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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): Jeni, this is an
honor and a privilege and, um, all the
things that I wanna say to somebody who
has made community like their livelihood.
And that is you, Ms.
Thing, Ms.
Jeni.
So thank you for what you do.
And tell, let, let's, let's go there.
What do you do?
Who are you, what do you do?
I mean, we'll have your bio in the show
notes, but like, what's your story?
Jeni Long: Well, thank you Cate.
First of all, I just appreciate the
opportunity you'd like to be included
in this, um, incredible experience.
So, um, I am a 25 year educator
and I taught for 10 years math and
ELA and mostly in North Texas area.
Um, spent a little ti.
Fourth through sixth.
Well, seventh I did one year of seventh.
Um, most of my experience was
in an elementary school, like
the sixth grade was still part
of elementary, which I prefer.
'cause I think they're
just still young-minded.
And then when I went to the middle
school, I was like, whoa, now
they're the babies on campus.
And they're like, there's a lot of
eighth graders and things they, you
know, I'm like, no, no, you're not.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): like I taught
middle school for 10 years and yeah,
like you see, especially those sixth
graders, man, they're still little babes.
Jeni Long: They are, they are.
So, um, I love that.
Um, but I always had a
passion for technology.
I was, um, actually taught
in a tech inspired classroom.
That's kind of when, like
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh,
Jeni Long: PowerPoints were becoming a
thing and, you know, having your warmup
on, on the computer, you know, a, a mold.
So it, it dates myself, but, um.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I'm in my 24th
year, so no, we are, we are of the same.
Wait, am I in the 24th?
22nd, whatever.
I'm right there with you.
Jeni Long: We just wiser, right?
We just have more experiences to help us.
Um.
Grow and ad adapt and influence others.
So, um, yeah, so I actually
had an opportunity.
I, I moved around quite a bit
in my career and so each, each
time was just an opportunity to
advance into a new technology role.
Um, here in the DFW area, I spent time
in Rockwall, Garland, Forney, and I ended
up getting my master's in instructional
technology, um, while I was at Forney.
ISD.
And so that really just kind of sparked
that, that tech integration piece.
And I just, for 15 years I did that
in curriculum, a little bit of time of
in curriculum when I was in Tennessee.
But just always loved the opportunity
to be in the classroom with students,
which is really where my heart is.
And, and co-teaching with the teacher
or collaborating with them and,
um, just getting to see students
with that light bulb moment.
And as a mom of four, I also was a
little selfish in the fact that it
let me spend time in my own personal
children's classrooms as well.
So, um, it was the best of both worlds
Cate Tolnai (she/her): so,
Jeni Long: sure.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): if you, if
anybody like Google's Jeni Long,
you will come across Jenallee and
Sallee is your partner in crime.
And I wanna know, can
we just start with that?
Like how you guys got to know
each other and that backstory?
I'm dying, I wanna know all of it.
Jeni Long: Yeah.
Yeah, it really was really the key
turning point into, I think just, um.
You know, uh, progressing
my career as well.
And so we had just moved back
from Tennessee and we moved on the
Fort Worth side of the DFW area.
And so I got a job in Eagle Mountain,
Saginaw, ISD as a, as a tech coach.
Uh, um, you know, there's so many
different technology integration
specialists, all the different names.
Uh, so Sallee and I started on the first
day together and instantly became best
friends and just realized we had a lot
of the same passions in life and goals.
She was a former librarian as well and
or was, I wasn't a librarian, but um, so
she was a former librarian, but she had
also, I had attended many conferences,
you know, throughout my journey, but
as an attendee where she had been more
on the, on the front presenting side.
So together, we just started
presenting at conferences and then
we found as we were working with
teachers in our district that.
We were going all over the
district, and at the time there
was probably 20 something campuses.
Now there's about 30.
But we were just, one teacher would have
a question, then we'd go to another campus
and they would have the same question.
So we were like, you know what, we, we
should work smarter here and let's form
a YouTube channel and, and start making
some fun YouTube videos and, and making
it fun and gamifying it and bringing on
like guests, which were our teachers.
So we'd go in a teacher's classroom and
Cate Tolnai (she/her): my God.
Jeni Long: um, you know, just.
Ask them their question and
then we would make a video.
And so we realized if we can impact this
one teacher, we're probably gonna be able
to impact others across the district.
