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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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.

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In this special on-location recording at the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett sit down with Sarah Caroleo, Ph.D. to explore the powerful role of professional learning in advancing gifted education.

Together, they unpack how thoughtfully designed professional learning (PL) can elevate teacher practice, strengthen advanced learning opportunities, and help close long-standing excellence gaps within schools and districts.

About the Guest

Sarah Caroleo is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Annenberg Institute, Brown University. She researches professional learning in gifted education, sharing evidence-based strategies to help teachers support high-potential students and close excellence gaps.

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In this Winter 2026 episode of the Listen and Learn series, Dr. Jennifer Riedl Cross joins Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett to challenge traditional views of giftedness. Moving beyond IQ and high achievement, she introduces Transformational Giftedness—the idea that intelligence and talent are most meaningful when used to tackle societal challenges and create positive change.

The conversation explores the “Rage for Justice,” the moral intensity often found in gifted individuals, and how it can be channeled into effective activism. Animal justice emerges as a compelling entry point for young activists, highlighting how concern for animals often sparks broader social awareness and motivates action for the common good. She shares the work she has done in this area conducted in collaboration with Barbara J. King.

Dr. Worwood and Dr. Burnett discuss practical strategies for nurturing young changemakers. From persuasive writing and public speaking to strategic thinking, they emphasize how educators and parents can help students transform passion into real-world impact. Creativity is central, with activism framed as an imaginative act—envisioning worlds that do not yet exist and taking steps to bring them to life.

If you are interested in this topic, you might also want to check out Barbara J. King's TED talk on grief and love in the animal kingdom!

About the Guest:

Dr. Jennifer Riedl Cross is a Research Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her research focuses on the social and emotional development of gifted students, particularly those who use their talents for social justice and advocacy.

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In this special end-of-year episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cindy Burnett and Dr. Matthew Warwood reflect on their accomplishments throughout 2025, sharing candid insights into the goals they've met and the challenges they've faced. From launching their YouTube channel and refining their website, to penning an almost-complete book titled "The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education." They discuss the importance of aiming for "B plus work" in a busy world and celebrate the creative experiments with video shorts, newsletter outreach, and organizing over 200 interviews into meaningful collections. The hosts also express heartfelt appreciation for their growing community and the feedback they've received from listeners and past guests.

Looking ahead, Dr. Cindy Burnett and Dr. Matthew Warwood invite listeners to shape the future of the podcast by sharing feedback, suggesting topics, and exploring new ways to connect around their forthcoming book. Exciting plans for 2026 include a five-year anniversary celebration—potentially a live or virtual party for VIP listeners who engage with their call to action. The episode concludes with personal reflections on how their mission has evolved: focusing on educating the whole person to foster transformational creativity that makes the world a better place. Tune in for a thoughtful recap, a glimpse into what’s next, and a sincere thank you to the Fueling Creativity community!

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In the season finale of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Matthew Worwood, and Cyndi Burnett welcome their emerging scholar in residence, Jimmy Wilson, for a dynamic exploration of micro schools and alternative educational models. Drawing from Jimmy's personal experiences and research, the episode dives deep into the benefits and trade-offs of innovative school structures versus traditional public education. Key topics include the autonomy and specialization offered by micro schools, challenges around resources, the impact of test-focused environments, and the essential role of creative teaching and learning in student development.

Listeners will hear thoughtful debate about whether high school students should specialize or diversify their studies, and how environments can foster agency, collaboration, and transformational creativity. The episode also highlights research on established alternative models like Montessori and Waldorf, discussing their effects on creativity and student well-being. With references to real case studies and expert research, the hosts encourage educators and parents to consider the "best fit" for every child, emphasizing the importance of meaningful experiences, lifelong learning, and ongoing action research. Tune in for practical insights, personal stories, and a sneak peek at Cyndi Burnett and Matthew Worwood's upcoming book, all focused on fueling creativity for the future of education.

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In this debrief episode marking the end of season 11 and 2025, hosts Dr. Matthew Warwood and Dr. Cindy Burnett dive into three pivotal topics they explored with recent guests: AI’s impact on student creativity, the reframing of creativity through “innovation-ish” thinking, and the power of game-based learning for creative and critical thinking in education. Reflecting on discussions with experts like Dr. Florin Vinshon, Tessa Forshaw, Richard Cox Braden, Steven Slota, and Trent Hergenrader, they weigh the nuances of treating AI as a tool versus a collaborator, underscore the importance of mindset over process in creative problem-solving, and unpack how playful learning and world-building foster creativity in the classroom.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Matthew Warwood and Dr. Cindy Burnett connect research, personal insights, and classroom experiences, emphasizing that meaningful connections—central to creativity—cannot be replicated by technology alone. They highlight the evolving role of educators in nurturing creative mindsets, champion playful learning strategies, and advocate for innovative approaches to schooling, including micro schools and systemic “revolutions” in education. The episode wraps with a look forward to the upcoming season and a special research recap, continuing their commitment to fueling creativity in education.

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