What happens when a school has plenty of good ideas, but no clear way to connect them? In this episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner is joined by Dr. Matthew Friedman, a former superintendent whose experience across seven districts has shaped a conviction: leaders need to lead the system, not the tool.

Friedman recalls asking a teacher which of the district’s initiatives mattered most. Her answer, “Whichever one you’re here to see,” sparked a rethink of how those initiatives fitted together. From there, the conversation explores what it takes to turn disconnected efforts into lasting change, from building leadership capacity to introducing AI with purpose, human judgment, data protection and adult learning at the center.

They also discuss career-connected learning and why Friedman would replace a fixed five-year plan with a clear north star, 90-day cycles and honest quarterly check-ins. Listen for a practical, thoughtful conversation about preparing young people for a changing world without losing the wonder, courage and belonging that help them thrive.

If this conversation gives you a new perspective on leading change, share it with a colleague and follow Voices for Excellence so you never miss an episode.

What if students spent less of the school day waiting for directions and more of it learning how to direct themselves?

Erika Twani wants educators to ask that question. Her own calculation puts a student’s time in school at 16,800 hours. The more important question, she says, is what students are doing with those hours.

In this episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner welcomes Erika Twani, CEO of the Learning One to One Foundation, TEDx speaker, and author of Becoming Einstein’s Teacher and The Einstein Mindset, to explore what student agency can look like in practice.

A visit to a rural school, where teachers had invested in the agency of a blind student, helped shape the work she would go on to build: the Relational Learning Framework. For leaders looking to give students more ownership of their learning, this conversation offers a place to start.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How six steps and four levels of autonomy can help students take greater ownership of their learning
• Why Twani says meaningful change starts in classrooms rather than waiting for policy
• What a Michael Phelps story from the 2008 Olympics reveals about teachers as life coaches
• What educators need to understand about AI and the changing job market

Listen for a practical vision of student agency. Stay for Twani’s poem “What If,” her answer to Conner’s signature song question, and a reminder to keep your love of learning.

Connect with Erika Twani: et@erikatwani.com | learning1to1.org | erikatwani.com

What does it take to lead with conviction when fear, politics, and constant change are shaping education?

In this episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner sits down with veteran superintendent, executive coach, and founder of 2EDUK8, LLC, Dr. L. Oliver Robinson. Drawing on more than two decades as a superintendent, Dr. Robinson shares a practical philosophy for building stronger leaders, more coherent systems, and better outcomes for every student.

Together, they explore how education leaders can identify their North Star, turn challenges into opportunities, and avoid making decisions from a place of fear. Dr. Robinson also explains why successful systems depend on conviction, thoughtful leadership, and the courage to act with purpose, even when the path forward is difficult.

The conversation also examines representation in education, the responsibility to create opportunities for every child, and the role AI can play as a “co-intelligence” tool. Rather than using technology simply to produce more, Dr. Robinson challenges leaders to use it to improve quality, strengthen decision-making, and prepare their organizations for what comes next.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to systematize success across an organization
• Why every leader needs a clearly defined North Star
• The three qualities Dr. Robinson believes effective leaders must cultivate
• How representation can strengthen students’ sense of possibility
• Why AI should help educators create better work—not just more work
• What decades of leadership taught him about culture, conviction, and change

Dr. Robinson leaves listeners with three essential words for the future of educational leadership: credibility, competence, and convincing.