Last fall, we introduced the first cohort of Mirror Mentors—educators committed to building habits of reflection and feedback that support both teacher growth and student learning. Today, we’re excited to welcome six new mentors who are continuing that work and exploring how M2 and MirrorTalk can help create more thoughtful, responsive classrooms – critical in the age of AI.

I don’t really think growth is possible unless we are willing to reflect.

Tony Chancellor, Innovative Learning Specialist | Oklahoma City Public Schools

Tony supports PreK–12 teachers across a large urban district and brings a bold, student-centered philosophy to everything he does. “Education is the great equalizer,” he says, and he works to empower both students and educators to think critically, create boldly, and grow through reflection.

A long-time Swivl user and early adopter of MirrorTalk and M2, Tony integrates both tools into coaching and classroom support. “With MirrorTalk and M2, my reflections have become better and more intentional,” he shares. Whether he’s modeling a strategy in a sixth-grade class or facilitating a demo for teachers, Tony helps others experience how reflective tools can spark real growth.

As a Mirror Mentor, Tony continues to advocate for a feedback-reflection cycle as the foundation of powerful, evolving practice.

Reflection is often overlooked in traditional education…Yet it is one of the most powerful tools for growth.

Dr. Darcel Hogans, K–5 Media Specialist | Atlanta Public Schools

Darcel believes that “every student is a genius in their own way,” and she uses equity, exploration, and self-reflection to help students unlock their full potential. Inside her media center, she has created one of the calmest and most reflective spaces in her school.

Since being introduced to MirrorTalk in 2023, Darcel has used it to support students in emotional regulation, self-awareness, and critical thinking. “MirrorTalk has revolutionized how I support students,” she says. “It’s created a safe space for students to pause, reflect, and process their emotions before re-engaging in learning.”

One moment that stands out? A student used MirrorTalk to process anger and prepare for a class presentation—instead of shutting down, they regrouped and stepped forward with confidence. For Darcel, it was proof of the transformative power of reflection.

M2 quickly became more than just a coaching tool—it became a way to boost engagement, deepen learning, and drive continuous growth.

Meagan Stass MacDonald, Instructional Coach | Barrington Middle School Prairie Campus, IL

With 15 years of experience, Meagan coaches teachers across content areas and grade levels, helping them build meaningful, student-centered learning experiences. “Real learning happens when we take risks, make mistakes, and reflect on our experiences,” she says.

Meagan began using MirrorTalk in coaching cycles and saw how it encouraged deeper teacher reflection. When M2 entered the picture, it added new dimensions to the work. “M2 quickly became more than just a coaching tool—it became a way to boost engagement, deepen learning, and drive continuous growth.”

She recalls a lesson where M2 asked a real-time question that helped students connect learning to current events. “The room buzzed with energy as students shared their own examples,” she said. “M2 then gave feedback in a way that was supportive and encouraging, just like a teacher would.”

Now, Meagan is working to help educators make reflection a natural part of the classroom. “It’s not just something we do,” she says. “It’s how we grow.”

New ideas stick when students are given the chance to reflect on their learning. That’s why it must be a key part of every lesson.

Erika Inka, Instructional Coach | Barrington Middle School Prairie Campus, IL

In her 17th year in education and 10th year coaching, Erika partners with teachers to support instructional growth across disciplines. For her, reflection is embedded into every part of the process. “Learning happens when we take time to reflect on new ideas,” she says.

She uses MirrorTalk and M2 to slow down, think out loud, and push her thinking in new directions. “The questions and feedback I get through MirrorTalk and M2 really help me reflect more deeply,” she shares.

As more teachers at her school began using both tools, Erika saw a shift: students began reflecting more, and feedback became more personalized and immediate. “New ideas stick when students are given the chance to reflect on their learning,” she says. “That’s why reflection must be a key part of every lesson.”

As a Mirror Mentor, Erika is excited to collaborate with others, reignite the spark of reflection, and help schools make reflection an everyday habit.

When reflection becomes part of the culture, teachers feel safe to grow, share feedback, and refine their craft.

Chaz McGhee, 5th Grade Teacher | Baldwin County Schools, AL

Chaz brings intentionality and optimism to his classroom, grounding in five pillars: leadership, creativity, diversity, collaboration, and compassion. Since receiving M2, he’s fully integrated it into whole-group, small-group, and independent instruction—pairing it with MirrorTalk for end-of-day reflection. “It was a seamless integration,” he says. “Students loved the futuristic feel, and I could better support their individual needs in real time.”

