edWebcasts

A conversation hosted by Lisa Schmucki, Founder and CEO of edWeb.net, with Jennifer Ehehalt, Sr. Regional Manager, Midwest, Common Sense Education

This podcast is hosted by edWeb.net.

The interview recording can be accessed here.

Common Sense Education has one of the largest professional learning communities on edWeb on Digital Learning and Leadership. For 12 years, they have offered monthly edWebinars and provided free resources  and online community so educators can share, discover, and discuss ideas and best practices for teaching and learning with media and tech.

Lisa Schmucki, Founder and CEO of edWeb.net, and Jennifer Ehehalt, Senior Regional Manager for Common Sense Education, took time out recently to review 12 years of partnering and growing together to support educators. You can view the video, listen to a podcast, or read a summary of their interview below.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Presented by Dr. Brian Poncy, Professor and Director for the School Psychology Program, Oklahoma State University; Susan Baker, Director, Mathematics, Fulton County Schools (GA); and Sean Healey, NSSI Mentor Teacher, Director of Schools, KIPP SoCal

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by The National Summer School Initiative (NSSI). 

The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here.

Districts have invested heavily in stronger math curricula and instruction. Yet student math outcomes remain stubbornly low. What are we missing?

One overlooked piece may be fact automaticity. When students must devote significant mental effort to basic calculations, they have less capacity available for the complex reasoning and problem solving we expect in grade-level mathematics. And while conceptual understanding matters deeply, understanding a strategy is not the end goal—students must ultimately be able to access foundational knowledge accurately and efficiently when they need it.

In this edWeb podcast, listen to NSSI, leading researcher Dr. Brian Poncy, and district mathematics leader Susan Baker in a conversation about what the research tells us about automaticity, where common approaches to fact fluency may fall short, and what district leaders can do differently.

Whether you're shaping curricula, leading instructional improvement, or making district-level investment decisions, gain a clearer understanding of why automaticity matters, practical routines and tools you can put to work right away, and a simple way to tell whether your own system is building the foundations students need. This edWeb podcast is of interest to elementary through high school teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

A conversation hosted by Lisa Schmucki, Founder and CEO of edWeb.net, with Jennifer Nickerson, Director of Curriculum, RSU #22 (ME)

This podcast is hosted by edWeb.net.

The interview recording can be accessed here.

In this interview with Jennifer Nickerson, Director of Curriculum for the Penobscot River Education Partnership (PREP), you’ll  learn how a regional service agency has revolutionized educator professional growth by launching an PREP PLC on edWeb to improve collaboration and professional learning for educators in the region. Jennifer Nickerson started with an in-service PD Day for the region and expanded the program into a year-round professional learning network serving over 37 school districts, higher education partners, and pre-K–12 educators.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Presented by Dr. Doug Brubaker, Superintendent, Chesapeake Public Schools (VA); Dr. Karen Cheser, Superintendent, Durango School District (CO); Glenn Robbins, Superintendent, Brigantine Public School District (NJ); and Laura Geringer, Project Director, Driving K-12 Innovation, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents Initiative, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)

This edWeb podcast is presented by CoSN and AASA and sponsored by ClassLink.

The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here.

CoSN’s 2026 annual Driving K-12 Innovation Report is based on the collaborative work of an international advisory board of over 130 educators and technology experts. Together, the group evaluated the current state of technology in education. Through the published report, readers are provided with “A Roadmap for What’s Next."

This edWeb podcast provides an overview of the CoSN 2026 Driving K-12 Innovation Report, which includes the Hurdles (obstacles), Accelerators (mega-trends), and Technology Enablers (tools) that were identified by the international advisory board and published in the 2026 report. The superintendent panelists share how each of those three topics plays out in their school districts.

CoSN’s Project Director for the Driving K-12 Innovation Initiative and EdTech Innovation Committee join the superintendents and share the process behind the development of the report. She will also share the plans for the upcoming K-12 Innovation in Action Report. 

This edWeb podcast is of high value to K-12 educators in both leadership and classroom roles. The broader school community will also benefit as, together, the panelists explore both the current state and the future of technology for teaching and learning and the best strategies for success.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Presented by Hillary Rinaldi, Vice President, Whiteboard Advisors; Jill Owens, District Instructional Technology Coach, Clarendon County School District (SC); and Will Krebs, Former Educator, Current Vice President, Government Relations, Edmentum
Moderated by Ross Romano, Director, Strategic Communications, Edmentum

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Edmentum.

