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.

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

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.