WEP 261: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in the Age of AI

WEP 261: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in the Age of AI Guest: Casey Cuny, 2024 California Teacher of the Year "AI can be an engine for equity, but only if we maintain the heartbeat of the classroom: the relationship." In this high-energy, live-recorded episode, Kelly Croy sits down with Casey Cuny , the 2024 California Teacher of the Year. Recorded live at the 3rd Annual SEL Symposium, Casey shares his moving journey from a 13-year-old bone cancer patient to a leader in educational innovation. Casey and Kelly dive deep into how AI shouldn't just be a tool for "offloading" work, but a thought partner that fosters differentiation, upskilling, and deeper student inquiry. Key Takeaways from the Interview: The Human Connection: Why Casey's teachers became the "central characters" in his survival story and how those relationships remain the most powerful tool a teacher has. Limb Salvage & Resilience: Casey shares the surreal moment he had to choose between amputation and experimental surgery at age 13, and how that shaped his empathy for students facing invisible challenges. AI as a "Thought Partner": Moving beyond "cheating" to using AI for Socratic tutoring, real-time differentiation for ELL students, and "upskilling" for the future workforce. The "Screenshot Hack": A brilliant tip for using visual context in ChatGPT to solve any tech support hurdle instantly. The AI Divide: Why we must be careful not to let AI become the new "digital divide" between title-one schools and affluent suburbs. The Resource Rack (Affiliate Links) Support the Wired Educator Podcast by using the links below! Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations by Mark Perna. (A must-read mentioned as an upcoming guest!) Intentional Influence: The Art and Science of Building a Culture of Excellence by Benjamin Johnson and Bobby Dodd. Unthink Before Bed by Kelly Croy. (Help your kids—and yourself—quiet the mind for a better night's sleep!) Claude.ai : The coding tool Casey's son used to land a marketing internship. ChatGPT : For using "Visual Context" to bridge the gap between curiosity and mastery. Notable Quotes: "Courage is not being fearless. Courage is being afraid but going ahead anyway." "Our English language learners don't have a cognitive deficit; they have a vocabulary deficit. AI allows them to access the content immediately." Level Up Your Leadership Kelly is currently booking Opening Day Keynotes and accepting inquiries for his Coaching Cohorts . If you are looking to start a podcast, write a book, or take the stage as a speaker, let's work together. Email Kelly at: kelly@kellycroy.com Connect with the Show Host: Kelly Croy Guest: Casey Cuny Website: WiredEducator.com

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WEP 261: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in the Age of AI is an episode from The Wired Educator Podcast by Kelly Croy.

This episode is 50:46 long.

This episode was published on Apr 1, 2026.

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