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A growing community of educators, mentors, and lifelong learners who believe in the power of connection, shared stories, and showing up for one another - again and again
Cate Tolnai (she/her): So
yeah, this is the bridge.
Thanks for being with us, Andy.
Andy Knueven: I appreciate Cate.
This is such a passionate place.
I mean one for educators
Yeah.
Going from.
Middle school special education
to fifth grade I taught, you know,
but in my local school, fifth
grade is in the middle school.
And so I, I never left, I
never left middle school.
And so it's a lot of fun of fifth grade
through eighth grade, and then I coached.
But, you know, that's where my, my love
of you assistive technology to be able
to support students, you know, at all
abilities and levels and, needs, but also.
To find that accessibility, you
know, feature within any tool.
And so that's where that my
passion kind of started from.
And then using that in the
classroom, then being a tech coach.
And of course things have evolved
and lots of different connections
and bridging into, a variety of
different roles outside of the, the
traditional classroom in school.
So, no, this is great.
Thank you.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I love it.
yeah, can we talk a minute
about assistive tech and special
and your time in special ed?
So I also am a middle, I never left
middle school either except year.
My first year teaching was, at
a high school in New York City.
it was intense.
Very much Michelle Pfeiffer
in dangerous Minds very much
Andy Knueven: Kick your
feet up and just, I.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): There are no
victims in this classroom, right?
and then middle school and
didn't leave for nine years
or 10 total in the classroom.
never special ed.
And I actually, I teach teacher candidates
now and I have a lot of teacher candidates
that my, classes that are pursuing special
ed certificates, which makes me so happy.
So tell me about how you landed there.
Andy Knueven: I goodness.
I, I mean family, friends
growing up and really it's.
It's just a space that I not to say, felt
called to, to, to know that when you're,
you're teaching to one year, you're
teaching to all, in that, that idea.
And I, I don't know.
My, my background was a dual
major in special ed and El Ed,
so, you know, Special Ed K-12,
El Ed K-6, and, yeah, I, I, I.
It wasn't like a, oh, you know, this
is the only thing there, but it just
was a space that I love to see that.
Of course, we all like to see
that aha moment, but also to know
that, you know, students, it's
not necessarily like special.
Like, like things, it is just, they
just need that, you know, that extra
guidance or that assistive tool or
device or idea, that just makes it click.
And, with technology, of course now,
it, it, it opens so many doors and
seeing so many things have it built
into it makes that really exciting.
But it's always one of those pieces
of when I see something and, and I
remember being in, in the middle school.
You know, go into a conference and seeing
something that's like, oh, this would
be great for that class, or this works.
That would be, that, that difference
maker, differentiator for that project.
And, you know, sending those onto the, to
teachers and saying, Hey, you know, have
you seen this or have you tried this?
And so I was always about, you know.
That, that pilot program or trying
something out and you ran out of your
three month subscription or whatever
the, the, the small access that you
have and, but then you know what is
worth it and what's not, and yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I tell, I
would tell people all the time,
don't try it before you buy
Andy Knueven: Mm-hmm.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Because
there's, some amazing solutions out
there, but you may find that there's
one that is, is the right fit.
And, so is that how you came
across your time at Microsoft and
then Canva, you worked at Canva
Andy Knueven: A, a little bit.
Yeah.
So,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): it like
Andy Knueven: it's, it's bridged Yeah.
From the classroom.
And really the, the time at
Microsoft started with social media.
and that's the beauty of
it, of just connecting and
celebrating each other.
And so I.
For many years I taught, and then I
coached, and then I, I was posting
things, you know, of course from my own
personal account and sharing what we're
doing in the classroom, but then with
Flipgrid, that, hopefully you've heard
of, but, it, you know, that was just
a, a really great, community and space
that I, of course, fell in love with.
Still love, you know,
there's that community there.
But for.
Sharing ideas.
And I will say that it was a, an afternoon
I got a message, from Joey Tolson,
who's part of the team, and, you know,
a, a great person I look up to admire.
But he had messaged me on the side.
I was like, Hey, you know, do
you have time to talk sometime?
And so that opened up the door of
saying, Hey, you know, we have this.
And of course now after the, the fact of
it, but it was like, we have this special
group that, you know, they help run our
social media after, you know, the workday
is done essentially in their office.
And so I was part of this, a special group
that we were like the night shift, the
special like group that, like I, I taught
all day and then I worked at night and, so
Cate Tolnai (she/her): gosh.
