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The Bridge

The Bridge

Written by: Cate Tolnai
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 A growing community of educators, mentors, and lifelong learners who believe in the power of connection, shared stories, and showing up for one another - again and againAlpenspruce Education Solutions, Inc Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Embrace the Mess with Dr. Kelly Vaughn

    Embrace the Mess with Dr. Kelly Vaughn
    Feb 8 2026
    Join host Cate Tolnai for the final episode of The Bridge with Dr. Kelly Vaughn, Dean of the School of Education at Notre Dame de Namur University. Kelly shares how lived experiences—as a child of an immigrant family, middle school math teacher, and now university dean—shaped her belief that schools must be places of safety, dignity, and belonging. She reflects on embracing the "beautiful mess" of leadership and innovation. 💚✨🎯 What You'll Discover:When a Principal's Advocacy Changed Everything 🏫Kelly's family faced racist vandalism when she was 11—someone wrote slurs on their drivewayHer middle school principal, Mr. Taylor, became a fierce advocate, prosecuting perpetrators and checking on the family for yearsThat moment showed Kelly schools can be places of true safety and human care—not just academic learningPreserving Dignity Over Content 📚Kelly teaches "to the whole child," preserving dignity rather than focusing solely on expertise or standardsHer identity as an educator: "I teach and learn from people. The vehicle is math—that's the credential, not what defines me"Building community in classrooms through creative practices like having students paint windows to represent their identitiesEmbracing the Beautiful Mess of Leadership 🌟Kelly's mantra: "Embrace the mess" (similar to Cate's "It's not pretty, it's beautiful")Leading Notre Dame de Namur's transition from exclusively in-person to online graduate programs during resistance and strong emotionsLearning to let others have the last word, follow up thoughtfully, and trust processes to unfold in due timeCreating Moments That Honor Identity 🎨Kelly's first assignment: students paint classroom windows to represent themselves as important community membersA former student reached out 10 years later: "You believed in me...you made school a safe place, so I stayed around schools"Small, visible acts of belonging shape how learners see themselves for yearsSaying No Until the Right Season Arrives ⏰Kelly turned down leadership opportunities for years—including an admin credential pathway from Mr. Taylor himselfShe knew the cost: first one at school, last to leave, always on call—and prioritized her spouse and young childrenWhen her kids reached independence, she reconsidered: "Maybe this is the season"Leadership Grounded in Learning, Not Ego 💡"I don't feel like my reputation or job is on the line. It's not about me—it's about the community"Kelly's courage for innovation comes from openness to learning rather than proving expertiseAdvice to her younger self: "Enjoy the moments, embrace being a learner, don't worry about tomorrow"Key Takeaways:✨ Leadership is about preserving dignity and belonging—relationships sustain learning and growth ✨ A middle school principal's advocacy after racist trauma showed Kelly that school can be a place of safety ✨ Small, intentional moments that honor students' identities shape how they see themselves for years ✨ "Embrace the mess"—celebrate failures, trust processes, and stay grounded in purpose during resistance ✨ Say no to opportunities until the right season arrives—self-awareness about readiness matters ✨ Lead as a learner, not from ego—courage comes from openness, not proving expertise🎯 Perfect For:Educators transitioning into higher education or leadership rolesLeaders navigating change, resistance, and innovation in educational institutionsTeachers seeking to preserve dignity and belonging in their classroomsAnyone balancing career ambition with family priorities and personal readinessEducators inspired by mentorship stories and the long-term impact of advocacyFaculty and administrators championing equity, innovation, and community-buildingResources & Mentions:🎓 Notre Dame de Namur University School of Education - https://www.ndnu.edu/education/ 💼 Follow #ndnusoe for updates 🌉 Kelly's belief: "Embrace the mess" and "It's not about me—it's about the community" Connect With Dr. Kelly Vaughn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tkvaughn/About Dr. Kelly Vaughn:Dr. Kelly Vaughn is Dean of the School of Education at Notre Dame de Namur University, where she leads with a vision for equity, innovation, and collaboration. Her work centers on transformative partnerships—residency pathways for special education, graduate programs with local districts, AI integration, and social-emotional learning. A former middle school math teacher for 10 years and tenured professor for 15, Kelly believes in building community through bold ideas and reflection. She's passionate about lifting others, preparing teachers to lead with empathy and resilience, and creating spaces where educators thrive through both triumphs and challenges.This final episode of The Bridge reminds us that education is ultimately about relationships—and when we stay grounded in purpose, we create spaces where learners and leaders grow together. 💚#HigherEducation #EducationalLeadership ...
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    29 mins
  • More Time is What Matters -- with Aubrey Zeitner

    More Time is What Matters -- with Aubrey Zeitner
    Feb 1 2026

    Join host Cate Tolnai for an empowering conversation with Aubrey Zeitner, who shares her journey from teaching English during COVID to becoming field marketing manager at Brisk—and how one mentor's belief changed everything. Aubrey reflects on pandemic teaching's unconventional impact, educator burnout, and why AI built thoughtfully can restore humanity in classrooms. 💚✨

    🎯 What You'll Discover:

    From COVID Classroom to EdTech Marketing 🎓

    • Aubrey's student teaching ended early when COVID shut down schools—she got certified without finishing her hours
    • Started her first year teaching entirely virtual, then hybrid with cubbies and teaching from the back of the room
    • How pandemic teaching shaped unconventional practices that stuck with her

    The Pivotal Moment That Changed Everything 💫

    • Aubrey said no to the marketing internship—fully walked away
    • One month later, the hiring manager texted: "Can we delay your start so you finish the school year?"
    • That single person's belief opened the door to everything Aubrey does now

    Teachers Are Exceptionally Qualified 💪

    • Educators develop extraordinary transferable skills: adaptability, communication, problem-solving, resilience
    • You don't need formal marketing or tech experience—your classroom experience is your qualification
    • Teaching is one of the hardest jobs; those skills translate everywhere

    Create Your Own Opportunities 🚀

    • Don't wait for someone to hand you a path—reach out, pitch yourself, send that recruiter email
    • The worst outcome? Hearing "no." The best? A conversation that changes your trajectory
    • Be hungry and determined—"Move out of the way because here I come"

    AI That Restores Humanity, Not Replaces It 🤖💚

    • AI designed for teachers lifts 80% of workload—grading, planning, admin—giving time back for connection
    • Brisk's "More Time for What Matters": relationships and conversations, not paperwork mountains
    • When used thoughtfully, AI helps teachers be more human in the classroom

    Missing the Classroom & Dreaming of Return 🏫

    • Aubrey deeply misses student connections—corporate jobs don't deliver the same fulfillment
    • Her dream: sabbatical-style classroom returns for EdTech teams to stay grounded in teaching realities

    Key Takeaways:

    ✨ Teachers are exceptionally qualified for virtually any role—your skills are extraordinary
    ✨ One mentor's belief can change everything—reach back out moments matter
    ✨ Create opportunities—pitch yourself and take risks; the worst is "no"
    ✨ AI built for educators restores humanity by giving time back for connection
    ✨ Pandemic teaching shaped unconventional practices and constant adaptation

    🎯 Perfect For:

    • Educators considering transitions into EdTech, marketing, or other fields
    • Teachers who feel underqualified or unsure if skills translate beyond the classroom
    • Anyone seeking empowerment to create opportunities and advocate for themselves
    • Leaders interested in how AI supports teachers without replacing human elements
    • Educators exploring what comes next while staying connected to students

    Resources & Mentions:
    🤖 Brisk
    📚 Featured Brisk Resources for Teachers

    Connect With Aubrey Zeitner:
    LinkedIn

    About Aubrey Zeitner:

    Aubrey Zeitner is a former middle and high school English educator and University of Texas graduate who transitioned into EdTech marketing. Her first year teaching began entirely virtual during COVID, shaping unconventional practices like teaching from the back of the room. After initially turning down a marketing internship, a hiring manager reached back out with a flexible offer that changed her trajectory. She previously served as General Marketing Manager at Propello, an inquiry-based science platform, and now works as Field Marketing Manager at Brisk, the #1 AI platform for education, connecting with educators at conferences and creating spaces for community and conversation.

    This episode reminds us that teaching skills are exceptional, mentorship matters deeply, and creating your own opportunities is how paths unfold. 💚

    #EdTech #CareerTransition #AIinEducation #Brisk #Mentorship #EdChat #TeacherEmpowerment #ProfessionalGrowth #HumanConnection
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    33 mins
  • Shift Into the Gray with Lindy Hockenbary

    Shift Into the Gray with Lindy Hockenbary
    Jan 25 2026
    Join host Cate Tolnai for a thought-provoking conversation with Lindy Hockenbary—"the bridge between education and technology"—who argues that AI literacy isn't "one more marble" for teachers, but core learning woven into math, science, and social studies. Lindy shares why engaging critically with technology (not avoiding it) gives educators and students agency to shape its impact. 🌉💡🎯 What You'll Discover:The Overflowing Jar of Marbles Metaphor 🫙Education keeps adding initiatives (AI literacy, digital citizenship, SEL) without removing anything—the jar is overflowingLindy's solution: stop adding marbles, start merging them by integrating new literacies into existing curriculumBreaking marbles into "marble dust" creates space—interdisciplinary learning that makes room for relevance and depthAI Literacy is Core Curriculum, Not Extra 🧮At its foundation, AI is math: patterns, probability, sampling, variables—concepts already in K-12 standardsExample: "Why does your TikTok FYP look different than mine?" connects algorithms to real-world student experienceIntegrate AI literacy into science, social studies, and more—adding relevance while teaching required contentWhen Education Gets Blindsided 🚨Lindy submitted virtual learning proposals years before the pandemic—all rejected, then desperately needed in 2020She was talking about AI integration before ChatGPT launched (Nov 2022)—education was caught off guard againHer advice to 2014 Lindy: push harder, don't get lost in busyness, help education prepare instead of reactDon't Ban Technology—Engage With It Critically 🔍Removing cell phones or blocking AI takes educators and students out of the conversationWhen teachers engage critically with tools, they gain voice to advocate for safer, more purposeful uses"Technology built without us and not for us is technology used on us, not by us"Embrace the Gray (Not Black or White) 🌫️Every technology has good and bad—finding the gray means asking better questions and evaluating thoughtfullyExample: Text-to-video AI enables equity (aspiring filmmakers without expensive equipment) and raises deep fake concernsSitting in discomfort, asking critical questions, and staying engaged gives educators power to shape outcomesBridging Education, EdTech & Families 🌉Lindy helps teachers understand product feedback cycles and UI (user interface) so they can advocate for better toolsShe helps EdTech companies understand classroom realities—"the devils are in the details" that save teachers hoursNow expanding to support families navigating AI, screen time, and digital citizenship with their kidsKey Takeaways:✨ AI literacy isn't extra—it's math, science, and social studies connecting to students' real-world experiences ✨ Stop adding marbles; start merging them—integrate new literacies into existing curriculum with relevance ✨ Education gets blindsided by emerging tech—Lindy's virtual learning proposals were rejected, then desperate in 2020 ✨ Don't ban or avoid technology; engage critically to gain voice in shaping safer, purposeful uses ✨ Embrace the gray—every technology has good and bad; critical engagement gives educators agency ✨ Lindy bridges educators, EdTech companies, and families—grounding conversations in shared responsibility🎯 Perfect For:Educators integrating AI literacy into existing curriculum without adding to already-full platesTeachers seeking relevant, real-world connections for math, science, and social studies standardsLeaders navigating cell phone policies, AI implementation, and digital citizenship initiativesEdTech companies wanting to understand classroom needs and build better productsParents seeking guidance on AI, screen time, and technology use with their childrenAnyone who feels overwhelmed by "one more thing" and needs strategies to merge initiativesResources & Mentions:🌐 Brand New Website - lindyhoc.com 📊 AI Literacy TECH-Tac-Toe resource 📚 AI Literacy in Action: The Core Curriculum Connection 📖 A Teacher's Guide to Online Learning by Lindy Hockenbary 📱 EdWeek Article: "Why a Good Cellphone Policy Is About More Than Just Restrictions" Connect With Lindy Hockenbary:Facebook: @LindyHoc Instagram: @lindyhoc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindyhockenbary/ Website: lindyhoc.comAbout Lindy Hockenbary:Lindy Hockenbary—aka "LindyHoc"—is the bridge between education and technology. With experience in instructional technology, professional development, and curriculum design, she helps educators unpack the effects of emerging technologies—especially AI—on curriculum and instruction. Her journey began in a technology-equipped classroom teaching business education and CTE. Since then, she's supported educators worldwide, authored A Teacher's Guide to Online Learning, and collaborated with EdTech companies to ensure tools align with K-12 needs. Named a 2025 Women in AI honoree by ASU+GSV, Lindy's mission is "Make ...
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    43 mins
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