EDU Café

🎙️ New Podcast Episode: The Network of Networks: Innovation to Support All LearnersWhat does it take to create systemic change for students with disabilities and learning differences?In the latest episode of EDU Café Podcast, I had the opportunity to host Aurora Dreger of InnovateEDU to discuss the work underway through the Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA) and how cross-organizational collaboration can help drive meaningful change.We talked about:🔹 Why education needs a “network of networks” approach🔹 How EALA connects over 170 organizations to share insights, resources, and solutions🔹 The Community of Action model, a 36-hour accelerator that turns ideas into funded initiatives🔹 What school leaders should prioritize when developing AI policies that protect student safety and privacyIf you're a school leader, educator, policymaker, or edtech leader thinking about inclusion, innovation, and responsible AI in education, I hope you'll take a listen.

Dr. Hruska, who serves as a Senior English Instructor at Stanford Online High School (SOHS), guest hosted with four SOHS students, including Hannah Poplack, Sadie Giessner, Maxwell Palance, and Wanzie Li,  to talk about how real inclusion happens and why student leadership is essential.They discussed:💡 Creating advocacy groups like the Neurodivergent Student Alliance and Disability Culture Club💡 Why accessibility needs to be designed intentionally, not added as an afterthought💡 The power of sharing lived experiences💡 How online environments can support neurodivergent students in unexpected ways💡 What schools can learn by listening to students firstOne of the most powerful takeaways:Accessibility is not a niche issue. It benefits entire communities.The students also share stories about building community, from advocacy petitions to Minecraft servers to flashlight walks at school events.Their message is clear: meaningful inclusion requires thought, intentionality, effort, and collaboration.And when students are part of the process, real change can happen.

In our latest episode of EDU Café, Kathryn sits down with Justin Bruno, Director of AI Strategy & Innovation at Oakland Schools, to explore what it really looks like to lead AI strategy across 28 school districts without pretending to have all the answers.Justin shares insights from his journey, starting with his work at Michigan Virtual to stepping into a brand-new leadership role focused on helping schools thoughtfully navigate AI’s rapid evolution.💡 In this episode, we discuss:What it means to build a regional AI strategy while honoring local contextWhy the best AI implementation starts with people, not toolsThe importance of metacognition when using AI in classrooms and leadershipBalancing innovation with equity, ethics, and human-centered valuesWhy curiosity, not fear, should guide experimentationJustin offers a refreshing and grounded perspective: AI should augment, not replace human expertise and relationships. Schools aren’t tech companies; they’re communities built to serve people. The question isn’t how fast we can move, but how thoughtfully we can integrate tools in ways that preserve trust, voice, and purpose.If you’re an educator, district leader, or education innovator trying to balance urgency with responsibility in the AI conversation, this episode is for you.🎧 Tune in to hear how one regional leader is building community, modeling curiosity, and helping 250,000+ learners and educators navigate what’s next.

Our latest EDU Café conversation featuring Dr. Denise Reading, founder and CEO of Future Plans, a nonprofit dedicated to ending poverty one person at a time by helping individuals discover their greatness and connect to meaningful career pathways.In this powerful episode, we explore how grassroots collaboration, personalized career discovery, and community-driven solutions are transforming lives across rural communities and creating real, sustainable opportunity.☕ In this episode, you’ll hear about:How career exposure and coaching can unlock hope and purposeThe GRIT (Growing Rural Independence Together) Project and its impactWhy listening to communities leads to better workforce and education solutionsMulti-generational transformation through local partnershipsThe role of technology + human connection in scaling opportunityWhat it truly means to move from managing poverty to eradicating itThis is an inspiring, practical conversation for educators, workforce leaders, community partners, and anyone passionate about access, equity, and human potential.

In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Naphtali Hoff to explore why delegation is one of the most misunderstood, and most essential, skills for school principals. Drawing from his new book, he shares how leaders can move beyond doing it all themselves to building strong leadership teams that create sustainable, high-functioning schools.