InspirED: A PLTW Podcast

Project Lead The Way
  • 4.2 (5)
  • Education

A thought-provoking podcast designed to discuss current educational topics, with thought leaders, school/district administrators, teachers, and PLTW industry partners.

  1. A Road Less Travelled with PLTW Alum, Sophia Craig

    Jun 26

    A Road Less Travelled with PLTW Alum, Sophia Craig

    In our latest PLTW Alumni Spotlight episode, Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media and Community Engagement sits down to chat with Sophia Craig, a Sophomore at Kansas State University. Sophia shares her journey through Project Lead The Way courses in high school, how they shaped her learning and future aspirations, and how the hands-on, career-connected, and project based learning she experienced in high school is already leading her to success at the collegiate level. This will be an excellent episode for PLTW teachers to share with their students! Host: Marcus Painter Director, Social Media and Community Engagement Guests: Sophia Craig PLTW Alumni, Student at Kansas State University Recording Date: June 4th, 2026 Resources: PLTW Engineering courses helped Sophia see how incorporating her own style and interests can lead to true innovation: https://www.pltw.org/curriculum/pltw-engineering#civil-engineering-and-architecture2026 marked the tenth year of PLTW at Bishop Miege—hear from more of their alums about what they learned and how they use it today: https://bishopmiege.com/celebrating-a-decade-of-pltw-alumni-share-their-journeys/Former PLTW students can boost their proof of readiness by adding a badge to their LinkedIn profile: https://www.pltw.org/blog/showcase-your-pltw-skills-on-linkedin-with-new-profile-badgesCombining STEM and art expands creativity, engagement, and confidence among students—here’s the approach one school took: https://www.pltw.org/blog/engineering-design-and-development-edd-students-collaborate-with-art-class-peersRegional ecosystems like KC STEM Alliance are catalysts for local innovation and economic growth; here’s how: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/KCSTEMAlliance_CaseStudy.pdf

    40 min
  2. Before You Head Out: Spring Strategies For a Great Summer and Smooth Fall

    May 29

    Before You Head Out: Spring Strategies For a Great Summer and Smooth Fall

    In this episode of InspirED: A PLTW Podcast, Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media and Community Engagement chats with Tory Spanier and Seth Ponder about teachers can best Sail into the summer! All teachers will have actionable takeaways from this episode!  Sail into summer with a little help from a couple of the best teachers we know! Host: Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media & Community Engagement at Project Lead The Way Guests: Tory Spanier, PLTW Master Teacher from Delano High School, in Delano Minnesota. Seth Ponder, Computer Science and Engineering teacher at Riley High School, in South Bend, Indiana. Recording Date: May 7, 2026 Resources: Middle school teachers bring high-impact, meaningful explorations of biomedical engineering through the Design and Modeling unit from PLTW Gateway: https://www.pltw.org/blog/middle-school-stem-prostheticsRiley High School students and educators share the “why” behind their passion for project-based learning and PLTW: https://wsbt.com/news/local/stem-education-hands-on-project-problem-based-high-school-south-bend-riley-national-recognition-innovation-careerHow Tory Spanier took risks and build a network of support, exemplifying perseverance and curiosity to his students: https://youtu.be/svO1gDuBN6k?t=237 Explore an educator’s journey from PLTW student to Master Teacher: https://www.pltw.org/blog/from-pltw-student-to-master-teacherWhat’s different about instructor-led, collaborative professional learning? Hear about it from teachers who’ve attended: https://www.pltw.org/blog/pltw-teachers-find-real-world-lessons-and-year-long-advice-during-pltw-core-trainingWhen students don’t see the difference between learning for the future and learning to pass the test, here’s what happens: https://www.pltw.org/blog/connecting-the-classroom-to-your-community Connect on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RileyEngineeringMagnet Instagram: @rileyhighpltw

    46 min
  3. The Future Won't Wait: AI in Education (Part 1)

    May 1

    The Future Won't Wait: AI in Education (Part 1)