But then it started growing and
we started realizing, realizing
our impact was becoming more
like nationwide and globally.
So that was really inspiring.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): out?
How did you, like, what was that
turning point where you're like, oh,
snap, we actually have an audience.
Jeni Long: Well, we.
We were very, um, involved in the
Microsoft community and so as an
MIE expert, um, we would meet up at
conferences, you know, at and FETC and
TCEA and we would always have a summit
right before the main conference.
And so it was just a time to, to
get together and meet people that we
had been collaborating with online.
And I'll never forget the
day we met the eTwinz.
So they're twins that, um, are from Spain
and they were here, um, teaching in Utah.
And so we had collaborated online and
got to know each other, but then when we
met in person at the Microsoft event, you
know, I, it was just that, that meme of
you run and you hug and you're like, oh
my gosh, you know, we're finally meeting.
And so just meeting people in person, like
the Microsoft community became family.
Like truly, I have people all over the
world that I call family, and I know I
can go to the UK because we, we then.
And this is, we can talk about this
too, but we actually went to BETT
and we presented, um, in London a
couple times in the Microsoft booth,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): So amazing.
Jeni Long: connected with
the UK Microsoft community.
So I have, you know, just a, just a wealth
of knowledge and connections from that
networking opportunity from Microsoft that
in our husband's joke, they're like, you
don't really have you call them friends.
I'm like, no, they really are friends.
I know I could go anywhere in the world.
Someone would pick me up at the airport.
They would probably let me
stay in their house like.
It's just truly, um, it becomes a family.
So it, it was, it was incredible.
So we started realizing once we, we
started increasing our social media, you
know, we made our YouTube channel, um, it
progressed into, during COVID, we started
getting on TikTok, you know, and just.
Really, um, came up with our branding
and Sallee is also a marketing major,
so, you know, the brand and the name,
you know, really became a thing.
And so we became like feature presenters
at, at conferences and just, you know,
we're kinda living life and doing our
thing and, you know, just spreading,
um, tech integration and fun tips and
tricks and ideas and making it fun.
I think that was, that was the key too.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): that so true?
Like, if we are
Jeni Long: Mm-hmm.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): as presenters
or teacher, like our people, our, our,
our learners, whether they're little
or big, they're having fun too, because
that's, I just feel like life's short.
We must all have fun.
It is the joy at the center of what
we do and we just need to like, kind
of carve, carve that out sometimes.
'cause there are moments that
don't feel so joyful and.
And our, our relationships.
I really feel like get us through that.
And so now I love hearing that backstory
about Sallee and, and I I'm curious,
like how did it eventually get to book
deal where you guys, you know, put,
co-authored a book and I co-authored a
book as well in 2019 and I know I have
an idea of the journey that happens
the year after you write the book.
So tell me about that part.
Jeni Long: Yeah, it just kind of
was something on our bucket list.
We had, you know, we had our, our,
um, kind of our, our YouTube show.
We started doing these things.
We started presenting.
We're like, what's next?
You know, let's, let's.
Write a book and we, she was a
huge, she loved to blog and so
she was blogging all the time.
And so she just, I
learned so much from her.
And so she's basically like, we could just
make a book out of our blogs, you know,
and just write about the things we do.
But we both have children with dyslexia
and Microsoft has been a, just a game
changer, um, with my daughter now who's
actually, uh, getting her doctorate in
physical therapy at Mary Harden, Baylor.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): How, in
the, how in the world is she
16 and getting your doctorate?
Like how does that happen?
First of
Jeni Long: Oh my gosh,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): what
she's getting her doctorate.
That's.
Jeni Long: she's 22.
Yes, she has just, and when we moved
to Tennessee, they didn't have the
supports for dyslexia, so I just had to.
To work really hard as a
mom and advocate for her.
And then when we moved back to Texas,
Microsoft, that, fortunately we were
in a school that, you know, used
Microsoft and so she was just able to
use OneNote and immersive reader and
just all of the tools to help her.
Um, and so Sallee's son the same, you
know, just really, um, being able to, to
use your resources and feel successful.
And so, you know, I'm just learning that.
You learn differently, but finding those
tools, you know, to help you succeed.
So it, um, in the book we wrote
about, uh, moms, you know, of children
with dyslexia and how Microsoft, so
Microsoft, um, sponsored our book.
