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Julie Stewart and Scott Stewart, award-winning creators behind global children’s shows for Disney, Netflix, and Sesame Workshop, co-founded Nurture with serial entrepreneur Roger Egan, former CEO of RedMart, and learning expert Musa Roshdy, a Minerva University alum and advisor at Transcend Network, to build future-ready skills through immersive play.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:01:00] Julie Stewart on kids becoming heroes inside immersive stories
[00:02:30] Roger Egan’s shift from e-commerce to early childhood learning
[00:09:30] Scott Stewart on humor and engagement as core learning tools
[00:16:00] Julie Stewart on AI and the Model Context Protocol for storytelling
[00:24:00] The team debates AI tutors with personality vs. personality-free chatbots
[00:33:00] Musa Roshdy on preventing “learned helplessness” from childhood
[00:45:00] Nurture’s strategy to partner with iconic children’s brands
[00:50:00] Breaking the taboo that fun and learning can’t coexist
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
Jean-Claude Brizard is President and CEO of Digital Promise, a global, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on accelerating innovation in education. He is the former Chief Executive of Chicago Public Schools and Superintendent of Rochester, NY. Previously, he spent 21 years with the NYC Department of Education, serving as Regional Superintendent for 100+ schools and Executive Director for 400 secondary schools. He also served as Senior Advisor and Deputy Director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leading strategies to close racial and economic achievement gaps and supporting charter school growth.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:02:20] Digital Promise’s mission: teaching, learning, pedagogy, and assessment
[00:05:39] Strategic agility: linking national strategy with classroom practice
[00:07:28] Using a logic model to guide initiatives and goals
[00:09:53] Preparing schools for AI, quantum computing, and future tech
[00:13:10] Career pathways that foster adaptability over specific jobs
[00:16:11] Philanthropy vs. government: roles in education funding
[00:19:05] Digital Promise certifications for edtech founders
[00:22:28] Back-to-school advice: building coherent instructional systems
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they dive into the biggest stories shaping education technology this week:
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:04:32] OpenAI study shows teaching and tutoring are ChatGPT’s top global use cases
[00:10:50] Parents testify in Congress about risks of unsafe AI chatbots for kids
[00:19:38] Google announces “Learn Your Way” and AI video generation for YouTube
[00:22:47] Shift from SEO to AEO as answer engines reshape discovery
[00:26:39] UK secures $40B in AI investment and Indian edtech funding rebounds post-Byju’s
[00:29:23] Babbel launches AI voice trainer and McGraw Hill adds AI to ALEKS calculus
[00:31:09] Superintendent turnover rises while principals gain influence in EdTech decisions
Plus, special guest:
[00:34:29] Christine Cruzvergara, Chief Education Strategy Officer at Handshake, on redefining entry-level jobs in the AI era and launching the Handshake AI Fellowship
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
Naria Santa Lucia is the General Manager of Elevate at Microsoft, where she leads global education, workforce, and skilling programs that have already reached over 100 million learners. With 20+ years of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and international organizations, she has partnered with the UN, World Bank, and Ministries of Education worldwide to advance AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability skills.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ Episode Highlights
[00:02:04] Why this is a unique moment for workforce development
[00:04:24] 70% of job skills may change by 2030
[00:07:55] Inside Microsoft’s Elevate global skilling initiative
[00:10:14] Public-private partnerships to scale AI education
[00:13:29] Teachers using AI and Copilot in the classroom
[00:18:50] Designing for users, developers, and organizations
[00:24:21] Credentials as signals of AI readiness
[00:28:11] Teachers in Jordan earning pay bumps with AI certifications
[00:33:17] The rise of human skills in the AI era
[00:37:19] Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and organization
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
Dave Messer is a Product Manager on Google's Learning & Education team, leads product for emerging learning initiatives, including Learning Labs and Gemini. A former teacher with masters degrees in software engineering and education, he works with experts and the education community to build products that target real-world challenges for educators and students.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:01:24] Dave Messer’s journey from classroom teacher to Google PM
[00:02:31] Google’s vision: a personal tutor for every student, a TA for every teacher
[00:05:27] Multimodal learning in Guided Learning—diagrams, visuals, and YouTube videos
[00:14:16] Inside LearnLM, Google’s AI model infused with pedagogy
[00:19:33] Psychological safety and student agency in AI-driven learning
[00:23:15] Student feedback that inspired Guided Learning’s design
[00:27:13] How learning science principles like active learning and metacognition guide product design
[00:35:18] Personalization, data privacy, and the classroom of the future
[00:38:32] Educator concerns, student creativity, and the responsible use of AI
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
Andrew Grauer is the co-founder and CEO of Learneo Inc., a leading productivity and learning platform that includes QuillBot, Course Hero, CliffsNotes, LitCharts, Scribbr, LanguageTool, and Symbolab. He also serves as CEO of QuillBot, an AI-powered writing and communications tool. Andrew launched Course Hero in 2006 while at Cornell University and has since grown Learneo into a global platform recognized as one of Inc.’s Best Led Companies.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:02:27] Andrew Grauer shares the origins of Course Hero
[00:07:47] Building Learnio’s family of EdTech brands
[00:08:24] Why QuillBot stood out and was acquired in 2021
[00:14:18] Bridging learning and doing through AI-powered writing
[00:20:31] Lessons from two decades of integrity and plagiarism debates
[00:26:18] The multimodal future of QuillBot beyond text
[00:30:39] Translation as the core of AI’s power
[00:37:43] How AI can help learners move seamlessly from learning to doing
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and guest co-hosts Matt Tower of Whiteboard Advisors, & Kate Eberle Walker, CEO of Presence as they break down the latest headlines in education technology and from Big Tech’s AI push to the evolving future of school models.
