After a hiatus since February 2024, the Ed's Not Dead team returns with a dynamic episode that blends personal reflections and critical discussions on the evolving landscape of education.

In This Episode:

• Personal and Professional Catch-Up: The hosts share updates on their lives and careers, reflecting on the events of the past year and the journey since the podcast's inception in 2017.

• Analyzing Linda McMahon's Nomination: A deep dive into the article "SecEd Nominee Linda McMahon Has the Right Background for the Job", discussing her qualifications, the potential impact on the Department of Education, and the broader implications for schools nationwide.

• The Role and Future of the Department of Education: An exploration of the department's current functions, the surprising number of employees, and the possible consequences of its reduction or elimination under a new administration.

Is it time to get rid of math? The guys debate the usefulness of math requirements (along with other public education requirements) in our schools today and what it might mean to think differently.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/06/end-useless-math-requirements/

Welcome back! The guys are back and just in time for a "year in review" session of the Ed's Not Dead podcast. During this episode, we discuss some of the articles listed below, and begin to touch upon the stories we think will be at the forefront of education news come 2024. Happy New Year!

Year in Education 2023 Review

January: Seizing on Parents' Frustration, GOP Governors Push for Education Savings Accounts

February: Florida Just Became the Nation's Biggest School Choice Laboratory

March: Schools Still Pouring Money Into Reading Materials That Teach Kids to Guess

April: Teen Mental Health Crisis Pushes More School Districts to Sue Social Media Giants

June: Due Process, Undue Delays: Families Trapped in NYC's Decades-Long Special Ed Bottleneck

July: COVID Recovery Has Stalled for Most Students

August: New Study: Schools Prioritizing Social-Emotional Learning See Strong Academic Benefits

September: ChatGPT Is Landing Kids in the Principal's Office, Survey Finds

November: Six Hidden (and Not-So-Hidden) Factors Driving America's Student Absenteeism Crisis

December: Sales Skyrocket for Phone Pouch Company as In-School Bans Spread

For our first official episode of our 7th year on the pod, we welcome veteran Ed's Not Dead guest, Phyllis Fagell on the pod. Phyllis is a licensed clinical professional counselor, certified professional school counselor and journalist.

We discuss her most recent book, Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times, what's changed since her last appearance on the pod, and what's next for middle school life.

Buy Phyllis' book via her website: https://phyllisfagell.com/ or anywhere you get your books!

Follow Phyllis on Twitter https://twitter.com/Pfagell and Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/phyllislfagell/

Big shout out to Tom Siddons at Sleepy Lizard Avocado Farm in Florida! Buy your avocados and mangoes today via his website @ https://www.guacfarm.com/home

The gang is back...for an hour LOL

After a lengthy hiatus due to personal and professional obligations, the dudes are back in force.

The dudes discuss the recent Hugh Hewitt piece on banning smartphones in school, catch up on the year in review, talk about summer plans, and what's next for the Ed's Not Dead team (hint: Ed is DEFINITELY not dead)!

The Superintendent Series (Part 2 with Dr. Monifa McKnight)

The Series continues with Ed's Not Dead's examination of the courage and lived experiences of school system leaders and the successes and challenges of public school systems. We'll be interviewing three courageous leaders who are leading their school systems to better days after three immensely difficult years. This episode features Dr. Monifa McKnight, Superintendent of the Montgomery County Public School System in Maryland - the 15th largest school system in the nation.

Over the last two decades plus Dr. McKnight has served as a classroom teacher, staff development teacher, school based leader and middle school principal, led MCPS's program to develop school-based leaders, deputy superintendent, and now the first African American female superintendent in one of the premier school system's in the nation.

On today's pod, we welcome a very special guest in our Superintendent Series with Dr. Darryl Williams, superintendent of the Baltimore County Public School system. Dr. Williams is a highly experienced and successful educational leader who has held a variety of important roles in public ed: from teacher to principal to superintendent, Dr. Williams has spent 30 plus years improving outcomes for students and we are so excited to have him on the pod!

We also discuss Stephanie Saul's piece about the NYU Organic Chemistry professor who was fired after students started a petition and shared their grievances about his teaching and communication styles. Who is to blame?

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/03/us/nyu-organic-chemistry-petition.html

The dudes have returned with gusto! They talk about the dreaded teacher shortage, teacher certification and degrees, and much more.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/09/13/teacher-requirements-shortage-jobs/

The gang also chats with Scott Joftus, co-founder and president FourPoint Education. FourPoint engages with school systems and leaders in the areas of school and district improvement, system reviews and strategic planning, and leadership development.

Joftus is also a member of the Montgomery County, Maryland board of education, the 14th largest school system in the United States.