Teach Smarter

Stephanie Dinnen and Pete Siner
  • 5.0 (2)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED DAILY

Teach Smarter is a podcast for educators who are tired of initiatives that don't stick and PD that doesn't translate. Hosted by former classroom teachers Stephanie Dinnen and Peter Siner, each episode digs into the real challenges of teaching, coaching, and leading schools, from instructional practice to the tools and technology worth your time. The name says it all: work smarter without losing sight of what actually works in real classrooms.

  1. The Real Work of Instructional Coaching with Dr. Jim Knight

    APR 13

    The Real Work of Instructional Coaching with Dr. Jim Knight

    Instructional coaching is often set up to fail. Coaches are undertrained, overloaded, and expected to change instruction without a clear model or enough time to do the work. In this episode, Peter sits down with Jim Knight, the researcher who coined the term instructional coaching, founder of the Instructional Coaching Group, and author of The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching. With more than 30 years of research behind him, Jim is widely considered the leading voice in the field. They discuss why coaching fails before it even starts, what districts consistently get wrong, and what it actually looks like when coaching works the way it should. They cover the seven factors that separate effective coaching from surface-level compliance, why student-focused goals should drive every coaching cycle, why partnership is the foundation of the work and not an add-on, and where AI fits into coaching and where it falls short. Find Jim's work: Instructional Coaching Group: instructionalcoaching.comThe Definitive Guide to Instructional CoachingOnline learning platform: radicallearners.com LinkedIn

    37 min
  2. Firm Goals, Flexible Means: UDL With Dr. Katie Novak

    MAR 16

    Firm Goals, Flexible Means: UDL With Dr. Katie Novak

    Dr. Katie Novak is one of the leading voices in Universal Design for Learning and the author of sixteen books including UDL Now and Elevating Educational Design with AI. In this episode, we talk about what UDL actually looks like when you're working with scripted curriculum, how it's different from differentiated instruction and personalized learning, where AI can help with lesson design and where it still falls short, and why the word fidelity makes so many teachers shut down. Katie also shares her approach to finding flexibility that already exists inside high quality instructional materials without sacrificing rigor. Books Referenced: Elevating Educational Design with AI: Making Learning Accessible, Inclusive, and Equitable by Catlin Tucker & Katie Novak — AmazonForward, Together: Moving Schools from Conflict to Community in Contentious Times by George Couros — AmazonFind Katie: Website: novakeducation.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katienovakudl/

    51 min
  3. What 424 Studies on SEL Actually Found | With Dr. Christina Cipriano

    FEB 18

    What 424 Studies on SEL Actually Found | With Dr. Christina Cipriano

    What does the research actually say about SEL and why does so much of what gets sold to schools fall short of the evidence? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Christina Cipriano, Associate Professor at the Yale Child Study Center and one of the leading researchers in social-emotional learning, to get into what the data actually shows and what leaders should do about it. Dr. Cipriano led the largest meta-analysis of SEL programs ever conducted: 424 studies, 53 countries, over 575,000 students. We talk about how to cut through the marketing, what to actually look for in an SEL program, and why so many schools are investing in the wrong things. We also discuss why calling people out creates opponents instead of partners, how small language shifts change the entire dynamic between educators and families, and why "that's just the way we do things" may be the most costly phrase in education. Dr. Christina Cipriano is an Associate Professor of Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology at the Yale Child Study Center and Director of the Education Collaboratory at Yale University. She has published over 120 peer-reviewed papers and her work has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, and Education Week. Her new book, Be Unapologetically Impatient, is available now at drchriscip.com. Follow her on on LinkedIn at Christina Cipriano.

    43 min
  4. “Just Let Me Teach”: Why PD Lost Teachers, with Dr. Zach Groshell

    JAN 23

    “Just Let Me Teach”: Why PD Lost Teachers, with Dr. Zach Groshell

    Professional development has a trust problem. Many teachers feel burned by years of shifting initiatives, surface-level walkthroughs, and messages that miss the reality of classroom instruction. In this episode, we’re joined by Zach Groshell, teacher, instructional coach, and author of Just Tell Them, for a candid conversation about why so many educators have grown skeptical of PD and instructional coaching, and what actually works instead. Zach unpacks the loneliness of teaching, how poor training creates defensive cultures, and why strong instruction is often misunderstood by people furthest from the classroom. We dig into explicit instruction, coaching models that build trust instead of compliance, and the danger of edu-fads that look good but fail to improve learning. We also tackle AI, edtech, and why tools cannot replace thinking, while still having a role when used with intention. This episode is for teachers, coaches, and leaders who want clarity, coherence, and instruction that actually helps students learn. Guest bioZach Groshell, PhD, is a teacher, instructional coach, and education consultant based in Seattle, Washington. He works with schools across the United States and internationally to improve instruction using research from the science of learning. Zach is the author of Just Tell Them and the host of the Progressively Incorrect podcast. He also writes at educationrickshaw.com. He began his career as an elementary classroom teacher and later moved into instructional coaching and school improvement work. Zach is widely known for his practical approach to explicit instruction, teacher development, and coaching models that respect teacher expertise while pushing for better outcomes for students.

