Voices of Readiness Podcast

Keeping your classroom fresh and engaging can be a challenge. Luckily, you don't need to do it on your own. We're building a community of educators ready to share tools, tips, and inspiration for classroom success.

In this episode, we talk with four incredible educators: Kylie Kroukamp, Laura Green, Robert Lee, and Steve O'Neill. Hear their thoughts on classroom engagement: What it looks like, how to use technology to make classrooms more engaging and fun, and some of the mistakes these teachers have made in their teaching careers. Plus, they give us a peek into what they're planning on discussing in their 2026 CERTIFIED Educator Conference breakouts and workshops.

Get ideas for your classroom today and find out what you can learn in Nashville this summer!

Connect with educators like Kylie, Laura, Robert, and Steve in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.

Are your students looking for a career that pays well, is challenging, and has great growth potential? Why not consider a career in web development? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow 7% (much faster than average) before 2034.

The potential is there. Now we're here to help you effectively teach web development in the classroom. Educator extraordinaire, Brittany Wood, is your guide.

Brittany is a Digital Information Technology and AP Computer Science Principles educator. She loves teaching and isn't afraid to use unconventional techniques to get her students excited about technology.

In this episode, we're sharing new ideas you can use in your technology classroom. Find out how you can customize projects based on your students' learning styles. Plus, discover how rubber ducks can help your students get excited about coding... That's right, rubber ducks. Intrigued? Let's dive in!

Interested in certifying your students' web development skills? Learn more here.

Connect with educators like Brittany in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.

How is AI transforming design? We sat down with four experts to find out—and to bring you clear, current guidance you can use in the classroom.

In this episode, freelance graphic designer Miriam Reza, design educator Sean Price, creative technologist Kenny Call, and Adobe Education Evangelist Claudio Zavala share practical perspectives on AI's impact on today's creatives.

Together, we explore responsible AI classroom use, how to balance creation and curation, the human skills that make AI effective (like communication, creativity, and iteration), and concrete ways to prepare students for future design careers. If you're looking for practical ideas you can use with creative students, this is a great place to start.

Learn more about our Adobe Certified Professional program here.

Connect with educators like Sean in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.

Today's students are preparing for a competitive future, in both higher education and the workforce. How can you help them stand out and succeed? Certifications.

In this episode, we're bringing you perspective from education and the workforce. We sat down with two educators, Brittany Nicholson and Kim Kayser, and two professionals, Kurt Campbell and Raae Wolfram. Together we discussed why certifications matter. Whether you teach young students or adults, this episode will help you understand how industry-recognized credentials can benefit your community.

• Discover the value of certification: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/About/The-value-of-certification.

• Interested in hearing more conversations like this? Join us for future CERTIFIED Academy webinars: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2026/January/Join-us-for-CERTIFIED-Academy-2026.

It's time for you to join our community! Meet us in Nashville for the 2026 CERTIFIED Educator Conference: https://www.pearsonvue.com/certified/conference.html. Register now for $100 off!

Happy 2026! A new year means new goals. What goals are you making for your classroom? If you need ideas, this episode is for you. The answer's in the data!

Join us as we talk all about data analysis with Nicole Rodenfels. Nicole is a dedicated educator in the School District of Lee County in Ft. Myers, FL. She holds a master's degree in educational technology from Florida Gulf Coast University and taught Microsoft Office applications at the high school and college levels for seven years. Currently, she works at the district level, providing essential support to teachers utilizing Certiport certifications.

Nicole thrives on helping educators analyze data and navigate the extensive features of the Certiport platform, finding joy in empowering others to enhance their teaching practices. She is a Microsoft Office Specialist Expert (2019), a Microsoft Certified Educator, and has earned certifications in Entrepreneurship and Small Business, as well as Information Technology Specialist in Device Configuration and Management.

In this episode, Nicole shares why data analysis matters in today's classroom. She discusses what data points to track and how to use the data to adjust your teaching. Plus, what data you can capture from industry and where to get information on what matters most in the workforce. If you're nervous about data or don't know where to start, Nicole gives you a great introduction.

Looking to get hands on experience with data analysis? Check out Nicole's CERTIFIED presentation here.

Interested in learning from educators Nicole? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.

Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.

As a business educator, you prepare students for demanding and dynamic careers. And marketing is just one area where they can excel. However, with so many trends and apps constantly changing, equipping your students with useful marketing skills and experiences can be difficult.

No one knows that more than Jodi Pelini. Jodi is a former TV reporter and anchor who now brings her love of storytelling and media to the classroom. For the past 22 years, she has taught media production at Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights, Illinois, and is committed to incorporating Adobe and Meta certification opportunities into all three levels of her digital media program. She is the CTSO advisor of her school's chapter of the Business Professionals of America, and she also helps manage the school's social media and marketing campaigns. As if that doesn't keep her busy enough, she is also an adjunct professor, specializing in media production, at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois. Jodi earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and a master's degree in media arts from Governors State University. She is also the proud mother of four wonderful children.

In this episode, Jodi talks us through her marketing and social media teaching. We discuss key marketing skills students need to be successful in their future careers. Jodi also gets real about the role of AI in marketing and business, and how she uses it with her students. And last, but certainly not least, she shares how you can give students opportunities to practice social media skills in the classroom.

Interested in learning more about social media certifications? Check out our Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate certification.

Interested in learning from educators Jodi? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.

Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.

There's an app for everything these days. Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives. Getting students ready for careers in technology has never been more demanding or exciting!

In this episode, we learn from app development educator, Brian Foutty. Brian brings decades of classroom teaching experience to his current job as a secondary math, app development and coding, and special education teacher at Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Warren, Ohio. He has also worked as a Mac and iPad systems administrator and a classroom technology integrator for the students and staff at Turnbull. Brian has been an active iOS app developer since 2011, and he worked for three years as an Apple Professional Learning Specialist. Brian firmly believes that all students can benefit and become better thinkers through formal coding learning experiences.

We chat with Brian about why he believes in teaching app development, and the skills your students learn in these courses. Brian shares how he gets students excited about coding, and how to celebrate their successes along the way. And, of course, we address big trends in technology like certification and the impact AI is having in the classroom and the workplace.

Ready to dive into the App Development with Swift certification exams? All our information is available here.

Interested in learning from educators like Brian? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.

Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.

Microsoft Excel is more than just a tool in the accounting and finance industry—it empowers individuals to advance their careers by transforming numbers into actionable insights. Despite the rise of specialized software, 89% of finance teams still rely on Excel skills, making it the go-to platform for budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analysis worldwide.

With Excel still on top, it's crucial to help students master the application before they enter the workforce. Which is why we've launched new specialized Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications for accounting and finance careers: MOS Excel for Accounting Associate and MOS Excel for Finance Associate. On this episode of the podcast, we sat down with Caroline Dill and Jennifer Johnson to discuss these new exams.

Caroline is a Product Marketing Manager at Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, where she leads global marketing strategies for major clients such as Microsoft and Unity, including the Microsoft Office Specialist program. Before joining Certiport, Caroline held leadership roles in the publishing industry, where she co-chaired major initiatives to strengthen institutional partnerships and expand access to academic research.

Jennifer is a CPA licensed in the state of Texas. She owns and manages a client accounting practice utilizing technology and automation to help clients enact change through information. From 2009 – 2025, Jennifer was a Professor of Instruction at the University of Texas at Dallas, where she taught Accounting Systems, Data Analytics, QuickBooks Software, CPA Exam preparation, and Excel courses. In 2024 Jennifer was named CPA of the Year by TXCPA Dallas, and in 2017 she was named an Outstanding Accounting Educator by TXCPA. Jennifer co-authored six editions of Computerized Accounting with QuickBooks Online. Before joining the University of Texas at Dallas in 2009, Jennifer spent time in both public accounting and industry as an auditor with PwC, an Assistant Controller at a regional financial services firm, and a Finance Manager at Keurig Dr Pepper. Jennifer holds both a BBA and an MS in Accounting from Texas A&M University.

During this episode, Caroline and Jennifer discuss trends in the accounting and finance industry, key skills for future professionals to master, and how these new certifications can set individuals apart in the competitive job market. If you're teaching future financial professionals, this episode is for you.

Ready to dive into these new exams? All our information is available here.

Interested in learning from educators like Jennifer? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.

Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.

You know that preparing students for the contemporary workforce looks dramatically different than it did even a few years ago. Today's students need to be prepared to succeed in an even more demanding environment.

We sat down with two educators (Noam Bonkowski and Vladimir Noda) to talk about today's workforce demands and how you can make sure your students are prepared.

Noam is a CTE teacher, work-based learning (WBL) coordinator, and Project Management Professional in Queens, NY. In his role, he creates a classroom that models a professional PMO work environment, all while teaching project management foundations and key business skills. He certifies his students using the PMI Project Management Ready certification program. Noam also extends his influence beyond the classroom in his role as WBL coordinator. He fosters partnerships with businesses and develops opportunities for students to work as interns for key work experience and educational credit.

Vladimir is an enthusiastic educator, instructional coach, and advocate for business education with over a decade of experience enhancing student success. Throughout his career, he has assisted countless students in obtaining industry-recognized certifications in Microsoft Office, Adobe, and the Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) exam. As an instructional coach, he is dedicated to building a top-tier business program and enhancing his school's presence through strategic marketing efforts. With a dynamic approach to curriculum development and certification preparation, Vladimir aims to empower educators with the tools and strategies necessary to boost student achievement, expand their programs, and cultivate future business leaders.

In this episode, we talk with Noam and Vladimir all about skills needed for the managers of tomorrow's workforce. We discuss everything from soft skills, classroom architecture, the role of certification, helping students practice their abilities in real-world scenarios, and inclusivity for marginalized students. Whether you're focusing on project management, communication, or an entrepreneurial mindset, we know you'll learn something to help your students master the skills required of tomorrow's business leaders.

Learn more about our episode sponsors: The PMI Project Management Ready certification and Entrepreneurship and Small Business certification programs.

Interested in learning from educators like Noam and Vladimir? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.

Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.

Security threats and nefarious tactics from hackers are on the rise, demanding more awareness and vigilance online. According to an IBM study of over 150 billion daily security events in more than 130 countries, there was a 71% year-over-year increase in cyberattacks that used stolen or compromised data. This rise in attacks has increased the demand for cybersecurity professionals in various industries.

In this episode, we learn all about cybersecurity and IT education from three incredible educators: Jessie Kalloo, Jereme Monette, and Robbie Perdue. We sat down with these pros to discuss how to prepare students for careers in cybersecurity and IT. Hear all about their professional experiences, key lessons they've learned, and effective strategies for making your IT classroom engaging and fun.

Interested in learning more from educators like Jessie, Jereme, and Robbie? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.

Learn from other educators, like Jessie, Jereme, and Robbie, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.