Podcasts about Texas Education Agency

A number of East Central Independent School District (ISD) students have been disciplined, after leaving classrooms Feb. 13 to participate in demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). State law requires school districts to address unexcused absences related to walkouts and prohibits school systems from facilitating disruptions during the instructional day. District officials confirmed that approximately 30 students “who left class without authorization” Feb. 13 were disciplined in accordance with the district's Student Code of Conduct, Texas Education Code, and recent guidance issued by the Texas Education Agency. “No students were expelled,” advised Brandon Oliver, East Central ISD director of...Article Link

In this opening episode of the Restorative Pedagogies series, Claire de Mezerville López and Nikki Chamblee to the Restorative Works! Podcast to explore what it means to approach teaching through a restorative practices lens.  Moving beyond the idea of restorative practices as solely relational or disciplinary tools, Claire and Nikki reflect on pedagogy as a human-centered practice—one that honors voice, agency, belonging, and emotional safety as foundations for learning. Drawing on research, classroom experience, and theory, they discuss how integrating restorative practices into curriculum planning can create conditions where mistakes are welcomed as part of growth, creativity is nurtured, and students can remain engaged even when learning feels challenging. Together, they examine how restorative practices support high academic expectations without reverting to fear-based or punitive approaches, and how educators can intentionally embed relational processes into content instruction across subject areas. This episode sets the stage for the series by inviting listeners to rethink what effective teaching looks like when dignity, connection, and accountability are held together. Nikki Chamblee, Ph.D., has been an educator for over 19 years. She currently serves as an Instructor and Implementation Coach for the IIRP, providing training and coaching to support districts in effectively planning implementation. Her area of focus is the interweaving of restorative practices with other district initiatives. She is licensed in New York and Texas in the areas of English Language Arts, Special Education, and English as a Second Language. From 2017 - 2022, she served as a Coordinator of Restorative Practices for two districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She received Tier 1 and Tier 2 training in restorative practices from the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility and restorative discipline training from the Texas Education Agency. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices from the IIRP.   Tune in to explore how integrating restorative practices into lesson plans can be a game-changer for your classroom.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Our board at Progress Texas announces the following endorsements in the 2026 midterm elections:Gina Hinojosa for Texas GovernorSarah Eckhardt for Texas ComptrollerAlisa Simmons for Tarrant County JudgeTerry Virts for Houston's Congressional District 9Bobby Pulido for South Texas' Congressional District 15Kevin Burge for North Texas' Congressional District 24Texas school districts are beginning to react to pressure from Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency to clamp down on student anti-ICE walkout protests: https://www.statesman.com/news/education/article/austin-isd-new-protest-rules-walkouts-21339794.phpRecent appearances on ABC's "The View" by Texas Senate candidates and Democrats Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico have apparently led to an investigation of the network by the Trump FCC, which has recently modified its rules regarding "equal time": https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-agency-investigating-if-abcs-the-view-violated-equal-time-rules-2026-02-07/As last night's Bad Bunny Super Bowl appearance seems set to achieve an all-time viewership record, the Kid Rock-headlined Turning Point USA alternative is panned as "half-assed lip sync": https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kid-rock-tpusa-halftime-show-1235513161/Early voting in the March primary starts on February 17 - Fat Tuesday! The time to research your ballot is right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠All about voting in Texas can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoVoteTexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Voter registration updates for the March primary from the Austin Chronicle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and from KUT Austin ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KPFT-FM in Houston⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and to our Spanish expansion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Texas Education Agency released new guidance this week outlining potential consequences for school districts if students participate in political activism deemed “inappropriate.” The move comes after Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called for investigations into the Austin Independent School District following viral videos of mass student protests. On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn and producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec break down what the state guidance entails and what it could mean for student expression going forward. Plus, a look at which Austinites appeared in the Epstein files, and a peek at our weekend plans. Where are you getting chicken wings for Super Bowl Sunday? Let us know! And don't forget to RSVP to our trivia night next week. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Austin newsletter.  And don't forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about the sponsors of this February 6th episode: City of Austin Window Nation 

On Friday's show: The Texas Education Agency has warned school districts that facilitating student political walkouts could lead to a state takeover. This comes as the agency unveils a newly created enforcement role focusing on overseeing investigations into alleged misconduct by Texas teachers. We get the latest on this developing story.Also this hour: We discuss how digital maps are increasingly being used to reveal patterns across Greater Houston, from the famed Houston arrow, to the Whataburger location map being used as a substitute for power outage tracking during major storms, to an ICE tracker map being developed by students at Rice University.Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we preview the latest in a series of concerts from The Apollo Chamber Players celebrating America's 250th birthday and the centennial of what became Black History Month.Watch

The Texas Education Agency created a new position called Inspector General for Educator Misconduct. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plus two people are dead after being caught up in a crash in Dallas last night, police in Balch Springs say they have arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting of an armored car guard earlier this week, a Dallas man is accused of kidnapping a girl in Galveston, and more!

