The Creativity Edge in Education: Funding, Priorities, and Training with Susan Riley

What helps educators move creativity from the margins to the center of teaching and learning? And what systems might be quietly shaping what’s possible in our classrooms? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett speak with Susan Riley, founder of the Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM and author of Creativity’s Edge: Unleashing Humanity’s Greatest Advantage in the Age of AI. Together, they explore why creativity, despite being widely valued, often remains underprioritized in schools—and how factors like funding, time, teacher preparation, and leadership all play a role in shaping what actually happens in classrooms. In this episode, we discuss: Why creativity in education is fundamentally an equity issue tied to funding and access How “money buys time” and why time is one of the biggest barriers to creative teaching The tension between stated values (creativity matters) and actual priorities (testing, curriculum pacing, college admissions) Why even well-funded schools may overlook creativity due to competing goals and systemic pressures How teacher preparation programs often miss foundational skills like lesson design and creative integration The role of leadership and school culture in fostering or constraining creativity Simple, practical ways to embed creativity into everyday classroom routines without overhauling curriculum The importance of habits and small shifts, such as questioning routines and curiosity-driven practices The connection between creativity and curiosity as mutually reinforcing forces in learning The “212-degree” metaphor for creativity as a transformational force that is often invisible but deeply impactful The challenges and possibilities of assessing creativity across skills, thinking, application, and expression Why creativity is both a communal experience and an individual act that extends beyond the classroom About Our Guest Susan Riley is an internationally recognized educator, author, and founder of the Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM, the largest online professional development provider focused on arts-integrated approaches. She has presented at the U.S. Department of Education, National Public Radio, and Americans for the Arts, and her work has been featured in publications worldwide. Her latest book, Creativity’s Edge, explores how creativity can serve as a critical advantage in the age of AI. This episode invites educators and leaders to take a deeper look at the systems, priorities, and daily practices that shape creativity in schools—and to consider how small, intentional shifts can lead to meaningful change over time. Be sure to subscribe to 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 [email protected].