As the popular music columnist for the Canadian Music Educators’ journal, I have collaborated with teachers, industry professionals, and community members across Canada to share their stories alongside research, practical strategies, and theoretical inquiries into classroom innovations in popular music education. Drawing on my dual role as an academic and elementary school teacher, I include my own experiences — such as organizing tours for grade 3 to 8 student bands performing in their favourite genres, integrating music technology, and exploring offstage roles including production, business, and social media. This session will share selected stories from these columns and invite participants into a lively networking exchange to spark new ideas for future features.