Nikole Blanchard, Director of Innovation and Technology at The Dunham School, joins the podcast to discuss her leadership philosophy. She shares how to foster an approachable, innovative culture through project-based learning, providing individualized professional learning for faculty, and empowering campus champions to help spread new ideas and tools effectively.

• The Dunham School
• Apple Distinguished Schools:
• ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)
• ASCD
• SAMR Model
• CoSpaces Edu
• Canva

Presented by Blackbaud

Dr. Alison Lee, Chief R&D Officer of The Rithm Project, joins the podcast to discuss the collision between the youth loneliness epidemic and the rise of AI. She shares research on why young people are turning to AI for connection and explains her five principles for "pro-social AI," offering a hopeful framework for nurturing human relationships in a tech-saturated world.

• The Rithm Project, Alison’s substack
• The Rithm Project on LinkedIn
• Five Principles for Prosocial AI, how to design (and choose) technology that strengthens human connection
• Deepfakes to Deep Trust: Navigating AI's Impact on Connection, Learning, and Belonging, slide deck from presentation at ASCD Annual Conference 2025
• Spark Toolkit, resource from The Rithm Project designed for teens and young adults to create spaces, tools, and activities that help young people develop meaningful connections with others
• Character AI, platform that allows users to interact with AI-powered chatbots that can be customized to have unique personalities and behaviors

Presented by Claro

Rafael Cordero, Director of IT and Facilities at The Riviera Ridge School, joins the podcast to discuss his unique dual role. He shares how a background in project management and cybersecurity prepared him to manage everything from network infrastructure to campus operations, and how he aligns these efforts to create a future-ready learning environment.

• Riviera Ridge School
• Rafael’s LinkedIn profile
• NYSAIS Education, Information, and Technology (NEIT), conference produced by New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS)
• JAMF, enterprise Apple product management and security
• ATLIS Leadership Institute (ALI), education and networking program designed to prepare and support technology leaders in independent schools
• Photos of Christina’s daughter’s “new teacher supplies haul”, Photo 1 | Photo 2

Presented by Claro

Dr. Marquis Scott, Assistant Head of School at The Lawrenceville School, joins the podcast to share his remarkable career journey from CTO to senior administration. He discusses how the problem-solving and systems-thinking mindset from IT are transferable to roles in HR, communications, and strategic planning, offering actionable advice for aspiring tech leaders.

• The Lawrenceville School
• The First 90 Days, by Michael Watkins; book with strategies for conquering the challenges of transitions
• NAIS Article - Systems Thinking (Marquis Scott)
• Book Marquis is reading this summer - - Shift by Ethan Kross
• Marquis' doctorate thesis - The Role of System Thinking Tools in Enhancing Diversity Directors' Insight into Employee of Color Retention Rates: A Phenomenological Study

Presented by Claro

Best-selling author Dr. Catlin Tucker joins the podcast to discuss her journey from a teacher in crisis to a leading voice in educational technology. She unpacks the core principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and makes a powerful case for student-led learning, exploring how AI can serve as an indispensable partner for designing equitable and engaging experiences that combat teacher burnout.

• CatlinTucker.com, Catlin’s website
• Catlin’s LinkedIn profile
• Education Reimagined: Student-led Learning | Dr. Catlin Tucker | TEDxFolsom
• CUE (Computer-Using Educators)
• The UDL Guidelines from CAST
• Google's NotebookLM
• SchoolAI
• Class Companion
• CK-12 Foundation

Presented by Claro

Rachael Rachau and Patty Sinkler of the Collegiate School join the podcast to discuss their innovative shift from digital citizenship to a broader digital health and wellness curriculum. They share how using anonymized student screen-time data sparks powerful conversations and how a new phone-free policy has delightfully increased student engagement.

• From Digital Citizenship to Digital Health and Wellness, slide deck from presentation at ATLIS Annual Conference 2025
• Example digital health and wellness curriculum for 9th grade, lessons and activities
• Center for Humane Technology, organization leveraging public messaging, policy, and tech expertise to enact change in the tech ecosystem and beyond
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Devorah Heitner
• Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
• Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World by Devorah Heitner
• Common Sense Media
• Google's Teachable Machine
• Photos of Christina's daughter's "teacher supplies haul" - Photo1 | Photo2

In this episode, we talk with Anne Sena, Director of Operations and Technology at St. David’s School. Anne shares her compelling journey from a fast-paced corporate career at Cisco to impactful leadership in an independent school, offering key insights on managing institutional change, building trust with faculty, and navigating an expanding technology role.

• St. David’s School
• Anne’s LinkedIn Profile
• ATLIS / NAIS AI Collaboration Resources
• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, book by sisters Emily and Amelia Nagoski
• Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life, book by Bridget Schultz
• ATLIS Leadership Institute, education and networking program designed to prepare and support technology leaders in independent schools as they grow into their positions and expand their influence.
• Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included), by Pooja Lakshmin, M.D.
• Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time, by Brigid Schulte
• The Secret of My Success, 80’s film with strong female character in corporate environment

This week, we're joined by David Boxer, TLIS, CIO of The Blake School. David shares his intentional approach to building leadership capacity within his technology team and fostering a culture of collaboration. He details the school’s methodical, PLC-driven strategy for developing critical AI literacy and discusses the growing role of data governance.

• The Blake School
• Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (TLIS) certification
• Center for Institutional Research in Independent Schools (CIRIS), an organization to support the work of institutional research practitioners as they help schools collect, analyze, and operationalize data in support of their mission
• Breakthrough Collaborative
• Asana Project Management
• Apple Distinguished Educator Program
• Google for Education Certified Innovator Program
• 28 Years Later, zombie film