GaETC: The Podcast

What does it take to design broadcast studios and podcast spaces that middle and high school students can actually run? In this live broadcast recorded right from Creators Row at the Georgia International Convention Center (GaETC 2026), Dr. Lee Green and Clint Winter sit down with Tom White, former Georgia broadcast teacher and AV education specialist at Amitrace.

Broadcasting directly on Amitrace's newly designed VidPod mobile video podcast table, the team dives into the engineering behind modular school studios. Tom explains how Amitrace works directly with broadcast teachers like Dr. Greg Walkup at Otwell Middle School to build customized layouts, whisper rooms, and mobile switcher setups tailored to real student workflows.

Tom also shares critical insight on the state of student media: why the loss of classroom cell phones is reshaping AV programs, why fast video production must never replace deep storytelling and the human "why," and how the all-in-one VidPod lets schools roll in, plug in one cable, and produce broadcast-ready multi-camera video in under 60 seconds.

What happens when you bring 100 acres of authentic family farming into the world of classroom innovation? In this live recording straight from the Circuit Lounge at GaETC 2026, Dr. Lee Green and Clint Winter sit down with Alyssa Faubion, universally known as Farmer Faubs.

A former digital media teacher and instructional coach turned Community Manager at Knowt, Alyssa shares how combining farm life with practical technology tools sparked viral classroom ideas and created genuine "Yeehaw moments" for teachers. She breaks down how Knowt is serving as an all-in-one study suite alternative, empowering students to build flashcards, review materials, and even generate custom audio study formats—including the wildly popular gossip and ASMR styles.

Alyssa, Lee, and Clint also dive into the true heart of GaETC: breaking through educator isolation, building genuine camp-like communities, sharing hallway hugs with mentors, and keeping the passion for teaching alive. Plus, stick around for talk of custom football jerseys, dream conference themes, and plenty of laughs.

Recorded live in the Circuit Lounge at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC 2026), Dr. Lee Green sits down with Nicky from Vivacity Tech. As school districts face tightening budgets and the end of pandemic relief funds, hardware decisions are shifting. Nicky shares how Vivacity Tech is helping district technology directors navigate rising Chromebook costs through consultative planning, leasing models, and the return of classroom cart setups alongside their manufactured charging carts, cabinets, and protective cases.

Beyond hardware, Nicky reveals how Vivacity Tech is stepping into instructional support with The Learning Hub—a free, on-demand professional learning platform for Google districts. With bite-sized modules, administrative tracking analytics, Google AI Educator courses, and a curated "Pulse" feed for fast-moving Google updates, districts can even upload and host their own custom courses. Plus, get a preview of Vivacity Tech's push into Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) refreshes heading into 2027.

What does 30 years of classroom innovation and 20 years at GaETC teach you about empowering educators and inspiring student creativity? In this episode of GaETC: The Podcast, Dr. Lee Green catches up with featured speaker Kristen Brooks. Reflecting on her career in Cherokee County School District, where she pioneered some of the state's earliest elementary computer and iPad labs, Kristen shares why meeting educators where they are with simple, practical wins remains her passion.

Kristen previews her lineup of sessions for GaETC 2026, breaking down how to seamlessly weave creative play into regular STEAM lessons without special schedules. She also tackles the growing conversation around vibe coding, explaining why foundational coding knowledge is still essential before jumping into AI-assisted programming. Plus, hear about her brand-new session on the "Mahjong Mindset," transforming the classic tile game into a low-tech computational thinking lab focused on pattern recognition and debugging. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on embracing trial and error, letting go of the need to be the smartest person in the room, and celebrating the educator community.

Connect with Kristen Brooks:

• Website: kristenbrooks.net
• Social Media: @KristenBrooks77

Can paper circuits and conductive tape replace traditional wires to bring middle school science standards to life? In this episode of GaETC: The Podcast, Dr. Lee Green sits down with Celia Ayenesazan, special education co-teacher at Coleman Middle School in Gwinnett County and a 2026 GaETC Innovation Grant winner.

Celia shares the inspiration behind her grant-winning project, Biomes in Light: Coding Earth's Ecosystems, which was sparked by her time at the Smithsonian Teacher Innovator Institute. She details how middle schoolers combine ecological research, Chibitronics paper circuits, microcontrollers, and authentic data visualization to design interactive, illuminated art.

Beyond circuitry, Celia dives into Coleman Middle's project-based learning model, including their aeroponic tower gardens funded by Burns & McDonnell, food recovery initiatives with Helping Hands Ending Hunger, and introducing middle schoolers to real-world STEM careers. Tune in to hear practical ideas for authentic arts integration and discover how hands-on learning builds social-emotional confidence in all students.

How can school districts build ironclad cybersecurity without breaking the budget? Anthony Winborne of Velocity1 joins Dr. Lee Green to discuss proactive data resilience, vendor consolidation, and protecting schools alongside Ruckus Networks and Sophos.

