InspirED: A PLTW Podcast

The Future Won't Wait: AI in Education (Part 1)

In the latest episode of InspirED: A PLTW Podcast, we bring together voices from both Project Lead The Way and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to discuss how our collaboration has already impacted AI in education, created a roadmap for today, and clarified a vision for tomorrow. You’ll hear how PLTW and AWS strive to make AI ethical, effective, and efficient in today’s educational landscape. We aren’t talking about hypotheticals and “What if’s”. We are talking about the realities of today and how educational leaders can leverage AI in positive ways through understanding, ethics, and empowerment. Host: Dr. David Dimmett, President and CEO of Project Lead The Way Guests: Sara Seba, Manager of Customer Solutions and Specialists, for Global Nonprofits at AWS Brian Greiwe, EVP and Chief Technical Officer of Project Lead The Way Recording Date: Wednesday April 8, 2026 Resources: Principles of AI (grades 9–12)—a one-semester course that builds AI skills for the future of work, including critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and digital literacy: https://www.pltw.org/principles-of-ai [https://www.pltw.org/principles-of-ai] A collaborative training that empowers PreK–12 educators to confidently use AI to enhance planning, teaching, and career readiness strategies: https://www.pltw.org/professional-development/training-schedules?program=*&course=%22Demystifying+AI+in+Education%22&type=*&location=*&search= [https://www.pltw.org/professional-development/training-schedules?program=*&course=%22Demystifying+AI+in+Education%22&type=*&location=*&search=] What exclusive access to a globally recognized CompTIA Security+ certification can do for future cybersecurity professionals:  https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-announces-strategic-partnership-with-comptia-to-launch-cybersecurity-accreditation [https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-announces-strategic-partnership-with-comptia-to-launch-cybersecurity-accreditation] How the latest PLTW and AWS collaboration is accelerating access to AI education by expanding supports for students and teachers: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-named-winner-of-2025-amazon-web-services-imagine-grant-for-nonprofits [https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-named-winner-of-2025-amazon-web-services-imagine-grant-for-nonprofits]  Preparing students and educators for the future of work requires a national AI strategy like PLTW's: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-launches-national-ai-strategy-to-prepare-students-and-educators-for-the-future-of-work [https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-launches-national-ai-strategy-to-prepare-students-and-educators-for-the-future-of-work] The AI curriculum pilot expected to reach 1,600 students and 30 school districts in Massachusetts: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/new-ai-curriculum-pilot-to-reach-1600-massachusetts-students-across-30-school-districts [https://www.pltw.org/about/news/new-ai-curriculum-pilot-to-reach-1600-massachusetts-students-across-30-school-districts] Connect on Social Media: AWS (Amazon Web Services on LinkedIn) [https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon-web-services/posts/?feedView=all] AWS Nonprofits on X [https://x.com/AWS_Nonprofits] Sara Seba on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-seba/]

The Future Won't Wait: AI in Education (Part 2)

