PowerSchool Powercast

In this episode of Powercast, Jeff Pelzel sits down with Gil Mara, Chief Educational Technology and Information Services Officer at Torrance Unified School District, just two days before his retirement after 35 years in education. They explore Gil's journey from middle school science teacher to CTO, discussing the evolution of educational technology from overhead projectors to AI integration.

Gil shares insights on navigating cybersecurity challenges, the importance of having a seat at the cabinet table and how breaking down silos between IT and educational departments has transformed his district's approach to technology. From implementing PowerSchool's suite of tools including Schoology Learning and Analytics & Insights, to piloting AI platforms and developing comprehensive evaluation processes for new edtech solutions, this episode offers practical wisdom from a veteran leader who’s seen it all.

Whether discussing the critical role of data accuracy and trust, the complexities of vendor evaluation, or the communication strategies that keep technology initiatives aligned with educational goals, Gil provides candid perspectives on what it takes to successfully bridge the gap between technology infrastructure and student learning outcomes.

To learn more about PowerSchool, visit: https://www.powerschool.com/Connect with Gil Mara on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilmara/

Host: Jeff Pelzel, Dr. Rick Fernandez

Guests: Gil Mara; Chief EdTech & Information Services Officer with Torrance Unified School District

Welcome to another episode of Powercast from EDGE! In this episode, we speak with Jill Pierce, Executive Director of the Tennessee Educational Technology Association (TETA), for a fascinating conversation about pioneering educational technology leadership in Tennessee.

Jill shares her remarkable journey from owning a video store at 19 to becoming one of the early female CTOs in education. She speaks about TETA's innovative free membership model serving 1,800+ educators, their approach to supporting districts of all sizes across Tennessee, and how they're tackling today's biggest challenges, including AI implementation, student data privacy, and new state legislation. Discover how this dynamic organization is building capacity in the next generation of technology leaders while providing critical resources like data privacy agreements and national conference scholarships.

From wiring classrooms with modems to navigating artificial intelligence in education, Jill's story exemplifies the evolution of educational technology and the power of community-driven professional development.

To learn more about PowerSchool, visit: https://www.powerschool.com/

Host: Jeff Pelzel

Guest: Jill Pierce, Executive Director of Tennessee Educational Technology Association

In this episode of Powercast: Schoology Learning, hosts Kellie Ady and Ericka Waterman share takeaways from recent events and their first in-person meetup. They explore global perspectives on AI, grading transparency, and how Schoology is evolving to better support teachers, students, and parents.

They’ll cover:

- What educators, researchers, and leaders are saying about AI in learning

- Why clarity in grading and mastery reporting matters for families

- New updates in Schoology and PowerBuddy for Learning that save time and boost transparency

Don’t forget to check the User Toolbox link at the bottom of your Schoology page for more guides, videos, and resources. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/

Welcome to another episode of Powercast from EDGE! In this conversation, host Jeff Pelzel sits down with Dr. David Stashevsky, Assistant Superintendent of Daleville Community Schools in Indiana, to explore how a small district can think big about leadership, data, and innovation.

Dr. Stashevsky shares the strategies behind Daleville’s impressive growth, from building leadership capacity to leveraging tools like PowerSchool Enrollment Express and PowerSchool PowerBuddy™ to personalize student support and empower families. He discusses how Daleville is developing principals into instructional leaders, creating a strong culture of collaboration, and using AI responsibly to enhance communication and learning—not cut corners.

If you’re looking for a real-world example of how a future-focused district is improving outcomes while staying grounded in strong values and community connection, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Tune in to hear how Daleville is preparing for the next five years—without losing sight of what matters most today.

To learn more about PowerSchool, visit: https://www.powerschool.com/

Host: Jeff Pelzel

Guest: Dr. David Stashevsky, Assistant Superintendent of Daleville Community Schools (IN)

In this episode of Powercast: Schoology Learning, hosts Ericka Waterman and Kellie Ady welcome special guest Keenan, Product Manager for PowerSchool Curriculum and Instruction. Together, they explore how the free Lesson Planner integration with Schoology can transform everyday planning, make sharing easier, and bring the power of AI directly into the teacher workflow.

They’ll cover:

• How the Lesson Planner streamlines shifting lessons, rolling over plans, and staying organized
• Why color coding, easy sharing, and standards tracking save teachers valuable time
• How district templates and curriculum maps create consistency and alignment
• Practical ways PowerBuddy AI can spark lesson ideas, hooks, and activities right inside the planner
• What’s next for deeper Schoology integrations and how teacher feedback shapes the roadmap

Don’t forget to check the User Toolbox link at the bottom of your Schoology page for more guides, videos, and resources. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/

Welcome to another episode of Powercast from EDGE! In this episode, we hear from Giovanni Joseph, CTO of the Ministry of Education in Bermuda, in a fascinating conversation about leading educational transformation in a unique island environment.

