Catching Up: Student Influencers, AI's Mirror Problem & The Power of Early Work Experience

In this episode of Catching Up, Nate McClennen and Mason Pashia explore the ideas shaping the future of learning and work—from the link between school innovation and enrollment demand to the rise of student influencers as a new form of district storytelling. They also dig into AI's growing role in education, including bias in feedback systems, the homogenizing effect of generative tools, and how AI may free teachers to spend more time on uniquely human work. The conversation also highlights the importance of agency, internships, and real-world learning, while ending with reflections on poetry, humility, and the power of noticing the world around us.

Outline

• (0:00) Intro & Episode Preview
• (10:14) Student Influencers
• (12:51) AI Bias & Homogenization
• (27:01) Deep Dive: Agency & AI's Role in Education
• (50:17) What's That Song?

Links

• Watch the full video here
• Read the full blog here
• Can Student Influencers Help This District Rebuild Enrollment?
• Personalized Bias in AI Writing Feedback
• Percentage of High School and College Students Ages 16 Through 24 Who Were Employed
• Shut Out: High School Students Learn About Careers but Can't Try One That Pays
• Student Agency Boosts Engagement and Readiness
• Agency in America
• We're About to Get Agency Wrong