The Texas Education Agency has confirmed it is formally investigating the Austin ISD after video shows AISD police officers escorting kids during a protest against ICE, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis made an appearance in front of the Public Safety Commission to discuss changes made to the department's police regarding cooperation with ICE and Austin's Parks and Recreation Department has decided not to recommend that the city council approve a proposed $2 million dollar contract for more surveillance cameras.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Dr. Julie Lara, Multilingual Programs Director at Ensemble Learning, former Director of the Emergent Bilingual Support Division at the Texas Education Agency, and a leading advocate for educational equity. She reflects on her journey from special education teacher to statewide policy leader serving 1.3 million emergent bilingual students. Julie opens up about her identity as a first-generation Latina, how her family's story shaped her purpose, and why embracing students' home languages is essential for academic success and generational change. Julie shares the pivotal moments that fueled her passion for dual-language education, including the creation of the Texas Effective Dual Language Immersion Framework and her work influencing national conversations on multilingual policy. She explains how bilingualism is a superpower, why culturally responsive education matters, and how community members can advocate for more equitable schools. This inspiring conversation reveals the heart behind Julie's leadership and her mission to ensure every child—regardless of background, identity, or zip code—has access to an empowering education that honors who they are.This episode is a MUST-LISTEN!

The American Federation of Teachers of Texas is suing the Texas Education Agency over a series of investigations the agency launched over teachers' comments on social media after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In other news, a police officer and a public service officer with the Dallas Police Department have been terminated from their positions following a January disciplinary hearing; over 40 Dallas police units responded to a bomb threat at North Dallas High School on Tuesday morning. Police initially responded to the school after reports of a bomb threat just before 8 am; and changes in how methamphetamine trafficking is punished under federal law are being proposed this year to bring sentences more in line with other hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers has filed a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency and Commissioner Mike Morath over their efforts to smear and fire teachers over comments made on social media about Charlie Kirk: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/us/american-federation-teachers-charlie-kirk-lawsuit.htmlPotentially derailing the mobility of future Texas J.D.'s, the Texas Supreme Court has officially removed oversight by the American Bar Association over Texas law schools: https://www.keranews.org/news/2026-01-06/texas-supreme-court-ends-american-bar-association-law-school-accreditationDonald Trump, incensed at Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar's apparent lack of gratitude for Trump's pardon late last year, has endorsed one of Cuellar's Republican challengers: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/trump-endorses-tano-tijerina-running-against-democrat-henry-cuellar-rcna252686Texas Big Oil has been largely silent on Trump's ideas that they'll invest in the "rebirth" of Venezuelan oil production - it's a huge and risky investment, and the market's not demanding more supply at the moment: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/07/texas-trump-venezuela-oil/...Besides, petroleum is still poisoning our planet - and Texas has become a primary source of that poison: https://grist.org/energy/texas-clears-the-way-for-petrochemical-expansion-as-experts-warn-of-health-risks/Early voting in the March primary starts in mere weeks, on February 17 - the time to research your ballot is right now: ⁠https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84⁠See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

One of the big early stories of 2026 is a lawsuit filed against the Texas Education Agency or TEA and its commissioner Mike Morath by the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, the nation's primary union of public school educators, in response to the attempted purge of teachers who were targeted for their views expressed online about Charlie Kirk and his murder last year. Texas AFT President Zeph Capo joins us to explain the lawsuit and the context behind it - context that goes far beyond just the Charlie Kirk matter, and includes the terrible circumstances that have been allowed to develop in our schools over three decades of Republican mismanagement.Learn more about the lawsuit: https://www.texasaft.org/releases/texas-aft-sues-the-state-over-baseless-investigations-into-educators-after-the-assassination-of-charlie-kirk/Learn more about Texas AFT at https://www.texasaft.org/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Christian leaders urging prayers for peace in Venezuela...Texas Education Agency being sued for investigating teachers' social media comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk...and Tennessee college professor reinstated after his comments on Kirk killing.

The Texas Education Agency will remove Lake Worth ISD's elected school board and superintendent, and appoint a board of managers to govern the district, Education Commissioner Mike Morath said on Thursday. In other news, a month has passed since Charles Hosch, a Southern Methodist University law professor and Dallas attorney, went missing. Family and friends continue the search in a remote hiking area in Georgia; the third phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup opened Thursday, and the prices immediately sparked outrage among local fans. One Fort Worth resident who's attended the past three world cups in Brazil, Russia, and Qatar said, “what FIFA is doing is inconceivable,” and was stunned by the soaring costs in this latest sales window; and the Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque will open a second restaurant in the area near the home fields for the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers and the Interstate 30 frontage road. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plus only 12 shopping days left until Christmas, an Army gynecologist at Fort Hood is under arrest after allegations he secretly videotaped patients during exams, human rights groups claim they've found inhumane conditions at the ICE detention center at Fort Bliss in El Paso, and more!

More than four-fifths of Texas public schools received an ‘A' rating for their financial practices, according to the Texas Education Agency, which released the final financial accountability ratings for the latest school year last week. A total of 969 school districts and charter schools, or 81 percent, received the top rating for their financial management practices. “By maintaining strong financial practices, these school systems are building brighter futures for the students and communities they serve,” a news release stated. Ten percent of school districts got ‘B' ratings, while 6 percent received ‘C' ratings. Failing grades were given to 18 school...Article Link

This is an audio-only show run by EJ in his home office. Ann and Wesley are out of town, but we felt a show was needed given what happened to FWISD.GET ACTIVE: EXPLORE OUR LINKTREESTORY 1: FWISD State Takeover- Star-Telegram ‘Keep Austin out of our schools.' Opponents of state takeover of FWISD speak out- Live stream of press conference- Texas Education Agency takes over Fort Worth ISD, replacing its elected school board- Is Dan Patrick trying to make Texas a 'conservative Hollywood'?STORY 2: Fort Worth Way endorsing the book-ban lady- How a far-right, Christian cellphone company ‘took over' four Texas school boards- Fort Worth Fire Fighters endorse Leah Wambsganss- Leah's endorsementsACTIONS- Vote! Find your early voting location.- Final public comment meeting is on November 4th at 6 PM in City Hall- Sign up to attend the November 16th Gather at 3 PM