In the latest episode of InspirED: A PLTW Podcast, we bring together voices from both Project Lead The Way and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to discuss how our collaboration has already impacted AI in education, created a roadmap for today, and clarified a vision for tomorrow. You’ll hear how PLTW and AWS strive to make AI ethical, effective, and efficient in today’s educational landscape.  We aren’t talking about hypotheticals and “What if’s”. We are talking about the realities of today and how educational leaders can leverage AI in positive ways through understanding, ethics, and empowerment. Host: Dr. David Dimmett, President and CEO of Project Lead The Way Guests: Sara Seba, Manager of Customer Solutions and Specialists, for Global Nonprofits at AWS Brian Greiwe, EVP and Chief Technical Officer of Project Lead The Way Recording Date: Wednesday April 8, 2026 Resources: Principles of AI (grades 9–12)—a one-semester course that builds AI skills for the future of work, including critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and digital literacy: https://www.pltw.org/principles-of-ai [https://www.pltw.org/principles-of-ai] A collaborative training that empowers PreK–12 educators to confidently use AI to enhance planning, teaching, and career readiness strategies: https://www.pltw.org/professional-development/training-schedules?program=*&course=%22Demystifying+AI+in+Education%22&type=*&location=*&search= [https://www.pltw.org/professional-development/training-schedules?program=*&course=%22Demystifying+AI+in+Education%22&type=*&location=*&search=] What exclusive access to a globally recognized CompTIA Security+ certification can do for future cybersecurity professionals:  https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-announces-strategic-partnership-with-comptia-to-launch-cybersecurity-accreditation [https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-announces-strategic-partnership-with-comptia-to-launch-cybersecurity-accreditation] How the latest PLTW and AWS collaboration is accelerating access to AI education by expanding supports for students and teachers: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-named-winner-of-2025-amazon-web-services-imagine-grant-for-nonprofits [https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-named-winner-of-2025-amazon-web-services-imagine-grant-for-nonprofits]  Preparing students and educators for the future of work requires a national AI strategy like PLTW's: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-launches-national-ai-strategy-to-prepare-students-and-educators-for-the-future-of-work [https://www.pltw.org/about/news/project-lead-the-way-launches-national-ai-strategy-to-prepare-students-and-educators-for-the-future-of-work] The AI curriculum pilot expected to reach 1,600 students and 30 school districts in Massachusetts: https://www.pltw.org/about/news/new-ai-curriculum-pilot-to-reach-1600-massachusetts-students-across-30-school-districts [https://www.pltw.org/about/news/new-ai-curriculum-pilot-to-reach-1600-massachusetts-students-across-30-school-districts] Connect on Social Media: AWS (Amazon Web Services on LinkedIn) [https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon-web-services/posts/?feedView=all] AWS Nonprofits on X [https://x.com/AWS_Nonprofits] Sara Seba on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-seba/]

From the Classroom to the Feed: PLTW Teachers Growing Programs through Social Media

In this episode of InspirED: A PLTW podcast, Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media and Community Engagement sits down with three PLTW social media influencers to share their stories, vision, and advice on how to leverage social media to enhance their classrooms, programs, schools, and districts. * Are you a PLTW teacher on the fence about creating social media content from your classroom?   * Are you a building or district leader who needs creative ways to tell the story of your school/district?   * Why not learn from some of the best social media influencers out there? * Tune-in, learn, and connect! Host: Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media and Community Engagement at Project Lead The Way Guests: * Leah Pelletier, Biomedical Science teacher, McHenry Community High School, District 156, McHenry, IL. * Thomas Pfeiffer, STEM 2/Magnet Science teacher at Margaret Mead Junior High, School District 54, Schaumburg, IL. * Sarah McCambridge, Marketing Director, Bishop Miege Catholic High School in Roeland Park, KS of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Resources: * More social media promotion ideas from PLTW educators: https://www.pltw.org/blog/5-reasons-to-use-social-media-when-teaching-pltw [https://www.pltw.org/blog/5-reasons-to-use-social-media-when-teaching-pltw] * How PLTW alums can showcase their skills on LinkedIn: https://www.pltw.org/blog/showcase-your-pltw-skills-on-linkedin-with-new-profile-badges [https://www.pltw.org/blog/showcase-your-pltw-skills-on-linkedin-with-new-profile-badges] * Explore the curriculum these educators highlight at their schools: https://www.pltw.org/curriculum [https://www.pltw.org/curriculum]  Leah Pelletier * MCHS BioMed on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mchsbiomed/] * https://www.dist156.org/ [https://www.dist156.org/] Thomas Pfeifer * @thescienceseekersshow on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@thescienceseekersshow] * @thescienceseekersshow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thescienceseekersshow/] * Mead Junior High on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/meadmustangs54] * Mead Junior High on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/meadmustangs54/] * Website: https://mead.sd54.org/ [https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/wMvkCQWrO0sXklW4UksgSGvKum?domain=mead.sd54.org/] * Schaumburg 54 Schools on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/schaumburgd54schools/] * Website: https://sd54.org/ [https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/pkH5CVOzNPu2xkAjFkupSEJeRk?domain=sd54.org/] Sarah McCambridge * Sarah on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-mccambridge-66033227/] * School Website [https://www.bishopmiege.com] * Bishop Miege on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bishopmiegestags/] * Bishop Miege High School on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/bishop-miege-catholic-high-school/posts/?feedView=all]

