illuminate what’s possible when schools value students not just for their output but for their complexity, strengths, and promise.What you’ll learn in this episode: Why arts integration, engagement, and differentiation are essential to middle school successHow multiple measures of data reveal student potential—not just proficiency Why professional development must evolve to align with Generation Alpha & Beta learnersHow shifting from a deficit lens to an asset-based mindset changes lives Why erroneous placement in special education is an equity issue—and what to do about itHow accountability should be redefined as growth-centered and relational, not punitiveDr. Conner, as ever, guides the discussion with both urgency and humanity, highlighting how leaders must build agile, high-performing systems that honor students’ lived experiences, cultural assets, and future readiness. This episode is a call to see students as whole—as gifted, as creative, and as capable of extraordinary success.Subscribe and share to continue driving the future of education for all.

What happens when a school district refuses to operate in silos—and instead imagines an ecosystem that truly wraps around every learner, every family, and every community member? In this inspiring episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner sits down with visionary educator and community leader Jody Bloyer, Deputy Superintendent of Racine Unified School District in Wisconsin.A former teacher and principal, Jody brings a deep commitment to equity, innovation, and the power of collective care. Under her leadership, Racine has become a model for integrated, community-driven education systems. From launching community connector teams and restorative practices alongside law enforcement, to building pathways that connect classroom learning to real-world careers, Jody is designing a student experience rooted in relevance, belonging, and joy.Together, Dr. Conner and Jody explore what it means to lead with both urgency and grace in a rapidly evolving educational landscape—especially post-COVID, where Generation Alpha students are entering schools with radically different learner profiles, social-emotional needs, and expectations for how learning happens.You’ll learn: Bold strategies to shift from siloed services to layered systems of support  Why social-emotional learning is academic learning—and must be treated as such  What “safe in the try” means for creating cultures of experimentation and risk-taking in schools  How to better align instruction to match Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s learner attributes  The power of authentic community partnerships that hold students at the center  Why 22nd-century education demands a redefinition of both success and school itself  At the heart of this episode is a challenge to disrupt convention—while staying grounded in collective purpose. From grace and belief to commitment and joy, Jody reminds us what’s possible when educators truly embrace innovation as a communal act of love and progress.Subscribe and share to continue driving the future of education for all.

What does it mean to be a parent in the age of AI?On this episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner is joined by Kunal Dalal, a visionary educator, founder of AI Parentology, and one of today’s most important thinkers shaping the intersection of artificial intelligence and learning. With roots in both classroom teaching and education innovation, Kunal is not just exploring how AI can transform education—he’s modeling it in deeply human and personal ways.From building micro-schools inspired by his own child’s learning to facilitating rich, AI-infused family experiences that teach solidarity, creativity, and agency, Kunal is rewriting the narrative of what education—at home and in schools—can be. Dr. Conner and Kunal unpack how AI can serve not as a replacement for human connection, but as a mirror and catalyst for more meaningful, culturally responsive, and student-centered learning.This expansive, joyful conversation looks beyond compliance-driven systems to explore how schools can reimagine themselves as laboratories of self-efficacy, equity, and innovation—while also holding space for the very real fears and complexities this moment brings.What you’ll learn in this episode:Bold leadership isn’t top-down—it’s about followership and listening to the true architects of the future: students.Why embracing AI means leaning into uncertainty, creativity, and co-agency—not replicating factory models of the past.How micro-schools can ignite community-based innovation that’s student-designed, culturally grounded, and deeply personal.How algorithmic reflections force us to confront the systemic gaps, silences, and prejudices embedded in our society—and how we must respond.The power of AI to co-create with children—using dreams, art, questions, and storytelling to spark curiosity, identity, and connection.What developers and education leaders must consider now to ensure AI tools are trained on diverse, humanizing data that truly reflects Generation Alpha & Beta.Kunal’s concept of the “AI Parentologist” isn’t just a title—it’s an evolving framework for how families, educators, and developers can intentionally design a more just, joyful future. And it’s a future Dr. Conner continues to lead toward through bold inquiry, system-level transformation, and equity-centered design.Subscribe and share to continue driving the future of education for all.

In this thought-provoking episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner sits down with Rebecca Bultsma — international AI ethics researcher, Chief Innovation Officer, and co-host of AmpED to 11 — to explore what it really means to lead in the age of artificial intelligence.From Kendrick Lamar lyrics to ethical paradoxes, this conversation moves from AI strategy and governance to the human heartbeat of education. Rebecca unpacks her belief that “ethics is the seatbelt of AI strategy”—a grounding metaphor for how innovation must move fast, but never without responsibility.Together, Dr. Conner and Rebecca dive into:How ethics and strategy intersect in real-world decision-making, from boardrooms to classrooms.The VIBE Framework (Visible, Intentional, Beneficial, Earned) — Rebecca’s approach to ensuring AI use in schools stays transparent and trustworthy.The coming wave of frontier models like GPT-5, Claude 4.1, and Grok 4 — and what they mean for leaders, teachers, and students.How AI agents could transform personalized learning and potentially repurpose traditional schools into community-based learning hubs.Why the next decade demands permission-to-fail leadership — cultures that value experimentation, iteration, and vulnerability over perfection.And how the learners of tomorrow — Generation Alpha and soon Generation Beta — will thrive by staying curious, unimpressed, and unapologetically human.Rebecca challenges listeners to imagine a future where education isn’t confined to classrooms, grades, or standardized tests, but exists as a network of personalized experiences, guided by ethical innovation and human connection.This is more than a conversation about technology — it’s a blueprint for human-centered transformation in the age of AI.

Austin ISD is rewriting the playbook on equity in advanced academics. In this Back to School edition of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner is joined by Cody Pruitt, Blake Haygood, and Tony Castilleja of Riverside Insights to explore how the district is leveraging the CogAT to expand opportunity and disrupt traditional measures of achievement. Together, they unpack how Austin ISD is redefining giftedness, creating new pathways into AP and IB programs, and ensuring underrepresented and multilingual learners are recognized for their true abilities. From breaking down systemic barriers to reimagining identification practices, the conversation highlights how culture, mindset, and access are being reshaped in ways that elevate both student confidence and academic success. With practical insights and bold vision, this episode showcases what it means to center access and opportunity, embrace strength-based learning, and build systems that prepare every student—not just a select few—to thrive in the AC (After COVID) stage of education.