Podcasts about naep

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Amy Jacobs, The Nature Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Director, about Wetland Restoration, Agricultural Water Quality, and Chesapeake Bay Conservation.  Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes:1:40 - Our favorite Airbnb experiences6:10 - Interview with Amy Jacobs Starts!12:39 - Jacobs Conservation Efforts20:02 - Approaches to the Watershed26:32 - Jacobs paddle boarding hobbyPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Amy Jacobs at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-jacobs-a945041a7/Guest Bio:Amy brings over 30 years of experience in conservation, dedicating her career to making a significant impact in the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding landscapes. She began her journey with The Nature Conservancy, assessing the condition of wetlands in the Nanticoke Watershed. Amy then took a position with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, where she built a Wetland Assessment and Monitoring Program. In 2012, she returned to The Nature Conservancy for the mission and to advance restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. Amy has a proven track record of leading large-scale conservation programs, securing funding, and fostering impactful partnerships. From working to restore over 3,500 acres of floodplains along the Pocomoke River to working with private agribusiness to establish the MidAtlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association that has advanced over 150,000 acres of improved farmland management in the Chesapeake region, she is passionate about driving impact on the ground. Amy holds a bachelor's degree in forestry and wildlife from Virginia Tech and a master's degree in Environmental Forest Biology from the State University of New York and Syracuse University.In her free time Amy enjoys traveling with her family, standup paddleboarding, yoga, raising funds for local food pantries, and being a groupie to her husband's band.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Lee Clauss, Southern California Project Manager with The Trust for Public Land and Principal Consultant at LSC Consulting, specializing in Indigenous land stewardship, sovereignty, and cultural resource management. Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-formShowtimes: 1:31 - Nic's New Job!7:13 - Interview with Lee Clauss Starts22:37 - What needs to Change?33:03 - What is the Process of Giving Land Back?40:36- #Fieldnotes with Lee!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Lee Clauss at Lee Clauss | LinkedIn Guest Bio: Lee Clauss currently serves as a Project Manager on the Trust for Public Land'sCalifornia Land Protection team.  She is an applied anthropologist/archaeologist andadvocate for Native American communities' sovereignty. She has 25 years ofexperience in historic preservation and environmental law, regulatory compliance andpublic policy analysis. Her background includes Indigenous lands and culturalstewardship, curation, and community-based planning and research. Clauss regularlyprovides training on land return pathways, repatriation, Indigenous science, Tribalconsultation, environmental justice, and data sovereignty.  Prior to her time at TPL, Leeworked for and with multiple Tribal governments in Arizona, North Carolina, andCalifornia.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Sarah Newman, Founder and Executive Director of the Climate Mental Health Network about Climate Anxiety, Resilience, and Community Support.   Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:30 - Environmental Challenges 8:15 - Interview with Sarah Newman Starts12:30 - How do we help25:19 - Connecting to the Climate movement 30:16 - Living on a Sailboat!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Sarah Newman at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarnew/Guest Bio: Sarah Newman is the founder and executive director of Climate Mental Health Network, addressing the mental health consequences of climate change. The organization is the largest in this emerging sector, reaching young people, parents and educators with research-informed programs and resources. In 2025 she was named a Grist 50 Fixer. She previously worked in the media impact sector and at nonprofits as an outreach director and community organizer.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! We have a new minisode for you today! This is taking place instead of our regularly scheduled episode on Friday this week. Thank you so much for listening!Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

What does it really take to change reading outcomes at scale?In this episode of Literacy Talks, Donell Pons, Stacy Hurst, and Lindsay Kemeny kick off a new conversation focused on changemakers in literacy. Together, they unpack commonly cited literacy data—especially NAEP scores—and explore what those numbers do (and don't) tell us about reading achievement in the U.S.The discussion moves beyond test scores to examine systems change: leadership, shared language, collaboration across classrooms and institutions, and the growing role of innovation and technology. From teacher leaders and researchers to curriculum developers and parent advocates, this episode highlights the many roles changemakers play in moving literacy work forward—and why lasting change requires collective impact, not quick fixes.Literacy Talks Episode 110 Show NotesTopics CoveredWhat NAEP data does (and does not) tell us about reading proficiencyWhy systemic change is harder—and more important—than isolated successMississippi's literacy efforts and what we can learn from themAI and technology as tools, supports, and potential risks in literacy instructionThe importance of shared language, collaboration, and leadershipTeachers, parents, researchers, and curriculum providers as change makersScaling impact through conferences, professional communities, and partnershipsResources & References MentionedBooksFrontiers in Social InnovationThe Journey of Collective Impact (John Kania, Mark Kramer, & colleagues)Assessments & DataNational Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)Organizations & InitiativesProject Read AIThe Reading LeagueCenter for Literacy & Learning – Plain Talk ConferenceBig Sky Literacy SummitTransformative Reading Teacher GroupResearch & Thought LeadershipReid Lyon's work on literacy, systems change, and shared languageLiteracy Instruction & ResearchReading Horizons

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Jeremy Raguain, Seychellois conservationist, Italy-AOSIS Fellowship Director, and owner of Out of the Shell Solutions Seychelles about Protecting the High Seas, Teaching the Next Generation of Leaders, and Growing Up Where Conservation is Everyday Life.  Read his full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:26 - Island Living6:02 - Interview with Jeremy Raguain begins13:55 - Italy-AOSIS Fellowship26:13 - What makes a good fellow30:41 - #Fieldnotes with Jeremy!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Jeremy Raguain at linkedin.com/in/jeremy-raguain-a0b8b1bbGuest Bio:Jeremy Raguain is a Seychellois conservationist working with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) as the Director of the Italy-AOSIS Fellowship. In addition to being an alumnus of this fellowship (2022) he is also an alumnus of Columbia University's Masters of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (2024), which builds on a Bachelor of Social Science in International Relations (Honours) and Environmental Geographical Sciences from the University of Cape Town. Before rejoining AOSIS, Jeremy worked as a Senior Programme Officer for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at its Eastern and Southern African Regional Office, supporting 11 African states in ratifying and implementing the BBNJ Agreement, a subject matter on which he publishes peer-reviewed research. Jeremy has served as the Climate Change and Ocean Advisor for the Seychelles Permanent Mission to the UN, coordinated projects and communications, as well as contributed to Seychelles' national environmental policy through several positions at the Seychelles Islands Foundation and is the Owner of Out of the Shell Solutions Seychelles, a consultancy providing services related to environmental policy, communications and project Management.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

“This is a book about my life, about admitting ‘I was wrong,' and about how important it is to say it out loud,” is how our guest today, Diane Ravitch, begins her 2025 memoir, An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else.What follows is her incredible life's journey spanning nearly nine decades, from learning to write as a left-hander using a quill pen at her Texas public school to becoming one of the most influential leaders of the modern conservative American education reform movement. Having spent the first half of her professional life in education policy advocating for national standards, testing, and accountability reform alongside charter schools and so-called school choice programs; as a founder of Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Assistant Secretary of Education during the George HW Bush administration, and serving on the board of the National Assessment for Educational Progress or NAEP (the “gold standard” of achievement assessments), however, as the opening quote reveals, after seeing this vision of education reform in action, she very publicly changed her mind about all of it.‍Diane has now spent the last 15 years vigorously challenging the same education reform movement she helped build. Co-founding the Network for Public Education, and writing several best-selling books critical of testing, corporate influence in education policy, and privatization. “We must have a more generous, contemporary vision of public schools and what they can be,” she writes. “I will use whatever time I have to fight for the ideals I believe in, to love the people who mean the most to me, to do whatever I can to strengthen democracy in my beloved country, and to advance the common good.”An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else (Columbia University Press)