When Passion Becomes a Profession

As part of our celebration of National Engineers Week, we decided to invite an amazing PLTW teacher and two future engineers and former PLTW students to talk about what it takes to make their career dreams a reality.  Dr. David Dimmett, President and CEO of Project Lead The Way sits down with PLTW teacher, Christopher Desmond, and two of his former students, Kammy Blake and Kevin Morris.  ------------------------------  Host:   Dr. David Dimmett, President & CEO of Project Lead The Way Guest(s):  * Christopher Desmond, CTE Teacher at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools  * Kameran Blake, Junior Mechanical Engineering major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.   * Kevin Morris, Junior Civil Engineering major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.    Resources:  College readiness improves for students who take at least one PLTW Engineering course—see the proof: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/impact-profiles/PLTW_Texas_OnePager.pdf [https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/impact-profiles/PLTW_Texas_OnePager.pdf]   Students who take more than one PLTW high school course are twice as likely to enroll in college and three times as likely to pursue a STEM major: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/impact-profiles/Missouri-PLTW_One-Pager_Digital.pdf [https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/impact-profiles/Missouri-PLTW_One-Pager_Digital.pdf]  Experience with industry-specific tools like Multism sets PLTW Engineering students apart from their peers: https://www.pltw.org/blog/pltw-ni-engineering-software-partnership [https://www.pltw.org/blog/pltw-ni-engineering-software-partnership]  Learn how Alex from Phillips 66 went from high school engineering to Phillips 66 Commercial and Business Development Senior Director: https://www.pltw.org/blog/phillips-66-pltw-partner-spotlight-engineering-career [https://www.pltw.org/blog/phillips-66-pltw-partner-spotlight-engineering-career]  Ardagh Group provides real-world career readiness and work-based learning: https://www.pltw.org/blog/ardagh-group-prepares-pltw-students-for-future-careers-in-their-own-communities [https://www.pltw.org/blog/ardagh-group-prepares-pltw-students-for-future-careers-in-their-own-communities]  Rural communities and school districts are getting ready for a growing opportunity in advanced manufacturing: https://www.pltw.org/blog/closing-manufacturing-skills-gap-rural-schools [https://www.pltw.org/blog/closing-manufacturing-skills-gap-rural-schools]  See the data behind the educational opportunity in advanced manufacturing boom: https://www.pltw.org/manufacturing-skills-gap-rural-schools-infographic [https://www.pltw.org/manufacturing-skills-gap-rural-schools-infographic]  Schools that combine the power of PLTW and NAF expand college and career readiness in high school: https://www.pltw.org/blog/how-to-expand-career-readiness-in-high-schools-naf-pltw [https://www.pltw.org/blog/how-to-expand-career-readiness-in-high-schools-naf-pltw]  Middle school students apply pre-engineering knowledge to develop prosthetics for community members: https://www.pltw.org/blog/middle-school-stem-prosthetics [https://www.pltw.org/blog/middle-school-stem-prosthetics]  A 48-hour innovation challenge gives PLTW Engineering students the chance to show off their skills: https://www.pltw.org/blog/pltw-students-shine-in-stadium-innovation-make48-challenge [https://www.pltw.org/blog/pltw-students-shine-in-stadium-innovation-make48-challenge]  National Engineers Week: https://www.nspe.org/connect/partners/engineers-week [https://www.nspe.org/connect/partners/engineers-week]  ------------------------------  Connect on Social Media:  Internship Company Website - Oerlikon [https://www.oerlikon.com/en/]  UNC Charlotte College of Engineering Website [https://engr.charlotte.edu/]  UNC Charlotte Engineering - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/clt_engineering?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D]    Facebook:   Hopewell Engineering and Manufacturing [https://www.facebook.com/hopewellengineering529]  Hopewell High School CMS [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086618148959]  Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools [https://www.facebook.com/CharMeckSchools]  UNC Charlotte Engineering [https://www.facebook.com/CLTEngineering]     LinkedIn:    Christopher Desmond [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherdesmond/]  Kameran Blake [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kameran-blake/]  Kevin Morris [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-morris-57b26132b/]  UNC Charlotte College of Engineering [https://www.linkedin.com/school/unc-charlotte-engineering/posts/?feedView=all]  Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools [https://www.linkedin.com/school/charmeckschools/posts/?feedView=all]  Superintendent - Crystal Hill, Ed.D. - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools [https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-hill-ed-d-98abb5207/]    Instagram:  Hopewell High School   [https://www.instagram.com/hopewell_hs/]  Hopewell Admin School  [https://www.instagram.com/hopewellhighschoolcms/]  Hopewell Engineering/Manufacturing  [https://www.instagram.com/hopewellengineering529/]

Students Will Change the World: How PLTW’s Community Impact Awards find the best and brightest innovators in the country.