The Texas Education Agency will remove Fort Worth ISD's elected school board and its superintendent, instituting the second-largest state takeover in Texas history. Education Commissioner Mike Morath announced the move Thursday. In other news, when Dallas County's adult probation director cut a $32,800 check to a contractor in May, he said it was to replace checks issued two years earlier the consultant forgot to cash; former NBA player and coach Damon Jones was among more than 30 people charged in connection with schemes involving illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia. Jones, who played collegiately at the University of Houston, was arrested on Thursday after he allegedly provided inside information about NBA games to co-defendants who used it to place sports bets; and a Preston Hollow mansion known for grandiose holiday decorations that attract droves of visitors has once more become the subject of both awe and ire. After neighbors complained, the city's code compliance department issued the home notices for light glare and noise violations, which were found to be resolved in later inspections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plus the Texas Education Agency confirms they are taking control of the Fort Worth School District, the feds confirm a huge round-up of illegal sports gambling and poker suspects with allegations of mob involvement and NBA connections, North Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is hinting about her political future, and more!

Can't keep up with the news cycle? We're here to help. It's the Friday News Round-Up & Comment! Here's a sample of what Jim passed along: --Jim presented audio of a Christian author who gave an eye-witness account of what happened immediately after Charlie Kirk was shot as he was in the SUV with Charlie. --The Secret Service has been designated to provide security for Sunday's memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix, Arizona. --A teenager has been arrested after she said she'd open fire at a vigil for Charlie Kirk. --The Turning Point USA board unanimously elected Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow, to serve as the new CEO and chair of the board for the organization. --The Senate yesterday afternoon unanimously approved a resolution designating October 14th as the national day of remembrance for Charlie Kirk (His birthday). --The House of Representatives adopted a resolution to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. The measure received bipartisan support. --Two individuals close to Charlie Kirk have rejected speculation that he was threatened by the Israel lobby. --Dozens of Christians and Jews gathered on the Temple Mount Wednesday to honor the late Charlie Kirk. --Jim presented audio of an Imam preaching that Charlie Kirk was a racist. --Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency have announced that more than 100 educators are under investigation and could face suspension of their teaching certifications for social media posts related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The Texas Education Agency is looking into nearly 280 complaints about teachers and school staff who allegedly posted negative comments about Charlie Kirk after his assassination. Though this investigation is state-wide, the fallout is being felt in school districts in Georgetown and Hutto. This comes as the Texas Legislature forms new committees to examine free speech on college campuses. On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Austin Vida editor and publisher Nancy Flores to unpack how Kirk's murder is reverberating through Central Texas. Plus, they dig into the recent detention of a beloved local dog park handler by ICE, and why this year's Hispanic Heritage Month feels noticeably different.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don't forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 19th episode: Texas Renaissance Festival The Texas Tribune Festival New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway

Can't keep up with the news cycle? We're here to help. It's the Friday News Round-Up & Comment! Here's a sample of what Jim passed along: --Jim presented audio of a Christian author who gave an eye-witness account of what happened immediately after Charlie Kirk was shot as he was in the SUV with Charlie. --The Secret Service has been designated to provide security for Sunday's memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix, Arizona. --A teenager has been arrested after she said she'd open fire at a vigil for Charlie Kirk. --The Turning Point USA board unanimously elected Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow, to serve as the new CEO and chair of the board for the organization. --The Senate yesterday afternoon unanimously approved a resolution designating October 14th as the national day of remembrance for Charlie Kirk (His birthday). --The House of Representatives adopted a resolution to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. The measure received bipartisan support. --Two individuals close to Charlie Kirk have rejected speculation that he was threatened by the Israel lobby. --Dozens of Christians and Jews gathered on the Temple Mount Wednesday to honor the late Charlie Kirk. --Jim presented audio of an Imam preaching that Charlie Kirk was a racist. --Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency have announced that more than 100 educators are under investigation and could face suspension of their teaching certifications for social media posts related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The Texas Education Agency received many complaints statewide and Austin City Council Member Ryan Alter thinks raising taxes will end homelessness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The Trump administration, using the Charlie Kirk killing as a reason, is pledging a widespread crackdown on progressive organizations, activist groups and media outlets - much like ours: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/us/politics/jd-vance-charlie-kirk-show.html...A Texas Tech student's arrest and expulsion over her mocking of a Kirk vigil on campus is looking central to a potential First Amendment legal fight: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/texas-tech-student-charlie-kirk-21049660.php...A Texas Education Agency invitation to parents to turn their kids' teachers in for insufficient display of grief over Kirk has resulted in almost 200 such complaints: https://www.click2houston.com/news/texas/2025/09/16/roughly-180-complaints-filed-against-texas-teachers-for-alleged-comments-on-killing-of-charlie-kirk/Today is National Voter Registration Day! Make sure you're good to go for November's election, especially if you've moved lately, at https://govotetexas.org/.Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Comments from Donald Trump on American political violence echo his "stand back and stand by" comments just prior to the January 6 insurrection: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-response-charlie-kirk-melissa-hortman-shootings-rcna230825...Trump also claims that investigations of key progressive figures are already underway: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-adopts-messenger-in-chief-role-after-charlie-kirks-death-2025-09-14/...The first suspect apprehended in the Kirk shooting, later cleared and released, is a North Texas high school graduate - and he and his family are being harassed by MAGA anyway: https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/texas-high-school-graduate-charlie-kirk-killing-21047625.php...The Texas Education Agency has announced a targeting of Texas teachers who failed to sufficiently grieve Charlie Kirk online, while free speech student advocates at UT Austin express fear of violence at future events: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/from-classrooms-campuses-how-kirks-death-is-affecting-texas-educationDetails about the divorce of Ken and Angela Paxton emerge - the AG is accused of having another extramarital affair, with a "Christian influencer" and mother of 7: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/news-report-accuses-texas-ag-ken-paxton-of-affair-with-married-christian-influencer/Austin friends: tickets are now FREE for our live podcast taping with legendary Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver on September 15 at Hopsquad Brewing in Austin! RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This week we have a special episode with FWISD teachers Ale Checka & Ernie Morán as we discuss a possible Texas Education Agency takeover by Commissioner Mike Morath, and what life looks like for teachers these days after all the recent legislative changes from the state.For more context on what's been happening, check out these articles:From a cell phone ban to Ten Commandments posters, new state laws bring big changes to Texas schoolsTexas education chief visits Fort Worth schools as state takeover loomsCowtown Takeover: What Happens if the State Takes Control of Fort Worth ISD?FWISD's stalled progress sign that schools need state takeover, commissioner saysWe'll be back next week with a regular episode of the 817 Podcast.