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Sunny Fleming, Esri's Director of Conservation about Making Conservation Tools Accessible, Using Data Responsibility in Conservation, and a New Chapter for Conservation Leadership.  Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: Time - NAEP Member ShoutoutsTime - Nic and Laura dive into marketing yourselfTime - Interview startsTime - Time - Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review.  This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Sunny Fleming at https://www.linkedin.com/in/littlemissesri/Guest Bio:Sunny Fleming serves as the Director of Conservation Solutions at Esri. Her career has been shaped by a consistent theme of applying GIS to solve real‑world challenges across conservation, environmental regulation, and parks and recreation management. From monitoring species and natural resources in the field to supporting agencies in policy development, asset management, and strategy, GIS has been central to her work at every stage. She has a passion for uniting these interconnected disciplines and advancing their role in conservation efforts around the world, and she is committed to building a global community of GIS practitioners who collaborate, innovate, and support conservation through shared expertise and geospatial insight.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Gina Hinojosa, a Texas state representative and Democratic candidate for governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss how the school choice debate has created unexpected opportunities for Democrats in traditionally red states. Hinojosa, who entered politics through school board advocacy to save her son's school, argues that corruption—not ideology—is the biggest driver of Texas politics. She accuses Governor Greg Abbott of holding school funding hostage to push through a voucher program, forcing closures across the state while Texas ranks in the bottom three nationally for education funding. Hinojosa contends that vouchers lack transparency and accountability, and notes that even Trump-voting Texas women have joined the fight against them. She criticizes charter schools for cherry-picking students while taking public resources, and highlights how special education funding has been systematically cut, leaving expensive and crucial services unmet. Beyond education, Hinojosa paints a broader picture of dysfunction in Texas, claiming Abbott has awarded $1 billion in no-bid contracts to donors—what she calls the "Greg Abbott corruption tax"—and pointing to failures in the state's deregulated electric grid, border policy, and treatment of vulnerable communities. She argues that Texas operates as a three-party state, with two Republican wings and Democrats, and describes how Abbott used millions to primary moderate "Bush Republicans," successfully defeating nine incumbents who wouldn't toe the line. While acknowledging challenges like the border security issue that flipped the Rio Grande Valley toward Trump and ICE enforcement she describes as "terrorizing communities," Hinojosa sees opportunities in growing business community frustration over tariffs and deportations. She emphasizes that despite Texas's economic power and population growth—which will add 4-5 congressional districts—ordinary Texans aren't benefiting, with small business owners earning less than the national average and electric bills skyrocketing due to data center demand and grid mismanagement. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Gina Hinojosa joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 School choice issue has opened the door for Dems in red states 02:30 Gina’s background in education & school board politics 04:00 Ran for school board to save her son’s school 04:30 Greg Abbott is reallocating money, forcing school closures 05:15 Corruption is biggest driver of politics in Texas 06:00 Consultants & vendors use part time legislators to make money 06:45 Schools closing all over Texas due to budget cuts & vouchers 08:00 Abbott held school funding hostage trying to pass voucher program 08:30 Texas is bottom 3 in the country for school funding 10:00 Texas women who voted Trump joined fight against vouchers 11:15 Vouchers have no transparency or accountability 12:30 The school funding model hasn’t changed since industrial age 13:45 Do you support Texas’s “recapture” funding model? 15:00 The recaptured money is being wasted 16:30 Student testing and NAEP scores are decreasing overall 17:45 Teachers deserve to be treated and paid like professional 18:30 Special needs students can attend private school funded by state 19:30 Special education is very expensive & requests go unmet 20:45 State cut corners to avoid paying for special ed students 22:15 Charter schools take public resources but not all kids 23:15 Charter schools deny admission to kids with disciplinary records 24:45 Education paid for by Texas property taxes which have skyrocketed 25:15 Texans pay the “Greg Abbott corruption tax” 26:00 Abbott has given $1 billion dollars in no-bid contracts to donors 27:45 The corruption issue is ripe but the electorate is cynical on both sides 29:15 Abbott’s corruption is the #1 talking point in the Republican primary 30:30 Gas companies let Texans freeze until prices spiked high enough 32:30 Border security issue led to Rio Grande valley voting for Trump 34:00 Biden was able to fix border issues, just took too long to do it 34:30 Deportations flipped political sentiment in Rio Grande valley 36:00 ICE is terrorizing communities 36:45 Masked law enforcement should be illegal 37:45 Texas is a three party state: Two GOP wings & Democrats 38:30 How can you grow the Democratic party in Texas? 39:45 The “Bush Republicans” in TX can’t vote their districts or conscience 40:15 Abbott used millions to primary Bush Republicans & 9 lost their race 41:30 Is the GOP nationalizing the race your biggest challenge? 42:30 Texas will gain 4-5 congressional districts due to growth 44:45 The business community in TX is mad at tariffs & deportations 45:30 People of Texas aren’t benefiting from their economic power 47:15 Small business owners make less than average nationally 47:45 Texas’s electric grid is a ticking time bomb 48:15 Deregulation & corruption have exacerbated issues with grid 49:00 Electric bills skyrocketing due to data centers 50:30 Thoughts on nuclear to address energy problems? 52:00 Favorite food on the campaign trail?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck delivers a blunt warning about how Donald Trump’s erratic, ahistorical tariff strategy is pushing the United States toward a self-inflicted crisis—one that could even stumble into war. With none of the usual political penalties applying to Trump, elected Republicans have opted for fearful silence, becoming complicit as tariffs punish American taxpayers and U.S. credibility abroad rapidly erodes. Americans, worn down by “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” and the lack of consequences after January 6th, are watching as the last real guardrail—the economy—buckles under market turmoil, while Congress and the Supreme Court delay or abdicate their responsibility to act. The episode underscores the extraordinary global fallout: Canada openly questioning whether it can rely on the U.S., wargaming invasion scenarios, pursuing “strategic autonomy,” and calling for new middle-power alliances even as it reaffirms commitment to NATO. As isolationism spreads and the rules-based order America once led begins to fracture, Chuck argues that only a congressional reckoning—or a midterm revolt—can halt the damage and preserve the country’s democratic institutions. Gina Hinojosa, a Texas state representative and Democratic candidate for governor, joins Chuck to discuss how the school choice debate has created unexpected opportunities for Democrats in traditionally red states. Hinojosa, who entered politics through school board advocacy to save her son's school, argues that corruption—not ideology—is the biggest driver of Texas politics. She accuses Governor Greg Abbott of holding school funding hostage to push through a voucher program, forcing closures across the state while Texas ranks in the bottom three nationally for education funding. Hinojosa contends that vouchers lack transparency and accountability, and notes that even Trump-voting Texas women have joined the fight against them. She criticizes charter schools for cherry-picking students while taking public resources, and highlights how special education funding has been systematically cut, leaving expensive and crucial services unmet. Beyond education, Hinojosa paints a broader picture of dysfunction in Texas, claiming Abbott has awarded $1 billion in no-bid contracts to donors—what she calls the "Greg Abbott corruption tax"—and pointing to failures in the state's deregulated electric grid, border policy, and treatment of vulnerable communities. She argues that Texas operates as a three-party state, with two Republican wings and Democrats, and describes how Abbott used millions to primary moderate "Bush Republicans," successfully defeating nine incumbents who wouldn't toe the line. While acknowledging challenges like the border security issue that flipped the Rio Grande Valley toward Trump and ICE enforcement she describes as "terrorizing communities," Hinojosa sees opportunities in growing business community frustration over tariffs and deportations. She emphasizes that despite Texas's economic power and population growth—which will add 4-5 congressional districts—ordinary Texans aren't benefiting, with small business owners earning less than the national average and electric bills skyrocketing due to data center demand and grid mismanagement. Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 senate seats Democrats are most likely to flip in the midterms, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps his experience at the college football national championship game… and the insane prices being charged to attend. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 Trump is potentially stumbling into a war over tariffs 07:00 Trump’s strategy is erratic & detached from historical norms 07:45 None of the usual political penalties apply to Trump 08:15 Canada is preparing & worrying that U.S. could invade 08:45 Trump’s tariffs punish the American taxpayer 09:30 Elected Republicans are afraid of voicing dissent 10:45 Republicans choose silence & makes them complicit 12:00 Americans are numb, suffering from “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” 13:00 Lack of consequences for January 6th emboldened Trump 14:45 Trump has weakened American credibility abroad 16:00 There’s little check left in the GOP to prevent damage 16:30 The only guardrail left is the economy and markets, which crated 18:15 Isolationism is terrible politics and terrible for the country 19:15 Congress is the only institution that can stop Trump & is abdicating 20:15 SCOTUS delays ruling on tariffs, making them hard to unwind 21:15 It’s possible the midterms become a revolt & sober up the GOP 21:45 Trump is affected by the “political YOLO virus” 22:30 Mitch McConnell could have changed the course of history, and didn’t 23:30 Trump has made America most vulnerable & isolated in decades 25:00 Canadian PM gives Davos speech pleading with Americans 26:00 When America chooses isolationism, so will everyone else 27:00 Canada has shifted toward “strategic autonomy” 28:15 Carney is saying Canada can’t rely on the United States 29:00 Canada is wargaming for an invasion from the south 29:45 Canada proposes a middle power trading bloc 31:15 Carney says Canada stands committed to NATO’s Article 5 31:45 Canada looking for new partners to confront an aggressive U.S. 32:30 America has thrived atop the rules based order, and is risking everything 34:45 25th Amendment intended for true incapacitation 35:30 Congress has to do its job to preserve the America we love 42:45 Gina Hinojosa joins the Chuck ToddCast 43:45 School choice issue has opened the door for Dems in red states 45:15 Gina’s background in education & school board politics 46:45 Ran for school board to save her son’s school 47:15 Greg Abbott is reallocating money, forcing school closures 48:00 Corruption is biggest driver of politics in Texas 48:45 Consultants & vendors use part time legislators to make money 49:30 Schools closing all over Texas due to budget cuts & vouchers 50:45 Abbott held school funding hostage trying to pass voucher program 51:15 Texas is bottom 3 in the country for school funding 52:45 Texas women who voted Trump joined fight against vouchers 54:00 Vouchers have no transparency or accountability 55:15 The school funding model hasn’t changed since industrial age 56:30 Do you support Texas’s “recapture” funding model? 57:45 The recaptured money is being wasted 59:15 Student testing and NAEP scores are decreasing overall 1:00:30 Teachers deserve to be treated and paid like professional 1:01:15 Special needs students can attend private school funded by state 1:02:15 Special education is very expensive & requests go unmet 1:03:30 State cut corners to avoid paying for special ed students 1:05:00 Charter schools take public resources but not all kids 1:06:00 Charter schools deny admission to kids with disciplinary records 1:07:30 Education paid for by Texas property taxes which have skyrocketed 1:08:00 Texans pay the “Greg Abbott corruption tax” 1:08:45 Abbott has given $1 billion dollars in no-bid contracts to donors 1:10:30 The corruption issue is ripe but the electorate is cynical on both sides 1:12:00 Abbott’s corruption is the #1 talking point in the Republican primary 1:13:15 Gas companies let Texans freeze until prices spiked high enough 1:15:15 Border security issue led to Rio Grande valley voting for Trump 1:16:45 Biden was able to fix border issues, just took too long to do it 1:17:15 Deportations flipped political sentiment in Rio Grande valley 1:18:45 ICE is terrorizing communities 1:19:30 Masked law enforcement should be illegal 1:20:30 Texas is a three party state: Two GOP wings & Democrats 1:21:15 How can you grow the Democratic party in Texas? 1:22:30 The “Bush Republicans” in TX can’t vote their districts or conscience 1:23:00 Abbott used millions to primary Bush Republicans & 9 lost their race 1:24:15 Is the GOP nationalizing the race your biggest challenge? 1:25:15 Texas will gain 4-5 congressional districts due to growth 1:27:30 The business community in TX is mad at tariffs & deportations 1:28:15 People of Texas aren’t benefiting from their economic power 1:30:00 Small business owners make less than average nationally 1:30:30 Texas’s electric grid is a ticking time bomb 1:31:00 Deregulation & corruption have exacerbated issues with grid 1:31:45 Electric bills skyrocketing due to data centers 1:33:15 Thoughts on nuclear energy to address energy problems? 1:34:45 Favorite food on the campaign trail? 1:37:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Gina Hinojosa 1:39:00 ToddCast Top 5 seats Democrats can win & flip senate 1:41:45 #1 North Carolina & #2 Maine 1:45:30 #3 Michigan 1:48:45 #4 Ohio 1:50:15 #5 Alaska 1:53:30 Ask Chuck 1:54:15 Which presidency would be more dangerous… Trump or Vance? 1:58:30 If most Americans are center left or right, why can’t we elect centrists? 2:03:15 Would military action against a treaty ally be considered an illegal order? 2:06:45 How should the country resolve insider trading on the prediction markets? 2:08:15 Reaction to Indiana winning National Championship over Miami 2:18:30 The prices at the National Championship were highway robberySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Lauren Watkins, environmental psychologist, working at the intersection of people and environmental challenges about Using Psychology to Solve Environmental Problems, Working Directly with Communities, and Managing Conflict and Tough Conversation.   Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:55 - EPR is hiring!5:15 - EPRs New Yearly Goals9:14 - Interview with Lauren Watkins Starts19:15 - Opportunities outside Academia26:12 - Behavior Change CampaignPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Lauren Watkins at https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenwatkins/Guest Bio: Currently supporting organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute, Keeping Forests, Ecochallenge.org, and the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, Lauren Watkins brings over a decade of experience in environmental psychology and social science research to inspire sustainable behavior change. As Principal Owner of her consultancy, Lauren specializes in co-creating solutions alongside communities, employing empathetic research methods, and crafting tailored communication and change strategies with communities and target audiences - not simply for them. Her work emphasizes ethical and sustainable approaches to addressing environmental challenges, ensuring that initiatives resonate deeply with stakeholders. Passionate about fostering impactful change, Lauren focuses on bridging the gap between people and natural ecosystems to find solutions that match the scale of today's problems.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Heidi Pan, Founder of the 1.5 Degrees Podcast about Starting a Podcast at 16, Career Advice for Gen Z, and Junk Journaling.   Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 4:06 - Let Them Theory11:45 - Interview with Heidi Pan begins18:50 - Who are you speaking to?27:30 - Mental Health & Youths32:58 - #FieldNotes with Heidi Pan!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Heidi Pan https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-pan-037257219/Guest Bio: At 16, to bridge the gap between aspiring environmentalists and established professionals Heidi Pan founded the 1.5 Degrees Podcast showcasing climate careers and involving the science, solutions, and stories in the fight against climate change. Her accessible intergenerational and intersectional climate conversations have since been featured by BBC Future Earth and the Smithsonian. In her free time she's teaching herself acoustic guitar, taking photos of birds, and junk journaling.  Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