Andy Knueven: for many years.
I, like I said, I, I taught and then
I was on social, and that was that
community engagement and you know,
just seeing the awesome things that
people around the world are doing.
Giving that, that front line of support
and success, giving them guidance or
direction, connecting them with, Hey,
you know, have you seen what Ann's doing?
Or have you seen this, what Jen's doing?
And and to be able to make those
connections was really special.
But, that then evolved into a few years
later when, an opportunity opened up
to say, Hey, you know, we've got this.
like, you know, full position on our
team and are you, you know, interested?
Is
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Andy, that is the
Andy Knueven: And, and so I, I, I, I
still feel like it's a dream and I mean,
I'm always, you know, there's always
the, that, you know, the dream out
there of like, oh, you know, what's,
what is that next thing kind of thing.
But it is the, you, when opportunity
knocks you, you open the door.
And so that was really what
opened it up was of course.
Being you.
I mean sharing and that I,
I mean, I think of like, all
right, where did this start from?
And it's openly sharing
and supporting and helping.
And it's not like a,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Totally
Andy Knueven: only posting stuff
because I'm getting paid for, or
I'm only gonna promote something
at a conference if I get like that.
That was what was made it so special
of, and seeing people that make.
That bridge between the classroom
and companies of, they're doing
it because they believe in it.
They believe in, you know, what the
product is, but also what the outcome.
It's not, you know, the product,
but it's like, what, what do you get
out of it and the, the impact of it.
And so just sharing those kinds
of moments open that, that.
Natural, like, Hey, you
know, there's something here.
And so that's what then started me with
community engagement with them and then
doing, global training and PD and, yeah.
So that, that's where that, that started
from within Flipgrid that evolved to
flip and then the mass solver and, I
mean, you, you brought up Canva and of
course that that evolved after the, the
sunset of flip, you know, a couple years
ago and, or I guess just a little over
a year and a half ago, you know, almost,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): right?
Andy Knueven: It's actually, as I look at
the date here in October, I mean, it was.
I mean, flip went offline about
a year ago this last week.
So, but yeah, so I mean to say like
I needed to find something else.
I've, my wife, she teaches, we
actually met teaching together.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I love
Andy Knueven: and so yeah, she,
she taught special ed in the middle
school and then, she transitioned
of teaching fourth grade and now is
a STEM teacher at the elementary.
But that's where we met,
was teaching together.
And, so we have two kids in school,
but it's a, like, of course I need a.
Provide.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
So that's where the, the, the
work evolved to Canva education
and being a, a trainer for them.
And yeah, so a little bit of a, at
Microsoft went to Canva doing trainings
for them and onboarding training.
And then now with Minecraft, and
again, another opportunity, knocked
and they're like, Hey, you know.
We have this community position
for our education community,
and I of course love Minecraft.
Use it in my classroom.
And it was one of those
professional goals when I discovered
my school district had it.
And it was like before I really
like dive into learn, how can I
effectively use this in my classroom?
Do we have access?
And when I found out that we
had thousands of licenses that
my school hadn't toggled that.
Enablement and it was like a, this,
this is like, yeah, a jackpot moment.
And it was like bef and I, I found that
out at iste, you know, many summers ago.
And so before I even left like,
Philadelphia, when is where it was,
but I emailed my CTOI emailed building
administrators and I was like,
this is now my professional goal.
Like I want to find a way to make this.
A success in our classrooms
because of so many learning
potential and abilities there.
And so
Cate Tolnai (she/her): much.
Andy Knueven: and that's the thing
is it's, it's about what can we do
and what can we teach and the, I mean,
there's no ceiling to it, and that
that's what makes it so exciting.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Totally.
and so you're doing community
engagement, is that right?
At Minecraft
Andy Knueven: So, yeah, so yeah,
so community, so our global
community all around the world.
and so we have our Minecraft Teachers
Lounge, which is a Facebook group,
and then we have our ambassadors.
there's a little over 12,000, in our,
global community and the teachers
lounge where we have events and
connections and support within our
ambassadors help lead and, you know,
share their voice and giving ideas.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): cool.
Andy Knueven: so I, yeah,
so that's my jam is.
Just being that person, connecting,
advocating for teachers and students
with, you know, their needs in the
classroom with Minecraft education, but
then relaying that back to engineers
and developers and creators and with
the main, you know, Minecraft team.