    In the latest episode of InspirED: A PLTW Podcast, we bring together voices from both Project Lead The Way and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to discuss how our collaboration has already impacted AI in education, created a roadmap for today, and clarified a vision for tomorrow. You’ll hear how PLTW and AWS strive to make AI ethical, effective, and efficient in today’s educational landscape. We aren’t talking about hypotheticals and “What if’s”. We are talking about the realities of today and how educational leaders can leverage AI in positive ways through understanding, ethics, and empowerment. Host: Dr. David Dimmett, President and CEO of Project Lead The Way Guests: Sara Seba, Manager of Customer Solutions and Specialists, for Global Nonprofits at AWS Brian Greiwe, EVP and Chief Technical Officer of Project Lead The Way Recording Date: Wednesday April 8, 2026 Resources: Principles of AI (grades 9–12)—a one-semester course that builds AI skills for the future of work, including critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and digital literacy: https://www.pltw.org/principles-of-ai A collaborative training that empowers PreK–12 educators to confidently use AI to enhance planning, teaching, and career readiness strategies: https://www.pltw.org/professional-development/training-schedules?program=*&course=%22Demystifying+AI+in+Education%22&type=*&location=*&search= What exclusive access to a globally recognized CompTIA Security+ certification can do for future cybersecurity professionals:  https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-announces-strategic-partnership-with-comptia-to-launch-cybersecurity-accreditation How the latest PLTW and AWS collaboration is accelerating access to AI education by expanding supports for students and teachers: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-named-winner-of-2025-amazon-web-services-imagine-grant-for-nonprofits  Preparing students and educators for the future of work requires a national AI strategy like PLTW's: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-launches-national-ai-strategy-to-prepare-students-and-educators-for-the-future-of-work The AI curriculum pilot expected to reach 1,600 students and 30 school districts in Massachusetts: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/new-ai-curriculum-pilot-to-reach-1600-massachusetts-students-across-30-school-districts Connect on Social Media: AWS (Amazon Web Services on LinkedIn) AWS Nonprofits on X Sara Seba on LinkedIn

    25 min
  4. The Future Won't Wait: AI in Education (Part 2)

    May 1

    The Future Won't Wait: AI in Education (Part 2)

    In the latest episode of InspirED: A PLTW Podcast, we bring together voices from both Project Lead The Way and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to discuss how our collaboration has already impacted AI in education, created a roadmap for today, and clarified a vision for tomorrow. You’ll hear how PLTW and AWS strive to make AI ethical, effective, and efficient in today’s educational landscape.  We aren’t talking about hypotheticals and “What if’s”. We are talking about the realities of today and how educational leaders can leverage AI in positive ways through understanding, ethics, and empowerment. Host: Dr. David Dimmett, President and CEO of Project Lead The Way Guests: Sara Seba, Manager of Customer Solutions and Specialists, for Global Nonprofits at AWS Brian Greiwe, EVP and Chief Technical Officer of Project Lead The Way Recording Date: Wednesday April 8, 2026 Resources: Principles of AI (grades 9–12)—a one-semester course that builds AI skills for the future of work, including critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and digital literacy: https://www.pltw.org/principles-of-ai A collaborative training that empowers PreK–12 educators to confidently use AI to enhance planning, teaching, and career readiness strategies: https://www.pltw.org/professional-development/training-schedules?program=*&course=%22Demystifying+AI+in+Education%22&type=*&location=*&search= What exclusive access to a globally recognized CompTIA Security+ certification can do for future cybersecurity professionals:  https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-announces-strategic-partnership-with-comptia-to-launch-cybersecurity-accreditation How the latest PLTW and AWS collaboration is accelerating access to AI education by expanding supports for students and teachers: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-named-winner-of-2025-amazon-web-services-imagine-grant-for-nonprofits  Preparing students and educators for the future of work requires a national AI strategy like PLTW's: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-launches-national-ai-strategy-to-prepare-students-and-educators-for-the-future-of-work The AI curriculum pilot expected to reach 1,600 students and 30 school districts in Massachusetts: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/new-ai-curriculum-pilot-to-reach-1600-massachusetts-students-across-30-school-districts Connect on Social Media: AWS (Amazon Web Services on LinkedIn) AWS Nonprofits on X Sara Seba on LinkedIn