2025 Theme: “Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we have explored stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. In our last show for 2025 we recap the year with our most inspiring episodes and introduce the theme for 2026. Throughout 2025 we have stimulating discussions between Anita, Mavis, and Gail. We have also had an awe-inspiring group of guests, handpicked to reflect the theme of community engagement and the grassroots of change. We honor our guests and the works they have done and continue to do in the name of transformation, empowerment, engagement across the multiple sectors of our society.Is It Possible to Build Trust in Community-Police Relations? Conversation with Shadae McDaniel Senior Vice President/Programs and Strategic Initiatives/Director, All Stars Project (ASP) of New Jersey.  Beginning in February we hosted an in-depth exploration of the All Stars-Project and its signature program "Operation Conversation Cops and Kids." Among many accolades, Shadae was ranked among the ROI-NJ “2023 Influencers: People of Color." NJUrbanNews.com Article: “Shadae McDaniel Builds Bridges, Provides Opportunities for Youth Through the Power of Performance.” Founded in 1981, All Stars Project (ASP) is a 501(c)3 national nonprofit that uses a performance-based approach to help tens of thousands of inner-city youths and their families create success in their lives. Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids (OCCK) is an innovative police–community relations model program run by ASP in partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Newark Police Division (NPD). This award-winning program uses performance, improvisation, and conversation to help inner-city teenagers and police officers build trust and improve their relationship.Until We Are All Free Movement, a human rights organization led by formerly incarcerated criminal justice experts. In March our case study focused on the Until We Are All Free Movement with guest Kevin Reese, Co-Founder/Co-Executive Director of UWAAF and Co-Founder/CEO of Until We Are All Free Consulting Group.Question: God, what is it that you're working on in my life? What do you do when the answer is build a bridge of people and be a bridge through and with people? Kevin is the answer. Kevin grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He spent 14 years incarcerated inside of the criminal justice system. During that time, he founded the BRIDGE, a grassroots group of directly impacted criminal justice experts whose mission is to abolish mass incarceration and to find a path to true transformative criminal justice. Kevin says,“My idea was to create a program that builds a bridge between people like me, mostly men in prison but women, too, and the community. That bridge and this work is actually revolutionary. Because I'm not supposed to be able to make a connection to people on the outside. Prison is all about preventing that. But the BRIDGE partnership we've been working on gives light to an entire caste of people who are incarcerated.”Youth Empowerment Services, of Pittsburgh PA: “Ahead of its time and punching above its weight, Youth Enrichment Services (YES) formed in 1994...The heart of YES is a spirit of mentorship...By leveraging their unique skills and abilities and centering their voices, YES has created a formula for success that influences community growth, economic prosperity, and student-driven leadership." In our case study of the YES organization we invited Denise Jones, Educational Consultant at Youth Enrichment Services into the studio. Denise Jones is the daughter of two passion-driven educators. She attended Allegheny College, majored in Economics and minored in Black Studies. Later Denise applied for Teach for America and came to understand the joys and limitations of teaching, particularly in bureaucratic systems. Eventually she agreed to work at her father's community-based non-profit organization, Youth Enrichment Services (YES), to help young people become their own best resource. She is now pursuing a PhD in education and psychology from the University of Michigan.Ujamaa Collective, Pittsburgh PA: A Unique Cultural Enriching Experience! Ujamaa Collective is a 501(c)3 non-profit artisan boutique. We (Anita is a member!) serve Africana women providing cultural, artistic, and entrepreneurial exchange in the historic Hill District of Pittsburgh. Our passion for cooperatives is rooted in our values of Fair Trade, meaningful work, creativity, community, and wellness. Two  Sisters from the Ujamaa Collective shared their wisdom, community engagement practice, and the cooperation with our audiences — Lakeisha Wolf, Executive Director, and Alana Griffin, Ambassador. LaKeisha is a cultural worker, creative entrepreneur, and teaching artist with an emphasis on identity, racial justice, community connection, and whole-body wellness. She is a founding member of the Ujamaa Collective and has served as Executive Director since 2013. Alana lives out the organization's mission to empower Africana women through cooperative economics, cultural expression, and community healing. Economic Sovereignty in Burkina Faso: From Thomas Sankara to Ibrahim Traoré | Guest: Leontine Osuagwu. In this episode we dig into the role of sovereign psyche in leadership, particularly in the African nation of Burkina Faso under the past leadership of Thomas Sankara (1949-1987) and current leader, President Ibrahim Traoré.  The home country of our guest, Leontine Osuagwu, is Burkina Faso. With over 20 years of leadership experience across corporate, nonprofit, for-profit sectors, she helps leaders cultivate the mindset, strategy, and emotional intelligence to lead with excellence in creating sustainable impact. She's brings honor and soulful insight into the events unfolding in her home country.Mental Health, NAEP and Coach Bradley: A Unique Blend of Mentorship, Empathy, and Strategic Insight In His Work as a Transitional Life Coach. Coach Bradley specializes in guiding adolescents through the transition from high school to adulthood while also supporting adults navigating career changes and life pivots. Ed integrates emotional intelligence, active listening, and values-based goal setting to create a safe, supportive coaching environment. Whether preparing students for life's next step or helping adults embrace new opportunities, Ed equips people to create lasting, meaningful change. In a second episode featuring Coach Bradley he provided an understanding of NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress), explaining its purpose and how it differs from state tests, and the role it plays in systemic racism, accountability, and test-based reforms in education.Case Study ShiftWorks Community+Public Works | Guest: Sallyanne Kluz, Executive Director. Sallyann Kluz is a Pittsburgh-based arts administrator, architect, and urban designer whose practice is situated at the intersection of art and community development. Her practice includes public art programs and strategies, community engagement, design education, public space design, and neighborhood development strategies. In her leadership role, Sallyann is focused on providing technical assistance to artists and clients, and expanding the role of artists in community development, civic design, and community engagement.Why Community and Public Arts? Sally led us into a meaningful discussion pondering this question. The short answer is this: "Shiftworks Community+Public Arts envisions a region in which the creative practices of artists are fully engaged to collaboratively shape the public realm and catalyze community-led change." The work is designed to expand the range of possibilities for artists to engage communities. We applaud our guests who have made this year meaningful, insightful, and engaging!

