Ten-Minute Top Ten

Rooted in Research: Lessons from the Georgia Policy Labs

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:09:46 +0000

In episode 21 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Dr. Daniel Kreisman, describes several projects underway at the Georgia Policy Labs, a research center located in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Matt and Daniel have a wide-ranging conversation on the state of research in the career pathways space and how state policymakers and business leaders can shape how school systems deliver career-themed instruction to high school students.

The episode’s focus on career pathways and work-based learning aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026. 

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

Rooted in Service: Lessons from the 2026 State Teacher of the Year

Tue, 19 May 2026 14:58:36 +0000

In episode 20 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Rachel Kinsaul spotlights how she designed hands-on learning experiences to prepare students interested in agricultural careers. During her tenure at Morgan County High School, Rachel has increased female participation in the agricultural education through the floral design program. In Spring 2026, Rachel led the Georgia Public Schools Day of Service, encouraging students to engage in community service projects. Rachel’s message of servant leadership inspires many of her students to enter careers in agriculture.

The episode’s focus on career pathways and work-based learning aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026. 

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

Promoting Business and Family Friendly Strategies in the Early Learning Space

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:34:45 +0000

In episode 19 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Hanah Goldberg, the Director of Research and Policy at the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), shares how the organization promotes community engagement. Dr. Goldberg identified cross-sector, community collaboration as a key component to sustain early care and learning strategies.

The episode’s focus on improving access to quality childcare aligns with the content covered in Issue 2 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026. 

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

Early Learning: The Importance of Community Awareness

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:13:10 +0000

In episode 18 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Megan Miller and Chelsea Owens from Child Care Resource & Referral of Southeast Georgia reveal how they support families and early care providers in their 40-county service area. Their message is clear: high-quality early learning drives economic development in communities.

The episode’s focus on improving access to quality childcare aligns with the content covered in Issue 2 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026. 

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

Reforming School Staffing Models to Improve Educator Satisfaction and Well-Being

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:25:44 +0000

In episode 17 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Tara Anderson shares how ERS, a Boston-based consulting firm, help state and district leaders rethink how they staff schools.

The episode’s focus on school staffing and teacher quality aligns with the content covered in Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025. 

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

Multi-Classroom Teams: How Redesigning School Staffing Improves School Outcomes

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:17:44 +0000

In episode 16 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Dr. Bryan Hassel and Ashley Williams share how the Opportunity Culture strategy allows districts to transform teaching and learning within the framework of current school budgets.

The episode’s focus on school staffing and teacher quality aligns with the content covered in Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025. 

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

Special Completion Schools: Forging Nontraditional Pathways for Young Adults to Succeed

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:13:41 +0000

In episode 15 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Dale Simpson, the superintendent of Foothills Regional High School, shares how his special completion school supports students who are at risk of not earning their high school diploma. Dr. Simpson identified one-on-one mentoring and career counseling as two areas that help students succeed.

The episode’s focus on improving workforce readiness aligns with the content covered in Issue 7 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025. 

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

College and Career Academies: Preparing Youth for Post-Secondary Opportunity w/ Elton Dixon

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 20:34:20 +0000

In episode 14 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Elton Dixon reveals how education and community leaders in Valdosta, Georgia created a regional college and career academy. The journey illustrates the importance of corporate involvement and community partnerships in expanding post-secondary options for youth.

The episode’s focus on improving workforce readiness aligns with the content covered in Issue 7 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025. 

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

Reflecting on the State of Public Education w/ Dr. Adrian Epps (Part #2)

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 20:32:08 +0000

Dr. Adrian Epps is a friend of the Georgia Partnership. He served as the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State University for four years. During his deanship, Bagwell led the state in the number of candidates who completed teacher education programs.

Upon his retirement, the Georgia Partnership reached out to ask if Dean Epps would share key lessons from his tenure and provide his unique perspective on the state of public education in Georgia. Our wide-ranging conversation resulted in the release of two episodes.

Part two focuses on engagement and resilience for current educators and features Dean Epps’ recommendations for how school and community leaders can rediscover the purpose of public education.

The episode’s focus on the future of public education aligns with the content covered in Issue 1 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025.

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

Check out these additional resources.

Reflecting on the State of Public Education w/ Dr. Adrian Epps (Part #1)

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 20:25:25 +0000

In part one of this episode, Dean Epps reflects on his leadership, highlights key achievements, and describes how he worked with school systems to expand Bagwell’s reach and impact.

The episode’s focus on improving educator quality aligns with the content covered in Issue 4 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025.

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

Check out these additional resources.

Supporting Student Success and Well-Being by Modeling Social and Emotional Skills

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:14:03 +0000

In episode 13 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Joy Schofield describes how the Hall County School District uses Dialectical Skills Groups (DSG) to equip students with the tools to regulate their emotions, practice mindfulness, and pursue healthy interpersonal relationships.

In this extended episode, Joy shares how school leaders executed the DSG strategy and describes how initial success allowed for expansion of supports to educators and parents. While originally intended as a behavioral intervention, teachers and school leaders report that the DSG strategy has improved school climate and parent and community involvement.

The episode’s focus on student emotions and well-being aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025.

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

Check out these additional resources.

Social Connection: The Fuel that Drives Learning

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:08:00 +0000

In episode 12 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Emily Rubin, a student engagement expert and professional development leader, outlines how teachers and school leaders can improve student engagement by fostering social and emotional connections.

The episode’s focus on building social and emotional connections aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025. 

