Gene Kerns, Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at Renaissance Learning, joins the show to discuss instructional coherence—a trending concept in education that asks whether all the programs, assessments, and interventions schools purchase actually work together as a system.Notes:- Instructional Coherence.- Connecting in appropriate ways.- How do you know if there is instructional coherence?- Each part we add has the potential to become a silo.- Incoherence vs. coherence.- Our students who are struggling the most have to carry the most cognitive load.- 1 vendor vs. multi-vendor situations. - Article pairing of assessment and instruction.- Power of aligning to textbooks/curriculum- Just because we are giving kids more time doesn't mean they are getting the learning they need.- Emphasis on grade level content.- Review only what is absolutely necessary and immediately relevant to what you're doing right now.- Lesson Creator with AI for the teachable moment.- Check out Renaissance Learning Webinars- Renaissance IntelligenceAbout Dr. Gene KernsGene Kerns is a third-generation educator with teaching experience from elementary through the university level and K-12 administrative experience. He currently serves as Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Renaissance Learning.   With nearly 20 years of experience of leading staff development and speaking at national and international conferences, his former clients include administrators’ associations across the country and the Ministry of Education of Singapore. Gene received his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree from Longwood College in Virginia, and also holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the University of Delaware with an emphasis in Education Leadership.   He is the author of 3 books on educational topics.

In this episode of A Decade Never To Be Forgotten, Jethro catches up with Savannah one year after her mission. A lot has changed—she got married to her high school sweetheart Alec after reconnecting over the summer, and they moved fast with intention and spiritual confirmation.Topics covered:How Savannah and Alec reconnected after their missions and decided to get married within monthsFinding spiritual confirmation through peace rather than dramatic revelationMaintaining good habits from missionary life in the "real world"The importance of regular temple attendance and finding something new each visitEarly marriage adjustments (including learning to cook!)Switching from nursing to Communication Disorders/Speech Language PathologyRunning her first marathon with minimal training—and losing four toenailsLooking ahead to graduate school and using her spiritual gift of loving people in her future career

In this episode, Priten and Jessica Maddry examine how surveillance culture and rigid policy enforcement are eroding trust and genuine learning in schools. From cell phone bans that criminalize normal behavior to reading programs that strip away the joy of stories, they explore how the gap between written policies and their ethical implementation has created environments of control rather than connection. The conversation spans zero-tolerance enforcement, AI detection tools, and the critical importance of human relationships in education.Key Takeaways:Policies should serve ethics, not replace them. Following rules isn't the same as doing the right thing. When a student has their phone off in their pocket but gets suspended because it's not in their backpack, the punishment no longer serves the policy's original intent of reducing distraction.Surveillance culture damages the learning environment. Constant monitoring and zero-tolerance enforcement create an atmosphere where students feel unsafe and disengaged. When students associate school with punishment rather than growth, absenteeism and mental health crises follow naturally.Deep literacy is becoming a privilege again. Many students no longer read books from start to finish, instead consuming only passages for standardized tests. This loss of story-based learning strips away both the joy of reading and critical thinking skills.AI detection is an unwinnable arms race. The cycle of AI detectors, humanizers, and humanizer-detectors demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how to address academic integrity—tools cannot replace the trust and relationships needed for genuine learning.Human connection is irreplaceable in education. Whether it's a professor scrapping class to process a difficult moment with students, or a teacher stepping aside to comfort a struggling child, the most impactful educational experiences come from authentic human relationships—something no technology can replicate.About Jessica Maddry:Jessica Maddry is an educator, strategist, and cofounder of BrightMinds AI, where she works with schools and districts to integrate AI ethically, intentionally, and with educators at the center. Her work focuses on helping systems move beyond hype toward human-centered, purpose-driven design– supporting policy, implementation, and systems change so technology strengthens learning, equity, and student well-being rather than undermines them.

Fear running your decisions? People-pleasing eroding your impact? It's time to lead like a humble legend – from core values, not chaos.Hosts Alex and Janin drop the "Navigate Power" blueprint on The Humility Advantage. Debrief fears, realign with your values, and craft a purpose-driven legacy that outlives you.Unlock inside:✅ Fear vs. Values audit – spot what's hijacking your leadership✅ 10-min debrief: Reconnect, navigate, vision your 5-year legacy✅ Purpose hacks for high-stakes worlds like healthcare (neurodivergent-proof!)Stop surviving – start thriving as a values-led leader. Your team, your legacy, deserves it.👉 Play now, lead bolder, and share #NavigatePower on LinkedIn!Subscribe for humility-fueled wins on culture, burnout, and unbreakable teams.

AJ Crabill explains that school boards should represent community values and set student outcome goals—not micromanage operations. Effective boards match words with actions by consistently monitoring learning data, while most fail by getting distracted from their core mission: ensuring children actually learn.AJ Crabill serves as National Director of Governance at Council of the Great City Schools. He recently served as the Conservator at DeSoto (TX) ISD, as Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency, and as board chair of Kansas City (MO) Public Schools. The 3rd edition of his bestselling book, "Great On Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Become Effective” was released last month.Links:YouTube: Bing VideosWebsite: Airick Journey Crabill | AJ Crabill | aj-crabill.com