LinkedUp: Breaking Boundaries in Education

Jamie Saponaro

Jamie Saponaro and Jerri Kemble are two lively ladies passionate about education. Further flamed by the many changes in schools in 2020, they set out to make a positive contribution to the profession they love by creating LinkedUp: Breaking Boundaries in Education. LinkedUp’s mission is to have lively and in-depth discussions about relevant educational topics that matter and to link the movers and shakers of the education world with listeners. Jamie and Jerri both work for ClassLink, an edtech company powering this podcast as a service to educators everywhere.

  1. Start With the Scribble

    5d ago

    Start With the Scribble

    This week, Jerri and Jamie sit down with internationally recognized sketchnote artist and creativity champion Manuel Herrera to explore creativity, visual thinking, and the power of simply getting started. Known for his dynamic visual storytelling and innovative use of technology, Manuel shares how creativity isn’t reserved for artists: it’s something anyone can develop with curiosity and confidence. Join in as Manuel guides Jerri and Jamie through the process of turning a simple scribble into art, proving creativity often begins with experimentation and imperfection. P.S. Be sure to catch Manuel at ISTE 2026, where he’ll be leading engaging sessions in the ISTE Playground focused on hands-on creativity, visual learning, and innovative technology integration. --- ABOUT OUR GUEST Manuel Herrera is a sketchnoter, illustrator, and educator. Over the past 20 years, he's used his passion for education, sketching, and creativity to create illustrations, build workshops and design talks that bring out the inner creative in everyone. Manuel keeps play and process at the core of his work to help people develop confidence and practice routines around thinking and creativity. --- SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

    44 min
  2. 6 Years of LinkedUp

    May 22

    6 Years of LinkedUp

    Did you know only a small percentage of podcasts ever make it to 200 episodes? Welcome to Episode 200 of the LinkedUp Podcast: a milestone that means so much to us! Many podcasts end after just a handful of episodes, making this moment a true testament to the power of meaningful conversations, innovative ideas, and a community committed to breaking boundaries in education. To celebrate, Jerri and Jamie are honoring some of the unforgettable guests who helped shape the journey. Throughout the episode, we revisit powerful podcast moments and present special LinkedUp Awards recognizing the educators, leaders, innovators, and changemakers who inspired us, challenged our thinking, and pushed education forward. Episode 200 is more than a milestone. It’s a celebration of connection, courage, innovation, and the incredible people working every day to break boundaries in education. --- SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

    42 min
  3. Rethinking Classroom AI

    May 1

    Rethinking Classroom AI

    AI in the classroom isn’t the headline anymore. What students do with it is. In this episode of LinkedUp, Holly Clark joins Jerri and Jamie to shift the focus from teacher use to student impact. A globally recognized speaker and co-author of The AI Infused Classroom, Holly shares how schools are using AI to fuel thinking, not shortcuts. They dig into AI as a true thought partner, the impact of real-time feedback, and why giving students access is quickly becoming essential. Holly also brings practical ways to integrate AI responsibly, without losing structure or intention. It’s not about replacing teaching. It’s about rethinking learning so students can create, think, and lead with confidence. --- ABOUT OUR GUEST Holly Clark is a passionate educator and digital learning pioneer who has made significant contributions to the field of educational technology. With over 25 years of experience, Holly is an international speaker, bestselling author, and dedicated advocate for digital learning. Holly has worked with over 150k educators on thoughtfully understanding AI and how it can help them in the classroom, but also empower student learning experiences. --- SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

    44 min
  4. Hooked on Innovation

    Apr 17

    Hooked on Innovation

    How do you teach balance in a world that never logs off? Jamie and Jerri sit down with Carl Hooker, author of Zengaged and AI Evolution, to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing students today: navigating screens, social media, and everything in between. Carl keeps it real with us; this isn’t about restrictions, it’s about intention. From modeling healthy habits to building digital awareness, he shares practical ways to help students make smarter, more mindful choices online. --- ABOUT OUR GUEST Carl Hooker is an author, keynote speaker, consultant, trainer, "Edutainer," and DJ. Carl has been a part of a strong educational shift with technology integration since becoming an educator. From his start as a teacher to district technology leadership, he’s always had one common belief: the kids need to drive their own learning. His unique blend of educational background, technical expertise, and humor makes him a successful driving force for this change. --- SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

