Category: Podcast Episodes

Ep. 284 | What Frankenstein Gets Right About AI in Schools w/ Brett Salakas

AI isn’t the problem in schools, fear is. This episode helps educators understand AI in education, reduce resistance, and approach edtech change with clarity and confidence.

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.

AI is everywhere in education but what if our fear of it isn’t new at all?

In this episode, I’m joined by Brett Salakas from down under. He delivers one of the most unexpected AI metaphors you’ll ever hear: Frankenstein.

This conversation connects AI, educational change, and human fear in a way that will completely shift how you think about innovation in schools. We unpack why every major tech revolution follows the same pattern, why “Luddites” weren’t villains, and what educators can learn from a 200-year-old novel about embracing change without losing our humanity.

Oh and yes…Buc-ee’s, poetry slams, beaver onesies, and brisket sandwiches all make an appearance.

If you’re wrestling with AI implementation, staff resistance, or your own uncertainty, this episode will give you clarity, perspective, and a few laughs along the way. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Brett Salakas

Brett Salakas, the HP Education Ambassador, is an international keynote speaker, the best-selling author of ‘A MAMMOTH Lesson’, the founder of #aussieED (the largest online network of teachers in Australia) and the co-founder of the ED Poets Society. Currently, he is identified by Linkedin as a TOP VOICE (top 1% worldwide) in K-12 Education. Brett was awarded with the NSWICTE and ISTE ‘Making ‘IT’ Happen award in 2024, was recently identified by the District Administration Leadership Institute as one of the top 100 most influential leaders in education globally (the only Australian named on the list) and he was named the Most Influential Educator in Australia for 2024 by The Educator magazine.

Brett is a teacher and experienced school leader who, over the past 26 years, has taught in South East Asia and Australia. He is passionately committed to turning educational theory into real classroom practice. Brett is all about CONNECTION, COLLABORATION and INSPIRATION.‍

Connect With Brett Salakas

Ep. 283 | Revolutionizing Education: South Africa’s Bold Move with AI and Robotics

South Africa just made coding mandatory for ALL kids. Are they ahead of us? Discover why one global educator says most schools are teaching AI completely wrong.

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.

In this episode, I chat with Steve Sherman to discuss the evolution of STEAM education in South Africa, particularly the integration of coding and robotics into the national curriculum for K-7 students. He highlights the rapid adoption of AI and EdTech tools in schools, the challenges of ensuring data privacy, and the disparities in resources between different schools. Steve also emphasizes the importance of AI literacy and ethical use in education, and shares his efforts to foster global collaboration among educators through a dedicated online community. He also schools us on Rooibos tea and how it’s made. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Steve Sherman

Steve is the Chief Imagination Officer and Executive Dayreamer at a STEM-based NGO called Livingmaths.com, based in South Africa. He is works with many schools in person and online, teaches a few thousand students a week, facilitates teacher training a d he is an Edtech Evangelist. Steve knows Karate, Jujutsu and 2 other Japanese words.

Connect With Steve Sherman

Ep. 282 | Why Male Teachers Second-Guess Every Move

Male teachers face unique challenges in today’s classrooms. Learn how SB 12, student interactions, and quiet boundaries affect trust, teaching, and school culture.

In many schools, male teachers navigate a daily reality that often goes unnoticed. Their role comes with a unique set of unspoken expectations and quiet boundaries—ones that deeply impact how they interact with students and build relationships.

Unlike their female colleagues, male teachers face heightened scrutiny when showing warmth or support. A hug, a kind word, or even eye contact can be misinterpreted. These aren’t just passing worries. They become part of a constant mental checklist male educators carry throughout the day. Is someone watching? Can this be misunderstood? Could this conversation be seen as inappropriate?

These questions intensified after the introduction of Texas Senate Bill 12 (SB 12), which took effect on September 1, 2025. The law requires written parental consent for schools to offer health-related services, including short-term mental health support and even basic first aid like giving a student a bandage. This has raised concerns among educators—especially male teachers—who already hesitate to engage in conversations that might now be labeled as “counseling.”

