In this episode of Leading Out Loud, I sit down with my brilliant friend Monica Watts, Senior Director of Community Programs at 1EdTech, to unpack the world of data standards in education.

If that sounds technical, don’t worry; we make it practical. Because this episode is about demystifying the acronyms and architecture and leaning into the strategy and soul of the way these standards impact the classroom.

We explore how interoperability and open standards like CASE, OneRoster, and LTI create the foundation for aligned instruction, scalable ecosystems, and better learning experiences for students. Monica brings her signature clarity and warmth as we talk about why this moment matters for districts, for teachers, and for learners.

Whether you're just beginning your interoperability journey or knee-deep in system integrations, this conversation bridges the tech and the human and will leave you rethinking what your systems are really built for.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why interoperability is a people-first strategy

• What the Google x CASE integration actually unlocks

• How open standards power instructional alignment

• Where to start if your district is ready to take the next step