In this episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Nick Farrenkopf, founder and CEO of Wibly, to explore how knowledge trees—interactive visual maps of interconnected concepts—are transforming the way students learn math. Drawing from his background in both private tutoring and machine learning, Nick shares how Wibly bridges cognitive science and edtech to reduce cognitive overload, support neurodiverse learners, and make abstract math more concrete. Whether you're a classroom educator, instructional leader, or system innovator, this conversation offers practical insight into how we can make math more engaging, more intuitive, and more human.

🔗 Learn more and join the waitlist at wibly.co

In this episode, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Dr. Sandra Brees—CEO of School Founders Academy and founder of Telesis Center for Learning—to uncover how one mother’s mission to help her son launched a movement for hands-on, inclusive learning.

From founding a school in her duplex to navigating fire codes with only 10 days to spare, Dr. Brees drops real talk on what it takes to lead with resilience, flexibility, and unshakable belief. She also shares the #1 mistake new school founders make—and how to avoid it.

You’ll hear about:

Her journey from kitchen table idea to K-12 charter network

The surprising phone call that nearly shut her school down

What every founder needs to prepare for—and no one talks about

Why “community” isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the engine of long-term success

Her story is featured in the anthology The Power of Community: Courage, Compassion, Collaboration—and this conversation is your behind-the-scenes look.

🔥 “You have to be strong enough to push through it—and you will succeed. Because that’s exactly what happened to me. And they can too.”

🔗 Resources & Links:

Learn more: School Founders Academy

Read the book: The Power of Community on Amazon

In this episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, we sit down with psychologist, author, and strength-based education expert Dr. Steven Baron. With over 30 years in schools and private practice, Dr. Baron has helped thousands of students reframe their identity—not around what they lack, but around what they already bring to the table.

From a kid who turned his obsession with dogs into a leadership role at school, to a teacher who ditched red Xs in favor of green checkmarks—this conversation is packed with real stories, hard-earned insights, and zero fluff.

We talk growth mindset, teacher expectations, and how one simple question on day one—“Who here is afraid of making a mistake?”—can change the entire trajectory of a school year.

🔥 If you're tired of quick fixes and ready to do the deep work of building connection, motivation, and meaning—this episode is for you.

📘 Grab Dr. Baron’s book: Teaching with a Strength-Based Approach

In this episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, Dr. Natasha Veale unpacks how school leaders can lead with purpose—and design environments where all teachers can thrive.

If you’ve ever said “we can’t keep our special ed teachers,” this episode is your call to action.

Drawing from decades in the classroom and her groundbreaking research, Dr. Veale explores why transformational leadership—not quick fixes—is the missing link in teacher retention. You’ll learn why emotional support matters just as much as instructional resources, what daily leadership habits actually move the needle, and how trust is built not on perfection, but on presence.

This is more than a conversation about retention. It’s a blueprint for rethinking how we value, support, and lead the educators shaping our most vulnerable students’ futures.

Key Topics:

Why transformational leadership is a game-changer for special ed retention

The biggest mistakes principals make—and how to avoid them

A simple daily habit every leader should start tomorrow

Real talk on building inclusive school culture without the buzzwords

🎧 Listen now—because retaining great teachers starts with changing how we lead.

Back-to-School Special Episode

What happens when 90% of your staff wouldn’t send their own child to the school they work at? That’s the reality Michael Maine walked into—and the catalyst for one of the most dramatic school turnarounds in recent memory.

In this special back-to-school edition of the Innovating Education Podcast, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Michael Maine—a relentless school leader who transformed a D-rated campus into an A-rated success story in just two years. This isn’t theory—it’s real talk from the trenches.

🔥 In this episode:

The brutal staff truth that sparked a cultural reset

How short-cycle data and student work analysis drove daily instruction

Strategies for hiring and retaining high-impact educators

Why staying the course is more powerful than chasing every new initiative

If you're heading into a new school year with big challenges and even bigger hopes, this conversation will give you the strategy, clarity, and fuel you need to lead change with purpose.

Back to School Special Episode

How do you honor the legacy of a 31-year superintendent while forging your own path?

Mark Moring shares how he approached his first year leading Durant ISD with humility, vision, and a deep commitment to collaboration.

With a deep belief in collaboration, community engagement, and employability-driven education, Mark shares the challenges and triumphs of building trust, listening deeply, and designing systems that support every student—academically and beyond. From mobile STEM labs to aviation programs and health sciences pathways, discover how Durant ISD is preparing students for real-world success while staying rooted in local partnerships.