    37 min
  5. Today's Learners, Tomorrow's Leaders

    Apr 10

    Today's Learners, Tomorrow's Leaders

    What if every student is already a leader just waiting to be activated? This week, authors (and hosts of The Play Ed3 Podcast) Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth are flipping the script on leadership with their new book, Today's Learners, Tomorrow's Leaders. Together, we dig into Tisha and Rick's tools and practical strategies to bring leadership and entrepreneurship into everyday learning. The focus is not just academic success. It is about preparing students to think, adapt, and take initiative in a world that keeps changing keeps changing faster than textbooks can keep up. Bonus! We'll also take a look at their personal journeys and classroom experiences that sparked this work, and how their unique partnership as co-authors came to be. --- ABOUT OUR GUESTS For over two decades, Tisha Poncio has guided students on subjects including web design, graphic design, business computers, programming, English, broadcast journalism and entrepreneurship. She has also served as an innovative digital learning specialist. Poncio was a finalist for the Texas Computer Education Association’s (TCEA) 2018 Instructional Technology Specialist of the Year award. She holds a master’s in learning technologies from the University of North Texas, and currently works in community engagement for an edtech company. Rick Butterworth is a founder and founding member of multiple startup companies, including Resources, RPB Designs, and Wakelet. At each company, he has been a key designer and developer, driving innovation and creating platforms and meaningful experiences for students and teachers of online applications. --- SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

    26 min
  6. Student Voice, Global Impact, Real Leadership

    Apr 3

    Student Voice, Global Impact, Real Leadership

    This week, we sit down with Amiya—a student who isn't just learning about leadership... she's living it. Alongside educator Alana Winnick, Amiya is part of a dynamic, student-led team redefining what leadership looks like in the age of AI. From delivering a keynote at FETC to launching an international, student-driven conference, they are creating space for real conversations around the ethical use of AI in learning—by students, for students. Together, we talk about what it means to step into leadership as a young person, how student voices can influence global conversations, and why ethics has to be at the center of how we use AI in education. This isn't theory. This is action. --- ABOUT OUR GUESTS Amiya is the co-founder and President of Students for Innovation, a student leader who has taken her passion for ethical AI from the classroom to the international stage—including a keynote at FETC. Alana Winnick is an award-winning educator and the creative force behind The Generative Age—a book and podcast exploring generative AI and its impact on education. She is also the founder of Students for Innovation, an organization empowering students to advocate for change within their schools. --- SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

    31 min
  7. Control ALT Achieve

    Mar 27

    Control ALT Achieve

    This week, Eric Curts sits down with Jamie and Jerri to share a story that proves just how powerful one educator can be. The kind of impact that does not just shape a classroom, but an entire life. If you know Eric, you know he is all about making tech make sense. From Google tools to what is next, he has helped thousands of educators cut through the noise and focus on what actually works. Together we talk AI in education without the hype, Eric's “Wrestle, Wrap, Reflect” approach, and his newest project EduGems.ai: a space for educators to share real, usable ideas. And like everything he does, it is built to be accessible, practical, and free. --- ABOUT OUR GUEST Eric Curts is an EdTech Specialist based in Ohio with over 30 years in education. He began as a middle school math teacher before moving into technology integration, where he has spent decades helping educators use digital tools with purpose. He shares hundreds of free resources on AI, Google tools, accessibility, and more through ControlAltAchieve.com and EduGems.ai, along with his book Control Alt Achieve: Rebooting Your Classroom with Creative Google Projects. --- SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

    39 min
  8. EdTech: The Global View

    Mar 20

    EdTech: The Global View

    What does edtech look like beyond your borders? This week, we're going global. Jennifer Surujpaul joins LinkedUp to share an international perspective on educational technology — what's working, what's evolving, and what's keeping leaders up at night. From the exciting possibilities of AI and innovation to the very real concerns around privacy, equity, and implementation, Jennifer brings over 25 years of experience across education, public sector, and international digital transformation to the conversation. If you've ever wondered how edtech challenges and opportunities compare around the world, this episode will stretch your thinking in all the right ways. --- ABOUT OUR GUEST Jennifer Surujpaul is Founder of IT Solutionist and a TransforMATive Associate specialising in digital transformation, IT strategy, cybersecurity, and compliance. With over 25 years of experience across education, local government, and international digital transformation, she helps schools and organisations integrate, secure, and optimise their IT systems for long-term sustainability. Jennifer is passionate about advancing cybersecurity resilience, AI-driven efficiencies, and building future-proof digital ecosystems that empower organisations to work smarter, safer, and more sustainably. --- SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

    31 min
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5
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11 Ratings

About

Jamie Saponaro and Jerri Kemble are two lively ladies passionate about education. Further flamed by the many changes in schools in 2020, they set out to make a positive contribution to the profession they love by creating LinkedUp: Breaking Boundaries in Education. LinkedUp’s mission is to have lively and in-depth discussions about relevant educational topics that matter and to link the movers and shakers of the education world with listeners. Jamie and Jerri both work for ClassLink, an edtech company powering this podcast as a service to educators everywhere.

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