School Leaders Project

Inspiring positive change in schools and communities

School Leaders Project is a podcast that dives deep into the world of education and leadership, featuring discussions with extraordinary thinkers and doers who are shaping the future of learning. Our aim is to simplify school leadership, providing you with the tools to create positive changes in your schools and communities. 

  1. 9h ago

    AI in schools: what happens when schools stay out? With Al Kingsley

    In this episode of The School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with education leader and author Al Kingsley to explore AI in education, AI in schools, and what it really means to be AI literate today. While many conversations about artificial intelligence in the classroom focus on tools, prompting, or policies, this episode takes a different angle. Together, Cindy and Al unpack AI literacy as a thinking discipline. One grounded in judgment, critical thinking, and teacher expertise. They dive into some of the biggest questions school leaders and educators are asking right now: What is AI literacy, really?How should schools approach AI in the classroom?Do teachers need to learn AI before students?What skills matter most in an AI-driven world?And can AI ever be unbiased?One of the most powerful moments in this conversation centers on AI bias in education. As AI tools become more embedded in teaching and learning, Al challenges a common assumption: that avoiding AI is the safest path. Instead, he raises a critical question: If schools and communities don’t actively shape these systems, how can we expect them to reflect our students? This episode is especially relevant for: School leaders and administrators navigating AI strategyTeachers exploring AI in the classroomEducators thinking about the future of learning and curriculumAnyone interested in AI literacy, bias, and equity in educationTopics covered include: AI in education, AI in schools, AI literacy, artificial intelligence in the classroom, teacher AI use, AI bias, bias in AI systems, education technology, EdTech, digital strategy in schools, future of education, skills vs knowledge, critical thinking, and teacher readiness. If you’re thinking about how to bring AI into your school in a way that is thoughtful, ethical, and impactful, this conversation is for you.

  2. Jul 9

    The 100: Meet the Founding Panel

    In this episode of School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn is joined by Denise Pope, Jay McTighe, and Eric Hudson, the founding panelists of The 100. The 100 is a new national initiative designed to recognize and connect 100 educators who are advancing some of the most meaningful, innovative, and sustainable work happening in independent schools today. More than an award, it is an effort to surface powerful ideas, celebrate the people behind them, and create a community where innovation can be shared, strengthened, and sustained. Organized around the three focus areas of The 100, AI, curriculum innovation, and leadership, the conversation explores what it takes for new ideas to move beyond isolated initiatives and become meaningful, sustainable change within schools. Along the way, the panel discusses the future of AI in education, the evolution of curriculum and assessment, student well being, leadership, and the systems that help great ideas take root and endure. Denise, Jay, and Eric also share their hopes for The 100, reflecting on the importance of elevating practitioner voices, creating stronger networks of innovators, and building a future where great work is more visible, connected, and impactful. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, or educational changemaker, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how innovation is recognized, supported, and sustained across schools.

  3. Jun 24

    How Gilman School Uses Data to Drive Real Change

    In this episode, Cindy Blackburn sits down with Rachel Gorsky, Director of Institutional Research and Data Analytics at Gilman School, to explore how schools can actually use data to drive meaningful change. They unpack what institutional research looks like in K–12 independent schools, how to move from vague questions to actionable insights, and why combining qualitative and quantitative data is essential for understanding school culture. Rachel shares her process for analyzing school climate surveys, navigating sensitive topics, and turning complex data into findings that leaders can actually use. The conversation also dives into a real research project on women’s experiences in boys’ schools, offering a powerful example of how data can surface hidden patterns and inform leadership decisions. They also explore the ethical challenges of working with sensitive data, how to build trust through transparency, and why sharing findings is often the hardest part of the process. If you're a school leader, educator, or anyone interested in data-informed decision-making in education, this episode offers practical insights you can apply right away.

  4. May 6

    Building AI literacy in schools, lessons from Pingry School

    On this episode of the School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with Dr. Danielle Mirliss, Director of Research and Academic Innovation at Pingry School, to explore how schools can build AI literacy with purpose, ethics, and trust. Danielle shares how Pingry has shifted from creating rigid AI policies to grounding its approach in clear values, keeping relationships, critical thinking, and student agency at the center of teaching and learning. Together, they unpack what families are most concerned about when it comes to artificial intelligence in schools, from academic integrity and misinformation to the future of education and work. The conversation dives into practical strategies for supporting teachers, engaging parents, and developing an AI literacy curriculum that helps students understand how AI works, how to use it responsibly, and how to think critically about its ethical impact. If you’re a school leader, educator, or parent looking for a thoughtful, real-world approach to teaching AI in K–12 schools, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and actionable ideas.