Giovanni shares his journey of modernizing Bermuda's education system. He discusses the challenges and advantages of island life—where everyone knows everyone—and how this tight-knit community navigates educational change. Giovanni discusses current challenges, including staff retention, education reform efforts involving school consolidations, and the cultural shift toward embracing both academic and career pathways. 

Tune in to hear about their rapid pandemic pivot to remote learning, the decision to go "all-in" with PowerSchool solutions, and how they're using data-driven analytics to achieve a 360-degree view of student success. Discover how this small island nation is thinking big about education and achieving remarkable outcomes through strategic technology implementation and community-focused leadership.

To learn more about PowerSchool, visit: https://www.powerschool.com/

Host: Jeff Pelzel

Guest: Giovanni Joseph, Chief Technology Officer with the Ministry of Education (Bermuda)

Welcome to another episode of Powercast! We're joined by Dr. Brent Raby, Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning at West Aurora School District in Illinois, for an inspiring conversation about transforming education through innovative professional learning and comprehensive support systems.

In this episode, Dr. Raby reveals how his district improve staff retention by nearly 10%—by moving beyond traditional professional development to create a cohesive ecosystem connecting PowerSchool's teaching and learning solutions, including Schoology, Performance Matters, and emerging AI tools like PowerBuddy. He emphasizes their core philosophy that "classrooms should be full of curiosity, complexity, and the joy of learning" and how they've restructured elementary education by bringing in specialist teachers, allowing classroom teachers to focus deeply on their direct subjects. Dr. Raby also discusses their innovative approach to serving multilingual learners by training the most ESL-certified staff in the state and integrating these students into general education classrooms rather than separate programs.

Hear about their journey from accountability to analytics, the challenge of determining what programs truly work, and a vision to become one of Illinois’ highest-performing, highly diverse school districts—proving that barriers don't have to define a district's potential.

To learn more about PowerSchool, visit: https://www.powerschool.com/

Host: Jeff Pelzel

Guest: Dr. Brent Raby, Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, West Aurora School District (IL)

Welcome to another episode of Powercast from EDGE in Nashville! We're joined by Dr. Michele Collier, Superintendent of Escambia County Schools in Alabama, for an inspiring conversation about transforming rural education through strategic implementation and community-centered leadership.

In this episode, Dr. Collier shares how Alabama has achieved remarkable success in education since COVID. She discusses her unique journey from student to superintendent in the same district where she grew up, and how that personal connection drives her commitment to serving every child in the community. Dr. Collier reveals the "triangle trifecta" of integrated tools—Schoology, Performance Matters, and curriculum instruction platforms—that are revolutionizing teaching and learning across her 11 schools and 4,200 students.

Tune in to hear about building curriculum maps, the careful integration of AI tools, and why maintaining strong community partnerships and teacher support systems are essential for sustainable educational transformation in rural America.

To learn more about PowerSchool, visit: https://www.powerschool.com/

Hosts: Jeff Pelzel

Guest: Dr. Michele Collier, Superintendent of Escambia County Schools (AL)

In this episode of Powercast, Jeff Pelzel sits down with Dr. Jeremy Thompson, Deputy Superintendent at Denton ISD, live from the PowerSchool EDGE 2025 conference in Nashville. They explore how Denton is using AI and PowerSchool Connected Intelligence to automate manual tasks, streamline budgeting, and scale systems across a rapidly growing district.Dr. Thompson shares how real-time data dashboards and priority-based budgeting are helping leaders align resources to areas of greatest need, quickly enough to make an impact now, not later. From breaking down silos to cross-training teams and rethinking job roles, this episode offers practical insight into how innovation can start in the business office and ripple outward to empower staff and support students.

To learn more about PowerSchool, visit: https://www.powerschool.com/

Connect with Dr. Jeremy Thompson on LinkedIn! www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-thompson-tx/

Host: Jeff Pelzel

Guests: Dr. Jeremy Thompson | Deputy Superintendent Denton ISD (TX)

What happens when our systems evolve slower than the world around them? In this episode of Powercast, Curtiss Barnes, CEO of 1EdTech, joins us from the 2025 ISTE Conference in San Antonio, TX, to confront the complacency that slows progress in K-12 systems.

From the early days of edtech startups to today’s most urgent challenges, Barnes shares how interoperability standards like LTI gave some companies a critical head start while others fell behind. He breaks down how seamless data exchange, affordable tech, and a willingness to act, even imperfectly, can help schools move forward in a time where “normal” no longer exists.

Whether you’re in the classroom, the boardroom, or building what’s next, this conversation invites you to rethink what’s possible when we lead with urgency, trust data, and stop waiting for change to arrive.

To learn more about PowerSchool, visit: https://www.powerschool.com/Connect with Curtiss Barnes on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtisspbarnes/

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez

Guests: Curtiss Barnes (CEO at 1EdTEch)