Learning Can’t Wait

This episode of Learning Can't Wait features Transcend Network co-founders Alberto Arena and Michael Narea in a deep, human-centered conversation about what it really means to build in EdTech for the long term. They describe their own journeys—Michael seeking a true “co-pilot” for multi-decade visions, and Alberto being shaped by transformative opportunities like his experience at Minerva—and how these led them to create a founder network that prioritizes soul-nourishing support over short-term wins. They explain how Transcend’s highly personalized onboarding, six-week fellowship, revenue-focused cohort programs, and early-stage fund are all designed to help founders clarify the transformation they want for their users before obsessing over features, capital, or growth hacks. Throughout, they emphasize empathy, global diversity, and the rise of end users (like teachers and school leaders) as founders, arguing that the future of learning will be shaped by humble, collaborative builders committed to decades-long impact rather than quick exits or yet another tool in an already overcrowded tech stack.​

This episode explores how Roberto Vargas, Managing Director of IT and Data Systems at Distinctive Schools, uses technology, data, and AI to better serve students while fiercely protecting their privacy. He shares his journey from Chicago Public Schools student to building tech and network data leader, emphasizing the often-invisible infrastructure and cybersecurity work that keeps modern schools running. The conversation dives into how his team evaluates edtech vendors for student data protection, builds a human-centered AI playbook with real student and staff voice, and pilots AI-powered learner profiles in Notebook LM to give teachers instant, holistic insight into each child. Throughout, Roberto stresses that AI is here to stay, that students are already “AI natives,” and that educators must stay ahead while grounding everything in relationships and deep knowledge of students.

The episode follows Hallie Smith’s journey from two decades in reading intervention and speech pathology to becoming a fractional marketing leader and founder of Hey There Insights, a new marketplace that connects edtech companies with educators for paid, unbiased product feedback. She explains how advances in technology and AI have lowered the barrier to building edtech tools while dramatically increasing competition and making it harder to get educators’ attention and authentic input. The conversation highlights why early, specific, and compensated educator feedback is essential for true product‑market fit, reducing costly engineering missteps, and building tools that actually address on‑the‑ground pain points in schools.​

This episode centers on how the “science of reading” must expand beyond phonics to a broader “literacy science” that spans birth through adolescence, and how systems can better prepare and support teachers so no child learns to read “in spite of” their teacher. Dr. Paige Pullen shares her journey from feeling unprepared as an elementary teacher to leading large-scale professional learning and now launching a startup focused on bridging research to practice across entire district ecosystems. She and host Hayley Spira-Bauer unpack common instructional missteps (like over-relying on 3-cueing and running records), the need for explicit, systematic foundational skills for older struggling readers, and the importance of learning science, instructional science, and literacy science working together. They also examine legislation, district decision-making, and family engagement, emphasizing that reducing stigma for adolescent readers and rejecting teacher shame are essential to ensuring all students gain true literacy, not just early decoding.​

This episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast features special education leaders Allie Nudelman and Vicki Trujillo, along with BCBA Allan Smith, sharing how their unlikely paths (from aspiring doctor, lawyer, and basketball player) led them into education and intensive behavior support in rural Arizona districts. They describe how partnering across Kingman Unified and Lake Havasu Unified with Allan has transformed how staff understand behavior, shifting from emotion and exclusion to data, operational definitions, relationships, and capacity-building so teachers and classified staff can support even the most complex learners in their own classrooms. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the power of positive reinforcement, the science behind functions of behavior and extinction bursts, and the necessity of fidelity and proactive structures such as rotations and clear routines. The episode closes with concrete advice for new teachers: stay open and adaptable, seek mentors and supportive colleagues, avoid negativity, and relentlessly invest in relationships with students and adults.​

The episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast features Matt Miller, CEO and Co-founder of OKO Labs, discussing how his team is innovating in education technology with a focus on tools that genuinely support teachers and students. Miller shares his journey from engineering and AI to educational impact, highlighting OKO Labs' strategy to empower small group learning and foster collaboration skills. The episode explores current challenges in EdTech, the evolution of AI, co-design practices, and Matt’s view on sustainable, research-based innovation in a rapidly changing market.​

The episode features Michael Lombardo as he explores the core principles of authentic leadership, emphasizing trust, empathy, and open communication as essential foundations for building strong, effective teams. Drawing from his own career experiences, he shares practical strategies for fostering a positive workplace culture, navigating challenges with integrity, and empowering individuals to grow. His insights offer listeners actionable guidance on how to lead with purpose and create meaningful impact within their organizations.

The episode features an insightful discussion with guest Matt Giovanniello, focusing on the evolving landscape of digital transformation, the power of collaborative leadership, and strategies for successfully driving organizational change.

Lindsay Fuller, Executive Director of The Teaching Well and a legacy educator, shares her deep commitment to addressing educator burnout and mental health crises in education. Drawing from her experience as a teacher, administrator, and nonprofit leader, she highlights the systemic challenges educators face including understaffing, under-resourcing, and the lack of adequate mental health support. Fuller advocates for proactive self-care, workplace well-being, and structural reforms to retain and support educators, emphasizing the importance of managing stress rather than trying to eliminate it and reclaiming joy and sustainability in teaching.

In this episode of Learning Can't Wait, Dr. Bill Chapman, Superintendent of London ISD in Texas and president-elect of NREA, shares his journey from initially resisting a career in education to embracing leadership in rural schools. He discusses the unique qualities of rural education, including close-knit communities and student engagement through multiple activities, and addresses challenges such as absenteeism and teacher shortages. Bill emphasizes the importance of empathy, visibility, and collaborative leadership in creating strong school communities and offers advice for new superintendents to always prioritize what is best for students.