South Allegheny Tech-Cast

Jeffrey Nobili
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the South Allegheny Tech Cast! Join us as we spotlight the educators and innovators who are transforming our classrooms. Each episode, we share stories of TechEd success, digital transformation, and collaboration to grow our district’s collective knowledge. Our mission is to inspire new ways of lifelong learning right here at South Allegheny—one conversation at a time.

Episodes

  1. Jul 14

    SA Tech-Cast E111 - Mrs. Jenna Whitney

    00:00 -  Introduction & Welcome 01:18 - Jenna’s Gladiator Gauntlet 02:45 - The Story of the Podcasting Studio 04:13 - 25 Years of Educational Evolution 05:22 - Why We Still Show Up 06:13 - Balancing Screen Time. 07:45 - The Role of Director of Innovation 09:15 - The Shift to "Durable Skills" 10:23 - Exciting New Grants & Campus Upgrades 12:51 - Transitioning Roles 14:10 - Changing Campus Spaces 15:40 - The Kindness Campaign 17:16 - Student-Led Onboarding 22:00 - Rapid Fire Round 25:32 - Outro & How to Get Involved In this episode of the South Allegheny Tech Cast, host Jeffrey Nobili steps out of the server room and sits down with a true powerhouse of the South Allegheny community: Jenna Whitney, the Director of Innovation and Digital Learning. From her roots growing up in the SA community to her 25-year journey from a middle school science teacher to a central administrative leader, Jenna shares how education has evolved from textbook-heavy learning to hands-on, project-based experiences. Jeff and Jenna pull back the curtain on: The Origin of the Podcast Studio: How a simple professional development trip turned into a Moonshot grant and the creation of SA's very own podcasting spaces. Balancing Technology: Why tech should be viewed as a tool to make life easier rather than just a source of screen time. The "Framework for the Future": Why the district is shifting away from calling collaboration and communication "soft skills" and instead focusing on them as "durable skills" that stand the test of time. New Initiatives on Campus: Exciting details on the brand-new welcoming lobby project and a $30,000 ceramics lab grant featuring indoor/outdoor spaces and community classes. Cultivating Empathy: How the student-led "Kindness Campaign" and the new student onboarding program are changing how new Gladiators feel welcomed on day one. Stick around until the end for a hilarious "Rapid Fire" round where Jenna weighs in on the great hot dog debate, nostalgia for the Century III Mall, why she wants to delete Snapchat, and her love for 90s hip-hop! * Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO) *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio

  2. Jul 7

    SA Tech-Cast E110 - Mr. Chuck Michael

    00:00 - Introduction & Welcome 01:35 - The Gladiator Gauntlet: Mr. Michael’s Journey into Education 04:05 - Why Special Education? 05:35 - What Keeps Him Excited Every Day 06:00 - Moving Away from "Teaching to the Test" 07:42 - The Evolution of EdTech  09:21 - Finding the "Sweet Spot" in Tech 09:50 - Looking Ahead: The Next 5 to 10 Years in Education 11:50 - South Allegheny’s Framework for the Future 14:16 - Missing the Classroom & Serving as a Lifeline 15:52 - Sports, Faith, Family, and Community 16:55 - The Rapid Fire Round! 19:40 - Outro & How to Listen Episode SummaryAfter a short break, the South Allegheny Tech Cast is back! In this episode, host Jeffrey Nobili steps out of the server room and sits down with Mr. Chuck Michael, SA's Director of Special Education and the leader behind the Gladiator Academy. Chuck shares his unique journey into education - from a former coal miner’s son guided into teaching, to a seasoned principal, to finding his true passion in special education administration. Together, Jeff and Chuck tackle the big questions facing modern schools:  How do we find the perfect "sweet spot" for technology without letting it become a classroom distraction?  What does a future without standardized testing look like?  And how is South Allegheny's Framework for the Future preparing students with the actual life skills they need to succeed? Stick around until the end for a rapid-fire round where Chuck reveals his favorite movies, his thoughts on The Oregon Trail, and his absolute deal-breakers for airplane seating! Plug in with us and discover where the future is taking our Gladiators! Follow the show: Don't forget to subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube so you never miss an episode! Connect with us: Have feedback or want to be a guest? Reach out and let's talk tech, school, and life! * Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO) *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio

