Legend Makers

In this episode of the Legend Makers Podcast, Scott Buell speaks with Jason Allen, Executive Director of the Franklin Center for Innovation in Frankfort, Kentucky, about education, community, and what happens when students are trusted with real responsibility.

Jason’s path into nonprofit and education work is unconventional. His background spans military service as a psychiatric specialist, manufacturing and process optimization, and community based innovation. Across every chapter of his career, one theme remains constant: helping people simplify complexity and recognize their own capability.

While drones are a visible tool in Jason’s work, this conversation makes it clear that technology is not the end goal. Instead, drones serve as a gateway to confidence, curiosity, and early experiences of success that reshape how students see themselves.

Key themes from the episode include:

• Why early experiences of success matter more than credentials or outcomes
• How hands on learning builds confidence across diverse student populations
• The importance of trusting young people earlier than traditional systems allow
• Valuing skilled trades and alternative pathways alongside college routes
• Community based education as a source of belonging and opportunity

Jason also shares a remarkable experience teaching drone education in a remote village on the Bering Sea in Alaska. Working with students as young as six years old, he witnessed how quickly hesitation turns into excitement when learners are given the chance to try something new. That experience directly shaped how he now approaches structure, trust, and responsibility in his programs back home.

Throughout the episode, Jason challenges conventional ideas about success and education. He shares stories of students who discovered confidence through hands on programs and went on to build meaningful futures in unexpected ways.

At its core, this conversation is about belief. It is about creating environments where students feel safe to explore, fail, succeed, and grow. This episode will resonate with educators, nonprofit leaders, parents, and anyone committed to helping young people realize what they are capable of becoming.

In this episode of the Legend Makers Podcast, Scott sits down with Sarah Schemanske, a Project Lead the Way master teacher from Ann Arbor Public Schools. With twenty years of experience across multiple grade levels, Sarah shares practical insights on building confident, curious, and collaborative learners through hands-on STEM.

Highlights include:

• How early STEM exposure helps students make informed choices later in school

• Why productive struggle builds confidence and independence

• How collaboration, design reviews, and reflection turn quiet students into leaders

• The benefits of PLTW’s real-world, activity-based approach

• How open-ended projects unlock creativity in engineering and computer science

• Why student joy can reignite teacher joy, especially during challenging seasons

Sarah also offers guidance for new teachers, thoughts on AI’s role in education, and inspiring stories of former students pursuing engineering, art, and game design.

Connect with Sarah:

LinkedIn

X (Twitter): @TeachSchemanske

This week on the Legend Makers Podcast, Scott sits down with Tony Tegtmyer, a high school engineering and technology teacher whose path to the classroom is as remarkable as the work he does inside it. With a career that began in aerospace engineering on projects for the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station, Tony later moved into global manufacturing leadership before an unexpected pivot led him to education. Today, he teaches engineering, physics, robotics, and aerospace while leading one of the largest high school competitive rocket clubs in the United States. He also founded a thriving Girls in STEM program and oversees a rapidly growing drone engineering club that now requires applications due to high demand.

Tony shares how real-world engineering challenges shape his classroom culture. His senior capstone students build solutions to authentic problems, from prototype ocean-cleaning systems to full-scale autonomous lawnmowers. He explains how constraints, ambiguity, and iteration teach the habits of mind that engineers need to thrive. Students routinely write back years later to tell him how his courses gave them an advantage in college engineering programs.

He also discusses the evolution of his drone program, the importance of hands-on failure, and how competitions in Texas helped elevate his teams. His current aerospace engineering initiative pairs student-built rovers with drones that map classroom obstacles, inspired by NASA’s Perseverance and Ingenuity missions.

Scott and Tony spend time reflecting on the realities facing schools today, including the long-term impact of COVID on student habits, the changing expectations around rigor, and the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence. Tony explains how he integrates AI thoughtfully in engineering contexts, helping students use it as a tool for debugging, ideation, and iteration without replacing original work. He also highlights the importance of teaching students to evaluate what is real in an age of synthetic media.

The conversation closes with an honest discussion about grit, challenge, and preparing young people for a world that does not always provide perfect conditions. Tony’s students ask to be challenged, and he believes that structure, expectations, and meaningful struggle build confidence that lasts well beyond high school.

Listeners will come away with insight into how engineering education can foster resilience, creativity, and purpose. Tony’s story is a reminder that great teachers change lives, often in ways that students recognize only years later.

This episode of the Legend Makers Podcast features Jeffrey Riley, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education and current leader at Day of AI, a nonprofit launched out of MIT. After more than three decades in public education, Jeff believes AI can usher in a new era of learning if schools use it wisely and protect what must remain human in the classroom.

Scott and Jeff discuss the promise and risks of AI, the lessons learned from the rise of social media, and why educators must establish boundaries and policies that keep students safe. Jeff explains how AI can help teachers personalize instruction, reduce administrative burdens, and reclaim the creative work that drew them into teaching.

If you want a clear, practical, and honest look at how AI will shape the future of teaching and learning, this episode provides essential insight.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How Jeffrey’s journey from Teach For America teacher to state commissioner shaped his views on equity and opportunity.