For many students, especially boys from underrepresented communities, male teachers serve as crucial role models. They may be the only consistent adult male figure in a child’s life. Building trust with these students is essential, but when every interaction feels risky, that trust becomes harder to establish.

The challenge is not about eliminating accountability. It’s about creating an environment where teachers—regardless of gender—can support students without fear of legal or professional consequences. Schools need clear guidance, legal clarity, and a commitment to preserving the human side of teaching.

As educators, it’s time to start conversations about how new policies impact classroom culture. Teachers deserve the tools and support to care for their students while protecting themselves. Male teachers, in particular, deserve to be heard, understood, and included in discussions about policy and practice.

Now more than ever, it’s important to listen, reflect, and advocate for policies that support student well-being and teacher confidence. Peep the episode below, comment, and don’t forget to subscribe.

Ep. 281 | Why Most Teachers Get Student Voice Totally Wrong

Discover how to move beyond student surveys and start amplifying real student voice through leadership, feedback, and classroom collaboration. Empower your learners to co-create meaningful learning experiences.

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.

What if your students had the power to shape your lessons—and it actually worked? In this insightful conversation, educator and author Jennifer Casa-Todd joins us to break down the real meaning of student voice. From her work with high schoolers and pre-service teachers to co-authoring a book with a student, Jennifer shares how to move from “listening” to “collaboration” to full-on student leadership.

You’ll learn:

  • Why asking students to “keep it, ditch it, tweak it” transforms your teaching
  • How classroom committees build purpose and belonging
  • The surprising ways students are using AI to innovate (not just cheat)
  • Why your mindset—not your method—is the biggest roadblock

This episode will have you rethinking the role of students in everything from curriculum design to digital citizenship. Time to put the “co” in co-creator!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Jennifer Casa-Todd

Jennifer am a wife, mom, educator, a former Literacy Consultant, a Google Certified Innovator, and author of several educational publications–most recently, Hopes for School: A student perspective and ideas for educational transformation. She’s an ISTE Community leader, a Google Educator Group leader for Ontario and a Board member for the Canadian School Library Association. Jennifer can currently be found supporting pre-service teachers at Lakehead University (Ontario). She’s passionate about amplifying student voice and helping learners use technology positively and productively.

Connect With Jennifer Casa-Todd

Ep. 280 | Don’t Start a Drone Club Until You Hear This w/ Frankie Baker

Discover how to launch a successful school drone club, avoid common mistakes, and engage students in real-world STEM—no pilot’s license (or tech overwhelm) required.

Hear that? That’s the sound of STEM careers taking off. Meet CoDrone EDU from Robolink — the drone made for classrooms and competitions and the sponsor for this episode. It’s safe, durable, and fixable — with no FAA license or assembly required to fly and help every student feel more confident in a tech-driven world. Students fly CoDrone EDU three ways: manually, coded with Blockly, or coded with Python. See how over 7 thousand schools have proven you CAN have drones in classrooms, buzz and all, at www.robolink.com

Ever wondered how to get a drone club off the ground—without crashing it on day one? In this episode, we’re joined by Frankie Baker, former classroom teacher turned Community Manager at Robolink, to break down the big wins (and mistakes) teachers make when bringing drones into their schools.

From fixable, flyable classroom drones to career-ready skills and whale snot (yes, really), we’re covering everything you didn’t know you needed to know about drones in education. Whether you’re drone-curious or halfway to competition day, this episode will give you the real talk, the how-tos, and a few good laughs.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • The real reason most teachers fail at starting a drone club
  • Why drones aren’t just toys—and how they build real-world skills
  • A $250 drone that doesn’t need an FAA license? Yep.
  • Free curriculum + PD that makes drone clubs teacher-friendly
  • Student-led learning in action: from Earth Day bees to conference presenters
  • Why Frankie’s Twitter handle is “BaconEdTech”
  • A food segment featuring sourdough gone wrong and pan de muerto done right
  • Gabriel’s Sourdough Pan De Muerto Recipe

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Frankie Baker

A self-proclaimed “hype girl of all the things,” Frankie is committed to empowering teachers to confidently integrate technology and foster student voice, choice, and agency in every classroom. With a strong focus on AI in education, robotics, and coding, she helps bridge the gap between tech and curriculum—making it approachable and meaningful for all learners. Frankie thrives on learning through collaboration and loves growing her network through communities, tools, and events that push the boundaries of what’s possible in education.