On Tuesday's show: The Texas Education Agency released its accountability ratings for the 2024–25 school year on Friday, covering public school districts across the state. Five districts are at risk of a state takeover, while HISD, which is already run by the state, is seeing improvements in test scores. Bob Sanborn from Children at Risk weighs in.Also this hour: We learn what a recent ruling means for Houstonians with unpaid medical bills.Then, we find out why some longtime city employees who took Mayor John Whitmire's early retirement offer haven't been paid yet.Plus, we revisit a conversation from last year where longtime residents offered their suggestions for some Houston do's and don'ts for life here.And we discuss the business side of filmmaking in Houston with organizers of this weekend's Houston Media Conference.

The latest campus ratings from the Texas Education Agency show a slight improvement for the Austin School District, police have identified the man responsible for releasing multiple dogs from the Austin animal shelter and have issued an arrest warrant and Texas House Democrats that fled the state to break quorum to try and stop the Texas Legislature from drawing new district maps are expected to be back at work today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Classroom Coverup: Coach's Sick Comments Exposed - Texas Football's Twisted Cover-Up! Get ready for a jaw-dropping look at how Texas high school football culture shields predators in a way that will leave you furious and demanding change! We spotlight Kip McFarlin, a high school football coach at Orangefield Independent School District in East Texas during the mid-2000s, accused by six female students in 2005 of using sexually suggestive language, making lewd remarks in class and during practices, and telling one teenage girl that he'd date her if she weren't a student. These weren't isolated quips; reports described a pattern of inappropriate comments that made the girls feel uncomfortable, objectified, and unsafe, like joking about their bodies or implying romantic interest in ways that crossed every professional boundary. Parents got involved, alerting administrators and pushing for action, but the district's response was tepid at best—they investigated internally but instead of reporting to authorities or revoking his credentials as required under Texas mandatory reporting laws for reasonable suspicion of abuse, they allowed what officials later called a "graceful exit." McFarlin resigned quietly, receiving a neutral recommendation letter that omitted any mention of the allegations, essentially wiping his slate clean to move on without consequence. This decision wasn't made in a vacuum; it reflected the intense pressures districts face in football-crazed Texas, where coaches are often treated like local heroes, and firing one outright could invite union battles, defamation claims if the evidence wasn't ironclad, or community backlash that disrupts seasons and booster funding. So McFarlin walked away with his teaching certificate intact, free to seek new opportunities without any red flags following him. Fast forward to 2008: He lands a coaching job at Port Arthur Independent School District, about 20 miles away in the same region, after passing a background check that came up empty because Orangefield hadn't documented or shared the complaints. For three years, he taught and coached without incident—or at least none reported—but in 2011, the other shoe dropped: McFarlin was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old female student from his school. The relationship allegedly started with grooming—flirty texts, special attention during class—and escalated to multiple sexual encounters that exploited his position of authority. The victim came forward, leading to his arrest on charges of sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between educator and student, both felonies under Texas law. The trial revealed damning evidence, including witness testimonies and communications that showed McFarlin abusing his role, resulting in his conviction in 2012 and an eight-year prison sentence, plus lifelong sex offender registration. But the story didn't end there—the victim's family sued both districts in 2013 under the case Truong v. Orangefield Independent School District, alleging negligence for "passing the trash" and enabling the abuse at Port Arthur through their silence. They argued Orangefield's neutral reference hid the 2005 complaints, putting their daughter directly in harm's way. While the exact settlement amount wasn't publicized, such cases often result in substantial payouts—similar to the millions seen in other Texas abuse suits—and the litigation highlighted Texas' pre-2017 gaps in reporting laws, where "boundary violations" weren't always flagged as abuse.  McFarlin's case didn't happen in isolation; it's emblematic of Texas' long-standing issues with educator misconduct, a state with one of the highest rates of teacher-student sexual relationships in the country, with over 2,500 charges since 2017 alone according to Texas Education Agency data, yet thousands more cases end in "administrative separations"—quiet resignations without charges or reports that allow predators to relocate. A 2016 USA Today Network investigation, which featured McFarlin prominently, uncovered hundreds of similar instances nationwide, where abusers hopped jobs after cover-ups, and in Texas, the probe revealed districts like Orangefield prioritizing reputation over safety, especially in sports programs where coaches wield outsized influence and football is king. Parents and victims in McFarlin's orbit have shared gut-wrenching stories of the lasting impact: The 16-year-old from Port Arthur endured not just the abuse but the trauma of testifying in court, facing cross-examination that questioned her credibility—a common tactic in these cases that revictimizes survivors—and dealing with lifelong trust issues, anxiety, and relationship difficulties that stem from the betrayal.  