In this episode, we sit down with Tui T. Sutherland, bestselling author of the Wings of Fire series, for a rich conversation about creativity, writing, world-building, empathy, and storytelling for young readers.

Tui shares how play, curiosity, and even dogs can support focus and imagination, why world-building starts with better questions, and how writers can balance community feedback with their own creative vision. She also reflects on the role of empathy, diversity, and self-exploration in storytelling, offering practical insights for aspiring writers, educators, and anyone interested in how stories shape young minds.

This conversation explores the creative process behind building immersive fictional worlds, developing memorable characters, and staying grounded in joy and curiosity while writing. Whether you are a fan of children's literature, interested in the craft of writing, or looking for inspiration around imagination and creative confidence, this episode offers plenty to take away.

00:00 How Dogs Support Creativity and Focus 02:40 World-Building That Makes Stories Feel Real 05:23 Balancing Reader Feedback and Creative Vision 07:56 Community, Empathy, and Representation in Storytelling 10:58 Writing as Therapy and Self-Exploration 14:30 Advice for Aspiring Writers 17:11 Imagining Worlds Through Play and Curiosity

Resources

• Wings of Fire Series by Tui T. Sutherland — https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/tui-t-sutherland/

• Scholastic — https://www.scholastic.com/

• Tui T. Sutherland on Twitter / X — https://twitter.com/tuitweets

In this episode, we sit down with beloved children's book author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds to explore how educators can ignite creativity and self-discovery in young learners. Peter shares why a single question can transform how we teach, and why imagination and dreaming big aren't luxuries but essentials.

What We Cover:

• How teachers activate creativity through authentic, feeling-driven questions
• Encouraging kids to explore many interests instead of choosing just one path
• The vital role of imagination and dreaming big in personal growth

Chapters

00:00 The Impact of Educators on Creativity 05:33 Dreaming Big: Navigating Identity and Aspirations

What to win your copy of this book?

Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to enter the give-away.

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Deborah Goodrich Royce, author of literary psychological thrillers and a former actor, unpacks how she builds tension without forcing the outline. You will hear how sensory observation from her New York Botanical Garden work feeds scene-level detail, why she prefers a "reveal" that feels earned over a twist that feels gimmicky, and how an actor's training translates into characters with layered motives and believable self-deception.

What you will learn

• How to pace a psychological thriller so the reader feels pulled forward, not pushed.

• Character-first plotting: letting voice, backstory, and contradictions shape the turns.

• Designing "good reveals" and planting signals that pay off cleanly later.

Key topics

• Botanical observation as a storytelling skill (attention, pattern, detail).

• Character development through lived experience and emotional memory.

• Organic plot development: earning twists through setup, not shock value.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Deborah's background 01:00 Why the New York Botanical Garden matters to her creative life 01:57 Creative growth through lived experience 03:09 The Lincoln quote and what it signals in the book 03:37 Identity, deception, and what thrillers let us examine 04:55 Using "signals" from real life to build believable turns 05:46 The actor's lens on role, emotion, and subtext 07:10 Writing thrillers in a fast-paced media environment 07:48 "Organic" plotting: how reveals get earned 09:18 Creative community and collaboration 12:31 Openings, pacing, and keeping readers in the scene 14:59 Starting a new project: practical tools and habits 17:30 Visualizing the story with notes and systems 18:09 Readers, book clubs, and what she learns from conversations

Want to learn with Tricia this April?

Learn more:

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In this conversation, author Steve Berry discusses his deep-rooted love for history, the intricate process of crafting thrillers that intertwine historical facts with modern narratives, and the importance of research in his writing. He also shares insights into his philanthropic efforts through the History Matters initiative, which focuses on preserving local history, and hints at future adventures for his protagonist, Cotton Malone, in unexplored regions of the world.

Takeaways

Steve Berry's love for history began in childhood. His writing combines action, history, and conspiracies. The formula for his books is 'the same but different.' Research is crucial for creating engaging narratives. The 'ooh factor' is essential in selecting historical elements. History Matters has raised nearly $3 million for preservation. Berry's research trips are meticulously planned. He seeks unique insights during his travels. Cotton Malone will explore new regions in future novels. Berry aims to continue writing for many more years.

Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty Cotton Malone novels, six stand-alone thrillers, two Luke Daniels adventures, and several works of short fiction. He has over twenty-six million books in print, translated into forty-one languages. With his wife, Elizabeth, he is the founder of History Matters, an organization dedicated to historical preservation. He serves as an emeritus member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board and was a founding member of International Thriller Writers, formerly serving as co-president. Check Steve out on Facebook or his website

Chapters

00:00 The Roots of a Historian 02:58 Crafting Thrillers with Historical Depth 05:49 Researching History for Modern Thrillers 08:45 Giving Back: The History Matters Initiative 11:41 Future Adventures in Historical Fiction

Learn more about the brand new book from Jeff Utecht

https://humanstillrequired.com/

In this conversation, Sandra Magsamen discusses her approach to creating children's literature that emphasizes connection, love, and emotional intelligence. She shares insights into her creative process, the importance of feedback from readers, and how her work aims to foster self-love and connection between caregivers and children. Magsamen also reflects on her artistic journey, the role of perseverance, and the significance of storytelling in shaping lives.

Takeaways

Connection is at the heart of children's literature. Love is an action that caregivers can demonstrate. Books can provide comfort and emotional support to children. Feedback from readers is validating and inspires future work. Objects like books and blankets can hold deep emotional significance. Stories can change lives and shape worldviews. Curiosity fuels creativity and artistic expression. Perseverance is essential in the creative process. Every project is an opportunity to connect hearts. The act of reading together fosters intimacy and connection.

Chapters

00:00 The Heart of Connection in Children's Literature 02:48 Love as an Action: The Role of Caregivers 05:34 Impactful Feedback: Stories from Readers 08:31 The Power of Objects and Books in Shaping Lives 11:06 Curiosity and Creativity: Fueling the Artistic Journey

Learn more about our special guest:

https://www.sandramagsamen.com/

Learn more with Jeff and Tricia

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Our show is produced by Sagheer M.

Learn more:

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a20f0c0c32996d55

In this conversation, we explore the new collaborative picture book 'Rise Girl Rise', which explores themes of empowerment, friendship, and the importance of storytelling across cultures. They emphasize the book's role in inspiring the next generation and fostering a sense of shared humanity.

Gloria Steinem is a political activist, feminist organizer, and the author of many acclaimed books, including the national bestseller Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem. She is a contributor to the classic children's book Free to Be You and Me, which became a children's entertainment project, conceived, created, and executive-produced by actress and author Marlo Thomas, produced in collaboration with the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Free to Be Foundation, both cofounded by Ms. Steinem, and most recently illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Ms. Steinem is also the co-founder of the National Women's Political Caucus and the Women's Media Center. In keeping with her deep commitment to establishing equality throughout the world, Ms. Steinem helped found Equality Now, Donor Direct Action, and Direct Impact Africa. To learn more, visit gloriasteinem.com.

Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist, social worker, and women's rights advocate. She is Founder and President of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, based in Monrovia. As a writer, Ms. Gbowee is the author of the inspirational memoir Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War, and author of the children's book A Community of Sisters, illustrated by Coleen Baik. Ms. Gbowee is perhaps best known for leading a nonviolent movement that brought together Christian and Muslim women to play a pivotal role in ending Liberia's devastating, 14-year civil war in 2003.

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Picture Books 02:43 Friendship Across Cultures 05:15 Legacy and Call to Action

The Shifting Schools podcast is produced and edited by Sagheer M.

How is artificial intelligence being used in the NFL today?

In this solo episode of Shifting Schools, Tricia Friedman explores how AI is already shaping professional football, with a special focus on Super Bowl Sunday. Rather than speculation, this episode looks at concrete, current examples of how AI is influencing advertising, predictions, player safety, and fan experience.

Get the free conversation guide to share with friends and family:

https://open.substack.com/pub/k12aileadershipbrief/p/five-signals-of-change?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

This episode is designed as a conversation resource for educators, families, and anyone gathering around the Super Bowl, offering five clear lenses for discussing AI's role in sports and society.

What role does AI play in Super Bowl commercials? Major brands, including OpenAI, are now using the Super Bowl to tell stories about AI itself, while many non-AI companies are using generative tools to shape persuasive advertising. Tricia invites listeners to compare past and present Super Bowl ads and consider how the rise of AI-driven storytelling may change the creative skills schools should prioritize.

What is the AI Influence Index and why does it matter? For the first time, startup Emberos is tracking which Super Bowl ads are most visible inside large language models during the game. Instead of asking people at the watercooler which ads were memorable, this index asks which brands "win" inside AI systems like ChatGPT.

Can AI really predict Super Bowl winners? Recent reporting from USA Today and CNET shows how generative AI models are being used to forecast playoff outcomes, Super Bowl scores, and even halftime show cameos. As these models improve, Tricia raises questions about how fans may rethink expertise, intuition, and luck in sports forecasting, and whether some fans will resist consulting AI altogether.

Why this episode matters for educators and families This conversation goes beyond football. It models how adults can talk with one another about AI's influence in everyday life, notice differing attitudes toward technology, and ask longer-term questions about which changes are likely to last over the next decade.

