Podcasts about public education

Iola USD 257 Superintendent Stacey Fager has been in education his whole career. He came to Iola 19 years ago and has led the school district since 2017. Fager believes in public education and its importance to young people, communities and our society. He's also clear-eyed about the challenges public schools face today. In this episode of “Registered,” we talk with Fager about a bill to ban cell phones in Kansas schools, the dangers he sees in a statewide voucher program, and what the future may bring.

Here is the proposed preamble to a new Constitution for Public Education, conceived by the visionary teacher and organizer Jay Gillen: “Every middle-schooler will have the expectation that when they are in high school they will have a good-paying job, sharing knowledge or skills with peers, younger children, or other people in their communities.” He offers this radical proposal in order to propel a conversation and an organizing focus toward building a broad national consensus about how children should be prepared to grow up with dignity and strength in all of our communities. When he recasts the language of the preamble slightly—“If we could pay teenagers to do things that benefit their communities, contribute to the education and culture of younger children, and incidentally advance their own educations, it would be a good thing”—Gillen argues that we already have enormous sympathy in principle. And so we move on to specific steps we might take and concrete principles we might adopt which are surprisingly practical—and within reach. We're joined by Jay Gillen, author of Educating for Insurgency and The Power in the Room, and Jamarria Hall, a student advocate and lead plaintiff in Gary B. v. Whitmer, the Right to Literacy case that argued the Detroit public schools were “functionally incapable of delivering access to literacy,” and resulted in a $94.4 million settlement in 2023.

“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)

Guest Randy Landreneau, USInventor.org, joins to discuss ongoing policy conversations to protect innovators and inventors in the US from big corps. Do we have the proper protections, and why is the US falling behind other nations with new technology?  Another public school punishes students for supporting President Donald Trump. When could we see the end of the Federal Dept of Education and reforms within the public school system?

OPB spent over a dozen years following a group of students from Kindergarten through the end of High School in 2025. The result was an amazing body of stories of the real lives and experiences of students, teachers, and families as they negotiate our public education system. One of the questions we have now is: how do you measure the success of education? We’ve gathered a group of big thinkers for a conversation about public education – what it is designed to do, who it is for, and how it might be changing for a new generation of students. We talk to Kali Thorne Ladd, CEO of the Children’s Institute, Ann Ishimaru, professor at the University of Washington College of Education, Jeffrey McGee, Director of Education at Rosemary Anderson Prep, and Ryan Carpenter, Superintendent Of Estacada School District.

The Trump administration says it is actively working to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education. If passed by Congress, the measure would shrink federal oversight and give more control to the states. “Closer Look” program host Rose Scott talks with Erika Mitchell, the former board chair of the Atlanta Board of Education. Mitchell discusses the current state of K-12 public education in the U.S. and shares the achievements and remaining challenges for urban school districts. Plus, it’s day two of the 2026 Georgia legislative session. State Senator Sonya Halpern joins the program to discuss the latest happenings at the state capitol, bills she's backing and those she's not. She also discusses some of the other legislative priorities for Georgia’s Senate Democrats. President Trump signed the "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" executive order last year, calling for the removal of “improper," "divisive or anti-American ideology" from federally funded establishments, such as the Smithsonian Institution. Tuesday is the deadline for the museum to provide documents about current and upcoming exhibitions and events, which could put its $1 billion budget at risk. Karen Comer Lowe, a curator, cultural strategist, and art advisor, shares her thoughts about how this effort undermines scholarly independence, artistic and curatorial freedom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HRP is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3), and the views expressed by our guests are their own and do not constitute an endorsement.“Who's the most dangerous person in the world? Is it Chairman Kim, is it Xi Jinping?” The most dangerous person in the world is Randi Weingarten. It's not a close call.” At least, that's what Mike Pompeo, the former CIA Director and former US Secretary of State, told a reporter in 2022.Three years later, Randi Weingarten's rebuttal takes the form of a book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy, in which the long-time President of the American Federation of Teachers, representing nearly 2 million members, mounts a defense of democracy, teachers, and our public schools, arguing that “Public schools are laboratories of civil society and, at their best, embody the multifaith, multiracial coexistence that is our nation's best future…Fascists fear teachers because education is essential to democracy.”At its core are conjoined and fundamental questions I think we took for granted, until recently, as settled consensus in the United States of America: What is democracy? What is the role of public schools in a pluralistic democratic nation, and why are both worth keeping?To help us answer these questions and understand why fascists fear teachers is none other than AFT President, Randi Weingarten.Why Fascists Fear Teachers (AFT website)

Randi Weingarten's new book is a love letter to public school educators and an expose of the well-funded campaign behind attacks on teachers and the war on knowledge.

