Advertise on podcast: Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast

Today's students are preparing for a competitive future, in both higher education and the workforce. How can you help them stand out and succeed? Certifications.  In this episode, we're bringing you perspective from education and the workforce. We sat down with two educators, Brittany Nicholson and Kim Kayser, and two professionals, Kurt Russell and Raae Wolfram. Together we discussed why certifications matter. Whether you teach young students or adults, this episode will help you understand how industry-recognized credentials can benefit your community. Discover the value of certification: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/About/The-value-of-certification.  Interested in hearing more conversations like this? Join us for future CERTIFIED Academy webinars: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2026/January/Join-us-for-CERTIFIED-Academy-2026.  It's time for you to join our community! Meet us in Nashville for the 2026 CERTIFIED Educator Conference: https://www.pearsonvue.com/certified/conference.html. Register now for $100 off!

Happy 2026! A new year means new goals. What goals are you making for your classroom? If you need ideas, this episode is for you. The answer's in the data! Join us as we talk all about data analysis with Nicole Rodenfels.  Nicole is a dedicated educator in the School District of Lee County in Ft. Myers, FL. She holds a master's degree in educational technology from Florida Gulf Coast University and taught Microsoft Office applications at the high school and college levels for seven years. Currently, she works at the district level, providing essential support to teachers utilizing Certiport certifications.  Nicole thrives on helping educators analyze data and navigate the extensive features of the Certiport platform, finding joy in empowering others to enhance their teaching practices. She is a Microsoft Office Specialist Expert (2019), a Microsoft Certified Educator, and has earned certifications in Entrepreneurship and Small Business, as well as Information Technology Specialist in Device Configuration and Management.  In this episode, Nicole shares why data analysis matters in today's classroom. She discusses what data points to track and how to use the data to adjust your teaching. Plus, what data you can capture from industry and where to get information on what matters most in the workforce. If you're nervous about data or don't know where to start, Nicole gives you a great introduction.  Looking to get hands on experience with data analysis? Check out Nicole's CERTIFIED presentation here.  Interested in learning from educators Nicole? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.      Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.           Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.       

As a business educator, you prepare students for demanding and dynamic careers. And marketing is just one area where they can excel. However, with so many trends and apps constantly changing, equipping your students with useful marketing skills and experiences can be difficult.  No one knows that more than Jodi Pelini. Jodi is a former TV reporter and anchor who now brings her love of storytelling and media to the classroom. For the past 22 years, she has taught media production at Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights, Illinois, and is committed to incorporating Adobe and Meta certification opportunities into all three levels of her digital media program. She is the CTSO advisor of her school's chapter of the Business Professionals of America, and she also helps manage the school's social media and marketing campaigns. As if that doesn't keep her busy enough, she is also an adjunct professor, specializing in media production, at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois. Jodi earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and a master's degree in media arts from Governors State University. She is also the proud mother of four wonderful children. In this episode, Jodi talks us through her marketing and social media teaching. We discuss key marketing skills students need to be successful in their future careers. Jodi also gets real about the role of AI in marketing and business, and how she uses it with her students. And last, but certainly not least, she shares how you can give students opportunities to practice social media skills in the classroom.  Interested in learning more about social media certifications? Check out our Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate certification.  Interested in learning from educators Jodi? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.      Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.           Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.       

There's an app for everything these days. Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives. Getting students ready for careers in technology has never been more demanding or exciting!  In this episode, we learn from app development educator, Brian Foutty. Brian brings decades of classroom teaching experience to his current job as a secondary math, app development and coding, and special education teacher at Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Warren, Ohio. He has also worked as a Mac and iPad systems administrator and a classroom technology integrator for the students and staff at Turnbull. Brian has been an active iOS app developer since 2011, and he worked for three years as an Apple Professional Learning Specialist. Brian firmly believes that all students can benefit and become better thinkers through formal coding learning experiences.   We chat with Brian about why he believes in teaching app development, and the skills your students learn in these courses. Brian shares how he gets students excited about coding, and how to celebrate their successes along the way. And, of course, we address big trends in technology like certification and the impact AI is having in the classroom and the workplace.  Ready to dive into the App Development with Swift certification exams? All our information is available here.   Interested in learning from educators like Brian? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.     Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.          Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.      

