EdGate Powers Podcast #32- with Lisa O'Masta
Preparing students for the future means more than helping them succeed academically. As states redefine what it means to be "future-ready," schools are placing greater emphasis on digital literacy, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and the durable skills students need to thrive in an evolving workforce. Building these competencies requires educators, publishers, and technology leaders to create learning experiences that prepare students not only to use emerging technologies, but to navigate them responsibly and confidently.
In this episode of the EdGate Powers Podcast, Rich Portelance sits down with Lisa O'Masta, CEO of Learning.com, to discuss how K-12 education is redefining what it means to be future-ready. Together, they explore the growing influence of AI, the rise of Portrait of a Graduate initiatives, and why digital literacy should be woven throughout every grade level and subject, not taught as a standalone technology course.
Lisa explains why preparing students for an AI-enabled future begins with building curiosity, empathy, and responsible decision-making alongside technical skills. The conversation also examines how states, school districts, publishers, and edtech providers can work together to create learning experiences that are both standards-aligned and adaptable to the evolving needs of students, educators, and the workforce.
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why digital literacy should be integrated across every subject and grade level.
- How Portrait of a Graduate initiatives are redefining future-ready learning.
- Why AI literacy is about critical thinking, digital discernment, and responsible technology use, not just learning AI tools.
- How education publishers and edtech providers can simplify standards alignment while supporting innovation.
- Why collaboration between states, districts, and technology providers is essential for implementing future-ready education.
- How empathy, curiosity, ethical decision-making, and digital citizenship remain essential skills in an AI-driven world.
Why This Conversation Matters
As artificial intelligence reshapes education and the workforce, schools are being asked to prepare students for careers and technologies that continue to evolve. Success will depend on more than adopting new digital tools; it will require helping students become adaptable learners, thoughtful problem-solvers, and responsible digital citizens who can confidently navigate an increasingly complex world.
For education leaders, this means embedding digital literacy, AI awareness, and durable human skills into everyday instruction while creating policies, partnerships, and professional learning that support meaningful classroom implementation. Organizations that balance innovation with strong instructional practices and human-centered learning will be better positioned to prepare students for lifelong success.
Join Rich and Lisa as they explore how schools, publishers, and education leaders can move beyond technology adoption to build learning environments that prepare every student to thrive in the age of AI.
Learn how schools must help students to form adaptable, ethical, and critical thinking skills to keep up as technology continues to evolve.
Lisa O’Masta is the CEO of Learning.com, where she leads the company’s mission to equip K–12 students with essential digital literacy, coding, and computational thinking skills. With over two decades of experience in education leadership, Lisa has held executive roles at Learning A-Z, Illustrative Mathematics, McGraw-Hill Education, and Stride, driving innovation, access, and equity in digital learning.
Under her leadership, Learning.com focuses on empowering students and teachers with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world. Lisa is recognized for her commitment to student equity, team culture, and impactful educational solutions.
Rich is passionate about eEdTech and helping people discover pathways to successful careers. He leverages his many years of business experience in strategy, product development, brand creation and sales & marketing as a frequent industry speaker and sought after consultant.
Beginning his career in digital marketing and web development, Rich was recruited into the private, independent school market to help usher in digital technologies and social media. During this time, Richard served as a student advisor and was nominated to serve on the CAIS (Connecticut Association of Independent Schools) Technology Commission. In 2012, Rich joined York & Chapel, a brand and digital transformation agency where he began working with secondary and higher ed clients, developing strategies for student engagement and pathway creation. In 2014, Richard founded CareerPath, a SaaS engagement platform. Over the past ten years, Rich has given back to the industry as an advisor to numerous EdTech startups, and generally has had a blast doing what he loves to do — help others succeed.
Questions Answered
During the podcast, we tackle critical questions that many school leaders are asking as the education and technological landscape rapidly changes.
- How are states redefining what it means to be future-ready?
- How should edtech companies evolve to support future-ready learning and durable skills?
- How can education publishers align curriculum across different state frameworks?
- How should schools move from AI awareness to AI literacy?
- What does it look like to measure future-ready skills?
- How can educators measure skills that traditional tests miss?
- What role do public-private partnerships play in future-ready education?
- How can schools and education publishers close the digital divide while building digital literacy?
- How are state AI policies shaping the future of education? Are there examples of states that are doing a good job with this?
- What should future-ready curriculum look like in five to ten years?
- How can schools teach AI while strengthening empathy and ethical decision-making? How do you bake those skills into lessons?
- What does a healthy relationship with technology look like for students?