Talking Technology with ATLIS

This episode features a reply of Season 4, Episode 80 of Talking Technology with ATLIS.

Below are the show notes and link to the original episode:

This episode replays a dynamic panel from the 2025 ATLIS Annual Conference, exploring the future of education with experts in AI, quantum computing, and extended reality (XR). Dr. Jacob Farinholt of Booz Allen, Vriti Saraf of Ed3 DAO, and Patrick Schuermann of Optima XR, along with students Jalen and Maggie, discuss how emerging technologies will reshape learning, the skills students will need, and why human-centered pedagogy remains critical.

Original Episode<...

Wolfgang Soeldner of the International School of Geneva joins the podcast to discuss the evolving role of IT and ed tech leadership in a global context. The conversation dives into the "collective responsibility" of data compliance under GDPR and the EU AI Act, alongside a provocative look at why AI necessitates a total revolution in student assessment.

Dr. Jonathan King joins the podcast to discuss Riverdale Country School's unique approach to technology leadership. He explains the benefits of an engineering-focused mindset, the strategic inclusion of data teams within IT, and a long-term commitment to building talent pipelines that prepare the next generation of technology directors for the community.

Kevin Warenda, Director of IT Services at The Hotchkiss School, joins the pod to discuss the intersection of business acumen and technical leadership. Learn how Kevin utilizes Agile methodology to manage complex financial system migrations and the construction of a data warehouse for institutional research while maintaining organizational continuity amidst senior leadership churn.

Transitioning from "first-gen" technology leadership requires more than just a handoff; it’s a strategic evolution. Retired directors Daisy Steele, Jeff Dayton, and Larry Kahn join the podcast to discuss the shift from building servers to managing complex ecosystems. They share essential insights on "brain dumps," outsourcing, and mastering "people chess" during retirement.

Laura Tierney, CEO of The Social Institute, joins the pod to discuss shifting the narrative from technology bans to intentional usage. Explore fresh data on student AI perceptions, the rise of private backchannels, and why tech leaders must act as "quarterbacks" in fostering student-centered social etiquette in an evolving digital world.

Ethan Delavan, TLIS, Director of IT at the Northwest School, joins the podcast to discuss managing "relevance creep" in independent schools. He shares his unique approach to technology leadership, including the development of a "Technology and Society" academic pathway and the intentional use of a parent tech advisory board to gain industry insights while maintaining curricular boundaries.

Dr. Jill Brown, Director of Professional Learning at CoSN, joins the hosts to discuss her transition from an independent school leader to a national association executive. The conversation highlights common challenges across public and private school sectors, including staffing pipelines, cybersecurity, and practical strategies for managing the rapid integration of AI in the classroom.

Lauren Marold and Becky Barrett of Preston Hollow Presbyterian School join the show to discuss their remarkable seven-month total campus relocation. They share insights on leveraging assistive technology and native accessibility tools to empower students with learning differences, emphasizing intentionality and the creation of "technology learning profiles" to support long-term student success.

James Palmieri, CEO of NBOA Advisory Services, joins the podcast to discuss the evolving relationship between school business offices and technology departments. He shares insights on managing the "double gap" in independent school financial models and emphasizes the importance of early technology involvement in capital projects.

David Azar, Systems Administrator at Pingry School, explores the unique transition from corporate IT to the "white-glove" service model of independent schools. He discusses strategies for developing internal talent, the critical importance of reliable infrastructure like Wi-Fi, and how collaborative leadership programs like the ATLIS Leadership Institute (ALI) foster essential professional networks.

Jason Curtis, Director of Technology at the Windsor School, shares insights on navigating career transitions within independent schools. The discussion covers the importance of "listening tours" when starting new roles, the nuances of the interview process, and balancing transparency with current supervisors when seeking new opportunities.

In this milestone 100th episode of Talking Technology with ATLIS, Peter Frank takes over the host’s chair to guide Christina, Bill, and Hiram through a celebration of the ATLIS community. Enjoy a curated collection of highlights featuring past guests, "spouses' questions" that put the hosts on the spot, a special conversation with the ATLIS founders about the organization's future, and a special treat to honor the team’s favorite undead recurring topic.