Whether you're a school leader navigating a transition or an educator rethinking what it means to serve a community, this conversation is rich with insight, honesty, and hope.

What if your virtual program had a thought partner available 24/7? What if accreditation didn’t just check a box—but actually helped you grow?

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams is joined by Dr. Christopher Harrington—a national leader in edtech and digital learning—to unpack two major innovations reshaping virtual education:

✅ Digital Learning WORKS – A nonprofit platform from EmpowerED Research Institute offering:

A vetted marketplace of digital learning tools

On-demand consulting, research, and PD

Ask Eddie: a free AI chatbot trained on national standards and best pedagogical practices

✅ AccredVEd – A new accreditation model for online programs:

Built around the National Standards for Quality Online Learning

Partnered with Cognia, WASC, and others for dual recognition

Offers a free self-assessment tool for readiness

They cover:

Why traditional accreditation leaves virtual programs behind

How Eddie is helping leaders design PD and support teachers—at 4am if needed

The promise (and limits) of AI in school systems

How to move from compliance to quality in digital learning

If your school is navigating virtual learning, AI integration, or quality assurance, this episode offers practical insights you can’t afford to miss!

In this episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Dr. Jason Williamson—leadership expert, author, and founder of the Second Mile Initiative—for a powerful conversation on what it means to lead with purpose, accountability, and heart.

From his roots in a town of 81 people to roles as principal, military officer, and leadership consultant, Dr. Williamson shares transformative insights on how school and system leaders can move beyond obligation into choice—and cultivate cultures where excellence is not just expected, but chosen.

Listeners will walk away with actionable strategies from Dr. Williamson’s P.A.C.E. Framework, real-world examples of leadership under pressure, and a renewed vision for what servant leadership looks like in education today.

Topics Include:

The origins of the Second Mile Mentality

How to build collective commitments and sustain team culture

Balancing excellence with empathy in times of uncertainty

Why public schools aren’t broken—but often broken-hearted

More About Dr. Williamson

Website: iamjasonwilliamson.com

Connect on social: @IAmJasonWilliamson

Purchase the Second Mile: Encouragement on Amazon

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams is joined by educator, author, and Innovageous co-founder Shira Woolf Cohen for a transformative conversation about what it takes to lead schools where every student feels connected, engaged, and prepared for the future.

Drawing from her new book, Leading Future-Focused Schools: Engaging and Preparing Students for Career Success—OUT NOW—Cohen shares an actionable framework to shift school culture from compliance to purpose. With insights honed over 25 years in youth workforce development and education, Cohen makes the case for a Future-Focused Mindset that transcends career day and transforms every classroom.

From building student identity and purpose, to engaging ecosystem partners and designing school-wide career pathways, this conversation is packed with practical tools and inspiring examples.

🎧 In This Episode:

Why career readiness can’t wait—and how to embed it in everyday instruction

The role of mindset, SEL, and student leadership in real engagement

How principals can start small but think systemically

Real stories from schools already transforming the way students connect learning to life

Bio

Shira Woolf Cohen is no stranger to bold leadership. She spent 19 years growing a Philadelphia charter from 500 to 1,500 students while serving as teacher, dean, vice principal, and principal. Today, she mentors future leaders, teaches at the graduate level, and facilitates the National Youth Leadership Council’s Instructional Leadership in Service-Learning Program.

A recipient of the G. Bernard Gill Award and a Senior Neubauer Fellow in Educational Leadership, Shira brings deep expertise and a core belief that expanding opportunity is the most powerful way to transform lives and communities. Through her work at Innovageous, she partners with schools to design courageous, equity-centered strategies that prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

🛠️ Resources and tools mentioned in this episode—including reproducibles, frameworks, and a full career development continuum—are available at: www.innovageous.com/future-focused

And, don't forget to order her new book from, www.innovageous.com/books. Discounts are available for multi-copy orders. 

Are you telling the right stories—or just sharing updates?

In this conversation, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Adam Olenn, founder of Rustle and Spark, to explore how schools can use narrative not as marketing, but as a strategic lever for engagement, culture, and change.

From faculty and students to donors and board members, Adam unpacks what makes storytelling work—and why it’s essential for leaders shaping the future of education.

🎧 Whether you're shaping school culture, stewarding stakeholder relationships, or driving institutional strategy—you’ll walk away with fresh, actionable insights.

Learn more about Adam’s work at https://www.rustleandspark.com/story