And so that, that's, yeah.
Empowering, advocating for, for
teachers is, is what it's about.
Yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her):
that's an amazing job.
Like really just listening to you
say, I think about so many educators
that are trying to figure out if.
Classroom teaching is what
they wanna do in education.
And I think it's, I think it's tricky
because we get into education and it's
it's already decided for you that you
wanna be a teacher, you wanna be in,
you're going to be in the classroom.
And yet there's so many opportunities
like that you've uncovered.
Just by sharing and, advocating.
And, I, wonder like in your position being
connected to so many teachers are, do
people ask you like, how did you do this?
do you think there's an, a hunger in,
educators to, to have options like this?
what?
do you get asked that question a lot?
Andy Knueven: Some, I, I mean, it's
one of those, some people don't.
I mean, I, I love, I
mean, I love teaching.
Like I,
teaches, I mean, it's one of
those that like, I go to her
class and it's still that exciting
moment and, you know, when I can.
but the idea of going to a classroom
or even, I, I, I think of like my, my
daughter, she's in dance and so I'm at
the, the dance studio and I'm working
out, you know, at a, a table there and.
Another girl, I have no idea, but
she walks up or she, she walks up
to a nearby table, sits down, she
has like a math homework page, and
she has her, you know, her watch.
And I, I, I won't say like these, my,
my phone and my watch will activate,
but be like, Hey, what is the greatest
common factor between eight and 12?
And her watch throws back the answer and.
She's like writing it, and
then she's looking at it, and
I was like, do you need help?
And so like, she's like, yeah.
She's like, I don't, I don't,
I don't know what the, yeah.
Like, I don't know what this is.
And so I was like, all right.
You know, find out, you know, what
are these, you know, what are the,
the multiples and of the factors?
And so, I mean, we broke down.
You know, it, it was really cool.
But it's one of that's like, I'm
never not gonna be a teacher.
So when people ask like,
what do you, what do you do?
It's like, well, I'm a teacher,
but like, there's more to it than.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): yeah,
Andy Knueven: Me in a job and like
deep down teaching is still who I am.
Like I, I, I love it.
I still.
Have those moments of like, oh, like
this day in history, I, I scroll back
on my pictures and I think like, oh,
like that was such a cool project.
Like, you know, if I were to do it again,
like this would be how I, you know,
not to be like an old country song, but
like, I wish I knew then what I knew now.
and yeah, and, you know, I would approach
things differently, but at the same
time, there's so much more like there
and the resources that are, are possible.
So, I, I mean, some people have asked
of like, how'd you get to, what do I do?
And it's a, I mean, I I will
say like, it's, it's a hustle.
There's, it's definitely more than
what people of course see, like what's
on screen or whatever gets posted and
like, there's a lot more going on.
I mean, there's a, a
grind and a hustle to it.
but at the same time, it, it.
I, I love what I do and I, my, you
know, the people I've worked with
in the past have been phenomenal.
But, it, it's still that, like I said
in what you just commented, I mean,
it's advocating for teachers and like
making it as impactful as possible.
yeah,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): What do you
think is, if you had to say like the
secret sauce of building community
Andy Knueven: that's like.
Cate Tolnai (she/her):
doing it for a while?
I know it's a big question.
Maybe what's your secret
Andy Knueven: my,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): 'cause you've been
Andy Knueven: it, it's, it's a hard,
and I will say like, it's a hard thing
because you can't measure it and it's
the constant, like, but love, like love,
love and, and, passion and joy, like,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I had Manny on the,
Andy Knueven: yeah.
Oh, Manny.
Yes.
Yes.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): whole
thing was how do you measure love?
And I'm like, you're
Andy Knueven: Yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): you, how.
Andy Knueven: A a And that is the
thing of, and I, I mean, any company,
any corporate, you know, kind of
place, I mean, it's all there.
I mean, there's a lot
of numbers out there.
but at the same time, just
like in schools, they look at,
you know, metrics and numbers.
But we all know our students
are more than numbers.
We know they're more than a test
score, just like any performance
indicator, is more than.
A number.
I mean, it, it, there's numbers involved,
but like, love and appreciation and I
mean, I mean, we could rattle off quotes
of, you know, of inspiration, of, you
know, people that do, people who feel
appreciated do more than what's expected.
And, I mean, I, like I talked about with.
You know, Joey, you know,
messaging and saying, Hey, you
know, we see what you're doing.
