After a 2-year hiatus, the Work Smarter, Not Harder podcast is back as we look back at our previous episodes with the Rewind episodes. In this season, hosts Brittany Alligood and Scott Holcomb from Wake County Public Schools’ Data, Research, and Accountability department revisit Season 1 to highlight lessons learned about program self-monitoring. As new members of the program accountability team, Brittany and Scott guide listeners through key conversations with educators and staff who navigated the self-monitoring process — sharing how they identified program needs, tracked implementation, and measured impact.

From first-time participants like Granvel Johnson of the Office of Equity Affairs to experienced practitioners, the series unpacks why monitoring matters and how it supports stronger outcomes for students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being. Listeners will hear practical insights into using data not just to document efforts, but to make programs more effective.

Beginning this fall, join the REWIND series to explore what worked, what was learned, and how monitoring can help every program succeed.

Podcast Music by Sasha Wilson, WCPSS student at Millbrook High School.