AmpED to 11

This week on AmpED to 11, Brett shares the mic with Sonn Sam, keynote speaker, equity champion, and national director at Big Picture Learning—for a raw, reflective, and radically human conversation about what happens when we stop asking, “Are you smart?” and start asking, “What are you passionate about?”

Sonn’s journey begins as a square peg in a round-hole system, a track that nearly derailed his sense of self-worth until a breakdancing crew (yes, breakdancing!) in a community theater changed everything. That real-world learning experience taught him the power of passion, purpose, and self-lov...

What happens when you mix AI’s cutting-edge potential with a human-centered mission to radically improve teaching and learning? You get BetterLesson—and you get this conversation.

In this special episode of AmpED to 11, Brett Roer sits down with Matthew Kennard, CEO of BetterLesson, to unpack how his team is transforming professional learning and instructional leadership at scale. As one of the major sponsors of the upcoming AI in Education Symposium in Albany, Matt joins Brett for a high-impact conversation on how AI can be leveraged not to replace educators, but to empower them.

You’ll hea...

What if your state had one person responsible for AI in education—and that person asked more questions than they answered? Meet Matthew Winters, the Utah State Board of Education’s first (and only) AI Specialist. In this episode, Brett and Rebecca sit down with the Renaissance Man of AI to explore what it means to be a thoughtful, scrappy, system-level leader confronting the messy rollout of generative tools—and dreaming bigger than most are willing to.

Utah’s AI education strategy is quietly becoming a national model, with lesson plan repositories, statewide professional development for 3,000+ teachers, and bold...

What if the problem with edtech isn’t the tech at all… but the way we use it?

This week on AmpED to 11, we dive into the wild, weird, and wonderfully human world of AI in education with the irreverent and insightful Jeremy Shorr—a self-described “dancing monkey” who’s shaping the future of learning through innovation, STEM ecosystem building, and brutal honesty about what AI can and can’t fix.

Jeremy has spent decades navigating both the frontlines and the big stages of education—from designing STEM schools in O...

What if the most powerful shift AI offers teachers isn’t complex tech—but a single clarifying question?

This week on AmpED to 11, we sit down with Merissa Sadler-Holder, a nationally recognized educator turned AI trailblazer working with schools across the U.S. to not just integrate AI tools, but to redesign what’s possible in classrooms. Founder of Teaching With Machines and a two-time ASU+GSV “Leading Woman in AI” honoree, Marissa knows firsthand how a simple tool—like rewriting a fiery parent email with AI—can unlock a radical mindset shift...

Winston Roberts is raising a toddler and watching ChatGPT grow up—literally at the same time. As “Teacher in a Suit,” he’s bringing AI into classrooms not as a gimmick, but as a real tool for student agency, equity, and future-readiness.

In this episode, Brett and Rebecca dig into Winston’s origin story, his viral PD sessions that leave teachers shook in the best way, and his unflinching take on what happens if schools play it safe while the rest of the world races ahead.

He’s not here for performative tech use or AI pa...

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma turn up the volume with Marlon Styles, nationally recognized education leader and founder of Styles Junior, LLC.

Marlon shares how AI isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s a tool to unlock creativity, center learning around students, and shape future-ready schools. From real-world stories of AI-powered student art to building custom AI tools rooted in learner-centered practices, Marlon lays out a bold, practical vision for the future of education.

Key Takeaways:

🚀 Why AI should be a crea...

AI isn’t just reshaping education—it’s calling the whole system into question.

Are we using it to spark innovation and amplify student voices, or just speeding up the same tired assignments we've been recycling for decades?

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with Alana Winnick—EdTech Director, podcast host, author of The Generative Age, and low-key superhero—to talk about what real transformation in education looks like when AI is in the hands of student...

AI promises to revolutionize education—but are we ready to face the tough ethical questions it raises?

In this unmissable episode of AmpED to 11, Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with international keynote speaker and education visionary Ken Shelton for a real, raw conversation about equity, ethics, and AI in education.

Ken pulls back the curtain on hidden biases in AI systems, explains why culturally responsive teaching isn't optional, and shows how AI can amplify student empowerment—if we use it wisely.

Buckle up as Ken reveals uncomfortable truths and transformative strategies to e...

AI is evolving at breakneck speed. Every week, a new breakthrough drops that makes us rethink everything—how we work, how we learn, and how we interact with the world. But here’s the real question: Are we racing toward a future where AI makes life easier, or are we sleepwalking into a world where human connection becomes a luxury?

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with Claire Zau, AI Lead and Partner at GSV Ventures, to pull back the...

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with Alex Kotran, CEO & Co-founder of the AI Education Project (AIEDU), to tackle a pressing issue: the AI literacy gap in schools and what it means for the next generation.

Most students graduate without a basic understanding of how AI works—even as it influences job markets, decision-making, and daily life. Meanwhile, many teachers feel unprepared to integrate AI into the classroom, and underserved communities risk being left even further behind.

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with Dr. Michael Connor, CEO & Founder of Agile Evolutionary Group, to explore how AI is transforming education, leadership, and strategic change.

Dr. Connor isn’t just following AI trends—he’s engineering the future. His Agile Diagnostic and AI Platform is redefining how school leaders approach data-driven decision-making, inclusion, and student empowerment. He breaks down the 22nd Century Education Model, explains how AI can close...