Like we want you to do that.
But for us, but it's like pouring
out that love of like, Hey, you know,
there's a connection here.
There's an idea that somebody else had
and I want to, you know, share that with
you and relay and make these connections
and, I mean, I, I think of my teammates.
I mean, responding to fan mail
is like, like that's love.
And I mean, that's energy.
It's time.
But that makes a difference.
And they are phenomenal people, to
recognize how important that is.
and so to say like,
what's the secret sauce?
I mean, like I said, love,
love and passion and joy and,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): right?
Andy Knueven: yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): really
genuinely, Interesting.
I think, you know what strikes me, and
I've been so lucky because, on the bridge
we have, I've have an episode with Anne.
I have an episode with Jess.
I have an episode with, dne.
I have an episode like
Andy Knueven: They're all my people.
Yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I know, And now
you, and, what I, what strikes me about.
flip community, as it was and as it is.
'cause I don't really
feel like it's gone away.
I just
Andy Knueven: I dunno.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): really different,
but,
Andy Knueven: Well, I, I, I
think it's a ripple effect.
Like, I mean, it's
Cate Tolnai (she/her): yeah.
Andy Knueven: you, you talked about,
I mean those are, I, I love every one
of those people you just named and,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I
Andy Knueven: it, that, that
community, and that's the beauty
of it, is community doesn't have.
Barrier.
I mean, borders in that sense of like,
friendship doesn't stop at a brand.
and it doesn't stop.
Like no matter where we all
started from and globally, like
it's more than just like the team.
And that's, that's the important
thing to say, like, and Jess Jne,
like, I mean, myself of, and Scott,
I mean, I could rattle off, you know,
the people, but it's, we're, it's
more than, it's never about the.
The team, the, the Flipgrid team.
It's, it's always about the people and
how each of us, and I mean like us as
a, a, a, a community, not the the main
brand team, but like how we all have
rippled outward into other spaces and
into whether you are at the same building.
That you were teaching at five
years ago or 10 years ago, you're
making an impact in another place,
and that ripple effect follows you.
And it, it continues to go outward.
So, yeah, I, it's maybe not the same
name, but we're all, like, we're, we're,
we're still ourselves, but just making
new ripples outward and impacting others.
And I mean, that's the beauty of
the community idea of, you know.
Just, yeah.
Empowering each other to see their
potential and know that they can
make a difference wherever they are.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Exactly,
and, to truly embrace all.
And that's the, that's
what strikes me about
that has found time, a chapter of
their life with that flip community.
It's it, about.
So much about belonging and
representation and, celebrating and
just, I am struck by, how inclusive
that community is and how I really feel
like, like in my time, similar to you.
I spent.
a chapter myself doing, like doing
like a grassroots movement called
Connected tl, connected Teacher Leader.
And we were running Twitter chats weekly.
And we were do, we were on Voxer
constantly and we were, it was that
chapter where if we were connecting,
it was there and it was like 20
13, 14, 15, it was incredible.
I was doing this with a few other
people, but it was out of love.
Nobody was paying us to do this.
nobody was, there was
no like ulterior motive.
Just like survival and then seeing
that like I, what I needed is
what so many other people needed.
And we were helping each other,
we were each other's bat phones.
Like it was incredible.
And then that similarly turned into
a position at Q for me as Director of
member Engagement, where they basically
hired me to do, to engage all teachers in
California, which was incredible as well.
And, it like your story reminds me.
Makes me think of wow.
think, because I was doing that out
of, that's where this opportunity and
came from and continues to come from.
And I think,
what's really unique about what's
happening right now with community based
on, like all of us that had started
10, 12 years ago and now we're here.
It's like we all started from like
our hearts and now we've Committed
to doing this work at a solution
level and like what happens, But
we're still like the same people
that just did it 'cause we loved it.
So it's just interesting, as I think
about your journey and I think about the
others, like how you've had worn and this
app, but it's been you the whole time.
And, I think that's
inspiring and I hope that.
I hope that educators hear
that and go and Remi remember
their, what they uniquely bring.
You know that it's not about the
school they work at, it's not about
that they're teaching this year.
It's about the, all the ripples
that they've done over the
years and that all matters.
Andy Knueven: Yeah, there's always, I
mean, every teacher I'm sure has a folder,
and this is a prime time of the year to
go back to that folder or that box and you
have your student notes and or like the.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): here.
