My EdTech Life

The Framework Every CTE Teacher Needs ft. Tisha Richmond | My EdTech Life 348

Career and Technical Education is often overlooked, misunderstood, or siloed. In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amendoza1381/] sits down with Tisha Richmond [https://www.tisharichmond.com/], veteran CTE educator and author of The Magical CTE Classroom [https://amzn.to/48Iy6SY], to unpack what meaningful, joyful, and real-world CTE learning actually looks like. Tisha shares her journey from the classroom to edtech and back again, why CTE teachers face unique challenges, and how intentional design can transform labs, kitchens, workshops, and hands-on learning spaces into powerful environments for creativity, collaboration, and career readiness. This conversation explores how CTE classrooms can move beyond compliance and certifications toward engagement, student agency, and authentic learning experiences that prepare students for the real world of work. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to My EdTech Life 02:10 – Who Is Tisha Richmond 05:20 – From Industry to the CTE Classroom 08:45 – Why CTE Teachers Feel Siloed 12:30 – The Story Behind The Magical CTE Classroom 16:10 – The MAGICAL Framework Explained 21:40 – Gamifying Vocabulary in CTE 26:30 – Safety, Structure, and Lab-Based Learning 31:20 – Industry Certifications and Real-World Skills 36:10 – Teaching Employability Through Play 41:10 – Challenges Facing CTE Educators Today 45:30 – Where to Find Tisha’s Work 48:00 – Final Thoughts and Stay Techie Connect with Tisha Richmond: Website: tisharichmond.com [https://www.tisharichmond.com/] LinkedIn: Tisha Richmond [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tishrich/] Instagram: @tisharichmond [https://www.instagram.com/makelearningmagical/] About the Host: Dr. Alfonso Mendoza [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amendoza1381/] is the host of My EdTech Life, a podcast amplifying educator voices and exploring how technology, creativity, and intentional design shape learning experiences. 👉 Subscribe for conversations that move beyond buzzwords and focus on what actually works in classrooms. Peel Back Education [https://www.peelbackeducation.com/] exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. [https://bookcreator.com/?utm_campaign=4566333-H1%202025%20Be%20an%20Author%20Month&utm_source=myedtechlife&utm_medium=podcast] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/myedtechlife]

The Mission Behind Day of AI ft. Jeff Riley | My EdTech Life 347

In this episode of My EdTech Life, Jeff Riley breaks down the mission behind Day of AI and the work of MIT RAISE to help schools, districts, families, and students understand artificial intelligence safely, ethically, and with purpose. Jeff brings 32 years of experience as a teacher, counselor, principal, superintendent, and former Massachusetts Commissioner of Education. His transition to MIT RAISE reveals why AI literacy, student safety, and clear policy matter more than ever. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome & Sponsor Shoutouts 01:45 Jeff Riley’s Background in Education 04:00 Why MIT RAISE and Day of AI 06:00 The Challenge: AI Policy, Safety & Equity 08:30 How AI Can Transform Teaching & Learning 10:30 Differentiation, Accessibility & Student Support 12:30 Helping Teachers Feel Confident Using AI 15:00 Leading AI Adoption at the District Level 18:00 What AI Literacy Should Mean for Students 20:00 Teaching Healthy Skepticism & Bias Awareness 23:00 Student Voice in AI Policy 26:00 Parent Awareness & Common Sense Media Toolkit 29:00 Responsible AI for America’s Youth 31:00 America’s Youth AI Festival & Student Leadership 34:30 National Vision for AI in Education 37:00 Closing Thoughts + 3 Signature Questions 41:00 Stay Techie Resources Mentioned Day of AI Curriculum: https://dayofai.org [https://dayofai.org] MIT RAISE: https://raise.mit.edu [https://raise.mit.edu] Sponsors 📚 Book Creator [https://bookcreator.com/?utm_campaign=4566333-H1%202025%20Be%20an%20Author%20Month&utm_source=myedtechlife&utm_medium=podcast] 🤖 Eduaide [https://www.eduaide.ai/] 🎓 Peel Back Education [https://www.peelbackeducation.com/] Peel Back Education [https://www.peelbackeducation.com/] exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. [https://bookcreator.com/?utm_campaign=4566333-H1%202025%20Be%20an%20Author%20Month&utm_source=myedtechlife&utm_medium=podcast] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/myedtechlife]

How Relief Roster Fixes Substitute Chaos ft. Kyle Sumrow | My EdTech Life 346

Today on My EdTech Life, I sit down with Kyle Sumrow [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-sumrow-869516183/], educator, developer, and Director of Outreach and Development at Tech My School, to break down Relief Roster [https://reliefroster.com/], a powerful substitute management and volunteer coordination system designed to streamline the entire sub process for schools. Kyle shares how Relief Roster [https://reliefroster.com/] solves the daily scramble schools face with substitutes, onboarding, scheduling, PTO tracking, and volunteer management. We unpack how customizable schedules, skill-based sub assignments, integrated communications, and equity-based pricing make this tool a real solution for under-resourced schools and large districts alike. If you're looking for smarter ways to manage substitutes, automate absence tracking, improve communication, and bring more efficiency to your campus or district, this episode is packed with practical insights. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Technical Setup 02:09 Kyle's Background and Journey in Education 05:00 The Birth of Relief Roster 08:21 Customizability and User Experience of Relief Roster 11:13 Analytics and HR Integration 14:19 Volunteer Management and Onboarding Process 17:25 Demonstration of Relief Roster Features 33:58 Navigating Absence Management 40:26 Customizing Substitute Requests 43:16 Optimizing Substitute Utilization 48:45 Volunteer Management Integration 54:59 Data-Driven Decision Making 01:00:29 Equity-Based Pricing in Education Technology Sponsors 📚 Book Creator [https://bookcreator.com/?utm_campaign=4566333-H1%202025%20Be%20an%20Author%20Month&utm_source=myedtechlife&utm_medium=podcast] 🤖 Eduaide [https://www.eduaide.ai/] 📊 Yellowdig [https://yellowdig.co/] 🎓 Peel Back Education [https://www.peelbackeducation.com/] Thank you for supporting My EdTech Life and helping bring meaningful conversations to educators everywhere. Peel Back Education [https://www.peelbackeducation.com/] exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. [https://bookcreator.com/?utm_campaign=4566333-H1%202025%20Be%20an%20Author%20Month&utm_source=myedtechlife&utm_medium=podcast] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/myedtechlife]

