In this episode, Priten speaks with Joel Sohn, Deputy Head of School at Head-Royce, a K-12 independent school in Oakland serving roughly 920 students, about how a school can build a coherent approach to AI without retreating into a rulebook. Joel walks through the two-year arc of arriving in fall 2023, identifying early teacher champions, taking them to the Schools of the Future Conference, and using Leon Furze's framework to land a philosophy statement rather than a granular policy. The conversation covers why originality has always been a puzzle, how students have shifted from experimenters to skeptics, and why a simplified nine-word mission is doing more work than any rulebook could.Key Takeaways:Build a philosophy, not a plagiarism policy. Joel draws an analogy to dress codes: the more granular the rule, the more the only thing you see is the violation, not the person. AI use is too varied across math, history, and English classrooms to codify the way schools codified plagiarism a generation ago, and a philosophy gives educators the room to make case-by-case judgments.Trust the team first, accelerate later. Joel chose a two-to-three year change trajectory anchored in building educator trust rather than racing to be first. His worry was falling behind by 2027, but the trust groundwork is what made the eventual rollout move quickly and made families comfortable with the rollout.Originality has always been a puzzle, and AI just forces the question. Joel pushes back on the assumption that pre-AI student writing was somehow more "original," pointing out that Shakespeare cribbed too and that brain science still cannot pin down what original thought really is. Schools have been asserting certainty they never had, and AI is making that hard to avoid.Students are no longer the experimenters they were two years ago. Joel sees the current generation as more anti-AI than in 2023, citing concerns about energy use, corporate ethics, and privacy. Teachers using AI sloppily and shipping obviously machine-generated lessons has accelerated that skepticism, which is why he tells teachers to disclose their AI use and how they checked it.Strident anti-AI students need to be interrogated too, not just validated. Joel argues schools should push back when students refuse to engage with AI, not to override their values but to ask whether their stance is rooted in privilege, fear, or genuine principle. The work of school is teaching kids to handle complexity, not to handle any specific tool.

In this live interview recorded at the NSTA conference, host Shannon chats with Peggy, a high school science teacher with 16+ years of experience, about her innovative and student-centered approach to education.

In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we’re talking about how to finish the school year strong when everyone is tired, including you. The end of the year can bring exhaustion, increased behaviors, emotional staff dynamics, and constant decision fatigue, making it easy for leaders to slip into survival mode. This episode explores why this season feels so heavy for school leaders and how to stay grounded, intentional, and emotionally steady even when your energy is low. You’ll walk away with practical mindset shifts and leadership strategies to help you protect your energy, support your staff, and lead your building with clarity through the final weeks of school. 

In this episode, host Dr. Erin Bailey sits down with Jessica Jones White — assistant principal, licensed counselor, and literacy advocate — to explore the powerful intersection of reading and mental health. Jessica shares her personal journey as a student with a 504 plan who found solace in books, and explains why every book is, at its core, a mental health book. The conversation covers bibliotherapy (using books intentionally to support social-emotional learning), how to prepare students and families for emotionally heavy texts using co-regulation and content previews, and practical strategies for educators to weave literacy into any subject. Jessica and Erin also tackle the growing challenge of screen time and its impact on reading stamina, offering compassionate, realistic advice for both families and teachers. The episode closes with Jessica's belief that reading inspires change — and that teaching a child to research is teaching them to teach themselves.About Jessica Jones White:Jessica Jones White joined RIF Middle School Literacy Advisory Board in the spring of 2022. Jessica is the Middle School Assistant Principal at Inspired Teaching Demonstration School and an Education Consultant for The Creation Gym. She has been in the field of education for over a decade, servicing children in grades PreK-12 as an educator and athletic coach. Her teaching skills include project-based learning, arts integration, 21st century skill development, digital and blended learning curriculums, and educational technology. Jessica is also a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor. She uses her unique skill set to create experiences for students that address all forms of intelligence.Links:Every Book is a Mental Health Book Webinar Recording: Webinar: Every Book is a Mental Health Book | RIF.orgRIF’s Well-being Collection: Well-Being Center | RIF.org

In this episode of The Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Daniel R. Kazakos—US Army veteran, strategist, system thinker, and CEO—to explore how AI is reshaping workforce development and changing the way we think about human value in an AI-driven world.Daniel argues that AI is no longer just another productivity tool. Instead, he frames it as a skill—one that requires continuous practice, human judgment, and intentional guidance. Drawing from experiences across healthcare, finance, consulting, and education, he challenges the idea that AI creates shortcuts, emphasizing instead that the people who thrive will be those who learn how to direct, evaluate, and work alongside these systems effectively.The conversation also explores a broader shift in education and career preparation. From helping students build consulting mindsets to identifying opportunities hidden inside large datasets, Daniel makes the case that curiosity and human agency remain central. For educators and leaders, this episode is a reminder that the future belongs not to those who simply use AI—but to those who learn how to shape it.