Dr. Duke Pesta is the founder and executive director of Freedom Project Academy. For the past 15 years, FPA has been providing a live, fully-accredited pre-K-12 online homeschooling platform to those seeking a classical education. In this in-depth conversation, Bill Jasper of The New American speaks with Pesta about his innovative approach and what sets it apart: real-time ... The post Freedom Project Academy: A Classical, Live-Online Alternative to Public Education appeared first on The New American.

Chapters (00:00:00) - Morning Tea & Allegations: Speak Up! Our Children Deserve(00:04:44) - Teaching for the Culture: Family Meeting and Celebration(00:08:38) - Confessions of a Snitch(00:11:31) - A message for 2025 and beyond(00:12:41) - Florida School Choice Fraud: The Voucher Money Mystery(00:18:30) - Florida education policy being outsourced to a DC think tank(00:23:33) - Florida Charter Operators Sending Letters of Intent to Take Over Public Schools(00:31:38) - Follow the Money: Billionaire Backers of Public Education(00:39:18) - I Need You to Know Who's on the Ballot in 2020(00:46:00) - Teaching for the Culture Facebook page reactivated

Public schools are mandated to provide educational opportunities to all students and generally work very hard to support learners with profound deficits or differences. But what about learners who require enrichment rather than accommodations? Amy and Mike invited Kenneth Shores to examine the question of what public education owes to advanced students. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In theory, what is the purpose of public education? Why has public education struggled to support advanced students? Does harm occur when enrichment is withheld from thriving students? Why shouldn't families be responsible for providing enrichment? How does supporting advanced students align with the purpose of public education? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Kenneth A. Shores is an associate professor specializing in education policy in the School of Education at the University of Delaware, and he is affiliated with the UD Center for Research in Education and Social Policy. His research is focused on educational inequality and encompasses both descriptive and causal inference. To this end, his work addresses racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in test scores, school disciplinary policy, classification systems, and school resources. In addition, he has examined how improvements to school finance systems can reduce educational inequality and how vulnerabilities in school finance systems can contribute to it. Dr. Shores was a National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellow, a Philanthropy and Civic Society Fellow, a Stanford Graduate Fellow, and an Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Predoctoral Fellow. In 2018, he was the co-recipient of the National Council on Measurement in Education's Annual Award for exceptional achievement in educational measurement. He received his Ph.D. in education policy analysis from Stanford University. Prior to graduate school, he was a middle school teacher on the Navajo Nation. Kenneth can be reached at https://kennethshores.com or kshores@udel.edu. LINKS Rethinking What Public Education Owes to Flourishing Children High-achieving students deserve to be challenged in school RELATED EPISODES WHY GIFTED PROGRAMS ARE UNDER ATTACK THE NECESSITY OF GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS HOW GRADING POLICIES INFLUENCE GRADE INFLATION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.  

Scottsdale duo reimagining public education Peter Bezanson and Patti Bezanson are co-chairs of BASIS Educational Ventures, based in Scottsdale, and two of the visionary leaders behind one of the highest-performing public school networks in the nation. From rapid growth to academic excellence, they share how BASIS Charter Schools scaled success without losing rigor. It's a thoughtful conversation on leadership, innovation and what it takes to reimagine K–12 education.

As students across Alberta returned to class this fall, families were met with a slate of changes targeting queer and trans kids, ushered in by the United Conservative Party government. These changes were largely driven by the movement for parental rights. Heather Ganshorn is research director for Support Our Students Alberta and author of the report, Challenging Parental Rights. She talks with us about links between the parental rights movement and the push to privatize education in Alberta.

Jennifer Berkshire: Education writer, author, and co-host of Have You Heard. Known for her sharp analysis of education policy and its impact on communities.Jack Schneider: Historian of education, researcher, and co-host of Have You Heard. Jack brings a deep understanding of the historical and sociological forces shaping public schools.Public education is under pressure like never before. Jennifer and Jack explain why the system is on a precipice, how misinformation and political agendas distort reality, and what's at stake for students—especially those with disabilities—if privatization wins. Tim shares a powerful story from the Georgia State Capitol about a parent fighting for inclusion, and the trio discusses why educators and advocates must reclaim the narrative. Plus, we dive into the history of school choice, the rise of vouchers and charters, and end with a lighthearted mystery question from Tim's 12-year-old.Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/public-education-on-the-precipice-narratives-inclusion-and-whats-at-stake-1314/

If you've taught or attended a high school course in the last decade, you've probably watched a Crash Course video. Their dozens of playlists on topics from Biology and Environmental Science to Economics and World History hold hundreds of videos and have collected over 2 billion views. Maybe even just hearing the title conjured John Green's urgent cadence and the characteristic cartoon aesthetic in your mind, or the show's outro, if you couldn't hit the pause button fast enough, where John thanks the producer, the graphics team, and mentions, “The show is written by my high school history teacher, Raoul Meyer…”Today, Mister Meyer not only continues to teach, but earlier this year reached out to me about a new film project he's working on with his brother Luke, scheduled for 2026 release, tentatively titled THE TEACHERS PROJECT. It's described as “a compelling, character-driven journey into the lives of American educators as they navigate the intensifying culture war that has enveloped the nation's schools since 2020. As political battles over sanctioned ideas, books, and lesson plans range from national headlines to local school boards, the film reveals the devastating consequences of this chaos and conflict for teachers, students, communities, and the future of American education.”And Raoul joins me to talk about Crash Course, the state of history teaching and the often untold stories of teachers wrestling with all of it.@mistermeyer on BlueSky

