Evolution Stories

What really motivates people to change?In this season finale episode of Evolution Stories, Christian Talbot sits down with bestselling author Dan Pink to unpack decades of research on motivation, leadership, timing, regret, and the future of human skills.Drawing from his work in Drive, When, To Sell Is Human, and The Power of Regret, Dan explains why traditional reward systems often fail in schools and organizations, why autonomy and purpose outperform control, and how leaders can avoid the trap of under-communicating change.The conversation also explores the science of breaks and timing, why regret can improve decision-making, and what educators must prioritize as AI transforms how knowledge is created and distributed.This episode is essential listening for leaders navigating complexity, uncertainty, and wise change.

In this episode of Evolution Stories, Middle States President Christian Talbot sits down with Elinor Scully, Head of School at National Cathedral School, for a candid and deeply reflective conversation about leadership, change, and the realities of decision-making in schools.Drawing from her journey as a classroom teacher, division head, and head of school, Elinor explores what happens when leaders pursue the right outcomes but underestimate the human dynamics of change. She reflects on an early failed attempt to redesign a school schedule, unpacking how fear, identity, and unspoken resistance can quietly derail even the most student-centered initiatives.The conversation then shifts to a pivotal leadership moment during the COVID era, when Elinor was forced to make a high-stakes facilities decision without the certainty leaders often crave. Through that experience, she surfaces a core truth about leadership, that courage to act amid imperfect information is not optional, but essential.The episode closes with a forward-looking reflection on the next frontier of educational leadership, stewarding faculty culture in a post-pandemic world where trust, morale, and meaning have become as critical as pedagogy and strategy.This episode offers school leaders an honest look at why change is hard, what leadership actually requires, and how culture ultimately determines whether transformation succeeds or stalls.

In this episode of Evolution Stories, MSA President Christian Talbot speaks with Maria Vogelei, Head of School and founding team member at the Village School in Arlington, Virginia, a learner-driven microschool built around agency, purpose, and self-directed learning.Maria shares her unconventional path into school leadership, moving from brand building and tech entrepreneurship into education after searching for a school that aligned with her daughter’s needs. She reflects on the difference between marketing and market education, why introducing new school models requires trust and social proof, and what surprised her most when stepping into the head of school role.The conversation explores leadership during moments of low morale, how prioritizing educators can stabilize entire school communities, and why presence, transparency, and one-on-one relationships matter more than polished strategies. Maria also discusses lessons learned from a previous mental health startup that failed to launch, offering powerful insights into champions, timing, and reframing perceived failure.As the Village School prepares to launch a learner-driven high school in a credential-focused market, Maria reflects on the tension between traditional measures of success and the skills students need in an AI-shaped future. This episode offers a grounded, honest look at change leadership, agency, and what it means to build schools for the world students are actually inheriting.

In this episode of Evolution Stories, Jeff Selingo joins the conversation to unpack how education systems are being reshaped by shifting student needs, changing labor markets, and growing skepticism about traditional college pathways. Drawing from decades of reporting and his latest book, Dream School, Jeff explores what meaningful learning looks like today, how institutions can better align with real-world outcomes, and why students need clearer signals about value, purpose, and possibility. The discussion challenges long-held assumptions about higher education and invites educators to imagine more responsive, learner-centered futures.Key Topics CoveredThe evolving purpose of higher educationWhat students and families are actually seeking from schools todayHow college admissions and credentialing are changingThe disconnect between traditional institutions and workforce realitiesInsights from Dream School and what “fit” really meansRethinking success, value, and outcomes in educationNotable Quotes (Pull Quotes)“We’ve designed systems around institutions instead of learners, and that gap is becoming harder to ignore.”“Students are asking smarter questions now, not just about where to go, but why.”“The future of education is less about prestige and more about purpose.”OtherOfficial Website: https://www.jeffselingo.comBooks: Dream School, Who Gets In and Why, There Is Life After CollegeSocial MediaX (Twitter): @jselingoLinkedIn: Jeff Selingo

In this episode of Evolution Stories, Christian Talbot sits down with Laura Light, Executive Director of AAIE and one of the most trusted conveners in international education. Laura has a unique view into the complexities facing school leaders around the globe, from geopolitical conflict to enrollment volatility to the rapid emergence of AI. She reflects on her own journey as a third culture kid turned educator and describes how international schools embrace risk, change, and innovation with remarkable courage.Laura also takes listeners behind the scenes of AAIE’s Tuesday Morning Calls, a global lifeline for school leaders navigating sudden USAID cuts earlier this year. She shares why her philosophy of leadership centers on community, kindness, integrity, and the ability to admit mistakes and move forward. For anyone leading change in uncertain times, Laura’s insights are grounding, practical, and deeply human.

