Join host Cate Tolnai as she sits down with Dr. Sarah Thomas, founder of EduMatch, for a powerful conversation about building authentic educator communities, finding balance beyond hustle culture, and discovering that true impact comes from connection, not scale.

🎯 What You'll Discover:

From One Voxer Chat to Global Community 🌍

• How a simple conversation sparked the creation of EduMatch—now a global professional learning network with 200+ facilitators
• Why starting small and personal creates more meaningful connections than chasing viral growth
• The evolution from tweets and hashtags to a thriving ecosystem of educator collaboration

The Power of Professional Learning Networks 🤝

• How finding (or creating) your PLN can reignite your passion and prevent burnout
• Why connecting with educators who share your interests matters more than connecting with everyone
• The bridges that sustain us: mentorship, community, and authentic belonging

The Starfish Story Philosophy ⭐

• Why small acts of impact matter—you don't have to save everyone to make a difference
• How Sarah's 20-year education journey taught her that connection trumps scale every time
• The ripple effect of kindness and collaboration in educational spaces

Introducing: The Softer Life for Educators 🌸

• Sarah's newest project designed to help educators move beyond hustle culture
• Creating space for balance, wellness, and purpose in both your 9-to-5 and 5-to-9 life
• Why the education community needs permission to rest, reflect, and recharge

Leading With Empathy and Grace 💝

• Lessons from career pivots and the importance of giving grace in community work
• How to sustain authentic community without burning out
• Building belonging through empathy rather than perfection

Key Takeaways:

✨ Impact isn't measured by scale—it's measured by connection. Even small acts can change lives
✨ Your professional learning network is your lifeline—find your people or create the space where they can find you
✨ You can't pour from an empty cup—embracing a softer life isn't selfish, it's sustainable
✨ Every educator who shows up matters, even if you're only reaching one starfish at a time
✨ Leading with grace and authenticity builds stronger communities than perfectionism ever could

🎯 Perfect For:

• Educators feeling isolated or searching for their professional community
• Teachers struggling with work-life balance and hustle culture burnout
• Leaders looking to build authentic, sustainable educator networks
• Anyone who's ever wondered if their small contributions really matter
• Educators ready to embrace wellness and purpose alongside professional growth

Resources & Mentions:

📚 Sarah's Books on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01MU55ZMU
💻 EduMatch website - https://www.edumatch.org/
❤️ The Softer Life for Educators Community and PLN - https://www.skool.com/softerlife/about?ref=52f4ee7258ea41fb9980106265ebc327

Connect With Dr. Sarah Thomas:

Twitter/X: @sarahdateechur
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-jane-thomas/
Website: https://www.edumatch.org/sarahthomasphd

About Dr. Sarah Thomas:

Sarah Thomas, PhD is the founder of EduMatch, an organization that empowers educators to make global connections across common areas of interest. She has spoken and presented internationally, participated in the Technical Working Group to refresh the 2017 ISTE Standards for Educators, and is a recipient of the ISTE Making IT Happen award. Sarah is a co-author of the ISTE digital equity series, Closing the Gap, the winner of the 2023 Maryland Society for Educational Technology Outstanding Leader Using Technology award, and the 2023 Leader of the Year as designated by the American Consortium for Equity in Education.

This episode is a reminder that you don't need to reach millions to make a meaningful impact—you just need to show up authentically, connect deeply, and give yourself the grace to build a life that honors both your professional calling and your personal wellbeing. Whether you're searching for your educator tribe or ready to create a softer, more sustainable teaching life, Sarah's wisdom will inspire you to lead with heart.