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:00:00] Kate Eberle Walker on parents’ concerns about AI chatbots and student mental health
[00:03:20] Apple integrates OpenAI and Gemini into Siri, reshaping the AI race
[00:04:15] Global AI shake-up: Microsoft shifts to Anthropic, Baidu gains ground, Google antitrust update
[00:14:45] Edtech funding slowdown and investor focus on regulated markets like special education
[00:18:07] OpenAI launches certifications for frontline workers; Google gamifies AI literacy with Stanford
[00:27:43] First NAEP results post-pandemic show continued learning loss and lack of political focus on academics
[00:39:01] Accountability challenges in education: attendance, wellness, and equity in public vs. private models
[00:43:46] Debate on Alpha Schools’ “two hours of AI per day” model and its implications for learning
Plus, special guest:
[00:50:17] Chris Walsh, Chief Product and Technology Officer of PBLWorks on scaling project-based learning
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
CT Turner is President of GED Testing Service and VP at Pearson’s Enterprise Learning and Skills division. A recognized leader in workforce development, he champions equitable economic opportunities for underserved populations. CT supports adult education and workforce initiatives, holding degrees from Indiana University and Wichita State University.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:02:23] CT Turner’s journey from higher ed to leading the GED
[00:05:42] How GED bridges education, workforce, and opportunity
[00:09:08] Shifts from degrees to skills in today’s job market
[00:13:03] GED success stories from the U.S. and abroad
[00:16:10] Tech tools transforming GED prep, from AI to apps
[00:23:49] Higher persistence and pass rates with the GED app
[00:25:59] Gamification and nudges keeping learners engaged
[00:32:43] AI as a safe space for motivation and guidance
[00:37:28] Building direct pathways from GED to careers
[00:44:08] Future of contextualized tests and digital credentials
[00:48:19] Why “non-traditional” learners are now the norm
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
Ivan Crewkov is the CEO and Co-Founder of Buddy.ai, the leading AI tutor for kids under 12, reaching over 20 million students annually from all over the world. Buddy is not just a chatbot. It’s an AI-powered talking animated character in a mobile app teaching English as a foreign language to students all over the world. Buddy is unique because it operates in a highly regulated environment where most off-the-shelf AIs like Chat GPT can't be used.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:02:11] Ivan Crewkov’s journey from building smart speakers to founding Buddy.ai.
[00:04:24] Designing Buddy.ai as more than a chatbot—a gamified, lovable learning companion.
[00:07:27] How kids around the world discover and champion Buddy.ai themselves.
[00:11:02] Expanding Buddy.ai into classrooms in Latin America and beyond.
[00:16:41] Building proprietary speech recognition for children where others struggled.
[00:20:56] Buddy.ai’s unexpected role in speech therapy for kids with special needs.
[00:25:50] Why Buddy is designed as a study buddy, not an authority figure.
[00:33:37] Using generative AI to accelerate content creation and storytelling.
[00:39:00] Guardrails for safe, child-centered AI companions.
[00:42:01] Lessons EdTech can learn from the entertainment and gaming industries.
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down the latest shifts in education technology, from Google’s aggressive AI push to early childhood challenges and new federal initiatives.
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:04:48] Google’s AI surge disrupts Duolingo with gamified language learning in Google Translate
[00:12:14] Google’s edge in practical AI tools versus the AGI race
[00:17:28] Competitive landscape across OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and predictions for Chinese challengers
[00:22:14] Presidential AI Challenge invites students to showcase projects nationwide
[00:24:01] 70% of parents oppose student data going into AI tools, raising regulatory concerns
[00:33:29] AI shifting from “what it is” to “how it enables” daily tasks and learning
[00:36:53] Uptake struggles in early childhood education despite universal pre-K expansion
[00:38:52] Oak National Academy opens curriculum API and University of Phoenix prepares for IPO
[00:40:53] Michael Horn highlights optimism for innovation inside and outside school systems
Plus, special guest:
[00:41:15] Karim Meghji, Chief Product Officer of Code.org on the Hour of AI, AI-powered teacher tools, and CS education for all students
😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:
Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
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