EdGate Powers Podcast #34- with Zarek Drozda
As artificial intelligence, automation, and digital technologies continue to reshape education and the workforce, schools face growing pressure to equip students with skills that go beyond traditional academic content. Preparing students for the future requires more than teaching them how to use technology. Rather, it requires helping them analyze information, think critically, and apply data to solve real-world problems.
In this episode of the EdGate Powers Podcast, Rich Portelance sits down with Zarek Drozda, Executive Director of Data Science 4 Everyone, to discuss why data literacy is becoming a foundational skill for every student and how schools can modernize curriculum to better prepare learners for an AI-driven future.
Rather than treating data science as a specialized subject reserved for advanced learners, Zarek explains why data literacy, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking should be embedded across mathematics, science, social studies, English language arts, and career and technical education. The conversation also explores how authentic datasets, project-based learning, and durable skills can make learning more relevant while helping students adapt to rapidly evolving technologies.
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why data literacy is becoming an essential skill for students in every career pathway.
- How authentic, real-world datasets can make mathematics more engaging and meaningful.
- Why schools should prioritize durable skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and analytical reasoning.
- How data science can be integrated across multiple subjects instead of being taught in isolation.
- Why traditional curriculum and standards revision cycles struggle to keep pace with AI and emerging technologies.
- How publishers, edtech providers, and education leaders can build more agile curriculum alignment strategies for the future.
Why This Conversation Matters
As AI continues to transform education and the workplace, students need more than technical knowledge; they need the ability to evaluate evidence, interpret data, solve complex problems, and adapt to constant change. At the same time, schools, publishers, and policymakers are navigating the challenge of updating curriculum and standards quickly enough to keep pace with evolving technologies.
Organizations that focus on building durable skills, modernizing curriculum through authentic learning experiences, and creating flexible alignment processes will be better positioned to prepare students for success in an increasingly data-driven world.
Join Rich and Zarek as they explore why data literacy should become a foundational component of K–12 education and how schools can build future-ready learning experiences that prepare students for whatever comes next.
Learn about the importance of teaching students to analyze data, think critically, and apply quantitative reasoning across disciplines.
Zarek Drozda leads Data Science 4 Everyone’s work to expand access to data science education for all students. His work sits at the intersection of math, data literacy, and workforce readiness—helping schools and states integrate modern quantitative skills into existing math pathways. Zarek will share insights on how math alignment must adapt to support data science, real‑world problem solving, and future careers.
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 plenty of critical questions about how data literacy is becoming increasingly important to K-12 education, especially in the age of AI.
- Where are the biggest gaps for future-ready skills in today’s classrooms?
- Why is data literacy not already integrated into K-12 curricula?
- What lesser-known strategies should schools and districts use when building data literacy into curriculum and instruction?
- Are current academic standards keeping pace with future-ready skills? If not, what do they need to catch up?
- Is there an active movement towards durable skills at the state level?
- Why has education alignment become such a critical issue for data science? What can be done about it?
- How can good metadata change the way alignment decisions get made?
- How should education leaders be thinking about data science across subjects?
- What role should publishers and edtech providers be taking in terms of embedding data skills more intentionally?
- How prepared are education organizations for the pace of standards change?
- Why is letting education alignment and review processes remain manual and fragmented risky?
- What makes Zarek optimistic about where education is headed?