• Curiosity is Everything: Set Up Direct Instruction with Micro-Inquiry (Olivia Odileke)

    Curiosity is Everything: Set Up Direct Instruction with Micro-Inquiry (Olivia Odileke)
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    • Why is curiosity foundational to everything that happens in the classroom?
    • How can simple micro-inquiry tasks at the beginning of a lesson set up direct instruction to follow?
    • How can teachers use AI as a collaborative thought partner to amplify student thinking?

    About This Guest, Olivia Odileke

    Olivia is an educator, author, instructional technology leader, and founder of Kampus Insights CC, where she helps schools design engaging, curiosity-driven learning experiences. With over 15 years of experience in Title I schools, she has trained thousands of educators and is passionate about helping teachers spark student thinking before delivering content. Olivia is also the creator of the Spark Curiosity EDU experience, a movement designed to help educators rediscover wonder, joy, and purpose in teaching and learning.

    Connect with Olivia

    • on LinkedIn, 
    • on X @KampusCoach,
    • on Instagram @fearless.educator, and
    • at her website, sparkcuriosityedu.com.

    Other Helpful Resources from Olivia

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Olivia Odileke is an education author, speaker, and teacher trainer
    • 1:51 – Curiosity is NOT just an extra, it’s everything
    • 4:55 – Micro-inquiry tasks at the beginning of the lesson
    • 9:26 – The Spark Curiosity EDU “anti-conference” in Austin
    • 19:24 – The Spark Curiosity GPT Coach
    • 26:25 – What’s killing curiosity in our classrooms today
    • 29:29 – Olivia’s AI-generated music for educators
    • 34:20 – The AI tools she uses for her music
    • 37:11 – Unleashing Curiosity, Olivia’s most recent book
    • 41:39 – How and where to connect with Olivia online

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Dr. Brad Johnson: Build Your RQ, Build Your Learning Community

    Dr. Brad Johnson: Build Your RQ, Build Your Learning Community
    • How can relational leadership transform your school community?
    • How can we encourage colleagues overwhelmed by fatigue, culture wars, or literacy battles?
    • As technology debates rage, where is the conversation going in K-12 education?

    About This Guest, Dr. Brad Johnson

    Dr. Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker, bestselling author, and one of the leading voices in relational leadership and educator wellness. A former teacher, principal, and professor, Brad has authored multiple books and works with schools around the world to help leaders build trust, strengthen culture, and create environments where both students and educators thrive.

    Connect with Dr. Brad Johnson

    • on Facebook and LinkedIn,
    • on X and Instagram @DrBradJohnson, and
    • at his website, doctorbradjohnson.com.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Dr. Brad Johnson is a renowned education author and speaker
    • 1:38 – The story in Coffee with the Custodian
    • 5:32 – Leadership principles that administrators struggle with
    • 7:38 – Relational leadership
    • 11:25 – A mistake that new administrators make sometimes
    • 14:13 – How to recognize character traits in students
    • 16:45 – Encouraging tired teachers
    • 20:39 – How to best leverage strengths of teachers
    • 22:40 – The technology debate raging in K-12 education
    • 27:22 – One thing that keeps Dr. Johnson’s fire burning
    • 29:51 – How and where to connect with Dr. Brad Johnson

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • 7 Steps to School Success with Former Superintendent of the Year, Dr. James Lane

    7 Steps to School Success with Former Superintendent of the Year, Dr. James Lane
    • What are the seven steps to school success?
    • What are the most common distractions school leaders face?
    • How can we build schools that give our graduates the kinds of skills that actually have career-ready value in tomorrow’s marketplace?

    About This Guest, Dr. James Lane

    James is Managing Director of K–16 at ETS, where he leads initiatives to strengthen connections between K–12, higher education, and the workforce. Previously, he served as CEO of PDK International and Educators Rising, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education, and Superintendent of Public Instruction in Virginia, where he was named 2017 Virginia Superintendent of the Year. A lifelong educator and musician, Dr. Lane is also a trumpet player and member of the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame.

    Connect with Dr. James Lane

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 1:52 – The 7 steps to school success
    • 4:48 – Distractions for school leaders
    • 6:34 – Advice for future leaders
    • 8:47 – Grow your own – from students to district leaders
    • 11:53 – How to build trust in a new school community
    • 14:47 – Standardized testing and deeper learning
    • 17:47 – From worksheets to competencies
    • 20:34 – Career readiness for our graduates
    • 23:37 – Inclusive practices and potential for all learners
    • 27:14 – How and where to connect with Dr. James Lane online

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Design Thinking, AI Literacy, and Vibe Coding with Alex Gray

    Design Thinking, AI Literacy, and Vibe Coding with Alex Gray
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    • How can education podcasting impact professional growth over time?
    • What is the single most dangerous misconception schools are making about artificial intelligence right now?
    • How can design thinking prepare secondary students for a complex, uncertain, technology-driven future?

    About This Guest, Alex Gray

    Alex is head of sixth form, BSME Network Lead for AI in Education, and founder of the DEEP Education Network, a global platform connecting 1,000+ educators across 50+ countries with courses, community, and evidence-based frameworks for modern teaching. He hosts The International Classroom Podcast, one of Dubai’s largest education podcasts with hundreds of thousands of views.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Alex Gray is a secondary educator and podcaster in Dubai
    • 1:48 – Alex’s journey from the UK to Dubai
    • 5:43 – Teacher sustainability in international contexts
    • 9:26 – Teacher burnout around the globe
    • 12:31 – Podcasting as professional development
    • 15:46 – AI literacy
    • 23:09 – School misconceptions about AI
    • 25:30 – Vibe coding
    • 29:20 – Design thinking in secondary
    • 34:54 – Alex’s courses for educators at deepeducationnetwork.com
    • 37:46 – How and where to connect with Alex online

    You can connect with Alex

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Better Questioning, Deeper Learning – with Connie Hamilton

    Better Questioning, Deeper Learning – with Connie Hamilton
    • How can we improve the effectiveness of the questions we ask in the classroom?
    • What’s a better way to respond the next time we get the classic “I don’t know”?
    • What does collecting actionable microdata look like during a live lesson?

    About This Guest, Connie Hamilton

    Connie is an author and instructional expert known for helping educators shift more thinking to students through effective questioning, collaboration, and high-impact classroom practices.

    How and Where to Connect with Connie

    • On Facebook and LinkedIn, 
    • On Instagram @conniehamiltonEd, and
    • At her website at conniehamilton.org.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Connie Hamilton is an education author, speaker, and presenter
    • 1:14 – How to improve teacher questioning
    • 2:57 – Questioning that shows student reasoning
    • 5:10 – How to respond to “I don’t know”
    • 7:39 – Questions that produce more equity and inclusion
    • 11:41 – Teacher invisibility – giving students agency and ownership
    • 15:33 – Productive struggle – what teachers need to know
    • 20:12 – Microdata points for instructional coaches to look for
    • 25:55 – Signs of curiosity and inquiry in a classroom
    • 27:20 – Providing coaching support to teachers without burdening
    • 30:37 – How and where to connect with Connie Hamilton’s work

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.