As I worked with the Upper School faculty at University School of Milwaukee this morning, I was impressed by the marriage of student-lead pedagogical practices to the use of technology. I have to use the word “work” lightly here because when I leave a teacher/student meeting I have consistently learned something and feel even more inspired to delve more deeply to support teachers and students in their ever-growing and changing technological endeavors. Whether the teacher or class I was working with was using Skype, Google Hangouts, or Facetime to communicate with students in partner schools on year-long community-based projects, or listening to and responding to original written works shared in second and third languages using Voicethread, or scheduling and conducting writers’ workshop conferences virtually, teachers at USM are leading the way when it comes to guiding their students and it is evident in the enthusiasm students show in their work and with each other.
What also amazes me is the level of tool integration the teachers use, so it is not just the sound, student-lead creation practices with technology, but how they use tools, like Google docs, for example, to provide feedback to students while they are writing and then use shared groups in Voicethread for them to publish, share and receive feedback on their written works! The entire process of learning supported by technology is a solid marriage!
About NikkiSweeney
It is difficult to fully express my gratitude for the journey I have had in education and the deep sense of purpose that continues to guide my work. After serving as Assistant Head of School and Head of Upper School at The Village School of Naples, I have transitioned to continue my life’s work through Pay It Forward Enterprises. While the setting has evolved, the mission remains the same: advancing the lives of young people through leadership, innovation, and meaningful human connection.
My path has been shaped by more than two decades at the University School of Milwaukee, where I served as Director of Innovation, Educational Technology, and Entrepreneurship. It has been strengthened by graduate studies in Educational Leadership and Technology in Education. But the true foundation of my work has always been the students themselves. Their curiosity, their questions, and their desire to lead lives of purpose continue to inspire everything I do.
That inspiration led to my earlier book, The Virtue Code: A Guide to Flourish for the AI Generation, which reflects a generation’s desire to navigate a rapidly changing world with both wisdom and integrity. More recently, it has shaped my newest work, The Quiet Crisis and the Future Worth Building, where I explore a deeper and more urgent reality: why educators are leaving, how the structure of schooling is being challenged, and what must come next as we rethink learning in an age of artificial intelligence.
Together, these works represent both a belief in human potential and a call to action. One focuses on the development of young people. The other examines the systems meant to serve them.
At Pay It Forward Enterprises, I am building on this foundation by helping students, educators, and leaders unlock potential, strengthen connection, and design more human-centered approaches to learning. I am especially energized by the opportunity to explore how technology can elevate, rather than replace, what matters most: relationships, purpose, and the cultivation of a meaningful life.
The journey continues, and I could not be more energized to keep growing, learning, and paying it forward.
Nikki B. Sweeney 