Champion Every Voice

Amira Learning

Champion Every Voice is the podcast where literacy leaders, educators, and innovators dive into what’s working — and what’s next — in instruction. Brought to you by Amira Learning, each episode goes “spot on” with a topic at the heart of today’s education landscape: from dyslexia to differentiation, the science of reading to AI in the classroom. Whether you’re a teacher on the frontlines, a district leader rethinking tools, or a researcher shaping the future of education, this show brings you authentic conversations, practical insights, and the voices that are moving instruction forward. Learn more about agentic learning at amiralearning.com

  1. Jul 1

    AI Is the New Literacy: Safety, Equity, and the Future Workforce with Attorney Dondi West

    In this powerful episode of Champion Every Voice, Jaclyn Wright sits down with Attorney Dondi West, cybersecurity attorney, AI thought leader, and former Navy information warfare officer, for a timely conversation about what schools must do now to prepare students for an AI-driven future. Together, they explore the digital divide, responsible AI adoption, cybersecurity risks, and why AI literacy can no longer be treated as optional. Dondi shares why schools must move with urgency—but with strong ethical guardrails—to ensure students are protected, empowered, and ready for the workforce they are entering. In this episode, you’ll hear: * Why AI and digital literacy are the new reading, writing, and arithmetic * How AI can either close or widen the digital divide * What schools should ask vendors before adopting AI tools * Why “moving slowly” may create new risks for students * How cybersecurity threats are changing in the age of AI * Why strong governance is essential for safe innovation * How AI can support educators, families, and neurodiverse learners This conversation is a must-listen for school leaders, technology directors, educators, policymakers, and anyone thinking seriously about how to prepare students for the future—without compromising safety, equity, or trust.

    AI Is the New Literacy: Safety, Equity, and the Future Workforce with Attorney Dondi West

  2. Jun 17

    From “I Can’t” to “I Did It”: Creating Confident Readers in the Early Years

    What does it take to build confident readers? In this episode of Amira’s Champion Every Voice Podcast, host Jaclyn Wright sits down with Louisiana educator and Amira Champion Olevia Griffin to discuss the critical role early literacy plays in shaping student success. Drawing from her experience as a kindergarten and second-grade teacher, Olevia shares how strong foundations in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension help students become successful readers—and why early intervention matters. You’ll hear how she: 📚 Builds reading confidence through celebration and encouragement 🎯 Uses data to identify and address learning gaps early 🧠 Supports young learners through intentional literacy instruction 🤝 Partners with families to strengthen literacy at home 🎉 Creates school-wide reading celebrations that motivate students to grow 💡 Uses AI-powered learning tools to provide students with additional practice and personalized support One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Olevia shares her philosophy on teaching: “When students are confident, everything else follows.” Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, literacy advocate, or parent, this episode offers practical strategies and inspiration for helping every child become a confident reader. 🎧 Listen now and discover why building reading confidence may be the most important literacy intervention of all. #ChampionEveryVoice #AmiraLearning #EarlyLiteracy #ScienceOfReading #ReadingGrowth #LiteracyLeadership #ElementaryEducation #ReadingConfidence

    From “I Can’t” to “I Did It”: Creating Confident Readers in the Early Years

  3. Jun 3

    Teaching for Tomorrow: Agentic Learning, AI, and Student-Centered Leadership with Dr. Jared Bloom

    In this episode of Champion Every Voice, Jaclyn Wright sits down with Dr. Jared Bloom, Superintendent of Franklin Square Schools in New York, international education thought leader, and longtime advocate for technology-enabled, student-centered learning. Dr. Bloom shares how schools can thoughtfully integrate AI and agentic learning while keeping trust, safety, educator judgment, and student agency at the center. From his global perspective at BETT UK to his local leadership in Franklin Square, he offers a practical and inspiring look at what it takes to prepare students for their future—not ours. In this conversation, you’ll hear: * Why schools must “teach students for their tomorrow, not ours” * How agentic learning helps meet students where they are * What safe, purposeful AI integration can look like in classrooms * How Franklin Square uses red, yellow, and green guidelines for AI use * Why trust, buy-in, and shared leadership matter for sustainable innovation * How AI can give teachers more time for the human work of teaching * What leaders can learn from global conversations about education and technology This episode is for superintendents, district leaders, principals, instructional coaches, and educators thinking deeply about how to align innovation, culture, and student-centered learning.

    Teaching for Tomorrow: Agentic Learning, AI, and Student-Centered Leadership with Dr. Jared Bloom

  4. May 20

    Driving Literacy Impact at Scale: Policy, Purpose, and Responsible AI with Joe Siedlecki

    In this episode of Champion Every Voice, Jaclyn Wright sits down with Joe Siedlecki, Chief Impact Officer at Amira Learning, to discuss what it takes to drive literacy growth at scale. Drawing from his experience at the Texas Education Agency, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and now Amira Learning, Joe shares a clear perspective on the national literacy landscape, the gap between policy and implementation, and how responsible AI can support reading growth without adding complexity for educators. In this conversation, you’ll hear: What literacy impact looks like at scaleWhere states are making progress in Science of Reading implementationWhy policy alone is not enough without strong implementationWhat responsible, purpose-built AI should look like in literacyHow leaders can evaluate AI tools for safety, evidence, and resultsWhy coherence, simplicity, and trust matter for teachers and studentsThis episode is for education leaders, literacy advocates, and anyone working to ensure every child has access to the support they need to become a confident reader.

