AI, Human Connection, and the Future of Boarding Schools with Susan Baldridge

AI, Human Connection, and the Future of Boarding Schools with Susan Baldridge

On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Dr. Susan Baldridge, Executive Director of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of boarding schools and the challenges school leaders are navigating today. Susan shares her perspective on the evolving "triple threat" faculty model, changing workforce expectations, staff wellness, residential life, enrollment pressures, and the growing role of AI in education. The discussion explores how schools are balancing long-standing traditions with modern realities, from professionalizing dorm life to helping students develop the uniquely human skills that technology cannot replace. They also dive into international enrollment trends, cell phone policies, student development, and why boarding schools may become even more valuable in an age where information is instantly available. If you're interested in leadership, education, and what schools need to do to prepare students for the future, this episode is worth the listen. Show notes: 00:00 — Welcome + Susan Baldridge introduction 03:00 — Is the traditional boarding school model changing? 07:30 — Staff wellness, burnout, and workforce expectations 13:00 — Professionalizing residential life 18:55 — AI, human connection, and the boarding school advantage 24:40 — The "drawbridge" approach to AI in schools 27:10 — Cell phones, self-discipline, and student development 37:45 — Enrollment trends and international recruitment 44:25 — The challenges facing smaller schools 48:25 — Why Susan remains hopeful about education Learn more about TABS and Susan Baldridge: https://www.tabs.org/new-executive-director/

AI, Student Integrity, and the Future of School Leadership with Vanessa Wade

On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Vanessa Wade, Assistant Head of School at King's-Edgehill School, for a thoughtful conversation on what AI is already changing inside schools — and what leaders need to pay closer attention to before the shift moves even faster. Vanessa brings the perspective of a school leader working at the intersection of student well-being, discipline, leadership, and strategic decision-making. The conversation explores the changing meaning of cheating, the growing ambiguity around AI use in classrooms, the risks of deepfakes and student harm, and the reality that many schools are still building policy in real time. They also dive into data privacy, board-level responsibility, mental health concerns, and why the future of school may look very different than it does today. If you want a grounded look at how AI is affecting real students, real schools, and real leadership decisions right now, this is the episode. Show notes: 00:00 — Welcome + Vanessa Wade introduction 02:15 — AI at the leadership level + shifting expectations 04:30 — Student behavior changes + integrity concerns 07:10 — Getting answers without learning 09:30 — Is cheating still cheating? 11:15 — AI and student curiosity 14:05 — Are students being introduced to AI too early? 16:10 — AI in student life: discipline + deepfakes 20:20 — When schools involve law enforcement 26:15 — Data privacy + risks of using AI in schools 30:30 — Using AI for student data + decision-making 32:25 — Lack of policy + schools figuring it out in real time 34:25 — AI and mental health concerns 39:45 — Fear vs. excitement: leadership perspective 41:00 — Biggest mistakes schools will make with AI 43:05 — What happens if schools do nothing 46:20 — What boards should be focused on 48:30 — Will AI make schools better or just different? 52:15 — The next major shift in education Connect with Vanessa Wade: linkedin.com/in/vanessa-wade-b6387515 [http://linkedin.com/in/vanessa-wade-b6387515]

AI in Education, Critical Thinking, and the Future of Teaching with Alec Couros

On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Dr. Alec Couros, professor of educational technology and media and director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Regina, for a deep and timely conversation on the role of AI in education. The conversation explores one of the biggest challenges facing schools today: how to integrate AI while maintaining strong pedagogy and human connection. Alec shares insights on cognitive offloading, critical thinking, misinformation, and why writing still matters more than ever in a world where AI can generate almost anything instantly. They also unpack the risks of over-prioritizing efficiency in education, the future of personalized learning, and why educators need to be intentional about how these tools are used — not just what they can do, but what they should do. Show notes: 00:00 — Introduction to Alec Couros 01:11 — Alec's background and how he found his path into education 04:16 — Balancing AI integration with strong pedagogy 05:27 — "Pedagogy first, technology second" 07:18 — Is critical thinking changing in the age of AI? 08:56 — AI grading, black-box processes, and bias in assessment 14:23 — Productive struggle, learning, and cognitive offloading 17:42 — When students should be introduced to AI tools 19:18 — Why writing is thinking 23:18 — Misinformation, deepfakes, and teaching digital discernment 28:22 — What keeps Alec up at night about AI in education 29:35 — Efficiency, teacher perception, and controlling the narrative 31:58 — Personalized learning, isolation, and protecting human connection 33:25 — AI tutors, non-certified guides, and the future of school models 36:31 — Curriculum upheaval and what is still worth learning 39:25 — The pace of AI development and whether educators need to keep up 44:52 — The future of personalized learning in the classroom 51:58 — Lightning round 55:11 — Final reflections on alignment, values, and what AI ought not do