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! We have a new minisode for you today! This is taking place instead of our regularly scheduled episode on Friday this week. Thank you so much for listening!Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Teresa Martinez, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition about Leadership Rooted in the Ground, Community-Led Conservation, and Connection Across Landscape and People.   Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 2:35 - Hiking the Appalachian Trail10:36 - Interview with Teresa Martinez Starts!19:03 - Personal Goals in the Workplace27:45 - Challenges of Community Input42:49 - #FieldNotes with TeresaPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Guest Bio: Teresa Martinez is a co-founder and the Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, the lead national and lead partner working with the USFS, BLM, National Park Service, State Agencies, Indigenous Communities and Tribal Nations to cooperatively steward the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. For over 30 years, Teresa has worked professionally to increase awareness, engagement, access, and stewardship of our entire National Trails System. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Teresa holds a B.S. and M.S from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in the College of Natural Resources. From 1987- 2007 she worked for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, from 2007 to 2012 she worked for the Continental Divide Trail Alliance and since 2012 she has been the Executive Director (and co-founder) of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. Formerly a Board member, today she serves on the Trail Leadership Council of the Partnership for the National Trails System and has served as the Chair of the Federal Advisory Committee to aid the USFS in the development of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Teresa also serves on the Board of Directors for Leave No Trace and has also served on the advisory committee for the Salazar Center for North American Conservation. Teresa is actively involved in the creation of equitable spaces for all people in the outdoors and in 2015, was part of the inaugural group of conservation leaders assembling in Washington DC to launch a new vision for the next 100 years of stewardship of our nation's parks, forests, waters, oceans, and trails which led to the formation of the Next 100 Coalition and the Next 100 Coalition Colorado. Today, Teresa serves as the Chair of the National Board for the Next 100 Coalition. In 2019, Teresa was honored by the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources as the recipient of the Gerald Cross Alumni Leadership Award. When not working one of these heart driven endeavors, Teresa can be found perfecting her sourdough and puff pastry bakes, or spending her time exploring the mountains, mesas and arroyos of the landscapes around her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her rescue dog Riley and hosting discadas with friends while watching the sunrise and sunset over the beautiful terrain of the Land of EncSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem called, "The Gods of the Copybook Headings."  It's all about propaganda.  Most of what we hear about our so-called education system is exactly that.  We are all told that we have to continue to pay high property taxes to pay for "our high quality education system."  That's what Grady Hutcherson from the WEA called it.  But is it really?  Do our test scores really justify the hundreds of millions that we throw at Wyoming education? The short answer is not even close.  But you don't understand the reality of it until you look at the national NAEP scores as Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder told the Appropriations Committee to do. If we aren't paying to educate our students, what are we paying for exactly?  I reality of where we are at will shock you.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, Associate Professor in the Environmental Justice Specialization at the University of Michigan about Forced Job Transition, Career Reinvention, and Purpose Under Pressure.  Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 2:12 - Learning a New Job8:37 - Interview with Jalonne White-Newsome Starts16:37 - Key factors to continue moving forward31:34 - How to engage communities in today political climate42:11 - #Fieldnotes with Dr. White-Newsome!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjalonne/Guest Bio: Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome is an Associate Professor in the Environmental Justice Specialization.  Building on her multi-faceted, multi-sectoral and diverse areas of passion, practice, service and scholarship, Dr. White-Newsome's areas of research include: environmental and climate justice policy and practice; finding solutions to address the social, economic and public health impacts of climate change – specifically, extreme heat, extreme flooding, and specific health impacts on the elderly and children; examining how to integrate justice, equity and corporate social responsibility; and advancing justice-centered leadership across the environmental sector.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Carissa Cabrera, Founder of Futureswell an ocean conservation consultancy scaling solutions for planet ocean about Media-Powered Advocacy, Persistent Policy Leadership, and Place-Based Inspiration.   Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 2:02 - Carbon Footprints of Travlers8:55 - Interview with Carissa Cabrera begin21:40 - Something I learned as an Advocate29:35 - What kind of stories do you share?41:45 - Carissas Hobbies; Bookclub!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Carissa Cabrera https://www.linkedin.com/in/carissa-cabrera-b14a6a13a/Guest Bio: Carissa Cabrera is an ocean climate advocate, Harvard-recognized content creator, and has dedicated her career to conserving planet ocean. For the past 10 years, she has focused on ocean recovery efforts—working with endangered species, ecosystem restoration, conservation financing, community outreach, and environmental literacy. She founded Futureswell in 2020, a conservation consultancy and storytelling firm dedicated to advancing community-based ocean climate solutions through partnerships with NGOs, coalitions, and accessible media. Specifically, she works on the development strategy of innovative ocean climate solutions that serve Hawai'i and the broader ocean community. For example, she developed the first coral restoration training program in the Pacific specifically dedicated to training Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders on diving restoration, and recently was the long-standing community organizer for passing the first visitor green fee legislation in the United States. She has been recognized as Ocean Influencer of the Year by Coral Reef Alliance, is an established educator under National Geographic Society, and was one of the inaugural Climate Creators to Watch by Harvard. Carissa's work, company, and media projects share one mission: to expand pathways for ocean climate action and accelerate collective conservation solutions globally.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! We are dropping a minisode today! This is taking place instead of our regularly scheduled episode this week.  Thank you so much for listening!Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-formPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review.This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Ushma Pandya, co-founder and partner at Think Zero about Zero Waste, Sustainability Job Types, and Trash Walkers.  Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:58 - Nic & Laura talk Scams8:48 - Interview with Ushma Pandya Starts17:48 - Different type of Partnerships29:14 - Sustainability as a growing field34:20 - Fieldnotes with Ushma!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Ushma Pandya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ushmapandya/ Guest Bio: Ushma is a co founder and Partner at Think Zero LLC, a zero waste advisory firm that works with companies on their sustainability goals related to waste.  Ushma has had a lifelong interest in sustainability and waste reduction. Before the term "zero waste" was coined, she was raising awareness about consumption and waste with her schoolmates and work colleagues.  Prior to launching Think Zero, Ushma held senior management roles with American Express, Booz & Co., and Katzenbach Partners. She has worked on environmental issues with organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund, the Department of Environment of the City of Chicago, and Acumen.      Ushma is a board member of the Sanitation Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the NYC DSNY, the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB) and the NYC chapter of the New York League of Conservation Voters. She was previously on the Board of Sustainable South Bronx, where she oversaw the for-profit subsidiary Cool Roofs that worked on cooling and greening roofs throughout NYC.   In addition, she sits on the Environmental Protection Committee of Community Board 1, Manhattan.Ushma holds degrees from Georgetown University, Columbia University and Harvard University. She is certified as a TRUE Zero Waste Business Associate by GBCI and a LEED Green Associate.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Dr. Letise LaFeir, Chief of Conservation and Stewardship at the New England Aquarium about Resilient Leadership, Interconnected Stewardship, and Integrated Science Communication.  Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:55 - Friends in adulthood10:37 - Interview with Letise LaFeir starts21:45 - LaFeir's Career Path 34:50 - Policy Work 41:09 - Field Notes with LaFeirPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Dr. Letise LaFeir https://www.linkedin.com/in/letise-houser-lafeir/Guest Bio: Dr. Letise LaFeir serves as the Chief of Conservation and Stewardship at New England Aquarium, overseeing Animal Care, Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, Conservation Learning, Conservation Policy, and Community Engagement. LaFeir most recently served as a day-one Biden-Harris Administration appointee in the role of Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Before holding that position, LaFeir was a Program Officer and later Director of Federal Policy at Resources Legacy Fund; California Ocean Policy Manager at Monterey Bay Aquarium; Policy Analyst and later National Outreach Coordinator for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; and Director of Government Relations and Education Program Coordinator at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. She also spent one year as a Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellow for now-retired Congressman Sam Farr of California. In 2014, LaFeir founded and still co-owns Upwelling Consulting, LLC. During her career, she has been honored with several awards, has had countless public speaking engagements, and has served on several professional advisory boards. In addition to authoring or co-authoring several scientific publications and a book of poetry, she is a certified scuba diver (Advanced and Nitrox) and has traveled to all seven continents and the seafloor. LaFeir holds a B.S. in Aquatic Biology and a B.A. in English (with Honors in Creative Writing) from Brown University, and a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Delaware-College of Marine Studies.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Mark Coleman, Author, Planet Pragmatism and Director of Advanced Energy Advisory and Innovation with TRC Companies about Establishing Trust, Rediscovering Humanity, and Planet Pragmatism.  Read his full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes:  2:45 - Delightful things10:08 - Interview with Mark Coleman20:32 - How to work through all the Noise29:22 - How do you build Trust with doubtful people47:06 - Fieldnotes with Mark!