Take a trip to a rural corner of southeast Ohio, where New Lexington schools are unlocking real opportunity for students and offering a blueprint for relevant and engaging public schools that meet the needs of local communities. On this episode of Union Talk, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with educators and a student about how New Lexington's approach to hands-on learning, career exploration, and student well-being is driving student engagement, providing students real ownership over their futures and breathing new life into a rural community deep in Appalachia.

For months, the Trump administration has been making moves to dismantle the Department of Education — with mixed success. But when it comes to the fight over public education, some of the most significant dustups are happening on the local level, with school boards around the country. Today, we're looking at one of those fights, which played out in a rapidly changing suburb of Dallas called Southlake.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this episode of Talks with Tyler ISD, we sit down with Brett Shelby, the new principal of the Career & Technology Center (CTC). Brett shares how his leadership experience in elementary and middle schools shaped his approach to guiding high school students as they explore their futures. He dives into the impact of the CTC's career pathways—how hands-on learning, certifications, and industry partnerships not only prepare students for life after graduation but also strengthen the local workforce and community. Tune in to hear Brett's vision for the CTC, his passion for empowering students, and what excites him most about this new chapter.Support the showFOOTER: If you want to hear more news about the district, download our app in the app store or sign up for our district newsletter at get.TylerISD.news.

In this episode, Tudor sits down with former teacher and education advocate Erika Sanzi to unpack the growing concerns inside America’s public school system. They examine the expanding influence of teachers’ unions like the NEA, the shift from academic achievement to political priorities, and the rise of ideological activism in classrooms and teacher training programs. Sanzi shares firsthand insights on declining student performance, what parents and educators are up against, and why restoring balance in education is critical to putting students back at the center of learning. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IFMA focuses on three things: Code Enforcement, Fire Investigations, and Public Education. In this episode I'm joined by Kelly Ransdell, Public Education Director for NFPA and an Elizabeth Willi from Palm Harbor Fire/Rescue (FL) who was an NFPA Public Education "Rising Star" at the 2025 NFPA Conference and Expo.   If you know of a Rising Star in Fire and Life Safety Public Education, you can nominate them to participate in the 2026 Rising Stars Program. Contact your NFPA Regional Director or email me at IFMA@NFPA.org for more information.   If you want to connect with Liz, her Instagram handle is @Liz_onfire. 

Network for Public Education, Charter School Reckoning: Disillusionment; https://networkforpubliceducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Charter-School-Reckoning-Disillusionment.pdfFTC takes action against Illuminate for failing to secure student data; https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/12/ftc-takes-action-against-education-technology-provider-failing-secure-students-personal-dataAG Letitia James Secures $51 million fine from Illuminate; https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-and-multistate-coalition-secure-51-million-education Fairplay Advisory on AI Toys; https://fairplayforkids.org/pf/aitoyadvisory/US PIRG, Trouble in Toyland 2025,; https://publicinterestnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TOYLAND-2025-11-14-7a.pdf has mentions KPTV, AI toys top list in annual ‘Trouble in Toyland' report this holiday season; https://www.kptv.com/2025/11/14/ai-toys-top-list-annual-trouble-toyland-report-this-holiday-season/ Ballotpedia, State Policies on cellphone use in schools, https://ballotpedia.org/State_policies_on_cellphone_use_in_K-12_public_schools Fairplay, Survivor Parents ‘Deeply Disappointed' in House Version of the Kids Online Safety Act, Urge Congress to Pass Senate Version; https://fairplayforkids.org/survivor-parents-deeply-disappointed-in-house-version-of-the-kids-online-safety-act-urge-congress-to-pass-senate-version/ The Hill, Deep divides plague kids online safety push in House' https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5630434-deep-divides-plague-kids-online-safety-push-in-house/