Connect With Frankie

Ep. 279 | ClassDojo Deep Dive: From Dojo Points to Dojo Power Moves w/ Miranda Ketcham

Discover how veteran teacher Miranda Kechum uses ClassDojo to boost parent communication, student engagement, and classroom management — all while saving time and building stronger school-home connections.

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.

What started as a simple point system is now a full-blown ecosystem! In this episode, I sit down with Miranda Ketcham — veteran educator and ClassDojo superuser — to explore how this classroom management tool has evolved into a digital powerhouse for behavior tracking, student reflection, and parent communication. We chat about Dojo Island, the shift from paper notes to real-time feedback, and what it’s like to manage classroom culture with a few taps. Oh, and we literally break bread over some pan dulce. Tune in to hear how Miranda has used ClassDojo since 2011 and why she still swears by it today.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Miranda Ketcham

Miranda Ketcham, a 17 year veteran educator, serves as a 5th grade teacher at King Elementary, located in King, North Carolina, part of Stokes County Schools district. She consistently guides her students in using technology as a tool for learning, incorporating AI literacy and AI tools to enhance their educational experience. She has been using ClassDojo since 2012 and has effectively utilized the platform to help students record and share their learning through digital portfolios. Always eager to explore new technology, she embraces the latest features in ClassDojo and other educational applications to enhance student engagement.

Connect With Miranda Ketcham

Ep. 278 | UDL, Bagels & Barbecue: Designing Lessons That Actually Fit All Learners w/ Kyle Niemis

Explore the key differences between UDL and differentiation in this insightful episode with Kyle Niemis. Learn how proactive lesson design supports all learners, without creating 30 versions of a worksheet.

What do gluten-free chips, high-protein bagels, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) have in common? They’re all about meeting everyone’s needs, and that’s exactly what former middle school teacher turned tech coach Kyle Niemis is passionate about. In this episode, we break down the real classroom implementation of UDL, point out the differences between UDL and differentiation, and talk practical grading strategies that won’t break your brain. Plus, we take a tasty detour into food metaphors, BBQ negotiations, and the ultimate tortilla debate. (Team corn, for the win!) This episode will leave you full of fresh ideas and hungry for more. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Kyle Niemis

Kyle Niemis is the Head of Community at Wayground, formerly Quizizz, where he leads programs that connect and inspire educators worldwide. He spent 13 years as a middle school science teacher and 3 years as a technology coach, experiences that give him a deep understanding of both classroom realities and instructional innovation. Kyle has also co-founded two edtech companies and is known for his authentic connection with teachers and his ability to turn ideas into engaging community experiences. He brings a unique perspective on how technology can transform both teaching and learning.

Connect With Kyle Niemis and Wayground

Ep. 277 | Human First: Teaching Smarter Using AI Optimism w/ Becky Keene

Discover how teachers are using AI to boost creativity, save time, and stay student-centered—without losing their voice in the process.

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.

In this episode, Becky Keene and I explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping education. We unpack the role of AI in lesson planning, student engagement, and teacher productivity—while keeping the human-first approach at the center. Learn how to create better AI prompts, leverage tools like ChatGPT, and avoid the hype while embracing the helpful. Ideal for educators looking to enhance teaching with technology. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Becky Keene

Becky Keene is an educator, author, and speaker focused on innovative teaching and learning. She specializes in instructional coaching, game-based learning, and integrating AI into education to empower students as creators. She has developed esports programs for schools and explores immersive learning through games. Becky speaks globally on AI in education and has spent over 20 years designing professional learning experiences for teachers. A National Board Certified Teacher, she spent 15 years teaching, coaching, and leading programs in public schools. She is the author of the book AI Optimism and holds an MS Ed in early literacy.

