Vrain Waves: Teaching Conversations with Minds Shaping Education

Latest Episodes:

Building life skills builds community! Oct 23, 2026

Show notes

Following up on our episode with Cornelius Minor, tune in to hear how two incredible SVVS educators, Matt Bado and Dave Elchoness, not only build community in their classrooms but also create relationships that last a lifetime. They’re teaching more than just content; they're modeling LIFE SKILLS, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. Saying, “I care about you as a whole person - not just a math student or a junior who happens to be here this semester”, says I care about the adult that you’ll eventually become. THAT is truly the definition of creating community in your classroom.

What's Your Classroom Story? Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

Drumroll please...here comes Season 9 of Vrain Waves! We are so fortunate to have educational giant, speaker, and author Cornelius Minor returning to the show. Education is a story; your classroom is the setting, and we write the narrative of our classroom culture; it's not created accidentally. Tune in as we engage in a beautiful conversational story about how we ensure ALL our students feel successful in our care.

Stronger Learning at All Ages! May 15, 2026

Show notes

Wrapping up Season 8 with three outstanding St. Vrain educators who continually seek to refine their practice. We don't need to redo everything every year! Small, intentional shifts in language, error-analysis protocols, and reflection make a huge difference in these classrooms. All of which directly translates to inspiring students to own their learning and stay curious. Smart teaching, stronger learning at all ages!

@SuzannahEvans2

@drshanesaeed

Pooja K. Agarwal

Smart Teaching, Stronger Learning! Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

We can't say enough about the collective efficacy that contributed to this incredible book, Smart Teaching Stronger Learning, but more importantly, the collective efficacy that is built when we incorporate science of learning practices. Our biggest takeaway: Don't be intimidated by these concepts! They are actually "bite-sized adjustments" you can make that will result in powerful shifts for your teaching and for your students' learning. Let's leverage what we're already doing in the classroom, intentionally name the practices, explain why they will build long-term memory, and implement these practices routinely! Stronger Learning, here we come!

@SuzannahEvans2

@Drshanesaeed

Pooja K. Agarwal

Smart Teaching Stronger Learning

Berklee College of Music: Dancing w The Stars

ETHOS behind the AI Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

We are highlighting our incredible St. Vrain Valley AI team in this episode, and their work over the last three years has resulted in an Ethical, Transparent, Human-centered, Opportunity-focused, and Safe AI framework. Keeping people, not tools, at the center of this work is the priority, and let's ask ourselves, "Will AI help our students grow, or just get it done?" "Is it a value-add and elevation of the content, or just an unnecessary extra step?" Tune in for some thoughtful conversation around our AI work and how we keep grounded in the ever-changing world of education and technology!

ETHOS: A Responsible Approach for AI in Education

Exploration AI: Beyond the Algorithm

AI: I can, but should I? Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

Tune in for one of our most important episodes with educator, author, and speaker Matt Miller. Facing an ever-changing educational system requires putting on our "Tomorrow Glasses", along with a healthy dose of optimism and skepticism. While we can leverage AI and technology to create engagement and lighten some of our workload, it's sound, fundamental pedagogy that's still the foundation for how we serve our students best. So as we plan our lessons, let's ask ourselves, "I can use technology, but should I?

Matt Miller

Suzannah Evans

Shane Saeed

Scaffolding in the Classroom; rooted in empathy Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

Tune into one of our favorite conversations ever with master teacher Wendy Schuller, who grounds her scaffolding principles in empathy for her students. What would I need as a 5th-grader in this moment?, How am I using my data to determine what my students need? and What is the endgame for pulling the scaffolding back? are her guiding questions on a daily basis. Observing, responding, and bridging for the win!

@SuzannahEvans2

@drshanesaeed

The Scaffolding Effect

The Scaffolding Effect: Hunting, not Fishing Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Bringing 2025 to a close with one of our most important conversations! Tune in as we chat with educator-authors, Rachel Ball and Alex Fairlamb, on why we need to be hunters in our classrooms, searching for student understanding, instead of hoping and fishing for mastery. The Scaffolding Effect is one of the best professional development books we've ever read; truly scaffolding and chunking material down for all of us to understand. Happy year-end to all of our listeners!

AI in the Classroom: Enhancement, Inspiration, & Reflection Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

The perfect follow-up to our episode last month with Dr. Catlin Tucker, three rockstar St. Vrain Valley educators give us a peek into how they're using AI as an enhancement tool, as inspiration and a thought-partner for students, a coach for themselves, and the ultimate brainstorming generator. Tune in to get inspired yourself and start to embrace our new AI reality!

Exploration AI: Conversations Beyond the Algorithm

Season 8 is here! Leverage and Lean into AI! Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Season 8! Dr. Catlin Tucker is back on the show, talking with us about how we can leverage AI to be a thought partner. How can we thoughtfully design learning pathways, lean into AI for the pieces that have traditionally taken up our time, and be more available for human connection? Tune in as we discuss UDL, sustainable practices, elevating our teaching, and always, always, ensuring our students leave the classroom with agency and motivation!

@Catlin_Tucker

@SuzannahEvans2

@drshanesaeed

Elevating Educational Design with AI

The Shift to Student-Led

CatlinTucker.com