نقشه دنیا فقط تصویر نیست. همیشه تفسیر بوده. برای همین نقشه‌ای که از جهان می‌شناسیم داره بهمون دروغ می‌گه.همیشه با نقشه قصه گفتیم، این بار می‌خوایم قصه‌ی نقشه رو بگیم.متن: بهجت بندری، علی بندری، با راهنمایی آرش رئیسی‌نژاد | ویدیو و صدا: DASTAN GROUP - www.dastanads.comبرای دیدن ویدیوی این اپیزود اگر ایران هستید وی‌پی‌ان بزنید و روی لینک زیر کلیک کنیدیوتیوب بی‌پلاسکانال تلگرام بی‌پلاسمنابع و لینک‌هایی برای کنجکاوی بیشترThe History of Cartography: Celebration of Volume 4, Cartography in the European EnlightenmentThe History Of The First World Map | Face Of The World | TimelineIntroduction to CartographyWhy all world maps are wrongLooking at Interesting Old Maps for 10 MinutesMappa Mundi: The greatest map of the medieval world | BBC GlobalThe biggest mistakes in mapmaking history - Kayla WolfHow Leonardo da Vinci made a "satellite" map in 1502Presenting the Modern World for the American Public: Maps and Public Education in World War IIPropaganda Maps to Strike Fear, Inform, and Mobilize – A Special Collection in the Geography and Map Division | Worlds RevealedCartographic propaganda - WikipediaThe Great War and Modern Mapping: WWI in the Map Division | The New York Public Library Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special on-location episode, Mike Palmer visits the headquarters of The Urban Assembly (UA) in New York City's Financial District to sit down with David Adams, CEO of The Urban Assembly and host of the Innovations in Public Education podcast. We explore how David and his team have evolved from designing 22 high-performing schools in NYC to "designing tools" that solve critical constraints in public education. David breaks down his "Theory of Constraints"—analyzing how barriers like time, knowledge, and resources limit school outcomes—and how UA is using Artificial Intelligence to dismantle them. The centerpiece of this innovation is Project CAFE (Classroom Automated Feedback Environment). David explains how this AI-powered tool acts as an "instant replay" for educators, allowing them to view 10-second clips of their own practice—such as questioning techniques or student talk time—without the high cost or pressure of traditional observation. By reducing the cost of feedback to roughly $150 per teacher, CAFE is flipping the script on professional development, moving from an "avalanche of evaluation" to a "drip, drip, drip of professional development". We also touch on the Urban Assembly's impressive results, including a record-breaking 92.4% graduation rate, and how their focus on social-emotional learning (SEL) and workforce readiness is reshaping economic mobility for students. Key Takeaways: From Schools to Tools: How UA supports its network of 22 schools while building scalable solutions for the broader education system. Project CAFE: An inside look at the AI tool that automates observation, offering private, low-stakes feedback for teachers to improve their "game tape". The Theory of Constraints: Using AI to reduce the "time tax" on learning outcomes and instructional coaching. Workforce Readiness: How "CounselorGPT" and Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways are moving students from "guessing to guidance" regarding the labor market. Record-Breaking Outcomes: Discussing the 92.4% graduation rate and the 100% success rate at the Urban Assembly Institute for Math and Science for Young Women. Mentioned in this Episode: Podcast: Innovations in Public Education with David Adams. Organization: The Urban Assembly. Tools: Project CAFE and CounselorGPT. Next Step for You: If you enjoyed David's insights on solving constraints in education, would you like me to summarize the specific "Theory of Constraints" framework he uses so you can apply it to your own organizational challenges?

Lawmakers pass several bills that could change school curriculum and policy.

Can Christian parents faithfully obey Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6 while sending their children to schools where teachers are forbidden by law to honor God? In this hot-button episode, Kevin and Danny "take the gloves off" and revisit historic warnings about secular education, the sacred–secular divide, and the myth of neutral math and science. Is this the sin we dare not name in the American church?

When Dan Greenberg began his term as OEA Vice President in July, he faced a learning curve as he started to learn the ropes in his new role. But, while he was new to his office in the OEA HQ building in Columbus, he was no stranger to union leadership. In this episode of the podcast, Dan shares his thoughts about how he's using the lessons he learned as a longtime Local leader in Sylvania - especially the lessons around organizing and building relationships - to guide his work for OEA members and the learners they serve now.SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | If you'd like to share your feedback on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear about - or talk about - on future episodes, please email educationmatters@ohea.org. SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.Featured Public Education Matters guest: Dan Greenberg, Ohio Education Association Vice PresidentA 28-year junior high and high school English teacher from Sylvania, Dan Greenberg became OEA Vice-President in 2025. Dan has served as President of the Sylvania Education Association for the past 10 years, and a total of 23 years as a local officer. Additionally, Dan also served six years as an NEA Director, seven years as an OEA Director, and three years as NWOEA Vice-President. During this time, he served on numerous OEA committees as well.Dan's public education advocacy extends beyond the Association. In 2013, Dan founded a grassroots public education advocacy group, the Northwest Ohio Friends of Public Education, to engage educators and community members on issues such as school funding and the overuse and misuse of standardized testing. Over the past decade, Dan's leadership in this space has led to him serving on the board for the statewide advocacy group, Public Education Partners, and the national organization, the Network for Public Education.Throughout his leadership journey, Dan has prioritized building relationships and creating spaces for educators to have a voice in decisions affecting our schools. He firmly believes that public education does not have to be a partisan issue and looks forward to the opportunity to work with Democrat and Republican elected officials to meet the challenges facing public education and our students.Connect with OEA:Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topicsLike OEA on FacebookFollow OEA on TwitterFollow OEA on InstagramGet the latest news and statements from OEA hereLearn more about where OEA stands on the issues Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative WatchAbout us:The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio's schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio's children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio's schools.Public Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award-winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children. This episode was recorded on September 10, 2025.