#EduMatch #EducatorCommunity #TeacherWellness #ProfessionalLearning #TeacherBurnout #EdChat #PLN #EducatorBalance #TeachingLife #TheSofterLife #EducationalLeadership #TeacherSupport #WorkLifeBalance

Join host Cate Tolnai on The Bridge as she reconnects with Jay Greenlinger for an inspiring conversation about servant leadership, staying human in administration, and creating climates of care that transform schools! 🌟

🎯 What You'll Discover:

From Summer Camps to District Leadership 📚

• Jay's journey from teacher to dean to principal—and the surprising pivot when his superintendent asked him to lead the district's one-to-one device rollout
• Why he insisted on changing his title to "Director of Instructional Technology" (keeping learning, not just devices, at the center)
• The parallels between the "age of Google" and today's AI explosion—teachers once worried kids would "just Google the answers," now it's "they'll just ChatGPT it"
• How leading through the one-to-one rollout prepared him for understanding today's AI challenges in schools
• Navigating the avalanche of post-pandemic accountability: LCAP, ESSER, ELO-P, LRBG—and presenting massive plans at every board meeting
• Why environmental education isn't political—"Whether or not you agree that we're the cause, you have to agree that we're the solution"

The Art of Humanizing Leadership 🤝

• Jay's secret to hiring great people: reading people quickly and recognizing their "magic piece"
• Why he'd rather lift others up than receive accolades himself—watching people grow hits the same place in the heart as seeing students learn
• The power of "If you were me, what would you do?"—turning disagreements into collaborative problem-solving
• Working in "right-size districts" where you can drive six minutes to any school and build authentic relationships
• How to stay grounded as a leader: don't take teacher frustrations personally, build two-way communication, remember you're picking up dog poop at home too

✨ Key Takeaways:

💫 "Climate of care before outcomes" - Jay's districts prioritized student wellness, environmental education, and what truly mattered to kids—not just test scores
💫 The best way to receive a climate of care is to create it - Even if your district doesn't provide it, you can build it in your classroom, your grade level, your team
💫 Servant leadership works - Lifting others, mentoring future leaders, and getting out of the spotlight creates lasting impact
💫 Stay connected to the work - The farther leaders get from classrooms, the more disconnected they become—Jay's relationships with teachers keep him grounded
💫 Teachers are people too - This mentorship lesson from Leslie Heilbron guides everything Jay does: humanize all the work, extend grace, build authentic relationships
💫 Right-size matters - Working in districts where you can reach every school in six minutes allows for the authentic communication and relationships that transform culture

🔥 Perfect For:

• Educators considering (or avoiding) administration and wondering what the path really looks like
• Leaders struggling to balance accountability pressures with student-centered values
• Anyone trying to build or find a climate of care in their school or district
• Teachers feeling disconnected from district leadership and wondering why
• Leaders who want to stay human as they climb the ladder
• Anyone navigating the AI conversation in schools and looking for historical perspective

Connect with Jay:

🔗 Twitter/X: @JayGreenlinger
🔗 Instagram: @JayGreenlinger
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jay-greenlinger-ed-d-20bb97b/

This conversation is a masterclass in staying human while leading, building systems that last beyond funding cycles, and remembering that education is a humanistic industry—from the kids we serve to the teachers who are people too. Whether you're in the classroom or the district office, Jay's journey reminds us that creating care, not just receiving it, is where transformation begins.

#ClimateOfCare #ServantLeadership #EducationLeadership #InstructionalTechnology #MTSS #EnvironmentalEducation #TeacherSupport #AIinEducation #AuthenticLeadership #StayingHuman #DistrictLeadership #TheBridgePodcast

Join Cate Tolnai on The Bridge as she connects with Manny Curiel for a powerhouse conversation about community, authenticity, and measuring success in love! 💜

🎯 What You'll Discover:

From Immigrant Teacher to Global Community Builder 🌎
• How Manny came to the US not speaking English, earned a master's in education, and discovered his true calling wasn't in the classroom—it was connecting educators worldwide
• The bold move of texting a CEO to say "your company needs me" and creating his own role as Community Manager at Edpuzzle
• Why Manny personally packs care packages for each of his 50 global ambassadors

The "Measuring in Love" Philosophy ❤️
• The powerful story of how Manny challenged traditional success metrics
• Why emotions drive loyalty more than any sales pitch
• How one authentic conversation (and Mexican candy from a fanny pack) can change everything

Building Authentic Community 🤝
• Why Flipgrid's mentorship model shaped everything Manny does now
• The difference between having 50 deep connections versus thousands of surface-level contacts
• How to make teachers feel heard, seen, and valued (hint: it's not about the tool, it's about the person)

✨ Key Takeaways:

💫 "Help me understand" - The three words that have opened every door in Manny's career
💫 "We measure in love" - Success isn't always quantifiable, and that's okay
💫 Teachers don't need perfection - Students need to see you're human, that you mess up, that you learn alongside them
💫 Your superpower might be invisible to you - Manny's bilingualism, cultural connection, and authentic vulnerability are superpowers he didn't even recognize as a teacher
💫 The lone wolf struggle is real - Reach out, find your people, because isolation makes everything harder

🔥 Perfect For:

• Educators feeling isolated or unsure they're "good enough"
• Anyone interested in authentic community building (not just collecting followers)
• Teachers in Title I schools navigating multiple languages and cultures
• Leaders trying to measure the "unmeasurable" aspects of success
• Anyone who needs permission to do things differently and trust their gut

📖 Coming Soon:

Manny's book with Dave Burgess Consulting—think "Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul" meets "teaching in a discotech," featuring the epic chapter "Battle of the Sequin: Heart versus Data"

Connect with Manny:

Twitter/X: @MannyDiscoTech
Instagram: @MannyDiscoTech
Find him at conferences—he's the one with the fanny pack full of Mexican candy and the biggest heart in EdTech

This conversation is a masterclass in authentic leadership, the power of vulnerability, and why the best marketing isn't marketing at all—it's caring deeply about people and showing up with your whole self. Grab your tissues and get ready to feel seen, valued, and inspired to bring more heart to your work.

#EdpuzzleCommunity #MeasuringInLove #TeacherSupport #EdTech #AuthenticLeadership #CommunityBuilding #TitleOneTeachers #BilingualEducation #TeachWithHeart #BetterTogether

• Join host Cate Tolnai for a powerful conversation with three education veterans who've weathered 20+ years of educational transformation together. Meet Dr. Toutoule Ntoya, Neeraj (Nick) Satyal, and Dr. Amarpal Khanna - three friends whose bond was forged in the early charter school movement and whose friendship continues to drive innovation in education today.

In this episode, discover how these educators:

• Started as "true believers" in the charter movement at ICEF Public Schools in early 2000s LA
• Witnessed the evolution from college-prep-focused reform to embracing CTE and hands-on learning
• Navigate today's challenges with AI, digital natives, and rapidly changing technology
• Support each other through career pivots and continued growth

🎯 Key Highlights:

• The reality of being in LA's charter movement before it was recognized as a "movement"
• How CTE programs are revolutionizing opportunities for Black and brown students
• Why 21st century students are outpacing 20th century educational systems
• The critical importance of access to technology and creative tools in underserved communities
• How dual enrollment is fast-tracking students through traditional educational pipelines

🔥 Raw Insights:

• Toutoule's near-exit from education and the pivotal moment that kept him in
• How digital natives are teaching educators about technology innovation
• The gap between educational research and classroom implementation
• Why "finding your people" is essential for educator longevity

💡 Wisdom for Educators:
"Find your people. Stick with your people... Like a screwdriver is horrible at being a hammer. A hammer is horrible at being a screwdriver. So you gotta find your thing. Whatever your thing is, you'll be the best." - Dr. Toutoule Ntoya

This conversation celebrates the power of sustained friendship, professional curiosity, and the belief that education can be transformative regardless of the system. Their story spans from the hopeful early days of charter schools to today's complex landscape of educational equity, technology integration, and workforce preparation.

Connect with Dr Toutoule Ntoya, Dr Amarpal Khanna and Nick Satyal

🔗 Toutoule on Bluesky
🔗 Amarpal on LinkedIn
🔗 Nick on LinkedIn

💻 Nick’s Website

#education #CharterSchools #CTE #DualEnrollment #EducationalEquity #MakerEducation #DigitalNatives #AIinEducation #TeacherRetention #EducationalInnovation #CommunityCollege #STEAM

Join host Cate Tolnai as she sits down with educator Wezi Thindwa for an inspiring conversation about global identity, overcoming public speaking fears, and finding your path from classroom to edtech leadership.

