Passion for Evolution | Dr. Jared Bloom, Dr. Kusum Sinha, Matt Gaven, and Sheridan Hotung
In the newsletter this week: A superintendent panel and a dsylexia specialist and FOMO.
🎙️ This Week on the Podcast:
🎙️ Episode 19
This week’s episode features Sheridan Hotung, whose life took a dramatic turn when her children struggled to read and faced behavioral and developmental challenges. Frustrated by a lack of resources and understanding from schools, Sheridan left her career in luxury PR and committed herself to learning everything she could about literacy, earning a Montessori degree and becoming certified in Orton Gillingham. Her firsthand experience as a parent and educator exposed the gaps in the system and inspired her mission: to create tools that make foundational reading skills accessible for all children.
Sheridan discusses the emotional toll of watching her daughter’s dreams slip away due to reading difficulties and the lengths she went to—moving states, homeschooling, and advocating tirelessly—to secure the right support. Through this journey, she not only helped her own child but also developed literacy games designed to be engaging, research-aligned, and suitable for learners of all ages. Her work is grounded in the conviction that every parent and teacher deserves resources that are ready-to-use, affordable, and effective, without requiring hours of specialized training.
Listeners will be moved by Sheridan’s commitment to equity in education, her insights into the link between literacy and incarceration, and her vision for universal dyslexia screening. She shares stories from her work with incarcerated adults, highlighting how early intervention and the right support can change life trajectories. Sheridan’s message is clear: literacy is a right, and with the right tools and awareness, we can break cycles of illiteracy and unlock potential in every learners.
📖 Key Quote: Nobody should have to pick up and move 300 miles for a basic human right of learning how to read.
🎙️ Episode 20, AI Super
This week on Learning Can't Wait, we bring together a dynamic panel of superintendents from Long Island who are redefining what it means to lead in the age of AI. Dr. Kusum Sinha, Matt Gaven, and Dr. Jared Bloom open up about their personal journeys into education and technology, highlighting how family, mentorship, and a relentless drive for improvement have shaped their leadership. Their stories set the stage for a conversation that’s as inspiring as it is practical, showing that great leadership starts with relationships and a willingness to learn.
The episode dives deep into the real-world challenges and opportunities of bringing AI into K-12 education. From piloting new tools and fostering responsible use, to building teacher buy-in through creative professional development like “pajama PDs,” these leaders share how they’re empowering both staff and students. They discuss the importance of starting small, supporting early adopters, and ensuring that AI enhances—not replaces—the human connections at the heart of learning. Their collaborative approach, meeting every Monday and sharing resources, demonstrates the power of professional networks in navigating fast-changing technology.
Listeners will come away with actionable insights on balancing innovation with ethical responsibility, including data privacy, policy development, and community engagement. The superintendents emphasize that preparing students for tomorrow means embracing ambiguity, supporting inquiry, and always keeping the focus on what’s best for kids. If you’re an educator, administrator, or parent curious about the future of AI in schools, this episode is a must-listen for its blend of vision, candor, and practical advice.
Key Quote: If we don’t provide that training to our students, we’re going to end up exactly where we landed with social media. Dr. Jared Bloom
💭 What I’m Thinking About
I have FOMO not being at ISTE learning about new tech, talking to industry colleagues, and celebrating educators but mostly, all I want to do is strategize how to protect our most vulernable from the ‘big beautiful bill.’ I spent some time learning about the implications and, they are grim. I wrote about some of my initial thoughts here but am not done opining on the matter. I’m keeping it brief this week but if you want to opine with me, please fill out this survey.
Are you an LCW District/School Level leader? Message me for details on the event described below.
