The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast

What does effective technology leadership look like in K-12 education, especially at a time when schools face growing concerns about screen time, AI, online testing, and student technology use?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros speaks with Dr. Karla Burkholder, Deputy Executive Director of Texas Educational Technology Leaders (TETL), about why purposeful technology use matters more than blanket restrictions or unlimited access.

Dr. Burkholder shares how her classroom experience shaped her approach to technology leadership, from understanding why a one-minute login delay can create chaos in a classroom of first graders to recognizing that reliable systems, meaningful professional learning, and ongoing teacher support are essential.

The conversation also explores the growing backlash against screen time and educational technology, including the influence of narratives that do not always reflect how technology is actually used in schools. George and Dr. Burkholder discuss the tension between efforts to limit student technology use and state requirements for online testing, as well as the need for education leaders to better communicate the difference between passive screen time and purposeful learning with technology.

As Texas approaches another legislative session, Dr. Burkholder explains how TETL is working to advocate for a more accurate understanding of K-12 technology use. The discussion highlights why technology leaders must do more than manage devices and systems. They must lead through change, remain calm during uncertainty, think strategically, advocate for educators and students, and tell the story of what responsible technology use actually looks like in schools.

Topics include:

• Why classroom experience is a powerful foundation for technology leadership
• The difference between purposeful technology use and passive screen time
• How technology leaders can support teachers through reliable systems and training
• Why leadership, resilience, and change management matter as much as technical expertise
• The tension between online state testing and calls to reduce screen time
• How schools can better advocate for responsible technology use
• Why education leaders need to tell their story before others tell it for them

George also challenges listeners to identify their three biggest takeaways from the conversation as a way to synthesize and retain their learning.

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What keeps people moving when the journey gets hard?

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, George Couros reflects on a powerful video shared by Jay Shetty that captures marathon runners from above. Looking at the race from a distance, it becomes clear that every runner has a story. Every person cheering from the sidelines has a story as well. We rarely know what someone is carrying, yet we all have the opportunity to encourage one another.

🎥 Jay Shetty's video:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DX1hIEYuIo6/?hl=en

George also explores an insight shared by Canadian Olympian Sarah Wells, who notes that approximately 90 to 95 percent of marathon runners who start the race actually finish. While completing 26.2 miles is an incredible physical accomplishment, the deeper lesson is that people rarely finish alone. Community, encouragement, and shared purpose often make the difference between quitting and crossing the finish line.

🏃 Sarah Wells on marathon finishers:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Da6XHynO3vz/?hl=en

The conversation then shifts to artificial intelligence and learning. George shares how he recently spent more than three hours designing a single slide for an upcoming keynote at the Miami-Dade School Principals Conference. Shortly afterward, he heard someone proudly explain that AI had generated an entire keynote presentation in just 30 seconds.

The question is not whether AI can save us time. It clearly can.

The real question is this: What do we lose when we no longer wrestle with ideas, revise our thinking, and intentionally create our own work? Often, the learning happens during the process, not simply in the finished product.

As George shares:

"Deep learning is crucial, but our human relationships are what will guarantee that schools remain relevant for much longer than we can imagine."

Whether we are running a marathon, leading a school, or designing meaningful learning experiences, lasting success is built on two foundations: strong relationships and thoughtful learning.

Three Big Takeaways
• Community helps people accomplish what they often could not achieve on their own. The finish line is rarely reached in isolation.

• AI can accelerate production, but we should be careful not to outsource the thinking that helps us grow as learners and leaders.

• Schools will continue to matter because they are built on human connection. Technology can support learning, but relationships give learning its purpose.

Questions for Discussion

Who has been part of your community that helped you keep going when you wanted to quit?

How do you decide when AI is helping your thinking versus replacing it?

What can educators and leaders do to build communities where people feel supported enough to do hard things?

If this conversation challenged your thinking, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone who believes that innovation, leadership, and meaningful learning always begin with strong relationships.

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What happens when we put teaching and learning at the center of educational leadership?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Dawn Bridges, Associate Director of Professional Learning for the Illinois Association for School Administrators (IASA), to talk about the upcoming IASA 62nd Annual Conference, taking place September 30–October 2 in Springfield.

Dawn and I talk about the conference, what school leaders can expect, and—more importantly—what makes a professional learning experience truly meaningful. We explore the idea that great leadership in education is grounded in doing everything we can to support teaching and learning in our classrooms. When leaders stay connected to the work of teaching and learning, they are better equipped to lead their schools.