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Mark Coleman at https://www.markcolemaninsights.com/Guest  Bio:Mark C. Coleman is an award-winning author and recognized voice as a business and leadership advisor, entrepreneur, and educator specializing in sustainable change management and enterprise development. With over 25 years of experience, he inspires both current and future leaders to embrace principled leadership founded on pragmatism, dignity, trust, and accountability. He has served as a strategic advisor to numerous leading organizations across academia, industry, emerging enterprises, and government, focusing on the intersection of societal change, environmental risk, and sustainable innovation. Mr. Coleman currently serves as Director of Advisory and Innovation within TRC's Advanced Energy (AE) business segment where he works with leaders across the organization and with partners and clients to strategically advance best-in-class integrated solutions to complex energy and business challenges. His work is focused on the nexus of energy and environmental innovation and the emergent sustainable economy, marked by solutions which are decarbonized, digital, decentralized, and which also embody social impact, environmental justice, and economic equity at their foundation.As the founder of Convergence Mitigation Management (CMM), a high-impact business intelligence, strategy, and management consultancy, Mr. Coleman provides custom advisory services to entrepreneurs, small and medium sized businesses, government, applied research, and non-governmental organizations.In July 2025 Mr. Coleman published his 4th book, Planet Pragmatism: The New Path to Prosperity. Mark currently serves as a Board Member of Ecology Prime, a global platform catalyzing ecologic education, outreach, and communications. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Cayuga Community College and as an adjunct instructor of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprise at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University where he teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in Sustainable Enterprise. Mr. Coleman resides in the Finger Lakes region of New York with his wife and two sons. Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MuSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Join Jen and Abi as they chat with Anna Gibson, TAB art educator in Santa Fe, and Steve Heil, New Mexico Lead Department Analyst at New Mexico Public Education Department, about nurturing advanced artists within a TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) framework. They trace their TAB journeys, explain an inclusive advanced-art model (screening, teacher nomination, or self-selection), and show how authentic showcases and contests build agency, visibility, and healthy “eustress,” especially for students from marginalized backgrounds. The conversation blends creativity research, gifted-education practices, and culturally responsive teaching to keep young artists in the pipeline from elementary through high school and beyond.Resources:Teaching for Artistic Behavior: teachingforartisticbehavior.orgTAB community (Mighty Networks): teaching-for-artistic-behavior-inc.mn.co. National Art Education Association (NAEA): arteducators.org. New Mexico Art Education Association (NMAEA): newmexicoarteducators.org. Recycle Santa Fe Art Festival: recyclesantafe.org. Inside Out Project (JR Artist): insideoutproject.net. Zaretta Hammond — Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain: crtandthebrain.comNew Mexico Association for the Gifted (NMAG): nmgifted.org New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED): web.ped.nm.gov NAEP 2016 Arts Assessment (The Nation's Report Card / NCES): nationsreportcard.gov/arts_2016/ and NCES overview. nationsreportcard.govGeorge Szekely: georgeszekely.com; book Play and Creativity in Art Teaching. Szekely websiteClyde Gaw (TAB/choice-based art): clydegaw.blogspot.comNavajo Nation: navajo-nsn.govPueblo of Zuni: ashiwi.orgHere is a link to a lightly edited transcript of this episode. We recognize that there are probably errors and grammatical issues. If anyone with the time or inclination to edit this wants to do so, please email us at storytellers@teachingforartisticbehavior.org.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick!We have a new minisode for you today that is taking place instead of our regularly scheduled episode. Thank you so much for listening!.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-formPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review.This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Dr. Na'Taki Osborne Jelks, assistant professor of environmental and health sciences at Spelman College and Co-Founder of the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance about Community Science, Climate Justice, and Mentorship. Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:36 - The Positives about Fall7:59 - Interview with Dr. Jelks starts17:40 - West Atlanta Watershed Alliance 29:56 - Challenges of Funding39:35 - Field Notes with Dr. Jelks!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Dr. Na'Taki Osborne Jelks https://www.linkedin.com/in/na-taki-osborne-jelks-ph-d-mph-571225/Guest Bio: Dr. Na'Taki Osborne Jelks is an assistant professor of environmental and health sciences at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and Co-Founder of the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, a community-based, environmental justice organization. Jelks investigates urban environmental health disparities; the impact of climate change on marginalized communities; the role that place, race, and social factors play in influencing health; and urban greening and resilience practices and their impact on health. She also develops, implements, and evaluates community-based initiatives that set conditions to enable low-income and communities of color to empower themselves to reduce exposure to environmental health hazards. Jelks' scholarship centers participatory approaches that engage environmentally overburdened communities in monitoring local environmental conditions, generating actionable data for community change, and developing effective community-based interventions that revitalize toxic, degraded spaces into healthy places. She is currently leading UrbanHeatATL, a research initiative in which local students and community members are mapping urban heat islands in Atlanta with community science. Her research has been supported by public and private entities such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Rockefeller, Robert Wood Johnson, JPB, and National Science Foundations.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Josh Hirten, Environmental Discipline Leader at CDM Smith about The Silver Tsunami, Mentorship, and Global Collaboration.   Read his full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:39 - Diving Adventures with Nic & Laura8:30 - Interview with Josh Hirten Starts13:34- Sampling through cavern diving 22:04 - Impact of professional organization 29:05 - Field Notes with Josh!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Joshua Hirten at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-hirten-pg-22940/Guest  Bio:Joshua Hirten, PG is an Environmental Discipline Leader at CDM Smith with over 28 years of experience. He holds an MS in Geology from the University of Florida, BA in Geology from the State University of New York, Buffalo, and is registered Professional Geologist in Florida.Josh is part of the Sky Wave at CDM Smith Team that combines data acquisition and machine learning to obtain detailed results to drive data to decisions. Josh is the Program Manager for the Waste Cleanup Program at the FDEP. In addition to environmental projects, Josh developed and conducted Project Management training at over 20 locations globally.Josh is actively involved in professional activities, serving as Board Member for National Association of Environmental Professionals and Vice President for Florida Association of Environmental Professionals.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Michael Carter, Climate and Workforce Manager at King County's Executive Climate Office about Local Workforce Empowerment, Climate, and Good Trouble.   Read his full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:43 - The Art of Hustling 8:11 - Interview with Michael Carter Starts15:30- Challenges talking about Climate29:14 - Being a good trouble maker43:24 - On being a poetPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Michael Carter at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpaucarter/Guest  Bio:Michael Carter is a changemaker and good trouble seeker, serving as the Climate and Workforce Manager at King County's Executive Climate Office (ECO). His work centers on connecting communities affected by climate change with living wage employment opportunities linked to clean energy deployment. He leads initiatives like King County JumpStart, a workforce development program to connect youth to clean energy careers, and local businesses to clean energy contracts at King County. In addition, he serves as the co-chair of the Coalition for Climate Careers, a public-private partnership focused on increasing access to the green economy for underrepresented groups. Michael is committed to bridging the gap between skilled trades and clean energy deployment while ensuring equitable access to living-wage jobs for frontline communities impacted by climate change. He holds a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Southern California (USC), where his research focused on integrating workforce development into local government climate action plans.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Matt Scott, Director of Storytelling and Engagement at Project Drawdown and founding director of Drawdown Stories about Storytelling, Opportunities through Connections, and Everyday Changemakers.   Read his full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:32 - Power of Stories7:56 - Interview with Matt Scott Begins15:08 - What is Project Drawdown24:26 - Bringing everyday people into the convo35:50 - Draw to Reality TVPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Matt Scott at https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-scott-6ba55a28/Guest  Bio:Matt Scott (He/Him) is the Director of Storytelling and Engagement at Project Drawdown and founding director of Drawdown Stories, where he helps everyday people connect with climate solutions. He hosts Drawdown's Neighborhood, a climate solutions docuseries, highlighting local climate heroes across the U.S. with a focus on passing the mic to voices who often go unheard. Previously, Matt led global community engagement for NASA's Space Apps Challenge, the world's largest problem-solving hackathon, earning two NASA awards and collaborating with organizations including the UN, USAID, Nike, and the Obama White House. He's also the creator of Let's Care and the film 20s & Change: San Francisco, which has been recognized at three film festivals. Matt's work has been featured by The Weather Channel, National Geographic, Grist, PBS, FEMA, NOAA, the Society of Environmental Journalists, the Hollywood Climate Summit, and more. Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Recently, First Lady Melania Trump convened the second White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence in Education. There is simultaneously an incredible amount of excitement around AI in schools and just beneath it, a sort of terror about its potential impacts and all we do not know. We wanted to take a macro approach and examine the current state of AI in education, its promise, the fears, and what the near future may look like.The Questions:Is AI in the classroom a force for good?Can we still produce critical thinkers in an AI-driven classroom?Will AI just be another ed tech flash in the pan?To have this conversation, we brought together two leading eduction experts with nuanced, divergent views on the roles technology, and AI specifically, should play for teachers and students.Eric Westendorf is a former principal who founded the ed tech company LearnZillion, and now is the co-CEO of Coursemojo, which is using AI to enhance in-class learning by supporting teachers in providing the right support for every student.Justin Reich is an Associate Professor in Comparative Media Studies and Director at MIT Teaching Systems Lab, and is the author of a new book, Failure to Disrupt: Why Technology Alone Can't Transform Education.Two notes on terms. Our guests mention NAEP: the National Assessment of Education Progress. There's also discussion of the Alpha School: a network of US private schools that combines AI-driven adaptive software for core academics with in-person adult “Guides” who act as mentors. It operates in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California. According to Alpha School, their combination of technology and mastery based learning allows children learn core subjects in just two hours daily. Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, Nik talks LIVE with Cinder Miller, President of Gray and Pape, Andrew Goldberg, Principal at Agora at American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA)'s 31st Annual Conference about the future of environmental policy and protecting cultural resources.   Read their full bios below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Earlier this month, 2024 NAEP scores came out for 8th grade science and 12th grade reading and math, and the results were not good, with students losing ground in each subject. But these declines are not new and they are not only the result of the pandemic: Across a number of tests and subjects, scores […]