The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here.

Leaders whose schools were designated for improvement this year likely have access to critical funding they haven’t yet tapped—and a shrinking window to use it. Every fall, states designate a new cohort of schools as low-performing, opening eligibility for federal Title dollars, including Title I School Improvement funds. Most leaders know the money exists, but what matters most is accessing it quickly, allocating it with a purpose, and driving meaningful local results.

School-level leaders and district administrators overseeing improvement plans, funding allocation, and instructional strategy will gain valuable insights from this edWeb podcast. Gain perspectives from experts who track funding policy, help districts translate policy into funding strategy, and have led implementation at the district level. The panelists move past a basic overview of the funds and resources available, instead delivering practical guidance for leaders. They also highlight the common places where districts get stuck and what separates a plan that stays on paper from one that changes outcomes.

Three takeaways:

1. Which funding streams to target and when—A clear picture of the dollars available to designated schools and the fall timeline for securing them before they expire
2. How to translate funding into instructional strategy—Practical guidance on aligning improvement dollars with initiatives like targeted intervention and personalized learning, rather than treating funding and instruction as separate tracks
3. A real district's playbook—A firsthand account from Clarendon County School District on the actions that have enabled measurable academic gains

This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Presented by John Harrington, CEO of Funds For Learning; Megan Sutherland, Chief Operating Officer, Prince George's County Memorial Library System; Dr. LaTonya Goffney, AASA President, Superintendent, Aldine Independent School District (TX); Jon Bernstein, President and Founder/Co-Chair, Bernstein Strategy Group/EdLiNC; and Joseph Wender, Executive Director, Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB)
Moderated by Noelle Ellerson Ng, Chief Advocacy & Governance Officer, AASA

This podcast is hosted by edWeb.net.

The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here. 

For nearly 30 years, E-Rate has made broadband affordable for schools and libraries. This year, the FCC is asking whether it still should.

On June 25, 2026, the Commission adopted a top-to-bottom review of the program (FCC 26-41, WC Docket No. 26-133). Among the questions on the table: whether E-Rate should be narrowed, reoriented, or limited to rural communities only; which services should remain eligible, including internal connections and special construction; how CIPA should be interpreted; and new conditions on how students use funded networks. Nothing has been decided. What the FCC hears from the field this fall is what shapes the rules that follow.

Listen to advocates and experts already engaged in this proceeding in a working session on what the FCC actually asked, what each scenario would mean for your connectivity and your budget, and how to get your district's experience into the federal record. Comments are due October 13, 2026, with reply comments due November 12.

Listeners will leave this edWeb podcast able to explain the proceeding to a board or cabinet, identify which line items in their own budget are exposed, and file or support a comment before the window closes.

This edWeb podcast is important for any educator who is concerned about funding and maintaining internet connectivity for schools and libraries.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Presented by Jonathan Wren, Director of Magnet Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools (TN); Giselle Harper, Magnet Schools Assistance Program Curriculum Specialist, Richard Dinkins Early College Magnet Middle School (TN); Allison Karandikar, Magnet Schools Assistance Program Curriculum Specialist, Isaac Litton STEM Magnet Middle School (TN); and Monica Cougan, Global Education Leader

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Discovery Education.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

This edWeb podcast focuses on how authentic industry stories can transform career exploration and help students build meaningful connections between classroom learning and the world of work. In this second session of Future-Ready Pathways Series: Connecting Students to Careers, explore instructional strategies that leverage industry professionals—whether through virtual guest speakers, volunteer videos, career spotlights, or platforms like Career Connect—to expand students’ understanding of future pathways.

What educators learn:

• How real-world stories build relevance by showing students how academic concepts appear in actual jobs
• Ways industry voices support identity development as students imagine themselves in future roles
• Workforce skills students can recognize through employee narratives—problem solving, collaboration, adaptability
• How exposure to diverse professionals expands career awareness beyond familiar or traditional pathways
• Methods for highlighting multiple entry points into STEM, biotech, AI, and emerging industries

This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 teachers, librarians, school counselors, career coordinators, curriculum and instruction coordinators, school and district leaders, and education technology leaders.

