Those of us in education business are often focused on managing the clock, the budget and the demands of an industry and clientele (students and teachers) desperately looking for smart technologies that provide student-centered learning opportunities and high levels of engagement.

Jennifer LaGarde (aka library girl!) is the Lead School Library Media Coordinator/Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist for New Hanover County Schools in Wilmington, North Carolina. LaGarde talks about the state of libraries and librarians, around the country, and the “state-of-crisis” so many professionals have been facing. 

Adam Bellow shared a behind-the-scenes look at his career path and how he became one of the most desired thought leaders in education and educational technology. Bellow, now a Presidential Innovation Fellow, discusses where we are as an industry and how our perceptions have changed, over time, in education.

Barbara (Bobbi) Kurshan, Ed.D., the Executive Director of Academic Innovation and Senior Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education joined me for coffee (play interview below) to discuss entrepreneurship in education. Dr. Kurshan discusses the conundrum of when to seek investors and how the education ecosystem can access the most relevant resources. For additional perspective from Dr. Kurshan check out her blog on Forbes. 

We recently explored the topic of dropout recovery from the perspective of the school district and public and private entities whose missions are to collaborate on solutions to reduce this pervasive and startling challenge facing our country. The discussion centered on the challenges districts are facing citing recent research and reports detailing both the financial and social impact of student’s leaving high school prior to graduation.  

Tyler DeWitt, Paul Andersen and Patrick Jones (PatrickJMT) are headed to Austin, Texas for SXSW Edu to discuss the role flipped learning plays in education through video instructional content. DeWitt, Anderson and Jones are three of YouTube’s most popular education personalities whose content covers Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math. For more information about the session check out the details below!

George Dotterer, NetRef CEO and founder, discusses how placing control in a teacher’s hands provides safer and more diverse learning experiences for students. Dotterer touches on hot topics including data usage and privacy practices, how students sometimes prove to be the best beta testers and how parents play a role in the larger discussion of edtech and learning outcomes. He further discusses the digital divide and connected approaches to learning from NetRef’s recent white paper The Digital Divide in the Age of the Connected Classroom.

Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss continues our focus on leading Superintendents around the country. Ziegenfuss discusses his leadership role in a world where more students are entering a workforce structured around 1099’s as opposed to previous generations that worked with less autonomy. He talks about how to support schools and students in this environment and explores ways to improve content delivery mechanisms to meet today’s students. 

Souderton Area School District Superintendent Frank Gallagher continues our series covering leaders around the U.S. Gallagher discusses his unscripted path to the top job and how he looks at everything from the role of data to the state of education on the eve of the Presidential election. 

Regie Routman shares her perspective on literacy and how school leadership can positively impact learning. She breaks down how schools can develop Professional LITERACY Communities (PLC’s) rather than traditional PLC’s (Professional Learning Communities) often focused on data rather than practice. Routman also discuss the role fear plays in education and how joy can be brought back into reading and writing in school.  

We are continuing our series on leading Superintendents around the U.S. with Mike Leichliter, Ed.D of Penn Manor School District in Pennsylvania. Leichliter talks about his career path and the role community input plays in today’s administrations.

Howard Pitler, fresh off his latest op-ed on value added assessments, talks with Dr. Rod to discuss the behind-the-scenes business of educational consulting. Pitler talks about experiences that were sold as thoughtful Professional Development meetings only to reveal cattle call environments. Pitler also discusses the responsibilities of audience members and presenters drawing a stark line between the effort each group should put forth for successful outcomes. 

Dr. Lawrence Mussoline has worked in Pennsylvania private and public education for 36 years as a teacher and administrator. A superintendent of schools in three Pennsylvania Districts for the past …

Dr. Pat Greco of the Menomonee Falls School District in Wisconsin discusses the business of education with Dr. Rod in his ongoing series with leading Superintendents around the U.S. Dr. Greco has been recognized as educator of the year in Wisconsin and is one of twenty Superintendents taking part in the White House’s “Digital Promise” initiative aimed at educational technology practices. 

Christopher Chute, Research VP at International Data Corporation (IDC), discusses trends in technology. Chute translates market trends to the education sector with Dr. Rod.