• Why he believes the country mishandled the social media era and how those mistakes should guide AI adoption.

• How Day of AI trains teachers and administrators, assists districts with policy, and builds AI literacy curriculum for students.

• What true personalization looks like with AI, including practical classroom examples.

• Why AI will not replace teachers and how it can instead restore time for lesson design, creativity, and student engagement.

• The policy questions schools must confront, including student data privacy, academic integrity, and the limits of surveillance tools.

• How to teach students AI literacy through simple, hands-on lessons that build precision, reasoning, and safe usage habits.

• Why foundational skills like writing, thinking, and spatial awareness must remain part of a student’s education even as AI advances.

• Why Jeff believes AI can bring joy back to classrooms, reduce burnout, and draw more people into the profession.

About Jeffrey Riley

Jeffrey Riley spent 32 years in public education as a teacher, principal, receiver of Lawrence Public Schools, and Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education in Massachusetts. At Day of AI, he works with MIT technologists and veteran educators to help schools implement AI safely and effectively. Learn more at dayofai.org or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Be sure to subscribe to the Legend Makers pod here and follow Drone Legends on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

In this inspiring episode of The Legend Makers Podcast, host Scott Buell sits down with Sadaf Siddiqi, a passionate biology teacher at Birla High School in Kolkata, India, whose warmth, humor, and philosophy on teaching remind us that education is as much about the heart as it is about the mind.

A self-described introvert who believes that “when one teaches, two learn,” Sadaf shares her journey from mimicking her teacher mother as a child to becoming an educator who now transforms classrooms into spaces of empathy, laughter, and growth. She discusses the unpredictability of teaching, calling it her daily “Mission Impossible,” and reflects on how every challenge and every child makes the work meaningful.

Throughout the conversation, Sadaf reveals the power of small moments — the joy in a student’s transformation, the lessons learned from children themselves, and the contagious energy of kindness. Her “3 R’s” for avoiding burnout — Rhythm, Rest, and Reset — offer a simple yet powerful framework for teachers everywhere.

Together, Scott and Sadaf explore:

• Why listening can be more powerful than speaking
• How introverted teachers can inspire confidence in their students
• The importance of humor and humanity in the classroom
• The universal challenges educators face, from parental pressures to burnout
• How happiness, presence, and gratitude sustain great teachers
• Why Sadaf believes that Human Intelligence (HI) — empathy, creativity, and connection — will always triumph over Artificial Intelligence

Sadaf’s reflections on finding purpose, resilience, and joy in the unpredictable world of teaching will leave educators everywhere inspired to “smile and fly the plane, even while building it.”

Memorable Quote: “Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Sadaf Siddiqi

Connect with Sadaf Siddiqi on LinkedIn

Listen, learn, and be reminded that inside every teacher lives a legend and be sure to follow Drone Legends at www.dronelegends.com and @wearedronelegends on FaceBook and Instagram. @Drone_Legends on X

In this inspiring episode of the Legend Makers Podcast, Scott Buell sits down with Todd LaVogue, an award-winning educator from Palm Beach County, Florida, whose classroom looks more like an innovation lab than a traditional middle-school setting.

Todd was named one of Microsoft’s 15 Most Innovative Educators in America and represented the U.S. at Microsoft’s Global Education Forum in Prague, finishing third worldwide out of more than 260,000 entries. He’s advised the King of Spain, collaborated with the Japanese Ministry of Education, and created projects that have been recognized on the floor of the U.S. Congress.

But what really sets Todd apart is how he transforms learning into something unforgettable. From rap videos about ancient civilizations and custom-painted sneakers that tell historical stories, to student-built chateaus, lasers, and drone arenas, Todd’s students learn by creating, connecting, and caring. His project Write a Letter, Save a Life even helped free prisoners of conscience through Amnesty International.

Scott and Todd explore:

• How to bring your personal passions into the classroom
• Building community engagement through exhibitions and project-based learning
• Ways teachers can carve out creative autonomy in traditional schools
• Preparing students for future jobs that don’t yet exist
• Why curiosity, collaboration, creativity, and communication matter more than ever

Todd’s story is proof that when teachers take risks, kids discover their potential—and education becomes magic.

Follow Todd LaVogue

Website: kidacademy.org

X (Twitter): @ToddLaVogue

Instagram: @ToddLaVogue

BlueSky: @ToddLaVogue

LinkedIn: Todd LaVogue

Watch all episodes of the Legend Makers Podcast on YouTube and follow for new conversations with extraordinary educators redefining what’s possible in the classroom.

In this episode of the Legend Makers Podcast, host Scott Buell talks with Dr. Jacie Maslyk, a nationally recognized educator, author, and consultant who has spent nearly three decades helping schools transform learning through creativity, collaboration, and hands-on experiences.

Dr. Maslyk shares her journey from classroom teacher to instructional coach, reflecting on the moments that shaped her belief that every student has untapped potential waiting to be discovered. She discusses her books, including STEAM Makers, Connect to Lead, Remaking Literacy, Unlock Creativity, and All In, and how she uses design challenges and makerspaces to bring learning to life.