Connect With Becky Keene

Ep. 276 | Smarter Schools with AI Data: Doowii’s Big Idea w/ Ben Dodson

Discover how Doowii uses AI to turn messy school data into clear insights, saving time, improving decisions, and helping educators support students before they fall through the cracks.

This episode is sponsored by Doowii. Doowii brings all of your district’s data together. When data is scattered across systems and buried in outdated reports, it’s hard to turn that data into action. Doowii connects your SIS, LMS, assessments, staffing, financial data, and more into one secure, conversational intelligence platform designed for all educators. No extra strain on your district’s resources, just faster, smarter decisions. Hungry for better insights? Visit doowii.io to learn more and see it in action.

If your school’s data could talk, would it ask for help? Or maybe just a better dashboard? In this episode, I chat with Ben Dodson, founder and CEO of Doowii, a cutting-edge AI-powered data platform built specifically for education. Ben shares how his tech background (hello, Google and Snapchat!) inspired him to leap into the world of EdTech to solve one of education’s messiest problems: siloed, underutilized data.

We cover:

  • 🔍 What exactly Doowii does (and how it’s more than just a dashboard tool)
  • 🧠 How natural language queries make data accessible for everyone—no SQL required!
  • 🏫 Real use cases from school districts and universities (hello, bell schedule analytics!)
  • ⏱️ How Doowii helps admins reclaim hours of reporting time
  • 🔐 The importance of security, privacy, and ethical AI use in student data
  • 🧭 Using predictive models to flag support needs before students slip through the cracks

Plus, Ben answers the ultimate question: Corn or flour tortilla? If you’re tired of waiting a week for that failing student report, this episode is your invitation to reimagine how data works for you…not against you.

Learn more or book a demo: https://doowii.io

Listen now and get inspired to make data your district’s new superpower.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Ben Dodson

Ben Dodson is an experienced data scientist, AI engineer, and startup founder with over a decade of experience at the forefront of data science, AI, and data engineering. His career spans impactful roles at Silicon Valley giants like Google and Snapchat, where he earned multiple patents for groundbreaking innovations, including the application of vision transformer networks to optimize media quality at scale. Ben’s expertise and forward-thinking approach also positioned him as an early contributor at startups like Mux and Marqeta.

In 2023, Ben founded Doowii, an AI-powered assistant for data scientists serving the education sector. Doowii’s mission is to empower educators to harness the full potential of data to improve student outcomes.

Connect With Doowii And Learn More

Ep. 275 | If Not You, Then Who? Creating AI Moments That Stick with Kristen Brooks

Kristen Brooks may be retired, but her passion for education—and AI—is still working overtime. In this episode, she dishes out practical ways to turn artificial intelligence into authentic learning. Whether you’re a tech newbie or a seasoned pro, Kristen’s stories (and pan dulce humor) will leave you laughing and inspired. Spoiler: you don’t need all the answers—you just need to get started. “If not you, then who?”

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.

What happens when a recently retired edtech queen trades early morning alarms for AI-powered student engagement? You get a mic-drop convo with Kristen Brooks! In this fun and feel-good episode, we talk about turning AI from intimidating to inspiring—one classroom experience at a time. Kristen shares how teachers can invite students to help co-create learning moments using tools like Adobe Express and more. Oh, and pan dulce makes a sweet guest appearance. Come hungry for ideas and maybe even a concha.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Kristen Brooks

Kristen Brooks is a 30 year veteran educator, with 21 years excusively in Educational Technology Leadership as an innovation lab specialist and an instructional technology coach who encourages creativity in the classroom #forEDU. Ms. Brooks enjoys working with schools and districts to build relationships, master pedagogy & execute instructional technology integration & supporting all areas of education through speaking at events & conferences around the globe. She was recently named as a 2025 AI Innovator from ASU+GSV summit and is honored be an ISTE+ASCD 20 to Watch. To connect with Kristen go to KristenBrooks.com or LinkedIn and create > consume today!

Connect With Kristen

Exit mobile version
%%footer%%