The "Closed" AI Model in Special Education, with Dr. Angie Balsley Accelerating Education Podcast 🎙️ Guest: Angie Balsley, Ed.D. CEO of Unified Leadership UnifiedLeadership.org with host Richard Capone

Episode P2E2, Feb 19, 2026 Sponsored by Let's Go Learn https://www.letsgolearn.com

Summary

In this episode of Accelerating Education, Richard Capone interviews Dr. Angie Balsley, CEO of Unified Leadership, discussing her extensive background in special education and the challenges faced in the field. They explore the importance of relationships and systems in special education, the innovative FAPE Compass tool designed to assist educators, and the future of special education leadership. Dr. Balsley shares insights on the impact of AI in education and the positive feedback from districts using FAPE Compass.

Takeaways

— Dr. Balsley's background in special education is deeply personal and rooted in inclusive practices. — Strong relationships are foundational to effective special education leadership. — The educator shortage is a significant challenge in special education. — FAPE Compass is an AI tool designed to provide instant answers to special education questions. — The tool enhances legal literacy for educators in real-time. — FAPE Compass is tailored to district-specific needs and procedures. — AI can help reduce the cognitive load on special education directors. — Feedback from districts indicates increased confidence and efficiency with FAPE Compass. — The tool aims to empower staff, reducing the need for directors to attend every meeting. — The future of special education may see more streamlined systems through tools like FAPE Compass.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Angie Balsley 01:06 Shaping Philosophy in Special Education 02:54 Challenges in Special Education Systems 04:35 Innovations in Special Education Leadership 06:21 Introducing FAPE Compass 10:00 The Future of FAPE Compass in Special Education 12:32 Feedback and Success Stories from Districts

#SpecialEducation, #LetsGoLearn, #AIinEducation, #EdTech, #FAPE

Accelerating Education Podcast 🎙️ Angela Miller, Special Education Teacher, Case Manager, and SSD Coordinator Carlsbad Municipal School District, New Mexico with host Richard Capone

Episode P2E1, Feb 19, 2026 Sponsored by Let's Go Learn https://www.letsgolearn.com

Stop letting paperwork lead to burnout! Discover how Angela Miller is using the Airma AI Assistant to revolutionize the IEP process and reclaim the "heart" of special education.

In this episode of Accelerating Education, host Richard Capone interviews Angela Miller, a special education teacher, case manager, and SSD coordinator in the Carlsbad Municipal School District in New Mexico. Angela shares her powerful personal journey from being a student with a reading disability to becoming a "Jill of all trades" educator motivated by her own son's autism diagnosis.

We explore the "solution-based" strategies Angela uses to drive student success, including the use of Airma AI, an innovative educational technology tool. She explains how AI in education allows her to create highly individualized education programs (IEP) and progress reports with fidelity, while maintaining data privacy and FERPA compliance.

Whether you are interested in social emotional learning (SEL), effective professional learning communities (PLC), or how to combat teacher burnout, this conversation offers a roadmap for meeting the needs of the "whole child".

Takeaways —Angela's personal experience with special education shaped her career. —Empathy is crucial in building rapport with students. —Teachers often face burnout due to lack of support and resources. —Collaboration among educators enhances student outcomes. —AI can be a powerful tool for personalized learning. —Professional development should focus on the whole child, not just academics. —Finding one's 'why' can help combat teacher burnout. —Data-driven decisions can improve educational practices. —Students should be involved in their own learning processes. —Education is a community effort, requiring collaboration and support.

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction to Angela Miller

0:49 - Angela’s personal journey: From student to teacher

1:42 - A mother’s motivation: Navigating an autism diagnosis

3:56 - Combating teacher burnout with empathy and SEL

7:19 - Collaboration: Building a bridge between SpEd and GenEd

10:48 - How Airma AI is transforming IEPs and data collection

12:04 - The Future of AI in Education

14:38 - Addressing AI privacy and FERPA compliance

17:15 - The future of AI: Giving students autonomy over their data

19:59 - Words of wisdom for hardworking educators 


Featured Resources

Let's Go Learn: Diagnostic data platform for DORA (reading) and ADAM (math) assessments.

Airma AI: The AI assistant helping teachers individualize instruction.

#SpecialEducation, #LetsGoLearn, #AIinEducation, #EdTech

Teaching Kindness Through Animal Welfare with Richard Verlander Accelerating Education Podcast 🎙️ Richard Verlander, Board Member Goochland Pet Lovers in Richmond, VA with host Richard Capone

Episode P1E10, Oct 30, 2025 Sponsored by Let's Go Learn https://www.letsgolearn.com

Summary

In this episode, Richard Capone interviews Richard Verlander, a founding board member of Goochland Pet Lovers, an animal shelter in Richmond, Virginia. They discuss the transformation of the shelter, the importance of kindness and empathy in education, and the innovative 'Teaching Kindness' initiative that integrates animal welfare into school curriculums. Verlander shares insights on building community partnerships and the impact of their programs on children's behavior and social skills. The conversation highlights the power of animals to unite people and foster positive change in society.

Takeaways

Richard Verlander shares his unexpected journey into animal welfare. Goochland Pet Lovers raised $1.5 million to improve their shelter. The 'Teaching Kindness' program uses animal welfare to teach empathy. Community partnerships are essential for program sustainability. The curriculum is designed to be repeatable and teachable. Animal welfare can help address bullying in schools. Volunteers play a crucial role in the success of the shelter. The program culminates in a visit to the animal shelter. Animals have a unique ability to unite diverse groups of people. There is a need for more positive stories in the media.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Goochland Pet Lovers 02:57 The Journey of Transformation 05:58 Teaching Kindness: A New Initiative 09:02 Building Community Partnerships 11:52 Curriculum Development and Implementation 15:06 The Impact of Animal Welfare on Behavior 17:57 Conclusion and Future Aspirations

Teaching Kindness Program https://www.goochlandpetlovers.com/education

Keywords #TeachingKindness, #AnimalWelfare, #EducationPodcast, #GoochlandPetLovers, #EmpathyInEducation, #letsgolearn , #behavioralskills , #AnimalShelter, #RichmondVA, #BullyingPrevention