"You walk into your room the next day and just whisper, '…what happened?'"

Welcome back to Schoolwide Download — Season 2: Beyond the Lesson Plan! We are kicking off a brand-new season by diving into an experience every educator knows all too well: the day you have a substitute teacher.

Join hosts Dave Clark and Robin Szary from the Butler County Educational Service Center (BCESC) as they explore the legendary chaos of sub days, the "spicy" debate over AI-generated plans, and why having a sub is actually the ultimate test of your classroom routines.

• [00:00] Opening Spark: Welcome to Season 2! We're moving beyond the lesson plan to talk about the real teacher truths.

• [01:13] The Substitute Files: Dave and Robin share their most "legendary" sub stories—from the worksheet avalanche to the mystery notes left on the desk.

• [09:30] What We Actually Learn: Why your students' behavior with a sub is the best data you'll ever get on your classroom management and routines.

• [13:20] The Great Debate: Should every teacher have an AI-powered emergency sub plan? We weigh the efficiency of AI against the necessity of the "human element."

• [21:07] Try This Tomorrow: A step-by-step guide to building a 10-minute AI emergency sub plan using ChatGPT.

Don't let a sudden sick day cause a panic. Follow this 10-minute workflow:

1. Open ChatGPT or Gemini.

2. Use this Prompt: "Create a one-day emergency sub plan for a [Insert Grade] class that reviews [Insert Standard/Topic]. Include clear directions, an opening warm-up, independent work, and an extension activity for early finishers."

3. Copy, paste, and drop it into your emergency folder. Your future self will thank you!

• "Maybe the sweet spot is letting AI prep the plan… while the human brings it to life."

• "Sub days are the ultimate test of your routines. How students reveal their true understanding when you aren't there tells you everything."

• Website: www.bcesc.org

• Follow Us: Stay tuned for more episodes on the great classroom debates, from student voice to digital fatigue.

• Share Your Story: Have a wild substitute story? Tag us on social media using #SchoolwideDownload!

Brought to you by the Butler County Educational Service Center.

#SchoolwideDownload #Proud2BCESC #EducationPodcast #TeacherLife #SubstituteTeaching #ClassroomManagement #AIinEducation #BCESC #EdTech

It's the season finale of Schoolwide Download! 🎉

In this episode, Dave and Robin look beyond the buzzwords to ask what's really next for educational technology. From AI and accessibility to data privacy and classroom balance, this conversation cuts through the noise to focus on what truly matters for teachers and students.

💡 In this episode:

• What's hype vs. what's real in AI for education

• The growing need for ethical, equitable, and accessible tech

• Why AI should be a sidekick, not a substitute

• How to decide whether a tool actually supports deeper thinking and creativity

• What teachers can do now to prepare for the future of EdTech

🎧 Try This Tomorrow: Ask your students, "What's one way technology helps your learning—and one way it gets in the way?" Their answers might just change how you plan your next lesson.

As Dave says: Teachers are the filter—turning hype into real learning.

Thank you for joining us for Season 1 of Schoolwide Download! We'll see you in January 2026 with even more stories, strategies, and fresh takes on teaching, learning, and tech.

Giving meaningful feedback shouldn't come at the cost of your evenings (or your sanity). In this episode of Schoolwide Download, Dave and Robin explore how technology can help teachers deliver faster, more effective, and more human feedback — without burning out.

They unpack research from John Hattie's Visible Learning showing that feedback has one of the highest impacts on student achievement — when it's timely, specific, and actionable. Then, they share tools and strategies to make it happen in real classrooms:

🗣️ Use Mote to leave quick, personalized audio comments students can replay anytime.
🤖 Try AI tools like ChatGPT or Writable to generate first-draft feedback (and save time on repetitive comments).
📋 Build comment banks to streamline grading while keeping your tone consistent and positive.

Plus, this episode's "Try This Tomorrow" challenge helps you test out audio or AI feedback right away — so you can see how much time you actually save while keeping that personal touch.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to make feedback faster, more personal, and more impactful.