• Booth: 402 (Georgia International Convention Center)
• Email: [email protected]
• Featured Partners: Ruckus Networks & Sophos

Most educators remember Padlet as one of the original interactive bulletin boards that made digital collaboration seamless in the classroom. But how has the platform transformed for modern learning? In this episode of GaETC: The Podcast, host Clint Winter chats with Zareen Levien, Manager of Education Marketing and Professional Learning Specialist at Padlet. Drawing from her background as a classroom teacher, instructional technology coach, and program manager in San Francisco Unified, Zareen shares how Padlet has expanded far beyond traditional boards.

Discover Padlet Sandbox, a whiteboard workspace designed for dynamic collaboration, KWL charts, and concept maps. Learn about Padlet Arcade, a fast tool that turns existing lesson materials and vocabulary into interactive student games in minutes. Zareen also covers innovative classroom use cases from school librarians, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) applications, robust data privacy safeguards (including FERPA, COPPA, and enterprise walled gardens), and LMS integrations.

Tune in before heading to GaETC 2026 to hear what is new and find out what to look for at Padlet's booth in the exhibit hall!

Can AI tools ease teacher workload while making science accessible for English language learners? Fulton County educator and Vanguard member Dr. Erica Carrillo joins Clint Winter to share how she uses SchoolAI, NotebookLM, and video translation tools to transform modern STEM instruction.

What does it take to move instructional technology coaching from showing off shiny new apps to driving measurable pedagogical and student outcomes? In this episode of GaETC: The Podcast, Dr. Lee Green sits down with a powerhouse team of Instructional Support Specialists from the Doherty County School System: Chassidy Williams, Kristina Johnson, and Latosha Bacon.

With decades of combined classroom experience across elementary, middle, and high schools, this team supports 21 campuses with an intentional, relationship-first coaching model. They share how their district implemented Apple technology, how they moved from "tool-first" PD to asking teachers about their true instructional goals, and how they built an annual Innovative Teacher Summit that has grown into a regional showcase. Plus, they tackle our "How Well Does Gemini Know You?" game to talk through tech-hesitant educators, passive consumption versus student creation, and the secret to keeping a large coaching team unified.

Catch their GaETC 2026 session, Elevated Coaching: From Tools to Real Classroom Impact, taking place Thursday, November 5 at 8:00 AM in Swiss 1 and 2.

• Welcome & Introduction: Lee welcomes Chassidy Williams, Kristina Johnson, and Latosha Bacon from South Georgia's Doherty County School System.
• Meet the Team: Backgrounds ranging from middle school media specialist to high school ELA and upper-elementary classroom teaching, spanning 20 to 26 years in education.
• District Caseloads & School Culture: How five specialists support 21 schools across different grade bands, balancing high school demands with elementary energy.
• The Evolution of EdTech: Looking back from a single classroom computer to full one-to-one access and student-centered learning.
• Session Preview: Why Elevated Coaching: From Tools to Real Classroom Impact is designed for tech leaders who need actionable strategies to coach adult learners effectively.
• Building Trust First: Why being an effective instructional coach starts with listening and human connection rather than pushing software.
• The Apple Learning Coach Influence: How working with embedded Apple specialists reshaped their coaching cycles and inspired them to become Apple Distinguished Educators.
• Measuring What Matters: Using instructional focus walks, surveys, usage data, and student achievement to gauge instructional success.
• The Innovative Teacher Summit: Doherty County's year-end cohort celebration where teachers showcase student projects, share wins, and inspire peer educators.
• "How Well Does Gemini Know You?" Game:
  • Keeping pedagogy in the driver's seat by starting with learning goals.
  • Meeting tech-hesitant veteran teachers where they are through slow, hands-on modeling and zero judgment.
  • Moving students from passive worksheet consumers to active creators using Keynote, iMovie, audio, and sketching.
  • The power of constant team communication and co-facilitation across a large district.
• Contact Info & GaETC Wrap-Up: How to connect with Latosha, Chassidy, and Kristina, plus details on visiting the GaETC Circuit Lounge.
• Session Details:

Elevated Coaching: From Tools to Real Classroom Impact

Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM

Location: Swiss 1 & 2

Connect with the Guests:

• Latosha Bacon: [email protected]
• Chassidy Williams: [email protected]
• Kristina Johnson: [email protected]

Dr. Natasha Lawyer is Technology Innovation Coordinator for DeKalb County School District, a district of more than 98,000 students. She joins host Lee Green to talk about intentional, human-centered technology in K-12. She holds a doctorate in instructional technology from Kennesaw State University. She is also an ISTE certified instructional leader, a Canva education trainer and a 2026 GaETC Rising Star.

In this episode:

• How she co-directs the district's student tech competition. In past years it has drawn up to 1,000 students, and her nine-person instructional technology team and a volunteer base run it.
• Techpalooza, where business partners show real products that students and parents can try hands-on.
• Tech for Littles, a pre-K through second grade competition. This year it's combining with the main competition, so pre-K through 12th graders compete in one building.
• How she became one of the first nine Canvasadors in the U.S., and how that grew into becoming a certified Canva education trainer.
• Her recent talk at the Canva World Tour in Austin, Texas, on using Magic Media to help students visualize abstract concepts.
• Why her name, Dr. Lawyer, always gets the question "so are you a doctor or a lawyer?"