Inside the UK’s Big Adobe Express Movement ft. Sean McLaughlin | My EdTech Life 345

Inside the UK’s Big Adobe Express Movement ft. Sean McLaughlin | My EdTech Life 345 In this conversation, I sit down with Sean McLaughlin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-mclaughlin-/], Adobe for Education’s UK Community & Partnerships Lead, to explore how Adobe Express [https://new.express.adobe.com/], guided creativity, and purposeful AI are reshaping teaching and learning across the UK.  From live lessons with Dom & Merit, to outreach programs with Manchester United Football Club, to powerful creative workflows that build student confidence, Sean shares what’s possible when teachers have the right tools — and the right community. If you’ve ever wondered how Adobe Express works in real classrooms, why UK educators are embracing scaffolded creative tools, or how community-driven EdTech grows globally, this episode brings you front-row insight. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 02:57 Adobe Express and Its Impact on Education 05:51 Community Building and Engagement in EdTech 08:55 Guided Learning Activities and Student Engagement 11:50 Overcoming Misconceptions About Adobe Express 15:06 The Role of Community in Educator Empowerment 17:51 Live Lessons and Real-World Applications 27:29 Meeting Teachers Where They Are 29:58 12 Days of Creativity 32:50 Amplifying Creativity in Education 36:47 Creating Yee-Haw Moments 40:34 Connecting with the Community Sean's Shared Links: Adobe Express UK Education Links [https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/bZstDIKeAhHfM] 12 days of creativity | Adobe for Education [https://www.adobeforeducation.com/k-12/12-days-of-creativity?utm_source=adobe_community_team&utm_medium=linkedin&utm_campaign=12_days] Europe ACE Community [https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/6pVe30dq2Wvbc#resources] Sponsor Shoutout: A massive thank-you to our sponsors: Book Creator [https://bookcreator.com/?utm_campaign=4566333-H1%202025%20Be%20an%20Author%20Month&utm_source=myedtechlife&utm_medium=podcast], use code MYEDTECHLIFE for 3 months of premium access. Thank you, EduAide [https://www.eduaide.ai/], Yellowdig [https://yellowdig.co/], and Peel Back Education [https://www.peelbackeducation.com/] for supporting these conversations. Peel Back Education [https://www.peelbackeducation.com/] exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. [https://bookcreator.com/?utm_campaign=4566333-H1%202025%20Be%20an%20Author%20Month&utm_source=myedtechlife&utm_medium=podcast] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/myedtechlife]

How CTE Really Works for Students ft. Dr. Joey Mendoza | My EdTech Life 344

How CTE Really Works for Students ft. Dr. Joey Mendoza | My EdTech Life 344 CTE is changing fast. Certifications, digital skills, pathways, tutoring, attendance, career pipelines—there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Joey Mendoza [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-mendoza1/], a South Texas educator and freshly-minted doctoral researcher who has worked across classrooms, regional service centers, EdTech companies, and now the CTE space with YaizY [https://yaizy.io/].  We unpack what CTE really looks like today: what works, what doesn’t, where students get stuck, and why attendance—yes, attendance—may matter more than tutoring when it comes to math achievement. We also break down how digital-first CTE programs can help students earn real certifications that actually translate into job-ready skills.  Timestamps: 0:00 Welcome And Sponsor Shoutouts 1:16 Introducing Dr. Joey Mendoza 2:50 From Classroom To Edtech And STEM 5:20 Hands‑On STEM And Student Impact 8:05 Entering CTE: Digital Skills And Pathways 11:07 Digital Nomads And Remote Work Futures 13:18 Certifications And Early Pathway Access 16:20 Myths And Mindsets About CTE 19:10 Funding, Access, And Stacking Credentials 22:00 How YaizY Works From Grade 4 Up 24:20 Barriers To Strong CTE Programs 28:10 Culture, Data, And ROI In CTE 31:10 Why Districts Must Lead With Industry 32:32 Dissertation Setup: Tutoring And STAR Math 34:30 Key Finding: Attendance Outweighs Tutoring 37:10 Rethinking Tutoring, Fidelity, And Alignment 39:40 Attendance Realities And Family Factors 42:00 Next Steps For After‑School Effectiveness 44:00 Closing Thoughts And Rapid‑Fire Questions 47:10 Thank Yous, Links, And Sign‑Off Sponsors A massive thank-you to our sponsors: Book Creator [https://bookcreator.com/?utm_campaign=4566333-H1%202025%20Be%20an%20Author%20Month&utm_source=myedtechlife&utm_medium=podcast], use code MYEDTECHLIFE for 3 months of premium access. Thank you, EduAide [https://www.eduaide.ai/], Yellowdig [https://yellowdig.co/], and Peel Back Education [https://www.peelbackeducation.com/] for supporting these conversations. Peel Back Education [https://www.peelbackeducation.com/] exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. [https://bookcreator.com/?utm_campaign=4566333-H1%202025%20Be%20an%20Author%20Month&utm_source=myedtechlife&utm_medium=podcast] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/myedtechlife]