This edWeb podcast is part of Future-Ready Pathways Series: Connecting Students to Careers.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Presented by Dr. Patricia Dennis, Director and Instructor, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Learning: School Library Media Program, William Paterson University; Dr. Pati Ruiz, Experienced Educator, Director of Learning Technology Research, Digital Promise; and Dr. Kelly McNeil, Experienced Educator, Senior Learning Experience Designer, Digital Promise

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by HP and hosted by Digital Promise.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

Generative AI tools are becoming a fixture in schools, but for many educators, the challenge has evolved from initial exploration to sustained, meaningful integration. How do we ensure these tools support—rather than replace—essential human elements like curiosity, agency, and critical thinking?

Listen to an exclusive "Ask Me Anything" edWeb podcast driven by your priorities and featuring experts from Digital Promise—Dr. Kelly McNeil and Dr. Pati Ruiz—alongside library media specialist and Fulbright Scholar Dr. Patt Dennis. We structured this time as an open forum dedicated to your most pressing, unresolved questions about AI in education. While we look forward to sharing insights from the HP AI Teacher Academy’s newest modules—which may include discussions around fostering "AI literacy," designing assignments that prioritize process over product, or navigating complex issues around ethics and student data privacy—the conversation was ultimately be led by you.

Whether you are seeking practical advice for your specific grade level, searching for strategies to maintain student agency, or wrestling with the ethics of AI integration, we invite you to bring your real-world scenarios to the table. This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 teachers, librarians, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Presented by Dr. Cristina Melendez, Former Deputy Chancellor of Family, Community, and Student Empowerment, New York City Department of Education; Windy Lopez-Aflitto, Senior Vice President of Professional Learning, Learning Heroes; and Samantha Fils-Aimé, Assistant Vice President, Curriculum and Instruction, Springboard Collaborative
Moderated by Keo Chea-Young, Ed.D., Academic Success Partner, Springboard Collaborative

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Springboard Collaborative. 

The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here. 

Families want to support their children’s learning. Yet many do not have access to clear information about how their children are doing academically or what they can do to support progress. Educators value strong family partnerships but may lack the time, training, tools, and systems needed to build them consistently.

In this edWeb podcast, Dr. Cristina Melendez, former Deputy Chancellor of Family, Community, and Student Empowerment at New York City Public Schools, shares lessons from leading family partnership work across a large, diverse school system. Learning Heroes shares insights from its just-published national parent research, including what families understand about their children’s academic progress, how they want to support learning, and where opportunities remain to better connect families with actionable information and support.

Building on these findings, Dr. Keo Chea-Young and Samantha Fils-Aimé of Springboard Collaborative introduce the Family Enablement Domains, Essential Pathways, and Standards (DEPS) Framework, an open-source, evidence-informed framework that focuses on the conditions that help families build the knowledge, confidence, tools, and agency to support learning. Samantha is a former District of Columbia Public Schools literacy leader, bringing additional practitioner and system-level perspectives to the conversation.

Listeners will:

• Examine what national parent research reveals about families’ experiences, needs, and desire to support their children’s learning
• Identify the conditions that help effective family engagement build families’ knowledge, confidence, capacity, and agency to support learning
• Consider how schools and systems can build educator capacity and create structures that support strong family-educator partnerships
• Hear lessons about building trust, addressing mindsets and beliefs about families, and sustaining authentic family partnerships
• Identify ways to make information about student learning more understandable and actionable for families

Listeners will leave with research, a ready-to-use practical framework, and actionable strategies for strengthening family-educator partnerships in support of student learning. This edWeb podcast is of interest to PreK-12 teachers, school and district leaders, instructional leaders, and family engagement leaders.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Presented by Dr. Gene Kerns, Former Educator, Current Chief Academic Officer, Renaissance; and Dr. Julie Vogel, Former Superintendent, Current National Education Officer, Renaissance

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Renaissance.

The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here.

Assessment answers essential questions about student learning. But too often, teachers aren’t sure which assessment to choose for which purpose. Or they ask leaders to provide a single assessment tool that does it all, leading to fruitless searches and needless frustration. 

How can leaders best respond to these challenges? 

Listen to this edWeb podcast for the answers, as two experts show you how to create a comprehensive (and cohesive) assessment system with the right tools to address your educators’ needs. You’ll explore:

• The types of assessment to include, and the purposes of each
• Key considerations related to testing time and acting on the resulting data
• Advantages and disadvantages of different types of assessment
• Ensuring coherence, with each assessment contributing to a full picture of student achievement

This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 assessment directors, curriculum directors, MTSS directors, and principals.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.