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Ep. 92: Avoiding the Middle School Cliff

Marc and Nick welcome back Katie Powell, Director for Middle Level Programs at the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) and author of Boredom Busters and Frustration Busters. Katie unpacks the middle school cliff, the steep fall in engagement that shows up between elementary and high school, and why it predates phones. She explains why every technology panic, from the printing press to AI, is the same fear in a different costume, why she is wary of abstinence models for screens in school, and why attention is a finite bank kids spend all day long. 

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Ep. 87: Telling Isn’t Teaching

Marc and Nick, joined by guest co-host Kate Crimmins, high school English chairperson, sit down with Kristina Smekens, president and lead consultant at Smekens Education and one of the most in-demand literacy consultants in the country. Kristina has spent the better part of two decades helping K-12 teachers master reading and writing instruction, and this conversation zeroes in on a distinction that changes everything: the difference between modeling what to do and the think-aloud that makes invisible thinking visible.

Kristina walks through the free throw analogy that stopped a room full of new teachers cold, explains why students can repeat every step of a skill and still fail the moment the context shifts, and unpacks what gradual release actually looks like when it is done with intention. The conversation also covers the planning that makes a 15-minute mini lesson look effortless, and why slowing down in September almost always produces faster, more independent learners by spring. If you have ever shown students exactly what to do and then watched them not be able to do it, this one is for you.

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Ep. 84: Leading Schools With Heart

Nick and Marc sit down with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket, elementary school principal, adjunct professor at McDaniel College, TEDx speaker, president of the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals, and one of the top 100 influencers in education. She is also the author of two bestselling books, The Principal’s Journey and Relational Intelligence.

Dr. Edoho-Eket shares the leadership lesson she wishes every aspiring principal understood before stepping into the role, why relationships are the engine of every great school, and how consistency, communication, and presence build the kind of trust that makes the hardest parts of the job possible. She also opens up about navigating imposter syndrome as a new principal, the surprising challenges of moving from assistant principal to principal, and why you don’t need all the answers – you just need to know who to ask.

The conversation also tackles one of education’s most pressing topics: AI in the classroom. Dr. Edoho-Eket shares her district’s pragmatic approach to ethical AI implementation, why “guidance” beats “policy” in a fast-moving landscape, and how schools can build a strong foundation in digital citizenship starting at the elementary level.

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AI AI in education An Exclusive SoE Interview Austin Levinson captivate Classroom EdTech FETC generative age Marc Isseks MegaMinds nick simone Podcast schools State of Ed Podcast

Ep. 81: Using AI to Grow MEGA Minds

In their ongoing FETC series, Nick and Marc sit down with Austin Levinson, Director of Learning at MEGAMINDS. They discuss the shifting landscape of edtech and how MegaMinds is leveraging artificial intelligence to create more meaningful learning experiences for students in schools.

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Ep. 79: Learning to Captivate

Nick turns the tables and interviews Marc about his book, Captivate as well as the message he is sharing with educators across the country as a featured speaker at conferences. They discuss challenges faced by today’s school leaders, ways to leverage educational technology in the classroom, and how to effectively mentor new teachers.

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Ep. 78: Teaching in the Generative Age

Marc is joined by author, podcaster, speaker, and instructional technology expert, Alana Winnick. Recorded at the School Administrators Association of New York’s Annual Conference, amid the picturesque backdrop of Lake George, Marc and Alana discuss the role of AI in today’s classrooms, the challenges of implementation, and the incredible opportunity available to our schools and students in this generative age.

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Ep. 77: Effective School Leadership

Marc is joined by author, speaker, and former school superintendent, Dr. Joe Sanfelippo. Recorded at the School Administrators Association of New York’s Annual Conference, amid the picturesque backdrop of Lake George, Marc and Joe discuss critical elements of district leadership, how to hire, train, and retain the very best people, and ways to shift culture to ensure that learning environments produce the best possible outcomes.

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Ep. 72: Improving the Game

Marc and Nick sit down with Dr. Laura Williams, author, consultant, and 21st century learning specialist to discuss increasing student engagement, leveling up cooperative learning, and how to make a meaningful impression on your classes.

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An Exclusive SoE Interview captivate Classroom Dr. Todd Whitaker Education Leadership Marc Isseks nick simone Podcast schools State of Ed Podcast Uncategorized

Ep. 70: The School Leader’s Playbook (Part 2)

Catch the second part of Marc and Nick’s in-depth conversation with Dr. Todd Whitaker (author of What Great Teachers Do Differently and What Great Principals Do Differently). It is a master class in instructional leadership from the classroom to the superintendency.

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Ep. 69: The School Leader’s Playbook (Part 1)

There are so many great lessons in this conversation we couldn’t fit it into one episode! Don’t miss Dr. Todd Whitaker (author of What Great Teachers Do Differently and What Great Principals Do Differently) share gems on how to hire and retain the very best teachers, improve classroom management, and be the best leader you can be for your school community.

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