Mike Tholfsen, wrote the
forward for our book as well.
And so he's like my ed tech hero.
Um, I have always admired him
and it's just, uh, we wrote a
conference recently at iste.
It was like a full circle moment.
Microsoft and Magic School were
both sponsoring a happy hour event,
and Mike and I were both like,
this is so cool together, finally,
like, you know, in, in this space.
But, um, yeah, so in the
book we write about our, our
children, Microsoft, and then.
It's called the, the
Microsoft Teams Playbook.
And so as we were coming into
COVID, um, the District, Eagle
Mountain Saginaw was using teams for
elementary and canvas for secondary.
So we kind of took the lead on the
teams integration and just had real
examples and lessons for teachers to
use, um, with partner applications,
you know, like Wakelet and Canva and,
um, Genially just other products and
how you can make lessons in teams.
And so we, we included that,
but then we also are huge
components of your strengths.
And so we did the Strength
Finders, um, survey.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Strengths,
Jeni Long: Yes, yes.
It's amazing.
It's amazing.
And I think we did that as a team and it
was really eyeopening to see the people
on our team and the way they behave.
And that's why they act the way
they do, and that's why they
make the decisions they do.
But it really opened up the mine
and Sallee's eyes because we, our
strengths complimented each other
so well to where I was the um, like.
She would have all the creative ideas.
She's an ideation and creativity,
and so then I'm the executor and
the arranger and the achiever.
So I would make sure that her ideas, you
know, took action and, and were completed.
So
Cate Tolnai (she/her): the
Jeni Long: we started
realizing, yeah, it really was.
And so we started
realizing how we can work.
Better together, which also
became one of our hashtags.
And so we just started like,
and you know, instead of like
competing, like, I wish I could
be as creative as she was.
Like she could make something amazing in
five minutes and it would take me hours.
And she, um, wasn't the, you know, that.
Communication wasn't her
strength and it was mine.
So she just, we had to go both kind
of let go of the things that we knew
weren't our strengths and to empower each
other to run in the gifts that we had.
Um, but that takes a lot of trust
too, like to trust, knowing, okay,
Jeni's got it, okay, Sallees got
it, you know, she's gonna do that.
I'm not gonna pound
her about it, you know?
And, and, uh, double check.
And so anyhow, in the
book, we, we write about.
Knowing your student strength.
And so how can tap into your
student strength and how they
can work better together?
Um.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Um, I think we
need to contact strengths finders and
have them make strengths finders, EDU.
Like, have they done that yet?
What is, what is the problem?
What is going on?
Jeni Long: Yeah, we actually thought
seriously about becoming, um, strength
finders coaches, you know, and like going
down that route and we looked at it,
we just couldn't get the dates to align
to, you know, get certified in that.
I was like, Ooh, this would be a,
a fun thing to do for a living.
You know?
So, um, it's just, but it, it truly.
Changed.
That was probably a life changing moment
for us, is when we took that and we
realized those were our strengths and
it really brought out some, you know,
revelation as to how we work and, um, you
know, let's, let's work on those and work
together and support each other and work
toward trying to, you know, perfect other
strengths, but tap into the ones that
we, we do have and that works so well.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): like, like it
also sounds like it came in a time
where you guys were able to like step
into it with, step into yourself with
con like as confident women who were
like, no, these are my strengths.
And like I think going through
that exercise I've, I've had the.
I've been on a, a, a journey myself.
I had one supervisor who very first
thing, uh, I did on day, literally
day one, was strengths finders.
And she had, you know,
was tracking her team.
And then I recently started on
another team, and we didn't do
strengths finders, but we did like
working genius is what we did.
But same concept, right, where you
just kinda, you just dive into your
motivation, what brings you joy,
what, what, where your strengths lie.
And then, um, and, and then.
The supervisor then?
Yeah, well we actually, we all have access
to a spreadsheet that has everybody's,
um, working geniuses, and so it ends
up being really like a helpful tool.
Um, that's so amazing.
And, and okay, so, so you're now at
Magic School and you're now of community.
Is that like, what's your title, your com?
Jeni Long: So right now I'm an account
executive, so when I first came
Cate Tolnai (she/her): community there.
Okay, well you are, but by,
Jeni Long: I was, I was at first.
