BREAKING THE GRADE
Follow grade breakers and difference-makers as they shatter and reshape the education industry as we know it.
Breaking the Grade is a thought-provoking podcast that follows entrepreneurs as they transform learning and advance equity and impact in the global education space. Tune in for stories about breaking norms, introducing new ideas, and shaping our future through every lesson learned.
The Lessons That Led to Breaking the Grade
Breaking the Grade hosts Josh Chernikoff and John Gamba have been education entrepreneurs for most of their professional lives.
They’ve witnessed firsthand how positive change and creative thinking can impact this space.
They’ve coached other companies on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Now, it’s time to lift others up by letting more stories out.
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LATEST EPISODE
Breaking the Grade
The future of the world’s classroom is falling into our hands. How can we help shape the next generation to learn more and live better than we do today?
This type of change won’t come from repetition. We need to BREAK the education industry if we want its EVOLUTION to take place.
That's why we’re working to Break the Grade.
LATEST EPISODE
Big Breaks
The Breaking The Grade crew attended the GSV Cup, the world's largest pitch competition for early-stage EdTech startups. At the summit, Breaking The Grade had the privilege to talk to the brains behind these groundbreaking and innovative EdTech companies. These breakers were there to show and tell the education world about how their companies are imagining the education space and learning experience.
Our goal – to connect with these amazing people and bring their stories, motivations, and experiences to our audience.
LATEST EPISODE
Grading Your Impact
The Breaking The Grade crew attended ISTE 2022 in New Orleans. A big opportunity in the Big Easy to interview educators, entrepreneurs, and entire teams who have one goal in mind – to make learning better for students of all ages.
Our media team met hundreds of breakers and talked to them about their lasting impact on the education space.
Guests
ALEXA ESCOBEDO
Former teacher and current activist in large-scale education equality.
SPOTIFY
NICOLE LIPKIN
Clinical psychologist and founder of childhood social-emotional wellness tool for teachers and parents, HeyKiddo.
SPOTIFY
DR. QUINTIN SHEPHERD
Committed to transformational & collaborative leadership to do what is best for kids.
Ask to join our podcast
Click here to be considered for a spot on the show
Ask to join our podcast
Click here to be considered for a spot on the show
Meet Your Hosts
Josh Chernikoff
Josh Chernikoff is a media expert and seasoned entrepreneur who is setting out to help others build and scale their education businesses. He has earned a Masters Degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and a degree in print journalism in undergrad from American University. He served as Sports Anchor and Producer/Anchor for WHSV TV and was an integral part of the Washington Commanders broadcast team.
Today, Josh hosts two of his own shows, Breaking the Grade and How I Broke That, as well as co-hosts on the Lifelong Educators Show. His motto is that all business owners and entrepreneurs have “broken” themselves or their industry in some way, and that building, breaking, and remaking is key to success. Originally born and raised in Washington, D.C., Josh and his family recently moved to (for now) San Miguel de Allende, Mexico — a small colonial town in the middle of the country.
John Gamba
John Gamba is a serial entrepreneur and currently Director of Innovative Programs and Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. His first big break came when he co-founded the first school-to-home communications software that allowed administrators to record and send personalized voice messages to parents in a moment’s notice. His company was eventually sold to Blackboard and now generates over one hundred million dollars in profitable revenue.
After his exit, Gamba served as a Founding Director of The Gamba Family Foundation, which works every day to close the achievement gap in our country’s inner-city schools.