Microsoft Excel is more than just a tool in the accounting and finance industry—it empowers individuals to advance their careers by transforming numbers into actionable insights. Despite the rise of specialized software, 89% of finance teams still rely on Excel skills, making it the go-to platform for budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analysis worldwide.  With Excel still on top, it's crucial to help students master the application before they enter the workforce. Which is why we've launched new specialized Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications for accounting and finance careers: MOS Excel for Accounting Associate and MOS Excel for Finance Associate. On this episode of the podcast, we sat down with Caroline Dill and Jennifer Johnson to discuss these new exams.  Caroline is a Product Marketing Manager at Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, where she leads global marketing strategies for major clients such as Microsoft and Unity, including the Microsoft Office Specialist program. Before joining Certiport, Caroline held leadership roles in the publishing industry, where she co-chaired major initiatives to strengthen institutional partnerships and expand access to academic research.  Jennifer is a CPA licensed in the state of Texas. She owns and manages a client accounting practice utilizing technology and automation to help clients enact change through information. From 2009 – 2025, Jennifer was a Professor of Instruction at the University of Texas at Dallas, where she taught Accounting Systems, Data Analytics, QuickBooks Software, CPA Exam preparation, and Excel courses. In 2024 Jennifer was named CPA of the Year by TXCPA Dallas, and in 2017 she was named an Outstanding Accounting Educator by TXCPA. Jennifer co-authored six editions of Computerized Accounting with QuickBooks Online. Before joining the University of Texas at Dallas in 2009, Jennifer spent time in both public accounting and industry as an auditor with PwC, an Assistant Controller at a regional financial services firm, and a Finance Manager at Keurig Dr Pepper. Jennifer holds both a BBA and an MS in Accounting from Texas A&M University. During this episode, Caroline and Jennifer discuss trends in the accounting and finance industry, key skills for future professionals to master, and how these new certifications can set individuals apart in the competitive job market. If you're teaching future financial professionals, this episode is for you.  Ready to dive into these new exams? All our information is available here.  Interested in learning from educators like Jennifer? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.    Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.         Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.     

You know that preparing students for the contemporary workforce looks dramatically different than it did even a few years ago. Today's students need to be prepared to succeed in an even more demanding environment.  We sat down with two educators (Noam Bonkowski and Vladimir Noda) to talk about today's workforce demands and how you can make sure your students are prepared.  Noam is a CTE teacher, work-based learning (WBL) coordinator, and Project Management Professional in Queens, NY. In his role, he creates a classroom that models a professional PMO work environment, all while teaching project management foundations and key business skills. He certifies his students using the PMI Project Management Ready certification program. Noam also extends his influence beyond the classroom in his role as WBL coordinator. He fosters partnerships with businesses and develops opportunities for students to work as interns for key work experience and educational credit.  Vladimir is an enthusiastic educator, instructional coach, and advocate for business education with over a decade of experience enhancing student success. Throughout his career, he has assisted countless students in obtaining industry-recognized certifications in Microsoft Office, Adobe, and the Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) exam. As an instructional coach, he is dedicated to building a top-tier business program and enhancing his school's presence through strategic marketing efforts. With a dynamic approach to curriculum development and certification preparation, Vladimir aims to empower educators with the tools and strategies necessary to boost student achievement, expand their programs, and cultivate future business leaders.  In this episode, we talk with Noam and Vladimir all about skills needed for the managers of tomorrow's workforce. We discuss everything from soft skills, classroom architecture, the role of certification, helping students practice their abilities in real-world scenarios, and inclusivity for marginalized students. Whether you're focusing on project management, communication, or an entrepreneurial mindset, we know you'll learn something to help your students master the skills required of tomorrow's business leaders. Learn more about our episode sponsors: The PMI Project Management Ready certification and Entrepreneurship and Small Business certification programs.  Interested in learning from educators like Noam and Vladimir? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.   Connect with other educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.        Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.    

Security threats and nefarious tactics from hackers are on the rise, demanding more awareness and vigilance online. According to an IBM study of over 150 billion daily security events in more than 130 countries, there was a 71% year-over-year increase in cyberattacks that used stolen or compromised data. This rise in attacks has increased the demand for cybersecurity professionals in various industries. In this episode, we learn all about cybersecurity and IT education from three incredible educators: Jessie Kalloo, Jereme Monette, and Robbie Perdue. We sat down with these pros to discuss how to prepare students for careers in cybersecurity and IT. Hear all about their professional experiences, key lessons they've learned, and effective strategies for making your IT classroom engaging and fun.  Interested in learning more from educators like Jessie, Jereme, and Robbie? Join our CERTIFIED Academy program. Get all the details here.  Learn from other educators, like Jessie, Jereme, and Robbie, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.       Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.       

You want your students to find a career that is fulfilling. Interesting. Challenging. But not every student knows how to find a job that aligns with their interests. How can you help them find a career they're passionate about?  In this episode, we get advice from three experts: Karen Coulumbe, CTE educator in Washington; Matt Fritzius, Director of Research, Development, and Special Projects at Florida Atlantic University; and Amanda Augustine, Career Expert and Spokesperson at Career.io.  Karen, Matt, and Amanda discuss the career journey, from classroom to the boardroom and beyond. They give answers to some of your burning questions, such as: How can I connect with my students and discover their talents and interests? How can I encourage career exploration?  How can I help my students land and keep a great job?  If you're ready for all the career talk, this one's for you. After all, career success starts in the classroom.  Certification can help your students explore career paths while still in the classroom. Learn more about our certification portfolio here.  Learn from other educators, like Karen and Matt, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.      Want more discussions like this? Join us for future CERTIFIED Academy webinars! Check out all the details and dates here.  Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.       