This week David and Marina have a casual converstion about David's high school education, the Long Beach Aquarium, and holidy plans. This episode is supported by Chaos • Autodesk Forma & Autodesk Insight • Programa • Learn more about BQE CORE • Future London Academy SUBSCRIBE  • Apple Podcasts  • YouTube  • Spotify CONNECT  • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Office  • Instagram • Facebook  • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review  EPISODE CATEGORIES  •  Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders.  •  Project Companion: Informative talks for clients.    •  Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.  •  After Hours: Casual conversations about everyday life. •  Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. The views, opinions, or beliefs expressed by Sponsee or Sponsee's guests on the Sponsored Podcast Episodes do not reflect the view, opinions, or beliefs of Sponsor.  

Summary In this conversation, we get to hear from 2 people who have spent their career faithfully serving in public education. Irvin Scott emphasizes the critical role of teachers in society and the importance of showing appreciation for their hard work, and encourages listeners to reflect on their gratitude towards educators and highlights the challenges they face in their profession. And Jim McKenney shares some insights of his time in public education, how he has navigated the challenges faithfully with the Lord and with others. Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us.  Resources Download the episode transcript here Learn more about ChristianEducators.Org Learn more about Association of Christian Administrators Book Recommendations Leading with Heart and Soul: 30 Inspiring Lessons of Faith, Learning, and Leadership for Educators Author: (Our Episode Guest!) Irvin L Scott Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good Author: Amy Sherman Taking Jesus to School: The Fruit of the Spirit on Display  Author: Dr. Jacqueline Minor

Jerri Green is a mom, a lawyer as well as a public servant raised right here in Tennessee. She will be running for the next Governor of Tennessee in 2026. Timeline1:25 Who is Jerri Green?3:39 What are the role and responsibilities of Governor?7:04 How does your current work position you for Governorof TN?9:51 Jerri Green's position on school vouchers?11: 47 Jerri Green's position on Special Education?12:42 Public Education and the Department of Education21:51 Jerri Green's position on Healthcare?25:21 How do we rise up to meet this moment?26:26: Solutions30:52 Jerri Green's position the cost of groceries.35:05 Women in Leadership39:29 Why vote for Jerri Green?42:47 ConclusionDisclaimer: The opinions expressed by the participants on this podcast are their own and do not reflect any organization they may work for or represent.

In this special episode of the VSBA School Board News Podcast, Executive Director Gina Patterson talks with Jenny Nichols, the 2025-2026 VSBA President and school board member from Washington County Public Schools. President Nichols shares her journey in public education and introduces her presidential theme, "Rooted in Public Education." Together, they explore what it means for school boards to stay grounded in their communities while fostering growth and innovation across Virginia. Join the conversation by sharing your story on social media using #RootedinPublicEd and celebrate how we're all growing together through the power of public education.

