As we kick off Season 12 of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, we explore a question that sits at the heart of education reform. What does it actually look like to design a school around preparing young people for the real world?

In this episode, we welcome Carlos Moreno, educator, author, and Executive Director of Big Picture Learning. Carlos brings a systems-level perspective shaped by his work as a teacher, principal, district leader, and national education executive.

Together, we examine why creativity often gets squeezed out of traditional school models, how fear and compliance shape decision-making, and where untapped creative potential lives in public education. Carlos shares the core design principles behind Big Picture schools, including advisory systems, real-world learning, student exhibitions, and the powerful idea of educating one student at a time.

We also discuss leadership, relationships, and the role of love, care, and vulnerability in building creative school cultures, drawing from Carlos’s book Finding Your Leadership Soul. This conversation challenges us to rethink control, trust educators and students, and design schools that help young people discover purpose, agency, and voice.

Carlos Moreno is an educator, author, and national education leader who currently serves as Executive Director of Big Picture Learning. He has worked as a teacher, principal, and district leader, and co-founded the Deeper Learning Equity Fellowship. Carlos is the author of Finding Your Leadership Soul and is widely recognized for his work supporting equity-centered, relationship-driven school design.

Welcome to Season 12 of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast! In this special preview episode, co-hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett reflect on major milestones—five years of podcasting and 250 published episodes—and offer a glimpse into the conversations ahead.

This season dives deep into Teaching Creativity, where it is most challenged: within systems, under pressure, and through the everyday decisions educators and learners make. With a strong foundation now in place, Season 12 focuses on building from within the system—exploring how creativity can be nurtured, sustained, and expanded in real-world educational contexts.

Drs. Matt and Cyndi preview several early episodes that highlight new and timely dimensions of Creativity in Education, including:

• Creativity in Sport How do athletes make creative decisions under pressure? A conversation with pioneering researcher Daniel Memmert explores creativity, play, constraints, and risk-taking in high-stakes environments.

• Pushing the Boundaries of Public Education Kicking off the season is Carlos Moreno, Co-Executive Director of Big Picture Learning, who shares an unconventional yet scalable model of public education rooted in student agency, real-world learning, and creative self-direction.

• Creative Self-Belief and Identity An upcoming episode with Michał Kowalski examines creative self-efficacy, identity, and motivation—especially for today’s learners—raising important questions about passion, agency, and growth.

• Constructive Dialogue in the Classroom With Caroline Mehl from the Constructive Dialogue Institute, the hosts explore why meaningful dialogue is essential for creativity, empathy, and learning—and how educators can intentionally cultivate it.

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Visit FuelingCreativityPodcast.com for more information or email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com.

Recorded live at the National Association for Gifted and Talented (NAGC) Conference in Pittsburgh, this final episode of the Winter 2026 Listen & Learn series brings together Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett with emerging scholar Jimmy Wilson and researcher Dr. Julie Delgado.

Together, they explore how creativity can become a powerful pathway for twice-exceptional (2e) learners—particularly students with autism spectrum disorder—by centering passion, projects, peers, and play.

This conversation bridges research and practice, drawing from Project 2EASD and the Lifelong Kindergarten Lab’s Four P’s Framework (Passion, Play, Projects, Peers) to reimagine how schools and universities can support neurodiverse learners.

• What twice-exceptional (2e) really means—and why creativity matters

• How Project 2EASD reshapes professional learning for teachers

• The Four P’s of creative learning: Passion, Play, Projects, and Peers

• Why interest-based peers matter more than same-age peers

• The role of extracurriculars, clubs, and mentorship in student growth

• Moving beyond deficit-based views of neurodiversity

• How passion fuels perseverance—and when it’s okay to pivot

• “Hard fun” as a catalyst for leadership, confidence, and real-world skills

From launching clubs to hosting dorm-room tea parties, the stories shared highlight how creative environments empower students to thrive—academically, socially, and personally.

Jimmy Wilson is an emerging scholar and resident expert in gifted education, specializing in twice-exceptional (2e) learners. His research focuses on supporting neurodiverse students—particularly those on the autism spectrum—through creative learning experiences, mentorship, and interest-based peer connections. Jimmy brings both scholarly insight and practical strategies for implementing programs that help 2e learners thrive academically, socially, and personally.

Julie Delgado is a tenure-track researcher in gifted education, having recently completed her dissertation on Project 2EASD (Twice-Exceptional Autism Spectrum Disorder). Her work centers on professional development for teachers, integrating creativity into learning, and helping educators cultivate meaningful experiences for neurodiverse students. Julie’s research emphasizes passion-driven projects, mentorship, and leveraging extracurricular activities to promote leadership, collaboration, and real-world skill development.

Be sure to subscribe on your favorite platform and sign up for our Extra Fuel newsletter for more resources and inspiration.

Visit FuelingCreativityPodcast.com for more information or email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com.