edWebcasts

Presented by Bobbie Burnham, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Teaching and Learning, Minnesota Department of Education; Dr. Claudia Ladd, Literacy and Early Childhood Division Administrator, CLSD Language and Literacy Director, and Education Innovation Research Grant Director, Wyoming Department of Education; and Maya Valencia Goodall, Chief Impact Officer, CORE Learning

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by CORE Learning.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

This third edWeb podcast of Structured Language & Literacy Week for Leaders gives district and state leaders a clear look at how literacy legislation becomes literacy practice. The panelists share how state leadership interprets policy and the decisions that shape how it moves forward across districts.

Key topics covered include:

• From Legislation to Action: How state leaders interpret literacy policy and translate it into practice
• Lessons Learned: Course corrections made along the way, and what they would do differently
• Constraints and Directives: What state leaders wish districts understood about the pressures they navigate
• Building Coherence: How shared understanding between state and district leaders supports smoother implementation
• Accelerating Progress: What has worked well enough that other states could learn from it directly, rather than starting from the beginning

By the conclusion of the session, listeners are able to:

• Understand how legislation moves from policy into practice at the state level
• Identify constraints and directives that shape state-level decision making
• Apply lessons learned from other states to accelerate their own progress

Listeners walk away with a clearer picture of the state-level view, along with practical insight they can use to build coherence and accelerate their own progress. This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 state leaders, district leaders, and policymakers.

This edWeb podcast is part of Structured Language & Literacy Week for Leaders.

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

Presented by Tiffany Sommerfeld, Director of Academic Advising & Counseling, Belton Independent School District (TX); Shannon Toney, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Stop School Violence Grant Coordinator, Billings Public Schools (MT); and Dr. Gregory Hudnall, Experienced Educator, Founder, Hope Squad

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Hope Squad.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

Every district is working to build a stronger Multi-Tiered System of Supports. But MTSS is only as strong as what happens between the tiers. This edWeb podcast looks at how peer-led prevention is enabling districts to strengthen MTSS from the inside by identifying students earlier, connecting them to help faster, and shifting school culture so support reaches every student.

Dr. Gregory Hudnall, Founder of Hope Squad, joins district leaders Tiffany Sommerfeld, Director of Academic Advising & Counseling at Belton Independent School District (TX), and Shannon Toney, BJA Stop School Violence Grant Coordinator at Billings Public Schools (MT), to discuss how a peer-nomination model puts trained students and accountable adults inside every level of MTSS, from universal Tier 1 prevention to more targeted support, and how that structure changes the culture of a school over time.

Listeners hear directly from two districts that have built peer-led prevention into their MTSS frameworks, including what changed and what it took to get there. They leave with a clearer picture of how peer leadership strengthens tiered support systems in practice and how to make the case for it within their own district.

This edWeb podcast is designed for elementary through high school district and school leaders evaluating how to strengthen and close gaps within their district’s MTSS strategy.

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

Presented by Laura Mendes, M.Ed., Director of Literacy, Springfield Public Schools (MA); Gabi Bell Jiménez, Ph.D., Deputy Chief Academic Officer, Milwaukee Public Schools (WI); and Maya Valencia Goodall, Chief Impact Officer, CORE Learning

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by CORE Learning.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

This second edWeb podcast of Structured Language & Literacy Week for Leaders gives district leaders a practical, real-world look at how to move a literacy system from where it stands today toward a clear, shared vision. The panelists have done exactly that and walk through the concrete steps behind their districts’ progress.

Key topics covered include:

• Assessing the Starting Point: How to take an honest look at where a district’s literacy system currently stands
• Setting a North Star: How to define a clear, shared vision for systemwide literacy impact
• Practical Implementation Steps: The concrete actions districts take to move from vision toward reality
• Measuring Progress: The data and markers districts use to know they are moving in the right direction
• Lessons Learned: The course corrections districts have made along the way, and what they would do differently

By the conclusion of the session, listeners are able to:

• Apply a framework for assessing their own district’s current literacy starting point
• Draft or refine a North Star vision for systemwide literacy impact
• Identify practical, sequenced steps for moving their own district forward
• Select meaningful data points to track progress along the way

Listeners walk away with a roadmap, not just a vision, that they can begin applying in their own district right away. This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 district leaders, instructional leaders, and school administrators.

This edWeb podcast is part of Structured Language & Literacy Week for Leaders.