On today's episode, we sit down with Sarah Kearney, Executive Director of Blue Zones Project Scottsdale, and Todd LaPorte, CEO of HonorHealth, to explore how Scottsdale is taking bold steps toward becoming a longer-living, more connected, and more vibrant community. Website: bluezonesprojectscottsdale.com    Instagram: bzpscottsdale   BACK STORY With more than 35 years of diverse healthcare experience, Todd LaPorte leads an integrated health system with nine acute-care hospitals, numerous outpatient facilities, a research institute, and various community services impacting social determinants of health and military preparedness. HonorHealth is one of Arizona's largest employers, with a presence throughout much of the growing Phoenix metropolitan area. Since joining HonorHealth in 2001, Todd has held executive roles in which he focused on financial and strategic leadership. He has shaped a system with many access points to provide convenient, high quality care for patients, and with an ability to coordinate care efficiently and effectively. HonorHealth governs with its medical staff one of the country's highest performing ACOs in the country. For most of his twenty years at HonorHealth, Todd served as the CFO. In April 2017, he became the 10th CEO in more than 150 years of its legacy firm history. Before joining HonorHealth, Todd held senior management roles for an international CPA firm that served Arizona healthcare clients, as well as clients in high-tech manufacturing and consumer services. He was also the CFO of a privately held healthcare company that served more than a half million Arizonans. Todd is the current board chair for the Health System Alliance of Arizona, an association of the five largest healthcare systems throughout the State. He is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership (a CEO advocacy group) and is a board member of Experience Scottsdale (a visitor's bureau). He speaks frequently to Arizona State University MBA classes and community service organizations throughout the Valley of the Sun. Todd was named CFO of the Year by the Arizona chapter of the Financial Executives International in 2012 and was recognized by Becker's Hospital Review as one of the "125 Hospital and Health System CFOs to Know" in 2013. Todd has served as board chair for a chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the nationally acclaimed Scottsdale Aquatic Club and the Paradise Valley School District's supporting Foundation for Public Education. He holds a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Arizona State University. His four daughters all swam competitively at four different D-1 schools, so his college sweatshirt collection is quite confusing.     Sarah Kearney leads Blue Zones Project Scottsdale as the Executive Director. Her leadership experience is diverse and rooted in community well-being, service, and forward-thinking optimism. She most recently worked for Experience Scottsdale, whose mission is to enhance the Scottsdale community through tourism. In Sarah's 16+ year tenure at the organization, she held several leadership roles and specialized in worldwide leisure sales, partner development strategy, membership and community engagement, program development, and more. Driven by her passion for the Scottsdale community, Sarah has served, led, and guided several local organizations, leaving a cross-sector imprint. She has served as the Board President for Scottsdale Leadership, the Board President for Community Celebrating Diversity, a Board Member for Scottsdale Sister Cities, the Officer of Membership for Millennials in Travel, and the Vice President of Community Outreach at GiGi's Playhouse Phoenix/Scottsdale. Sarah holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a B.A. in Communication from Arizona State University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, sports and spending time in the Scottsdale sunshine. She is a proud wife and hockey, dance, and dog mom to her two children and golden retriever.   SUBSCRIBE TO ICONIC HOUR If you enjoyed today's podcast, I'd be so appreciative if you'd take two minutes to subscribe, rate and review ICONIC HOUR. It makes a huge difference for our growth. Thanks so much!   ICONIC LIFE MAGAZINE  Stay in touch with ICONIC LIFE magazine. We invite you to join our digital VIP list and SUBSCRIBE!   JOIN OUR ICONIC COMMUNITY Website: iconiclife.com Instagram: @iconiclifemag Facebook: Iconic Life YouTube: ICONIC LIFE   FOLLOW RENEE DEE Instagram: @iconicreneedee LinkedIn: Renee Dee   Thanks for being a part of our community to Live Beautifully. TAGS: bluezonesprojectsscottsdale, honorhealth, iconichourpodcast, health, wellness, iconiclifemag, iconiclife, livebeautifully  

NY Daily News, Mamdani plan to scale back NYC gifted and talented program reignites simmering controversy, https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/10/04/mamdani-plan-to-scale-back-nyc-gifted-and-talented-program-reignites-simmering-controversy/ andJames Borland, Gifted Education Without Gifted Childre. https://assets.cambridge.org/97805215/47307/excerpt/, 9780521547307_excerpt.pdfRenzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Developmenthttps://gifted.uconn.edu/schoolwide-enrichment-model/ https://gifted.uconn.edu/schoolwide-enrichment-model/Jennifer Berkshire's books, The Education Wars and Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door: The Dismantling of Public Education and the Future of School , https://www.amazon.com/Education-Wars-Citizens-Defense-Manual/dp/1620978547/ and https://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Schoolhouse-Door-Dismantling-Education/dp/1620977958/ref=sr_1_1Jennifer Berkshire, Education Helped Power the Blue Wave, https://educationwars.substack.com/p/education-helped-power-the-blue-waveLaura Pappano, School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics, and the Battle for Public Education, https://www.amazon.com/School-Moms-Activism-Partisan-Education/dp/0807012661Laura Pappano, At Moms for Liberty summit, parents urged to turn their grievances into lawsuits, https://hechingerreport.org/at-moms-for-liberty-summit-parents-urged-to-turn-their-grievances-into-lawsuits/Jake Zuckerman, Culture warriors lost school board races all around Ohio, https://signalohio.org/culture-warriors-lost-school-board-races-all-around-ohio/David Pepper, Lesson: People Don't Want Crazy on their School Boards, https://davidpepper.substack.com/p/lesson-people-dont-want-crazy-on?r=g8fo&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=trueArne Duncan, America is in an ‘education depression.' This solution is a no-brainer, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/11/03/democrats-education-tax-credit-duncan/Jessica Seaman, Colorado teacher unions ride blue wave to victory in school board races, https://www.denverpost.com/2025/11/06/colorado-teacher-union-school-board-elections/Jenny Brundin, Supporters of Propositions MM and LL declare victory, https://www.cpr.org/2025/11/04/proposition-ll-mm-funding-free-school-meals-results/Scotus Blog, Mahmoud v. Taylor https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/mahmoud-v-taylor/Maggie Scales, Lexington parent sues district over lessons that “normalize LGBTQ relationships” , https://lexobserver.org/2025/11/07/lexington-parent-sues-district-for-burdening-childs-religious-upbringing/