  3. Jun 23

    SA Tech-Cast E109 - Between The Bells Student Podcast Team

    00:00 - Introduction & Welcome student guests: Anthony, Ryan, Gino, and Ryder from the SA Middle School Podcast, Between the Bells 01:20 - The Story Behind "Between the Bells" 02:18 - Tech vs. Paper: How Seventh Graders Prefer to Learn 04:30 - Math in the age of digital learning 06:10 - Tech Directors for a Day 07:15 - Dream Podcast Guests: Local and Celebrity 09:00 - Sports Talk & The GOAT Debate 10:15 - Looking to the Future: 8th Grade and Beyond 11:00 - Podcast goals for audience 12:15 - Future plans for our middle school panel 13:35 - The Rapid Fire Round 17:30 - Words of Wisdom & Outro What happens when the students become the guests? In this episode of the South Allegheny Tech cast, host Jeffrey Nobili steps out of the server room and into the high school's Gladiator Studios to welcome four very special guests: seventh graders Anthony, Ryan, Gino, and Ryder. As the masterminds behind their own middle school podcast, Between the Bells, these students are used to asking the questions—but today, they are in the hot seat. Tune in as the boys give their brutally honest takes on: The Reality of Modern Classrooms: A candid debate on why some of them still prefer traditional paper and notebooks over digital devices, and how instant digital grading takes away all the suspense. Tech Directors for a Day: The unanimous, laugh-out-loud demand they have for the district's technology department (hint: it involves the Wi-Fi). Dream Guests & Ultimate Debates: From wanting to interview world leaders and sports icons like Shohei Ohtani to settling the eternal Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate. "Ancient" Tech Trivia: A hilarious Rapid Fire Round where the boys try to decipher what a fax machine is and what it actually means to "burn a CD". The future is bright for our Gladiators! From future crane operators and military officers to engineers and shoe entrepreneurs, these seventh graders prove that South Allegheny students are thinking big, chasing dreams, and leading the conversation. Listen now!  *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio * Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO)

  4. Jun 16

    SA Tech-Cast E108 - Miss Laura Thomson

    00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - The Gladiator Gauntlet: Laura’s Career Journey 03:30 - Then vs. Now: The Era of Neighborhood Schools 06:20 - Finding Purpose: What Keeps an Educator Excited? 07:45 - Getting Students in Front of Employers 09:50 - Building the Workforce Development Program 14:30 - Speaking the Language of Workforce 16:45 - Connecting Gladiators to Opportunities 19:40 - "Power Skills" and Alternative Paths to Success 22:30 – Local Partnerships and High-Paying Careers 24:45 – Technology’s Role in the Modern Classroom 27:32 – What’s Next? Laura’s Retirement Plans 31:00 – Rapid Fire Round! 34:10 – Outro & Final Remarks In this episode of the South Allegheny Tech Cast, host Jeffrey Nobili steps out of the server room and into the main podcast studio to sit down with a true district legend, Laura Thompson. After an incredible 33-year career at South Allegheny—spanning roles from second-grade teacher and PR director to her current position as Workforce Development Coordinator—Laura is officially entering retirement. Tune in as Laura shares fascinating stories from the early days of neighborhood schools, discusses how she built a wildly successful workforce program from the ground up, and explains why "power skills" like loyalty and attendance matter just as much as a high school transcript. We also dive into the evolution of classroom technology, preview her upcoming retirement adventures (including biking across Idaho and working with the zoo), and put her on the spot with our rapid-fire lightning round. It’s a heartfelt, insightful conversation celebrating a career very well spent! *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio * Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO)

  5. Jun 9

    SA Tech-Cast E107 - Mrs. Joanne Cloherty

    00:00 – Introduction 01:15 – Joanne’s Journey to Education 03:30 – Finding a Home at South Allegheny 05:25 – From Ditto Machines to ChatGPT 06:47 – What Drives a Kindergarten Teacher? 07:45 – Balancing Technology with Tactile Learning 10:45 - The youngest learners adapting in a world of short attention spans 11:40 – Framework for the Future & "Collaborating" with our youngest learners 13:50 – When the Wi-Fi Drops: Pivoting with Play-Doh 15:00 – Joanne’s Educational Magic Wand 16:30 – Retirement Plans & August Expectations 18:30 – Rapid Fire Round! 21:40 – Outro & Final Reflections Episode Description: On this episode of the South Allegheny Techcast, host Jeffrey Nobili sits down with retiring kindergarten teacher Joanne Cloherty. Reflecting on an incredible 33-year career at South Allegheny, Joanne shares her journey from a PR major to the classroom, how teaching has evolved from ditto machines to ChatGPT, and the fine balance of introducing technology to our youngest learners. Plus, don't miss a hilarious Rapid Fire round where she reveals her true feelings about Canvas! Congratulations to Joanne on her retirement! *Recorded on location at the South Allegheny Elementary School Studio *Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (ARCAUDIO).

