Learning Can’t Wait

In Season 12 Episode 1, Hayley Spira-Bauer kicks off the new season with Dr. Denise Reading, CEO and Founder of Future Plans, in a powerful conversation on eradicating poverty through education and workforce alignment. Drawing from her upbringing in rural Arkansas, Dr. Reading shares how systemic bias and lack of access—not lack of talent—hold individuals back. She discusses Future Plans’ five-step model for helping individuals discover their strengths, connect them to real opportunities, and ultimately break cycles of generational poverty. The episode emphasizes that when people understand their value and where it is needed, entire communities can transform.

And that’s a wrap on Season 11 of the Learning Can’t Wait Podcast, a season filled with bold ideas, inspiring leaders, and meaningful conversations shaping the future of education.

From leadership and workforce sustainability to teacher well-being and student-centered innovation, this season brought together voices across education to challenge the status quo and reimagine what learning can and should look like.

In Season 11 Episode 18, Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Dr. Kip Glazer, Silicon Valley principal and author of Ready to Lead with AI, to explore how school leaders can navigate rapid technological change while staying grounded in human-centered learning. Drawing from her unconventional journey into education and leadership, Dr. Glazer emphasizes that in an era of AI disruption, principals must model curiosity, innovation, and rigor. She highlights the importance of designing learning environments where students actively collaborate, teach one another, and apply knowledge through real-world experiences like CTE pathways and tech internships. The episode underscores that even in a tech-forward future, connection, purpose, and student agency remain at the heart of meaningful education.

In Season 11 Episode 17, Hayley Spira-Bauer speaks with Dr. David Lawrence, Superintendent of Dayton Public Schools, about leading with visibility, urgency, and innovation to drive real system change. Drawing from his journey from teacher to superintendent, Dr. Lawrence highlights how hands-on leadership, real-time decision-making, and a shift from static strategic plans to dynamic “academic action plans” have improved outcomes such as reading proficiency and attendance. He emphasizes making school engaging through career pathways, experiential learning, and student-centered opportunities, while also championing strong culture through his “Five C’s” framework. The episode underscores the importance of adaptability, relationships, and bold thinking in strengthening public education systems.

In Season 11 Episode 14, Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Deborah Kenny, CEO and Founder of Harlem Village Academies, to explore what it truly means to educate a child beyond test scores. Drawing from decades of leadership and her new book The Well-Educated Child, Deborah shares a refined philosophy centered on quality thinking, student agency, and ethical purpose. She reflects on her journey building HVA, the importance of cultivating intrinsic motivation and a love of reading, and the need to move beyond compliance-driven schooling toward deeper, intellectually rich learning experiences. The conversation emphasizes developing students who are curious, independent thinkers with a strong sense of purpose in a rapidly evolving and complex world.

In Season 11 Episode 13, Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with John White, CEO of Great Minds and former Louisiana State Superintendent, for a candid conversation on leadership, systems change, and the role of curriculum in driving student outcomes. Drawing from his experience leading post-Katrina education reform in Louisiana, John discusses how crisis can catalyze improvement, the importance of local autonomy through charter systems, and why sustained gains in student achievement come from consistent, high-quality curriculum paired with strong accountability. He also explores the future of education amid rapid technological change, advocating for “productive friction,” human-centered learning, and meaningful classroom discourse as essential to student growth.

In Season 11 Episode 12, Hayley Spira‑Bauer speaks with Dana Ainsworth, founder of Tomorrow House, about reframing student behavior through the lens of nervous system regulation rather than discipline or motivation. Drawing from her own lived experience, teaching background, and research in trauma, polyvagal theory, and education policy, Dana explains how adverse childhood experiences, outdated school structures, and rapid technological change contribute to widespread student dysregulation. The episode highlights practical, classroom‑ready strategies—like breathwork and behavior‑as‑communication—to support both educators and students, while calling for deeper alignment between research, policy, and everyday school practice.

In Season 11 Episode 10 of Learning Can’t Wait, Hayley Spira‑Bauer is joined by Alicia Meyers, an early childhood educator and children’s book author, for a rich conversation about teaching, literacy, and neurodiversity. Alicia shares her journey as a lifelong teacher, her experiences teaching in urban classrooms in Washington, D.C., and how the COVID era inspired her to begin writing. She discusses her newest picture book, Tickerific Me, which celebrates Tourette Syndrome and neurodiversity, alongside her practical guide for educators and families, The A to Z Teaching Toolkit. Throughout the episode, Alicia emphasizes the importance of representation, balance in early literacy instruction, and creating classrooms where children feel seen, confident, and empowered as readers and writers.