Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast

Quick Take: What if everything you believed about math education was wrong? In this episode, Ted Dintersmith, bestselling author of Aftermath and What School Could Be, pulls back the curtain on how math has been weaponized — and how school leaders can transform learning by teaching the math that actually matters.

In this episode, Ted Dintersmith challenges traditional education paradigms:

Key Insight #1: Real Math Skills Are Ignored in School

• What’s broken: We spend billions teaching rote math no adult uses.

• The shift: Teach students estimation, decision-making, game theory, and data literacy.

• Impact: Students gain tools to make sense of the world — and avoid being replaced by AI.

Key Insight #2: Standardized Testing Drives Irrelevance

• What’s broken: Tests reward regurgitation over reasoning.

• The shift: Focus on deep thinking and real-life application instead of the “one right answer.”

• Impact: Students build critical thinking and communication skills that machines can’t replicate.

Key Insight #3: Career-Based Learning Isn’t “Less Than”

• What’s broken: Schools track kids into college or label them “less than” if they pursue trades.

• The shift: Elevate career-based learning, internships, and real-world skills for all students.

• Impact: Confidence, agency, and community impact — plus real jobs post-graduation.