Roll Call Podcast

About Roll Call Podcast

Rollcall is THE podcast for Educators, Administrators and School Leaders who want to be at the forefront of Independent School management. Hosted by boarding school expert, Brian Murray and acclaimed educator, Josh Symonds. Rollcall delivers practical strategies and insightful interviews that cover the most pressing issues in education today, including the key differences between teaching boys and girls, the most effective ways to work with students, and the next big changes to life on campus. Rollcall is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools across 5 continents to manage risk, gain efficiency and improve communications throughout boarding operations.

Publisher

Brian Murray & Josh Symonds

Category

education · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Oct 2019

Latest episode

1 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

36 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Jun 2026

   AI, Human Connection, and the Future of Boarding Schools with Susan Baldridge

   On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Dr. Susan Baldridge, Executive Director of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of boarding schools and the challenges school leaders are navigating today. Susan shares her perspective on the evolving "triple threat" faculty model, changing workforce expectations, staff wellness, residential life, enrollment pressures, and the growing role of AI in education. The discussion explores how schools are balancing long-standing traditions with modern realities, from professionalizing dorm life to helping students develop the uniquely human skills that technology cannot replace. They also dive into international enrollment trends, cell phone policies, student development, and why boarding schools may become even more valuable in an age where information is instantly available. If you're interested in leadership, education, and what schools need to do to prepare students for the future, this episode is worth the listen. Show notes: 00:00 — Welcome + Susan Baldridge introduction 03:00 — Is the traditional boarding school model changing? 07:30 — Staff wellness, burnout, and workforce expectations 13:00 — Professionalizing residential life 18:55 — AI, human connection, and the boarding school advantage 24:40 — The "drawbridge" approach to AI in schools 27:10 — Cell phones, self-discipline, and student development 37:45 — Enrollment trends and international recruitment 44:25 — The challenges facing smaller schools 48:25 — Why Susan remains hopeful about education Learn more about TABS and Susan Baldridge: https://www.tabs.org/new-executive-director/

2. 

   27 Apr 2026

   AI, Student Integrity, and the Future of School Leadership with Vanessa Wade

   On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Vanessa Wade, Assistant Head of School at King's-Edgehill School, for a thoughtful conversation on what AI is already changing inside schools — and what leaders need to pay closer attention to before the shift moves even faster. Vanessa brings the perspective of a school leader working at the intersection of student well-being, discipline, leadership, and strategic decision-making. The conversation explores the changing meaning of cheating, the growing ambiguity around AI use in classrooms, the risks of deepfakes and student harm, and the reality that many schools are still building policy in real time. They also dive into data privacy, board-level responsibility, mental health concerns, and why the future of school may look very different than it does today. If you want a grounded look at how AI is affecting real students, real schools, and real leadership decisions right now, this is the episode. Show notes: 00:00 — Welcome + Vanessa Wade introduction 02:15 — AI at the leadership level + shifting expectations 04:30 — Student behavior changes + integrity concerns 07:10 — Getting answers without learning 09:30 — Is cheating still cheating? 11:15 — AI and student curiosity 14:05 — Are students being introduced to AI too early? 16:10 — AI in student life: discipline + deepfakes 20:20 — When schools involve law enforcement 26:15 — Data privacy + risks of using AI in schools 30:30 — Using AI for student data + decision-making 32:25 — Lack of policy + schools figuring it out in real time 34:25 — AI and mental health concerns 39:45 — Fear vs. excitement: leadership perspective 41:00 — Biggest mistakes schools will make with AI 43:05 — What happens if schools do nothing 46:20 — What boards should be focused on 48:30 — Will AI make schools better or just different? 52:15 — The next major shift in education Connect with Vanessa Wade: linkedin.com/in/vanessa-wade-b6387515

3. 

   6 Apr 2026

   AI in Education, Critical Thinking, and the Future of Teaching with Alec Couros

   On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Dr. Alec Couros, professor of educational technology and media and director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Regina, for a deep and timely conversation on the role of AI in education. The conversation explores one of the biggest challenges facing schools today: how to integrate AI while maintaining strong pedagogy and human connection. Alec shares insights on cognitive offloading, critical thinking, misinformation, and why writing still matters more than ever in a world where AI can generate almost anything instantly. They also unpack the risks of over-prioritizing efficiency in education, the future of personalized learning, and why educators need to be intentional about how these tools are used — not just what they can do, but what they should do. Show notes: 00:00 — Introduction to Alec Couros 01:11 — Alec's background and how he found his path into education 04:16 — Balancing AI integration with strong pedagogy 05:27 — "Pedagogy first, technology second" 07:18 — Is critical thinking changing in the age of AI? 08:56 — AI grading, black-box processes, and bias in assessment 14:23 — Productive struggle, learning, and cognitive offloading 17:42 — When students should be introduced to AI tools 19:18 — Why writing is thinking 23:18 — Misinformation, deepfakes, and teaching digital discernment 28:22 — What keeps Alec up at night about AI in education 29:35 — Efficiency, teacher perception, and controlling the narrative 31:58 — Personalized learning, isolation, and protecting human connection 33:25 — AI tutors, non-certified guides, and the future of school models 36:31 — Curriculum upheaval and what is still worth learning 39:25 — The pace of AI development and whether educators need to keep up 44:52 — The future of personalized learning in the classroom 51:58 — Lightning round 55:11 — Final reflections on alignment, values, and what AI ought not do

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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