    Driving Literacy Impact at Scale: Policy, Purpose, and Responsible AI with Joe Siedlecki

  5. May 6

    How Multilingual Learners Build Confidence & Fluency | ESL Teacher Desiree Alvarado

    What does literacy growth look like for multilingual learners—and how does it change the way students see themselves? In this episode of Champion Every Voice, ESL educator Desiree Alvarado shares how intentional instruction, structured routines, and consistent reading practice help students build both oral reading fluency and confidence. Working with 4th and 5th grade multilingual learners, Desiree offers a real classroom perspective on what it takes to support language development at scale—while preparing students for high-stakes assessments like ACCESS. In this conversation, you’ll learn: • How oral reading fluency supports speaking, listening, and writing development • Why confidence and reduced anxiety are critical for multilingual learners • Practical strategies like visual supports, sentence frames, and structured reading routines • How consistent practice builds independence and student ownership • What it looks like when students begin to see themselves as capable readers You’ll also hear a powerful story of a student whose growth in literacy led to academic success and recognition—proof that with the right support, multilingual learners don’t just improve—they thrive. Key takeaway: When students are given consistent, structured opportunities to practice—and educators partner with them intentionally—literacy becomes a pathway to confidence, voice, and achievement.

    How Multilingual Learners Build Confidence & Fluency | ESL Teacher Desiree Alvarado

  6. Apr 15

    When Students Find Their Voice | Monica Brown on Confidence, Communication & Reading Growth

    What changes when students start to believe in their own voice? In this episode of Champion Every Voice, Louisiana educator Monica Brown shares what happens when literacy growth goes beyond reading scores—and starts to show up in student confidence, communication, and classroom participation. From students who once stayed quiet to those now raising their hands and speaking with clarity, this conversation highlights the real impact of instruction that builds both skills and self-belief. In this episode, you’ll hear: How confidence unlocks student voice and participationWhat it looks like when students begin expressing their thinking clearlyWhy literacy growth shows up across the entire classroom—not just during reading timeA powerful story of a student transformation from silence to confidence These are the moments educators work for—the ones where students don’t just learn to read, but begin to see themselves as capable, confident learners.

    When Students Find Their Voice | Monica Brown on Confidence, Communication & Reading Growth

  7. Apr 1

    How Great Leaders Build Literacy at Scale | Dr. David Cintron on Policy, AI & Student-Centered Leadership

    What does it really take to improve literacy across a large, diverse school district? In this episode of Amira’s Champion Every Voice Podcast, host Jaclyn Wright sits down with Dr. David Cintron, Superintendent of District 14 in Brooklyn, New York, for a powerful conversation about literacy leadership, instructional coherence, family engagement, and the human-centered role of AI in education. With 25 years in public education and experience across every level of school leadership, Dr. Cintron shares how District 14 is approaching literacy not as a one-time initiative, but as a pursuit—one grounded in shared decision-making, transparent communication, and unwavering focus on students. In this conversation, you’ll hear: Why “getting it right” in literacy is a pursuit, not a destinationHow District 14 builds coherence across curriculum, instruction, assessment, and community engagementWhat it looks like when policy truly connects to classroom practiceHow AI can amplify the work of teachers and leaders without replacing the human connectionWhy family engagement must be aligned to district goals—not treated as a standalone effortThe leadership habit Dr. Cintron uses to stay grounded in students every single day One of the most memorable moments in the episode is Dr. Cintron’s reminder that “the story of one student is more powerful and palpable than any ream of data.” This episode is for superintendents, principals, district leaders, literacy advocates, instructional coaches, and anyone committed to building systems that help every child become a reader.

    How Great Leaders Build Literacy at Scale | Dr. David Cintron on Policy, AI & Student-Centered Leadership

  8. Mar 18

    Literacy Is the Long Game: Policy, Practice, and Agentic Learning with Dr. Erin Hamilton

    In this episode of Champion Every Voice, Jaclyn Wright sits down with Dr. Erin Hamilton, Amira Impact Director and former state education leader, for a thoughtful conversation about what it really takes to move literacy change from policy into classroom practice. Drawing on her experience at the state, district, and school levels, Erin shares why lasting literacy impact depends on more than good policy. It requires coherence, strong feedback loops, thoughtful implementation, and trust in educators as partners. In this conversation, they explore: Why literacy must be treated as a long-term systems commitmentWhere states are making real progress in science-aligned literacy effortsThe gaps that still exist between policy design and classroom realityHow agentic learning can empower both students and educatorsWhy leaders must inform without dictatingHow joy, rigor, autonomy, and accountability can work together Erin also shares a powerful classroom story that reminds us what literacy can unlock for a child: confidence, identity, and freedom. This episode is for literacy leaders, district teams, school leaders, and educators who want to build systems that are aligned, sustainable, and centered on real classroom impact.

    Literacy Is the Long Game: Policy, Practice, and Agentic Learning with Dr. Erin Hamilton
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About

Champion Every Voice is the podcast where literacy leaders, educators, and innovators dive into what’s working — and what’s next — in instruction. Brought to you by Amira Learning, each episode goes “spot on” with a topic at the heart of today’s education landscape: from dyslexia to differentiation, the science of reading to AI in the classroom. Whether you’re a teacher on the frontlines, a district leader rethinking tools, or a researcher shaping the future of education, this show brings you authentic conversations, practical insights, and the voices that are moving instruction forward. Learn more about agentic learning at amiralearning.com

Information

  • Creator
    Amira Learning
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Amira Learning 2025
  • Show Website
    Champion Every Voice