I was at first.
Um, and so then.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Okay.
Jeni Long: So, um, our journey at
Eagle Mountain, we, we actually,
Sallee and I both together, left
and went to a neighboring district,
Castleberry ISD, which she had worked
out before she came to Eagle Mountain.
So she kind of ping ponged and
went back, and so I went with her.
And so, um, we were there and then it
just, you know, things all happened
for a reason and she had an opportunity
to go work with her husband who is
a pastor, um, here in our community.
And so she had always helped him with
the website and, you know, kind of had
been doing a lot of that, but then she
had an opportunity to do that full time
and help with the children's department.
And so I'm like, that is perfect for you.
Um, but it, it was hard.
It was like, hit me.
I was like, wait, what?
You know you're leaving?
And so,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): now?
Jeni Long: yeah.
So it was, it's like,
like a divorce, you know?
It was kinda like, what are we gonna
do, you know, because it was really
almost like a marriage where we had
learned to work together so well.
So when she told me she was leaving,
I was like, okay, you know what,
what, what, what, what's next for me?
You know, what could I do?
And so, um, I had always kind of
had an itch for the vendor side.
Um, I thought about textbooks back
in the day when I was teaching math.
And, um, so as AI was coming
on the scene, as a, as a tech
integrator, you know, I had to learn
every product out there, right?
And making tiktoks and, you know, helping
my teachers learn how to use all these.
Cate Tolnai (she/her):
all these products, right?
Jeni?
Like we were like,
Jeni Long: Yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): you knew,
they're like sprinkle in some ai and
you're like, oh, that's different now.
So
Jeni Long: Yeah.
Yes.
Yes, yes.
So as I was learning all of these, I
became a member of the magic School
community, which are called Pioneers.
And so I joined all their calls.
Yay.
Love it.
Um, so I became a part of the community
and at the time there were like a
handful of people, like, it was like four
people, um, running this amazing company.
And so I, um, just started being very
active in the community, and so I
reached out to Adeel, who's the founder.
And Steffi, who was head of marketing
and I sent them a Slack message in in my
resume and said, I think, I know you don't
have a position for this right now, but
I think you should hire me to run your
community and do your social media and
help you get on the conference circuit.
So,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): That is
Jeni Long: yeah,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): And
Jeni Long: so
Cate Tolnai (she/her): you're
like, I woke up and it happened.
No, come on.
What was
Jeni Long: well, so.
About two months Adeel was like, we're,
you know, a small, scrappy company.
We don't really, you know, have,
um, the funds for a full-time
position, you know, just help us out.
'cause Steffi was drowning.
She was, you know, just so much work
and she built this amazing, uh, brand.
And this, you know, the, our,
the marketing was incredible.
And so I just came on to help
with, um, the social media and
kind of just help her and take some
of that in the community piece.
So then a couple months in, you
know, Adeel calls me and he's
like, let's just have a talk.
Like, talk to me a little bit about you.
Let's get to know each other.
And then I'll never forget.
And he said, um, okay, this is my awkward
way of offering you a full-time job.
And I was like, really?
I thought you said you couldn't
hire me for like months, you know?
And he's like, no, I, I'm ready.
And I said, okay, well when
do you want me to start?
And he is like, tomorrow.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): God.
Jeni Long: I was like, okay, lemme put in
my two week notice and, uh, sign me up.
So.
It was, uh, it was, it was an, I
mean, but at the time I actually had
a couple other interviews and so we
joke about this too, 'cause he's like,
Jeni, I didn't think you were gonna
take me up on my offer, you know?
And I was like, well, you know,
I had to make sure I, I, you
know, looked at all my options.
But then I had some friends,
they were like, Jeni, don't,
don't, don't give it up.
You've gotta take this.
You know, so it, they literally
said, it's a unicorn opportunity.
And it truly, truly was.
And is, yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): so early
that I'm sure that, I mean,
that's, that's why I am associating
you to the community into this.
'cause I'm at that point you're
all wearing all the hats, right?
Like
Jeni Long: Yes.
Yeah.
So I was, so, I, I, um, helped Steffi, we
kind of, even Adeel still, we kind of, the
three of us were leading the community.
We would do our monthly calls
and then, um, Sallee and I were
already presenting at some of the
national conferences, so I just went
ahead and signed up Magic School.
