Praxis Journeys

Teacher recruitment often dominates the conversation, but what happens after educators enter the classroom?

In this episode of Praxis Journeys, host Vinay Ganti is joined by Mindy Hintze, Director of Partnership Programs and Success at ETS Praxis, to explore an often-overlooked challenge facing school districts: helping educators successfully complete certification requirements while balancing the demands of full-time teaching.

Together, they discuss how changing licensure pathways, alternative certification routes, and teacher shortages have created new workforce challenges for districts across the country. Rather than viewing certification as solely the educator's responsibility, districts are increasingly recognizing it as a critical workforce development and retention strategy.

The conversation highlights the innovative work of the Newark Board of Education, which has built a "Pathways to Teaching" program to help substitute teachers transition into full-time certified educators. Mindy Hintze shares lessons learned from supporting these educators, including common friction points, test preparation strategies, certification coaching, and the role technology and AI could play in providing scalable support.

In This Episode:

✅ Why certification should be viewed as a retention strategy
✅ The growing impact of alternative certification pathways
✅ Common barriers educators face during the certification process
✅ Lessons from Newark's Pathways to Teaching program
✅ Supporting substitute teachers on the path to full certification
✅ Pop-up testing centers and innovative test support solutions
✅ How AI-powered coaching could transform certification support
✅ Practical steps districts can take to reduce educator attrition

Whether you're a district leader, HR professional, educator preparation provider, or state policy leader, this conversation offers actionable insights on reducing certification barriers and building stronger educator pipelines.

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Paraeducators play a critical role in supporting student success, yet many districts continue to face challenges recruiting, developing, and retaining this essential workforce.

In this episode of Praxis Journeys, host Vinay Ganti sits down with Cory Galano, leader of the Praxis Paraeducator Program, to explore how districts and states are rethinking paraeducator recruitment, training, and professional growth. Together, they discuss emerging workforce trends, the growing importance of classroom readiness, and how innovative approaches such as career and technical education pathways are helping schools build stronger talent pipelines. 

The conversation also highlights the evolution from the longstanding ParaPro assessment to ParaPathways, along with new High-Leverage Practice learning modules designed specifically for paraeducators. These tools aim to help educators develop the skills, confidence, and support they need to thrive in today's classrooms. 

In this episode:

✅ Why paraeducators are receiving long-overdue recognition
✅ The biggest recruitment and retention challenges facing districts
✅ How CTE programs are creating new pathways into education careers
✅ The transition from ParaPro to ParaPathways
✅ Why classroom readiness matters beyond licensure
✅ The role of professional learning and workforce development for paraeducators
✅ Emerging strategies for teacher-para collaboration and student success 

Whether you're a district leader, HR professional, educator preparation provider, or advocate for expanding educational opportunities, this conversation offers practical insights into strengthening one of the most important and often overlooked parts of the educational workforce.

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What does it take to be successful in today's teaching profession?

For decades, educator licensure has focused primarily on measuring content knowledge. But as schools face persistent challenges around teacher recruitment, retention, burnout, and professional growth, education leaders are asking a broader question: What else matters?

In this episode of Praxis Journeys, host Vinay Ganti sits down with Vince Dean, Managing Director and General Manager of Praxis at ETS, to discuss the future of educator readiness and the innovative solutions being developed to support teachers throughout their careers. Together, they explore how emerging technologies, new research, and workforce development principles are helping educators build the skills needed to thrive in today's classrooms. 

The conversation covers a new generation of educator-focused tools designed to measure and develop critical areas beyond subject matter expertise, including AI readiness, professional ethics, durable skills such as communication and collaboration, and educator dispositions tied to resilience and long-term success. 

In this episode:

✅ Why content knowledge alone isn't enough for educator success
✅ The connection between teacher readiness and retention
✅ How AI is reshaping teacher preparation and professional development
✅ New approaches to educator ethics in an AI-powered world
✅ The role of durable skills like communication, collaboration, & critical thinking
✅ Educator dispositions and their impact on resilience and job satisfaction
✅ How simulations and AI are transforming professional learning
✅ The future of performance assessments and high-leverage teaching practices 

Whether you're a state leader, district administrator, educator preparation provider, or classroom educator, this episode offers a compelling look at how the profession is evolving and what it will take to prepare the next generation of teachers for long-term success.

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Districts can’t wait for long-term pipeline fixes while classrooms go unfilled. In this session, hear Dr. Yolanda Anderson is addressing teacher shortages with practical staffing strategies, including international recruitment for high-need roles and what it takes to expand your educator pipeline quickly.