You're teaching skills that students need in their future careers. But what about giving them a chance to practice those skills in a workplace environment? Enter: the simulated workplace. In this week's episode, we dive into the simulated workplace with CERTIFIED Educator Conference presenter, Robbie Perdue.  Charles "Robbie" Perdue is an experienced IT educator with over 25 years in the field and 16 years of teaching. He specializes in preparing students for Certiport's industry-recognized certifications, using a hands-on, simulated workplace model to enhance learning. As a proponent of real-world learning, Robbie integrates project-based activities, digital badges, and resume-building opportunities to ensure students are not only prepared for certification exams but also for success in the workforce. With a wide range of certifications and a deep passion for education, he helps students bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry demands. During our chat, Robbie shared how he established a simulated workplace in his classroom, how he gets students on board with a different classroom experience, and what skills he helps his students learn. Get ideas for supplies and infrastructure, and how you can help your students rise to meet industry standards.  Connect with Robbie on his website: www.crperdue.com.  Robbie uses the Cisco Certified Support Technician certification in his workplace classroom. Learn more about Cisco's certifications here.  Learn from other educators, like Robbie, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.     Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.      

Adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI) for learning purposes continues to grow, but many educators lack training on effective use of AI in the classroom. According to a survey from EdWeek, only 43% of educators surveyed had received any training on AI. Those left without training or district support may be wondering how to demystify AI and embrace this transformative technology. We're here to help. In this episode, we learn from both education and industry experts, Amy Waters and Stefano Piano.  Amy Waters is a 37-year veteran teacher at Hahnville High School in Boutte, Louisiana, with no plans of retiring any time soon.  She is a complete nerd who has taught everything from Latin to computer programming and still loves learning new things and sharing that knowledge with everyone. She is constantly trying to find new and creative ways to teach lessons that will reach all her students and works hard to make sure that every one of them walks away with a sense of accomplishment.     Stefano Piano heads community and partnerships at Mindstone. In this role, he is responsible for hosting and facilitating practical demos and talks about the impact of AI on work and society in more than twenty cities between Europe and North America. Prior to joining Mindstone, he was an education and skills expert at the OECD, where he advised over 15 governments on improving education and training systems and preparing the workforce for AI adoption. He has been teaching at university and delivering lectures, including at Harvard, Kedge Business School, and ISEP. Stefano studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Warwick, and completed postgraduate studies in Economics at Cambridge and LSE as a Rotary Scholar.  Learn from Amy and Stefano about how AI is being used in today's classroom, and how they anticipate AI being used in the future. We also dive deep into educational concerns around AI, and how to make sure you and your students can use it safely, effectively, and ethically.  Hear about tried-and-true project ideas, and AI applications. And, as always, get advice from our AI experts. It's all here, and we know you won't want to miss it.  Ready to help your students dive deeper into the world of generative AI? Learn more about our Critical Career Skills Generative AI Foundations certification here.  Connect with educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.    Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.     

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects higher than average growth in accounting and finance positions in the coming decade. In fact, over 715,000 openings are predicted in the business and finance sphere between now and 2031. With such strong growth (and earning potential), it's no wonder educators want to prepare students for jobs in accounting and finance. In this episode, we sat down with two accounting educators: Ashley Faulkner and David Waite. Ashley is a teacher at Triton High School in North Carolina, where she is a strong certification advocate. Over the past 11 years, Ashley has earned more than 40 certifications—and helped her students earn more than 1,150 individual certifications. She has also served as an FBLA adviser and as the North Carolina Southeast Region advisor. Outside her teaching career, Ashley is the chief financial officer for Simple Web Solutions, Inc., EM Audio, Inc., and Butler Faulkner Enterprise, and she is the mother of two active children.  David began his career as an auditor and was one of the rare humans who genuinely enjoyed it. After earning his CPA, he spent 15 years in public and private accounting before discovering his passion for teaching. An unexpected opportunity to teach accounting in Hawaii led him to academia, where he now focuses on bridging the gap between theory and practice. His teaching philosophy is simple: motivate students to prepare before class, engage actively during class, and tackle real-world challenges after class. Drawing from his industry experience, David strives to bring accounting to life for his students and future professionals.  We talk with Ashley and David about the skills accounting and finance professionals need and how to teach these skills in the classroom. Plus, we dive into connecting with local businesses for students' internship and job opportunities. And last, but not least, how certification empowers students along the way.  Learn more about Intuit certification here.  Connect with educators like Ashley and David in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.  Get all the CERTIFIED Educator's Conference details here. 

