In this episode of Teach Smarter, part of our Leaders from the Classroom series, I talk with Nick, a middle school history teacher, about how he builds writing skills through in-class modeling, real-time feedback, and consistent practice across the year.

We dig into why he doesn’t let students write essays at home, how he’s adapted writing instruction to fit his content area, and the challenges AI introduces when students rely on it too early. He also shares how he uses writing portfolios, gives individualized feedback, and tracks student growth from day one to the end of the year.

Nick is a middle school History teacher with a decade of experience in the classroom. During this time, he’s played an integral role in the development of curriculum, and is a key figure in History writing instruction and development for his local district.

In this episode, Pete and Stephanie talk with Bill Bass, Innovation Coordinator for Parkway School District and former ISTE Board President, about transforming school libraries and reframing what educator resistance really means.

Bill oversees 29 school librarians, 16 of whom have been named Teacher of the Year. He shares why some educators aren't actually resistant to change, but are instead keepers of tradition who are protecting what works. He also walks through his three-part framework for shifting librarians from task-doers to school leaders and explains why his district’s librarians are never on the chopping block during budget cuts.

About Bill Bass:Bill Bass is an award-winning educator and former English teacher who now serves as Innovation Coordinator for Instructional Technology, Information, Library Media, and Federal Programs in Parkway School District in St. Louis, Missouri. As an international speaker, writer, and professional developer, he focuses on systemic, sustainable technology integration across all grade levels. Bill served as President of the ISTE Board of Directors and was named one of NSBA's 20 to Watch EdTech Leaders. He is an ISTE Certified Educator, Google Certified Innovator, Google for Education Certified Trainer, and author of four books including Leading from the Library (ISTE 2019, 2024).

Learn more at billbass.tech

Zaretta Hammond joins us to explore how AI and edtech can either reinforce a pedagogy of compliance or unlock true cognitive justice for students. We dig into over-scaffolding, feedback loops, the science of learning, and how teachers can reclaim their role as personal trainers of student thinking instead of just content deliverers.

Zaretta is the author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain and a national consultant with over 25 years of experience helping educators deepen their instructional equity practices. Her upcoming book expands on this work, challenging educators to rethink how we coach cognition in an AI-saturated classroom.

Guest Links:
Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain — https://crtandthebrain.com
Rebuilding Students’ Learning Power (preorder) — https://www.amazon.com/Rebuilding-Students%27-Learning-Power-Instructional/dp/1544376960
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaretta-hammond-2b122ba/

Commissioner Angélica Infante Green joins us to talk about what it actually takes to create lasting change in education. From improving attendance to implementing high-quality curriculum with fidelity, she shares how Rhode Island is staying focused without chasing the next big thing. We also get into how AI can support good teaching without replacing it, and what it means to lead with clarity in a shifting landscape.

In this episode of "Teach Smarter," Peter talks with Dr. Leslie Gruis, a former NSA official who now works with students and writes about data privacy. We discuss how her time in national security shaped her understanding of surveillance and why commercial tech companies, not the government, may pose the bigger threat to student data. Leslie also shares what she's seeing in classrooms today, how AI tools are affecting how students learn, and what privacy really means in a world where most kids don't think they have any.

What does it take to create educational technology that actually works? Dr. Rachel Schechter knows better than most. With a background researching Dora the Explorer and now as founder of LXD Research, she's spent her career understanding how kids learn through media and technology.

In this episode, Rachel pulls back the curtain on EdTech research, sharing why most digital tools fail to deliver and what educators can do about it. She tackles uncomfortable truths about classroom expectations—like why it's impossible for teachers to truly individualize instruction for 30 students—and offers practical strategies for evaluating technology that actually improves learning outcomes.

Connect with Dr. Rachel Schechter:

• Website: LXD Research
• LinkedIn: Rachel Schechter

In this conversation, Dr. Adam B. Lockwood discusses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on school psychology and education. He shares insights on how school psychologists are currently using AI, particularly in areas like IEP goal creation and crisis intervention. The discussion also covers ethical concerns surrounding AI, its potential to democratize cheating, and the implications for creativity and critical thinking in students. Dr. Lockwood emphasizes the need for professionals to adapt to AI's growing presence in education and the importance of open dialogue about its use.

Connect with Dr. Adam Lockwood:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 lockwoodconsulting.net

I had the privilege of presenting at the MATSOL Conference, where I led a session on using AI to support multilingual learners. This episode breaks down what we covered, including how to pair WIDA Can Do descriptors with tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and NotebookLM.

If you're planning for MLLs and looking for ways to scaffold without lowering expectations, this one's for you. I share practical strategies, sample prompts, and a few common mistakes to avoid.

Want to try writing your own AI prompt? Head to teachsmarteredu.com/teachprompting and use the free TEACH Prompting Generator.

Teachers know parent communication matters, but knowing how to do it well is another story. In this episode, Stephanie sits down with educator and author Crystal Frommert to unpack what meaningful communication with families actually looks like. They talk about why newsletters fall short, how to build trust without burning out, and when it's time to stop emailing and just pick up the phone. They also dig into how AI tools can support communication without losing the human connection.

Find Crystal's Book Here:

https://a.co/d/2D6Uiq0

Connect with Crystal on Linkedin Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-frommert/

In this episode, Pete and Stephanie sit down with Tricia Friedman—Director of Learning & Strategy at Shifting Schools—to unpack what AI literacy should look like if we want students (and educators) to actually be ready for what’s coming next.

Tricia introduces her REFRAME framework, explains the concept of futures literacy, and shares practical ways educators can shift from fear-based policies to curiosity-driven conversations. From classroom assessment redesigns to conflict mediation bots and dolphin communication, this episode is about expanding how we think—not just automating what we already do.

Explore more from Tricia:
→ LinkedIn
→ Free guides + REFRAME framework