EdTech Bites Podcast

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.In this episode, Carl Hooker and I unpack six of his bold 2026 edtech predictions, including students becoming the product in the AI economy, the rise of AI generated “pink slime” misinformation, the threat to critical thinking, and the emergence of a unified Teacher Operating System. We also explore wearable tech, social media trust, and the fine line between innovation and surveillance. If you want clarity and practical insight on leading responsibly in an AI saturated world, this conversation is for you.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Carl HookerCarl Hooker has spent the past 27 years in education as a teacher and administrator focused on the thoughtful integration of technology and innovation in schools. He consults for multiple districts across the country and is a frequent keynote speaker at state and national events. He’s also a 10-time author, 5-time podcast host, advisor to multiple ed tech companies, and National Faculty Emeritus for Future Ready Schools. Connect With Carl HookerCarl’s Website: https://carlhooker.comCarl On X: https://x.com/mrhookerCarl On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hookertech/Carl On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hookertech.bsky.socialCarl On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlHookerFanPageCarl On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarlHooker

This episode is sponsored by Teq. One of the biggest challenges in schools right now is capacity. Educators are asked to do more, often with new tools, and very little support. Teq helps by combining classroom technology like SMART Boards and STEM resources with professional learning that respects educators’ time and reality. It’s support that makes technology usable, not overwhelming.Learn more at Teq.com.Do you ever feel like you’ve lost your “why” as an educator? In this episode, I have a heartfelt conversation with Barbara Bray, author, podcaster, and empowerment coach. She shares how burnout, system overload, and personal challenges can dim your spark… and how to get it blazing again. We discuss the process of rebranding your role in education to redefining purpose after life-altering events. Barbara offers empowering strategies to help you grow, heal, and teach with intention. If you feel like you’ve lost that spark, this episode will leave you ready to rise.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Barbara BrayBarbara Bray is an award-winning author, podcast host, and international keynote speaker with over 30 years of expertise empowering women, educators, and thought leaders to navigate meaningful life transitions with clarity and confidence. As a cancer survivor and Story Weaver, she is known for listening deeply and helping people uncover purpose and possibility within their lived experiences. Through her Grow Your Why Collective and signature Purpose Shift: Values Framework, Barbara guides people to reclaim their voice, self-advocate, and become unstoppable—amplifying their influence, impact, and income, even in uncertain times.Connect With Barbara BrayBarbara’s Website: https://barbarabray.netBarbara On X: https://x.com/bbray27Barbara On Instagram: https://instagram.com/bbray27Barbara On Bluesky: https://bbray27.bsky.socialBarbara On Facebook: https://facebook.com/barbara.bray

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.In this episode, I sit down with a longtime educator, former tech coach, district advisor, and good friend Scott Nunes to unpack the one human superpower AI simply can’t replicate: intuition built through real relationships. We unpack hallway conversations, coffee chats, high-stakes gut decisions that protect students and families, and why schools can’t automate trust, empathy, or human judgment.Buen provecho!Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Scott NunesScott Nunes is a founding member of the Human Intelligence Movement and an ISTE-certified AI educator who helps education and technology leaders translate emerging tech into measurable outcomes. Known for connecting strategy to execution, Scott helps districts secure non-traditional funding to protect educator roles and ensure teams have the resources they need to succeed.Connect With Scott NunesScott Nunes Website: https://www.scottnunes.com (Coming Soon)Scott Nunes On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mrnunesteach.bsky.socialScott Nunes On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammredtechScott Nunes On X: https://x.com/MrNunesteachScott Nunes On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrnunesteachScott Nunes YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-w7FiFOdbFFgncUTVhqWg

This episode is sponsored by Teq. One of the biggest challenges in schools right now is capacity. Educators are asked to do more, often with new tools, and very little support. Teq helps by combining classroom technology like SMART Boards and STEM resources with professional learning that respects educators’ time and reality. It’s support that makes technology usable, not overwhelming.Learn more at Teq.com.In this powerful episode, I welcome back Mandy Froehlich—longtime friend of the podcast and a leading voice in educator mental health. Mandy introduces us to the concept of healing spaces. These are not just quiet rooms or meditation music, but deep cultural shifts that support teacher recovery, emotional well-being, and long-term sustainability in education. We unpack the difference between burnout and demoralization, how leadership can unintentionally miss the mark, and what educators truly need to feel supported. If you feel like you’re trying to stay afloat or you’re an administrator ready to build a better culture, this episode is your blueprint for creating change.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesConnect With Mandy FroehlichMandy’s Website: http://www.mandyfroehlich.comMandy On X: https://twitter.com/froehlichm

Happy New Year! We’re officially in 2026. Teaching on autopilot feels efficient until it drains energy from the classroom. This episode breaks down three simple changes to reset instruction, set healthy AI boundaries, and bring intention back to the second semester. And if you’re looking to start the year off with a great sourdough recipe, here it is. Buen provecho!Sourdough Bread Recipe100g active sourdough starter (the star of the show)325g water500g bread flour10g salt20g honey (adds sweetness and helps the dough chill a bit)For the full instructions, check out the blog post below.https://edtechbites.com/2025/08/19/homemade-sourdough-sandwich-bread/Purchase Your Copy Of “Cooking Up Experiences In The Classroom”https://tinyurl.com/CookingUpExperiencesConnect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites