Urban Assembly CEO and social-emotional learning expert David Adams talks with people who have solved problems and made things work to improve public education.
Learn more about The Urban Assembly at www.urbanassembly.org.
Special Bonus Episode: AI, Equity, and the Human Connection at ASU+GSV with Dr. Christina Cipriano
In this special bonus episode of Innovations in Education, recorded live in front of a vibrant audience at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, host David Adams sits down with Dr. Christina Cipriano for a fireside chat that brings you directly into the room where the future of learning is being shaped. This session explores how K-12 school systems can move beyond the hype of artificial intelligence to leverage technology in ways that expand access, strengthen human connection, and ensure equity for every learner.
Dr. Cipriano, Director of the Education Collaboratory at Yale, introduces her "Seen, Served, and Safe" framework, highlighting the urgent need to move evidence-based science out from behind paywalls and into the models powering today’s AI. She warns that without intentionality, AI models will continue to draw from biased, outdated data that fails to represent the true diversity of the human experience. David Adams, CEO of The Urban Assembly, complements this by framing AI as a "constraint releaser," a tool designed not to add more energy to an overtaxed system, but to release the energy already there to support better student outcomes.
The conversation hits a high gear with a rapid-fire "Could vs. Should" exercise that you won't want to miss. David and Chris engage the audience to tackle the most provocative questions facing educators today: Could AI replace teachers or therapists? Should it? The debate dives into the dangers of "cognitive offloading" and the non-negotiable reality that young people require deep, authentic relationships to truly learn.
The episode concludes with a powerful reflection on societal priorities, asking why we are investing so much energy into "zeros and ones" while the budgets for our actual children are being cut. It is a call for educators to map their creativity to technology and realize solutions in real time for the young people standing right in front of them.
Subscribe to Innovations in Education to ensure you never miss a conversation like this one, featuring the innovators who are making public education work for every student.
Time Stamps:
[00:00:00] Live intro from the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego
[00:01:06] Dr. Cipriano on ensuring students are seen, served, and safe
[00:04:18] David Adams on AI as a "constraint releaser" for schools
[00:06:54] The paywall problem and how biased data feeds AI models
[00:10:49] Investing in human skills vs. autonomous AI decision-making
[00:14:40] Reflections on Lieutenant Commander Data: Investing in silicon vs. youth
[00:21:55] The "Could vs. Should" rapid-fire exercise begins
[00:24:28] Can AI solve the mental health crisis in rural populations?
[00:29:43] Why human-in-the-loop is essential for educational tools
[00:34:25] The central role of relationships as the mechanism of learning
[00:41:35] Final thoughts: Choosing to invest in our future
21 Apr 2026
Insights from Harlem Village Academies Founder and The Well-Educated Child Author Dr. Deborah Kenny
On this episode of Innovations in Education, host David Adams, CEO of the Urban Assembly sits down with Dr. Deborah Kenny, an American educator and the founder of Harlem Village Academies. While this wide-ranging discussion covers Dr. Kenny's career shift from corporate publishing to charter school leadership, listeners can find a deeper exploration of her educational philosophy in her book, The Well-Educated Child: How the Principles and Practices of Quality Thinking, Agency, and Ethical Purpose Cultivate Deeper Learning. This conversation highlights how innovators are solving complex problems in public education by focusing on what truly works for young people.
Dr. Kenny reflects on her transition from being the president of Sesame Street Publishing to establishing a learning lab in Harlem. She explains that her school network exists to provide an excellent education to children who have historically been underserved despite their immense potential. Drawing on her experiences as both a mother and a lifelong educator, she describes the "entrepreneur's mind" required to build schools that move beyond uninspired, bureaucratic models.
The episode delves into specific pedagogical approaches, such as constructivist math instruction that encourages students to solve problems actively rather than passively memorizing formulas. Dr. Kenny and David also discuss the purpose of schooling through the lens of figures like James Baldwin and Ted Sizer, emphasizing the need for students to use their minds well and develop independent thinking. Dr. Kenny shares her skepticism regarding the rush to implement AI in classrooms, advocating instead for the "low-tech" power of reading great works and writing by hand.
By the end of the conversation, Dr. Kenny outlines how to cultivate intrinsic motivation and agency in students. She argues against the "rat race" of grades and rankings, suggesting that the true goal of education is to help children discover their calling and sense of purpose in the world.
Subscribe to Innovations in Education today to ensure you never miss a conversation with the leaders shaping the future of public schools. You can find more information and pick up a copy of Dr. Kenny's book at thewell-educatedchild.org.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 — Welcome to Innovations in Education with host David Adams
03:50 — The career exercise that revealed an "educator’s heart"
08:40 — Meeting Jeff Canada and the spark for Harlem Village Academies
13:10 — Constructivist math and the "Teaching Gap"
17:20 — James Baldwin and the purpose of a school
21:00 — Intellectual humility and deep research projects
23:45 — Skepticism of AI and the value of notebooks over Chromebooks
32:40 — Quality thinking, agency, and ethical purpose
36:20 — Navigating universal virtues in a polarized society
39:15 — The application of knowledge and the concept of "transfer"
40:50 — Why intrinsic motivation beats extrinsic rewards
44:10 — Helping students discern their calling and life's purpose
46:40 — Closing remarks and resources
8 Apr 2026
Radical Clarity and 100% Proficiency: A Conversation with LEAD 359's Dr. Alexa Sorden and Dr. Jennifer Charlot
In this episode of Innovations in Education recorded LIVE and on site in the South Bronx, host David Adams, CEO of the Urban Assembly, continues his mission to highlight the educators and innovators who are solving the toughest problems in public education. While many conversations in the sector focus on systemic failures, this series remains dedicated to what is actually working for young people.
Adams travels to the South Bronx to visit LEAD 359 (Leaders of Excellence, Advocacy, and Discovery), a Title 1 school located in the nation’s poorest congressional district. Joining him are Dr. Alexa Sorden, the school’s founding principal, and Dr. Jennifer Charlot, Managing Partner at Transcend. Together, they explore how a neighborhood school—composed entirely of local students—achieved a staggering 100% proficiency in ELA and 98% proficiency in Math in 2024.
The conversation deconstructs the "special sauce" behind these outcomes, moving past educational buzzwords to discuss concrete systems. Dr. Sorden details her signature Collaborative Reading protocol—a highly scaffolded, 15-minute daily structure that allows even kindergarteners to engage with texts several grade levels above their own. The episode also dives into the school’s unique approach to departmentalization starting in kindergarten, and how radical leadership clarity allows teachers to release control and foster student independence.
From student-led progress reports to a curriculum that prioritizes "quality over quantity," this episode offers a masterclass in building school coherence. As Dr. Charlot notes, the journey toward excellence often requires educators to "release fear" and trust in the capacity of their students.
Subscribe to Innovations in Education wherever you get your podcast so you never miss an episode like this one.
Time Stamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Innovations in Education 01:00 - Guest introductions: Dr. Alexa Sorden and Dr. Jennifer Charlot 01:30 - Dr. Sorden’s "why": From reading tutor to educational leader 02:45 - Dr. Charlot’s "why": Bridging academic rigor and social-emotional learning 03:55 - The partnership: How LEAD 359 and Transcend began collaborating 05:15 - Defining LEAD: Excellence, Advocacy, and Discovery 08:20 - School history and structure: From 3K through 8th Grade 09:50 - Exceptional Results: 100% ELA and 98% Math proficiency in the South Bronx 11:10 - The "Special Sauce": The 5-phase Collaborative Reading protocol 15:50 - Systemic Consistency: Departmentalization beginning in Kindergarten 18:10 - Leadership Clarity: Providing teachers with clear structures for success 22:05 - Releasing Control: Moving from teacher-led talk to student-led thinking 24:50 - Strategic Spending: Investing in home libraries, trips, and hands-on tools 26:40 - Instructional Coherence: Integrating Arts and STEAM into core subjects 31:25 - Ownership of Learning: Data tracking and student-led progress reports 34:35 - The Future of LEAD: Developing a Bronx Arts and STEAM hub 35:50 - Final Takeaways: Releasing fear and the necessity of love in education
Who has been a guest on Innovations in Education with David Adams
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