So we had a booth and then I
was already there presenting.
So.
Kind of did, you know, did both as well.
And we, we staffed the booth with our
pioneers and they helped volunteer.
And, um, so it just,
it, it grew from there.
And then, um, then we started,
uh, selling the product.
And so Adeel was like, okay, Jeni and
Steffi, y'all need to go sell and.
I didn't have any sales experience,
but it was also something that
I thought, you know, that might
be an avenue too to, to pursue.
So it's just kind of been
an organic, um, progression.
And I feel like, honestly, I
feel like the best salesperson is
someone that's just authentic and is
passionate about something, right?
Like I was, I was selling ideas
and ways to do things with my
teachers and students for years.
So.
Now it's just a different shift
with AI and I feel like helping
districts understand, 'cause this is
a, a road that they're not used to.
Going down and navigating that and being
that trusted advisor as they're making
these decisions is, and I think I have
the, the credibility and that, that
they trust me to, you know, with some
of the connections that I have built,
that I think that that helps as well.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): You are totally
right about, about like in the classroom.
We, I used to say the same thing.
Like, I, I have customers, they're
called my junior high students
and they're real picky and they're
Jeni Long: Yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Um,
and, and all of that transfers.
And what's interesting to
me, what strikes me about.
The story that, you know, the, the parts
that you just shared is like, while you
didn't share your timeline, right, like,
I know you've been in this for 25 years,
but I heard a lot of, and then I was here
and then I decided to make this move,
and then I shifted here, and then we
moved, um, and then I started presenting
and I putting my ideas out there and,
and I, I find that like comforting
personally because I have, I, my.
steps have similarly kind of like
been between two and four years.
And, um, it just speaks to the fact
that, um, like I have had conversations
with my parents, my older brothers and
sisters who just can't quite Jenallee
the journey that you just described
or that I try and describe to them.
And I think that there's educators,
especially the next generation of
educators that are stepping into
the classroom that like you and I.
Might have itches from time to time.
Um, it doesn't always require like a
move and leaving and going and coming,
but, but what was really, what really
strikes me about what you shared was
like when you had a curiosity, you
found a place to go explore that and
whether it was like through Microsoft
or becoming a conference presenter.
Um, so talk a little bit about how about.
you've made relationships or built
these relationships with these educators
through all of the different moves.
Jeni Long: Yeah, I think that
that's one thing that, um.
I really pride myself in and is, you know,
speaking to that Microsoft community.
And I was also part of like the
community or the Flipgrid community,
you know, so there's just getting
plugged into those communities.
And even as a tech coach or tech
integration specialist here locally,
we had communities, um, we had an
organization called, uh, tenor,
uh, don't ask me what it stands
for, but, um, it was local district
leaders that would get together, um,
every month or so at a different.
Different district and just get together
to talk, you know, and share ideas of
how are you doing this and talk about
your Chromebooks and now there's this new
thing and how are you handling this and
security and, but just being in person to
talk and collaborate and learn from each
other, I think it's just so valuable.
And then COVID came and then it just,
you know, kind of got, got weird.
And so I think even in Magic school,
our partners thrive for that.
That networking and like getting together
and collaborating and how is this working
for you and how are you dealing with this?
And just sharing ideas like we're just
by, by nature, you know, want to be
in a community and want to learn and,
and, and gravitate toward people that.
Are like-minded or even not, you know,
and, and learn from our differences.
So I think just that community piece
and, and every different position I've
had has brought more connections and
it's been so great with Magic School.
Like, I've running back into people
that I taught with before or that
were in districts that, you know,
I've, I've had some connection with.
Yeah, it really is.
And like, you know, I've got a couple, um.
Superintendents that, you know, one, he
was my principal before and so of course,
you know, I'm like, Ooh, I'm gonna, you
know, connect with him and just, you
know, being able to, to have those full
circle moments is, has really been key.
But I think teachers,
they thrive for that.
They wanna be seen and
heard and celebrated, and.
And I think just giving them
opportunities to collaborate in person.
And we're also busy.
We all have a million things to do, but
we need community and we need each other.
And there's just nothing
like in person events.
I mean, if we have to do online, that's
fine too, but I just think when we can
be together and share and, and support
each other and, um, and that's just,
you know, what I at, at my heart.