In this episode of Evolution Stories, Christian Talbot talks with Dr. Timothy S. Stuart, a global education leader whose career has spanned more than 30 years across schools, systems, and continents. Tim currently serves as Director of Leadership Recruitment and Global Partnerships at Search Associates and previously worked as a Regional Education Officer for the U.S. Department of State, supporting American-style international schools around the world. Before that, he spent five years as Head of School at the International Community School of Addis Ababa and held leadership roles at Singapore American School, including Executive Director of Strategic Programs and High School Principal. He also served as High School Principal at Jakarta Intercultural School.Tim shares his powerful personal story of returning to the United States as a French-educated teenager, being misdiagnosed, and placed in special education. That early experience shaped everything that followed, influencing his beliefs about inclusion, safeguarding, and the centrality of human relationships in learning. He and Christian explore the challenges of transforming elite school cultures, the leadership lessons that emerge from failure, and the delicate balance between confidence and humility.They also discuss how AI may finally help schools personalize learning at scale and why sustainable change rests on systems, not slogans.

In this episode of Evolution Stories, Christian Talbot sits down with Catarina Song Chen, a true third culture kid whose leadership journey spans South Korea, Paraguay, the United States, and Brazil. Catarina shares how she stumbled into teaching after a career in fashion and ultimately became head of an international school facing severe challenges, including losing accreditation, unstable leadership, low enrollment, and community mistrust.She discusses what it took to rebuild the school from the ground up. From discovering the school lacked essential licenses to repairing culture, designing new learning models, and engaging parents through intentional listening tours, Catarina details both her failures and breakthroughs. She reflects on missteps like implementing co-teaching too quickly and the humility required to listen, course correct, and rebuild trust.Now serving the U.S. Department of State as a Regional Education Officer and inaugural leader of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, Catarina offers clear, hard-earned lessons on leading wise and sustainable change. 

In this episode of Evolution Stories, host Christian Talbot speaks with Liz Perry, Assistant Head of School for Academics at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Connecticut. Perry brings a remarkable breadth of experience, having taught and led in schools from Brooklyn to Brazil to Pine Ridge, South Dakota. She reflects on how her diverse teaching and leadership roles—including at Berkeley Carroll, the American School of São Paulo, Brimmer and May, and Red Cloud Indian School—have shaped her understanding of student learning and academic leadership. Liz and Christian revisit their collaboration during St. Luke’s strategic planning process, exploring how strategy and vision inform meaningful school change. Through her story, Perry underscores the value of global perspective, intentional leadership, and inclusive planning in helping schools thrive academically while preparing students for an interconnected world.

“Microschools are giving families agency, educators freedom, and students a chance to thrive outside of one-size-fits-all systems.” – Don SoiferIn this episode of Evolution Stories, Christian Talbot sits down with Don Soifer, CEO of the National Microschooling Center. A national leader in the microschooling movement, Soifer has played a key role in transforming education through innovation and policy. He co-created the first public-private partnership microschool in Las Vegas and served three unprecedented terms on the DC Public Charter School Board, where he helped authorize over 120 schools. As the founder of Nevada Action for School Options and co-founder of the Lexington Institute, Soifer has long been at the forefront of education reform. In this conversation, he shares insights into why microschools are gaining traction, how they give families more agency, and what it takes to create sustainable, student-centered alternatives to traditional schooling. Soifer’s story highlights the promise of microschools as a powerful model for the future of education.

 In this second episode of Season II Evolution Stories, host Christian Talbot sits down with Suzanna Jemsby, Head of School at Washington International School and a Commissioner with the Middle States Association. A lifelong educator fluent in four languages, Suzanna’s global journey has taken her from classrooms in England and Syria to leadership roles in Atlanta and Washington, DC. She candidly reflects on early career decisions, lessons from a failed campus expansion project, and how that experience shaped her approach to community engagement and leadership. Suzanna shares how she rebuilt trust with neighbors, successfully led a major construction initiative, and developed a collaborative school culture that empowers both faculty and students. Through her story, she reminds us that meaningful change in education begins with listening, relationships, and a steadfast belief that students must always remain at the center of every decision.

 In this Season II opening episode of Evolution Stories, host Christian Talbot welcomes back Michael Horn, renowned author, speaker, and leading thinker in education innovation. Horn was the very first guest in Middle States’ live conversations nearly three years ago, and he returns to discuss his influential work on school reinvention and systemic change. He shares insights from his book From Reopen to Reinvent and beyond, highlighting why schools often get stuck in outdated practices and how leaders can design better systems for students. Drawing on years of research and collaboration, Horn emphasizes the need for schools to embrace disruption, adopt flexible models, and put students at the center of learning. The conversation underscores his belief that innovation is not optional—it’s essential for the future of education.