We kick-off Season 2 of InspirED: A PLTW Podcast by talking about our Community Impact Awards!   On this episode, Katie Minihan, EVP & Chief Impact Officer at Project Lead The Way talks with two exceptional PLTW teachers who also helped guide students towards winning the Community Impact Award.  High School teachers, Danielle Weber and Jason Huber, discuss the whole experience, from finding inspiration, the journey, the projects/students today, and the projects/students in the future. Host:   Katie Minihan, EVP & Chief Impact Officer  Guest(s):  Danielle Weber  Danielle is a STEM educator with twenty years of experience teaching and supporting science programs in Stamford, Connecticut. She currently teaches at the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering and also works with educators through Project Lead The Way, Mass Learning Project, and Connecticut's Alternative Route to Certification program.     Her professional roles have focused on curriculum development, instructional support, and helping teachers build effective learning experiences for students.perf Her work has been recognized by organizations including the Connecticut Science Teachers Association, PLTW, and the Petit Family Foundation.    Jason Huber  Jason has been a Technology Education teacher since 1995 and a Project Lead The Way instructor since 2002. He has served as a PLTW Master Teacher for IED and CEA since 2008 and has taught at Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Illinois, since 2011. Beyond his PLTW, his experience includes leadership roles as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools and Assistant Principal.  Outside the classroom, Jason and his wife flip homes, and when time allows, he serves as a behind-the-wheel instructor for summer Drivers Education.    --------------------  Resources:  Woodstock Community Unit School District #200 [https://whs.woodstockschools.org/]    Students from the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering share how personal experiences inspired their award-winning project, “Pinch Pals”—a customizable, child-friendly device that reduces pain and anxiety for young patients with Type 1 Diabetes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm5h0Mo6bT8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm5h0Mo6bT8]    Students from Woodstock High School discuss how they turned their vision of making the city more walkable into an award-winning project designed for impact and supported by city officials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4MywtoZC98 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4MywtoZC98]    Ideas and innovations come to life in the PLTW Capstone course, where students apply what they’ve learned to solve a real-world problem. Learn more:  * PLTW Capstone Course Outline: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_Capstone_CourseOutline.pdf [https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_Capstone_CourseOutline.pdf]  * PLTW Capstone Course Resume: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_Capstone_CourseResume.pdf [https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_Capstone_CourseResume.pdf]  * PLTW Capstone Standards Connections: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_SA_CAPSTONE.pdf [https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_SA_CAPSTONE.pdf]  * PLTW High School Evidence Paper: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/mjtw-assets/pdfs/Evidence_Paper___PLTW_HS_6_30_21_1.pdf [https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/mjtw-assets/pdfs/Evidence_Paper___PLTW_HS_6_30_21_1.pdf]    These outstanding projects from PLTW students will inspire you: https://www.pltw.org/blog/from-classroom-to-community-pltw-projects-that-make-a-difference [https://www.pltw.org/blog/from-classroom-to-community-pltw-projects-that-make-a-difference]    Educators can use the engineering design process to build and expand partnerships—here's how: https://www.pltw.org/blog/guest-post-funding-and-grants-creating-engineering-partnerships [https://www.pltw.org/blog/guest-post-funding-and-grants-creating-engineering-partnerships]    Submissions for the 2026–27 Community Impact Awards are open—recognize your middle or high school students for their innovative ideas and commitment to making an impact: https://www.pltw.org/experience-pltw/awards-and-recognition/community-impact-awards [https://www.pltw.org/experience-pltw/awards-and-recognition/community-impact-awards]   -------------------- Connect on Social Media:  Woodstock High School [https://www.facebook.com/whsbluestreaks] on Facebook   Academy of Information Technology and Engineering at Stamford Public Schools [https://www.instagram.com/aite_pltw/] on Instagram  Stamford Public Schools [https://www.instagram.com/stamfordpublicschools/] on Instagram  Danielle Weber [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-weber-47561332/] on LinkedIn