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🎉 Season 2 Finale!

We couldn’t close out this season without tackling one of the biggest conversations in education today: digital equity. In this electrifying final episode of School on a Mission, we sit down with Cinthia Diaz, Director of Community Impact at Oakland Undivided, to unpack what it really means to close the digital divide—and why access to technology is more than a convenience… it’s a necessity.

From launching a city-wide coalition during the chaos of the pandemic to driving Chromebooks into the hands of students in need, Cinthia reveals how Oakland Undivided went beyond buzzwords to build a model of equity that works. We talk about internet deserts, real-world tech barriers, and the game-changing power of community collaboration. You’ll hear how school leaders can leverage data, coalitions, and funding opportunities to make access universal and sustainable—especially for students navigating housing instability or tech literacy gaps.

Plus, Cinthia shares the little-known secret that could reduce your district’s hotspot costs by 80%, the role of phone banking in family engagement, and why digital inclusion is about so much more than logging in.

✨ This episode is both a celebration and a call to action. If you’re passionate about creating schools where every student has a seat—and a screen—at the table, this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

🚀 Welcome to the School on a Mission Podcast! 🎙️

Hosted by Andrew McPeak and Gina Watts, this podcast is for educators, school leaders, and change-makers who believe in building schools where leadership, character, and social-emotional growth matter just as much as academics. If you believe education should inspire, equip, and empower the next generation—you’re in the right place!

Each episode features engaging conversations, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help you create a school culture where students thrive. From leadership principles and community engagement to AI in education and social media strategy, we tackle the most pressing topics in modern education.

🎧 New episodes drop regularly—don’t miss out!

💡 Connect with us at schoolonamissionpodcast.com

📲 Follow us on social media & join the conversation!

🔹 The School on a Mission Podcast is produced by Growing Leaders, powered by the Maxwell Leadership Foundation.

Send us a text

In today’s episode, we’re joined by the vibrant and insightful Maisha Wilder, an educator who’s spent her career helping students—of every age—find their voice and thrive. Maisha offers a fresh, grounded perspective on the role of technology in education, urging teachers to treat it not as the star of the show, but as the costume that supports the performance.

From working with elementary students to guiding college transfer hopefuls, Maisha shares practical tools, creative analogies, and a heartfelt reminder that the most essential element in the classroom isn’t a device—it’s the teacher. Whether you’re struggling with tech integration or looking for a way to deepen digital citizenship in your classroom, this conversation is for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Tech as a tool, not the teacher: Why technology should support, not replace, human connection in the classroom.

• Digital safety & stewardship: How to guide students toward mindful, ethical tech usage—starting in elementary school.

• Accessible innovation: Strategies for making classroom tech inclusive and equitable for all learners.

• Digital dilemmas: Creative ways to engage students in conversations about online behavior and real-world consequences.

• Authentic Intelligence > Artificial Intelligence: A new definition of AI that centers the educator’s unique influence and style.

🚀 Welcome to the School on a Mission Podcast! 🎙️

Hosted by Andrew McPeak and Gina Watts, this podcast is for educators, school leaders, and change-makers who believe in building schools where leadership, character, and social-emotional growth matter just as much as academics. If you believe education should inspire, equip, and empower the next generation—you’re in the right place!

Each episode features engaging conversations, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help you create a school culture where students thrive. From leadership principles and community engagement to AI in education and social media strategy, we tackle the most pressing topics in modern education.

🎧 New episodes drop regularly—don’t miss out!

💡 Connect with us at schoolonamissionpodcast.com

📲 Follow us on social media & join the conversation!

🔹 The School on a Mission Podcast is produced by Growing Leaders, powered by the Maxwell Leadership Foundation.

Send us a text

In this forward-looking episode, we sit down with Joe Fatheree—Illinois Teacher of the Year, global educator, and AI researcher—to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of learning. With over 35 years of classroom experience and a deep understanding of emerging tech, Joe shares what schools need to know right now about integrating AI effectively and ethically.

He unpacks both the possibilities and the pitfalls—from helping students with disabilities build thriving careers to protecting human connection in an increasingly digital world. You’ll hear how AI is helping teachers reduce burnout, personalize learning, and spark innovation—and why this moment might be the most important turning point in modern education.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• AI in the classroom: Why the goal isn’t to replace teachers—but to empower them.

• Academic integrity in an AI world: How co-authorship, not copy-paste, can teach accountability.

• Practical applications: From writing support to quantum physics card games, AI can enhance learning across subjects.

• Responsible integration: How schools can build policies, create “sandboxes,” and engage early adopters.

• The human side: How we preserve empathy, connection, and SEL in an age of intelligent machines.

🚀 Welcome to the School on a Mission Podcast! 🎙️

Hosted by Andrew McPeak and Gina Watts, this podcast is for educators, school leaders, and change-makers who believe in building schools where leadership, character, and social-emotional growth matter just as much as academics. If you believe education should inspire, equip, and empower the next generation—you’re in the right place!

Each episode features engaging conversations, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help you create a school culture where students thrive. From leadership principles and community engagement to AI in education and social media strategy, we tackle the most pressing topics in modern education.

🎧 New episodes drop regularly—don’t miss out!

💡 Connect with us at schoolonamissionpodcast.com

📲 Follow us on social media & join the conversation!

🔹 The School on a Mission Podcast is produced by Growing Leaders, powered by the Maxwell Leadership Foundation.