PowerSchool Powercast

Welcome to another episode of Powercast! In this episode, hosts Dr. Rick Fernandez and Ryan Imbriale are joined by Alison DeMarco, Director of Digital Teaching and Learning at Elizabeth Forward School District, for a dynamic conversation about innovation, agency, and the evolving role of technology in K-12 classrooms.

Alison shares how Elizabeth Forward maintains its reputation as a future-ready district by empowering teachers to experiment, partnering across districts to launch creative programs like unified robotics, and listening to what students actually want. From helping educators plan meaningful tech integration to finding cost-effective ways to bring ideas to life, Alison unpacks how thoughtful innovation can spark curiosity without overwhelming staff or students.

Tune in to hear how student voice, collaboration, and a creative mindset are driving deeper learning and a more personalized, purpose-driven approach to education.

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

Hosts: Dr. Rick Fernandez and Ryan Imbriale

Guest: Alison DeMarco, Director of Digital Teaching and Learning at Elizabeth Forward School District

In this episode of Powercast: Schoology Learning, hosts Ericka Waterman and Kellie Ady revisit some of the most overlooked yet powerful features in Schoology that can make the back-to-school season (and beyond) smoother for everyone. From course templates that save teachers hours to adviser associations that give staff better visibility into student progress, they explore how “going back to the basics” can unlock big wins.

They’ll cover:

-How course templates can simplify grade setup and streamline workflows

-Why adviser associations are a game-changer for supporting students beyond the classroom teacher

-Practical ways districts are using templates to manage substitutes, new teachers, and shared resources

-Back-to-school checklists and other gems in the User Toolbox

-Tips for leveraging groups, media albums, and public resources to work smarter, not harder

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/

Couldn’t make it to ISTE 2025? We’ve got you covered. In this episode of the Schoology Learning Podcast, Kellie and Ericka share highlights from the biggest edtech event of the year, including fresh perspectives from customers who presented on how they use Schoology in innovative ways.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

The unique merge of ISTE and ASCD for the first time ever

Why ISTE is called the “Super Bowl of K-12 edtech events”

Behind-the-scenes of the PowerSchool booth, swag, and sessions

Special guest voices:

-Lisa Berghoff on accessibility tools that benefit all learners

-Mary Beth Clifton on using audio and video tools in Schoology

-Dani on gamification strategies for curriculum

Whether you’re a conference veteran or first-time attendee, tune in for insights, stories, and takeaways from ISTE 2025—and see what’s next for Schoology in the edtech space.

Check out the User Toolbox for quick tips, videos, and more to level up your LMS game. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/

Differentiation just got easier in Schoology. In this episode of the Schoology Learning Podcast, Kellie and Ericka dive into the brand-new Conditional Release feature—one of the most requested updates ever. Learn how it works, why it matters, and how it can transform both everyday instruction and credit recovery.

Topics include:

-The difference between student completion rules and conditional release

-How teachers can automatically assign materials based on performance

-Real classroom examples of tailoring instruction to different student levels

-Using PowerBuddy to quickly create differentiated assignments

-Benefits for credit recovery, pre-assessments, and personalized learning paths

-Tips for planning and setting up conditional release effectively

Check out the User Toolbox for quick tips, videos, and more to level up your LMS game. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/

AI is changing education fast — and Schoology’s PowerBuddy for Learning is leading the way. In this episode of the Schoology Learning Podcast, Kellie and Ericka are joined by Melissa Scholten, Director of Product Management, to explore what’s new, what’s next, and how PowerBuddy is making teaching and learning easier.

Topics include:

-New PowerBuddy tools like the lesson hook and student choice board

-How built-in examples help educators new to AI get started quickly

-Real-world stories from districts using PowerBuddy for teaching and learning

-Sneak peeks at upcoming features: saving prompts, tool favorites, and translation support

-How AI can increase student engagement with personalized, safe, and intentional design

Check out the User Toolbox for quick tips, videos, and more to level up your LMS game. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/

It’s spring cleaning season—and not just for your yard! In this episode of the Schoology Learning Podcast, Kellie and Ericka share end-of-year best practices every teacher and admin should know:

-Backing up courses and using personal resources

-Naming conventions and grading groups

-Cleaning up your digital “junk drawer”

-Using PowerBuddy for summer prep and planning ahead

-Tips to wrap up smoothly and start the new year strong

Check out the User Toolbox for quick tips, videos, and more to level up your LMS game. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/

Professional development doesn’t have to live in a separate system! In this episode of the Schoology Learning Podcast, Kellie and Ericka explore how districts can use Schoology for PD—from course templates and grading groups to media albums, conditional release, and even PowerBuddy for quick icebreaker ideas.

Whether you’re planning summer academies, organizing PLCs, or just looking for smarter ways to deliver training, this conversation highlights how Schoology makes PD engaging, organized, and easy to access for every educator.

Check out the User Toolbox for quick tips, videos, and more to level up your LMS game. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/

In this episode of Powercast: Schoology Learning, hosts Ericka Waterman and Kellie Ady revisit a classic tool that often gets overlooked: discussion boards. Once a staple of online learning, discussion boards are just as powerful in today’s classrooms — both virtual and face-to-face — for boosting engagement, equity, and student voice.

They’ll explore:

-Why discussion boards are still relevant post-COVID

-Creative ways to use them in math, language arts, art, and even field trips

-How they help amplify every student’s voice (not just the ones with hands raised)

-Building digital literacy and communication skills students need beyond school

-Using PowerBuddy to generate engaging prompts and make setup easier

-Unique ideas like shared discussions across sections, gallery walks, and project-based collaboration

Check out the User Toolbox for quick tips, videos, and more to level up your LMS game. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/

In this episode of Powercast: Schoology Learning, hosts Ericka Waterman and Kellie Ady dive into the power of course templates — and why they might be one of the most underused features in Schoology. From providing new teachers with a starting point to streamlining grade setup and curriculum distribution, templates can save time and ensure consistency across classrooms.

They’ll explore:

-How districts are using course templates today (and creative ways they could be using them)

-The benefits of shells vs. fully built course templates

-How templates support teacher shortages, long-term subs, and new staff

-The role of high-quality instructional materials and digitized curriculum

-Why distribution and automation are the next big step for templates

-Real-world stories from districts using templates, groups, and shared resources

Check out the User Toolbox for quick tips, videos, and more to level up your LMS game. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/

In this episode of Powercast: Schoology Learning, hosts Ericka Waterman and Kellie Ady dive into the long-standing challenge of differentiated instruction — and whether technology is finally catching up to make it a reality.

They’ll explore:

-Why differentiation has been a decades-long goal in education

-Carol Ann Tomlinson’s four pillars of differentiation and how they apply today

-How Schoology features like assignment duplication, completion rules, and student choice support differentiation

-The power of AI tools like PowerBuddy to create extension activities, practice tasks, and personalized learning resources in minutes

-A sneak peek at new release conditions coming soon to Schoology to make personalized learning even easier

Check out the User Toolbox for quick tips, videos, and more to level up your LMS game. https://www.powerschool.com/schoology-user-toolbox/