I just want to be able to
support educators where they are
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I
Jeni Long: and, and value.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
I so remember like 10
years ago when Twitter was.
Like an edu educational lifeline.
Yeah.
Twitter chats.
Jeni Long: Yes.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): did you,
what were your Twitter chats?
Jeni Long: Um, well, we did, we did
like the, were they spaces, like
the spaces that were on Twitter for?
Remember that?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): do remember
Jeni Long: So Sallee and I used
to do that and we actually had,
um, some that kind of helped.
We had some sponsorships from
different companies and we would
hold a Twitter space and we would
have like guest speakers come on.
So almost like, you know,
a podcast, um, live.
Right?
I thought those were so fun.
But yeah, the Twitter chats would,
we did some with Microsoft and
um, you know, we would just, just.
Yeah, those were crazy.
Those were crazy.
And I remember when we worked for
Flipgrid, I remember like Tuesday
night, we would always be like, oh
my gosh, this is the busiest night.
'cause those Twitter chats
would come on like Matt Miller
and the ditch the textbook.
We'd be like, oh gosh, it's Tuesday night.
It's gonna be flooded with, uh,
all kinds of, of, uh, tweets.
So,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): that,
Jeni Long: and I, I mean, I loved
when Twitter was that like mini pd.
And I think that's also what
kind of sparked our journey too.
'cause Sallee was really
big on Twitter, where.
If I went to a conference, I would
just maybe tweet something, but I
didn't understand the value of that
connection piece that Twitter offered.
Um, and so once we really tapped into
that and just that, again, networking
with people, creating, you know,
groups on Twitter and just, Hey, I'm
gonna be at this event, let's meet up.
And it
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Or I'm presenting
Jeni Long: was it.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
I, um, and then Voxer,
did you use Voxer too?
Jeni Long: Somewhat.
Somewhat, yes.
I have a, a, a, a group of ed tech, um,
ladies that we, we will, when we go into
conferences, we'll box each other and, um,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): it?
Jeni Long: somewhat.
Some, some, yes, yes.
I'm more of like, I'll just audio text.
I mean, I use my voice text all the
time, so I'll just send an audio message.
I forget to go to Voxer,
but yeah, it's a good one.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): That,
that, remember, that sound like my
husband would be like, turn it off.
Um, well, I, I'm curious because,
because you get to bring to
this conversation the, the.
Provider solution perspective now being
in your position, but you're so balanced
in that like part of what makes you such a
great representative for a company is that
you are an actual fan girl of the product.
'cause you use the product,
you're in the field, you do it.
Like, that's what makes you
wonderful at what you do.
And I've had conversations with friends
who, um, kind of like you and I, like
we, we were around during those, those.
Connected moments where like actually
back in 2013 or 2014, I, uh, with a couple
of friends, we launched a Twitter chat.
That was Tuesday night, of course.
And, um, it was called Connected tl.
Connected Teacher Leaders is
what it stood for, because this
was the era of the tosa, right?
Everybody, like this money was
flooding and teachers were being.
Plucked out and being told to be a teacher
on special, very special assignment.
And I remember when I was hired
as a tosa, I was like, how special
is this special assignment?
Like my family's moving to
Sacramento, like, is this special?
Like, and um, anyways, so, so what
was interesting what, where my head's
going, the reason why I'm sharing all
this is because then it felt like it
was teacher human to teacher human.
And that's what was driving community.
And I think.
I think what I'm arriving at is that
what's driving community now are teams at
Okay.
Hear me out.
'cause I'm working through
this in my head, Jeni.
So, so this is, this is like, this
is a brain baby I'm having, and
so thank you for being with me.
So, like, as an example, right?
Like, like bef, um.
When, when Magic School
hosts a pioneer event, right?
Like you show up because you are
connected to magic school or, and
then you become connected to the
pioneers and then the magic happens.
And so how do you, how would you
like give advice to this generation
of teachers that are coming up
in a world that is so heavily,
It's, it's like almost being architected
by these solutions where I feel like
what you and I grew up in 10 years,
grew up in 10 years ago, 12 years
ago, was more driven by the people.
Like, do you get what I'm
Jeni Long: Mm-hmm.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): the
Jeni Long: Yeah.
No, I see.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): and I don't know.
I'm just curious, like,
what do you tell them?
What
Jeni Long: Yeah.