    27 min
  5. From the Classroom to the Feed: PLTW Teachers Growing Programs through Social Media

    Mar 27

    From the Classroom to the Feed: PLTW Teachers Growing Programs through Social Media

    In this episode of InspirED: A PLTW podcast, Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media and Community Engagement sits down with three PLTW social media influencers to share their stories, vision, and advice on how to leverage social media to enhance their classrooms, programs, schools, and districts. Are you a PLTW teacher on the fence about creating social media content from your classroom?  Are you a building or district leader who needs creative ways to tell the story of your school/district?  Why not learn from some of the best social media influencers out there?Tune-in, learn, and connect! Host: Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media and Community Engagement at Project Lead The Way Guests: Leah Pelletier, Biomedical Science teacher, McHenry Community High School, District 156, McHenry, IL.Thomas Pfeiffer, STEM 2/Magnet Science teacher at Margaret Mead Junior High, School District 54, Schaumburg, IL.Sarah McCambridge, Marketing Director, Bishop Miege Catholic High School in Roeland Park, KS of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Resources: More social media promotion ideas from PLTW educators: https://www.pltw.org/blog/5-reasons-to-use-social-media-when-teaching-pltwHow PLTW alums can showcase their skills on LinkedIn: https://www.pltw.org/blog/showcase-your-pltw-skills-on-linkedin-with-new-profile-badgesExplore the curriculum these educators highlight at their schools: https://www.pltw.org/curriculum  Leah Pelletier MCHS BioMed on Instagramhttps://www.dist156.org/Thomas Pfeifer @thescienceseekersshow on YouTube@thescienceseekersshow on InstagramMead Junior High on FacebookMead Junior High on InstagramWebsite: https://mead.sd54.org/Schaumburg 54 Schools on InstagramWebsite: https://sd54.org/Sarah McCambridge Sarah on LinkedInSchool WebsiteBishop Miege on InstagramBishop Miege High School on LinkedIn

    47 min
  6. When Passion Becomes a Profession

    Feb 27

    When Passion Becomes a Profession

    As part of our celebration of National Engineers Week, we decided to invite an amazing PLTW teacher and two future engineers and former PLTW students to talk about what it takes to make their career dreams a reality.  Dr. David Dimmett, President and CEO of Project Lead The Way sits down with PLTW teacher, Christopher Desmond, and two of his former students, Kammy Blake and Kevin Morris.  ------------------------------  Host:   Dr. David Dimmett, President & CEO of Project Lead The Way Guest(s):  Christopher Desmond, CTE Teacher at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Kameran Blake, Junior Mechanical Engineering major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  Kevin Morris, Junior Civil Engineering major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.   Resources:  College readiness improves for students who take at least one PLTW Engineering course—see the proof: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/impact-profiles/PLTW_Texas_OnePager.pdf   Students who take more than one PLTW high school course are twice as likely to enroll in college and three times as likely to pursue a STEM major: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/impact-profiles/Missouri-PLTW_One-Pager_Digital.pdf  Experience with industry-specific tools like Multism sets PLTW Engineering students apart from their peers: https://www.pltw.org/blog/pltw-ni-engineering-software-partnership  Learn how Alex from Phillips 66 went from high school engineering to Phillips 66 Commercial and Business Development Senior Director: https://www.pltw.org/blog/phillips-66-pltw-partner-spotlight-engineering-career  Ardagh Group provides real-world career readiness and work-based learning: https://www.pltw.org/blog/ardagh-group-prepares-pltw-students-for-future-careers-in-their-own-communities  Rural communities and school districts are getting ready for a growing opportunity in advanced manufacturing: https://www.pltw.org/blog/closing-manufacturing-skills-gap-rural-schools  See the data behind the educational opportunity in advanced manufacturing boom: https://www.pltw.org/manufacturing-skills-gap-rural-schools-infographic  Schools that combine the power of PLTW and NAF expand college and career readiness in high school: https://www.pltw.org/blog/how-to-expand-career-readiness-in-high-schools-naf-pltw  Middle school students apply pre-engineering knowledge to develop prosthetics for community members: https://www.pltw.org/blog/middle-school-stem-prosthetics  A 48-hour innovation challenge gives PLTW Engineering students the chance to show off their skills: https://www.pltw.org/blog/pltw-students-shine-in-stadium-innovation-make48-challenge  National Engineers Week: https://www.nspe.org/connect/partners/engineers-week  ------------------------------  Connect on Social Media:  Internship Company Website - Oerlikon  UNC Charlotte College of Engineering Website  UNC Charlotte Engineering - Instagram    Facebook:   Hopewell Engineering and Manufacturing  Hopewell High School CMS  Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools  UNC Charlotte Engineering     LinkedIn:    Christopher Desmond  Kameran Blake  Kevin Morris  UNC Charlotte College of Engineering  Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools  Superintendent - Crystal Hill, Ed.D. - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools    Instagram:  Hopewell High School    Hopewell Admin School   Hopewell Engineering/Manufacturing

