In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, welcomes Adam Spark, Nebraska native and co-founder of Short Answer, to discuss his journey from teaching at Louisville and Milford Public Schools to studying learning design and technology at Stanford University, where his idea for Short Answer was born.

Adam shares how formative assessment research—particularly from Dr. Dylan Wiliam’s Embedded Formative Assessment—inspired the creation of Short Answer, a digital platform designed to make peer feedback, writing practice, and student engagement more meaningful and fun. The two explore:

• The Nebraska roots that shaped Adam’s journey—from the ESU 6 EdTech Leadership Cadre led by Dr. Lynn Herr to presenting at NETA.
• How Short Answer uses peer feedback, gamification, and comparative judgment to build literacy and critical thinking across all subjects.
• The role of AI in education, including both its risks and opportunities for literacy, writing, and teacher workload.
• Adam’s concept of being a “radical centrist” on AI—recognizing both the benefits of AI efficiency and the challenges it poses to authentic literacy development.
• New features in Short Answer like “Pen Pals,” which use AI characters to help students debate and reflect on their writing.
• Practical AI policy, communication, and enforcement strategies for educators—featuring resources like:
• AI Trust You (from Laguna Beach USD)
• Brisk Teaching for revision-tracking in Google Docs
• SchoolAI for safe, monitored AI interactions
• The Red-Yellow-Green AI Policy Framework by Australian educator Adrian Cotterall
• The Washington OSPI AI Guidance Matrix, inspired by the work of Leon Furze and Mike Perkins

Adam also shares his balanced take on how educators can help students develop AI literacy, writing fluency, and critical analysis skills—ensuring that technology amplifies learning rather than replacing it.

• Short Answer
• Embedded Formative Assessment – Dr. Dylan Wiliam
• AI Trust You
• Brisk Teaching
• SchoolAI
• NETA Conference
• Washington OSPI AI Guidance
• Leon Furze and Mike Perkins
• Adrian Cotterall’s AI Traffic Light Framework

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we sit down with Jane Davis, Superintendent of Hershey Public Schools, and Anna Weber, Owner of A-Plum Creative, to explore how Hershey Public Schools turned a community concern into a model initiative for digital citizenship education.

After recognizing the growing challenges of student cell phone use, social media, and online behavior, Hershey launched a campaign that has brought students, parents, and staff together around a shared goal: helping kids become thoughtful, kind, and safe digital citizens. With creative support from A-Plum Creative and in partnership with the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association (NRCSA), Hershey has developed a visually branded, age-appropriate, and interactive social media initiative grounded in six core principles for digital citizenship.

Jane and Anna share how the campaign evolved from early board discussions to data-driven outcomes, and how it’s expanding to include AI literacy and guidance for ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies. Listeners will learn how Hershey’s approach supports both local needs and broader statewide efforts to equip students for the digital age.

???? Contact Information:

• Jane Davis: [email protected]
• Anna Weber: [email protected]
• NRCSA: https://www.nrcsa.net/

Follow Hershey Public Schools on social media to see the campaign in action!

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Adam Vinter, Nebraska's outreach manager with Common Sense Media, joins the show to share about the significant updates to their digital citizenship curriculum. The conversation explores the reimagining of digital literacy and well-being education, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the rapidly changing technological landscape. Adam discusses the six core topics of the curriculum, the integration of AI literacy, and the engaging lesson formats designed to foster critical thinking and essential skills in students. The episode also highlights the developmental progression of digital literacy education from kindergarten through eighth grade and provides resources for educators to effectively implement these lessons in their classrooms.

To learn more, visit Common Sense Media's education page at https://www.commonsense.org/education

In this thought-provoking episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Dr. Tricia Bertram Gallant, author, academic integrity expert, and Director of the Academic Integrity Office at UC San Diego, joins us to reframe how schools approach academic integrity in the age of AI. Rather than relying on surveillance or reactive discipline, Tricia invites educators to view integrity as a practice that can be cultivated through intentional school culture, character education, and authentic assessments.

Drawing from her experience in higher education and adapting those insights for K–12 contexts, Dr. Bertram Gallant explores how AI technologies like ChatGPT are reshaping conversations around cheating, learning, and trust. She discusses how schools can shift from punitive mindsets to proactive ones, drawing parallels to PBIS frameworks and the importance of building ethical communities.

Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or policymaker, this episode offers practical ideas and a powerful call to action: Let’s teach students how to live with integrity, not just how to avoid getting caught.

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Jamie Cook, Literacy Officer at the Nebraska Department of Education, joins the pod to explore the future of literacy in Nebraska and the exciting opportunities ahead with the Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant.