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

Presented by Marisa Ramirez Stukey, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer, The Reading League; Danielle (Nell) Thompson, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, The Transformative Reading Teacher Group and The Big Sky Literacy Summit; and Dale Webster, Ph.D., President, CORE Learning

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by CORE Learning.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

This first edWeb podcast of Structured Language & Literacy Week for Leaders gives district and school leaders a balcony view of how literacy professional learning is being built and sustained across the country. The panelists work directly with districts nationwide, giving them a rare vantage point on what is working and where systems are still catching up.

Key topics covered include:

• Teacher Knowledge in Practice: How strong professional learning builds and sustains deep content knowledge for teachers of reading and writing
• Coaching and Implementation: What effective, ongoing coaching looks like once initial training ends
• Leadership Development: Why training school and district leaders is just as critical as training teachers

By the conclusion of the session, listeners are able to:

• Identify patterns in how districts nationally are building literacy professional learning systems, not just one-time trainings
• Connect teacher knowledge, coaching, and instructional materials into one coherent system
• Apply a broader, national perspective to their own professional learning planning

Listeners walk away with a wider view of what strong literacy professional learning looks like across the country, along with ideas they can bring directly into their own systems. This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 school leaders, district leaders, and professional learning coordinators.

This edWeb podcast is part of Structured Language & Literacy Week for Leaders.

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

Presented by Dr. Teresa Brown, Superintendent, Madison Consolidated Schools (IN); Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar, Superintendent, Desert Sands Unified School District (CA); Dr. Nick Polyak, Superintendent, Leyden High School District 212 (IL); and Paula Maylahn, Education Industry Consultant, Project Director, 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.

Each year, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking) conducts a national survey among education technology leaders to assess the current state of technology innovation across multiple school systems. Season 9 of the CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendent edWeb podcast Series opens with an overview of CoSN’s U.S. State of EdTech 2026 survey. Four specific key findings in leading technology innovations identified in the survey results will be included in the panel discussion:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Cybersecurity
• Procurement
• Teaching & Learning

Access to the free full report of CoSN’s U.S. State of EdTech 2026 survey, along with multiple online resources that address the key findings listed above, are shared. This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 district leaders, school leaders, education technology leaders, superintendent association leaders, teachers, and librarians.

View all of the recent EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panels.

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

Presented by Meenoo Rami, AI and EdTech Product Leader, Author, and Ex-Microsoft; and Monica Cougan, Global Education Leader

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Discovery Education.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

This edWeb podcast explores how foundational AI literacy prepares students for a rapidly evolving digital workforce and supports broader career-connected learning across STEM, CTE, and cross-curricular instruction. In this third session of Future-Ready Pathways Series: Connecting Students to Careers, educators examine high-level strategies for helping students understand what AI is, how it shapes modern industries, and why responsible use matters for all learners—not just those pursuing technical fields.

We highlight how educator resources can support this work by providing accessible explainers, hands-on activities, and real-world examples that help students build confidence and curiosity around AI. The session emphasizes instructional approaches that make AI literacy meaningful, relevant, and developmentally appropriate across grade bands.

What educators learn:

• Why foundational AI literacy matters for all students as they navigate an increasingly digital world
• High-level strategies for teaching core AI concepts without requiring technical expertise or coding backgrounds
• Ways AI resources support cross-curricular instruction in STEM, computer science, humanities, and career exploration
• Approaches to responsible and ethical AI use that build critical thinking, digital citizenship, and media literacy
• Techniques for sparking curiosity through inquiry-based, hands-on activities that demystify AI
• Methods for connecting AI skills to future careers across industries such as healthcare, engineering, business, creative arts, and public service

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 Joshua Doty, Field Talent Partner, Swinerton; and Monica Cougan, Global Education Leader

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Discovery Education.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

In this edWeb podcast, explore how STEM Careers Coalition’s (SCC) free resources can help students connect classroom learning to real-world STEM opportunities. This first session of Future-Ready Pathways Series: Connecting Students to Careers highlights high-demand career pathways, turnkey classroom resources, and strategies for embedding career-connected learning into core science instruction.

Listeners learn how to use SCC videos, career profiles, and hands-on activities to spark student curiosity, deepen engagement, and build workforce-ready skills. Educators leave with a ready-to-implement STEM career exploration toolkit and practical ideas for integrating career awareness throughout the school year.

