Ten-Minute Top Ten

In episode 25 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Marissa Brower, the CEO of the Catoosa College & Career Academy, shares how her district launched high-demand career pathways with the Georgia Northwestern Technical College and dedicated business partners. Marissa also highlighted how the academy supports student engagement and career readiness through a durable-skills curriculum called M.A.G.I.C.  

The episode’s focus on improving access to high-value career pathways aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026.  

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.   

Check out these additional resources. 

• Catoosa Career Pathways 
• College and Career Academy Program 
• Reengaging High School Students through Career Academies 

In episode 24 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Thomas Murray and Jenn Ellis from All4Ed describe how their Future Ready Pathways initiative helps district teams create coherent career pathways systems in the communities they serve. They highlighted the four pillars of the initiative, all of which Georgia’s leaders are addressing through the Top State for Talent approach.    

The episode’s focus on improving access to high-value career pathways aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026.  

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.   

Check out these additional resources. 

• Future Ready Pathways Website 
• District Spotlights 
• Top State for Talent Initiative 

In episode 23 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Dr. Nakia Towns and Ms. Jennifer Bronson, spotlight why tutoring is among the most impactful and promising instructional intervention for struggling readers. Both leaders at Accelerate, a national nonprofit that brings evidence-based practices to scale in public education by bridging gaps between policy and practice. Accelerate has supported the execution of state-level tutoring strategies by funding state education agency innovation and informing policymakers about the benefits of high-dosage tutoring.   

The episode’s focus on literacy and tutoring aligns with the content covered in Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026.  

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.   

Check out these additional resources. 

• Accelerate’s Model Policy and Cost Analysis Tool 
• Accelerate’s State Implementation Fund 
• You Get What You Pay for in Tutoring Implementation 

In episode 22 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Stephanie Snidarich describes what skills literacy coaches must master to deliver high-impact support to educators. As an Implementation Research Scientist, Stephanie has identified specific standards and competencies that should improve training and credentialing practices for literacy coaches.  

The episode’s focus on literacy coaching with the content covered in Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026.  

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.   

Check out these additional resources. 

• Deal Center Literacy Coaching Network 
• Deal Center Unified Literacy Coaching Project 
• Language as a Missing Link Toolkit 

In episode 21 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Dr. Daniel Kreisman, describes several projects underway at the Georgia Policy Labs, a research center located in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Matt and Daniel have a wide-ranging conversation on the state of research in the career pathways space and how state policymakers and business leaders can shape how school systems deliver career-themed instruction to high school students. 

The episode’s focus on career pathways and work-based learning aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026.  

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.   

Check out these additional resources. 

• Career and Technical Education Policy Exchange (CTEx) 
• Administrator Perspectives on CTE Staffing Challenges 
• SREB Commission on Career Pathways and Credentials 

In episode 20 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Rachel Kinsaul spotlights how she designed hands-on learning experiences to prepare students interested in agricultural careers. During her tenure at Morgan County High School, Rachel has increased female participation in the agricultural education through the floral design program. In Spring 2026, Rachel led the Georgia Public Schools Day of Service, encouraging students to engage in community service projects. Rachel’s message of servant leadership inspires many of her students to enter careers in agriculture. 

The episode’s focus on career pathways and work-based learning aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026.  

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.   

Check out these additional resources. 

• 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year Leads Statewide Day of Service 
• Georgia Work-Based Learning  
• Agricultural Education Curriculum Resources 

In episode 19 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Hanah Goldberg, the Director of Research and Policy at the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), shares how the organization promotes community engagement. Dr. Goldberg identified cross-sector, community collaboration as a key component to sustain early care and learning strategies.   

The episode’s focus on improving access to quality childcare aligns with the content covered in Issue 2 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026.  

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.   

Check out these additional resources. 

• GEEARS 2026 Policy Agenda 
• Promise All Atlanta Children Thrive (PAACT) initiative 
• Best Place for Working Parents Georgia 

In episode 18 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Megan Miller and Chelsea Owens from Child Care Resource & Referral of Southeast Georgia reveal how they support families and early care providers in their 40-county service area. Their message is clear: high-quality early learning drives economic development in communities.

The episode’s focus on improving access to quality childcare aligns with the content covered in Issue 2 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2026. 

For more on this topic, download the 2026 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources.

• Child Care Resource & Referral System
• The Economic Necessity of Child Care Infrastructure, Explained
• Childcare Innovation through Public-Private Partnerships

In episode 17 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Tara Anderson shares how ERS, a Boston-based consulting firm, help state and district leaders rethink how they staff schools.  

The episode’s focus on school staffing and teacher quality aligns with the content covered in Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025.  

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.   

Check out these additional resources. 

• Reimagining the Teaching Job 
• Teacher Turnover Trends 
• Finding Time for Collaborative Planning 

In episode 16 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Dr. Bryan Hassel and Ashley Williams share how the Opportunity Culture strategy allows districts to transform teaching and learning within the framework of current school budgets.   

The episode’s focus on school staffing and teacher quality aligns with the content covered in Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025.  

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.   

Check out these additional resources. 

• Opportunity Culture Strategy 
• Opportunity Culture Results 
• Virtual Site Visit 
• North Carolina Advanced Teacher Roles program