  6. Jun 2

    SA Tech-Cast E106 - Mrs. Joy Wyler

    00:00 Introduction  01:08 Gladiator Gauntlet: The Early Days of Ed-Tech  02:45 Flipped Maps & Overhead Projectors 03:35 Still Getting Excited to Teach 04:05 Virtual Labs & Budget Hacks  05:09 Light Bulb Moment 05:50 Adapting to the TikTok Era  07:04 The Magic Wand: Grading  08:30 Next Stop: September Vacation  10:12 Rapid Fire Segment  12:35 Closing Thoughts & A Big Thank You  In this retirement special of the South Allegheny Tech-Cast, host Jeffrey Nobili sits down with veteran SAHS Science Teacher Joy Wyler as she wraps up a remarkable 29-year teaching career (including 27 years as a Gladiator!). Mrs. Wyler looks back at her education journey, tracing the massive evolution of educational tech from the days of word processors and threading film projectors to today's virtual labs and short-form video clips. She shares how virtual tools helped bypass budget limitations to create memorable "light bulb moments" for students, reveals the one non-teaching task she wishes she had a magic wand to fix, and shares her exciting plans to finally take a vacation in September.  We congratulate Mrs. Wyler on her retirement from South Allegheny, thank her for all of her incredible work with our Gladiators, and wish her and all her fellow retirees the best as their calendars become more clear!  Listen now and find out exactly where the future is taking our Gladiators! * Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO) *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio

  7. May 26

    SA Tech-Cast E105 - 2026 Senior Class Officers

    00:00 - Welcome & Introductions 02:00 - Communication & the 110-Person Chat 03:29 - Tech vs. Paper: The One-to-One Environment 05:10 - Tech-Free Memories 07:00 - Digital Headaches & Changing Platforms 09:05 - The Digital Time Capsule 11:40 - Real-World Skills & AI Fears 14:00 - Pro-Tips for Freshmen 16:25 - Future Horizons & Rapid Fire 22:15 - Final Thoughts & Sign-OffIn this graduation special episode of the South Allegheny Tech-Cast, host Jeffrey Nobili sits down with the 2026 Senior Class Officers: Taylor, Ayla, Isaac, and Addison. The student leaders pull back the curtain on digital life at South Allegheny, sharing the reality of managing a 110-person class group chat on Snapchat , their nostalgic love for physical pen and paper , and how they are navigating the onset of AI. They offer indispensable tech survival tips for incoming freshmen , reveal their future career plans , and face off in a rapid-fire "this or that" finale. Congratulations to the South Allegheny Class of 2026! We cannot see what you all bring to the world! * Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO) *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio

  8. May 19

    SA Tech-Cast E104 - Mrs. Jen Rea

    00:00 - Introduction 01:15 - The Gladiator Gauntlet: from journalism student to elementary STEAM leader. 03:30 - A Day in the Innovation Center. 05:45 - The Evolution of EdTech 08:20 - Light Bulb Moments 11:00 - Rising to the Challenge: why failure is a vital part of the learning process. 13:45 - Connecting Tech to Careers 16:20 - Survival Strategy: When Tech Fails 19:10 - The Magic Wand: organizing a messy Google Drive. 21:30 - Rapid Fire Round 24:15 - Closing Remarks We are taking the South Allegheny Tech-Cast on the road! This week, we welcome Jennifer Rea, the driving force behind our Elementary Innovation Center, to discuss how our youngest Gladiators are mastering the tools of the future.  From 18 years of classroom experience to leading a hub of creativity, Jen shares her journey and the "light bulb" moments that happen when students take ownership of technology.  Jen’s philosophy is simple: "Be the best you can be. Do better than the day before." Don't miss this inspiring conversation about the reality of tech in our schools. Listen now and find out exactly where the future is taking our Gladiators! * Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO) *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio

  9. May 12

    SA Tech-Cast E103 - Mrs. Ellen Eyth

    00:00 - Introduction and Mission  01:15 - The Gladiator Gauntlet: Meet Ellen Eyth  02:35 - Tech Evolution: From One "Brain" to 28  04:08 - Light Bulb Moment: The Laser-Cut Earring Project  06:00 - The "Easy Button": Adobe vs. Canva vs. AI  08:30 - Adobe Products vs Canva 10:15 - Class Options with AI 11:15 - Case Study: The Cereal Box Assignment  12:30 - Framework for the Future: Digital Citizenship  16:00 - The Magic Wand: Automating the Teaching Grind  18:20 - Rapid Fire: Tech, Tastes, and "Steel Magnolias"  22:00 - Closing and Guest Invitation Join Jeffrey Nobili, SASD Director of Technology, as he steps out of the server room and into the classroom with Mrs. Ellen Eyth, a veteran SAHS TechEd and Art Teacher. With a career spanning back to the days of "one-brain" computer labs, Ellen brings a unique perspective on the evolution of digital life at South Allegheny. In this episode, we explore how a calling to teach led Ellen from a decade as a stay-at-home mom to becoming a leader in STEM and graphic design. The Reality of Tech Evolution: Ellen reflects on her first year, moving from unstable hardware where a single sneeze could crash the lab to the modern, individual "brains" students use today. The Adobe vs. Canva Debate: Why professional-grade tools like Photoshop and Illustrator are still essential for "next-level design" even in an era of AI and "easy button" templates. Light Bulb Moments: A spotlight on student success, featuring a junior who mastered complex laser-cutting settings for custom South Allegheny jewelry. AI in Art: How to strike a balance by using AI for realistic imaging while maintaining the integrity of original design and branding. The Digital Footprint: Navigating the challenges of teaching students to be "contributing citizens" in an age of phishing and permanent digital footprints. Rapid Fire segment to find out Ellen’s take on digital vs. paper planners, her 52,000 unread emails, and the ultimate debate: Is a hot dog a sandwich? "Sharing our stories is the way to make the future happen." Listen now and find out exactly where the future is taking our Gladiators! * Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO) *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio

  10. May 5

    SA Tech-Cast E102 - Dr. Michael Calvert

    In this episode of the South Allegheny TechCast, Director of Technology Jeffrey Nobili sits down with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Calvert to pull back the curtain on the digital transformation taking place within the district. Dr. Calvert shares his journey from an early adopter of "ancient" tech like the original Smart Board to his current role driving a culture where innovation is encouraged and "failing forward" is part of the process. 00:00 – Welcome to the TechCast: Director of Technology Jeffrey Nobili introduces the show’s mission.00:48 – The Gladiator Gauntlet: Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Calvert shares his professional journey from social studies teacher to administrator.02:20 – Early Tech Adoption: Remembering the first Smart Boards, sharing one computer between 12 teachers, and the "rogue" laptop cart.05:40 – The SAMR Model: A discussion on using technology to transform student learning rather than just replacing old tools.07:05 – Personal Tech Philosophy: Why an educator doesn’t need to be a "techie" or use social media to value tech in the classroom.08:50 – Innovation Culture at South Allegheny: Highlighting the district’s VR labs, robotics, cybersecurity, and podcasting studios.11:20 – The Learner Profile: How the district is embedding competencies like collaboration and innovation into the curriculum.13:20 – Micro-credentials & Portfolios: A look at how students will soon document their skills and earn digital badges.16:00 – The Impact of AI: Discussing the rapidly changing landscape of work and the importance of teaching AI ethics and safety.20:20 – AI as a Tool: Comparing the current AI "fear" to the historical debates over calculators in math class.22:00 – Rapid Fire Questions: Dr. Calvert talks Commodore 64s, his favorite films, and his "zero inbox" policy.27:15 – Closing Remarks: How to get involved with the TechCast and a thank you to the studio.* Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO) *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio

  11. Apr 24

    SA Tech-Cast E101 - Superintendent David McDonald

    A behind-the-scenes look at how one school district is navigating AI, innovation, and the future of education. Welcome to the very first episode of the South Allegheny Tech-Cast—where we step out of the server room and into the classroom. In this inaugural episode, Director of Technology Jeffrey Nobili sits down with Superintendent David McDonald to talk about the real story behind technology in education—what’s working, what’s changing, and where we’re headed next. From turning a five-year technology plan into a three-month reality during the pandemic, to building programs in aeronautics, cybersecurity, and innovation, this conversation highlights how South Allegheny is preparing students for a rapidly evolving world. In this episode: 00:00 – Intro & Show Purpose00:47 – Guest Introduction (Superintendent McDonald)01:10 – Gladiator Gauntlet: Career Journey04:00 – Leadership Style & School Culture06:22 – Pandemic Impact & Tech Transformation07:45 – AI, Phones, and Modern Tech Reality09:20 – What South Allegheny is Doing Right11:55 – Program Drive: Aeronautics, Cybersecurity, Innovation14:45 – Student Outcomes & Workforce Readiness16:07 – Framework for the Future18:30 – Challenges & Looking Ahead20:40 – Rapid Fire Segment23:18 – Closing & OutroWhether you’re an educator, student, parent, or just curious about the future of learning—this is your inside look at what’s really happening in schools today. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show and share it with a colleague or friend. Interested in being a guest? Reach out and join the conversation. New episodes featuring staff, students, and leaders from across South Allegheny are coming soon. * Intro/Outro music by Travis Nobili (AARCAUDIO) *Recorded at the South Allegheny School District Gladiators Podcast Studio

  • 11 Episodes

About

Welcome to the South Allegheny Tech Cast! Join us as we spotlight the educators and innovators who are transforming our classrooms. Each episode, we share stories of TechEd success, digital transformation, and collaboration to grow our district’s collective knowledge. Our mission is to inspire new ways of lifelong learning right here at South Allegheny—one conversation at a time.

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