Jamie shares her journey as a teacher, coach, and principal, and how those experiences ground her leadership in this new role. Together, we unpack why third grade is such a pivotal moment for reading, the role of the science of reading in shaping high-quality instruction, and how Nebraska’s literacy journey builds on years of strong statewide work.

Listeners will learn:

• Why the CLSD grant is a powerful accelerant for Nebraska’s literacy efforts.
• How high-quality instructional materials and curriculum-based professional learning empower teachers.
• The importance of coaching, family engagement, and alignment across districts and ESUs.
• Nebraska’s measurable goals for literacy and the collective responsibility it will take to achieve them.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, coach, administrator, or policymaker, this conversation highlights the thoughtful, research-based approach Nebraska is taking to ensure every child becomes a confident and capable reader.

To learn more about this literacy effort in Nebraska, visit https://www.education.ne.gov/clsd-2/

In this reflective and wide-ranging conversation, longtime collaborator and Good Life EDU Podcast guest Otis Pierce of ESU 7 joins the pod to unpack some key takeaways from a summer of professional learning. From AI integration and academic integrity to distance learning innovations, digital citizenship initiatives, and math instruction practices, Otis and Andrew explore what’s new, what’s next, and what's front-of-mind as Nebraska educators head into a new school year.

This episode highlights the spirit of statewide collaboration across Nebraska’s ESUs and the Department of Education, while also celebrating the continuous growth mindset educators embody year-round.

Whether you're starting the year with fresh energy or looking for meaningful insights to elevate your practice, this episode offers inspiration and resources to support your journey.

This week on The Good Life EDU Podcast, we close out the summer by welcoming internationally renowned education expert Dr. Dylan Wiliam to the show for a timely conversation at the intersection of formative assessment, teacher growth, and artificial intelligence in education.

As AI tools become more accessible in schools, this discussion explores how educators can respond thoughtfully, leveraging technology to enhance instruction while staying grounded in proven practices that support deep learning.

Dr. Wiliam shares insights from decades of research, addresses the limitations of AI in feedback and assessment, and offers practical ideas for how teachers and school leaders can begin to navigate this emerging era. Whether you’re curious about AI’s role in instructional coaching, redesigning assessment, or creating space for meaningful professional growth, this episode provides a powerful and thought-provoking perspective from one of education’s leading voices.

Where to find the book Making Room for Impact: https://www.corwin.com/books/room-for-impact-284976?srsltid=AfmBOoqkoq2ZtYt0kKWhbVCcmHaS7C7-j5lyzoCjcQ0tHqfusVUhVKXB

Connect with Dr. Dylan Wiliam at https://www.dylanwiliam.org/Dylan_Wiliams_website/Welcome.html

What happens when a school leader brings a coach’s mindset, a heart for people, and a relentless commitment to culture into their role as principal? In this episode, West Dodge Station Principal Benji Hoegh joins The Good Life EDU to reflect on the systems, habits, and heart behind building a thriving school culture. From his “TRAIN” acronym that powers the school’s values to his commitment to daily visibility and over 200 personal phone calls home, Benji shares practical strategies that promote connection, consistency, and care.

Whether you're an aspiring leader or a veteran administrator, this episode offers energizing insights for creating a school where students, staff, and families all feel seen, supported, and inspired.

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Phillip Alcock (CEO and Co-Founder) and Thom Markham (Creative Director) of PBL Future Labs join the show to share how they’re fusing the best of project-based learning (PBL) with the transformative possibilities of AI.

With decades of experience in PBL design, coaching, and implementation, Phil and Tom reflect on PBL’s origins, the challenges that have limited its widespread adoption, and how AI can break down those barriers—saving teachers time, elevating student voice, and unlocking more authentic, community-connected learning.

They share real examples of “learning missions” that help schools move beyond static standards and worksheets, using AI to co-create meaningful projects and connect students’ learning to real-world impact in the students' local community. This conversation is an inspiring look at how educators can tap AI as a partner to reignite student engagement and prepare learners to solve the complex problems of tomorrow.

Learn more about PBL Future Labs, visit pblfuturelabs.com.

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we sit down with Elizabeth Dampf, a school administrator in the Chicagoland are and author of the new book from ASCD, Am I Cut Out for This? An Educational Leader’s Guide to Navigating Self-Doubt. Together, they explore the often unspoken realities of school leadership from early career challenges and feeling like an “instructional imposter” to facing difficult meetings and the isolation many leaders experience.

Elizabeth shares candid insights from her own journey as an administrator, explains why self-doubt is so prevalent (yet taboo) in the field, and offers practical strategies that leaders can use in real moments of uncertainty. Whether you’re a veteran principal or a new admin, this conversation — and Elizabeth’s book — will remind you that you’re not alone and that leadership skills can be learned and strengthened over time.