I think it, it was like you're
saying more authentically, just
people getting together, people
collaborating, um, you know, and we
had the Google and the Microsoft,
you know, communities and networks.
But now, yeah, to your point of
like, Flipgrid was a huge community.
You know, the flip siders, they
were like the inside ambassadors
and we'd get together and share.
And you had your lead.
Every company has a different ambassador,
you know, title, um, you know,
Genially has a great, um, community.
Yes, love Genially.
We had a lot of mistakes 'cause
Jenallee and people would say Gen,
you know, gen, you're saying Jenallee.
No, genially.
So that was a, that was a hard one.
Um, but the Wakelet community, you know,
and a lot of these in book creator, you
know, so a lot of these communities.
Crossover too.
So
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Okay.
Jeni Long: like meeting people
that are, you know, and then you
bring people in like, hey, come
to this community, use this.
But it is a product, but it
is still also the people.
Um, and I feel now more than ever too,
like I'm always telling people when I go
and lead a training or I have a meeting,
I'm like, follow us on social media.
Like, I wouldn't necessarily have thought
back in the day to follow a company
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right.
Jeni Long: mini pd, but like
magic school has the best.
PD on social, like Andrew, who came
from, um, Frisco, ISD, and he, he
took over the role of community when
I transitioned, um, into partnerships.
So he had his huge TikTok
presence, and so that was his jam.
Like he made these amazing videos on
TikTok for all different companies,
and so now he does that for us,
and his videos are just fabulous.
I tell people all the time, go
follow us YouTube, Instagram.
TikTok because he just shares
such creative ideas and ways
to use, um, the product.
And a lot of times it's app
smashing with other products,
you know, and just learning.
Um, because like what we were saying,
Twitter used to be our mini pd.
You know, you go on there and you'd learn.
And so now it's like you have to find
these other avenues, um, you know,
to get that, that, that information.
And so I do think that social media
in that sense has been a, a real nice.
Um, contribution, but I do see that
the companies are really trying to step
up with their communities, which is,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): so many of us went
to work for companies, you know, and we,
Jeni Long: Yeah.
And that's true.
But I look around at all my circle of like
folks that we used to go to conferences
and we would like co-present together.
We would meet up and I'm.
This one's with a company, this one's
with a company, this one's with a company.
This one.
I'm like, oh my goodness.
Like, but it's also those that like,
and I think a piece of advice I would
give to someone is like, get out there.
Put yourself out there.
If you even have, and it's not
everybody, some people are like,
I'm, I'm okay in my four walls.
I love teaching, doing my thing,
and that's what I wanna do forever.
But if you have the slightest
inkling of like, I wanna share my
voice maybe in a different way.
Don't, don't hold back,
like get out there.
I mean, companies have contracting work
that you can come be a part of and um,
you know, get out there and present.
Put yourself out there.
Once you start doing that, and you
probably have such wisdom to share
with others, that would benefit,
you know, and if you have that
desire to share, there's a reason.
So I
Cate Tolnai (she/her): share, connect,
inspire, like you talked about, like
the kiddos having those light bulb
moments and like, I think about like the
teachers having those light bulb moments.
You know, when, when the teacher, like,
'cause I've been, I've been doing quite a
bit of, um, training with the Adobe team
and when a teacher walks in and then.
An hour later is like, Cate,
come here and shows me something
they made, and you can just.
Like feel the sparkle coming off of them.
And all I can think is like 30
more kids are gonna get a chance
to, to add this, you know?
'cause you just, 'cause we just
turned, helped a teacher figure it out.
And and totally agree.
That's the best advice is just.
Just try it.
Just try it.
Like we're already in front
of people all the time.
It couldn't be harder to
teach adults than it is.
I mean, truly, it really couldn't
be harder to teach adults than
it is to teach kindergarten.
I, I don't, I mean, I
have the maddest respect
Jeni Long: They're just in bigger bodies.
Yeah.
Cate Tolnai (she/her):
just two bigger bodies.
Jeni Long: they don't need their
shoes tied and their nose is wiped.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): right.
I mean, you're gonna have, you're gonna
have the naysayers and you're gonna have
the, the people who sit in the front.
And actually, I was doing a PD recently
where like I was teaching kindergarten
through 12th grade at a school
district, and I got them in these.