Back in Orangefield, the six girls from 2005 felt validated by the conviction but frustrated that their warnings went unheeded, with one anonymous victim telling reporters she felt "dismissed" when administrators downplayed her complaints as "misunderstandings," a minimization that's a hallmark of "passing the trash" where districts label behaviors as "poor judgment" rather than potential grooming to avoid mandatory reporting. This case ties directly to the series themes: Like the coaching abuses in Oregon's St. Helens scandal (Episode 8) or the multi-state shuffles in Gregor's story (Episode 5). The fallout was significant—McFarlin served his sentence and was released on parole around 2020, but his case catalyzed change, contributing to Texas Senate Bill 7 in 2017, which cracked down on educator-student relationships by expanding investigations, toughening penalties (up to 20 years for felonies), and mandating disclosures of prior misconduct during hiring. Governor Greg Abbott signed it, calling it a step to "protect our children from predators," but as we saw in Episode 2 with McGann, gaps remain in enforcement.  On X, parents rage about "coach worship" in Texas, sharing stats like the 429 educator arrests for child sex crimes from 2014-2018 and calling for zero tolerance. Watch to see how sports enable cover-ups and what we can do to stop it—hit subscribe for more shocking revelations that will change how you view school safety!  Hashtags: #ClassroomCoverup #CoachCoverUp #TexasFootballScandal #McFarlinExposed #SchoolPredator #IgnoredComplaints #TeacherAssault #ProtectTeenGirls #TrueCrimeCoach #PassingTheTrashTexas Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Classroom Coverup: Coach's Sick Comments Exposed - Texas Football's Twisted Cover-Up! Get ready for a jaw-dropping look at how Texas high school football culture shields predators in a way that will leave you furious and demanding change! We spotlight Kip McFarlin, a high school football coach at Orangefield Independent School District in East Texas during the mid-2000s, accused by six female students in 2005 of using sexually suggestive language, making lewd remarks in class and during practices, and telling one teenage girl that he'd date her if she weren't a student. These weren't isolated quips; reports described a pattern of inappropriate comments that made the girls feel uncomfortable, objectified, and unsafe, like joking about their bodies or implying romantic interest in ways that crossed every professional boundary. Parents got involved, alerting administrators and pushing for action, but the district's response was tepid at best—they investigated internally but instead of reporting to authorities or revoking his credentials as required under Texas mandatory reporting laws for reasonable suspicion of abuse, they allowed what officials later called a "graceful exit." McFarlin resigned quietly, receiving a neutral recommendation letter that omitted any mention of the allegations, essentially wiping his slate clean to move on without consequence. This decision wasn't made in a vacuum; it reflected the intense pressures districts face in football-crazed Texas, where coaches are often treated like local heroes, and firing one outright could invite union battles, defamation claims if the evidence wasn't ironclad, or community backlash that disrupts seasons and booster funding. So McFarlin walked away with his teaching certificate intact, free to seek new opportunities without any red flags following him. Fast forward to 2008: He lands a coaching job at Port Arthur Independent School District, about 20 miles away in the same region, after passing a background check that came up empty because Orangefield hadn't documented or shared the complaints. For three years, he taught and coached without incident—or at least none reported—but in 2011, the other shoe dropped: McFarlin was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old female student from his school. The relationship allegedly started with grooming—flirty texts, special attention during class—and escalated to multiple sexual encounters that exploited his position of authority. The victim came forward, leading to his arrest on charges of sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between educator and student, both felonies under Texas law. The trial revealed damning evidence, including witness testimonies and communications that showed McFarlin abusing his role, resulting in his conviction in 2012 and an eight-year prison sentence, plus lifelong sex offender registration. But the story didn't end there—the victim's family sued both districts in 2013 under the case Truong v. Orangefield Independent School District, alleging negligence for "passing the trash" and enabling the abuse at Port Arthur through their silence. They argued Orangefield's neutral reference hid the 2005 complaints, putting their daughter directly in harm's way. While the exact settlement amount wasn't publicized, such cases often result in substantial payouts—similar to the millions seen in other Texas abuse suits—and the litigation highlighted Texas' pre-2017 gaps in reporting laws, where "boundary violations" weren't always flagged as abuse.  