In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna is joined by Johnny Key live from the Excel in Ed Conference in New Orleans for a conversation with Richard Woods, Georgia’s elected State School Superintendent.

Woods reflects on his path from classroom teacher to statewide office sharing how the post No Child Left Behind era pushed him to focus on what he felt was missing most: talking about kids, not just tests. Now entering his 12th year in office and running for a fourth term, he describes what it takes to stay relevant, energized, and centered on student outcomes over multiple terms.

The conversation explores Georgia’s push to strengthen early literacy, including the rollout of new K–12 literacy standards grounded in the science of reading. Woods shares early results from Georgia’s federally identified CSI schools, where coaching support modeled after Mississippi’s approach has driven initial gains and is now being replicated more broadly across the state.

Woods also discusses Georgia’s comprehensive approach to school safety—not only hardening buildings through cameras, SROs, and facility design collaboration with first responders, but also addressing the “question behind the question” through mental health supports, stronger inter-agency coordination, and telehealth access in rural communities.

Key Moments

06:12 "Importance of Reading for Kids"

09:57 "Focusing on Kids' Basic Needs"

11:14 Prioritizing School Safety and Readiness

17:15 "Teaching the Peach Initiative"

18:05 Addressing Teacher Retention Challenges

21:45 "Improving Literacy Through Accountability"

24:49 "Integrating Subjects for Deeper Learning"

Connect with Richard Woods

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-woods-52571849/

Website: https://www.gadoe.org/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna is joined by Strategos Group Partner Johnny Key for a live conversation from the Excel in Education Conference in New Orleans with Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education for the state of Tennessee.

A major focus of the conversation is literacy. Reynolds explains Tennessee’s commitment to the science of reading, the importance of early literacy benchmarks, and how statewide implementation from teacher preparation to instructional materials and tutoring has helped drive improvement. She emphasizes that literacy is foundational not only to academic success, but to students’ long-term economic and life outcomes.

The episode also explores assessment and accountability, including Tennessee’s A–F school grading system, the push for clearer and faster data reporting, and how states can use assessment results to support not punish schools and educators. Reynolds discusses how Tennessee is reimagining high school accountability through a “Future Ready” lens that values college, career, and military readiness.

The conversation closes with a hopeful outlook on Tennessee’s educators, school leaders, and students and a fun piece of trivia: Mountain Dew originated in Tennessee, originally created as a whiskey mixer.

Key Moments

00:00 Tom Luna on leadership, accountability, and Swimming Upstream

01:08 Introducing Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds live from New Orleans

01:43 Reynolds’ path from federal education policy to Tennessee leadership

04:32 Implementing Tennessee’s A–F accountability system

07:34 Why literacy and the science of reading matter long-term

10:03 Tutoring, teacher prep, and instructional support statewide

15:13 Assessment, ESSA waivers, and accountability going forward

17:42 Future Ready Tennessee: rethinking high school outcomes

21:43 Using assessment data to individualize instruction

24:10 What gives Reynolds hope for Tennessee’s students

25:39 Tennessee trivia: the origin of Mountain Dew

Connect with Lizzette Reynolds

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzetteg

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna sits down in New Orleans at the Excel in Education Conference with Senator Lori Den Hartog, Senate Majority Leader from Idaho, to explore how education policy, school choice, and government accountability intersect especially in a fast-growing state.

Sen. Den Hartog shares her personal story growing up on a dairy farm in rural Ada County and how that upbringing shaped her work ethic and her views on private property rights, regulation, and the real-world cost of government bureaucracy especially for small businesses and family operations.

The conversation then turns to education policy, where Den Hartog emphasizes the importance of transparency, especially since K–12 education represents a major portion of Idaho’s state budget. She explains why unclear funding flows make it difficult to track spending, measure outcomes, and defend policies ultimately limiting the state’s ability to evaluate what’s working.

Finally, Den Hartog explains the broader challenge legislators face: balancing education investments alongside transportation, healthcare, corrections, and other core state responsibilities while remembering that every dollar is taxpayer money.

