In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host and former Idaho State Superintendent Tom Luna sits down with Katie Jenner, Indiana’s Secretary of Education, to discuss the state’s bold initiatives to enhance education outcomes. Now in her fifth year leading the Indiana Department of Education, Katie shares insights into the state’s innovative policies aimed at improving teacher recruitment, modernizing graduation requirements, and driving student success.

Katie highlights Indiana’s groundbreaking Educator Supply and Demand Marketplace, a data-driven approach that connects schools with qualified teachers, addressing shortages in special education, STEM, and English language instruction. She also discusses the state’s transformative high school diploma reforms, designed to provide students with personalized pathways—whether through higher education, workforce training, or military service.

The conversation delves into Indiana’s remarkable gains in literacy, driven by research-based reading strategies, and the lessons the state is applying to improve math proficiency. Katie also shares Indiana’s role as a national leader in STEM education, boasting the country’s largest K-12 robotics competition.

Tune in to hear how Indiana is “keeping its foot on the gas pedal” in education and leading the way with data-driven reforms that ensure students graduate prepared for the opportunities ahead.

Key Moments

04:25 Educator Pipeline & Job Matching

09:05 Stagnant Education Amid Rapid Change

11:15 Indiana's 2024 Education Reform Debate

16:01 Relevance in Education Drives Success

18:07 Workforce vs. Higher Ed Skills

21:32 Adopting Mississippi's Literacy Success

24:44 Swimming Upstream Interview

27:30 Children: 100% Future Focus

Connect with Katie Jenner

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-jenner

Website: https://www.in.gov/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna sits down with James Lane, former Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction and a key leader in U.S. education. With a career spanning classroom teaching, district leadership, and senior roles in both state and federal education departments, Lane brings a wealth of experience and insight to the pressing challenges in education today.

Recorded at the ASU+GSV Summit, the episode highlights the intersection of innovation and leadership in addressing critical issues like the national teacher shortage. Lane discusses his current work with Educators Rising, a program under the PDK umbrella that aims to inspire high school students to pursue careers in education. By focusing on a "grow your own" model, Educators Rising seeks to address teacher shortages locally, empowering districts to recruit future educators from within their communities.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into Lane’s mission to build a sustainable teacher pipeline and his vision for the future of education. This episode underscores the importance of leadership, innovation, and collaboration in tackling education’s toughest challenges.

Key Moments

04:19 Band director transformed school program and became administrator.

08:52 Multiyear effort ensuring effective American Rescue Plan.

10:52 Left Biden Admin to foster future educators.

15:40 Focus on high school students becoming teachers.

16:49 Teacher quality is crucial; subject gaps persist, especially in STEM.

20:30 Passionate about teaching from a young age.

23:51 Appointed for a 4-year term, achieved goals despite COVID.

26:26 Children are the future; subscribe for more insights.

Connect with James Lane

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-lane-7b712066/

Website:https://education.virginia.edu/

In this episode Swimming Upstream, I'm your host,Tom Luna Tom Luna engages in an enlightening conversation with Gordon Jones, President of the College of Western Idaho (CWI), live from the ASU GSV Conference in San Diego. With a rich educational background spanning K-12 teaching to leadership roles at Ivy League institutions, Gordon shares his compelling journey and vision for CWI, one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the Boise region.

Gordon delves into the transformative impact of community colleges in today’s evolving educational landscape, emphasizing the urgency of making higher education both affordable and accessible. He highlights CWI’s groundbreaking new programs, such as the low-cost 4-year business degree tailored to meet the dynamic demands of Idaho’s workforce and the broader community. Together, they discuss how CWI’s forward-thinking initiatives are designed to foster public trust and drive generational change through innovation and empathy.

Listeners will be captivated by insights from the Harvard Innovation Lab and trends defying predictions about community college growth, as well as how CWI is uniquely positioning itself as a catalyst for economic and educational advancement. Whether you’re passionate about education reform or community-driven leadership, this episode offers valuable lessons for all.

Key Moments

00:00 Interview with Gordon Jones at the ASUGSV conference.

03:38 Harvard Innovation Lab: Global talent fostering cross-disciplinary ideas.

08:29 Many predictions are now respected amid education changes.

13:22 Community college growth defies trends, driven by demand.

16:26 Community colleges offer alternatives to 4-year degrees.

20:46 New Idaho business bachelor's degree approval pending.

21:53 Bachelor’s demand unmet; education ecosystem strengthens.

Connect with Gordon Jones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-jones-4967174/

Website: https://cwi.edu/