In this powerhouse episode, sit down with Dr. Mark Covell—CTE advocate, educational leader, and Director of MBIT—to dig into the past, present, and future of Career & Technical Education (CTE). Together, we unpack the post-COVID surge in CTE interest, the erosion of outdated stigmas, and whyhands-on, real-world learning is not only relevant—it's essential.

🧠 What You'll Learn

• Why CTE is booming nationwide—and why it's not just about“the trades”
• How real-world learning and “learning by doing” boostsengagement and retention
• The critical difference between knowing about acareer and actually experiencing one
• How modern CTE programs prepare students for both the workforce and college
• Why some of the most in-demand, lucrative careers don’t require a traditional 4-year degree
• How CTE educators are leading the way in differentiated instruction, standards-based grading, and authentic assessment—without evencalling it that
• What traditional K-12 can (and should) steal from CTEprograms to improve learning for all kids

🛠️ Memorable Quotes

“When we said ‘college for all,’ we may have accidentallysaid ‘trades for none.’” – Mark Covell

“It’s not ‘just a plumber.’ It’s a skilled entrepreneurwho owns a home on the shore.” – Mark Covell

“Nobody looks at your transcript—they want to know if youcan do the job.” – Dan Thomas

“The number one visited website is Google. Number two?YouTube. We all love to learn by doing.” – Mark Covell

💬 Topics Covered

• CTE structure at MBIT and shared-time model
• How CTE combats the skills gap and boosts workforcereadiness
• Rewriting the narrative on blue-collar careers
• The evolving role of technology and robotics in skilledtrades
• Addressing the national teacher shortage through CTEhiring pipelines
• Why traditional education needs to get its hands dirty—in a good way

🔗 Connect with Dr. Mark Covelle

LinkedIn: Mark Covelle

Twitter/X: @mcovelle

Middle Bucks Institute of Technology: https://www.mbit.org

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Don’t miss an episode—subscribe to The Tech EdClubhouse wherever you get your podcasts and follow Dan at @CoachThomasTech

Episode Summary:
In this jam-packed episode, Dan sits down with blended learning expert, author, and teacher advocate Dr. Catlin Tucker to unpack the shift from teacher-led to student-led classrooms. They explore what this really looks like in practice, how to reimagine classroom workflows to avoid burnout, and how AI—when used wisely—can be a teacher’s best co-designer. They also dig into feedback loops, classroom design, and how educators can reclaim their time without sacrificing engagement or standards. Plus, Dr. Tucker drops details on her first-ever Summer Learning Kickoff—a PD opportunity you won’t want to miss.

Topics Covered:

• What “student-led” actually means (and doesn’t)

• The teacher burnout trap—and how to escape it

• Small workflow shifts with big impact

• Why feedback needs to be fast, not flawless

• How to use AI as a design partner, not a crutch

• What a student-centered classroom physically looks like

• Tools and strategies from station rotation to personalized AI tutors

• Details on Dr. Tucker’s Summer Learning Kickoff (June 2–6)

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Tucker’s site: CatlinTucker.com

• Dr. Tucker’s new book: Elevating Educational Design with AI

• SchoolAI: schoolai.com

Follow Dr. Tucker:

• X/Twitter: @Catlin_Tucker

• Instagram: @catlintucker

In this episode, I sit down with veteran educator and STEM advocate Chris Woods. You might know him from DailySTEM.com or The STEM Everyday Podcast — and if you don't yet, you're going to love the practical ideas he shares. Chris and I talk about how STEM is everywhere if you know where to look and how we can help all teachers (not just STEM teachers) build student confidence, curiosity, and durable skills.

We dig into everything from:

· Making STEM approachable, even if you're new to it

· The power of real-world examples to make learning stick

·Showing students the career opportunities right in their own backyard

· How trades and hands-on jobs are vital parts of the STEM world

· Helping kids build resilience through iteration and celebrating failure

· Why cross-curricular learning is more important than ever

Chris brings a ton of experience, humor, and heart to this conversation, and if you're looking for ideas to make learning more meaningful for your students, you're going to walk away with a bunch you can use tomorrow.

Topics We Discussed:

• How to make STEM accessible for every teacher
• Finding quick, real-world STEM connections to bring into any classroom
• Why every kid needs at least one class they love coming to each day
• The importance of trades, hands-on learning, and durable skills
• How to balance structured curriculum with playful, project-based learning
• Small ways to integrate STEM into English, history, math, and more
• Favorite classroom projects like Cardboard Pinball and Shoe Design challenges

Favorite Quotes from Chris:

“Life is cross-curricular. Education should be too.”

“Kids won’t always remember the worksheet... but they will remember the project where they failed, iterated, and finally succeeded.”

“STEM is not just about engineering or coding—it’s in nursing, trucking, welding, logistics. It's in the real world our students are walking into.”

Connect with Chris Woods:

🌎 Website: DailySTEM.com

🎙️ Podcast: The STEM Everyday Podcast (Available wherever you listen to podcasts)

📲 Twitter/X: @DailySTEM

Resources We Mentioned:

NASA STEM YouTube Channel – for quick, inspiring career videos

Daily STEM Newspaper – free monthly STEM articles for your classroom

Fusion 360 – student-friendly CAD software for project-based learning

Makey Makey – easy hands-on invention kits

My Takeaway for You:

✅ Find just one small way this week to show your students how STEM is part of their world — a news story, a hands-on activity, even a quick conversation.
✅ Let them struggle. Let them iterate. That’s where real learning (and confidence) happens.
✅And most importantly — keep it fun

🗓️ Episode Summary:
In this episode, I sat down with Aman Sahota from Factors Education, a Toronto-based startup doing some incredible work at the intersection of AI, equity, and education. We unpacked how their tools help automate lessonplanning, measure durable skills like critical thinking and empathy, and—most importantly—support teachers without asking them to start from scratch.

We talked about:

✅ What “durable skills” really mean—and why we need to stop calling them “soft”
✅How their AI platform creates experiential, standards-based lessons in minutes
✅The future of Portrait of a Graduate goals and how we can actually measure them
✅ Why Aman looks at life experiences when hiring—not justthe resume
✅ A deeper look at equity in education from both U.S. and Canadian perspectives
✅ How AI can act as a thought partner for teachers, students, and even parents
✅ Why building with empathy is at the heart of all great edtech

💡 One Big Idea:
AI isn’t here to replace us—it’s here to support us. When used the right way, it doesn’t just save time. It helps us focus on what matters most: building relationships, developing human skills, and making learning meaningful.

🎯 Quick Takeaways:

Portrait of a Graduate goals can finally be tracked—withoutadding to your workload

Personalized AI tools can help students express themselvesin ways they never could before

You don’t need to throw out what’s working—AI builds on what you already do

Kids will open up when they feel safe—and sometimes thatstarts with a chatbot

🔗 Resources & Links:

Try out Factors Education: https://www.factors.world

Connect with Aman on LinkedIn: [Search Aman O. Sahota]

Email Aman: aman@eiamplify.com

Follow Factors on BlueSky: @factorsEDU

Learn more: Canadian Council of Black Elder Trailblazers

📣 Call to Action:
If you haven’t tried AI yet, don’t wait. Start small. Ask it to help you write an email or tweak a lesson plan. It’s not about replacing what you do—it’s about helping you focus on the work that really matters. And if you liked this episode, share it and tag me using #TechEdClubhouse—I’d love to hearwhat you think

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with the one and only Frankie Baker — better known online as @BaconEdTech. Frankie shares her journey from classroom teacher to digital learning coach and now into her new role as Community Manager for Robolink, where she’s leading ambassador programs and helping educators bring drones and coding into their classrooms.

We talk all things EdTech, coaching strategies, AI tools for teachers, and how building authentic connections is the key to transforming teaching and learning. From personalized PD to embracing FOMO for good, Frankie drops practical advice for educators looking to lead, innovate, and grow.

Plus — hear the story behind the legendary "Bacon EdTech" name!

