What happens when girls are given the space to ask questions, explore their identities, and take action on issues that matter to them? In this episode, Ashley Steimer-King of Girls Learn International shares how young women are developing confidence, leadership skills, and a global perspective to become the next generation of changemakers.

Dr. Rebecca Winthrop of the Brookings Institution joins Education Insight to discuss why so many teens feel disconnected from school and what adults often misunderstand about disengagement. She explains the different “modes” of teens, from Passengers to Achievers to Resisters, and shares practical steps parents and educators can take to help young people re-engage. The conversation also explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in education and whether schools may be moving too fast without the right foundations in place.

In this episode of Education Insight, Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza discusses how the Coachella Valley Unified School District responded to recent student walkouts tied to national immigration protests. The conversation explores student voice, civic engagement, and how schools can prioritize safety while navigating complex and emotional moments.

In this episode of Education Insight, host Lacey Kendall speaks with Emily Kircher-Morris, counselor, educator, and expert on twice-exceptional learners. Together they explore what it means when students are both highly gifted and neurodivergent, why these children are often misunderstood in school, and how educators and parents can better support their unique strengths and challenges.

In this episode of Education Insight, we learn about the Give Something Back organization and its mission to support students facing homelessness, family instability, and trauma. Through mentorship, coaching, and long-term guidance, Give Back helps students build confidence, navigate college, and create pathways to a more stable future.

Dr. Karen Schreder of Chico State joins Education Insight to discuss how the North State Student Ambassadors Program empowers rural students to find their voice, build belonging on campus, and serve as bridges to their home communities. This conversation explores the unique challenges rural students face in college—and how intentional support can transform invisibility into leadership.

California Teacher of the Year Dr. Heather Povinelli joins Education Insight to reflect on what truly makes a teacher exceptional. A second-grade instructor at Bradoaks Elementary Science Academy, Dr. Povinelli shares how relationships, trust, and lived experience—including her perspective as an educator with dwarfism—shape the way she reaches students. This powerful conversation explores love, equity, high expectations, and the lasting impact of a classroom built on safety and connection.

Why are more families stepping away from traditional schools and choosing homeschooling? In this episode of Education Insight, Jamie Heston, Director of Outreach for the Homeschool Association of California, discusses the real reasons parents make the switch, the challenges they don’t expect, and the surprising benefits many families discover along the way. From socialization concerns to academic and emotional growth, we explore what homeschooling actually looks like today.

On this episode of Education Insight, host Lacey Kendall is joined by Brenda Payne, Executive Director of the California Invention Convention, for a conversation about the power of invention education and its impact on students across California. Drawing on her experience as a teacher, school leader, and statewide education advocate, Payne shares how invention education encourages students to identify real problems, experiment with solutions, and develop confidence through creativity and critical thinking.

The episode explores how students learn through the process of designing, testing, and presenting their inventions—and why moments of failure, iteration, and public presentation can be life-changing. Listeners will also hear how the California Invention Convention reaches tens of thousands of students each year and what it will take to ensure every K–12 student has access to learning experiences that nurture curiosity, resilience, and possibility.

Why All-Girls Schools Still Matter Today explores the educational and developmental needs of adolescent girls through a conversation with Dr. Barbara Ostos, Head of School at Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California. Hosted by Lacey Kendall, this episode examines how all-girls learning environments support academic confidence, leadership development, and whole-student growth—and why these models continue to play an important role in today’s education landscape.