Mike Caldwell sits down with Bill Knous, Senior Director of Quality and Growth at the Colorado League of Charter Schools and co-founder of Gran Via, a micro school in the Denver area. Bill shares his winding path into education — from a history degree and living abroad in Australia and Spain, to teaching multilingual learners in Denver and Philly, to leading classrooms and schools in Colombia. He and his wife co-founded Gran Via in 2020, growing it from six students to 30 while navigating a patchwork of micro-school funding in Colorado. Bill makes a passionate case for scrapping seat-time requirements as the primary accountability metric, arguing the system is designed for adult compliance rather than student motivation. He also reflects on what gives him hope — a rising generation of learners who experienced the pandemic and are pushing back on the one-size-fits-all model. The episode closes with Bill's take on transformative leadership: the ability to influence and motivate a diverse group of people around a singular mission.

Host: John Mihalyo  |  ~25 minYou made it through another school year — and that is worth celebrating. Whether this year felt like a championship season or survival mode, you showed up every single day for your students, your families, and your mission. That matters.In this episode, John takes a few minutes to celebrate what you accomplished, have an honest conversation about where your enrollment stands heading into summer, and send you off with five practical action items to make sure the next few months are intentional — not accidental.Because here's the thing — summer is not a break from enrollment. Families are making decisions right now, and the schools that stay visible and proactive are the ones that win in the fall. If you're not where you wanted to be this year, John talks about why your message may not be landing and what to do about it.And yes — rest is on the list too. You cannot lead well on empty. So before you dive into summer planning mode, give yourself permission to actually recharge. The mission needs you healthy.LINKS AND RESOURCESFree Summer Workshop"Ten Things Every Catholic School Leader Should Do This Summer" — free at elementaryadvancement.comWork with JohnIf your enrollment isn't where you want it to be, reach out at elementaryadvancement.comIf this episode was helpful, subscribe and share it with another Catholic school leader who could use some encouragement heading into summer. Thank you for everything you do for your students, your families, and the mission of Catholic education.

16 - Teaching Tech with Purpose – Digital Citizenship, AI, and Creativity in the Classroom with Catherine FuerteIn this episode of In Search of Catholic School Excellence, we sit down with Catherine Fuerte of Holy Angels School to explore how schools can teach technology with purpose in the age of AI. From digital citizenship and media literacy to ethical AI use and creative STEM projects, Catherine shares practical strategies for helping students become thoughtful, responsible digital learners.The conversation dives into real classroom examples including AI-powered superhero projects, fake news detection activities, prompt engineering lessons, and discussions about technology’s impact on values like hard work and honesty. Rather than fearing AI, Catherine challenges educators to model responsible use, encourage critical thinking, and help students use technology as a tool for learning rather than a shortcut around it.Whether you’re a classroom teacher, technology coordinator, or school leader, this episode offers practical ideas for building a school culture where creativity, integrity, and digital responsibility go hand in hand.To get your Digital Citizenship & AI Classroom Starter Kit please visit us here.If you need help developing a plan to try AI with your students or for yourself, please schedule a time to talk with us today. https://bit.ly/Build-IT-Better-TogetherMore about Catherine’s technology class: We strive to seamlessly integrate technology into every aspect of curriculum, teaching, communicating and professional growth. We are responsible 21st century learners, authors and problem solvers, able to seek and use information and communicate effectively and to pursue real-world learning and work using technology.Holy Angels School based the profile of its students on a comprehensive understanding of curriculum, which includes the spiritual, intellectual, social, psychological, and physical experiences of all students. This statement represents what we consider the important characteristics of an ideal student.Be like Jesus. Be the best you can be. Be responsible citizens.  Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeDigital Citizenship & Media Literacy ResourcesCommon Sense MediaCheckology by The News Literacy ProjectThe News Literacy ProjectBad News GameAI & Technology ToolsCanva for EducationGoogle VidsDay of AIAnimated Drawings ProjectPadletSchoolAIMagicSchool AIGoGuardianThe In Search of Catholic School Excellence Podcast is brought to you by I Love My Tech Team. When technology doesn’t work, Catholic school leaders lose time, trust, and momentum. We partner with schools to restore reliable systems, empower teachers, and create the foundation for innovative learning centered on students.Lead Your School Into What’s Possible with I Love My Tech Team.Restoring What’s Broken. Advancing What’s Possible.Find out more at https://ilovemytechteam.com

In 1504, Christopher Columbus was stranded in Jamaica, his crew mutinous and his indigenous hosts refusing to feed him. So he consulted an almanac, gathered the tribal leaders — and told them God was going to devour the moon as punishment for their refusal. Three days later, the blood moon rose exactly as he predicted. They believed him. They brought food. Columbus sailed home. This is the Columbus story they left out of the textbook — and it's only one of them.

Matt Karabinos joins Jethro Jones to introduce Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk and explore how curiosity, teacher experience, and AI as a thought partner can help educators reimagine teaching and learning.