    31 min
  7. Students Will Change the World: How PLTW’s Community Impact Awards find the best and brightest innovators in the country.

    Jan 30

    Students Will Change the World: How PLTW’s Community Impact Awards find the best and brightest innovators in the country.

    We kick-off Season 2 of InspirED: A PLTW Podcast by talking about our Community Impact Awards!   On this episode, Katie Minihan, EVP & Chief Impact Officer at Project Lead The Way talks with two exceptional PLTW teachers who also helped guide students towards winning the Community Impact Award.  High School teachers, Danielle Weber and Jason Huber, discuss the whole experience, from finding inspiration, the journey, the projects/students today, and the projects/students in the future. Host:   Katie Minihan, EVP & Chief Impact Officer  Guest(s):  Danielle Weber  Danielle is a STEM educator with twenty years of experience teaching and supporting science programs in Stamford, Connecticut. She currently teaches at the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering and also works with educators through Project Lead The Way, Mass Learning Project, and Connecticut's Alternative Route to Certification program.     Her professional roles have focused on curriculum development, instructional support, and helping teachers build effective learning experiences for students.perf Her work has been recognized by organizations including the Connecticut Science Teachers Association, PLTW, and the Petit Family Foundation.    Jason Huber  Jason has been a Technology Education teacher since 1995 and a Project Lead The Way instructor since 2002. He has served as a PLTW Master Teacher for IED and CEA since 2008 and has taught at Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Illinois, since 2011. Beyond his PLTW, his experience includes leadership roles as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools and Assistant Principal.  Outside the classroom, Jason and his wife flip homes, and when time allows, he serves as a behind-the-wheel instructor for summer Drivers Education.    --------------------  Resources:  Woodstock Community Unit School District #200    Students from the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering share how personal experiences inspired their award-winning project, “Pinch Pals”—a customizable, child-friendly device that reduces pain and anxiety for young patients with Type 1 Diabetes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm5h0Mo6bT8    Students from Woodstock High School discuss how they turned their vision of making the city more walkable into an award-winning project designed for impact and supported by city officials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4MywtoZC98    Ideas and innovations come to life in the PLTW Capstone course, where students apply what they’ve learned to solve a real-world problem. Learn more:  PLTW Capstone Course Outline: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_Capstone_CourseOutline.pdf PLTW Capstone Course Resume: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_Capstone_CourseResume.pdf PLTW Capstone Standards Connections: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_SA_CAPSTONE.pdf PLTW High School Evidence Paper: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/mjtw-assets/pdfs/Evidence_Paper___PLTW_HS_6_30_21_1.pdf   These outstanding projects from PLTW students will inspire you: https://www.pltw.org/blog/from-classroom-to-community-pltw-projects-that-make-a-difference    Educators can use the engineering design process to build and expand partnerships—here's how: https://www.pltw.org/blog/guest-post-funding-and-grants-creating-engineering-partnerships    Submissions for the 2026–27 Community Impact Awards are open—recognize your middle or high school students for their innovative ideas and commitment to making an impact: https://www.pltw.org/experience-pltw/awards-and-recognition/community-impact-awards   -------------------- Connect on Social Media:  Woodstock High School on Facebook   Academy of Information Technology and Engineering at Stamford Public Schools on Instagram  Stamford Public Schools on Instagram  Danielle Weber on LinkedIn