🎯 What You'll Discover:

The Global Educator Journey 🌍

• How growing up across three continents (Malawi, England, California, Virginia) shaped Wezi's approach to building inclusive communities
• Why regular summers "back home" in Malawi kept cultural identity alive despite constant moves
• The dinner table conversations about international development that planted seeds for a service-centered career

From Terror to Triumph in Public Speaking 📢

• The raw story of literally running off stage during college presentations due to crippling anxiety
• How a professor-dean-parent intervention became the turning point for facing fears
• Wezi's practical toolkit for managing keynote nerves: pockets for shaking hands, dark clothes, internalization over memorization

The Classroom Teacher Who Said "Challenge Accepted" 🎯

• Why everyone told her NOT to teach third grade in Virginia as a first-year teacher (high-stakes testing, overwhelming standards)
• The "scissors cutting" lesson that became a core memory about focusing on what truly matters in learning
• How Mary Plank, her cooperating teacher, modeled equity-focused instruction with refugee and immigrant students

The Unconventional Path to Adobe 🚀

• How being "seen" by leaders led to unexpected opportunities, from instructional coach to tech specialist to culturally responsive instruction
• The Tanya Berth connection that bridged classroom teaching to edtech leadership
• Why tunnel vision on serving your current community creates visibility for future opportunities

Professional Development That Actually Develops 💡

• The brutal truth about teachers signing in and leaving PD sessions
• How to design feedback systems that get honest responses instead of "safe" platitudes
• Why teachers deserve to feel professionally developed, not just compliance-trained

Key Takeaways:
✨ "Every student gets the optimal learning experience" - Equity means meeting each learner where they are, regardless of English proficiency, fine motor skills, or background
✨ Community building isn't optional - When you've felt "othered," creating belonging becomes a survival skill that translates to leadership strength
✨ Passion can follow competence - You don't have to feel called to something to excel at it; sometimes commitment creates passion through growth
✨ Failure is data, not defeat - From failing teacher certification exams to flopped program launches, setbacks become stepping stones with the right leadership support
✨ Speaking your name correctly matters - Small acts of inclusion create the foundation for larger equity work

Connect With Wezi:

🔗 Wezi on TikTok - @misswezi
🔗 Wezi on Instagram - @wezirthindwa
🔗 Wezi on LinkedIn - @wezirthindwa
💻 Wezi’s Website - https://dot.cards/wezi

We apologize for the audio quality issues in this video.

• Join Cate Tolnai for a powerful conversation with Jornéa Armant (@SavvyEducator), an educator and global education innovator who transformed setbacks into stepping stones and helped shape the future of educational technology.

✨ In this episode, discover how Jornéa:

• Pivoted from pre-med to education after a biology class reality check that changed everything
• Accidentally met the Flipgrid founder at her own conference presentation and landed a startup role
• Co-created what became Google's global coaching program through the Dynamic Learning Project
• Launched "Schools Out Cocktails" - blending education insights with craft cocktails after getting laid off
• Now builds AI programs for Google's global education impact team

🎯 Key Highlights:

• The Japanese Ikigai philosophy that guides every career decision - finding where passion, purpose, profession, and payment intersect
• Why "the goal isn't to leave the classroom - it's to make the classroom better"
• How AI serves as a thinking partner to bridge gaps between visionaries and detail-oriented execution
• The mindset shift: viewing extra responsibilities as preparation for bigger opportunities ahead
• Building authentic networks through genuine community investment, not transactional connections

💡 Jornéa's Wisdom for Educators:

"Your network is your net worth. Pour into other people, and opportunities will find you. When you align passion with preparation, magic happens when opportunity arrives."

Three Daily Words to Live By: Love, Grow, Inspire

🌈 The Rainbow Challenge: Start or end each day identifying the positive moments - your personal "rainbows" - to build resilience armor against daily challenges.

This conversation celebrates authentic purpose-driven leadership, turning career pivots into growth opportunities, and the power of community in sustaining educator joy and impact.

Connect with Jornéa

🔗 Jornéa on X/Twitter

🔗 Jornéa on Instagram

🔗 Jornéa on LinkedIn

💻 Jornéa’s Website

#EducatorJourney #EdTech #FlipgridStory #GoogleEducation #CareerPivot #TeacherLeadership #AIinEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducationalInnovation #TeacherInspiration #TheBridgePodcast