Alex Kotran is the CEO and co-founder of The AI Education Project (aiEDU). Alex has worked in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector for nearly a decade and has spent much of his career in community organizing and campaigns. Alex founded aiEDU in 2019 after he learned that the Akron Public Schools and many other districts did not offer students any kind of instruction designed to help them understand AI or the ways in which career pathways are changing.

As Vice Provost of Teacher Preparation and Founding Dean of Relay Connecticut, Dr. Good believes that empowering teachers with a rigorous curriculum of practical application, theory, and educational pedagogy grounded in culturally responsive teaching, can have a dynamic impact on PK-12 students. An award-winning educator, Dr. Good started her career as a secondary language arts teacher in the Miami-Dade County Public School district, as a charter corps member of Teach For America.

Ash Kaluarachchi is the CEO of StartEd and a producer at EdTech Week. Ash advises and connects organizations solving problems in education. His EdTech programs have accelerated multiple global unicorns, including at Techstars. To date, Ash's EdTech programs have enabled 2,000+ companies around the globe in partnership with organizations such as Google, Kaplan, Intel, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California and New York University. He continues to support founders solving problems for educators, administrators and learners in Pre-K12, HigherEd, Future of Work, and Adult learning as CEO of StartEd and Producer of EdTech Week.

Welcome to another enriching episode of the Voices For Excellence podcast, hosted by Dr. Michael Connor, CEO and founder of the Agile Evolutionary Group. In this inspiring episode, we are honored to have Dr. Kimberly Harrington Marcus, a trailblazing leader in education with over 30 years of experience.

About the Episode

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Harrington Marcus shares her journey from being the former Commissioner of Education for the State of New Jersey to her current role as Executive Director of New Jersey ASCD. Known for her innovative initiatives and unwavering commitment to educational excellence, Dr. Marcus provides valuable insights into her leadership philosophy and the transformative power of education.

Key Highlights

1. Leadership and Legacy

Dr. Marcus discusses her tenure as Commissioner of Education, where she led New Jersey to become the number one state in the country for educational performance and academic outcomes. She shares the strategies behind her success and the importance of visionary leadership in driving systemic change.

2. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

Discover how Dr. Marcus championed the development of SEL competencies in New Jersey, emphasizing the need for these skills to be integrated across the entire educational experience, rather than siloed into specific periods. Learn about the impact of SEL on student growth, well-being, and academic success.

3. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

Explore Dr. Marcus's advocacy for culturally responsive teaching and how it can transform the educational landscape. She highlights the significance of incorporating students' cultural backgrounds into the curriculum to foster a more inclusive and effective learning environment.

4. The Power of Arts in Education

As a passionate musician, Dr. Marcus shares how her love for music has influenced her leadership style. She discusses the critical role of the arts in child development, brain growth, and finding one's community within the school system.

5. Student Voice and Agency

Dr. Marcus elaborates on the importance of elevating student voice and agency in educational settings. She provides innovative strategies for integrating student feedback into decision-making processes, ensuring that learners are active participants in their educational journey.

6. Addressing Current Educational Challenges

In the AC (After COVID-19) stage of education, Dr. Marcus discusses the urgent need for addressing mental health issues among students. She shares alarming statistics from the CDC and emphasizes the importance of strategic investments in SEL and mental health resources.

Why Listen?

This episode of Voices For Excellence is a must-listen for educators, administrators, and anyone passionate about making a difference in the field of education. Dr. Harrington Marcus's insights are not only inspiring but also actionable, offering practical strategies to implement in schools and districts.

Tune In and Transform Your Approach to Education

Whether you're looking to enhance your leadership skills, integrate SEL into your curriculum, or simply get inspired by a leading figure in education, this episode with Dr. Kimberly Harrington Marcus is packed with valuable content. Join Dr. Michael Connor and Dr. Marcus as they explore the future of education and the steps needed to create equitable, inclusive, and high-performing learning environments.

Listen to the full episode of Voices For Excellence with Dr. Kimberly Harrington Marcus and elevate your understanding of educational leadership and innovation.

Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. specializes in antiracism in education, educational leadership, strategic planning, strategic thinking, professional learning, school board and superintendent relations, and executive coaching. Dr. Hutchings’ research focuses on the African American superintendent and their challenges faced by advocating for antiracism in school systems across America.

Jed Stefanowicz leads strategic transformation of teaching and learning through the use of digital tools and innovative practices. As Director of Digital Learning and Innovation for the Nashoba Regional School District in Massachusetts, Jed aims to engage and build staff/student digital learning capacity, keeping the focus on practice over product. Jed shares his passion for effective tech integration to transform teaching and learning, creating engaging and equitable digital learning environments and experiences that activate, innovate, and motivate digital learning.

Amy Dujon is the Vice President of Education at ETC Media and Events. Amy's leadership focus is helping schools and districts throughout the United States to implement research-based systems to foster school improvement and increase student achievement. She speaks nationally on the topics of leading instructional transformation, standards based planning and pedagogy, feedback to change practice, and effective instructional leadership.

Eric Sheninger is the founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy designed to provide personalized support to all educational systems. His work focuses on innovative and practical ways educators can transform teaching, learning, and leadership. Through his work with thousands of schools, Eric has emerged as an innovative leader, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker. His main focus is using research and evidence-based practices to empower learners and educators.