Gov. Gretchen Whitmer presented her 2023-2024 budget to the Legislature on Feb. 8, 2023. Beth Bullion, M.P.A., Director for the Office of Education for the State Budget Office and Stephanie O'Dea, M.P.A., K-12 Education Policy Advisor for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer join us to discuss some highlights of the proposed budget and how it supports an equitable and exceptional education for all students.

Michigan schools aren't one-size-fits-all, and that means that it takes a team of advocates to represent their voices and needs. It's no wonder that there are numerous organizations centered around serving and advocating for their member districts. In this episode, Executive Director of the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity, Peter Spadafore, joins us to discuss how their organization supports districts with the greatest educational needs who have historically been underserved by the educational system.

Building and strengthening the board-superintendent relationship is one of the most important aspects of effective governance and with significant turnover in both areas, it's no easy task. In this episode, Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators Executive Director Tina Kerr, Ph.D. joins us to discuss strategies for strengthening relationships, working together cohesively and ways forward.

Representation at the national level has always been important to Michigan school board members and MASB. In this episode, we talk with new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer John Heim, Ph.D. from the National School Boards Association about his background and how the association is moving forward and pivoting to serve its members.

Representation at the national level has always been important to Michigan school board members and MASB. In this episode, we talk with new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer John Heim, Ph.D. from the National School Boards Association about his background and how the association is moving forward and pivoting to serve its members.

With a new calendar year underway, we look ahead to what 2023 may bring for Michigan public education. Joining us are Executive Directors Tina Kerr, Ph.D. from the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators, David Martell, CPA, CFO from Michigan School Business Officials and Wendy Zdeb from the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals.

It's our annual conversation with the Michigan Teacher of the Year—Nanette Hanson from Escanaba Public Schools is the 2022-2023 recipient. She shares a U.P. connection with MASB Executive Director Don Wotruba, CAE and talks about her surprise at being nominated as well as her strong belief in building relationships with her students' parents and social-emotional learning.

There are many organizations in the Michigan public education arena. We talk with the new Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, John Severson, Ph.D., about how we collaborate and listen at the state level, as well as how ISDs and locals work together for the common good of their communities.

We had the pleasure of speaking to the 2023 Michigan Superintendent of the Year Monica Merritt, Ed.D. from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. She shared some personal and district successes along with how she's handled contentious issues. From her experiences, she hopes any person or district can take the example she intentionally (or unintentionally) sets and use it in their lives or community.

Michigan's students deserve all the help, direction and opportunities they can get in education, employment and life. Youth Solutions, a nonprofit organization based in Benton Harbor, has been providing programs and services to equip young people with the skills to overcome barriers and succeed. Director of Strategic Operations Sonya Blanzy joins us in this episode to shed light on their mission and activities.