    40 min
  8. InspirED: LIVE at MasterMinds 2025

    12/19/2025

    InspirED: LIVE at MasterMinds 2025

    We close out 2025 with a very special episode, InspirED: LIVE from MasterMinds 2025!  MasterMinds is an exclusive PLTW event designed to bring PLTW Master Teachers together for 3 days of relationship building, professional learning, and fun.  MasterMinds was truly an amazing event this year, and we wanted to capitalize on having so many exceptional educators in one place.  So, President and CEO, Dr. David Dimmett, sat down with some Master Teachers to talk about everything from the experience of being a PLTW teacher, to the experiences teachers have had that have shaped their lives, their students’ lives, and their community. Resources: This free activity from PLTW Launch gets students out of their seats and thinking like a computer scientist. Try it in any PreK–5 classroom. Register here to see PLTW in action at a local showcase. Check-out Katie Cunningham’s podcast, “Locking Down Cyber” on Spotify! Featured educator spotlights:  Darnaby Elementary School piloted PLTW Launch in 2013, and educators Kristin Robinson and Suzanne Martin have been there from the start. When Torry Spanier wanted to expand project-based learning and engineering into middle school, he chose PLTW Gateway. Here’s the newest unit from the curriculum. Hands-on experiences in Corey Duzan’s PLTW Engineering courses helped this student build confidence and competence for a future career. Using industry-standard software, learning technical skills, and preparing for certifications is par for the course in Katie Cunningham’s PLTW Computer Science students—see what students learn. PLTW students build solutions that capture attention—here’s one from a former student of Susan Jones. PiHi Samurai isn’t just a fun name, it’s an award-winning robotics team that Bill Van Loo mentors and cheers for through their first-place wins. Elkhorn Middle School students turned an idea into an award-winning community impact—learn about their project in Eryca Card’s class. Kristin Robinson  PLTW Launch at Darnaby Elementary School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Suzanne Martin  PLTW Launch at Darnaby Elementary School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tory Spanier  Gateway: Design & Modeling, Automation & Robotics, and Algebra 1 Advantage at Delano High School in Delano, Minnesota. Corey Duzan  Introduction to Engineering Design at Lockport Township High School, in Lockport, Illinois.  Katie Cunningham  Computer Science Pathway, Computer Science Essentials, Computer Science Principles, and Cybersecurity at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton, Massachusetts. Susan Jones  Computer Science Essentials, Computer Science Principles, Computer Science A, Cybersecurity, Computer Science Foundations, Algebra 1 Advantage, and PLTW Capstone at Midway High School in Waco, Texas. Eryca Card  Green Architecture and the PLTW K-8 District Coordinator for Elkhorn Area Middle School in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Bill Van Loo  Intro to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, and Engineering Capstone at Pioneer High School, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Connect On Social Media:  Suzanne on Instagram  Darnaby Elememtary School on Facebook  Union Public Schools-Tulsa, OK. on Facebook  Tory on LinkedIn  Tory on Facebook  Delano Public Schools on Facebook  Delano Public Schools on YouTube  Corey on X  Corey on LinkedIn  Lockport Township HS on X  Lockport Township HS on Facebook  Katie on X  Katie on LinkedIn  Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Department on Instagram  Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical HS on Instagram  Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical HS on X  Susan on LinkedIn  Eryca on Facebook  Eryca on LinkedIn  Elkhorn Area MS on YouTube  Elkhorn Area MS on Facebook  Elkhorn Area MS on Instagram  Elkhorn Area School District on Facebook  Elkhorn Area School District on X  Bill on Instagram  Bill on LinkedIn  Ann Arbor Public Schools Career & Technology Education on Instagram  Pioneer H.S./PiHi Samurai on Instagram

    42 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A thought-provoking podcast designed to discuss current educational topics, with thought leaders, school/district administrators, teachers, and PLTW industry partners.

Information

  • Creator
    Project Lead The Way
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025
  • Show Website
    InspirED: A PLTW Podcast

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