Vrain Waves: Teaching Conversations with Minds Shaping Education

Brooklyn Russell is an educator with St. Vrain Valley Schools and a frequent Vrain Waves collaborator, contributing classroom-tested perspective to conversations on AI, scaffolding, and instructional design.

Tricia Starzynski is a St. Vrain Valley educator who continually refines her instructional practice through small, intentional shifts in language, error analysis, and reflection.

Lindsay LaPorte is a St. Vrain Valley classroom teacher whose practice focuses on building stronger learning for all ages through deliberate routines and reflective protocols.

Isaac Pena teaches in St. Vrain Valley Schools and is part of the cohort of educators featured on Vrain Waves for their ongoing commitment to refining instruction in everyday practice.

Dr. Pooja Agarwal is a cognitive scientist and co-author of Powerful Teaching and Smart Teaching, Stronger Learning. Her work translates the science of learning into bite-sized practices teachers can use tomorrow.

Dr. Matt Moulton is part of the St. Vrain Valley AI team, helping build the district's ETHOS framework — Ethical, Transparent, Human-centered, Opportunity-focused, and Safe AI for schools.

Courtney Groskin contributes to St. Vrain Valley's AI work, focused on keeping people — students, families, and staff — at the center of how the district adopts AI.

Jason Kelsall is part of the St. Vrain Valley AI team and helps operationalize the ETHOS framework across schools, classrooms, and district systems.

Matt Miller is the author of Ditch That Textbook and a globally recognized speaker on creative, tech-rich teaching. He encourages educators to put on their 'Tomorrow Glasses' and engage AI with optimism, skepticism, and sound pedagogy.

Wendy Schuller is a master teacher whose work on scaffolding is grounded in empathy — observing students closely, responding precisely, and bridging them toward independence.

Rachel Ball is a UK educator and co-author of The Scaffolding Effect. She argues that real teachers are hunters of student understanding, not hopeful fishers of mastery.

Alex Fairlamb is a UK educator and co-author of The Scaffolding Effect, writing and speaking widely about responsive teaching, retrieval practice, and the everyday craft of supporting learners.

Sean Flynn is a St. Vrain Valley educator using AI as a thought partner — for students as a brainstorming generator and for himself as a coaching tool — without losing what makes his classroom his own.

Joe Ackerman is a St. Vrain Valley educator who treats AI as an enhancement tool — using it for inspiration, reflection, and planning while keeping student thinking firmly in the driver's seat.

Beth Morris is a St. Vrain Valley educator exploring AI as a coach for her own practice and an idea-generator for students, while protecting the human core of her classroom.

Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international speaker, and former teacher whose work on blended learning shapes how thousands of schools design instruction. She helps educators use AI as a thought partner so they can be more available for human connection.