If you're looking for a fun and engaging way to teach your curriculum, gamification may be the answer. Merrell Stewart has been using gamification with his students for years and is sharing his advice with you.  Merrell is an 11-year veteran educator of animation, computer science, and game design in Houston, Texas. He has served more than a thousand students, specializing in the fundamentals of digital animation. His students learn composition, 2D and 3D animation, programming, game design, effective project management, and business creation.  Merrell has a master's in education in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in educational multimedia and online teaching and learning from the University of Houston. He also holds a bachelor's degree in arts, technology, and emerging communications from the University of Texas at Dallas. Merrell has various certifications in Adobe and Autodesk programs, and in the education and computer science fields. He has worked in the visual arts industry for over 15 years, creating medical, technical, and educational animation.  In this episode, Merrell defines gamification and shares why it's important for his students. We talk all about game mechanics and how you use different game elements in your projects and coursework. Plus, he shares his favorite websites and apps that help him gamify his course without too much additional effort. Now, are you ready to play?  Here are some of Merrell's favorite resources:  If you're looking for simulation-based activities, Merrell recommends Gimkit and Blooket. Ready to create a leader board to keep students competitive and engaged? Check out keepthescore.com. If you want students to be able to show off their success in your classroom, why not start with digital badges? Start with badge.design.  For cooperative and competitive activities, Merrell loves using Jeopardy Labs and Factile.  Connect with educators like Merrell in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.  Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.

The health sciences sector employs approximately 16 million people in the U.S. alone and is expected to grow by 13% from 2022 to 2032. But what skills do students need? What roles can they pursue?  We sat down with Priya Mukundan to talk all about healthcare careers. Priya is an innovative and strategic healthcare leader with over 15 years of experience in post-acute care and clinical operations. She currently serves as the Post Acute Care Network Administrator at Navvis/Allina Health in Minneapolis, Minnesota, working with hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to optimize care transitions, reduce hospital stays, and improve patient outcomes while focusing on Medicare and value-based care strategies. A licensed physical therapist with advanced training in digital health, Priya is passionate about building patient-centered systems that deliver high-quality and cost-effective care to improve the health and lives of patients across the care continuum. In this episode, we talk Priya about her extensive experience in the healthcare industry. She shares her insights about how to prepare students for careers in healthcare, specifically for administrative assistant roles. These roles are the background of any successful medical practice, according to Priya.  She dives deep into what your students need to succeed in these jobs, and how you, as an educator, can help them prepare for the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of healthcare and medicine.  Ready to learn more about our Health Sciences Careers program? Get more information here.  Connect with educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.   Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.    

The Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career ClusterTM is critical for addressing global necessities, such as food security and sustainability. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 1.4 million jobs in this Career ClusterTM. So many opportunities for your students to succeed.  Are you looking to prepare students for careers in agriscience? Jacob Falwell joins us in this episode to discuss all things soil and plant science. Dr. Jacob Falwell holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture science and a master's degree and Ph.D. in agriculture education.   He's been teaching all things agriculture at Calloway County High School for over 20 years. With his support, his students have won 79 Future Farmers of America (FFA) state championships in 49 areas over the past 20 years. He's been named the Kentucky Agriculture Teacher of the Year twice. If there's any question you have about agriculture education, he's your guy.   In this episode, Jacob shares how to get students excited and engaged in soil and plant science, plus what career opportunities are available, and the skills your students need to succeed. We dive into what to teach, how to pace your curriculum (everything from mini units to monster units, to hands-on days), and the struggles and triumphs of agriculture educators. Sharing more than two decades of experience in the agriculture classroom, Jacob is sure to give you advice to help you succeed in the coming school year.   Learn more about our Agriscience and Technology Careers program here.  Connect with educators like Jacob in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.  Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.   

Each year, we are so excited to recognize one of our customers as our CERTIFIED Educator of the Year during our annual CERTIFIED Educator Conference. We work with so many incredible educators, all of whom deserve recognition for their dedication and efforts. We're pleased to announce that Kim Kayser is our 2025 CERTIFIED Educator of the Year!  Kim has been teaching as well as learning technology with her students for fourteen years in Santa Rosa County, Florida. For the last ten of those years, she's been a career and technical educator, helping Woodlawn Beach Middle School students earn valuable, resume-building certifications in Microsoft Office, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, and Professional Communication. She loves being at the forefront of technology and always aims to keep classroom instruction engaging and relevant to prepare students for career and college readiness. In this episode, we talk with Kim about becoming the 2025 Educator of the Year, her pathway into teaching, and her approach to creating lasting relationships with her students. Inspiring and energizing, this is one episode you won't want to miss.  Learn more about Kim on our blog here.  You can also watch Kim in action (and hear from her students) in our CERTIFIED Educator of the Year video here.  Connect with educators like Kim in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.  Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.