The National Association of Education Progress (NAEP) annually releases a representative study of students' academic performance. Known as “the Nation's Report Card,” NAEP scores are an indicator of how much children are learning.This fall's report shows only 24 percent of Oregon eighth graders are “at or above proficient” in math, and 27 percent are proficient in reading. Of Oregon fourth graders, 31 percent are proficient in math, 27 percent in reading. These scores are lower than the national average.This isn't a surprise. Money spent in the public education bureaucracy has increased for decades, but everyone knows academic achievement has declined. It's no wonder polls show strong majorities of voters, including poll respondents in Oregon, support “giving parents the right to use tax dollars designated for their child's education to send their child to the school which best serves their needs.”Oregon public schools can't meet the needs of all children for reasons that are many and complex. But solutions can be simple, starting with freedom and opportunity. To improve education outcomes, policymakers should make it easier for parents to match their students with public, charter, magnet, online, private, home, or micro schools that best meet their needs and goals. Parents want their children to learn, and they want access to schools that will help them do that effectively. Children deserve no less than a great environment to reach their full potential.

Earlier this month, 2024 NAEP scores came out for 8th grade science and 12th grade reading and math, and the results were not good, with students losing ground in each subject. But these declines are not new and they are not only the result of the pandemic: Across a number of tests and subjects, scores have been declining for over a decade, especially for low-performing students. Indeed, while achievement for the top 10 percent of students has remained roughly flat, achievement for the bottom 10 percent of students has fallen precipitously—on many assessments, by well over a year.What might be causing these declines? Is it the rise of phones? The fall of No Child Left Behind? The aftereffects of the Great Recession? A change in the culture of schooling? On this episode of The Report Card, Nat Malkus explores these questions and more with James Wyckoff and Chad Aldeman.James Wyckoff is the Memorial Professor of Education and Professor of Public Policy Emeritus at the University of Virginia.Chad Aldeman is the founder of Read Not Guess, the author of Aldeman on Education, and a regular columnist for The 74.Show Notes:Testing Theories of Why: Four Keys to Interpreting US Student Achievement TrendsPuzzling Over Declining Academic AchievementInteractive: See How Student Achievement Gaps Are Growing in Your StateDon't Blame the SubgroupsStudent Achievement Is Down Overall—But Kids at the Bottom Are Sinking Faster

