What happens when visit the hallways of a school district that's making waves?

You get conversations rooted in heart, honesty, and the kind of impact that can't always be measured.

In this episode of Driving Education, Katie travels to Gulf Shores to see how this district embodies the very best of what's possible in public education.

You will get to hear from teachers who share:

• What great teaching really looks like day-to-day
• How relationships drive everything
• The joy, the challenge, and the responsibility of the work

It's about purpose.
It's about people.
It's about the moments that remind us why we stay in the car and keep driving.

What happens when educators stop asking, "How do we teach this standard?" and start asking, "How can students experience this in the real world?"

In this episode of Driving Education, Katie sits down with several Teachers of the Year from Gulf Shores City Schools to talk about how project-based and place-based learning are transforming classrooms.

You'll hear stories about students:

• Growing lettuce in hydroponic systems that supply their school cafeterias
• Developing original recipes and cooking hundreds of servings of soup
• Building hydroponic systems with no instructions
• Learning geometry through creative construction projects
• Studying science and history while kayaking along the Gulf Coast

The educators also share what it takes to make this kind of learning possible—supportive leadership, strong community partnerships, and a belief that students should be the ones doing the work.

From gardens and greenhouses to culinary labs and coastal waters, this conversation reminds us that the most powerful learning happens when students take ownership of their work and see how it connects to the real world.

Because when students take pride in what they create, learning becomes something far bigger than a lesson—it becomes an experience.

Katie didn't plan to record this episode.

While leading professional development in Jefferson County, she unexpectedly ran into Dr. Ash Kaiser — the educator who, years earlier at Adamsville Elementary, planted a seed that transformed her classroom practice.

What started with chickens, gardens, and project-based learning became something deeper.

In this heartfelt conversation, Katie and Dr. Kaiser reflect on:

• The lasting influence of George Washington Carver

• Why problem-based learning begins with relationships

• The courage to take instructional risks

• The power of collaboration across schools and districts

• The "butterfly effect" educators create every single day

From soil science to servant leadership, this episode is a reminder that teaching isn't just about standards — it's about humanity.

The seeds we plant matter.

Guest: Dr. Ash Kaiser
Elementary Math Specialist, Jefferson County Board of Education

Referenced Inspiration:

• George Washington Carver

• Booker T. Washington

• Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University)

Key Themes:

• Problem-Based vs. Project-Based Learning

• Teacher-Student Relationships

• Community Partnerships

• Agricultural Literacy in Elementary Schools

• Growth Mindset & Servant Leadership

• The Butterfly Effect in Education

Valentine's Day is often about cards, candy, and grand gestures — but this episode is about something deeper.

In this special Valentine edition of Driving Education, Katie walks through the halls of Hoover High School where she witnesses the You Matter movement in action reminding every single student, staff and faculty member that their inherent worth is seen, and the world needs every single person, because every person matters.

Whether you're leading a school, teaching in a classroom, taking a test, playing an instrument, serving lunch, coaching a team, or pushing a broom, your presence makes a difference and you make the world SO MUCH BETTER solely because you are in it!

From the passenger seat to the long drive ahead, this episode is a love letter to the heart of every person.

Because the days can be hard.Because the road can feel lonely. Because in case you may forget...YOU MATTER!

In this episode of Driving Education, Katie sits down with Hailey Ridgeway from the Alabama State Department of Education — one of the brilliant minds behind ALEX (Alabama Learning Exchange).

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by standards, lesson planning, or finding high-quality resources that actually fit your students, this episode is for you.

Hailey pulls back the curtain on how ALEX has evolved into a powerful, teacher-centered platform — designed to help educators work smarter, not harder. From unpacked standards and vetted resources to collaborative sandboxes, AI-supported lesson planning, and interactive Sparkle activities, ALEX is changing how Alabama educators plan, teach, and collaborate.

In this conversation, you'll hear about:

• How ALEX supports teachers without telling them how to teach

• Why standards are a guide — not a curriculum

• The power of collaboration across schools and districts

• Using AI thoughtfully to support (not replace) teachers

• Why Alabama educators are trailblazers nationwide

This episode is a reminder that teachers are the number one predictor of student success — and the systems supporting them matter.

🎧 If you're an Alabama educator, this is an episode you'll want to bookmark.

Hailey Ridgeway

• Project Director, Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX)

• Alabama State Department of Education

• Advocate for teacher support and innovation

https://alabamalearningexchange.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@TeachWithALEX/playlists

In this episode of Driving Education, Katie welcomes Dr. Mackey for a joyful, thoughtful conversation about leadership, perspective, and what it means to show up fully — even when the road is hard.

Dr. Mackey brings humor, honesty, and heart as he reflects on leadership, resilience, and the importance of choosing joy in the work of education. From lighthearted moments to meaningful insights, this episode reminds us that how we lead — and how we live — matters just as much as what we accomplish.

In this conversation, you'll hear about:

• Why joy is a leadership strategy, not a bonus

• Showing up authentically in hard seasons

• Keeping perspective when the work feels heavy

• Leading people, not just systems

• Remembering why education is worth the long drive

🎧 This episode feels like rolling the windows down, turning the music up, and remembering why you started.

In this episode of Driving Education, Katie and Aubrey pull back the curtain on one of the most prestigious honors in education — the Milken Educator Award.

Often called the "Oscars of Teaching," the Milken is surrounded by secrecy, surprise, and speculation. But behind the mystery is something much deeper: exceptional educators doing extraordinary work every single day — without knowing who is watching.

This episode explores:

• Why the Milken Award is intentionally mysterious

• What the award truly recognizes (and what it doesn't)

• The unseen impact of excellent educators

• How recognition can elevate the profession

• Why great teaching is about the journey, not the spotlight

🎧This conversation is a reminder that excellence in education doesn't chase awards — it drives change, impact, and opportunity for students.

In this unforgettable episode of Driving Education, Katie sits down with Dr. Walter Gonsoulin — "Dr. G" — Superintendent of Jefferson County Schools, National Superintendent of the Year, and one of U.S. News & World Report's 25 Best Leaders in America.

Dr. G shares his extraordinary journey from a sixth-grade classroom in Louisiana to leading one of the largest school districts in Alabama — and onto the national stage. Along the way, he reveals a leadership philosophy rooted in humanity, trust, collaboration, and removing the "box" altogether.

Listeners will hear stories that define transformational leadership:

• How throwing a football eliminated discipline problems

• Why independence, belonging, and trust change school culture

• What it means to truly "see" students, teachers, and communities

• How collaboration across districts unlocked opportunity

• Why public education matters — and why public is the choice

From playground benches to national recognition, this episode is a masterclass in servant leadership, vision, and impact — and a reminder that education is, at its core, about people.

🎧 If you believe in the power of public schools and human-centered leadership, this episode is for you.

• From teaching sixth grade to leading a district the size of Rhode Island

• Why discipline problems disappeared when students were seen

• The power of collaboration across schools and communities

• Removing barriers and "no box" leadership

• Preparing students for real-world careers and opportunities

• Why public education matters now more than ever

Dr. Walter Gonsoulin

• Superintendent, Jefferson County Schools

• National Superintendent of the Year

• U.S. News & World Report Top 25 Leaders in America