Katie and Aubrey hit the road with former Alabama Teacher of the Year Jennifer Brown to visit Paul Bryant High School and see how Principal Hines has built a culture of trust, visibility, and growth. From walkthroughs to data tracking to student ownership, this episode is full of practical insight—and a little karaoke.

In this episode:

• Visiting Paul W. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa City Schools with Jennifer Brown

• How Principal Hines builds trust and visibility

• What daily walkthroughs look like—and why they work

• Students tracking their ACT pathway data

• Metacognition and ownership in every classroom

• The "Praise–Probe–Push" model for effective feedback

• The culture of celebration and high expectations

• The importance of teacher self-efficacy

• Road trip stories, J&J Grocery, and a little karaoke

Featured Guest:
Jennifer Brown, 2016 Alabama Teacher of the Year and educational consultant with Bailey Education Group

Locations Mentioned:

• Paul Bryant High School

• J&J Grocery (the best burger in Alabama)

Resources & Ideas Discussed:

• ACT pathway proficiency levels

• Classroom walkthrough structures

• Clear learning targets and student reflection

• Attendance and school culture initiatives

What if the "end game" of education isn't test scores or standards—but preparing students to thrive in Alabama's future workforce?

Katie and Aubrey dive into that big question with Valerie Curtis, Director of the Jacksonville State Regional Inservice Center. Valerie shares how partnerships with industry, regional STEM ecosystems, and K–12 collaboration are shaping what students need right now to be ready for the jobs of tomorrow.

They discuss:

• Why durable skills (communication, collaboration, adaptability, time management) matter more than ever

• How Alabama's industries—from logistics to healthcare to aerospace—are rapidly changing

• Why kids need real-world exposure starting in elementary school

• How teachers can model thinking, problem-solving, and communication daily

• What school leaders can invest in right now to move the needle

• Why every interaction in a classroom shapes Alabama's future

Packed with inspiration and practical ideas, this episode reframes workforce development as everyone's job—starting in kindergarten.

In this episode of Driving Education, Katie and Aubrey ride along with Alabama's top tech leaders to explore how instructional technology is really about people—not devices. You'll hear from Angie Clark, Katie Maddox, and Molly Evans as they share stories of innovation, collaboration, unplugged backups, 3D printing prosthetics, and the human connections that make teaching powerful. Their message is clear: technology can enhance learning, but it will never replace the relationships that change students' lives.

Angie Clark, Region 7 Technology in Motion Specialist;
Katie Maddox, Director of Instructional Technology for Chilton County Schools; and
Molly Evans, Enrichment Specialist for Hoover City Schools.

• The evolution of classroom technology (iPads, Google Classroom, Chromebooks)

• What technology can and cannot replace

• The importance of in-person collaboration among tech leaders

• How Alabama's edtech network (ALET & ATIM) supports schools

• Building teacher confidence and encouraging risk-taking

• Preparing for outages with unplugged backup plans

• Real-world learning through 3D printing and biomedical engineering

• Why students need to "see themselves in the real world"

• The balance between innovation and student safety

• Human connection as the foundation of all teaching

Key Quote:
"Technology can enhance teaching — but it will never, ever replace the human behind it."

In this inspiring episode of Driving Education, Katie and Aubrey take a deep dive into the Let Grow Experience—a simple but powerful approach that builds childhood independence and reduces anxiety.

Katie shares how she piloted the Let Grow Experience with her first graders after learning that the antidote to anxiety is independence. The transformation in her classroom sparked interest across Alabama… including at Hoover High School, where student leaders decided to take the movement and run with it.

This episode features an energizing, authentic conversation with Hoover High's SGA President, Tyler Gullahorn, Senior Class President, Matthew Pitts, and JCO President, Hudson Jackman, along with their teacher sponsor, Jamey Nowlin. Together, they share:

• What Let Grow looks like inside a high school
• Why independence matters for mental health
• How students are creating their own goals — and competing to tackle them
• What happened when they introduced the movement to middle schoolers
• The real-world skills students realized they don't know yet
• How this is reshaping classrooms, leadership, and even parenting

From changing car batteries to navigating doctor's offices to reflecting on screen time, Hoover's students show what happens when young people are trusted, challenged, and empowered.

🎧 This episode is proof: when we "let go and let grow," kids rise — and the culture shifts.

In this powerful episode of Driving Education, Katie sits down with Lisa Keane — a licensed professional counselor, play therapist, and trauma expert — for a timely conversation about mental health in schools and what educators can do to support students and themselves.

Lisa shares insight from her 18 years of experience working with children and families, explaining how attachment, regulation, and connection play critical roles in learning. Together, Katie and Lisa explore:

• Why anxiety is higher than ever among students

• How "felt safety" impacts learning and behavior

• The importance of failure, independence, and resilience

• What educators can do to show up as regulated, grounded adults

• Simple, free tools like the Let Grow Experience that empower kids to take healthy risks

Aubrey joins in to reflect on the conversation — unpacking lessons on self-care, trust, and the idea that failure really is the best teacher.

🎧 Join us for real talk about the challenges facing today's classrooms and the hope that comes from connection, courage, and community.

In this first full episode of Driving Education, get to know Alabama's 2025-2026 Teachers of the Year — Katie Collins and Aubrey Bennett — as they share their journeys, inspirations, and classroom philosophies.

From elementary to high school, from two different large school districts, Katie and Aubrey open up about what drew them into teaching, what keeps them inspired, and how they're working to amplify the voices of educators across Alabama.

They talk about the power of connection, the importance of being "known" in the classroom, and the shared mission that drives all teachers — helping students grow, belong, and thrive.

Join the conversation, laugh along, and find hope in the real, unfiltered stories of two teachers who believe in the heart and future of education.

Let's keep driving education forward — together.

Welcome to Driving Education! In this first ride, Alabama Teachers of the Year Katie Collins and Aubrey Bennett hop in the Apple Car (yes, it really has a giant apple on it 🍎) and share how this whole podcast adventure began.

From fantasy football and karaoke favorites to heartfelt conversations about what drives educators forward, Katie and Aubrey open up about their shared passion for teaching, connection, and mental health.

Come along as they tell the story behind Driving Education — a podcast born from curiosity, collaboration, and a Chevy Traverse full of heart. Buckle up… it's going to be a meaningful ride.