Scott Levy spent two decades as an investment banker at firms like J.P. Morgan, advising corporate boards and senior executives on risk, growth, and capital decisions. Then he pivoted, serving on a public school board, teaching at Harvard, and writing Why School Boards Matter.   In this episode, we discuss: How Levy broke into investment banking and the lessons that carried him through twenty years on Wall Street What he learned about resilience, risk-taking, and long-term thinking at the highest levels of finance Why he left a successful career to focus on public education and democracy How business principles can, and cannot, be applied productively to education What executives misunderstand about AI, and the questions they should be asking   Get Scott's book, Why School Boards Matter, here: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262552721/why-school-boards-matter/   Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF   Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions   Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom   Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build   Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach   Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Acton, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, Priscilla West, researcher for the Government Accountability Institute and a chapter chair of Moms for Liberty, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to unveil how diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, disguised as "social emotional learning," are sold to schools as "education" and explain how concerned parents can fight back against the collectivism controlling classrooms across the U.S.You can find West's book The New Face of Woke Education here.If you care about combating the corrupt media that continue to inflict devastating damage, please give a gift to help The Federalist do the real journalism America needs.   

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, Priscilla West, researcher for the Government Accountability Institute and a chapter chair of Moms for Liberty, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to unveil how diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, disguised as “social emotional learning,” are sold to schools as “education” and explain how concerned parents can fight back against the […]

We're recording this episode the week the Iowa DOGE Task Force released their final 136 page report – you heard that right, that's the state-level version of the Department of Government Efficiency convened by our governor back in February, tasked with maximizing return on investment of Iowa taxpayer dollars.As you can imagine, among their recommendations are ideas from the Return on Taxpayer Investment Working Group about improving education results “aimed at delivering greater value for taxpayers.”Fortunately for Iowans, this working group assembled a crack team of experienced education experts for the job, including the CEO of an ethanol plant, the former Chair of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, and the chair of a civil engineering firm. Among their recommendations are to:"Establish a merit-based compensation framework –including a bonus structure, teacher professional development and incentives for those in high-need schools in order to improve student outcomes and financially reward high-performing teachers.”Merit-pay is of course a tried, tested, and failed idea. But teacher salaries are just one thread in the complex tapestry of how states pay for public education and the ideological tug of war in our public debates over school funding – how we pay for buildings, pensions, special education, Title 1, school food programs…every cost that goes into making schooling work…or not.If the Iowa DOGE report and the policy agenda that will inevitably follow could be titled As Privatized as Possible – doubling down on outcome-based school funding and accountability measures and even recommending AI-based bus route optimization to “cut costs and improve service”...what's the alternative?My guest today asks, “What would it mean to democratize school resources? What would it mean to have truly public schools, down to the very means of resource creation and distribution that fuels them…what will it take to make school as public as possible.”It's also the title of his upcoming book, As Public as Possible: Radical Finance for America's Public Schools out this December. You can preorder it now from The New Press.David Backer is the author. He's an associate professor of education policy at Seton Hall University whose research, teaching, and organizing focus on ideology and school finance. A former high school teacher, his research has appeared in a half dozen scholarly journals like the Harvard Education Review as well as popular venues like The American Prospect and Jacobin. And you can find him on social media @schooldaves.As Public As Possible (The New Press)@SchoolDaves TikTok

In this engaging episode, Sarah and Cesar welcome James McNeany, a lifelong educator and the new Executive Director of the Indiana Non Public Education Association (INPEA). James shares his journey from math teacher and coach to principal and, now, state-level leader for non public schools. The discussion dives deep into topics like school choice, parent empowerment, and how non public schools contribute to Indiana's education ecosystem. Key Takeaways: James's Path in Education: From engineering student at Purdue to math teacher, coach, and school administrator, James's nontraditional journey revealed a passion for mentoring young people and making a difference in their lives. Leadership Lessons: James reflects on how each step in his career—from teaching students with diverse backgrounds to leading entire school communities—shaped his perspective on what great schools need to thrive. INPEA's Mission & Vision: Taking the helm at INPEA, James shares his excitement for supporting Indiana's non public schools, building on the legacy of previous leaders, and working to ensure school choice policies benefit all families. The Role of Non Public Schools: Spotlight on how these schools give parents the ability to find the right educational fit, create strong communities, and support missions and values that reflect diverse family needs. Universal School Choice in Indiana: What it means for families and schools after recent legislation, and how financial barriers are being reduced so all families can access quality education options. Future Challenges & Opportunities: James discusses the importance of protecting local autonomy for non public schools, guarding against overregulation, and expanding real choice for families—especially in Indiana's “education deserts.” Did you find this episode informative? Help us out! Leave a review Share it with your friends Give us a 5 Star rating on your podcatcher of choice For more information about school choice and your school choice options, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

The FBI arrests 20 as part of a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Mississippi Delta. Some worked in law enforcement.Leaders in the Mississippi House and Senate disagree on what public education policy they should focus on for the 2026 legislative session. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus hear testimony and recommendations to combat the state's highest in the nation maternal mortality rates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessie Gómez, reporter at Chalkbeat Newark covering Newark Public Schools, discusses the New Jersey gubernatorial candidates' visions for public education in the state—and how they intend to fund the schools.

