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Every Student, Every Need: A Fireside Chat on Scaling Personalized Tutoring with Purpose
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT
Presented by Angele Hodges, Former Education Leader, Current Academic Solutions Advisor, Varsity Tutors; Lauren Ziegler, Managing Director, National Student Support Accelerator, Stanford University; Mary Strain, Head of Education, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Amazon Web Services; and Lindy Hockenbary, K-12 Educational Technology Advisor, LindyHoc
Sponsored by Varsity Tutors
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How can schools move from scattered interventions to strategic support that reaches every student who needs it? Join this edLeader Panel for a candid fireside chat with leading voices in education as we explore how schools and districts can plan with intention, act with urgency, and use tutoring to deliver real, measurable outcomes—student by student.
This conversation centers on how district leaders can identify students who need support, how tutoring can become a core part of your instructional strategy, and how tools from the National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA) and Varsity Tutors are helping schools scale what works—without losing the human connection.
In this fireside chat, we explore:
- Intentional Planning That Drives Support Where It’s Needed Most – How do you proactively identify which students need tutoring? How should districts be planning now for SY25–26? We share planning frameworks that align with MTSS and empower building-level leaders to act early.
- Personalized Tutoring That Meets the Moment – Hear how high-impact tutoring—when done well—builds confidence, strengthens core skills, and makes learning feel personal again. We share tools, strategies, and a national vision: that every student deserves a tutor who champions their success.
- How AI Supports—Not Replaces—Human Connection – In today’s tech-forward world, AI is a powerful partner in helping personalize instruction and track progress—but it’s not a replacement for relationships. We explore how AI can enhance a tutor’s impact by removing barriers, not adding them.
This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to elementary through high school district leaders, school leaders, and education technology leaders.
About the Presenters
Angele Hodges, an Academic Solutions Advisor for Varsity Tutors with over 20 years of experience in educational leadership, specializes in designing tailored academic strategies that drive student achievement. She has held roles such as principal, assistant principal, and dean of instruction, focusing on faculty development, strategic planning, and innovative instructional models. Angele holds a master’s in educational leadership from The University of Texas at Arlington, a bachelor’s in mass communication from Dillard University, and completed the Harvard University Leadership Institute. She is passionate about fostering collaboration, research-driven initiatives, and sustainable academic success.
Lauren Ziegler is the Managing Director of the National Student Support Accelerator at Stanford University, where she leads the translation of research on learning acceleration into practical tools for U.S. district and state leaders. She has worked to improve learning outcomes across U.S. and global contexts through roles in research, policy, and practice—including at the U.S. State Department, the Brookings Institution, and as a Broad Resident with Mastery Charter Schools. She began her career teaching English in France.
Mary Strain leads strategy for artificial intelligence and machine learning for US education at AWS. Mary began her career as a middle school teacher in the Bronx, NY. Since that time, she has held leadership roles in education and public sector technology organizations as an award-winning curriculum developer, product lead, and vice president of business development. Mary has advised K12, higher education, technology companies, and government on innovative policies and practices leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, competency-based assessment, and micro-credentials to advance equity, access, and agency. She has worked as an advisor to The Education Design Studio at The University of Pennsylvania, The Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color, The State of NJ AI Task Force, and the California State University AI Workforce Acceleration Board. Mary has been on the leading edge of bringing innovative solutions to serve the public interest for two decades.
Lindy Hockenbary—aka “LindyHoc”—is the bridge between education and technology. With experience in instructional technology, professional development, and curriculum design, Lindy helps educators unpack the effects of emerging technologies—especially artificial intelligence—on curriculum and instruction.
Her journey began in a technology-equipped classroom, where she first blended instruction with innovation. Since then, she’s supported educators around the world, authored A Teacher’s Guide to Online Learning, and collaborated with EdTech companies to ensure their tools align with the needs of K–12 educators. In recognition of her leadership in this space, she was named a 2025 Women in AI honoree by ASU+GSV.
Lindy’s work is grounded in helping kids, which has led to a passion for making technology literacy accessible and meaningful for every classroom. Her mission is to empower educators with the confidence and clarity to navigate the evolving intersection of technology and pedagogy.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Tutoring for Schools community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, and receive invitations to upcoming edLeader Panels.
Varsity Tutors is the leading next-generation tutoring and intervention platform trusted by over 1,000 school districts nationwide. Combining personalized live instruction with advanced AI technology, our unified platform delivers targeted, high-dosage tutoring, instant on-demand academic support, adaptive assessments, immersive live classes, comprehensive test preparation, and AI tools for teachers that enhance personalized learning, save teachers valuable time, and reduce burnout. Designed to accelerate student learning, close achievement gaps, and streamline educators’ workloads, our platform includes intelligent tutor matching, real-time analytics, and adaptive learning paths. We provide measurable results—students achieve twice the proficiency growth compared to traditional interventions. Learn how we’re empowering educators and transforming student outcomes at varsitytutors.com/schools.