What educators learn:

• How real-world STEM careers build relevance and help students see the purpose behind academic concepts
• Ways to integrate SCC resources into daily instruction without adding teacher burden
• Strategies for highlighting high-demand STEM pathways through videos, profiles, and hands-on activities
• Techniques for sparking student curiosity using authentic industry stories
• Approaches to building workforce-ready skills through inquiry, collaboration, and problem solving
• Methods for embedding career awareness throughout the school year in science and STEM classrooms

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 Octavia Gray-Essex, Ed.D., Former Educator, Current Senior Education Advisor, Lexia; Caresa Dodson, Ph.D., LETRS Professional Learning Customer Success Manager, Lexia; Carly Waters, Ph.D., LETRS Dedicated District Success Manager, Lexia; and Jessica Stroven, LETRS Professional Learning Customer Success Manager, Lexia

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Lexia.

The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here.

If literacy is a right, why do opportunity and outcomes remain so unequal? In this edWeb podcast, leaders from Lexia examine the systems, structures, and instructional realities that determine who gains access to literacy and who is left behind. Through the lens of equity, implementation, and the Science of Reading, school and district leaders explore what it takes to build the conditions for literacy success for every student.

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 Robbie Torney, Head of AI & Digital Assessments, Common Sense Media Youth AI Safety Institute; Eisha Buch, Head of Teaching & Learning, Common Sense Media; Laura Zimmermann, Ph.D., Director of Youth AI Research, Common Sense Media; and Geoffrey A. Fowler, Head of Public Outreach, Common Sense Media

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Common Sense Education.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

As New York City and Los Angeles, two of the nation’s largest districts, announce they are banning AI in K-8 (NYC) and in K-12 (LA), districts across the country are facing a question that is becoming impossible to ignore: Are we next? AI conversation doesn’t have to be a choice between banning technology and embracing it without limits.

Join Geoffrey A. Fowler, Head of Public Engagement at Common Sense Media, for a timely edWeb podcast conversation examining what schools need to know as they navigate the rapidly changing AI landscape. Laura Zimmermann, Ph.D., Director of Youth AI Research, shares the research and help administrators and educators understand what the evidence tells us about how tweens and teens are using AI today—both at home and for school.

Robbie Torney, Head of AI & Digital Assessments, examines AI risk, offering a practical lens for understanding and assessing risks and benefits related to student age, context, privacy, and safety. Eisha Buch, Head of Teaching and Learning, introduces an Age & Stage Guide, a developmentally appropriate framework for the gradual use of AI that helps schools move beyond an all-or-nothing approach and toward intentional, age-appropriate implementation.

Rather than asking simply, “Should schools ban AI?” we explore a more productive question: “How can schools introduce AI in ways that protect what matters most about learning—human connection, curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking?” The conversation culminates in a practical Age & Stage Guide for the Gradual Use of AI, offering a proactive framework for administrators, educators, students, and families to understand what responsible AI use can look like across K–12.

Listeners leave with:

• Research-informed context for understanding the rapidly changing K–12 AI landscape
• A practical way to think about AI risk beyond an all-or-nothing approach
• Considerations for balancing policy decisions with the realities of classroom teaching and learning
• Developmentally appropriate guidance for introducing AI gradually across grade levels
• Concrete resources and next steps for administrators, educators, students, and families

This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 educators, 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. Sherri N. Wilson, Former Director of Innovative Learning, Current Principal, William Dandy Middle School, Broward County Public Schools (FL); Dr. Geri Gillespy, Experienced Education Leader, Director, Industry Advisor, Microsoft Elevate in the Americas; Leigh Williams, Information and Technology Executive, Brisbane Catholic Education; and Allie Thompson, Former Special Education Teacher, Current Senior Marketing Manager, Microsoft Education

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Microsoft Education.

The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here.

Literacy is the foundation for student success, yet many schools face growing challenges in providing personalized reading support while meeting increasing academic expectations. On World Literacy Day, join education leaders for an edWeb podcast discussion on how schools and systems are using AI to strengthen existing literacy instruction, support educators, and improve student outcomes.

Hear real-world perspectives from practitioners and education leaders from Broward County Public Schools, Brisbane Catholic Education, and across the globe as they share how AI-powered tools, including the free Microsoft Reading Progress, are helping educators expand reading practice, provide timely feedback, identify learning needs earlier, and deliver more targeted interventions. These tools can meet schools where they are—supporting and extending the curriculum, instructional practices, and literacy resources already in place. Panelists discuss strategies for supporting multilingual learners, scaling literacy initiatives across schools, and using meaningful data to inform instruction and school improvement efforts.

This edWeb podcast draws on experiences from school systems that have seen measurable improvements in reading achievement through the thoughtful integration of AI and evidence-based literacy practices. Whether you are an elementary through high school district leader, curriculum director, literacy specialist, principal, or classroom educator, you leave with practical insights and examples that can help build more effective, equitable, and sustainable literacy programs for all learners.

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