Key discussion questions listeners can use on Super Bowl Sunday – Does AI enhance or diminish creativity in advertising? – Should brands optimize for human memory or AI visibility? – If AI predictions outperform humans, how does that change our view of expertise? – Where should decision-making authority sit when AI informs player safety? – Does AI-driven commentary deepen or reduce the joy of debate in sports?

Subscribe to our free AI Forward newsletter to get the free conversation guide:

https://k12aileadershipbrief.substack.com/

Email thoughts or additional angles to Tricia at [email protected].

What do puzzles teach us about being human. In this episode, Tricia talks with Allison Kane, Head of Puzzle Innovation at Highlights, about why puzzling matters far beyond entertainment. From Hidden Pictures and Wordle to classroom design and family learning, this conversation explores how puzzles build confidence, perseverance, and joyful learning across ages.

Learn more:

https://parents.highlights.com/printable-puzzles-and-mazes-puzzle-day-challenge

Allison shares her origin story as a lifelong puzzler, explains the idea of the satisfaction of the solve, and offers practical advice for educators and families who want to integrate puzzles into learning spaces. The conversation also looks at puzzle design, community building, and what adults model for young people when they choose curiosity over avoidance.

Topics covered Allison Kane's path from Highlights intern to Head of Puzzle Innovation Why puzzles support perseverance, confidence, and joyful learning The satisfaction of the solve and why payoff matters Puzzles as community builders in classrooms and families Designing puzzles that challenge without frustrating How educators can bring puzzles into classrooms easily What adults model for kids through playful intellectual challenge National Puzzle Day and the rise of puzzle communities

Puzzles are not just activities. They are invitations to practice thinking, persistence, and joy. When adults model engagement with challenge, they show young people that learning can feel good.

How do you move forward with AI in schools when staff confidence is all over the place?

Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman address one of the most persistent leadership challenges in AI literacy implementation. Within the same faculty, some educators are experimenting confidently with tools and workflows while others feel intimidated, skeptical, or frustrated by rapid change.

Jeff and Tricia frame the issue through a mindset-first lens and introduce practical leadership moves grounded in BAKE: balance, adaptability, knowledge sharing, and empathy. The conversation begins with a simple leadership truth: confidence grows through a beginner's stance, repetition, and low-stakes practice, not perfection on day one. Tricia shares a "pumpkin patch" analogy for learning something new and models how leaders can normalize experimentation and productive struggle for staff.

From there, the episode explores how leaders can reduce anxiety and build confidence by "level setting" foundational understanding of how AI works. When teachers grasp what is happening under the hood, they are more willing to engage, ask better questions, and try new workflows.

A central theme is personalization. Confidence increases when educators connect AI learning to what they already love about teaching, then use AI to enhance that strength rather than asking teachers to adopt tools for their own sake. The hosts also highlight the importance of playful, low-stakes experimentation outside of school contexts, from recipe support to pop-culture research challenges, as a way to learn tool boundaries without the pressure of classroom performance.

The episode closes with a clear leadership stance: sustained learning matters. AI capabilities are changing quickly, so professional learning cannot be treated as a one-time training. Adaptability requires ongoing documentation of experiments, time-stamped learning, and renewed emphasis on media literacy as AI becomes more persuasive and more embedded in everyday life.

If you are leading AI literacy in a school or district and trying to support both early adopters and hesitant educators, this episode offers a grounded approach to building momentum without fracturing culture.

In this episode, you will hear about leading AI literacy when teacher confidence varies widely, progress over perfection and the beginner's stance, differentiated professional learning for AI, foundational understanding of how AI works, low-stakes experimentation that increases staff buy-in, balancing voices of early adopters and skeptics, adaptability as AI tools evolve, and mindset-first change management through the BAKE Framework.

Explore the BAKE resources and multiple ways to engage, including a four-week email series, PLC slide decks, a live cohort, and school-wide implementation:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Our show is edited and produced by Sagheer M. Learn more about his work:

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a20f0c0c32996d55

Are you signed up for Crayola Creativity Week?

https://www.crayola.com/learning/creativity-week

Reach out to learn with us: [email protected]

00:00 Welcome and Series Context Jeff frames the third and final BAKE episode and names the core leadership question about uneven staff confidence.

01:30 Why Confidence Gaps Are Normal When Learning Something New Using the beginner's stance and the pumpkin patch example to normalize discomfort and learning curves.

03:30 Progress Over Perfection in Teaching and Leadership Why educators often expect mastery too quickly and how modeling learning matters.

05:30 The Leadership Challenge of Mixed AI Confidence High flyers, hesitant staff, and the tension leaders feel managing both groups.

08:00 Level Setting: How Understanding AI Builds Confidence Why explaining how AI works reduces fear and increases willingness to engage.