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Katherine Amidon, Senior Water Resources Planner at Bolton & Menk about Career Path to Planning, Challenges of Long-Term Planning, and Personal Growth and Balance.   Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 2:05 - Nic meets a Manta Ray!5:26 - Interview with Katherine begins9:03 - How do you plan well?25:15: - AICP Certification 33:27 - Field Notes with KatherinePlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Katherine Amidon at https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-bernier/Guest Bio: Katherine is a Senior Water Resources Planner at Bolton & Menk, a multidisciplinary firm offering a wide array of services ranging from planning, engineering, and design to project communications and GIS. She is a hands-on project manager who enjoys working alongside project stakeholders to work through complex projects. Katherine is passionate about projects involving water, equitable access to nature, and regional land use analysis. She considers herself a "forever sponge" - there is always more to learn. She is an active member on the board for Friends of the Reedy River and has been involved with the South Carolina statewide watershed planning process as the Vice Chair of the Saluda River Basin Council. When not planning, which she also does in her personal life, she can be found on her Trek bike, teaching yoga, or backpacking.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and guest co-hosts  Matt Tower of Whiteboard Advisors,  & Kate Eberle Walker, CEO of Presence as they break down the latest headlines in education technology and from Big Tech's AI push to the evolving future of school models. ✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Kate Eberle Walker on parents' concerns about AI chatbots and student mental health [00:03:20] Apple integrates OpenAI and Gemini into Siri, reshaping the AI race [00:04:15] Global AI shake-up: Microsoft shifts to Anthropic, Baidu gains ground, Google antitrust update [00:14:45] Edtech funding slowdown and investor focus on regulated markets like special education [00:18:07] OpenAI launches certifications for frontline workers; Google gamifies AI literacy with Stanford [00:27:43] First NAEP results post-pandemic show continued learning loss and lack of political focus on academics [00:39:01] Accountability challenges in education: attendance, wellness, and equity in public vs. private models[00:43:46] Debate on Alpha Schools' “two hours of AI per day” model and its implications for learningPlus, special guest: [00:50:17] Chris Walsh, Chief Product and Technology Officer of PBLWorks on scaling project-based learning

The latest Nation's Report Card scores are truly terrible: 12th-grade scores reached historic lows and achievement gaps widened. An alarming number of students are leaving high school without basic math and reading skills. Dr. Martin West, vice-chair of the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) and academic dean at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, joins […]

This week, Mike Petrilli digs into the latest NAEP results—and explores whether the rise of smartphones and social media might help explain them. It's another solo episode, just Mike and the mic.On the Research Minute, Adam Tyner shares a new REACH study showing that school voucher programs have boosted private school enrollment by just 3 percent so far—but are already putting upward pressure on tuition.Recommended contentThe Best Takes on the Worst NAEP Scores Ever —Michael J. Petrilli, SCHOOLEDSchools, but not states, should ban phones —Michael J. Petrilli, SCHOOLEDCellphone bans are not enough —Henry Seton for the Thomas B. Fordham InstituteStudent Test Scores Keep Falling. What's Really to Blame? —Martin R. West, Education WeekPay Attention, Kid!—Daniel T. Willingham, EducationNextThe Effects of Universal School Vouchers on Private School Tuition and Enrollment: A National Analysis —Douglas N. Harris and Gabriel Olivier, REACH (2025)Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org

Student test scores have been dropping nationwide. The latest NAEP scores for 12th graders are alarming. Students nationwide are still struggling with basic reading and math, and the gaps between races and income levels remain stubbornly wide, showing almost no improvement over the years. We speak with Kitty Kelly Epstein — college professor, activist and the host of a radio show on KPFA 94.1 FM. She has written three books and a number of articles, including Changing Academia Forever Black Student Leaders Analyze the Movement They Led. — Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post Math and Reading Scores Ring Alarm Bells w/ Kitty Kelly Epstein appeared first on KPFA.

