In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Gerry Hanley, Chief Academic Officer at Partner in Publishing, sits down with Darren Catalano, CEO and co-founder of HelioCampus, for a conversation about the pressures reshaping higher education and how institutions can use data to make better decisions about their future.

Darren shares his journey from financial economics and industry analytics to higher education leadership at University of Maryland Global Campus and, ultimately, founding HelioCampus to help institutions use data for strategic decision-making. Drawing on his experience both inside higher education and as an EdTech partner, he explains why institutions are facing a fundamental shift from an era of enrollment growth and relatively easy expansion toward a new reality focused on accountability, financial sustainability, and outcomes.

In their conversation, Gerry and Darren unpack the growing importance of understanding the economics of higher education, from enrollment and demographic shifts to program-level performance, cost structures, and the question of whether a college degree delivers sufficient value for students. Drawing on his experience building a "hub and spoke" model at UMGC, he explains why successful institutional transformation requires relationships, shared governance, and tools that help different campus communities make better decisions together.

Whether you're a higher education leader, institutional researcher, EdTech professional, or someone interested in the future of colleges and universities, this episode offers a practical examination of how data, governance, and AI are shaping how institutions understand and manage their missions.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

2:25: Meet Darren Catalano and His Journey Into Higher Education Analytics

3:10: Why HelioCampus Was Built Around Data-Driven Decision Making

6:12: Evaluating Partners in Higher Education

8:02: The Demographic Enrollment Cliff

9:30: Balancing Mission and Margin in a New Era of Higher Ed

11:22: Why Understanding the Economics of Higher Education Matters

13:40: Using Data to Take the Emotion Out of Difficult Decisions

15:41: Accreditation, Accountability, and the New Financial Sustainability Requirements

17:35: Looking Forward: Data, ROI, and Positive Post-Graduation Outcomes

19:39: The Carrot and the Stick: Mission, Accountability, and Institutional Change

21:20: Generative AI and the Next Disruption in Higher Education

23:00: Why Trusted AI Requires Trusted Data

25:45: The Rise of the Chief Data and AI Officer

38:31: Shared Tools, Standards, and the Future of AI in Higher Ed

Resources:

HelioCampus

HelioCampus on LinkedIn

Darren Catalano

Partner in Publishing

Partner in Publishing on LinkedIn

Gerry Hanley

Lisa March

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Allison Langley, Senior Marketing Strategist and Manager with Partner in Publishing, sits down with Allison Maudlin, VP of Marketing at Unlimited Instruction, for a conversation about the evolving role of technology, tutoring, and human connection in K-12 education.

Allison shares her journey from classroom teacher to education marketer and explains what drew her to Unlimited Instruction, an organization focused on helping schools address teacher shortages by finding, training, and placing educators, paraprofessionals, specialists, and tutors through alternative pathways.

Together, they explore the changing tutoring landscape and why meeting students where they are requires more than technology alone. The conversation also dives into alternative pathways into teaching, the changing expectations of parents and families, education technology and screen-time concerns, and how AI is prompting both marketers and educators to rethink the way they work.

Finally, Allison shares advice for marketers entering the education space: know your audience, understand their challenges, meet them where they are, and—above all—be useful.

Whether you're an EdTech leader, education marketer, school district decision-maker, or someone interested in the future of tutoring and teacher recruitment, this episode offers a thoughtful look at why the future of education may depend on finding the right balance between technology and humans.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks

1:22: Meet Allison Maudlin and Her Journey Into Education Marketing

3:13: Unlimited Instruction: Humans Helping Humans, Helping Humans

5:43: Alternative Pathways Into Teaching

7:42: Making Tutoring More Accessible and Meeting Students Where They Are

10:25: Parent Choice, Personalized Learning, and the Changing Education Landscape

12:40: Screen-Time Restrictions and Why Balance Matters

14:20: Bringing the Human Element Back to Education and Technology

17:12: Marketing People, Not Software: The Power of Storytelling

20:30: Scaling Human Support for School Districts

22:09: Measuring the Impact of Relationship-Driven Education Marketing

24:02: Allison's Advice for Education Marketers: Know Your Audience and Be Useful

Resources

Unlimited Instruction

Unlimited Instruction (LinkedIn)

Allison Maudlin

Partner in Publishing

Allison Langley

Lisa March

AI is moving quickly into schools, and reactions range from cautious to enthusiastic.

What does it mean to teach AI before it teaches us?

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Lisa March, president and founder of Partner in Publishing, sits down with Jeff Riley, Executive Director of Day of AI, to explore how schools can approach artificial intelligence with intention and responsibility.

Jeff shares the mission behind Day of AI, a research-led, movement-minded organization focused on empowering students to become informed creators and thoughtful leaders in an AI-shaped world. Together, Lisa and Jeff discuss what districts are asking for as AI enters classrooms, why trusted guidance matters, and how open communication between educators, administrators, parents, students, and vendors is essential to getting it right.

The conversation covers developing AI policy, addressing privacy and safety concerns, and teaching students to be healthy skeptics who understand both the power and limitations of prediction-based systems.

This episode is essential listening for educators, district leaders, and EdTech partners who want to lead AI education responsibly and keep students at the center of the conversation.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

0:40: Meet Jeff Riley and Day of AI

4:20: Digital Natives & Digital Immigrants

5:40: AI for a Better World

7:30: Learning About AI From a Trusted Source

11:00: Privacy & Safety with AI

12:40: Raising Healthy Skeptics of AI

16:30: Parents Can't Be Out of the Loop

27:30: AI Literacy

29:30: Teaching Critical Thinking First

31:20: Research-Led, Movement-Minded

33:00: Personalizing Instruction with AI

36:50: For Parents and Schools: How to Get Involved with Day of AI

Resources:

Jeff Riley

Day of AI

Day of AI: Curriculum & Resources

Day of AI: Family Resources

Day of AI: For School Leaders

Lisa March

Partner in Publishing

Blog: How to Adopt AI Without Falling Behind