One of Chaz’s key insights came when MirrorTalk helped him recognize how assumptions about student background knowledge were shaping his instruction. That moment sparked a shift in how he will deliver content and checks for understanding. He now models both tools for colleagues and advocates for a culture of reflection school-wide. “When reflection becomes part of the culture, teachers feel safe to grow, share feedback, and refine their craft,” he says.

As a Mirror Mentor, Chaz is helping others see how reflection and AI can sharpen pedagogy without the pressure of evaluation—and create classrooms where feedback feels supportive, not high-stakes.

We’re not here because M2 is just a cool tech tool—we’re here because we see its potential through a futurist lens.

Robert Mayfield, High School Teacher, TOSA, and College Instructor | Ripon High School / Teachers College of San Joaquin, CA

Robert teaches AP Human Geography and supports AI integration and professional development across his district, while also preparing preservice educators at TCSJ. His instructional model blends student-centered learning with emerging technologies. “My goal is to use technology not to replace teachers, but to elevate both teaching and learning.”

During the M2 Spring Tour, Robert immediately embedded the tool into his classroom—using it in station rotations, student discussions, and even teacher coaching. “M2 became a thinking partner—for me and my students.” From generating follow-up questions to enhancing engagement, M2 opened new pathways for real-time feedback and reflective learning.

Now piloting M2 in peer observation models and teacher prep programs, Robert sees this work as the foundation of a broader shift. “We’re not here because M2 is just a cool tech tool—we’re here because we see its potential through a futurist lens.”

Together, these educators remind us that reflection isn’t just something we do—it’s how powerful learning begins

From elementary libraries to AP classrooms, and from coaching cycles to college campuses, the Mirror Mentors are showing how feedback, intentionality, and AI can come together to build something powerful. They are not just adapting to the future of education, but actively shaping it.

We’re proud to learn alongside them, and even more excited to keep sharing their stories. Look for classroom snapshots, live events, and conversations from this group throughout the year as they inspire a broader educational community to realize this fundamental shift.

Meet the rest of the Mirror Mentors here

The post Spring Mirror Mentors cohort aims to scale impact of reflective technology appeared first on Swivl.

We’ve been working this year on helping more and more educators see reflection as a transformative act that drives deeper thinking, personal growth, and meaningful connections. It contributes directly to the development of the whole person, and for so long, it’s been dangling right in front of us, underutilized. We’re changing that. Now, MirrorTalk is thrilled to introduce the Mirror Mentors, a dedicated group of educators who champion reflection as the key to unlocking potential in classrooms and beyond. The Mentors not only integrate reflective practices into their own teaching, but also inspire others to do the same.

Here’s a closer look at the incredible leaders shaping this movement.

Dr. Susan Jinks

Dr. Susan Jinks brings a wealth of experience from teaching in five states and across all educational levels, from elementary to graduate school. As a middle and high school computer science teacher, she integrates technology into her classrooms to provide students with deeper learning opportunities. MirrorTalk AI has been transformative for Susan, enabling her students to pause, reflect, and recharge after lessons or activities. For Susan, structured reflection allows students to process their learning journey and identify their next steps. Her mission is to empower students and educators to embrace reflection as a moment of growth and self-awareness, supported by data insights that drive actionable outcomes.

Keith Piccard

With 24 years of experience as a biology professor, Keith Piccard is a champion of critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. Keith’s mission is to cultivate a scientist’s mindset, encouraging students to examine their learning process and make evidence-based connections. As the creator of the RAIL Project, Keith immerses students in real-world aquatic ecology research, providing them with hands-on experiences that solidify their understanding. Through reflection, Keith ensures students not only grasp scientific concepts but also gain ownership of their educational journey. His dedication to fostering a reflective classroom environment underscores his commitment to lifelong learning and excellence in science education.

Katie Schroder

Katie Schroder is an instructional coach and work-based learning instructor dedicated to empowering educators and students in her rural Iowa school district. With a background in secondary English and technology education, Katie focuses on personalizing professional development through reflective practices. Using MirrorTalk, she fosters authentic connections and growth among educators and students alike. Katie’s mission is to create supportive spaces for learning, where AI-driven reflection amplifies growth and inspires confidence. Her work is reshaping coaching cycles and mentoring programs, proving that thoughtful reflection can lead to transformative professional development.