That same philosophy is at the heart of how Dawn approaches professional learning. The experiences we create for educators should look a lot like the experiences we want for students: engaging, relevant, personalized, conversational, and grounded in learning with and from others.

With so many great things happening in Illinois schools, Dawn sees the conference as an opportunity for school leaders to learn from one another, personalize their experience around what they need, and have the kinds of conversations that can lead to new ideas and meaningful growth.

Ultimately, Dawn's goal is for people to leave the conference better than when they arrived—and excited to come back because the experience was that valuable.

We also talk about my upcoming keynote on October 1 and how the ideas behind the keynote connect to this larger conversation about leadership, learning, relationships, and moving education forward together.

Learn more about my keynote:
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Wait-Is-Over--Meet-Our-Second-General-Session-Speaker.html?soid=1103777180704&aid=l7RLjHlb7PY

Learn more about Dr. Dawn Bridges:
https://www.iasaedu.org/about/iasa-staff

Learn more about IASA Professional Learning:
https://www.iasaedu.org/professional-development

Learn more about the IASA 62nd Annual Conference:
https://www.iasaedu.org/professional-development/iasa-annual-conference

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Strong schools are built by recognizing strengths, not just fixing weaknesses.

In this episode, I explore why the way we develop educators ultimately shapes the experiences of every student they serve. Inspired by a recent ISTE presentation from Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket on the importance of identifying and building student strengths, I ask a simple question:

What if we approached our staff the same way?

I share a story from The Innovator's Mindset about Ontario education headlines that focused almost entirely on declining math scores, while overlooking significant gains in literacy. Instead of only asking, "Why did math go down?" we should also have been asking, "What did we do so well in literacy, and how can we build on that success?"

The same mindset applies to leadership.

This isn't about ignoring areas for growth. Every educator, every student, and every organization has room to improve. But when we begin with strengths, people feel seen, valued, and capable. Those strengths become the foundation for meaningful growth, rather than improvement feeling like a constant effort to fix what's broken.

When leaders intentionally build on their staff's strengths, those strengths ripple into classrooms, creating richer learning experiences and helping students discover and develop their unique gifts.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why strengths-based leadership leads to stronger schools
• The connection between staff growth and student success
• What Ontario's literacy story can teach us about improvement
• Why beginning with strengths increases trust, ownership, and motivation
• How to address weaknesses without allowing them to define people

Special thanks to Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket for the inspiration behind this conversation. Watch her video here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Dauzge3DRMn/

I'd love to hear your thoughts:

How do you intentionally identify and build on the strengths of your staff?

When have you seen a person's strengths create unexpected growth for others?

How can schools create a culture where strengths become the starting point for improvement, not the finish line?

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who believes great schools are built by developing great people.

 

Check out "The Innovator's Mindset" where I have an entire chapter on Strengths-Based Leadership: https://a.co/d/0de51Bia

 

Also, Innovate Inside the Box focuses on "5 Questions to Ask Your Students to Start the School Year":  https://a.co/d/0j8cFTHs

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What does it take to build a school culture where every student is challenged, valued, and inspired to reach their potential?

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, George Couros sits down with Anne Uberti, Superintendent of Newtown Public Schools, and Frank Purcaro, Assistant Superintendent, to discuss the vision behind the district's upcoming Convocation Day and the beliefs that shape their work with students and staff.

Together, they explore why meaningful learning often requires productive struggle, how educators can recognize the unique strengths of every learner, and why building a culture of high expectations starts with believing every student is capable of growth. The conversation also highlights Newtown's commitment to inquiry-based learning, Building Thinking Classrooms, and creating experiences that continue influencing educators long after a keynote ends.

Drawing connections to George's book Forward, Together, the discussion reinforces a simple but powerful idea: every student deserves to know they are good at something, even if they are not all good at the same thing. When schools embrace challenge, relationships, and community, they create environments where both students and educators can thrive.

Whether you're a teacher, principal, district leader, or anyone passionate about creating stronger school communities, this conversation offers practical insights into leadership, learning, and sustaining meaningful change.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why challenge, not comfort, leads to deeper learning.

How to help every student recognize and develop their unique strengths.

What makes professional learning experiences create lasting impact.

Why community partnerships strengthen school culture.

How district leaders build a shared vision that extends beyond a single event.

Reflection Questions

How do you ensure every student experiences both challenge and success in your school?

What professional learning experiences have stayed with you long after they ended, and why?

How can schools create cultures where every learner is known for their strengths while still being pushed to grow?

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/