In this episode, Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy and author of "Alchemy," shares his perspective on leading change, particularly in schools. Sutherland argues for the importance of incorporating psychology into change initiatives, suggesting that an over-reliance on numerical metrics can be detrimental.  Drawing from his experience in advertising, he emphasizes the need to understand human behavior and motivations to drive effective transformation. The conversation explores how schools can apply principles of lateral thinking and creativity to overcome challenges and achieve meaningful change. 

This episode features leaders from Beyond 8, a pioneering learning studio in India, who share how their model disrupts traditional ideas of school. Rooted in student agency and human connection, Beyond 8 empowers young people to co-design their learning journey through real-world projects, interest-based exploration, and authentic assessments.The conversation explores the limitations of standardized systems and celebrates the creativity, confidence, and critical thinking that emerge when students are trusted to lead. With no fixed classrooms, no rigid timetables, and no pressure to perform for grades, Beyond 8 fosters environments where curiosity thrives and well-being is prioritized. The episode offers inspiring insights for anyone working to transform education into a more personalized, relational, and empowering experience — especially in contexts where students often feel unseen.Listeners will leave with a renewed belief in what’s possible when schools dare to go beyond compliance, beyond testing, and yes — beyond the number 8.

In this episode, Homa Tavangar, co-founder of the Big Questions Institute (BQI), discusses her work in education and international development. BQI engages schools worldwide in inquiry to prepare children for an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.  Tavangar, author of "Growing Up Global," shares her insights on how to prepare children to succeed as happy and informed global citizens 1 . The discussion explores her personal journey and the evolution of her focus towards education, driven by a concern for how schools prepare children for the realities of an interconnected world.

In this episode, Dr. Renée Rattray, Lead Education Advisor for the XQ Institute, shares her origin story in education. Rattray's journey began in Jamaica, where she worked as a special education teacher and later became a school principal.The conversation reveals the profound influence of Rattray's family, whom she describes as "givers" with a strong commitment to social justice and service. This upbringing shaped Rattray's own dedication to serving others and ensuring that her work benefits those around her.

In this episode, Jalaj Desai, Head of School at Saddle River Day School, NJ, discusses his experiences in leading change within an independent school setting. He recounts taking on the headship during a period of instability and shares his strategies for building a strong team and fostering a positive school culture.The conversation explores Desai's emphasis on simple yet creative solutions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his focus on innovation, including the establishment of a Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the creation of a generative AI tool for the school.

In this episode, Dr. Kapono Ciotti, CEO of the Pacific American Foundation, discusses his views on education as a powerful tool for social justice. Ciotti credits his upbringing by two educators and his early schooling experiences for shaping his perspective.  He fondly recalls his time at a progressive school in Hawaii, where the emphasis was on integrated thematic units and project-based learning, fostering a sense of "student protagonism." Ciotti believes this approach allowed him to see his education as an active and joyful experience, shaping his views on the importance of agency and purpose in learning. 

In this episode, Joel Thompson, principal of Mt. Lebanon High School, shares his insights on leadership and change in schools. The conversation emphasizes Thompson's fifteen years as an educator and his commitment to leveraging innovative practices to enhance learning and create impactful experiences for students.Thompson's leadership has earned him a nomination for the Public School Works Champion Showcase, which recognizes K-12 leaders driving change and championing their schools.

In this episode, Amanda Bickerstaff, founder of AI for Education, shares her evolution from a public school educator in the South Bronx to a leader in the ed-tech space. Bickerstaff discusses her experience as the founding CEO of an Australian data analytics company and her subsequent founding of AI for Education in November 2022, following the release of ChatGPT 3.5.  The conversation highlights AI for Education's focus on helping schools adopt AI in a responsible, safe, literate, and ethical manner. Bickerstaff's passion for creating impactful change and fostering a supportive environment for fellow change leaders is also explored.

In this episode, Tom Arnett, Senior Fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute, discusses the barriers to change in schools and systems. Arnett's interest in this topic stems from his experience as a middle school math teacher, where he observed the limitations of a system designed to standardize interactions.  The conversation explores the need to move away from a "batch processing" approach and towards student-centered models of learning. Arnett highlights the challenges teachers face in addressing diverse student needs within the constraints of the current system.

This episode features Jose Vilson, an educator, and activist, in a discussion about the evolution of education. Vilson shares his origin story, from aspiring to be a video game programmer to becoming a Math teacher. The conversation delves into  understanding student engagement and the shortcomings in educational practices.  Vilson also emphasizes the significance of activism in education, highlighting the need to address racial justice and social issues within the curriculum. He underscores the importance of creating inclusive learning environments and advocating for culturally responsive education that benefits all students.