Andrea Taylor

Andrea Taylor is the Alabama Technology in Motion Specialist for Region 6, leveraging her extensive experience as an instructional coach, library media specialist, and social studies teacher. Andrea believes that reflection is at the heart of learning, enabling educators and students to think critically about their growth and understanding. Her mission with MirrorTalk AI is to establish reflection as a consistent practice in classrooms, helping learners of all ages develop the habits needed for lifelong learning. Andrea’s dedication to structured reflection ensures that every student and educator can benefit from deeper thinking and meaningful self-assessment.

Megan Rozzana

Megan Rozzana has spent the past decade fostering a love of learning in elementary classrooms, using arts integration to make English Language Arts come alive. Now serving as an academic coach in northwest Arkansas, Megan supports K-6 teachers in enhancing instruction across all subject areas. Her mission is to cultivate lifelong learners by embedding reflection into the learning process, enabling students and educators to process new ideas, ask questions, and celebrate growth. With MirrorTalk AI, Megan provides a safe space for reflection, empowering learners to track their development and deepen their understanding in a meaningful way.

The Mirror Mentors are taking what we’ve built and redefining what it means to reflect in the classroom, inspiring educators and students to embrace the power of their own voice in developing stronger self-awareness and critical thinking. Together, they’re building a community where reflection is not just encouraged but celebrated as the foundation for growth and success.

Ready to help your school embark on its own reflective journey? Follow the lead of our incredible mentors and discover how MirrorTalk can transform your classroom, your teaching, and your students.

Interested in being a Mentor? Contact me at sara@swivl.com and let’s chat!

The post Introducing the Mirror Mentors: Champions of reflective practice & technology appeared first on Swivl.

M2 is an AI-powered device that helps teachers engage students better in class, deepen everyone’s thinking, and effortlessly enhance instruction with real-time feedback and automated insights. Its integrated MirrorTalk software automates reflection with customized prompts. Durable, mobile, and uniquely sized, M2 serves as an intelligent co-teacher in various educational spaces.

Your AI Teaching Companion

M2 is more than your average video tool. We leveraged our 12-year expertise in video observation by working with Swivl Robot users around the world to give teachers the best experience when recording themselves for observation and coaching. We built M2 to become your AI teaching companion and help you build skills while you teach by delivering on the spot feedback and strategies for keeping students engaged. For formal observation, M2 features a 180° camera with automated tracking, high-quality audio, and follows up each recording experience with a reflection to capture the teacher’s experience, while its still fresh on their minds.

Small group leader

M2 is also a multi-modal small group leader for classrooms, featuring built-in tools like Recharge, Whiteboard, Links, Timer, Recording, and step-by-step directions to keep students focused. Teachers simply set up M2 at a designated station and load an activity from the Library or create their own based on their lesson plan. After each activity, students reflect on their learning and receive instant feedback.

Reflection kiosk 

M2 prioritizes and measures metacognitive skill development. Its presence constantly offers immediate, personalized feedback for growth as learning happens. Educators gain key insights into participants’ thinking, including understanding, mindset, and challenge level, and actionable feedback to help their participants improve.

In this article, hear from real M2 users about the unique ways they are making the most of this intelligent co-teacher!

Student projects and presentations

M2 enhances projects and presentations by fostering peer collaboration without classroom chaos. Its built-in Workspace tools keep small groups focused, allowing teachers to assist students who need extra help. After completion, M2 prompts student reflection, provides instant feedback, and gives teachers automatic insights into the learning experience.

Hear from several different teachers on how they have transformed their classrooms into project-based learning centers with M2:

M2’s Workspaces are transforming our mathematics instruction. Students enthusiastically solve problems and reflect together, celebrating successes while thoughtfully addressing challenges. It’s remarkable to watch how this guided group work naturally cultivates growth mindsets and genuine excitement for learning.

Brittany Carpenter | Technology Instructor and RESA Coordinator

With M2 Workspaces, science teachers don’t have to keep repeating the same safety procedures and instructions for a lab, they are just built into every activity automatically. This kind of autonomous guidance truly helps teachers meet students where they are with minimal lift on their part.

Phyllis Balcerzak, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, University of Missouri – St. Louis, MO

We love how M2 offers the students many opportunities to practice. Even if a student doesn’t feel like their initial presentation went well or they didn’t master a concept, we can just structure a workspace to include a quick resource, like a video, to watch before they practice it again. And during the reflection, they still get a separate opportunity to explain what they really know about the concept.

