The RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with Educators

Chronic absenteeism nearly doubled after the pandemic — and health is one of the most overlooked drivers behind it.

In this episode of the RocketPD Podcast, host Corey Murray sits down with Dr. Adrianna Bravo, pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer at Inspire Health for Education, to unpack how physical and mental health challenges are quietly keeping students out of class — and how school-based telehealth is helping districts turn that around.

Drawing on real-world district partnerships, including a pilot in Los Angeles Unified School District where return-to-class rates increased from 61% to 90%, Dr. Bravo explains how centering care inside schools can reduce missed instructional time, support school nurses and counselors, and improve equity in access to care.

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If you’re a superintendent, principal, district leader, or school health professional grappling with attendance, student wellbeing, or mental health capacity, this conversation offers a practical, partnership-driven path forward.

👉 Learn more about Inspire Health for Education and school-based telehealth solutions

👉 Explore how RocketPD partners with districts to support whole-child success (www.rocketpd.com)

Teacher evaluation is meant to support growth — but for many school leaders, it’s become a compliance-heavy process that drains time, erodes trust, and leaves little room for meaningful coaching.

In this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, host Corey Murray sits down with Dr. Susan Enfield, Executive Director of the Center for Educational Leadership at the University of Washington, and Will Krasnow, CEO of Swiftscore, to explore a timely and complex question:

Can AI actually help humanize teacher evaluation — not just speed it up?

Drawing on Susan’s decades of experience as a superintendent and national leadership expert, alongside Will’s early work with districts piloting AI-supported evaluation workflows, this conversation unpacks:

Rather than asking whether AI belongs in schools, this episode focuses on how it can be used responsibly — as an assistive tool that supports educators, strengthens relationships, and improves outcomes for students.

Get Involved: Join the National Research Cohort

RocketPD and Swiftscore are convening a national cohort for school and district leaders who want to reimagine teacher evaluation with AI, contribute to meaningful research, and learn alongside peers.

Learn more and register here: https://k12researchcohorts.org/future_of_teacher_evaluation_2025

If you’re a superintendent, principal, instructional leader, or educator wrestling with how to make evaluation more meaningful — this conversation is for you.

Subscribe to RocketPD for more conversations at the intersection of leadership, learning, and innovation in K–12 education.

Guest: Dr. Joshua P. Starr, former superintendent & nonprofit executive; Founder, Common Ground Solutions

Description:

Drawing on years of experience in urban districts and nonprofit leadership, Dr. Starr returns to the podcast to share practical strategies for building trust, creating clarity, and bringing people together around shared values — without backing down from what’s right.

You’ll learn:

Listen now to hear how Dr. Starr and his team at Common Ground Solutions are helping school leaders turn division into dialogue and build stronger school communities — one conversation at a time.

🎧 Watch or listen on: RocketPD Podcast

Guest: Dr. Michael Hinojosa, former Dallas ISD Superintendent & Founder, Together Network for Transformation

Description:

Drawing on nearly three decades of experience, Dr. Hinojosa shares practical lessons for leaders who want to transform — not just reform — their districts.

You’ll learn:

Listen now to hear how Dr. Hinojosa and his team at the Together Network for Transformation are helping school leaders build stronger systems and communities — one district at a time.

🎧 Watch or listen on: RocketPD Podcast

Dr. Sheldon “Shelley” Berman is a former superintendent, national SEL leader, and co-author of A Call to Courage: Standing Up for Public Education. On this episode of the RocketPD Podcast, Shelley and Corey talk about how school leaders can navigate political flashpoints, respond to misinformation, and build stronger school communities grounded in shared values. They explore practical ways to create opportunity for every student—while helping educators lead with clarity, courage, and care.

This episode is brought to you by RocketPD.

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Veronica V. Sopher is a former journalist and school district communications chief. She's a sought after speaker and an expert at helping school leaders address sensitive topics like discipline and security with anxious parents. On this episode of the Rocket PD podcast, Veronica and Corey take on the issue of school communications. They talk about what it means to tell your school's story and we offer up steps that all school staff can take to build trust, create welcoming environment and make the hard work of communicating just a little easier for everyone.

This episode is brought to you by RocketPD.

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Website: https://rocketpd.com/

Matt Miller is a former Spanish teacher and the author of Ditch That Textbook and Tech Like a Pirate. In the age of fleeting student attention, Matt has coached thousands of educators in the art and science of technology as a tool for student learning. In this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, Corey asks Matt what it takes to create authentic and engaging classroom experiences that capture students' attention and hold it. We talk about ways to include students in the instructional design process — and why the technology you use is less important than the experiences that you create. At the end, Matt talks about a cohort he's building later in the year to help teachers engage students through the power of technology.

This episode is brought to you by RocketPD.

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Tech Like a Pirate:

How to Create a Buzzworthy Classroom That Captures Students’ Attention — and Holds It

Join our K-12 Professional Learning Community:

Website: https://rocketpd.com/

Eric Sheninger is the founder of Aspire Change EDU and author of books like Personalized and Disruptive Thinking. A former school principal, Eric helped turn New Jersey's New Milford High School into a model for school innovation. He's become one of the nation's leading voices on school change and transformation. On this episode of the Rocket PD Podcast, Corey and Eric take on the subject of change in schools. Rather than promote buy-in for big initiatives, Eric says schools need to promote ownership among teachers and staff, and he shares a plan for just how to do that.

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Angela Watson is the founder of Truth for Teachers and the author of Fewer Things Better. In an age where school teachers and staff are starved for time, Angela has emerged as a leading voice on time management. On this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, Corey and Angela share practical ideas to help busy teachers and school staff make more efficient use of time. They talk about changing mindsets, letting go of perfectionism, creating space in the day, and building efficient systems.

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Website: https://rocketpd.com/ 

John Spencer is a renowned PBL expert, college professor, and author of Empower, What Happens When Students Own Their Learning. On this episode of the Rocket PD podcast, Corey asks John about the power of project-based learning and design thinking in an AI-driven world. Corey and John discuss a process for designing PBL units that are engaging, easy to assess, and closely aligned to academic standards. At the end, John shares details about a group he is pulling together to master the art of effective PBL design in classrooms.

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Join our K-12 Professional Learning Community:

Website: https://rocketpd.com/