Featuring clips from these past episodes of Talking Technology with ATLIS:

Three independent school technology leaders—Lauren Marquez, John Grube, and Tomarra Londeree—join the show to share their unique pathways to earning the TLIS certification. They discuss how the process validated their expertise, helped them overcome imposter syndrome, and bridged the gap between educational technology and IT operations within their school communities.

ATLIS TLIS Certification

ATLIS Leadership Institute (ALI)

St. Mary's School

The Fay School

Providence Day School

Buck Crockett, Director of Technology at Almaden Country Day School, joins the podcast to discuss his unique path from wilderness therapy to EdTech leadership. The conversation explores managing Mac OS application frameworks, the philosophy of age-appropriate screen time, and the critical role of IT in campus construction. Buck also shares insights on "peeling back the layers" of support tickets to solve human problems with empathy.

Dr. Sabba Quidwai, CEO and Futurist of Designing Schools, joins the podcast to discuss the rapid acceleration of AI and its impact on the future of work. She explores how schools can manage this change, move beyond app-focused training, and redefine learning to foster human agency.

Dr. Kylie Peppler of UC Irvine joins the podcast to discuss the deep connections between art, technology, and learning. She explores how playful learning—from toys to AI—can foster creativity and student agency. Dr. Peppler also offers educators a framework for embracing AI as a creative tool rather than something to fear.

Dr. Jeremy Roschelle and Dr. Pati Ruiz from Digital Promise join the podcast to discuss their learning sciences research into AI's role in education. They share details about an innovative project using AI to improve student reading literacy and explore frameworks for developing AI literacy and responsible use policies in schools.

Dan McGee, TLIS, Chief Technology Officer at Laurel School, joins the podcast to discuss why being a tech director is the best job in a school. He shares insights into his expansive role, which includes enterprise-level risk management, major construction projects, and the "archeological dig" of offboarding a long-tenured Head of School.

Jennie Magiera, Global Head of Education Impact at Google, joins the podcast to discuss her journey from classroom teacher to tech leader. She shares practical ways educators can use Google Gemini to support diverse student needs and save time, while also addressing critical data privacy considerations and introducing a brand-new hub of AI resources for teachers.

Ari Betof, co-founder of Mission and Data, joins the podcast to discuss the critical importance of making mission-driven, data-informed decisions. He explores the common challenges schools face with data governance and system migrations, emphasizing the need for longitudinal consistency and strong leadership partnerships to turn raw data into a compelling strategic story.

Nikole Blanchard, Director of Innovation and Technology at The Dunham School, joins the podcast to discuss her leadership philosophy. She shares how to foster an approachable, innovative culture through project-based learning, providing individualized professional learning for faculty, and empowering campus champions to help spread new ideas and tools effectively.

Dr. Alison Lee, Chief R&D Officer of The Rithm Project, joins the podcast to discuss the collision between the youth loneliness epidemic and the rise of AI. She shares research on why young people are turning to AI for connection and explains her five principles for "pro-social AI," offering a hopeful framework for nurturing human relationships in a tech-saturated world.

Rafael Cordero, Director of IT and Facilities at The Riviera Ridge School, joins the podcast to discuss his unique dual role. He shares how a background in project management and cybersecurity prepared him to manage everything from network infrastructure to campus operations, and how he aligns these efforts to create a future-ready learning environment.

Dr. Marquis Scott, Assistant Head of School at The Lawrenceville School, joins the podcast to share his remarkable career journey from CTO to senior administration. He discusses how the problem-solving and systems-thinking mindset from IT are transferable to roles in HR, communications, and strategic planning, offering actionable advice for aspiring tech leaders.

Best-selling author Dr. Catlin Tucker joins the podcast to discuss her journey from a teacher in crisis to a leading voice in educational technology. She unpacks the core principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and makes a powerful case for student-led learning, exploring how AI can serve as an indispensable partner for designing equitable and engaging experiences that combat teacher burnout.

Rachael Rachau and Patty Sinkler of the Collegiate School join the podcast to discuss their innovative shift from digital citizenship to a broader digital health and wellness curriculum. They share how using anonymized student screen-time data sparks powerful conversations and how a new phone-free policy has delightfully increased student engagement.