Annette Lang | Instructional Coach, Bio-Med Science Academy Stem School, OH

Multi-modal learning for ELLs

M2 assists teachers in balancing ELL and native English speaker needs. It allows ELLs to access content in their native languages and reflect independently, while providing teachers feedback in English. Tools like whiteboard, timers, and group reflection foster digital collaboration, peer modeling, and language practice for all students.

M2 bridges crucial gaps for our newcomer students from El Salvador, recognizing their true academic capabilities while addressing language barriers. By enabling initial reflections in Spanish, then slowly transitioning to English, it builds confidence and creates pathways to their English acquisition, helping these students demonstrate their actual academic potential and integrating them into our classroom community.

Harley DeKeyzer | Librarian/Technology Coordinator, Albany Middle School, Livingston Parish, LA

PBIS that really supports

Transform tense moments into opportunities for growth with MirrorTalk on M2. Placing this powerful tool outside counselors’ or administrators’ offices works wonders for dysregulated students. It guides them through calming exercises and self-reflection, empowering them to process their emotions at their own pace and verbally reflect on their their experiences more productively. Watch as students shift from stressed to serene, ready to engage in constructive conversations. M2 isn’t just a device – it’s a game-changer for student well-being and conflict resolution.

M2 uniquely supports students from challenging home environments by providing a safe, structured space for conflict resolution. Through guided dialogue and calming exercises, it helps students who frequently experience behavioral issues develop essential communication skills and emotional regulation strategies before returning to class.

Rachel Tyson-Wiley | Teacher, City Of Chicago School District 299, IL

Amplify the power of instructional coaching

M2 is the ultimate ally for instructional coaches—because it’s every teacher’s ally too. This powerful tool streamlines teacher development, providing real-time feedback from pre-observation prep to post-lesson reflection. It captures every teachable moment, delivering instant insights and end-of-class summaries that help teachers understand and refine their practice.

With M2, teachers can reflect out loud, deepening their learning, while coaches gain invaluable insights into mindset, tone, and cognitive bias. Skip the recall—jump straight into meaningful, targeted discussions with every teacher that drive real growth.

M2 has completely changed how teachers engage with feedback. The moment they receive a meta-analysis with different strategies, they’re instantly thinking, ‘I can try that!’ The ‘Team Learning Summary’—our coaching strategy—has been a game-changer. Every time teachers see it, they get excited to implement new ideas. It’s not just improving their practice; it’s making them more receptive and fully bought into our coaching cycles.

Meagan Stass-Macdonald | Instructional Coach, Barrington School District 220, IL

Actually measure PD’s impact

Empower everyone with M2! Watch as it transforms post-PD moments into goldmines of insight. Teachers pour out their thoughts at the door, while facilitators instantly gauge their impact. It’s a win-win: educators feel valued, and PD becomes razor-sharp. With M2, every reflection sparks growth, turning feedback into fuel for educational excellence. Get ready to revolutionize professional development – one M2 at a time.

M2 has been an invaluable resource for our PD program: it’s a comprehensive coaching platform, facilitating anonymous PLC feedback, structured support cycles, and data-driven professional development planning.

Amarius Reed | Elementary Math Coordinator, Atlanta Public Schools, GA

Involve the whole community

Unleash M2’s magic at your next school event! From art shows to open houses, M2 captures honest feedback from parents and community members in a private, judgment-free zone and turns them into active participants. Watch as stakeholders dive deep into school initiatives, sharing thoughts that truly matter. Get ready for a avalanche of insights that’ll supercharge your community relationships. With M2, every event becomes a launchpad for meaningful connection and school improvement. Don’t just host events – ignite engagement!

The problem with feedback tools we’ve used in the past is that there is no accountability for the parent (usually a form we send digitally afterward) and then it takes a while for us to sift through the data and publish what we find. M2 is quick, painless, and enjoyable for parents and lets us instantly collect and disseminate the data we gather.

James Wilborn | Elementary Educational Technology Specialist, Atlanta Public Schools, GA

M2 is the intelligent co-teacher that helps teachers engage students better in class, deepen everyone’s thinking, and effortlessly enhance instruction with real-time feedback and automated insights. With all these ways (and more!) it could support your school, isn’t it time to let M2 do the heavy lifting? 

Watch me do even more tricks!

Schedule a live demo to learn more!

The post M2 is the intelligent co-teacher to help you reflect, instruct, and grow appeared first on Swivl.