In this episode of All Things Marketing and Education, Elana sits down with Kristina Ishmael, now an education Strategic Advisor of her own shop, Ishmael Consulting, but has a long journey through so many perspectives within education, at a classroom, district, state, and national level. We speak a lot about her recent experience as Deputy Director of the Office of EdTech, where she spent two years working on EdTech policy at the national level.
You might remember Kristina from our last episode, in which we covered the challenges and priorities of the updated National EdTech Plan.
In this episode, Kristina reflects on her unique journey within education and EdTech. She opens up about the one thing that’s helped guide her through it all. At the end, Kristina also gives some feedback on what EdTech vendors should and should not do when partnering with school districts and what EdTech excites her the most.
We hope you enjoy this episode of what we’re calling “the EdTech version of chicken noodle soup for the soul.” ❤️
Questions Asked:
Tell us a little bit about your background. You started as a teacher and ended up shaping national EdTech policy.
For those educators listening and being inspired by your story, what would you like to tell them? For those seeking a career transition outside of the classroom, what tips would you give them?
What products or types of EdTech have you seen make the most impact on teachers and students?
What tips or strategies have you seen work for EdTech brands? What are some things they MUST do? And conversely what do you hope they never do?
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Terms EdTech folks should know:
TPACK Model: a framework by which educators can effectively integrate technology into their teaching.
SAMR model: a framework that categorizes four different degrees of classroom technology integration.
Logic models: a document that captures the essence of a product on a single page.
Theories of change: a document that provides a roadmap for program design, implementation, and evaluation.
EdTech Product Design That Improves Learning Outcomes: A Conversation with Thor Prichard - a related podcast episode about centering pedagogy as a part of the EdTech design process.
Related EdTech journey episodes:
Using Social and Emotional Learning to Amplify Student Voice: A Conversation With Serena Robinett (a conversation with a classroom teacher turned EdTech professional)
Transitioning From Teaching to EdTech: A Conversation With Eman Haggag (a conversation with a classroom teacher turned EdTech professional)
How Teachers Can Expand Their Impact Beyond the Classroom: A Conversation with Lily Jones (an episode about some of the ways teachers using their expertise within EdTech)
Get in touch with Kristina: LinkedIn | Ishmael Consulting
Elana Leoni, Host
Elana Leoni has dedicated the majority of her career to improving K-12 education. Prior to founding LCG, she spent eight years leading the marketing and community strategy for the George Lucas Educational Foundation where she grew Edutopia’s social media presence exponentially to reach over 20 million education change-makers every month.
Kristina Ishmael, Guest
Kristina Ishmael is an innovative educator and advocate, leading the charge in promoting digital equity and opportunity in education. With a robust background that spans education policy, professional learning, and classroom instruction, she is deeply committed to empowering educators to effectively leverage technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), in the classroom. Kristina stands out as the lead for AI in education policy, focusing on ensuring AI applications are accessible, equitable, and enhance learning outcomes for all students. Her expertise also encompasses fostering inclusive learning environments where diverse voices are heard and amplified. As a thought leader and speaker, Kristina champions digital inclusion, edtech best practices, and meaningful professional learning. Her work, characterized by a passion for advancing education through technology and open educational resources, has made a significant impact on educators and learners alike, driving forward conversations on ethical AI use, digital equity, and the future of learning in a technology-driven world.
About All Things Marketing and Education
What if marketing was judged solely by the level of value it brings to its audience? Welcome to All Things Marketing and Education, a podcast that lives at the intersection of marketing and you guessed it, education. Each week, Elana Leoni, CEO of Leoni Consulting Group, highlights innovative social media marketing, community-building, and content marketing strategies that can significantly increase reach, relationships, and revenue.
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