Chalk and Code

About Chalk and Code

Chalk and Code Podcast is your front-row seat to the minds shaping the future of education technology. Hosted by Flexion, a partner to visionary edtech companies, each episode dives into the realities of scaling purpose-driven products, navigating uncertainty, and building tools that matter.

Publisher

Flexion

Category

education · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Aug 2025

Latest episode

6 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Jul 2026

   From coding charms to AI literacy: Dora Palfi on helping students create with technology

   In this episode of Chalk and Code, host Jill Foley speaks with Dora Palfi, Co-Founder and CEO of imagi Education, about rethinking coding and AI education for the next generation. Dora shares how imagi began as a Kickstarter-backed programmable wearable designed to inspire girls to code and has grown into an AI-powered learning platform that helps students build creativity, confidence, and responsible technology skills. Key Moments 05:39 Creating Meaningful Projects 09:04 Navigating post-Covid manufacturing challenges 11:06 Pivoting to focus on schools 13:30 Updating education policies for AI 18:47 Gender imbalance in tech startups 22:26 Bootstrapping and revenue focus 26:14 Balancing screen time in education 27:45 Importance of a growth mindset Why You'll Love This Episode This episode explores how coding, creativity, and AI literacy can come together to help students become builders, not just consumers, of technology. Dora also shares: Why AI education must protect student agency How project-based learning builds motivation Why teachers need more support to adapt to AI How schools can prepare students for a future shaped by intelligent tools Connect with Dora Palfi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorapalfi imagi Education: https://edu.imagilabs.com/ Connect with Us Company's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flexion-inc Company Website: https://flexion.us/ If this conversation sparked a new idea or challenged your assumptions, share this episode with a colleague and subscribe for more thoughtful discussions at the intersection of learning, leadership, and educational technology. Join us next time on Chalk and Code, where the science of learning meets modern technology.

2. 

   27 Mar 2026

   Connecting Classroom and Workforce: Allie Fuchs’ Journey in Edtech and Career Development

   In this episode of Chalk and Code, host Jill Foley speaks with Allie Fuchs, Vice President of Product at Pathful, about how technology can bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real world of work. Drawing on her experience as a former physics and algebra teacher and special education administrator in New Orleans, and later as a product leader at companies like Nearpod and Clever. Allie shares how Pathful is building tools that help students explore careers, develop relevant skills, and prepare for life after graduation. Together, they discuss the growing urgency around career readiness, why exposure to real professionals is critical for students, and how Pathful’s platform connects career exploration, work-based learning, and workforce preparation into a single ecosystem for districts. If you’re interested in how schools can help students make more informed career decisions and how edtech can support authentic learning experiences, this episode offers valuable insights into what it takes to prepare students for the future of work. Key Moments 3:25 "Comprehensive Career Readiness Plan" 07:44 "Pathful: Bridging Industry and Education" 10:26 Realistic Career Insights and Tools 14:34 Thriving Wage Research for Students 16:45 "Career Skills Through Real Experience" 21:56 "Pathful Reporting and Insights" 26:08 AI Enhancing Career Readiness 31:00 Career Readiness Product Strategy 32:22 Early Career Readiness Matters 36:36 AI Career Platform for Houston Why You’ll Love This Episode This episode explores how career readiness technology can help students move beyond abstract career ideas toward practical, informed decision-making. You’ll hear how Pathful is combining career exploration, financial literacy, work-based learning, and real industry connections to give students a clearer view of their future. Allie also shares: Why students need exposure to careers long before graduation How the Lifestyle Calculator helps students understand real financial outcomes The importance of authentic career simulations before internships How schools can use career data to better plan programs and pathways Why equity in career readiness starts with access to real experiences Connect with Allie Fuchs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-fuchs-5a773b65 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-fuchs-5a773b65) Pathful: https://www.pathful.com/ (https://www.pathful.com/) Connect with Us Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flexion-inc (https://www.linkedin.com/company/flexion-inc) Company Website: https://flexion.us/ (https://flexion.us/) If this conversation sparked a new idea or challenged your assumptions, share this episode with a colleague and subscribe for more thoughtful discussions at the intersection of learning, leadership, and educational technology. Join us next time on Chalk and Code, where the science of learning meets modern technology.

3. 

   3 Mar 2026

   Meaningful life, balance, and wisdom: Gilberto Pinzon on building “thinking schools” with Edu1st

   In this episode of Chalk and Code, host Theron Davis sits down with Gilberto Pinzon, CEO and co-founder of Edu1st, to explore what it really means to transform a classroom into a thinking culture. A former surgeon turned education leader, Gilberto shares the story behind the VESS model (Vida, Equilibrio, Sentido, y Sabiduria) and why he and his co-founder, Ana Maria Fernandez, set out to redesign schooling around curiosity, metacognition, character, and purposeful learning. Together, they unpack the shift from memorizing content to building understanding, how teachers evolve from lecturers to learning facilitators, and why cultural transformation in schools requires a multi-year commitment, not a one-time workshop. From the promise and risks of AI in education to the real-world challenges schools face today (teacher shortages, shifting demographics, and rising competition), this conversation offers a grounded look at where learning is headed, and what we must protect as technology accelerates. Key Moments 03:30 Rethinking Education for Balance 08:44 "Curiosity: The Essence of Learning" 10:08 "Fostering Curiosity for Lifelong Learning" 14:11 "Fostering Curiosity-Driven Learning" 18:05 "Understanding Success as a Process" 21:08 "Assessing Progress Through Cultural Forces" 24:23 "Personalized Learning Through Technology" 28:55 "Human Development vs. Technology" 31:34 "Concerns About Rapid Technology Impact" 34:48 Cognitive Decline and Technology Concerns 40:31 Preschool Industry Challenges in Florida 43:39 "AI's Impact and Challenges" 44:57 "Proactive Tech for Civilization's Future" Why You’ll Love This Episode This episode challenges a familiar assumption: that education improves simply by adding more content, more testing, or more tools. You will hear how Edu1st is helping schools build cultures of thinking where students ask better questions, learn how they learn, and develop the character needed to navigate real-life complexity. Gilberto also shares: How VESS reframes education around purpose and balance Why curiosity is the engine of lifelong learning What “documentation” reveals about student thinking and growth How AI can support learning and what risks we cannot ignore Why the future demands we become “more human,” not less Connect with Gilberto Pinzon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilbertopinzonedu1st/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilbertopinzonedu1st/) Edu1st: https://edu1stvess.com/ (https://edu1stvess.com/) Connect with Us Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flexion-inc (https://www.linkedin.com/company/flexion-inc) Company Website: https://flexion.us/ (https://flexion.us/) If this conversation sparked a new idea or challenged your assumptions, share this episode with a colleague and subscribe for more thoughtful discussions at the intersection of learning, leadership, and educational technology. Join us next time on Chalk and Code, where the science of learning meets modern technology.

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.