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/

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

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.

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