Key topics include:

• How curiosity drives meaningful learning
• The importance of creativity in schools
• What it takes to design engaging learning spaces
• How hands-on experiences help uncover hidden student potential
• Encouragement for new and future educators

Dr. Maslyk also shares inspiring classroom stories, from students discovering a passion for woodworking to teachers rediscovering joy through simple design challenges.

Links and Resources:

• Website: https://steam-makers.com/
• X (Twitter): @DrJacieMaslyk
• Instagram: @jaciemaslyk
• Bluesky: @jaciemaslyk.bsky.social
• Email: [email protected]

Dr. Maslyk will also appear at FETC in Orlando this January, where she’ll be signing books and connecting with educators.

Listen in to hear how she’s helping schools across the country redesign learning environments that bring back creativity, curiosity, and connection.

In this episode of the Legend Makers Podcast, Scott Buell talks with Trisha Adami, a K–5 Design Thinking teacher from West Chester, Pennsylvania, and the self-published author behind a heartfelt series inspired by her daughter, Snow. Trisha shares Snow’s medical journey and how a simple question—“Do princesses have surgery?”—sparked books that help children facing hospitals and procedures feel seen and brave.

Inside the classroom, Trisha builds an ever-evolving design thinking program that blends SEL, STEM, storytelling, and real-world problem solving. Students code with Ozobots, design in Canva, and craft Cricut-made blankets that become donations for kids at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Her motto for the year is “Embrace the new.” That mindset shapes her projects and the way she helps students grow from mistakes into makers.

Episode highlights:

• Snow’s story and the origin of Princess of Adeladia
• How picture books can reduce fear for kids navigating surgeries
• Building a K–5 design thinking curriculum that stays current
• Classroom management with structure, warmth, and reflection
• Practical advice for new and future teachers
• Why “Embrace the new” unlocks creativity and courage

Order Snow’s Books Directly from Trisha. Support Snow’s mission and put a signed book in a child’s hands.

• Price: $20 per book when purchased directly from Trisha
• What you get: Signed by Trisha Adami and Snow
• Give-back: For every book purchased, one book is donated to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Trisha has also received requests for donations to Hershey Children’s Hospital in Hershey, PA.
• How to order: Send Trisha a PM on Instagram to @designthinkingteacher

Your direct purchase helps Trisha donate more books to kids and families who need encouragement during hospital stays.

Season 3, Episode 2 of the Legend Makers Podcast features Wendy Albert, Vice President of WiCyS Houston and Founder/CEO of Onyx Cyber. Wendy is a cybersecurity expert, doctoral candidate, and community leader with a mission to expand access to technology and empower underrepresented voices in tech.

In this conversation with host Scott Buell, Wendy shares her journey from defense contracting in Virginia to building a nonprofit in Texas that provides real opportunities in cybersecurity and STEM. She discusses her path through higher education, her dissertation work, and the vision behind Onyx Cyber’s three branches:

• Onyx Academy for training and apprenticeships
• OnyxCon to bring conferences and hands-on experiences like drone and coding simulations to overlooked communities
• Onyx Tech Tots to spark interest in STEM among children as young as five

Wendy also opens up about the personal drive behind her mission. From her father’s military career and her mother’s recovery from a life-threatening aneurysm, to her family’s sacrifices and support, she explains how those experiences shaped her determination to lead and serve.

Listeners will hear how Wendy balances her leadership at WiCyS, her nonprofit work, and her doctoral research. She reflects on entrepreneurship, the challenges of turning vision into reality, and why she believes small, community-focused efforts can build the foundation for lasting change.

If you’re a woman considering a future in tech, or an educator looking for ways to connect students with meaningful STEM opportunities, this episode offers encouragement and practical insights. Wendy’s message is clear: define your own path, stay driven, and lift others as you climb.

Connect with Wendy Albert:

• Instagram: @wendyintech
• LinkedIn: Wendy Albert

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Season 3 of the Legend Makers Podcast kicks off with a powerful back-to-school episode featuring Kevin Abt, a former agriculture teacher turned career tech evangelist. Kevin is the VP of HR at one of the largest career tech school networks in the country, serving over 18,000 students across four campuses in Southwest Ohio.

In this conversation, Scott and Kevin dive into the real-world shift happening in education—where more and more students are choosing skills over lectures, certification over debt, and careers over waiting.

They cover:

• Why career tech enrollment is booming nationwide
• How Great Oaks connects middle schoolers to career options early
• The launch of new programs in drones, aviation, and electric vehicle tech
• What it's like recruiting industry pros to become teachers
• The “3 E’s” every student needs to find: Enrolled, Employed, or Enlisted
• How trades are becoming the new ticket to entrepreneurship and financial freedom
• Why so many Great Oaks grads are AI-proof—and future-ready

Kevin also shares his personal story, growing up on a farm, falling in love with ag education through FFA, and how teaching career tech flipped the switch for him as a student and an educator.

If you're a parent, teacher, admin, or just someone who cares about where education is going, this episode is a must-listen.

Links: 🛠 Learn more about Great Oaks: https://www.greatoaks.com 🏫 Connect with Kevin Abt on LinkedIn: Kevin's LinkedIn

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