  5. Apr 23

    How Aurora Public Schools is rethinking equity, AI, and instruction

    On this episode of the School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with Antonio Vigil, Director of Innovative Classroom Technology at Aurora Public Schools, to explore what it really takes to transform public education in a moment of rapid change. Together, they unpack how Aurora Public Schools is rethinking equity, AI, and instruction through its districtwide strategy, Destination APS. Antonio shares powerful stories of using AI to support multilingual learners, build belonging through real-time translation, and strengthen relationships between schools and families. The conversation dives into the “both and” philosophy of education: creating rigorous, engaging learning experiences while also centering relationships, empathy, and student voice. You’ll hear practical insights on data literacy, dashboards for educators, street data for equity, liberatory design, and why adaptive leadership matters when schools are moving beyond improving the status quo. If you’re a school leader, educator, or anyone interested in the future of teaching and learning, this episode offers a hopeful, grounded look at how systems can change in meaningful ways.

  6. Apr 23

    Institutional Research in Independent Schools with Eric Heilman (CIRIS)

    In this episode, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with Eric Heilman from CIRIS to unpack a question many independent school leaders are quietly asking: What is institutional research, and how is it actually used to make better decisions in schools? Together, they explore how institutional research can move beyond dashboards and compliance to support clearer questions, healthier data culture, and more human decision-making. Eric shares how schools can democratize access to data, distinguish between operational and strategic data, and build governance practices that make data trustworthy and usable rather than overwhelming. In this conversation, you’ll learn: what institutional research looks like in independent schools how school leaders can use data without drowning in it the difference between having data and having clarity why better questions matter more than more metrics how AI is beginning to intersect with institutional research and data governance This episode is especially relevant for heads of school, academic leaders, and anyone responsible for stewarding data in K–12 independent schools who wants to use information thoughtfully, ethically, and in service of their mission.

  7. Apr 9

    AI in Independent Schools: Louis Tullo on Teaching, Learning, and Belonging

    In this episode of The School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with Louis Tullo, Chief Information and Innovation Officer at Ravenscroft School, for a deep and refreshingly human conversation about AI in independent schools.Together, they explore how AI can strengthen belonging, support metacognition, deepen learning, and free teachers to focus on the work only humans can do. Louis shares how his background in theater, corporate IT, research on student procrastination, and classroom teaching all inform his holistic approach to AI integration. You’ll hear insights on:  • building AI literacy for teachers and students  • designing school cultures where AI is embraced as a learning partner  • using bots to support executive functioning and reduce operational load  • helping students understand their thinking, not just get the “right” answer  • fostering belonging and connection in an AI-rich world  • what independent schools must prioritize to adopt AI responsibly Whether you’re a school leader, tech director, teacher, or simply curious about the future of learning, this conversation offers clarity, inspiration, and a powerful reframing of what’s possible.

  8. Apr 9

    Are We Teaching Students, or Just Training AI Models? With Tony Frontier

    Description: On this episode of The School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with author and education thought leader Tony Frontier to explore what it really means to use AI with intention in schools. Together, they dig into some of the most urgent questions facing educators today: What happens when AI tools become embedded in every part of the teaching and learning cycle? Are we empowering learners, or just automating the system? And how can school leaders ensure AI supports deeper learning rather than undermining it? Tony shares powerful insights from his book AI with Intention, including: Why AI is a mirror, not a problem How shallow grading practices can lead to an “AI vicious cycle” What effective prompting reveals about student agency How to use AI as an empathy coach and planning partner Why transformational change starts with clarity of purpose If you're a teacher, curriculum leader, or school administrator wrestling with AI adoption, this conversation offers a timely, practical, and deeply human take on how to move forward with confidence and conscience.

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About

School Leaders Project is a podcast that dives deep into the world of education and leadership, featuring discussions with extraordinary thinkers and doers who are shaping the future of learning. Our aim is to simplify school leadership, providing you with the tools to create positive changes in your schools and communities. 

Information

  • Creator
    Inspiring positive change in schools and communities
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 School Leaders Project
  • Show Website
    School Leaders Project

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