Like, I think I had K-5, 6-8,
9-12 groups, and it was hysterical
because my high school teachers come
in, nobody's sitting in the first
three tables, like nobody, right?
They're all in the back.
And then elementary comes in,
they're right in the front.
And I was just giggling.
I'm like, they see they're not different.
Jeni Long: Yep.
Yep,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): different.
Jeni Long: true.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I, and I think
one of the things that I, I feel like
my little nugget that I'll take away
from this conversation too is, is that.
Maybe community looks different in 2025.
EdTech community because it's, um,
because it's being driven by like
that's, I think that's, that's a claim.
I'll stand behind, What's still true is,
is that connection is driving community.
And so if you start a conversation
around a tool or because of a community
that's being sponsored, that doesn't
mean it's the end of that conversation.
It's, it's if we walk into
all of those with like a yes.
And what else are you, what other,
what other organizations do you know
or what other circles are you in?
I mean, Jeni, we are like.
I mean, everybody who's doing the
work you're doing is, is there
because they want to just connect
and like make sure everybody
feels seen, heard, and respected.
And I feel like that sentiment, regardless
of what it looks like, regardless of the
outer shell, like that's at the core.
And I love that.
I love that.
I love what Magic School has done.
Um.
So, I said, I was a pioneer.
I was an earlier pioneer and, um, I, I
appreciate the conversations that school
districts can have about AI because of
the opportunities that your team has.
Uh, provided educators and I think
our job is to just take the, all
those conversations to the next level.
You know, like, let's, let's
welcome everybody to the party.
So on that note, I just have one
more question for you, which is,
Jeni Long: Okay.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): go back and if you
could tell year three, teacher version Ms.
Long, if you could give her any
advice, what would you give her?
Jeni Long: Oh gosh.
I think around that time I was either,
um, pregnant or had, uh, my first child.
So, you know,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Be like, have a
Jeni Long: I, you know.
Buckle down because I mean, and I.
The work is always gonna be there,
but you've got to just realize that,
I mean, you get burned out, you know,
and every season changes, you know,
and now teachers have more on their
plates than ever before, you know,
just with all the things you know.
And I think it's fabulous.
Like here, I don't know where it is,
everywhere, but we have no cell phones and
I just think that would've been, uh, like
such a breath of fresh air from 'cause
these phones, I think are just such a
distraction, you know, in the classroom.
Are able to, like, kids are able
to talk again and interact and play
games and pass out like we used to do.
You know, but that's that
human aspect again, right?
Um, but I just think that I would
say, you know, the work is gonna be
there, but your family at those moments
with your family are gonna just.
Fly by and just to just be present.
Um, and, you know, put
the, put the grading aside.
Now we have ai so that can help.
But you know, just to learn to prioritize
and, and to just build those relationships
with your students too, because I think.
I love that I have students that I still
see on social media that I'm connected
with, and then they reach out and like,
oh, remember this project, or whatever.
But just making those
connections, you know?
And that's, again, it goes back
to that community piece, you know?
And.
And just, um, you never know the
influence you're gonna have on a
student and the impact that you could
make on their life and their future.
So I think that's, that's
the most important thing.
You know, all that other stuff is gonna
be there, but those kids and your personal
family and your, um, mental capacity or
the, are the, the most important things
Cate Tolnai (she/her): it.
Jeni Long: in my opinion.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Um, well
we are gonna make sure in the show
notes, I'm definitely including
links to your book, YouTube.
Are you still doing the YouTube channel?
But that's okay.
Jeni Long: It's still there and we.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): It's gorgeous.
It's, it's full of it.
Um, I wanna put all of the magic school
links that you mentioned and then we'll
connect if there's anything else that
comes up that we wanna put out there.
And just like probably link
to the Pioneer program, right?
In case anybody wants to get
dialed into Magic School Pioneers.
And do you still have that,
is that still the thing?
Is it called Pioneers?
Jeni Long: we have the pioneers
and we also have ambassadors.
So kind of like the next
step to get further involved
is that ambassador program.
So yeah, it's awesome.
Lots of ways to stay connected.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): good.
All right, Jeni, thank you for
your time and for being you and
all that you're doing in education.
You are a gift.
Jeni Long: Well, thank you, Cate.
I appreciate it.
It was such an honor to
be here with you today.