    36 min
  5. Does AI Belong in School? with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath

    JAN 9

    Does AI Belong in School? with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath

    In this episode, Stephanie and I speak with neuroscientist and former teacher Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath about what schools get wrong, and why so many well-intended initiatives fall apart in real classrooms. We talk about why teaching is a craft, why teachers should be treated as the core experts, and why schools struggle to build shared, usable evidence about what works. Jared also challenges common assumptions about classroom technology and AI. He explains why these tools often function as production shortcuts, not learning supports, and why knowledge has to come before skills like critical thinking and creativity. About Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath Jared Cooney Horvath (PhD, MEd) is a neuroscientist, educator, and best-selling author who specializes in human learning and brain development. He is the creator of The Learning Blueprint, an international award-winning program helping educators and students understand how learning actually works.Jared has conducted research and taught at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Melbourne, and has worked with more than 1,000 schools around the world. He is the author of six books, has published over fifty research articles, and his work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, Harvard Business Review, and ABC’s Catalyst.Jared currently serves as Director of LME Global, an organization dedicated to bringing cutting-edge brain and behavioral science to educators, students, and communities. To inquire about working with him, or to learn more about his international award-winning Science of Learning programs (The Learning Blueprint for Teachers & The Learning Blueprint for Students), visit lmeglobal.com.Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jaredcooneyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-cooney-horvath-phd-med-730704b2/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jared.cooney.horvath/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lmeglobal.net

    48 min
  6. The 3 Drivers of Student Growth, with TNTP’s Dr. Tequilla Brownie

    12/02/2025

    The 3 Drivers of Student Growth, with TNTP’s Dr. Tequilla Brownie

    What actually drives student growth, and why do so few schools get it right? In this episode, Dr. Tequilla Brownie breaks down the core conditions that help students catch up and move forward. We talk about expectations, coherence, belonging, and why TNTP’s research continues to reshape how schools think about improvement. Dr. Brownie also shares clear guidance for leaders who want to focus their teams, avoid ineffective approaches, and build the consistency needed for real gains. We end with a grounded conversation about AI, data, and the decisions schools should be making now. About Dr. Tequilla Brownie Dr. Tequilla Brownie is the CEO of TNTP, a national nonprofit that supports schools in 39 states and territories on work tied to student outcomes, strong instruction, and real access to opportunity. She oversees TNTP’s strategy, operations, partnerships, and research agenda. Her path from rural poverty to Yale to leading TNTP shapes her clear view of how public systems support or limit young people. She is a respected national voice whose work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA TODAY, and on CNN. She has spoken at ASU GSV, TEDx, and to the National Governors Association, and has been recognized as a Pahara Fellow, a 2025 ASU GSV Power of Women Winner, and one of Brightbeam’s Top 30 Education Influencers. Dr. Brownie serves on boards including Stand for Children, PIE Network, and ForwARd Arkansas. She is a Senior Fellow at FutureEd at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy, and a member of EdLoC and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Before becoming CEO, she spent a decade at TNTP leading major growth efforts and building partnerships with districts and funders. Earlier in her career, she worked in Memphis City Schools on teacher effectiveness reforms. She is also a licensed therapist and former school social worker. Dr. Brownie holds degrees from Yale University, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Memphis.

    49 min
  7. A Healthier Path for Teaching and Learning, with Haili Hughes

    11/13/2025

    A Healthier Path for Teaching and Learning, with Haili Hughes

    In this episode, Stephanie talks with Haili Hughes about why so many teachers feel worn down and what actually helps. Haili explains how shared curriculum and clear systems give teachers more time, more confidence, and more control of their work. They unpack the difference between agency and autonomy, why doing everything alone does not make teaching better, and how small shifts in practice can cut workload without cutting quality. They also dig into retention, lethal mutations, and the gap between research and everyday classroom life. About Haili HughesHaili Hughes is an educator, researcher, author, and Director of Professional Development across 11 schools in Merseyside, England. She has served as a commissioner on the Teaching Commission, writes widely about teacher retention and effective instruction, and is known for helping schools understand agency, curriculum alignment, and evidence informed practice. Before working in education, she was a national newspaper journalist, a path that shaped her interest in values, integrity, and teaching with purpose.

    38 min
  8. Student Agency and Design Thinking with Dr. Sabba Quidwai

    10/23/2025

    Student Agency and Design Thinking with Dr. Sabba Quidwai

    In this episode, Peter talks with Dr. Sabba Quidwai about how educators keep agency with AI. Sabba explains why design thinking is action, not PDFs, and how her SPARK interview turns vague goals into five day wins. They dig into teaching AI as habits and mindsets, the leap from desktop thinking to mobile thinking, what to automate, and what to stop doing. They also cover the skills schools need next, learn to learn, take initiative, listen well, and ship work. About Dr. Sabba QuidwaiDr. Quidwai is a former Apple Education executive, researcher, and course designer who helps schools and organizations use design thinking to shape their future with AI. She built a pioneering iPad program at USC, completed research on AI and design thinking in 2020, released a documentary in 2022, and teaches technology and media literacy at UC Irvine. You can learn more about Sabba’s work at designingschools.org

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Teach Smarter is a podcast for educators who are tired of initiatives that don't stick and PD that doesn't translate. Hosted by former classroom teachers Stephanie Dinnen and Peter Siner, each episode digs into the real challenges of teaching, coaching, and leading schools, from instructional practice to the tools and technology worth your time. The name says it all: work smarter without losing sight of what actually works in real classrooms.

Information

  • Creator
    Stephanie Dinnen and Pete Siner
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stephanie Dinnen and Pete Siner
  • Show Website
    Teach Smarter