Far-right activists have been targeting schools across the country with anti-trans attacks. As we've shown in the latest season of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine podcast, their efforts are part of a larger strategy to sow distrust in public education and ultimately privatize it. Today, Imara speaks with two critical sources from TransLash's investigative series. First, she talks to Eliza Byard, an advocate for LGBTQ+ kids in schools, about how this assault is central to the right-wing authoritarian project to erode democracy. Then, she chats with Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, about how teachers are coping with the weight of the attacks and what communities can do to fight back.Listen to The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: translash.org/antitranshatemachine Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guests on social media: Eliza Byard: Bluesky (@ebyard.bsky.social)Becky Pringle: Bluesky (@neapresident.bsky.social) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Randi Weingarten's new book is a love letter to public school educators and an expose of the well-funded campaign behind attacks on teachers and the war on knowledge.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Rod Griffin. Senior Director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Rod Griffin. Senior Director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Rod Griffin. Senior Director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian.

For the episode we're continuing our conversation with Rick Hester, Amy Shilze and Lucy Butler. Rick is the Curator of Behavioral Husbandry for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado. He oversees all the zoo's behavioral programming. His work includes the zoo's animal training for husbandry, medical, and public show behaviors, enrichment, developing programs to improve problem behavior situations, the zoo's formal animal welfare assessments, and exhibit design for behavior goals. We're also joined by Amy Schilze, who has the dream job of working with the Cheyenne Mountain zoo's giraffe. Amy is the Senior Animal Behaviorist for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe, where she runs giraffe workshops and conferences, both stateside and internationally. Both Rick and Amy also partner with Dr. Susan Friedman and her Behavior Works consulting team so you'll hear a lot of references to Susan throughout this conversation. In addition to Rick and Amy, I invited Lucy Butler to join us. Lucy and her husband run the River Haven Animal Sanctuary in Rhode Island. I knew she would have a lot of questions for Rick and Amy. When you take in animals who are the victims of abuse, there's a lot to be learned from the work that goes on in zoos to reduce the stress of handling and also to improve the overall quality of life for the animals under their care. In this episode Rick and Amy talk about the educational programs which are woven into the experience Guests have as they tour the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. There are twenty-three shows for the public every day. In these shows the animals are the star. It is about showing what they can do, what their natural behaviors are - all while protecting the dignity of the animals. The shows at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo show animals controlling their reinforcers and using their bodies in ways that are natural to them. Trainers interpret both what their life in the zoo looks like, what their life in the wild environment looks like, and how capable they are of learning. They are trying to create connections between the public and the animals at the zoo in a way that elevates the animal. For Lucy this part of the conversation was especially relevant because the public is invited in to tour the River Haven Animal Sanctuary that she and her husband run. She was getting many great ideas for how they can make this experience better both for their guests and their resident animals. But even if you don't give tours, there's much here that can be used to enrich your horse's life. We begin the episode with a discussion of techniques used to introduce new animals into an existing social group.

Nancy Loome, executive director of The Parents' Campaign public education advocacy group counters many points proponents are making in their push for more school choice in Mississippi. Loome says siphoning public money for private schools would provide no benefit to Mississippi students or taxpayers and that state leaders should instead focus on sustaining and expanding education gains made in recent years. She said opposition to school choice from parents on both sides of the political aisle in Mississippi is growing.

The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – Sadly, it seems that public education is more about learning what to think rather than how to think. Based on many of the discussions I've had across the country, critical thinking seems to be a skill many Americans have lost. I believe G.K. Chesterton once described our situation perfectly: “When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter...

The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – Perhaps the answer isn't that the schools aren't performing, but that their goals have changed. Perhaps the goal of public education is not to lift children up to a basic level of citizenship, but to “educate” them down to the lowest common denominator. Perhaps that explains why children who can recite the latest TikTok craze cannot read about it on X...

We are joined by Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, to discuss her new book, “Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy.” In the book, Weingarten details how there has been a systematic demonization of teachers and public education in America. She argues that one of the pillars of public education is critical thinking, which prevents fascism from flourishing in society - so fascists (and wannabe fascists) hate it. We explore a variety of topics facing schoolchildren and their parents today, including charter schools, artificial intelligence, phones in schools, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ students. We also discuss Trump's proposed elimination of the Department of Education, attacks on teachers unions, and how we may have kept the schools closed for too long during Covid-19. READ Randi's new book: https://sites.prh.com/whyfascistsfearteachers

Back-to-school supplies are getting more expensive … so why are parents and teachers at public schools expected to foot the bill? Today on the show: An economist explains how the cost of school supplies fits into the larger history of public school funding, and what one school district is doing differently. Related episodes: A food fight over free school lunch Mailbag: Children Edition For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.  Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy