Jethro Jones interviews Ben Downey, founder of Big Nest, about the vital role and challenges of parent teacher groups (PTAs/PTGs) in schools. They discuss how these groups are essential for building strong school communities but often face issues with organization, communication, and fundraising. Ben explains how his experience managing a local parent group inspired him to create Big Nest—a platform designed to simplify and modernize the management and fundraising efforts of parent teacher groups. The conversation highlights the unique needs of school-based nonprofits, the importance of preserving institutional knowledge, and how Big Nest streamlines processes like donations, record-keeping, and event organization to make parent involvement easier and more effective.

• How Big Nest got started.
• Parent teacher groups are chaotic by nature
• Fundraising can and should be easier.
• Podcast about Software
• Community to get people together
• School and parent groups are intertwined
• Need to have systems and methods to keep track of things

About Ben Downey

Ben Downey is the founder of Big Nest, a platform that helps parent-teacher groups build stronger, more connected school communities. He’s been working with PTGs for the past six years, helping them modernize how they communicate, fundraise, and organize.

Beyond the platform, Ben helps open lines of communication between parent groups so they can share best practices and avoid reinventing the wheel every year.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Ben started his career in Chicago before settling in Spokane, Washington, where he lives with his wife and three kids.

LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.com

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Host Jethro Jones talks with Mike Caldwell, founder of LinkedLeaders, about building a platform that connects school leaders with mentors and peers for real-time support. They discuss the challenges of school leadership, the value of personalized coaching, and how technology and community can help educators grow.

LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.com

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Welcome to Transformative Principal! In this thought-provoking solo episode, host Jethro Jones explores how artificial intelligence has revealed the weaknesses in our current education system—and why it’s time to refocus on real learning.

Episode Highlights:

• Jethro shares candid reflections from his AI Leader Office Hours, challenging the status quo in education.
• He explains how schools have been designed for adult convenience, making them easy targets for AI automation, and why this approach fails students.
• The episode critiques formulaic assignments, standardized tests, and grading systems that prioritize efficiency over genuine learning.
• Jethro advocates for a shift toward student-centered learning, emphasizing the importance of real audiences, authentic work, and developing “organic skills” like critical thinking, collaboration, and relationship-building.
• He shares personal stories from his teaching career, illustrating the power of giving students agency and meaningful projects.
• The discussion covers the limitations of AI—what it can and can’t do—and why human skills and empathy remain irreplaceable.
• Jethro calls for educators to rethink assignments, assessments, and the very purpose of school, urging a move away from compliance and toward relevance and flourishing for every student.

Key Takeaways:

• Schools must prioritize learning and personal growth over convenience and test scores.
• Assignments should have real audiences and authentic purposes, not just serve as boxes to check.
• AI can handle repetitive, formulaic tasks, but human connection, empathy, and creativity are essential for true education.
• Educators should focus on helping students become flourishing human beings, not just good test-takers.

LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.com

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.