________________________________________

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Frankie’s journey from math teacher to digital learning coach to EdTech community leader

• The origin story of “Bacon EdTech” (it’s as good as you’d hope)

• What a Digital Learning Coach really does day-to-day

• How to support teachers without overwhelming them

• The power of personalized professional development

• How to respond to the dreaded “But we’ve always done it this way…”

• Our favorite AI tools for educators — and why it’s time to start paying for them

• Tips for organizing resources using Wakelet

• Why connecting with other educators online is a game-changer

• A sneak peek into Frankie’s new role with Robolink and how drones are engaging students in new ways

________________________________________

Tools & Resources Mentioned:

• Robolink: https://www.robolink.com/

• Wakelet: https://wakelet.com/@BaconEdTech

• MagicSchool AI: https://www.magicschool.ai/

• Brisk Teaching: https://www.briskteaching.com/

• Canva (AI features): https://www.canva.com/

• Perplexity AI: https://www.perplexity.ai/

________________________________________

Connect with Frankie Baker:

Twitter/X: @BaconEdTech

Wakelet Profile: https://wakelet.com/@BaconEdTech

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankie-baker/

Email: baconedtech@gmail.com

________________________________________

Connect with Dan Thomas:

Twitter/X: @CoachThomasTech

Blog: https://coachthomastech.com/blog

Podcast Archive: https://coachthomastech.com/podcast

________________________________________

Final Takeaway:

If you’re an educator passionate about helping people, building relationships, and creating learning experiences that matter — coaching might just be your next calling. And whether you’re teaching students or teaching teachers — keep playing, keep exploring, and never stop learning.

🎙️ Episode Title: Getting Out of Your Own Way – with Kathy Hart Wood

Hey friends, welcome back to The Tech Ed ClubhousePodcast! In this episode, I sat down with mental golf coach and all-around mindset ninja, Kathy Hart Wood. We explored the mental side of performance—not just in golf, but in the classroom, in life, and everything in between.

Kathy brings decades of experience from the golf world, butwhat really struck me is how transferable her lessons are to educators and students. We dug into how managing your mind and emotions is a life skill, not just a sports strategy.

Some highlights from our conversation:

⛳ Kathy’s journey from professional golfer to mindset coach
🧠 The “STEAR” model she uses to help athletes (and students!) manage thoughts and emotions
🐹 Why she compares our brains to hamster cages—and how to calm the chaos

🖐️ Simple 15-second sensory drills you can use to bring calm and clarity before a test or performance
💡Why learning to feel calm, certain, and confident beats chasing perfection every time
🧩How embracing the process (not just the outcome) leads to deeper learning and better results
🎯The danger of tying identity to a number—whether it's a golf score or a test grade

Whether you're a teacher, coach, golfer, or just a humantrying to get better every day, this episode is packed with practical mindset tools. Kathy’s wisdom had me nodding and taking notes the whole time.

Resources & Links:

🎧 Kathy’s podcast: Think Above Par – short, powerful episodes on mental game mastery

🌐 Visit her website and coaching programs at kathyhartwood.com

📲 Connect with Kathy on Instagram: @kathyhartwood (highly recommend following!)

Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to share this episode witha fellow teacher, coach, or parent who needs to hear it. And if you try out any of Kathy’s mindset tips with your students, let me know how it goes!

Guest: Heather Brantley (@HeatherTechEdu)
Host: Dan Thomas (@CoachThomasTech)

🔥 Episode Summary

In this episode, I sit down with the energetic andinspiring Heather Brantley, former math and CTE teacher turned teacher advocate at Curipod. From a surprise return to teaching after her son's second-grade independence moment to becoming a powerful voice for educatorsacross the globe, Heather shares her journey of rediscovering her passion for education—and how Curipod became a game-changer in her classroom and now in her career.

Together, we explore how Curipod uses AI toenhance student voice, classroom engagement, and teacher efficiency, while maintaining a strong focus on relationships, equity, and teacher empowerment.

