{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The So What Podcast","title":"Leading Learning Without Walls: Rethinking Engagement, Data, and AI in Online Education with Marie Hanna","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/0ce4fed9\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1992,"description":"\nIn this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Marie Hanna, Superintendent of Ohio Connections Academy, to explore what it takes to lead a fully online public school in a rapidly changing education landscape.\n\nWith over four decades in education and nearly two decades in virtual learning, Marie shares how online education has evolved from basic digital tools to sophisticated, data-driven systems. She unpacks the realities of engagement in a virtual environment, how her team balances flexibility with accountability, and why teaching students to use AI responsibly is now a core priority.\n\nFrom improving graduation rates to supporting diverse student needs, this conversation highlights how intentional systems, strong relationships, and focused data use can drive meaningful outcomes, even outside traditional classrooms.\n\nKey Moments\n\n\n03:10 Major shifts in education over the last few years\n04:40 Academic integrity in an AI-driven world\n07:01 Why critical thinking matters more than ever\n08:57 Using data to improve graduation rates\n10:46 Avoiding data overwhelm and focusing on key signals\n11:05 What teachers should actually track\n12:35 The role of engagement in student success\n14:54 Measuring engagement in a virtual environment\n16:16 Creating a culture of experimentation and innovation\n19:15 Rethinking report cards and accountability systems\n24:33 Flexibility and personalization in virtual schools\n26:51 Top challenges: AI, mental health, and policy constraints\n29:34 What’s working: culture and career pathways\n\nWhy You’ll Love This Episode\n\n\nMarie brings a rare perspective, having led both traditional and virtual schools through multiple waves of change. Her insights cut through the noise, focusing on what actually drives student success: clarity, connection, and intentional use of data.\n\nIf you’re a district leader navigating AI, struggling with engagement, or trying to make sense of overwhelming data, this...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/8_IWhcz1UYVz_u51Qd70LxMgREGfVeVtbh_cyiQHgMk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yMzcw/ZDBhNTFkMjFhY2Rh/MTI1MTQyMTQzN2I0/ZDBiZC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}