Inside Experiential Learning: Why Relevance Matters More Than Ever with Gabriel Flacks

On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh sit down with Gabriel Flacks, co-founder of Linkr and a humanities instructor at Champlain College in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, for a wide-ranging conversation about experiential learning, virtual exchange, and what happens when traditional institutional software no longer fits the way students actually learn. Gabe shares how his work as an educator — and his frustration with rigid academic tools — led him to build Linkr, a platform designed to make learning more collaborative, relevant, and connected to life beyond the classroom. The conversation explores what meaningful experiential learning really looks like, from reflection and authentic audience to co-curricular programs, athletics, and global classroom partnerships. Gabe also digs into the challenge and opportunity of AI in education: why students are becoming more hesitant to use their own voice, why vulnerability matters more than ever, and why schools may need to rethink not just assessment, but relevance itself. It's a thoughtful episode for educators, school leaders, and anyone asking what learning should feel like in 2026 and beyond. Show notes: 00:00 – Introducing Gabriel Flacks and the origin story behind Linkr 01:17 – Understanding Quebec's CEGEP system and why Gabe was drawn to it 05:06 – Why the 17-to-19 transition is such a powerful learning window 06:00 – Gabe's approach to experiential learning and why relevance matters 08:10 – From blogging and volunteer work to building a better platform 09:50 – Why Linkr was built as a safe, social, networked learning space 11:08 – Early adoption, virtual exchange, and Linkr's evolution into SaaS 16:22 – Reflection, virtual exchange, and what meaningful learning looks like in practice 20:42 – Co-curricular learning and the challenge of measuring growth 25:18 – Why reflection matters in athletics, wellness, and student development 30:08 – AI, vulnerability, and the growing importance of student voice 37:56 – Lightning Round + the future of Linkr, badging, and experiential learning at scale Learn more about Linkr: https://app.linkreducation.com/ [https://app.linkreducation.com/] This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management. To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com [http://www.reachboarding.com] Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call, don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.

Cloud, Control, and Risk: Where Schools Get Data Ownership Wrong

On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Keith Krass, Vice President of Partnerships and Global Strategy at Veracross, for a real-world look at how technology has shifted inside independent schools over the last decade. What used to be a "necessary evil" has become central to operations, student safety, and decision-making — and the people leading technology are increasingly becoming true campus leaders. The conversation gets practical fast: cloud vs. on-prem, risk and resiliency, the critical importance of multi-factor authentication, and why schools still struggle with silos — not just between systems, but between people. Keith also breaks down why institutional research is emerging in K–12, and why schools that don't learn to use their data to ask better questions may fall behind. Show notes: 00:00 — Welcome + Keith Krass introduction 00:54 - Keith's background: educators, coaching, student development 03:00 - Biggest shifts in independent schools over the last decade (tech's role) 03:25 - Two buckets: cutting-edge schools vs. bare-minimum tech adoption 04:30 - "Outside the solar system to the sun": tech becomes central 05:13 - Cloud vs. on-prem: how the nature of work changed 06:45 - Risk & resiliency: fire, breach, backups, and operational continuity 07:33 - Cloud interdependence + the "expert team" tradeoff 08:27 - The false sense of control + why schools need the "why" explained 09:25 - Data ownership: the questions schools should ask vendors 10:01 - Data hostage stories + why access matters when switching systems 10:30 - The shift from IT director to CTO-level leadership in schools 12:17 - Tech's connection to student safety + thriving through data 13:50 - Tech leaders moving into head roles + why that pathway is growing 27:38 - Lightning round: AI hype, MFA security win, deepfakes, phones, and change management Learn more about Veracross: https://www.veracross.com/ [https://www.veracross.com/] This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management. To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com [http://www.reachboarding.com] Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call, don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.