In this episode of Achieving Joy and Mastery in Public Schools, Dr. Matt Frahm, the superintendent of Clarence CSD, flips the script and interviews Dr. Brian Graham, the superintendent of Grand Island CSD. The conversation focused on the power of podcasting and the ability to tell stories that shine a spotlight on public education. This podcast is in its 4th season with over 17,000 downlaods and 93 episodes published.

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Today on our podcast we have Douglas Scofield, the Superintendent of the Iroquois Central School District. Doug is in his 15th year as superintendent and previously served here as the assistant superintendent for finance and personnel, which he began in 2006. Joining the podcast was Chad Barry, the lead School Resource Officer in the district. Together, they shared how over the past 20+ years they have built a culture of safety, care and a community that believes in kindness.

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In this episode, we spoke with Daniel Ljiljanich, Superintendent of the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District. We were also joined by Jennifer Golias, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Technology, and Alexandra “Zan” Printup, a Tuscarora Culture Teacher at the Tuscarora Nation Elementary School. Together, they shared powerful stories of empowerment as they guide students in appreciating and preserving the culture and language of the Tuscarora Nation.

Our conversation also explored the district-wide initiative known as Orange Shirt Day. Observed on September 30th, this day serves as a significant acknowledgment of the impact the residential school system had on Indigenous communities. Orange Shirt Day promotes reconciliation, cultural revitalization, language acquisition, and ongoing historical education. It centers on the belief that Every Child Matters.

This important work is inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor whose orange shirt—gifted to her by her grandmother—was taken from her on her first day of school. Each year, members of the school community wear orange shirts to show their support and participate in educational events, ceremonies, and activities that honor survivors and their families.

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In this episode of the podcast, I had the honor of interviewing the Keynote presenters for the NYSCOSS Fall Leadership Summit on Monday, September 29th The presenters included:

• Ignite #1- Leading Through a Crisis with Empathy and Compassion
  Paul Defendini, Superintendent, Farmingdale UFSD
• Ignite #2 – Off the Shelf-Bringing Your Strategic Plan to Life - James Bialasik, Superintendent, Springville-Griffith Institute CSD
• Ignite #3 - The Human Element of Leadership: Leading with Vision, Passion and Purpose
  Dr. Turina M. Parker, District Superintendent, WSWHE BOCES

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In this episode we interviewed Thomas Adams, the Superintendent of the Hamburg Central School District. In our fourth season of the podcast, Tom discusses the importance and power of "connectedness".

Joining him were, Tricia Miller, the Farm to School Coordinator for Hamburg Central and 2 special education teachers (Jennifer Perri and Jeffrey Berdysiak) from the middle school who work together to facilitate many different extra-curricular experiences for their students.

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Today on our podcast we have Mark Laurrie, the Superintendent of the Niagara Falls City School District.

Mark is in his 10th year as a superintendent and his 42nd year as an educator. Mark has been a progressive leader who is always a champion for his students. He has been the recipient of several local and state awards for leading his school community, and we are thrilled to have him on our show today. In this episode Mark talks about CTE Students and partnerships with Trade Unions, Say Yes to Education in Niagara Falls, Head Start and Safety 30.

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In this episode of Achieving Joy and Mastery in Public Schools, host Dr. Brian Graham sits down with Dr. Donna DeSiato, President of NYSCOSS and Superintendent of the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District.

Dr. DeSiato shares her district’s visionary journey from traditional, industrial-age models of schooling to future-focused, student-centered learning. She highlights the power of strategic planning, project-based learning, STEM ecosystems, and authentic pathways like aviation and computer science that prepare students for their futures—not ours.

The conversation also explores how partnerships with business, higher education, and government fuel innovation, and how the upcoming NYSCOSS Fall Leadership Conference will challenge superintendents to lead boldly, embrace inquiry, and create agile, future-ready school systems.

Listeners will walk away inspired by Dr. DeSiato’s message: superintendents are not just stewards of schools—they are architects of the future, leading and learning at the pace of change.

For more information send an email to: superintendent@esmschools.org

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In this episode of Achieving Joy and Mastery in Public Schools, we tackle the urgent issue of early literacy and how generative artificial intelligence could be the key to transforming young readers' experiences. Only 33% of U.S. fourth-graders were proficient in reading in 2022, and this crisis continues to grow. But what if AI could help change the story?

Join host Brian Graham as he sits down with the team behind the Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI (CELaRAI) at the University at Buffalo to explore how innovative tools like the AI Reading Enhancer (AIRE) can support young learners in developing essential literacy skills.

Our special guests include:

• Dr. X. Christine Wang, Professor of Early Education & Learning Sciences at UB, Senior Associate Dean for Research, and Principal Investigator for CELaRAI. Dr. Wang shares her vision for how AI can augment teacher capacity and address the literacy crisis.
• Dr. Kristen Smigielski, Project Manager for CELaRAI, who specializes in inclusive education and social justice. Dr. Smigielski discusses how AIRE can empower teachers and ensure equitable classrooms for all students.
• Dr. Zhaohui Li, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the National AI Institute for Exceptional Education & CELaRAI. Dr. Li dives into the technical side of AIRE, explaining how it uses AI to generate personalized texts and provide real-time reading support.
• Zhuoyun (Joy) Cai, Ph.D. student at UB and AI policy expert for CELaRAI. Joy explores the ethical considerations of using AI in early education and how policy frameworks are shaping its responsible deployment in classrooms.

Together, they highlight the exciting possibilities of using AI to improve phonics, word recognition, fluency, and comprehension, especially for culturally and linguistically diverse learners. We’ll also discuss the importance of responsible AI practices and how CELaRAI is leading the way in developing ethical guidelines for AI in education.

If you’re looking to learn more about how AI can help bridge the gap in early literacy and support teachers in their mission, this episode is a must-listen!

https://earlyliteracyai.org/

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