We hear, frequently, that the global education system is broken, and as a result, we spend billions of dollar trying to fix it. But the K-12 system isn’t actually broken at all – it’s working exactly as it was designed, 100 years ago, and it’s obsolete. So in Learning Unboxed, we will have a conversation about teaching, learning, and the future of work; we will reimagine, rethink, and redesign our educational system.
In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Garrett Smiley, founder and CEO of Sora Schools, to explore how education can move beyond delivering content and give students meaningful reasons to learn. Garrett shares how Sora combines online learning with strong relationships, interdisciplinary projects, and opportunities for students to connect academic concepts to real-world interests and…
In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Mike Caldwell, founder and CEO of LinkedLeaders, a platform designed to help K-12 school leaders find meaningful support when they feel isolated, overwhelmed, or stretched thin. Mike shares how a simple Facebook post offering support to struggling principals quickly revealed a much bigger need for accessible, personalized mentorship. Together,…
In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Dr. Manfred Stapff, physician, researcher, author of Real-World Evidence Unveiled, and host of The Real-World Evidence Perspective. Together, we explore how educators can help students navigate a world overflowing with information, misinformation, statistics, and AI-generated answers. Dr. Stapff shares practical ways to teach learners how to…
In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Laura Tavares, Executive Director of the WPS Institute, to explore how learning ecosystems can help schools become more connected, relevant, and student-centered. Laura shares how WPS works alongside public schools, districts, and community partners to create real-world learning experiences that build agency, belonging, and purpose. We look at…
In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Leah Ellis, founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit helping children ages six to 17 build real business, financial, and leadership skills through hands-on experience. Leah shares how watching her own daughter start a business at four years old sparked a bigger vision for helping children lead, create, and solve problems right…
In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Amy Besida, Chief Program Officer at Embarc, a Chicago-based organization helping schools bring learning beyond the classroom through real-world experiences, reflection, and community connection. Amy shares how Embarc grew from two teachers taking students outside their neighborhood into a full school-day model rooted in belonging, agency, and…
In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Betsy Potash, former English teacher, curriculum creator, and host of the Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. We explore how teachers can move away from teacher-centered instruction and create classrooms where students have more voice, choice, and ownership over their learning. Betsy shares practical strategies that help make that shift feel…
In this milestone 300th episode of Learning Unboxed, we celebrate with Ashley Price, Director of Student Experiences and All Things Summer and Out-of-School Programming at the PAST Foundation. Together, we explore how immersive, student-centered learning helps young people build confidence, discover new interests, and connect classroom skills to real-world challenges in meaningful ways. We also…
In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Hillary Summerbell, founder and CEO of Summerbell, a literacy technology company transforming how visual dyslexic learners experience reading. Drawing from her own struggles, Hillary shares how rethinking text layout through her positional reading arc can reduce overwhelm, improve comprehension, and build confidence. We explore how a simple…
In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Keith Parker, Colina Bartlett, Tiffany Dudley, and Kelly Cowell from the ECPPS Microschool in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Together, they share the story behind launching an innovative public microschool designed to reimagine what learning can look like for today’s students. With small cohorts, flexible learning environments, and a strong…