It's a way back play back! We're re-releasing this episode with Dr. Sarah Cohen of Equity Performance Equine, based in Wellington FL, in anticipation of the NAEP's Saratoga Conference coming up next week. In this episode Dr. Sarah and I discuss her path to becoming a Vet, her concierge style practice in Wellington Florida, the NAEP and why she became a part of its board, as well as many other topics. Sarah shares a lot of great information in this episode. It's worth a re-listen for long time followers and it's a great first time listen too! I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Sign up for the conference today thenaep.com

Martin R. West, the editor-in-chief of Education Next and member of the National Assessment Governing Board, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the latest release of National Assessment of Educational Progress data.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Fred Wagner, principal environmental advisor at Jacobs about the courts reshaping policy, NEPA uncertainty, and sticking to core environmental Values.  Read his full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:42 - Do you know your NEPA terms?8:09 - Interview with Fred Wagner Starts24:17 - Alligator Alcatraz  31:24 - What are defensible exclusions now46:29 - How do we balances changes with our valuesPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Guest  Bio:Fred Wagner focuses his practice on environmental and natural resources issues associated with major infrastructure, mining and energy project development. Fred helps clients manage and then defend in court environmental reviews performed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or equivalent state statutes. He works with public agencies and private developers to secure permits and approvals from federal and state regulators under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Fred is familiar with the full range of issues surrounding USDOT surface transportation programs, including grant management, procurement, suspension and debarment, and safety regulations. During his career, Fred has handled a wide variety of environmental litigation in federal trial and appellate courts across the country, from citizen suits, to government enforcement actions, to Administration Procedure Act (APA) challenges.Fred was appointed Chief Counsel of the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) during the Obama administration. He managed all legal matters involving the $40 billion Federal-Aid Highway program, including environmental and natural resources issues for highway and multimodal transportation projects. Among other high-profile projects, he oversaw the agency's defense of the following:  New York's Tappan Zee Bridge, San Francisco's Presidio Parkway, Chicago's Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, Kentucky and Indiana's Ohio River Bridges, North Carolina's Bonner Bridge, Alabama's Birmingham Northern Beltline, Wisconsin's Zoo Interchange, and Washington's State Road 520 Bridge. He represented the FHWA on government-wide Transportation Rapid Response Team, a multi-agency task force focused on improving project delivery and environmental review reforms.Fred began his career as a trial attorney in the Environment Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Misdemeanor Trial Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Prior to joining Venable, he spent more than 20 years in private practice at a national law firm focusing on environmental and natural resources issues.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Modernize, consolidate, or close? These are the options the School District of Philadelphia is considering for the future of select buildings based on a new facilities report released this week. On the latest episode of the "After School" podcast, Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington explains how families should interpret the data, and explains why he believes tough decisions ahead  will ultimately make resources more equitable for all students in the long term. 00:00 Facilities report explained 03:45 Grade bands 05:41 Timeline for final decisions on school buildings 06:52 Interpreting NAEP testing results Have a question for Dr. Watlington? Email us at afterschool@kywnewsradio.com and listen for a response on future episodes of "After School!" To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Alex Troutman, Wildlife Biologist about Spark Birds, Lifer Pie, and Becoming the Mirror for Yourself.   Read his full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:17 - Learning from our Guests8:40 - Interview with Alex Troutman Starts15:51 - Favorite Roles 26:40 - Being a role model 41:53 - Field Notes with Alex!Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Alex Troutman at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-troutman-aba24828b/ Guest  Bio:Alex is a Fish and Wildlife Biologist and Environmental educator with a passion for sharing and immersing the younger generation into nature. He has a Bachelor of Biology and master's degree with a focus in  Conservation Biology from Georgia Southern University.  Knowing how it feels to not see anybody who looks like you  in your dream career, Alex makes it a point to be that representation for the younger generation.  He is  the co-organizer for several Black in X weeks including Black Birders Week and Black Mammologists Week,  A movement encouraging diversity in nature, and the celebration of Black individuals  scientists, and increasing awareness of Black nature enthusiasts, and diversity in STEM fields.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

We're kicking off a brand new episode format on the Mullins Farrier Podcast called Farrier Phone a Friend. These episodes are all about those in-between-job conversations farriers have on the road - casual, candid, and full of real-world updates from the trade. In this first one, I catch up with my friend and returning guest Danny Bennett. We talk about everything from truck troubles and teamwork at international competitions, to the role of the “Purple Army,” social license in farriery, and even a bit of lighthearted travel banter. Of course, there's plenty of practical shop talk too - cases, tools, and habits that make the work easier. It's an unpolished, behind-the-scenes look at farriery, and I think you'll enjoy riding along for the chat. This episode is available for free to non-subscribers but if you want to listen to future full length episodes please subscribe: mullinsfarrier.supercast.com

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and American Federation for Children Senior Fellow Shaka Mitchell interview John Kirtley, Managing Partner and co-founder of Keswick Partners, and founder and Chairman of Step Up For Students, a nonprofit that manages Florida's state-funded K-12 scholarship programs serving over half a million students. Kirtley shares his journey from the private sector into education reform in the late 1990s, and why business leaders must actively engage in shaping K-12 policy. He reflects on Florida's steady, incremental expansion of school choice programs, explaining how this long-term approach built a critical mass of school choice families despite longstanding opposition, and offers lessons for newer ESA states like Arizona, Texas, and Iowa that seek to accelerate growth. Mr. Kirtley addresses challenges ahead, from ensuring a strong supply of high-quality private schools to managing the complexities of universal ESA programs. He also discusses how to measure and maintain accountability in parent-driven school choice programs, strategies to reverse stagnating NAEP scores, and the opportunities presented by the new federal education tax credit program.

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Kristy Drutman, Founder and Co-CEO of Green Jobs Board about Going Viral, Consistency and Rejection to Redirection to get to Your Career.   Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:32 - Condensing info through Social Media8:06 - Interview with Kristy Starts15:38 - Brown Girl Green 23:30 - Career Path with all the twists & turns36:10 - #Field Notes with Kristy Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Kristy Drutman at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-drutman/Guest Bio: Kristy Drutman, otherwise known as “Browngirl Green” is a speaker, consultant, media producer, and environmental educator passionate about working at the intersections between media, diversity, and environmentalism. As an entrepreneur and climate communications expert, Kristy has educated hundreds of thousands of people across the globe about modern-day environmental issues through speeches and media content as well as facilitates workshops centered around environmental media and storytelling in cities across the United States. She has been invited to the White House multiple times as an on-ground reporter, was featured in Teen Vogue, NY Times, Refinery 29 among many other publications, is a Grist 50 under 50 recipient and a Create and Cultivate Top 100 creator. Kristy is also the Co-Founder of the Green Jobs Board, a climate tech start-up bridging the equity and inclusion gap within the green economy through conversations, resources, and pathways to bring more diverse talent into the environmental field.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

I'm thrilled to welcome Larry Sand to The Sam Sorbo Show! Larry is a veteran educator and president of a non-partisan network that shines a light on education policy and teachers' unions. In his recent article, “America's Dead Ed,” he pulls no punches—breaking down the latest NAEP results and revealing the devastating truth about our public school system.This conversation is a wake-up call we all need to hear. Don't miss it!------------------------------------Unlock exclusive discounts, discover where to purchase my books, explore my homeschool and curriculum recommendations, and so much more—all in one place! Click the link to take advantage of these incredible resources. Don't miss out—start exploring today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/samsorbo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thank you to my sponsor The Herzog Foundation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://herzogfoundation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I'm thrilled to welcome Larry Sand to The Sam Sorbo Show! Larry is a veteran educator and president of a non-partisan network that shines a light on education policy and teachers' unions. In his recent article, “America's Dead Ed,” he pulls no punches—breaking down the latest NAEP results and revealing the devastating truth about our public school system.This conversation is a wake-up call we all need to hear. Don't miss it!------------------------------------Unlock exclusive discounts, discover where to purchase my books, explore my homeschool and curriculum recommendations, and so much more—all in one place! Click the link to take advantage of these incredible resources. Don't miss out—start exploring today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/samsorbo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thank you to my sponsor The Herzog Foundation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://herzogfoundation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode Nic and Laura talk behind the scenes at EPR! Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-formPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review.This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

In this episode, Dr. Sasha Hill and farrier Keith Green CJF AWCF share the stories of how they found their way into equine veterinary medicine and farriery. Sasha reflects on her path from being a 4-H kid and groom to specializing in sports medicine and podiatry, while Keith talks about his transition from crop farming to working with horses full-time. They discuss how collaboration became central to their work, highlighting the importance of clear communication, mutual respect, and preventive care in keeping horses sound. They also touch on their involvement with the NAEP, the opportunities it provides for continuing education, and why bringing different practitioners together matters so much for the future of the horse industry. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Learn more about the NAEP and their Conference here: www.thenaep.com