by Carlos Ojeda Jr. | Jun 24, 2026 | Career, Classroom, Professional Development, Programming, Student Engagement
Schools across the country are investing in speakers, programs, initiatives, technology, incentives, assemblies, and countless other strategies designed to increase student engagement. Yet many educators continue to ask the same question: Why aren’t students...
by Carlos Ojeda Jr. | Jun 22, 2026 | Career, Classroom, Professional Development, Programming, Student Engagement
For years, educators, administrators, and conference attendees have watched Carlos Ojeda Jr. connect with students and create moments that seem almost impossible to explain. Many have called it magic. In his upcoming book, Being Cool & Making It HIP, Chu...
by Ernesto Mejía | Jun 20, 2026 | Classroom, ELL, Professional Development, Programming, Student Engagement, Students
Why Caring Can Still Change Educational Outcomes In education today, there is a growing concern about teacher shortages, vacant positions, and classrooms led by educators who may still be working toward certification. Across the country, schools are navigating...
by MJ Bridges | Apr 15, 2026 | Career, Classroom, Programming, Students
For Financial Literacy Month, we sat down with MJ Bridges, founder of Young & Debt Free, following a recent community event in Racine that brought his work to life in a powerful way. In collaboration with a weekly karaoke night at Kings Kitchen & Cocktail, MJ...
by Carlos Ojeda Jr. | Mar 2, 2026 | Classroom, Professional Development, Programming, Programs, Student Engagement, Students, Summer
At CoolSpeak, we’ve learned something important after working with hundreds of schools, districts, and community partners: Not all summer camps are created equal. Some camps keep students busy. Others change the direction of a young person’s life. CoolSpeak CEO,...
by Natasha Carrizosa | Feb 24, 2026 | Classroom, Professional Development, Student Engagement, Students
At CoolSpeak, we believe engagement starts with connection. Before strategies, before outcomes, before the lesson plan even begins, there’s a feeling we create in the room to inspire creativity. For poet, educator, and spoken-word artist Natasha “natty” Carrizosa,...