In this episode of Praxis Journeys, host Vinay Ganti talks with Dr. Ingrida Barker, Superintendent of McDowell County Schools in West Virginia, about leading a rural district facing steep enrollment declines, dwindling tax revenue, and persistent teacher shortages. She reflects on her path from Latvia to West Virginia and the realities of navigating annual staffing cuts, school consolidation, and the financial constraints that shape local decision‑making. 

Dr. Barker also highlights the bright spots: a growing Grow‑Your‑Own teacher pipeline, expanding dual‑credit and CTE opportunities, strong partnerships for virtual learning, and comprehensive wraparound supports that help meet students’ basic needs. Her insights show how long‑term thinking, community commitment, and a belief that every child deserves a champion can drive meaningful progress, even in the most challenging circumstances.

In this episode of Praxis Journeys, host Vinay Ganti talks with Cina Lackey and Tori Del Toro from the Idaho Department of Education about the state’s innovative work to strengthen educator ethics. They discuss the importance of raising awareness of the Idaho Code of Ethics, providing practical resources like breach‑of‑contract and duty‑to‑report guidance, and using tools like ProEthica to spark meaningful conversations in schools.

Cina and Tori share common challenges, lessons learned, and emerging areas—including digital communication boundaries and future considerations around AI. Their insights highlight how clear expectations and open dialogue help protect students while supporting educators in making thoughtful, ethical decisions.

In this episode of Praxis Journeys, host Vinay Ganti speaks with Jimmy Adams, Executive Director of NASDTEC, about the rapidly changing landscape of teacher licensure, the national teacher shortage, and how states are rethinking educator mobility and teacher retention.

This episode explores major questions shaping the future of the profession, including:

• How the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact improves teacher mobility and reduces barriers for educators relocating across states
• Why teacher shortages are often really teacher distribution and retention challenges
• How different preparation pathways—traditional programs, alternative certification, residencies, and apprenticeships—impact teacher retention rates
• What supports new teachers truly need, including multi‑year mentoring, strong school leadership, and robust instructional coaching
• How licensure, educator preparation programs (EPPs), and state policy must evolve to better prepare and retain effective teachers
• NASDTEC’s early work to define what new teachers should know and be able to do to succeed on day one

Whether you’re a district leader, policymaker, educator preparation partner, or anyone following education workforce trends, this conversation provides a timely, insightful look at how licensure policy intersects with teacher quality, support systems, and long‑term retention.

In this episode of Praxis Journeys, host Vinay Ganti sits down with lifelong educator and superintendent Michael Lubelfeld for a candid conversation about the evolving landscape of K-12 education. Drawing on over three decades of experience, Michael shares his journey from classroom teacher to systems leader, emphasizing the importance of collaborative and networked leadership in overcoming the isolation often felt at the top.

Together, they explore how generative artificial intelligence is reshaping the skills needed for tomorrow’s workforce, referencing global trends and the World Economic Forum’s predictions for 2030. Michael discusses the challenge of preparing educators and students for rapid technological change, advocating for curiosity, coalition-building, and a multi-pronged approach to professional development.

Listeners will hear practical analogies that illuminate the balance between human and artificial intelligence in education. The episode closes with an inspiring story of student agency, as Michael describes how eighth graders in his district are stepping up to co-create technology policy and present at AI conferences.

Whether you’re an educator, leader, or lifelong learner, this episode offers actionable insights on embracing change, fostering authentic leadership, and amplifying student voice in a world transformed by technology.

In this inspiring episode, Praxis Journeys welcomes Dr. John B. King Jr.—former U.S. Secretary of Education, lifelong advocate for equity, and author of “Teacher by Teacher.” Dr. King shares his personal journey from a childhood shaped by loss and adversity to a career dedicated to championing educators and student success. Through heartfelt stories, he highlights the profound impact teachers have on individual lives and entire communities.

Dr. King reflects on the healing role of schools, the importance of mentorship, and the critical need for strong partnerships between families and educators. He discusses pressing challenges in education today, including teacher shortages, chronic absenteeism, and the evolving landscape shaped by technology and AI. Dr. King offers actionable insights on preparing and supporting teachers, building effective mentorship programs, and fostering career readiness for students.

This episode is a call to action for everyone invested in education—parents, teachers, policymakers, and community members—to work together in creating environments where every child can thrive. Dr. King’s optimism and practical wisdom will leave you inspired to make a difference, one student and one teacher at a time.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on October 7, 2025. The interview reflects Dr. John B. King Jr.’s personal views and was conducted in his personal capacity.