Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

In this episode of Shifting Schools, bestselling author Alan Gratz joins Tricia Friedman to explore the craft of storytelling, the role of creativity in education, and why curiosity is the engine behind both great writing and great learning. Gratz shares how baseball has quietly shaped the structure of many of his novels, how he approaches character development with authenticity, and why understanding a character's background is essential for emotional truth.

The conversation also digs into the need for interdisciplinary learning in today's classrooms and the value of teacher collaboration. Gratz argues that creativity isn't a mysterious talent—it's a skill that can be nurtured, practiced, and strengthened when schools design learning experiences that cross traditional subject boundaries.

Whether you're an educator, writer, or lifelong learner, this episode offers fresh insights into how storytelling helps us understand the human experience and how curiosity fuels both art and education.

• Alan Gratz's novel has stayed on the bestseller list for five years, a longevity he describes as "never taken for granted."

• He uses baseball as a metaphorical framework when structuring narratives.

• Creativity is a teachable practice—not an innate gift.

• Interdisciplinary learning increases student engagement and deepens understanding.

• Strong character development depends on knowing a character's background, motivations, and contradictions.

• Reading diverse perspectives cultivates empathy, curiosity, and creative thinking.

• Gratz encourages exploring multiple creative pathways in writing and education.

• Schools benefit when teachers collaborate across disciplines to build rich learning experiences.

00:00 – The Legacy of a Best-Selling Author 02:57 – Baseball as a Creative Influence 05:43 – The Teachability of Creativity 08:46 – Interdisciplinary Learning in Education 11:37 – Character Development and Authenticity 14:20 – Curiosity and the Human Condition

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht reconnects with Marcus DiPaola, a successful content creator and documentary filmmaker. They discuss Marcus's journey from working in news to becoming a prominent influencer on platforms like TikTok, where he has amassed over 4 million followers. The conversation delves into the challenges of content creation, the importance of writing skills, and the role of AI in enhancing creative processes. Marcus shares insights on his documentary work, including a recent project on protests and his upcoming film about food insecurity. He emphasizes the value of internships for aspiring creators and the dedication required to succeed in the industry.

Connect with him:

Are micro schools the future of personalized learning? In this high-impact episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht sits down with David K. Richards, CEO of ChangeMaker Education, to break down one of the fastest-growing movements in the education ecosystem: microschools.

With over 125,000 micro schools and 1.5 million students already learning in small, relationship-centered environments across the U.S., this episode delivers a deeply practical and future-focused look at why educators, parents, and policymakers are paying attention.

• What a micro school really is — and why its flexible size (5–150 learners) unlocks personalization

• How the pandemic accelerated the movement, doubling homeschooling rates and driving families to seek community-based alternatives.

• Why micro schools are not new—they're the modern reimagining of the one-room schoolhouse.

• How micro schools fit across sectors: private, charter, district-partnered, and homeschool learning centers.

• The regulatory landscape educators must understand—voucher programs, ESAs, accreditation, and state-by-state flexibility.

  Key Insight From David Richards

  Teachers often underestimate how many entrepreneurial skills they already have—project management, relationship-building, instructional design, crisis navigation, and creative problem-solving. Micro schools simply give them a pathway to use those skills with autonomy, community connection, and purpose.

  Featured Guest

  David K. Richards CEO, ChangeMaker Education Charter school founder • Former Chief of Schools • Micro school accelerator • Host of Changemaker EDU Podcast

  Learn more or apply to launch a micro school at: changemakereducation.com

Huge thank you to our show sponsor, learn more about Poll Everywhere:

What if our pets are communicating complex ideas—and technology is finally catching up? In this episode of the Shifting Schools Podcast, cognitive scientist and FluentPet founder Leo Trottier joins us to explore how breakthroughs in animal cognition, inter-species communication, and speech-button interfaces are reshaping the way humans understand pets.

Trottier unpacks the science behind communication-enhancing tools for animals, drawing from research in cognitive psychology, comparative cognition, and linguistics to explain how dogs and cats may be expressing needs, feelings, and even intentions. He also discusses how this emerging field could deepen human–animal bonds, strengthen empathy, and influence the future of animal welfare and education.

Listeners will learn:

• How cognitive science informs FluentPet's design

• What behavioral research reveals about dogs' communicative abilities

• Why emotional connection with animals supports childhood empathy development

• The ethical and rights-based implications of interspecies dialogue

• How next-generation technology could expand communication across species

Perfect for educators, future-focused parents, animal lovers, and anyone curious about the intersection of science, empathy, and emerging technology.

Thank you to our show sponsor for making episodes like these possible.

Summary

In this episode, Jeff Utecht discusses the critical importance of understanding where schools stand on the AI adoption curve. He emphasizes the need for leadership to actively engage with AI and for educators to integrate AI into their teaching practices. The conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI in education, urging schools to move from mere conversation to meaningful integration.