In this episode, we talk with Anne Sena, Director of Operations and Technology at St. David’s School. Anne shares her compelling journey from a fast-paced corporate career at Cisco to impactful leadership in an independent school, offering key insights on managing institutional change, building trust with faculty, and navigating an expanding technology role.

This week, we're joined by David Boxer, TLIS, CIO of The Blake School. David shares his intentional approach to building leadership capacity within his technology team and fostering a culture of collaboration. He details the school’s methodical, PLC-driven strategy for developing critical AI literacy and discusses the growing role of data governance.

Join us for a conversation with Nate Doelling, Director of Technology at Seoul Foreign School. Nate shares his extensive experience leading technology in international schools across several continents, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of his global career. Discover the nuances of international school technology management.

Jenn Zanoria, Director of Educational Technology at Windward School, joins the podcast to discuss her journey and the importance of mentorship in educational technology leadership. She shares insights on fostering digital citizenship and AI literacy, detailing how her school thoughtfully integrates technology to prepare students for a rapidly changing future.

This episode features a special live recording from the ATLIS Annual Conference with Rich Lehrer and the student members of the award-winning Dawson Design Company. Listen in as these seventh and eighth graders discuss how they are using technology to learn about design, fabrication, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy for real-world clients.

This episode replays a dynamic panel from the 2025 ATLIS Annual Conference, exploring the future of education with experts in AI, quantum computing, and extended reality (XR). Dr. Jacob Farinholt of Booz Allen, Vriti Saraf of Ed3 DAO, and Patrick Schuermann of Optima XR, along with students Jalen and Maggie, discuss how emerging technologies will reshape learning, the skills students will need, and why human-centered pedagogy remains critical.

Resources

Booz Allen: https://www.boozallen.com

Ed3 DAO: https://www.ed3dao.com/

Optima Ed: https://optimaxr.ai/

The Mount Vernon...

From the ATLIS Annual Conference 2025

Relive the dynamic opening keynotes from the ATLIS Annual Conference with Felix Jacomino and Claire Goldsmith. Felix, Director of Technology at St. Stephen's Episcopal Day School, reflects on past tech trends to provide a roadmap for future innovation. Claire, Principal of Lamplight Education, discusses harnessing emerging technologies like AI and Web3 to build resilient, future-ready schools, emphasizing curiosity, collaboration, and ethical courage.

Resources

Join Christina Lewellen and Hiram Cuevas as they speak with Vriti Saraf, co-founder and CEO of Ed3DAO, about the intersection of AI and education. Vriti discusses the need for educators to move beyond superficial AI use to foster deeper cognitive abilities and critical thinking in students. She also explores the concept of "portrait of a teacher in the age of AI" and the challenges and opportunities AI presents for independent schools.

Resources

Dominic Salerno, IT administrator at St. Bernard's School, discusses his journey into ed tech, highlighting the value of traditional teaching methods alongside technology. He shares insights on St. Bernard's philosophy of cautious tech adoption and how his involvement with the ATLIS Leadership Institute (ALI) and Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (TLIS) certification has shaped his professional growth and confidence in the field.

Resources

Join Shoshanna Shumka, Executive Director of the Independent School Experiential Education Network (ISEEN), as she discusses experiential education, the Kolb learning cycle, and the importance of human connection in learning. Discover how ISEEN supports educators and fosters impactful, real-world experiences for students.

Join us as Ray Shay, Director of Technology at Brooklyn Friends School, shares his unique journey from webmaster to overseeing auxiliary programs. Discover his insights on AI's impact on independent schools, the crucial role of data systems, and why human connection and critical thinking are more vital than ever in a tech-driven world.

In this episode, Chris Lehmann, founding principal and CEO of Science Leadership Academy schools, shares his compelling journey from a shy English teacher to a pioneer of the "school 2.0 movement." Discover how SLA embodies an inquiry-driven pedagogy where students actively ask questions, research, collaborate, and present their learning, fostering an environment where technology is as essential and unnoticed as oxygen.

This week we join our co-host Hiram Cuevas and his colleagues from St. Christopher's School as they delve into their unique "BUILD" program, designed to integrate innovation, learning, and design across all grade levels. Discover how this all-boys school cultivates curiosity, encourages hands-on projects, and fosters a safe environment for learning from failure.