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

Expanding Access to Quality Childcare through Community Partnerships

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:34:18 +0000

In episode 11 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matthew Smith, Director of Policy and Research, welcomes Shawnell Johnson to share how PAACT: Promise All Atlanta Children Thrive initiative supports families and early care providers. Ms. Johnson also identifies specific strategies that build public will for comprehensive child development strategies.

The episode’s focus on early learning aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 4 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024 and Issue 5 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025.

For more on this topic, download the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

Check out these additional resources highlighted during the episode.

· PAACT Website

· BOOST Scholarship Programs

Moving Early Learning Forward: The State’s Role

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:28:16 +0000

In episode 10 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Amy Jacobs, Commissioner of the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), updates listeners about new state investments that reduce class sizes, increase teacher pay, and fund grants to set up new classrooms.

The episode’s focus on early learning aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 4 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024.

For more on this topic, download the 2024 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

Check out these additional resources highlighted during the episode.

· House Working Group on Early Childhood Education Final Report

· Quality Rated Child Care Website

Mental Health and the Whole Child: Towards a Comprehensive Strategy

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:18:39 +0000

In episode 9 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and Judy Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children, discuss how a focus on mental health and wellness supports student success in learning and life. The episode’s focus on student mental health strategies aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024.

For more on this topic, download the 2024 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

To learn more about Voices, check out these additional resources:

Building an Integrated Behavioral Health System for Georgia’s Children and Families

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:25:00 +0000

In episode 8 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and guests Emily Anne Vall and Audrey Idaikkadar, discuss how Resilient Georgia supports regional leaders who are strengthening mental health partnerships across Georgia. The episode’s focus on student mental health strategies aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024.

For more on this topic, download the 2024 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

To learn more about Resilient Georgia, check out these additional resources:

State Efforts to Improve Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Rural Areas w/ Heather Finley

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:23:15 +0000

In episode 7 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and guest Heather Finley, Teacher Recruitment and Retention Specialist at the Georgia Department of Education, discuss how the Office of Rural Education and Innovation (REI) supports district and school leaders. Ms. Finley describes several initiatives underway related to educator recruitment, preparation, and professional growth. The episode’s focus on educator apprenticeships and Grow Your Own recruitment strategies aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024.

For more on this topic, download the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

The Office of Rural Education & Innovation
Grow Your Own Educators (New America)
How States Can Support Teacher Apprenticeship (Learning Policy Institute)

Power of Partnership: How Colleges of Education Can Support District Educator Talent Initiatives w/ Dr. Traci Redish

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:17:56 +0000

In episode 6 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and guest Dr. Traci Redish, Associate Dean at Kennesaw State University’s Bagwell College of Education, discuss how educator preparation programs (EPPs) can partner with school systems to prepare teacher candidates for the classroom. Dr. Redish highlights five innovations underway at Kennesaw State and offers her opinion on how EPPs could support teacher education post-pandemic. The episode’s focus on innovative practices aligns with Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024.

For more on this topic, download the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

The Students2Work program: Partnering on Career Pathways

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 17:24:00 +0000

In episode 5 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and guest Sue Parr, President and CEO of the Augusta Metro Chamber, discuss the Students2Work program, an initiative that provides paid work-based learning experiences for Richmond County high school students. Our guest highlights the benefits for interns, employers, and school district leaders providing career pathways programming.

For more on this topic, download the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

Chambers of Commerce: The Bridge Between Education & Economic Development

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0000

In episode 4 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research and guests Cheryl Oldham (US Chamber of Commerce) and Tim Cairl (Metro Atlanta Chamber), discuss the important role that chambers of commerce play in linking education and economic development. Our guests share how the networking and relationship building opportunities that the US Chamber provides has improved the Metro Atlanta Chamber's capacity to serve its members in the talent development space.

For more on this topic, download the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

Leveraging COVID Relief Funds to Accelerate Learning w/ Dr. Tim Sass of MAPLE

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 15:16:57 +0000

In episode 3 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Sr. Policy Analyst with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and guest, Dr, Tim Sass of the Metro Atlanta Policy Lab for Education, discuss the findings from a recent study he conducted on Metro Atlanta student outcomes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more on this topic, download the 2022 Top Ten Issues to Watch Report.

Funding - School Transformation on a Deadline w/ Dr. Ventura Rodriguez of Education Resource Strategies

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:50:42 +0000

In episode 2 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Sr. Policy Analyst with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and guest, Dr. Ventura Rodriguez of Education Resource Strategies (ERS), discuss the ways his organization is helping school and district leaders more effectively leverage their resources.

For more on this topic, download the 2022 Top Ten Issues to Watch Report.

Protecting Investments in Early Learning w/ Gina Adams of the Urban Institute

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 17:51:47 +0000

In the inaugural episode of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Sr. Policy Director of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and guest, Gina Adams, Sr. Fellow, Urban Institute, discuss the challenges surrounding access early learning and childcare, particularly for low-income families and families of color.

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

Assessing Child Care Subsidies through an Equity Lens (Urban Institute, September 2021): Written by Gina and her colleague Eleanor Pratt, this research report served as the basis for our discussion, particularly that how subsidy programs are designed could reinforce, rather than relieve, barriers to childcare access.
Navigating Child Care and Employment in the Era of COVID-19: Parents and Caregivers Tell Their Stories (GEEARS, June 2022): This focus group report demonstrates the need for a comprehensive system of supports for families with young children, including health, education, and community supports.
Georgia Child Care Market Rate Survey 2021 (Care Solutions, Inc. for Department of Early Care and Learning, January 2022): The report estimates the cost of weekday childcare by region, accounting for childcare subsidies and the Quality Rated level of the learning center. The report highlights access challenges in rural areas and the higher cost of childcare for infants and toddlers attending three-star learning centers.