McFarlin's case didn't happen in isolation; it's emblematic of Texas' long-standing issues with educator misconduct, a state with one of the highest rates of teacher-student sexual relationships in the country, with over 2,500 charges since 2017 alone according to Texas Education Agency data, yet thousands more cases end in "administrative separations"—quiet resignations without charges or reports that allow predators to relocate. A 2016 USA Today Network investigation, which featured McFarlin prominently, uncovered hundreds of similar instances nationwide, where abusers hopped jobs after cover-ups, and in Texas, the probe revealed districts like Orangefield prioritizing reputation over safety, especially in sports programs where coaches wield outsized influence and football is king. Parents and victims in McFarlin's orbit have shared gut-wrenching stories of the lasting impact: The 16-year-old from Port Arthur endured not just the abuse but the trauma of testifying in court, facing cross-examination that questioned her credibility—a common tactic in these cases that revictimizes survivors—and dealing with lifelong trust issues, anxiety, and relationship difficulties that stem from the betrayal.  Back in Orangefield, the six girls from 2005 felt validated by the conviction but frustrated that their warnings went unheeded, with one anonymous victim telling reporters she felt "dismissed" when administrators downplayed her complaints as "misunderstandings," a minimization that's a hallmark of "passing the trash" where districts label behaviors as "poor judgment" rather than potential grooming to avoid mandatory reporting. This case ties directly to the series themes: Like the coaching abuses in Oregon's St. Helens scandal (Episode 8) or the multi-state shuffles in Gregor's story (Episode 5). The fallout was significant—McFarlin served his sentence and was released on parole around 2020, but his case catalyzed change, contributing to Texas Senate Bill 7 in 2017, which cracked down on educator-student relationships by expanding investigations, toughening penalties (up to 20 years for felonies), and mandating disclosures of prior misconduct during hiring. Governor Greg Abbott signed it, calling it a step to "protect our children from predators," but as we saw in Episode 2 with McGann, gaps remain in enforcement.  On X, parents rage about "coach worship" in Texas, sharing stats like the 429 educator arrests for child sex crimes from 2014-2018 and calling for zero tolerance. Watch to see how sports enable cover-ups and what we can do to stop it—hit subscribe for more shocking revelations that will change how you view school safety!  Hashtags: #ClassroomCoverup #CoachCoverUp #TexasFootballScandal #McFarlinExposed #SchoolPredator #IgnoredComplaints #TeacherAssault #ProtectTeenGirls #TrueCrimeCoach #PassingTheTrashTexas Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Artificial intelligence is quickly transforming the educational landscape.  AI offers immersive learning experiences, opportunities for enhanced engagement, and increased accessibility for students in the classroom.  Listen as Dr. Ann Lê discusses how AI is changing education and how school systems can learn to embrace this technology.   This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Sheppard Spouses' Club. To learn more, visit https://sheppardspousesclub.org/.   Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.   Show Notes: Resources:   AI Tools:   Khanmigo https://www.khanmigo.ai/   Magic School https://www.magicschool.ai/   Eduaide https://www.eduaide.ai/   Gradescope https://www.gradescope.com/   Curipod https://curipod.com/   Speechify https://speechify.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooh4FHBTOh4GidnMpckbi5XKM8sfkHS4qwRUI_cZoU4_mEPx11X   Bio: Dr. Ann H. Lê is a visionary Special Education Consultant and advocate with over two decades of service and leadership in education. Through her consulting practice, Lê Consulting, she partners with families, educators, and institutions to improve outcomes for students with disabilities by offering expert guidance in areas such as behavior intervention, inclusive practices, and compliance.   Her career spans a wide range of roles, including special education teacher, educational diagnostician, ARD facilitator, behavior specialist, and Assistant Director of Special Education, each grounded in a deep commitment to equity, access, and student-centered practices.    Dr. Lê holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education from Sam Houston State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience, Pre-Law, and Pre-Medicine from Baylor University. In addition to her academic credentials, Dr. Lê is a certified Principal as Instructional Leader and Educational Diagnostician, and holds multiple Texas educator certifications, including in English as a Second Language (ESL), General Education, and Special Education.   A published author and sought-after speaker, Dr. Lê has presented on topics ranging from restorative practices and mental health to school discipline and leadership. She serves on several doctoral dissertation committees and advisory boards, including those at Sam Houston State University and Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges education, public policy, and health, making her a trusted voice across sectors.   In recognition of her impact, Dr. Lê was named the 2023 Distinguished Educator of the Year by Sam Houston State University, where she also served as the honored commencement speaker. While she currently serves as Manager of the Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs Unit at the Texas Education Agency—overseeing initiatives such as the Military-Connected Students Program and Purple Star Campus Designation—her insights on this podcast reflect her personal and professional experiences as an educator.   Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed during this session are solely those of Dr. Ann H. Lê and do not represent the stance of the Texas Education Agency.

