Open Insights

How Dallas ISD is Changing Education with Data (Ep. 7)

Abre Discover — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:51:55 +0000

How Dallas ISD is Changing Education with Data

Beyond the Diploma: Creating Opportunities for Students (Ep. 6)

Abre Discover — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Join us for another episode of the Abre Open Insights podcast! Today, host Zach Vander Veen, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Abre sits down with David Ritchey, Superintendent of Lamesa ISD, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of educational leadership. David shares his perspective on using data to drive student success, ensuring financial resources are allocated effectively, and staying connected with teachers to create a strong school culture. Throughout the conversation, David emphasizes the importance of seeing students as individuals, not just members, and how Lamesa ISD is working to provide opportunities beyond graduation night. He also reflects on […]

Empowering Latino Leaders in Education (Ep. 5)

Abre Discover — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In this powerful episode of the Abre Podcast, host Zach Vander Veen sits down with Dr. Celina Estrada Thomas, Executive Director of TALAS (Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents). Drawing from her 41 years in education, Dr. Thomas shares her inspiring journey from being the daughter of a migrant worker to becoming a superintendent and now leading TALAS. Dr. Thomas discusses the vital role of TALAS in supporting Latino administrators and addressing the unique needs of Latino students, who now represent 53% of Texas’s student population. She offers insights into cultural attitudes toward education, the importance of understanding second […]

Unlocking Success Through Strategic School Communication (Ep. 4)

Abre Discover — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Tune in for another episode of the Open Insights Podcast! Today, host Zach Vander Veen, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Abre, sits down with Kristyn Cathey, Chief of Communication & Public Relations at Alief ISD. Kristyn shares insights into the successes and challenges her district faces and the vital role communication plays in managing them. From navigating difficult messages to fostering a strong sense of community, Kristyn offers valuable tips on effective school district communication. Plus, don’t miss an inspiring story to close out the episode—and a delicious dream sponsor you’ll definitely want to hear about. Be sure to […]

MTSS and Early Warning: The Importance of Good Data (Ep. 3)

Abre Discover — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:19:07 +0000

Education leaders discuss the transformative role of early warning systems and data integration in supporting students, emphasizing the importance of actionable data for targeted interventions and addressing chronic absenteeism to enhance educational outcomes.

Saving Time, Saving Money, & Enhancing Focus: The Abre Advantage with Loveland City Schools (Ep. 2)

Abre Discover — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 20:45:59 +0000

In this episode we sit down with Dr. Stace Puerta and Adam Samuels of Loveland Schools to discuss how Abre has transformed their district by integrating and replacing multiple platforms into one system. By completing this integration, Loveland has saved time and money while increasing engagement with their families.

Preparing Del Valle ISD for Growth (Ep. 1)

Abre Discover — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:35:12 +0000

In this episode of Open Insights, host Zach Vander Veen sits down with Dr. Matthew Gutierrez to discuss the challenges and strategies involved in transitioning as a superintendent and executive leader.

The Origins of Abre

Abre Discover — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:10:44 +0000

In Episode 0, Part 2 of the Abre Podcast, host Ben Wiggins continues the conversation with Zach Vander Veen, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Abre, and James Stoffer, CEO of Abre. Zach and James share the story behind Abre’s origin and reflect on their initial impressions of one another as colleagues, highlighting the shared values that shaped their working relationship.

Episode 0, Part 1: Launching the Abre Podcast

Abre Discover — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 17:17:04 +0000

Welcome to the premiere episode of the Abre Podcast! Host Ben Wiggins kicks off the series with an engaging conversation featuring Zach Vander Veen, Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Abre, and James Stoffer, CEO of Abre. In this episode, Zach and James introduce the vision for the podcast, which centers on thought leadership and real stories of educational change.

They discuss how Abre aligns with district strategic plans and addresses the challenge of limited time for educators, emphasizing the impact of streamlined technology on relationships with students and parents. Zach shares insights on the power of compelling storytelling and data-driven growth to increase classroom engagement. Tune in for an open and inspiring conversation as we begin this journey of exploring better outcomes for schools and communities.

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To learn more about Abre, visit www.abre.com

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 – 00:39) Introduction

(00:40 – 02:59) The Narratives to Unfold

(03:00 – 07:45) Diving Into Thought Leadership

(07:46 – 08:23) An Open Journey

(08:24 – 13:23) Heartfelt Memories in Education

(13:24 – 13:42) Closing

Key Quotes

“The vast majority, 90%+ of our client partners start at the superintendent level. With that comes alignment to the district strategic plan. They’re almost a hired extension of their community via their board, so they have more of a pulse as to what’s happening within the community.” – James Stoffer, 03:55

“Every single educator that we talk to admit that they don’t have enough time in the day. When time goes away in education, what then happens with relationships with students and parents? They fall by the wayside. At the end of the day, what I envision this podcast being for us is bringing in leaders who have pragmatic stories with how they’ve changed, how they use leverage and execute better technology within their school system to drive better outcomes for kids.” – James Stoffer, 05:52

“A really good story with a compelling question, with good tech, you can really increase phenomenal engagement [in the classroom] and get that learning, especially looking at this through the lens of data and how you engage for that growth.” – Zach Vander Veen, 12:54