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• Heather’s journey from stay-at-home mom to classroom rockstar to edtech advocate
• How Curipod empowers every student voice withinteractive and anonymous participation
• Why AI in education isn’t about replacement—it’s about enhancement and support
• How Curipod’s built-in feedback tools offer real-time,growth-oriented responses for students
• The power of student reflection, anonymity, andcollaborative learning
• How Curipod integrates with existing tools like Canva,Google Slides, and Chrome extensions
• New features, including ELL support, state-alignedtest prep, and asynchronous PD courses
• Why Curipod works for every subject—including math, STEM, and CTE
• Tips for getting started with Curipod, even if you'retech-reluctant
• 
  

🛠️ Tools & Features Mentioned

• Curipod’s AI Lesson Generator – Create a 45-minuteinteractive lesson in under 3 minutes
• Drawing + Whiteboard Tool – Let students show theirwork and get AI-generated feedback
• Built-in Voting, Polls, Word Clouds, and Reflections
• “Purify Slides” Feature – Upload your old lessons andtransform them into interactive experiences
• Standards-Aligned Content for Texas, California, NewYork, and more
• Instant Student Feedback and Growth Prompts
• Fake Name Login + Privacy Protection for safe andequitable participation

💬 Quotes Worth Sharing

“An exhausted teacher can’t support students at their fullpotential. Let us help you get your time—and your joy—back.” – Heather Brantley

“Curipod isn’t replacing teachers. It’s supporting them todo what they do best—with more creativity and connection.” – Dan Thomas

🔗 Links & Resources

🔗 Curipod.com

📧 Email Heather: heather@curipod.com

🐦 Follow Heather: @HeatherTechEdu

🐦 Follow Dan: @CoachThomasTech

💡 Try This!

👉 Want to see Curipod in action? Create a free account, generate a lesson with a single prompt, and experience what it’s like to get every student involved in seconds.

🔔 Subscribe & Review

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a felloweducator, leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review, and be sure tosubscribe so you never miss an episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast.

In this international edition of the Tech Ed Clubhouse, I amjoined by Jason Reagin, an experienced educator currently teaching in Beijing, China. From his roots in Georgia to international classrooms across Korea, Bermuda, and China, Jason shares his journey through design, technology, andthe evolving world of education.

With over two decades of experience in international IBschools, Jason dives deep into the power of inquiry-based learning, the flexibility and challenges of teaching in diverse global classrooms, and the importance of building soft skills and student agency through design tech education.

🔍 Topics Covered:

Jason’s global teaching journey: From Atlanta to China viaKorea and Bermuda

Transition from Industrial Arts to Design Tech

Inside look at the IB framework and what makes it unique

Why student voice and choice matter more than ever

How international schools handle assessment, project-based learning, and soft skills

The rising trend of gap years and what it means for student wellness

Candid thoughts on student mental health post-COVIDlockdowns

Embracing discomfort, cultural collisions, and growth indiverse classrooms

The importance of teacher-student relationships inthe AI era

Using LinkedIn and podcasting to connect with educatorsglobally

🎯 Jason’s Takeaways for Educators:

• Provide Student Choice: Let students show what theyknow in a way that suits them—video, presentation, debate, or design project.
• Shift the Role: Move from deliverer of content tofacilitator of inquiry. Ask more, tell less.
• Know Your Students: Especially in the age of AI,relationships are your best detection tool.
• Look Beyond Grades: Focus on growth,performance-based tasks, and holistic assessment.

📚 Resources & Links:

🎧 Jason’s Podcast: Design Cast

🔗 Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: Jason Reagin

📖 Jason’s Book: The Future of Learning – Designing Innovation Spaces that Transform Schools & Inspire Tomorrow’s Leaders

💬 Quote of the Episode:

“Inquiry-based teaching is in my DNA—but helping othersget comfortable with controlled chaos is where the real work begins.” – Jason Reagin

🚀 Connect with Us:

🎙️ Host: Dan Thomas – @CoachThomasTech

💻 Website: coachthomastech.com

📣 Hashtag: #TechEdClubhouse

👀 Like this episode?Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with your fellow educators. Let’s reimagine education—one conversation at a time.