Midterm elections are just around the corner. What resources do Michigan residents have that provide a nonpartisan view of what to expect when they show up to the polls this November? Craig Thiel from the Citizens Research Council of Michigan joins us to discuss ballot proposals spanning redistricting, voting rights and marijuana legalization. 

Gretchen Whitmer, Democratic gubernatorial nominee for the 2018 governor's race, joins us this episode to share education views as they relate to her platform. What's her plan to boost K-12 education in Michigan with limited resources to go around? Tune in to this episode to hear more!

Michigan has some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. What does that look like from a public education perspective—from school aid penalties, building closures as a result of flu outbreaks and other factors that decreasing vaccination rates affect. Dr. Eden Wells, Chief Medical Executive for the state of Michigan and Nick Lyon, Director of Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services join us to discuss all of this and more.

What things are being done in other states around the country within school districts to address school safety concerns? What resources are lacking here in Michigan and what can be done to address these deficits? John Warner, Emergency Planning Coordinator for the Missouri School Boards Association joins us to discuss all this and more! 

Up until around 2010, the impact of childhood trauma wasn't fully understood. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Lara Slee, Director of Teaching and Learning for Waverly Community Schools, about what has been done to help children cope, as well as look at what still needs to be done when it comes to research and training surrounding trauma.

The research is clear that if a student comes to school hungry, they are prevented from learning on the level of other students. What isn't so clear is how we ensure kids have adequate food. Michigan Food Bank Council Executive Director Phil Knight joins us in this episode to discuss this very issue and more!

If you're a small business owner you are always on the search for talent. How does long-term educational attainment correlate to meeting the needs of small businesses? In this episode Small Business Association of Michigan President, and former school board member,  Rob Fowler joins us to discuss these very topics and more!

In this episode, interim State Superintendent Sheila Alles joins us to talk about her priorities to carry on the late Brian Whiston's fight for public education. With her 40-plus years of public education experience, she's armed and ready to discuss what's to come next from the Michigan Department of Education. 

Program proposals are constantly passing through the desks of local school districts. What ones warrant attention over others? In this episode, we sit down with two trainers from the Michigan Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative and talk about early intervention and positive behavior intervention systems. How do school boards play a part in this, and what matters when looking at data related to student success? 

What if you have a legislator who just doesn't hear you when it comes to your community's education issues? How can you be the catalyst for change? In this episode, we sit down with Government Relations staff from the Michigan Association of School Boards and Michigan Association of School Administrators to discuss the power of consistent advocacy and engagement in your legislative process.