The AISD has submitted its turnaround plan for some of its failing schools to prevent the Texas Education Agency from taking over the entire district, the controversial Sunrise homeless center in south Austin is getting closer to finding a new location and Texas Governor Greg Abbott remains confident that the 10 Commandments bill that recently passed will survive a legal challenge from the ACLU.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Texas Education Agency will run the Houston public schools until 2027 and Beto O'Rourke is considering a run for public office in 2026? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday's show: We dig deeper on the Texas Education Agency's grades for Texas schools for the 2022-2023 school year, which were just released after a 19-month legal battle between the TEA and districts that sought to prevent their release. The agency gave HISD a C grade for that period.Also this hour: A local union wants to see an increase in the minimum wage for Houston hotel and airport workers, arguing they're not seeing the benefits of the area's growing number of visitors. We learn more about what they want and how it could impact that industry.Then, from bobblehead hoarding at a recent Astros game, to a driverless car that stopped driving, and (at least according to its passengers) wouldn't let them out, we ask our non-expert panel to weigh in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we talk with composer Missy Mazzoli about her opera adaptation of the Lars von Trier film Breaking the Waves, which explores heavy topics through a contemporary lens. The production is on stage at Houston Grand Opera thought May 4.

Dobie Middle School gets a brief reprieve from the Texas Education Agency, local community leaders are trying to tamp down on the youth violence rising in Travis County and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is demanding documents from Plano ISD in relation to the EPIC City development.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multiple school districts in Texas are pushing back against the state after the Texas Education Agency released performance ratings for school districts, the Austin Police Oversight Committee has released a report saying complaints against police are on the rise and an appeals court has ruled in favor of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his lawsuit against cities that have approved marijuana decriminalization ordinances. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After lawsuits and a long delay, the Texas Education Agency releases rankings for schools in the Lone Star State. The school rankings are more than just an indicator of how well students are doing, they can have ripple effects on the schools themselves, as well as on housing prices and more. KERA’s Bill Zeeble joins […] The post How Texas schools fared in long-awaited TEA accountability grades appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Former Austin ISD School Board Trustee Noelita Lugo joins Sharyn and Cuitlahuac in conversation about how she went from Pease Elementary School parent fighting closure, to becoming an elected member of the board. Former Trustee Lugo also details the scope and limitations of a trustee working under different superintendents and administrations. The conversations also centers Special Education services in the district and the current situation with the Texas Education Agency monitor.

The latest on Tina Peters and how you can help.PLUS - Getting rid of Texas Education Agency? Levi Fuller walks us through a bill filed by Hopper that would eliminate this bureaucracy.

Podcast host Greg Jefferson and education reporter Melissa Manno delve into the school district's decades of dysfunction and what the Texas Education Agency is doing about it. Suggested reading: New leader has a plan to transform South San ISD: less money for central office, more for teachers South San ISD given chance for turnaround as Texas replaces school board 'A new era': TEA replaces South San ISD superintendent, trustees after decades of dysfunction 'A history of dysfunction': South San's troubled culture could trigger board removal Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when we give students the tools to restore relationships rather than simply punishing behavior? In this week's episode, AJ Crabill, Senior Coach at Student Led Restorative Practices, shares with us how community circles build belonging, mediation circles resolve conflicts, and restorative circles address harm. Tune in to learn why these approaches better serve student success and how you can implement them in your own spaces.RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Connect with AJ on LinkedInVisit www.StudentLedRP.org to learn more about student-led restorative practicesGet your copy of AJ's latest book: Our Tools They Deserve: Why Adults Choose Retribution, How Students Can Practice RestorationWant to open your dream school with the freedom you deserve and the support you need?Visit https://openmyschool.my.canva.site/rebelkaipod to learn more about our partnership with KaiPod Learning and get help opening your dream school!Learn more about the Rebel Project Literacy Curriculum, a fully integrated literacy and project based learning curriculum, at  projectup.us or inkwire.co/rplc Get your copy of Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms Where Impact and Imagination MeetLearn more about Rebel Educator, explore our professional development opportunities for educators and students, and check out our project library.Visit us at UP Academy to learn more about our personalized and inclusive learning environment.Connect with Tanya and UP Academy on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram and learn more about her journey here.GUEST BIO:Airick Journey "AJ" Crabill is the Senior Coach at Student Led Restorative Practices and serves as the Director of Governance for the Council of the Great City Schools where he leads school board supports for the nation's largest urban school systems. Improving student outcomes is his relentless focus. His passion to improve student outcomes is rooted in his past: bounced in and out of foster care, he attended eleven different schools as a child. Guided by the idea that student outcomes don't change until adult behaviors change and drawing on his intimate familiarity with the triumphs and terrors of America's safety nets for children, he has devoted much of his adult life to advocating for the well-being of the United States' most vulnerable youth.He recently served as the Conservator at DeSoto (TX) Independent School District. During his guidance, DeSoto made double digit literacy gains and improved from having F ratings in areas of academics, finance, and governance to the district earning B ratings. He served as Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency and he spearheaded reforms as board chair of Kansas City (MO) Public Schools that doubled the percentage of students who are literate and numerate and, eventually, led KCPS to full accreditation for the first time in decades. He received the Education Commission of the State's James Bryant Conant Award, which recognizes extraordinary individual contributions to education and is the author of, "Great On Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Become Effective." His new book, "Our Tools They Deserve: Why Adults Choose Retribution, How Students Can Practice Restoration" is about a fresh approach to school behavior that focuses on equipping students with the tools they need to succeed—both in school and beyond.Enjoying the show? Leave us a rating and review and help more people find us!bit.ly/RebelEducatorApplePodcastsWe'd love it if you could take a few minutes to fill out this survey to let us know how we can bring you the best possible content: forms.gle/JcKHf9DHTZnYUmQr6 Interested in being on the Rebel Educator podcast? Fill out this form and we'll reach out to you if we think you'd be a great fit for an upcoming episode. https://forms.gle/CZJXLQDdevPh22ZN7Want to learn more about opening your own UP Academy? Check out the Rebel Educator Accelerator:www.rebeleducator.com/courses/the-acceleratorMORE ABOUT THE REBEL EDUCATOR PODCAST:In each episode of the Rebel Educator podcast, I deconstruct world-class educators, students, and thought leaders in education to extract the tactics, tools, and routines that you can use as teachers and parents. Join me as we discuss how to shift the classroom, the learning environment, the mindset, and the pedagogy, to resist tradition, reignite wonder, and re-imagine the future of education.This podcast is dedicated to all of the educators who work thankless hours to make our next generation the best it can be.  It was designed to begin conversations on how we can redesign education for the future of work and the success of our students.  It is meant for teachers, students, administrators, homeschoolers and anyone who interacts with and teaches youth. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Send us a textTEXAS LAW DAWGS!!!!  Join Dray, Stilly, Phil, and Brandon on a heavy political ep.  Normally we don't talk about it but why not?  We open up gentle on current events and get into a little bit of it all.  What is the DOGE? Where is our $ going? Russia and Ukraine, The Texas Education Agency, standardize testing, something about Columbia, and WHERE IS OUR $$$$ GOING?!!!!  All that and a little more in this episode! LAW DAWGS!!!!

