Prek-12 Education Episodes

Our guest, Dr. Andy Jacks, is an award-winning principal, speaker, author, and leadership coach dedicated tohelping educators build thriving school communities full of energy, growth, and fun. A former Virginia Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal, he shares practical, research-based strategies on leadership, school improvement, student engagement, and creating lasting positive change. He is the author of Discipline Win and speaks nationally to inspire leaders to make the e...

Our guest, Dr. Maylén R.R. Sullivan, is the 2026 SWCOLT and California Language Teacher of the Year. A passionate trilingual educator originally from Cuba, she serves as the Coronado Unified School District World Language Teacher on Special Assignment (ToSA), where she leads K-12 professional development and shapes the department's vision. Sullivan believes language is a powerful vehicle for problem solving and civic engagement — empowering students to servetheir communities, contribute meaning...

Our Guest, Tiffani Jaseph, is a dedicated special education professional with 16 years of teaching experience. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Special Education from the University of Arizona. Driven by her passion for children, Ms. Jaseph began her career in general education but soon realized her true calling in special education and made the transition to that field. Throughout her career, Ms. Jaseph has worked in three school districts. At the ...

Our Guest, Prince Johnson, a 26-year veteran educator, is the 2026 New York State Teacher of the Year as well as the 2025 Gilder Lehrman New York History Teacher of the Year. A passionate advocate for career and technical education (CTE) and a leader in sustainability, he teaches social studies at Food and Finance High School in New York City and serves on the NYCPS Climate Education Leadership Team. His drive as an educator was shaped by the injustices he observed while teaching on Rikers Isla...

Our Guest, Prince Johnson, a 26-year veteran educator, is the 2026 New York State Teacher of the Year as well as the 2025 Gilder Lehrman New York History Teacher of the Year. A passionate advocate for career and technical education (CTE) and a leader in sustainability, he teaches social studies at Food and Finance High School in New York City and serves on the NYCPS Climate Education Leadership Team. His drive as an educator was shaped by the injustices he observed while teaching on Rikers Isla...

Our Guest, Alicia Harper, is a Superintendent at Achievement First. She is a turnaround strategist, and LinkedIn content creator known for her exceptional leadership in school transformation. As a former principal, she led a turnaround school where math and reading proficiency rose from ~30% to over 90%, and staff favorability jumped from 47% to 95%, ranking #1 on Org Health Surveys during her tenure. More importantly, together with her team, she built a school where students felt happy and emp...

Our Guest, Anna Young, founder of Sunnyside Literacy Lab, started her career with Teach for America and has worked in education as a humanities teacher, special educator, and academic interventionist. She currently supervises graduate students at CUNY Hunter College. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from McGill University and an M.S. in Adolescent Special Education from CUNY Hunter College. She is certified in the Orton-Gillingham method, a structured literacy approach to reading instruct...

Our Guest, Dr. Christopher Bonn, is President and CEO of BonFire Leadership Solutions. He is a celebrated educator, leadership coach, author, college professor, and musician. With over 35 years of experience, he has led institutional turnarounds, inspired educators worldwide, and createdculturally resonant music that spans languages and borders. As a Tribal Adjudication Certified Professional, Dr. Bonn is a trusted advisor to Navajo Nation, White Mountain Apache, San Carlos Apache, Pascua Yaqui...

Our guest, Antrina Leeth, is an educator with over 18 years of experience. She currently serves as Senior Outreach and Development Manager for the International BaccalaureateOrganization (IBO). Her initial introduction to IB began as a Primary Years Programme (PYP) teacher, before moving into the role of IB Coordinator for 5 years. Prior to joining the International Baccalaureate Organization, Antrinaalso held the role of IB District Manager for all IB Programmes within District of Columbia (DC)...

Our guest, Robert Kelty, is Head of Outreach, Government Relations, and Development for the International Baccalaureate (IB) North America. Robert embarked onhis career journey in Crownpoint, New Mexico, nestled within the Navajo Nation, when he joined Teach For America in 2001. The IB, renowned globally as an esteemed education foundation, operates across more than 6,000 schools worldwide and 2,000 schools within the United States. Robert earned his doctorate from Northern Arizona University ...

Xcelerate educational excellence and equity with Dr. Rosa Rivera-McCutchen, author of Radical Care: Leading for Justice in Urban Schools. Sponsor: The 2.0 Conferences. Register for the 20262.0 Conferences in Las Vegas, Nevada and receive a discount courtesy of EDUP Xcelerated Excellence with the code EDUPXE15OFF. Your choice of the 2.0 Conferences include: CXO 2.0, Education 2.0, Health 2.0, Founders 2.0, and the Fueld Conference. Resource: Radical Care: Leading for Justice in Urban Schools (...

Our guest, Aashna Khurana, is a PhD student at The Carolyn A. and Peter S. Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College. Aashna is a contributor to the 2025 ICSEI Dialogic. She shares her insights on “Systems Change Efforts for Inclusive Education: Lessons from Effective Districts (AUDIO).” This Inspirational Short was recorded during the 2025 International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement in Melbourne Australia. The 2025 ICSEI Dialogic centers the work of th...

Our guest, Dr. Rosa Rivera-McCutchen, is an educator with over 20 years of experience working in NYC public schools and higher education settings. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Rivera-McCutchen’s research, teaching, and activism areinformed by her experiences and center on achieving racial equity through what she calls Radical Care. Her book, Radical Care: Leading for Justice in Urban Schools, was published by Teachers College Press in 2021. Her research has appeared in highly respect...

Our guests, Dr. Micia Mosely, Founder and Director of the Black Teacher Project, advances the mission of creating opportunities for Black teachers to see schools as places of liberated learning. In developing leaders, she explains that leadership is not about a title nor more work. Leadership development is one condition that positively impact teacher effectiveness and retention. Dr. Mosley professes the importance of community among Black educators and explains that mentorship is an invaluabl...

Our Guest, Dr. Chezare A. Warren, is Associate Professor of education policy with a secondary faculty appointment in the department of teaching and learning at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. He addresses the role of empath and the counterbalance of false empathy as jumping off point for greater equity in schools. In doing so, he elevates the importance of interpersonal relationships that humanize educational experiences. Dr. Warren shares how his latest book Centering Possibility in ...

Our Guest, Eden Strachan (Straw-n), is Executive Director of Black Girls Will Get Love, Inc. and Founder of Black Girls Don’t Get Love, LLC. She is also an award-winning journalist and filmmaker and author of the book Black Girls Don’t Get Love. Eden’s work focuses on advancing girls’, girls of color, and Black girls in particular, learning and self-image through the use media. Her work centers the genre of the coming of age story. Her organization offers a film training program, a slumber par...

Our guest, Dr. Tyrone Howard, is the Pritzker Family Endowed Chair in the School of Education and Information Studies at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is also the immediate past-president of the American Educational Research Association. Dr. Howard, profiles the significance of parent and caregiver engagement in educational equity and belonging, as outlined in his new book Equity Now: Justice, Repair, and Belonging in Schools. He stresses the significance of mindsets when add...

Guest, Dr. Alisha Pollard, is President of Warriors Helping Achieve Triumph (or “WHAT”). What is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to empowering individuals of all ages through enriching experiences and knowledge-sharing sessions, while encouraging self-confidence and the desire to excel. Dr. Pollard, describes how WHAT supports students and their families achieve financial literacy. Recording during the Education 2.0 Conference, 2024, Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Pollard shares how authent...

Meet Ty-Quan Payne, Dean of School Culture at Ivy Hill Prep in Brooklyn, NY. Ivy Hill Prep is a small charter school serving grades K-5. Mr. Payne is also an artist and founder of #LovePayne Productions offering independent executive producer services for theatrical productions, as well as photography, dramaturgy, and acting coaching services. He shares how the use of martial arts at Ivy Hill Prep is married to the social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum to aid in students’ holistic develop....

Meet Dr. Christopher Bonn, President and CEO of BonFire Leadership Solutions LLC. He is a former school district superintendent, the author of Igniting Change: The BonFire Principles for Transforming Toxic Organizations, and a university faculty member. Chris works with the technology industry and school systems to achieve greater efficiencies for educational outcomes through the use of assistive and other forms of technology. Recorded during the Education 2.0 Conference, 2024 in Las Vegas, NV,...

Guest Jeannette Eastin is the founder of Refound Education. Her passion for democratizing education lends itself to supporting families, educators, and communities with innovations and connecting them to vital resources. Jeannette sat down with EDUP Xcelerated Excellence during the Education 2.0 Conference, 2024, Las Vegas, NV. She appreciates the opportunities for networking and growing the reach of her organization. She reminds all educators, innovators, and entrepreneurs to never give up in...

Guest Rodney Toulson, owner of Restorative Consulting Services, shares the importance of systemic restorative practices for schools and school districts. The outcome is a transformed learning community. Recorded at the Education 2.0 Conference, 2024, Las Vegas, NV. Rodney speaks on the multi-generational composition of conference participants as an environment for new learning. He urges community members of color to join the education profession as agents for positive change. Join Rodney Toul...

Our guest, Sylvia Badwi of Agora Prep Academy discusses a unique learning environment that disrupts the traditional, factory-model of education. Agrora Prep in Canada professes a learner-centered educational approach that is a compilation of several models to support neurodivergent and gifted learners. Sylvia explains her experience during the Education 2.0 Conference, 2024, as one that buttresses education revolution! She encourages educational leaders and entrepreneurs to engage in networkin...

Guest Elizabeth Power of The Trauma Informed Academy shares inspirational thoughts on how to support students and school staff who experience trauma. Her brilliant insights demystify trauma, explaining it as a human condition. Recorded during the Education 2.0 Conference, 2024, Elizabeth shares national and international impacts of The Trauma Inform Academy. Did you know that in Japan, there was no word for Trauma? Tune in to learn more. #Self-care #Resilience #Trauma #SEL #educationalequity #co...