Andy Knueven: I,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): is in here.
Andy Knueven: yeah.
And, and, but that's, those are those
pieces of, like, to have that message,
like I was at the, I was at the
hardware store, you know, in town here.
And, the cashier, I mean, she's an old
student of mine and like she is like,
you know, I, you know, I just wanted to
let you know, like it really meant a lot.
Like I was going through some tough
times and like, that was a rough year
and you know, your class just was.
Like inclusive and accepting and, it,
it just is like, that means a lot.
Like, it, it takes a lot of work and
energy to like pour your heart and like
be there no matter what is going on
personally or, you know, outward and you
know what's going on in the school or
whatever else is going on in the world.
And you show up for your kids
and just like we show up for.
Our colleagues, our teammates, I mean
for each other all around the world.
But to have a kid that remembers you and.
I mean, that was, I mean, oh
my gosh, about, eight, nine
years ago that I had her.
And, but for her to remember and, to
say that, but then another kid that
I was at, my son's at a practice and
another kid, he's like, you know, Mr.
K?
And I was like, yeah.
I mean, we all kind of grew up and
I mean, it took a moment where.
When I see them every day when
they're 10, and then later on when
they're 18, I mean, they've grown to.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Andy Knueven: men and women and
to, he was like, you know, Mr.
K, he's like, you know, do you remember,
because I always ended every semester
with wrapping up the semester where
kids wrote original song rhymes or
raps about what we did in class.
And, so it, it, it was like, a fun way
to one, I mean, every classroom is,
has that moment of like, what do I do?
Like we've turned in all of our devices,
we've, you know, like what do we do?
But you can still.
Sing, you can still have fun and be
creative and make those connections,
but we always perform them.
And then the kids could either like,
work in groups and I always said like,
you can go solo, you can go, you know,
in a, a, a duo, a trio, a barbershop
quartet, or a, if you want a children's
choir, you could go for it, but
whatever you do, you know, go platinum.
Have that mic drop moment.
And, but he, anyways, but he was like,
do you remember rapping in math class?
And he's like.
We still pull up the recording
every once in a while.
Like he and his friends were part of
my class, but they're still in class
together and he is like, we still watch
those, you know, from time to time.
And it just was like so cool of to to
know that like they like those, they may
not remember the Pythagorean Ethereum or
they may not like remember all these like
finite details, but they know how we.
Made them feel they know how each other
enjoyed class and wanted to be there.
and yeah, it's those special moments,
but like having that folder to go
back and look at and know like you,
you make a difference is, is huge.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
I think that's the perfect way
to wrap the episode and I would.
I have a VHS actually of some of my high
school students, performing commercials
'cause for persuasive writing, and I
recorded it on an old, like video camera
Andy Knueven: Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
The, the VHS You have that?
Yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my god.
I gotta unearth it.
I need to find a VA
Andy Knueven: You have to get
the cables to be able to plug in.
Yeah, I say that's the next,
you're gonna have to find a
whole bunch of converters and.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): thank you so much.
We'll have all of your contact info.
And you know what I'm thinking
too, like you mentioned ambassadors
and if, is there like, is there
information for people that would be
like interested in doing Minecraft?
Being in a Minecraft ambassador?
is there, is that a link you could share
that we could put in the show notes?
Is that a thing?
Andy Knueven: And so that's
our global Minecraft teachers
lounge group on Facebook.
But I mean, that's the first
place to get started and.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): amazing.
Andy Knueven: Then from there
we have, you know, trainings and
additional kind of supports that
you can watch on demand async.
But
Cate Tolnai (she/her): cool.
Andy Knueven: that, that's to get started.
And then we like our ambassador
program, of course, going
through those additional steps.
But,
we have, yeah, that's the
thing is get connected and,
exactly.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Just start there.
Just get connected.
I love it.
thank you Andy, for your
Andy Knueven: Thank you, Cate.
Oh my,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): and your love.
I know, I feel so lucky to have
had this time with you and like now
when I get to see you at the next
conference, I'll give you a big hug
Andy Knueven: I can't wait.
Yes, I would say wherever that will be.
Whenever, yeah.
And multiples ahead of, you know,
throughout wherever they are.
But, I look forward to those,
real life connections that,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I know
Andy Knueven: as real, so
Cate Tolnai (she/her): totally.
Oh, awesome.
Thank you.
Andy Knueven: Thank you.