The Texas Education Agency is investigating a school district and Elon Musk describes Trump derangement syndrome. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Border Czar Homan gave AOC a warning and the Texas Education Agency might be abolished? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A North Texas Republican wants to abolish the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. Freshman state Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur, filed House Bill 2657, a proposal to transfer the powers and duties of the Texas Education Agency and the education commissioner to the State Board of Education, TEA's policy-making body. In other news, the Texas Senate gave unanimous approval Thursday to proposals to cut property taxes by raising the Texas homestead exemption to $140,000, sending the measures to the House; a Texas judge on Thursday ordered a New York doctor to pay more than $100,000 in penalties for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas, a ruling that could test “shield laws” in Democratic-controlled states where abortion is legal; and how did a North Texas bookstore get so popular, so quickly? Dallas-Fort Worth's newest romance bookstore, The Plot Twist, is off to a steamy start. And just in time for Valentine's Day. When the Denton shop opened in January, nearly 800 romance readers huddled in the chilly Texas weather on grand opening weekend, waiting to meet a few of their favorite authors. The Plot Twist owners, the mother-daughter duo Dawn Conner and Darci Middleton, opened The Plot Twist because they shared a love for romance novels and was created for those who read new romance novels, from contemporary to fantasy to young adult to dark and salacious. It's a big time for “romantasy” and BookTok. Fiction and nonfiction saw a slight decline in sales between 2023 and 2024, but science fiction and fantasy were up. They took a leap of faith to open up their shop and it seems to be working: Books are flying off the shelves so fast, the mother-daughter duo is restocking shelves during business hours to keep up. If you'd like to check them out, The Plot Twist Romance Bookstore & Bar is at 227 W. Oak St., in Denton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Congressional Democrats are railing against the abdication by the Congress of their control of federal purse strings to the unelected Elon Musk, including Austin Congressman Greg Casar:https://www.reddit.com/r/QuiverQuantitative/s/gNFR33sfZS...And Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett:https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/02/12/first-doge-committee-hearing-showcases-partisan-divide-over-elon-musks-role/Big money is very much running the show lately not only in D.C., but also back here in Texas, where the push to Christianize our public schools is in full swing at the Lege:https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/13/texas-speaker-race-house-tim-dunn-dustin-burrows/...Texas Republicans have filed multiple House and Senate bills that would criminalize the teaching of basic reproductive biology via sex-ed lessons in our public schools, including the arrest of teachers:https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2025-02-14/texas-gop-gets-creative-in-crusade-against-sex-education/...Freshman State Rep. Andy Hopper wants to eliminate the Texas Education Agency altogether:https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-lawmaker-files-bill-abolish-texas-education-agency/The Gaines County measles outbreak has grown to 24 cases, all unvaccinated:https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/science/measles-vaccination-texas.html...And all 100% preventable:https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2025/02/13/west-texas-measles-outbreak-spreads-among-unvaccinated-residents/We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! See a great essay on this year's celebration, happening amidst so much turmoil, and a listing of related events happening across Texas:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/black-history-month-2025-celebrating-texas-culture⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Check out a terrific essay for Black History Month by Progress Texas Institute Board Chair Louis Bedford:⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/trickle-down-diversity-doesn%E2%80%99t-work⁠⁠The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Progress Texas is now ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts worldwide for listenership - thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/progress-texas-podcasts-progress-texas-pHdPjbaN-7B/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

An additional 60 Texas educators are under investigation for potentially securing teaching certifications through a cheating ring, state officials said Thursday. The new probes by the Texas Education Agency bring the total number of educators accused of fraudulently obtaining certifications to roughly 160. In other news, North Texas native Scott Turner is taking charge of the federal department responsible for supporting affordable housing at a time when high rents and home prices remain a top concern of inflation-weary Americans. Turner addressed the workers he now leads Thursday as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, saying, “we have to find long-term solutions to make homes affordable, to spur business creation, to create economic opportunity for every American family.”; the global battle for the future of artificial intelligence has begun in Texas. OpenAI is expanding its push to construct data centers as a $500 billion “Stargate” initiative with the U.S. government takes shape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us a textWith the holiday break just around the corner, join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell for a timely look at the latest developments in education technology. From exciting AI advancements to shifts in curriculum policy, this episode captures the key trends shaping the future of learning.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:16]

The SPEDTalk team talks to Kim Brannan of the Texas Education Agency. They discuss "one site to rule them all" and how this great resource is helping educators save time while getting what they need.

A possible government shutdown looming with an Oct. 1 deadline. With the backdrop of elections, how might this story unfold? UT-Austin political science professor Sean Theriault talks about a perennial issue of government funding and where its headed. Bible stories in the classroom? The Texas Education Agency is getting a lot of feedback and blowback […] The post Proposed school curriculum with Bible stories nears vote appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.