Key Moments

00:00 Tom Luna intro + the “not rocket science… more complicated” line

00:41 Live from New Orleans: introducing Sen. Lori Den Hartog

02:58 Growing up on a dairy farm + how it shaped her leadership

07:43 Growth, regulation, and why “time is money” for small businesses

10:46 Why education funding needs transparency and traceable results

13:06 Why school choice has always felt “normal” to her

16:41 Idaho’s refundable education tax credit: who qualifies + what it covers

22:07 Balancing education with roads, healthcare, and other state priorities

Connect with Lori Den Hartog

Website: https://www.dordt.edu/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, former Idaho State Superintendent and host Tom Luna sits down with Wendy Horman, Chair of the Idaho House Appropriations Committee and Co-Chair of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), to explore what it truly means to lead in education while swimming against the current.

Rep. Horman reflects on her journey from local school board service in the Bonneville School District to becoming one of the most influential voices shaping Idaho’s education funding and policy. Drawing on more than two decades of public service, she explains how asking hard questions, following the data, and challenging the status quo have guided her work at both the local and state levels.

The conversation dives deeply into education funding, accountability, and transparency. Horman explains how Idaho’s education budget has more than doubled over the past decade while student enrollment has grown modestly, and why fiscal policy is inseparable from education policy. She also outlines the major reforms to Idaho’s budgeting process, designed to increase accountability by separating base funding from new spending requests and requiring agencies to demonstrate results before seeking additional dollars.

Throughout the episode, Horman returns to a consistent theme: optimism rooted in students themselves. From her work with local schools to conversations with college students, she shares why the next generation gives her hope for the future of education in Idaho and beyond.

Key Moments

04:00 From school board service to the Idaho Legislature

08:55 Understanding Idaho’s education funding structure

11:52 Reforming the state budgeting and accountability process

16:35 Public education investment and school choice can coexist

19:23 Inside Idaho’s parental choice tax credit

24:56 What gives hope for the future of education

25:54 A surprising piece of Idaho education history

21:49 Kids Inspire Hope

Connect with Wendy Horman

Website: https://idahocapitalsun.com/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna sits down with Debbie Critchfield, Idaho’s elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, live from the Education and Excellence Conference in New Orleans.

The conversation focuses on what Critchfield has prioritized during her first term: expanding opportunity for rural students, strengthening career technical education (CTE), improving teacher preparation and support, and scaling a statewide literacy strategy built around the science of reading.

On literacy, she describes Idaho’s SMART coaching model and statewide alignment of curriculum, teacher training, and administrator readiness. She shares early outcomes from Idaho’s K–3 reading assessment efforts, including statewide gains and standout schools seeing dramatic growth.

The episode also touches on Idaho’s broad landscape of school choice, and Critchfield offers a measured perspective on the new tax credit program supporting parental choice while also pointing to transparency and accountability questions that will become clearer as implementation begins.

Key Moments

05:07 Unique Playground Ice Rink

07:38 "Immediate Graduation Requirement Implementation"

09:51 Career Tech Investment Initiative

14:36 Accelerating Student-Centered Funding Reform

17:35 Idaho's Literacy and Local Leadership

19:36 "Teacher Preparation Over Curriculum"

23:30 "Children: 100% of Our Future"

Connect with Debbie Critchfield

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-critchfield-b926446b/

Website: https://boardofed.idaho.gov

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, former Idaho State Superintendent and host Tom Luna sits down with Dr. April Grace, Executive Director and CEO of the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center (OPSRC) and one of Oklahoma’s most respected education leaders. With more than 35 years in public education—including recognition as Oklahoma’s 2021 Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Grace brings deep experience in district leadership, HR, instructional design, policy development, and statewide system building.

Tom and Dr. Grace dive into the critical challenges facing Oklahoma schools today, beginning with OPSRC’s mission to expand access, innovation, and academic achievement across all public schools—particularly in rural communities and small districts that often lack back-office capacity, legal support, or high-quality professional development. Dr. Grace explains how OPSRC delivers free training, leadership development, technical assistance, and grant-supported resources to ensure every student—no matter their ZIP code, has access to strong instruction and meaningful opportunities.

