Champion Every Voice

di Amira Learning

Stagione 1

AI Is the New Literacy: Safety, Equity, and the Future Workforce with Attorney Dondi West

In this powerful episode of Champion Every Voice, Jaclyn Wright sits down with Attorney Dondi West, cybersecurity attorney, AI thought leader, and former Navy information warfare officer, for a timely conversation about what schools must do now to prepare students for an AI-driven future. Together, they explore the digital divide, responsible AI adoption, cybersecurity risks, and why AI literacy can no longer be treated as optional. Dondi shares why schools must move with urgency—but with strong ethical guardrails—to ensure students are protected, empowered, and ready for the workforce they are entering. In this episode, you’ll hear: * Why AI and digital literacy are the new reading, writing, and arithmetic * How AI can either close or widen the digital divide * What schools should ask vendors before adopting AI tools * Why “moving slowly” may create new risks for students * How cybersecurity threats are changing in the age of AI * Why strong governance is essential for safe innovation * How AI can support educators, families, and neurodiverse learners This conversation is a must-listen for school leaders, technology directors, educators, policymakers, and anyone thinking seriously about how to prepare students for the future—without compromising safety, equity, or trust.

S1 · E16

1 lug 2026

38:56

From “I Can’t” to “I Did It”: Creating Confident Readers in the Early Years

What does it take to build confident readers? In this episode of Amira’s Champion Every Voice Podcast, host Jaclyn Wright sits down with Louisiana educator and Amira Champion Olevia Griffin to discuss the critical role early literacy plays in shaping student success. Drawing from her experience as a kindergarten and second-grade teacher, Olevia shares how strong foundations in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension help students become successful readers—and why early intervention matters. You’ll hear how she: 📚 Builds reading confidence through celebration and encouragement 🎯 Uses data to identify and address learning gaps early 🧠 Supports young learners through intentional literacy instruction 🤝 Partners with families to strengthen literacy at home 🎉 Creates school-wide reading celebrations that motivate students to grow 💡 Uses AI-powered learning tools to provide students with additional practice and personalized support One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Olevia shares her philosophy on teaching: “When students are confident, everything else follows.” Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, literacy advocate, or parent, this episode offers practical strategies and inspiration for helping every child become a confident reader. 🎧 Listen now and discover why building reading confidence may be the most important literacy intervention of all. #ChampionEveryVoice #AmiraLearning #EarlyLiteracy #ScienceOfReading #ReadingGrowth #LiteracyLeadership #ElementaryEducation #ReadingConfidence

S1 · E15

17 giu 2026

27:52

Teaching for Tomorrow: Agentic Learning, AI, and Student-Centered Leadership with Dr. Jared Bloom

In this episode of Champion Every Voice, Jaclyn Wright sits down with Dr. Jared Bloom, Superintendent of Franklin Square Schools in New York, international education thought leader, and longtime advocate for technology-enabled, student-centered learning. Dr. Bloom shares how schools can thoughtfully integrate AI and agentic learning while keeping trust, safety, educator judgment, and student agency at the center. From his global perspective at BETT UK to his local leadership in Franklin Square, he offers a practical and inspiring look at what it takes to prepare students for their future—not ours. In this conversation, you’ll hear: * Why schools must “teach students for their tomorrow, not ours” * How agentic learning helps meet students where they are * What safe, purposeful AI integration can look like in classrooms * How Franklin Square uses red, yellow, and green guidelines for AI use * Why trust, buy-in, and shared leadership matter for sustainable innovation * How AI can give teachers more time for the human work of teaching * What leaders can learn from global conversations about education and technology This episode is for superintendents, district leaders, principals, instructional coaches, and educators thinking deeply about how to align innovation, culture, and student-centered learning.

S1 · E14

3 giu 2026

31:08

Driving Literacy Impact at Scale: Policy, Purpose, and Responsible AI with Joe Siedlecki

In this episode of Champion Every Voice, Jaclyn Wright sits down with Joe Siedlecki, Chief Impact Officer at Amira Learning, to discuss what it takes to drive literacy growth at scale. Drawing from his experience at the Texas Education Agency, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and now Amira Learning, Joe shares a clear perspective on the national literacy landscape, the gap between policy and implementation, and how responsible AI can support reading growth without adding complexity for educators. In this conversation, you’ll hear: What literacy impact looks like at scale Where states are making progress in Science of Reading implementation Why policy alone is not enough without strong implementation What responsible, purpose-built AI should look like in literacy How leaders can evaluate AI tools for safety, evidence, and results Why coherence, simplicity, and trust matter for teachers and students This episode is for education leaders, literacy advocates, and anyone working to ensure every child has access to the support they need to become a confident reader.

S1 · E13

20 mag 2026

24:09

How Multilingual Learners Build Confidence & Fluency | ESL Teacher Desiree Alvarado

What does literacy growth look like for multilingual learners—and how does it change the way students see themselves? In this episode of Champion Every Voice, ESL educator Desiree Alvarado shares how intentional instruction, structured routines, and consistent reading practice help students build both oral reading fluency and confidence. Working with 4th and 5th grade multilingual learners, Desiree offers a real classroom perspective on what it takes to support language development at scale—while preparing students for high-stakes assessments like ACCESS. In this conversation, you’ll learn: • How oral reading fluency supports speaking, listening, and writing development • Why confidence and reduced anxiety are critical for multilingual learners • Practical strategies like visual supports, sentence frames, and structured reading routines • How consistent practice builds independence and student ownership • What it looks like when students begin to see themselves as capable readers You’ll also hear a powerful story of a student whose growth in literacy led to academic success and recognition—proof that with the right support, multilingual learners don’t just improve—they thrive. Key takeaway: When students are given consistent, structured opportunities to practice—and educators partner with them intentionally—literacy becomes a pathway to confidence, voice, and achievement.

S1 · E12

6 mag 2026

22:41

When Students Find Their Voice | Monica Brown on Confidence, Communication & Reading Growth

What changes when students start to believe in their own voice? In this episode of Champion Every Voice, Louisiana educator Monica Brown shares what happens when literacy growth goes beyond reading scores—and starts to show up in student confidence, communication, and classroom participation. From students who once stayed quiet to those now raising their hands and speaking with clarity, this conversation highlights the real impact of instruction that builds both skills and self-belief. In this episode, you’ll hear: How confidence unlocks student voice and participation What it looks like when students begin expressing their thinking clearly Why literacy growth shows up across the entire classroom—not just during reading time A powerful story of a student transformation from silence to confidence These are the moments educators work for—the ones where students don’t just learn to read, but begin to see themselves as capable, confident learners.

S1 · E11

15 apr 2026

26:16

How Great Leaders Build Literacy at Scale | Dr. David Cintron on Policy, AI & Student-Centered Leadership

What does it really take to improve literacy across a large, diverse school district? In this episode of Amira’s Champion Every Voice Podcast, host Jaclyn Wright sits down with Dr. David Cintron, Superintendent of District 14 in Brooklyn, New York, for a powerful conversation about literacy leadership, instructional coherence, family engagement, and the human-centered role of AI in education. With 25 years in public education and experience across every level of school leadership, Dr. Cintron shares how District 14 is approaching literacy not as a one-time initiative, but as a pursuit—one grounded in shared decision-making, transparent communication, and unwavering focus on students. In this conversation, you’ll hear: Why “getting it right” in literacy is a pursuit, not a destination How District 14 builds coherence across curriculum, instruction, assessment, and community engagement What it looks like when policy truly connects to classroom practice How AI can amplify the work of teachers and leaders without replacing the human connection Why family engagement must be aligned to district goals—not treated as a standalone effort The leadership habit Dr. Cintron uses to stay grounded in students every single day One of the most memorable moments in the episode is Dr. Cintron’s reminder that “the story of one student is more powerful and palpable than any ream of data.” This episode is for superintendents, principals, district leaders, literacy advocates, instructional coaches, and anyone committed to building systems that help every child become a reader.

S1 · E10

1 apr 2026

33:43

Literacy Is the Long Game: Policy, Practice, and Agentic Learning with Dr. Erin Hamilton

In this episode of Champion Every Voice, Jaclyn Wright sits down with Dr. Erin Hamilton, Amira Impact Director and former state education leader, for a thoughtful conversation about what it really takes to move literacy change from policy into classroom practice. Drawing on her experience at the state, district, and school levels, Erin shares why lasting literacy impact depends on more than good policy. It requires coherence, strong feedback loops, thoughtful implementation, and trust in educators as partners. In this conversation, they explore: Why literacy must be treated as a long-term systems commitment Where states are making real progress in science-aligned literacy efforts The gaps that still exist between policy design and classroom reality How agentic learning can empower both students and educators Why leaders must inform without dictating How joy, rigor, autonomy, and accountability can work together Erin also shares a powerful classroom story that reminds us what literacy can unlock for a child: confidence, identity, and freedom. This episode is for literacy leaders, district teams, school leaders, and educators who want to build systems that are aligned, sustainable, and centered on real classroom impact.

S1 · E9

18 mar 2026

15:51

AI, Coherence, and Literacy at Scale: Dr. Christopher Blair on Leading Instructional Change

Host Jaclyn Brown Wright welcomes educational leadership expert Dr. Christopher Blair, a former superintendent and longtime English teacher now working in educational consulting, to discuss literacy at scale and how AI can support coherence from state policy to classrooms. Blair says leaders’ AI use is often limited to basic tasks like polishing emails, and coherence is still emerging because effectiveness must be measured in student outcomes. He describes AI as a side-by-side companion that can build leaders’ and teachers’ capacity when they create and train agents aligned to district standards, evaluation tools, curricula, and observation protocols to synthesize data and support coaching. They discuss fears, trust, hallucinations, privacy and FERPA, and the lack of district policy, emphasizing vetting tools and verifying outputs. Blair advises starting with a personal problem of practice to build confidence, noting AI is shifting from predictive to generative and will not go away.

S1 · E8

4 mar 2026

37:47

Leading Literacy with Intention: Coaching, Coherence, and Real Reading Growth

In this episode of Champion Every Voice, host Jaclyn Wright talks with Julie Binder, early literacy coach at Washington Elementary (Bay City Public Schools) and an Amira Champion, about how her school turned strong planning into meaningful reading growth. Julie shares how her team approached Amira’s fall rollout with intention—from schoolwide read-alouds and teacher coaching to data-driven grouping and multilingual family reports. She explains how building literacy coherence across classrooms helped students gain confidence, and why small wins matter—especially for students still learning to see themselves as readers. The conversation explores how Amira fits into Washington’s literacy plan: as a learning agent that delivers real-time support for students while giving teachers time back to focus on small groups and connection. Julie also shares student impact stories—from a learner with speech challenges who found his voice, to a student who no longer needed an IEP. Whether you’re rolling out Amira or looking to strengthen reading routines, this episode offers practical ideas for building student ownership, unifying classroom practice, and using data to guide instruction.

S1 · E7

18 feb 2026

24:59

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