10:30 Passion-Based Entry Points for AI Learning Connecting AI use to what educators already love doing in their work.

13:00 Playful, Low-Stakes AI Experiments Using non-school examples to explore AI without pressure or risk.

15:30 Pop Culture as a Confidence Builder The Taylor Swift research experiment and why interest drives learning.

18:00 Abundance of Information and Better Questions Why confidence grows when educators move from answers to inquiry.

20:00 Empathy First: Leading With BAKE Starting with empathy before tools, expertise, or expectations.

21:45 Knowledge Sharing Inside and Outside the Classroom Why sharing personal AI use builds collective confidence.

23:15 Adaptability in a Fast-Changing AI Landscape Why AI learning must be ongoing, time-stamped, and revisited.

25:15 Balance: Creating Space for All Voices Supporting both skeptics and early adopters through reciprocal dialogue.

27:15 Key Takeaways and Next Steps Mindset-first leadership, community, and how schools can engage further with BAKE.

AI literacy in the classroom looks like students practicing judgment, sense-making, and self-awareness while working alongside AI, not replacing thinking with tools. It emphasizes mindset before mechanics.

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman frame AI literacy through the BAKE Mindset:

• Balance – Knowing when AI helps and when it doesn't

• Adaptability – Updating learning practices as tools change

• Knowledge Sharing – Making thinking visible and collective

• Empathy – Designing learning with student experience in mind

How Does AI Change Research in Schools?

AI changes how research starts and what counts as learning.

Instead of:

• Finding information

• Rewriting sources

• Formatting citations

Students now practice:

• Comparing perspectives

• Identifying bias and heuristics

• Deciding what matters and why

Research becomes an exercise in judgment, not retrieval.

The episode traces this shift historically—from card catalogs to microfiche to Google—and positions AI tools as the next evolution rather than a rupture.

The conversation highlights several skills that remain human-led:

• Judgment – Evaluating ideas, not accepting outputs

• Question Formation – Using AI to clarify what to ask next

• Bias Awareness – Recognizing anchoring and confirmation effects

• Metacognition – Noticing learning gaps and strengths

AI supports these skills but does not perform them on a learner's behalf.

What Does "AI as a Co-Learner" Mean?

AI as a co-learner means:

• Students remain responsible for decisions

• AI offers scaffolding, variation, or clarification

• Learning paths stay human-directed

This mirrors patterns already familiar in education, including IEPs, 504 plans, and differentiated instruction.

How Does AI Literacy Connect to SEL?

AI literacy intersects with social-emotional learning by strengthening:

• Self-awareness of strengths and gaps

• Confidence in asking questions

• Comfort with uncertainty and revision

As students work with AI, they gain clearer insight into how they learn—not just what they produce.

Who Is This Episode For?

• Classroom teachers rethinking research and assessment

• School leaders shaping AI literacy strategy

• Instructional coaches and curriculum designers

• Educators focused on mindset, SEL, and learning design

Series Context

This episode is part of the BAKE Mindset series from Shifting Schools.

Ready to learn more:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Do you love the way this show is edited and produced?

If you are looking for an amazing producer, learn more about connecting with our very own, Sagheer M.

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a20f0c0c32996d55

In this episode of Shifting Schools, hosts Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss their personal experiences over the holidays, leading into a broader conversation about the importance of mindset in education, particularly in relation to AI literacy. They introduce the 'BAKE Framework' as a tool for educators to navigate AI discussions, emphasizing the need for adaptability, empathy, and open communication. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in educational settings, encouraging educators to embrace change and foster a culture of experimentation and learning.

Takeaways

The importance of personal gifts and experiences in shaping our perspectives.

Mindset plays a crucial role in how we approach AI in education.

The Bake Framework offers a structured way to think about AI literacy.

Addressing concerns about AI requires empathy and understanding.

Adaptability is key for leaders navigating technological changes.

Misinformation about AI and its impacts must be addressed thoughtfully.

Conversations about AI should focus on perspectives and experiences.

Time is necessary for understanding and shifting opinions on AI.

Playfulness in experimentation can lead to better outcomes.

Educators should foster a culture of open dialogue and consideration.

Chapters

00:00 New Year Reflections and Personal Gifts 03:07 Mindset and AI in Education 05:47 The Bake Framework for AI Literacy 08:20 Addressing AI Concerns in Education 12:29 Adaptability and Playfulness in Leadership 17:46 Navigating Change and Misinformation 22:31 Conversations and Perspectives on AI

Learn more about Crayola Creativity Week

https://www.crayola.com/learning/creativity-week

Send Jeff and Tricia your questions and feedback:

[email protected]

Learn with us in 2026

https://www.shiftingschools.com/