In this episode, we welcome back Scholar Education co-founder Marlee Strawn for a deep conversation about developing "good AI" that solves pressing challenges for educators. Marlee and Scott discuss:

• Going from teacher to administrator to founder
• Starting Scholar Education and building BaxterBot
• Generating meaningful data insights
• Putting real education expertise and context behind the data
• An AI tool with a purpose - supporting students with 504s and IEPs
• Providing actionable steps for parents to support their child
• What Marlee has learned in the first 18 months of entrepreneurship

About Scholar Education

Scholar Education is an AI-powered classroom enhancement platform that offers a suite of AI tools designed to deliver a personalized learning environment, with a specific focus on implementing and tracking accommodations for ESE, 504, and ELL students. Learn more at https://www.joinscholar.com

About today’s guest

Marlee Strawn's career started as a high school teacher and reached a significant milestone when she became the founding principal of the top-performing charter high school in the seventh largest district in the nation. Following her successful tenure as principal, Marlee transitioned to a new role in the education technology sector. As the Co-Founder and Head of Education at Scholar Education, Marlee leads the development of an AI-powered classroom enhancement platform designed to eliminate administrative burdens for teachers. She was also recently selected as a 2024 EDSAFE AI Alliance Women in AI Fellow.

About today’s host

Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies.

He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here: https://fabulouslearningnerds.transistor.fm

In this episode, Barb Flowers speaks with Dr. Shannon Putman. Shannon is owner of Putman XR Consulting, focusing on immersive technology education, training, and support. She was a special education teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools (KY) for 15 years.

Hear their conversation about:

• Using VR for virtual field trips and job shadowing
• Understanding how virtual reality gives students the real experience of different jobs that are otherwise hard to access (such as working on wind turbines)
• Connecting with professional mentors through immersive technology
• Giving students of various backgrounds exposure to a range of careers
• Giving kids hope about their options for the future
• Advice for teachers to get familiar with new technology

About today’s host

Barb Flowers is a certified Life Coach and former Elementary Principal with a PhD in K-12 leadership from Kent State University. She is host of the following podcasts:

• The Principal’s Handbook — Lessons on communication, time management, overcoming overwhelm, and more, designed to help school leaders become more confident and well-rounded.
• The Teacher Burnout Podcast — This show explores the complex issue of teacher burnout and shares practical solutions to support your well-being and reignite your passion for education.

About Be More Colorful

Be More Colorful, based in Fargo, North Dakota specializes in immersive technology solutions for solving workforce development problems. Co-founded by husband-and-wife team Matt and Katie Chaussee, the company has been at the forefront of creating immersive media solutions that help people make better decisions about where they choose to live, learn, work and play. Learn more:

• https://www.bemorecolorful.com
• https://www.facebook.com/careerviewxr
• https://www.facebook.com/bemorecolorful
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/careerviewxr
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-more-colorful
• https://www.instagram.com/bemorecolorful
• https://twitter.com/bemorecolorful
• https://www.tiktok.com/@bemorecolorful

Adrienne Usher, Assistant Superintendent of Bullitt County Public Schools in Kentucky, is today’s guest. She discusses her work to bring engaging project-based learning to her district and more:

• Profile of a graduate and building key competencies into academics
• Creating authentic learning experiences focused on productive collaboration and innovative problem solving
• Change management through simple shifts
• Collaborative learning and documenting the learning journey with Inkwire
• How to establish a vision for learning and choose technology that supports it appropriately

About today’s host

Barb Flowers is a certified Life Coach and former Elementary Principal with a PhD in K-12 leadership from Kent State University. She is host of the following podcasts:

• The Principal’s Handbook — Lessons on communication, time management, overcoming overwhelm, and more, designed to help school leaders become more confident and well-rounded.
• The Teacher Burnout Podcast — This show explores the complex issue of teacher burnout and shares practical solutions to support your well-being and reignite your passion for education.

About today’s guest

Dr. Adrienne Usher currently serves the students, staff and community as Assistant Superintendent in Bullitt County Public Schools in Kentucky. In her role, she provides direct consultation to the Superintendent and is responsible for overseeing, promoting and implementing curriculum, instruction and assessment programming, PreK-12, alongside district and school leaders while aligning federal, state and local resources to support the instructional vision and mission for the district. Adrienne has experience in both Kentucky and Tennessee, and has served as a teacher, school counselor, instructional coach, principal, and district level administrator prior to her present role.

About Inkwire

In a world in which generative AI has called into question the value of traditional curriculum and assessments, Inkwire is a platform that engages students in real projects and helps them demonstrate their original thinking & skills through portfolios. Learn more: https://inkwire.co