A key focus of their conversation is the teacher pipeline crisis. Dr. Grace highlights Oklahoma's registered teacher apprenticeship program, a “grow-your-own” strategy helping paraprofessionals and community members earn degrees while working in schools. She also discusses OPSRC’s mentorship program for early-career teachers and the need to expand multi-year support to strengthen retention.

The episode also explores literacy, AI, career pathways, and how Oklahoma schools are reimagining learning through aviation academies, VR science programs, and innovative technology tools built with safety and personalization in mind.

Key Moments

04:29 Teacher Apprenticeship Policy Updates

09:24 "Expanding School Choice Opportunities"

12:23 "AI and Evolving Education"

16:27 "Prioritizing K-2 Foundational Skills"

20:19 Oklahoma Schools Embrace Aviation Programs

21:49 Kids Inspire Hope

Connect with Dr. April Grace

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-grace-ed-d-21705b2a/

Website: https://www.ou.edu/

In this episode of "Swimming Upstream" host Tom Luna, sits down with Aimee Guidera, Virginia’s Secretary of Education, live from the ASU GSV conference in San Diego. As Guidera approaches the end of Governor Youngkin’s administration, she reflects on the challenges and achievements of transforming education in Virginia—a state with the unique constraint that its governor serves only one term.

Guidera shares deep insights into her role overseeing education from early childhood through higher ed, emphasizing the urgent need for breaking down silos and preparing students for today’s rapidly evolving workforce. She highlights the innovative use of labor market data through the Virginia Office for Education Economics (VOE), which equips students, families, and institutions with actionable information to create responsive education strategies and align academic plans directly with regional job demands.

Listeners will hear about Virginia’s overhaul of academic standards in core subjects, the process of benchmarking against national best practices, and the state’s renewed commitment to educational transparency. Guidera and Luna discuss the tough but vital decision to confront an “honesty gap” in student achievement reporting and the shift toward accountability systems focused on real outcomes rather than compliance.

Guidera wraps up by sharing little-known facts about Virginia, adding a touch of state pride and history to this thoughtful and inspiring episode. Perfect for education leaders, policymakers, and anyone passionate about student success and innovation in public policy.

Key Moments

04:39 Virginia: Top State for Business & Education

07:54 Empowering Informed Education Paths

10:36 Enhancing Educational Standards Nationwide

15:26 Challenging Misguided Perceptions

17:58 Empowering Parents Post-COVID

19:16 Enhancing Parent-Teacher Data Sharing

23:16 Student Support: A Three-Legged Stool

27:25 Virginia Launches Job Support Initiative

29:13 Exploring Data’s Impact and Value

Connect with Aimee Guidera

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-guidera-27a2646

Website: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna sits down with Cheryl Carrier, Executive Director of Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL), for a thought-provoking conversation recorded live at the ASU+GSV Summit. With a career rooted in public education and corporate innovation, Carrier brings a unique lens to one of education’s biggest challenges: how to make high school relevant for every student.

Carrier shares the origin and evolution of the Ford NGL model—a nationally recognized framework designed to transform teaching and learning through career-themed academies that connect schools with local businesses, civic leaders, and community stakeholders. Drawing from years of implementation across diverse regions—from rural Idaho to urban Nashville—Carrier outlines Ford NGL’s three-part transformation framework and its five-phase roadmap, offering a blueprint for sustainable, community-driven school reform.

This episode dives deep into how Ford NGL helps districts shift from siloed instruction to collaborative, real-world learning environments that spark student engagement, boost graduation rates, and create stronger pathways to college, career, and life. Carrier also opens up about her personal connection to the work, her roots in Michigan's auto industry, and the formative experiences that shaped her passion for authentic education.

Key Moments

05:10 Career Academy Model Benefits Students

08:35 Self-Discovery and Career-Aligned Academies

11:15 Transforming Education Through Collaboration

13:43 Navigating Education Policy Barriers

18:52 "Community Feedback on Transformation"

21:00 "High-Level Executive Community Tracks"

26:13 "Success of Career Academy Model"

27:18 Community and Hands-on Learning

30:15 Rural Education Challenges

33:33 Community-Driven Educational Change

Connect with Cheryl Carrier

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-carrier-fordng

Website: https://fordngl.com/cheryl-carrier/