Voices for Excellence

About Voices for Excellence

Welcome to Voices for Excellence, hosted by Dr. Michael Conners, where we explore the dynamic world of education, leadership, and innovation. This podcast offers in-depth conversations with thought leaders, educators, and industry experts, providing listeners with actionable insights and strategies to drive excellence in their fields. Season 3 continues our journey with a focus on cutting-edge topics like diversity in education, equality and inclusion, the impact of AI in the classroom, and transformative leadership strategies. Each episode is designed to inspire educators, leaders, and professionals committed to fostering positive change and achieving outstanding results. Across all seasons, Voices for Excellence delves into: Innovative educational practices and strategies Leadership development and personal growth Diversity and inclusion in the educational landscape The role of technology and AI in modern learning environments Join us for thought-provoking discussions and gain valuable perspectives on how to excel in today’s rapidly evolving world. Whether you’re an educator, a leader, or simply passionate about making a difference, this podcast provides the tools and inspiration you need to elevate your impact. Subscribe to Voices for Excellence and stay at the forefront of educational and leadership excellence!

Publisher

Dr. Michael T Conner

Category

education · kids & family · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Oct 2022

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

133 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Teachers as life coaches in the AC-Stage of education with Dr. Erika Twani

   What if students spent less of the school day waiting for directions and more of it learning how to direct themselves? Erika Twani wants educators to ask that question. Her own calculation puts a student’s time in school at 16,800 hours. The more important question, she says, is what students are doing with those hours. In this episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner welcomes Erika Twani, CEO of the Learning One to One Foundation, TEDx speaker, and author of Becoming Einstein’s Teacher and The Einstein Mindset, to explore what student agency can look like in practice. A visit to a rural school, where teachers had invested in the agency of a blind student, helped shape the work she would go on to build: the Relational Learning Framework. For leaders looking to give students more ownership of their learning, this conversation offers a place to start. What you’ll learn in this episode: How six steps and four levels of autonomy can help students take greater ownership of their learning Why Twani says meaningful change starts in classrooms rather than waiting for policy What a Michael Phelps story from the 2008 Olympics reveals about teachers as life coaches What educators need to understand about AI and the changing job market Listen for a practical vision of student agency. Stay for Twani’s poem “What If,” her answer to Conner’s signature song question, and a reminder to keep your love of learning. Connect with Erika Twani: et@erikatwani.com (mailto:et@erikatwani.com) | learning1to1.org (http://learning1to1.org) | erikatwani.com (http://erikatwani.com)

2. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Three Cs for leadership: credibility, competence, convincing with Dr. L. Oliver Robinson

   What does it take to lead with conviction when fear, politics, and constant change are shaping education? In this episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner sits down with veteran superintendent, executive coach, and founder of 2EDUK8, LLC, Dr. L. Oliver Robinson. Drawing on more than two decades as a superintendent, Dr. Robinson shares a practical philosophy for building stronger leaders, more coherent systems, and better outcomes for every student. Together, they explore how education leaders can identify their North Star, turn challenges into opportunities, and avoid making decisions from a place of fear. Dr. Robinson also explains why successful systems depend on conviction, thoughtful leadership, and the courage to act with purpose, even when the path forward is difficult. The conversation also examines representation in education, the responsibility to create opportunities for every child, and the role AI can play as a “co-intelligence” tool. Rather than using technology simply to produce more, Dr. Robinson challenges leaders to use it to improve quality, strengthen decision-making, and prepare their organizations for what comes next. In this episode, you’ll discover: How to systematize success across an organization Why every leader needs a clearly defined North Star The three qualities Dr. Robinson believes effective leaders must cultivate How representation can strengthen students’ sense of possibility Why AI should help educators create better work—not just more work What decades of leadership taught him about culture, conviction, and change Dr. Robinson leaves listeners with three essential words for the future of educational leadership: credibility, competence, and convincing.

3. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Why AI bans fail the students who need access most with Dr Jeanene Stettner-Dutt

   What if preparing students for the future means changing not only the tools in the classroom, but the way education thinks about leadership, learning, and change? Dr Jeanene Stettner-Dutt joins Dr Michael Conner for a timely conversation about leading schools through uncertainty without losing sight of the people at their centre. With experience spanning the classroom, principalship, curriculum leadership, and the superintendency, Jeanene brings a practitioner’s perspective to the pressures facing education, from the rise of AI to the changing expectations of Generation Alpha. This is a conversation for leaders who know that simply keeping an organisation functioning is no longer enough. Jeanene challenges educators to think more intentionally, design learning that feels relevant, and create cultures capable of adapting before change becomes a crisis. If you are asking how schools can embrace progress responsibly while continuing to put students first, this episode offers a grounded and hopeful place to begin.

Who has been a guest on Voices for Excellence

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Michael Conner
• Jennifer Womble
• Christine Fowler-Mack

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

61

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact Voices for Excellence

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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