Ten-Minute Top Ten

In episode 7 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and guest Heather Finley, Teacher Recruitment and Retention Specialist at the Georgia Department of Education, discuss how the Office of Rural Education and Innovation (REI) supports district and school leaders. Ms. Finley describes several initiatives underway related to educator recruitment, preparation, and professional growth. The episode’s focus on educator apprenticeships and Grow Your Own recruitment strategies aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024.

For more on this topic, download the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

• The Office of Rural Education & Innovation
• Grow Your Own Educators (New America)
• How States Can Support Teacher Apprenticeship (Learning Policy Institute)

In episode 6 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and guest Dr. Traci Redish, Associate Dean at Kennesaw State University’s Bagwell College of Education, discuss how educator preparation programs (EPPs) can partner with school systems to prepare teacher candidates for the classroom. Dr. Redish highlights five innovations underway at Kennesaw State and offers her opinion on how EPPs could support teacher education post-pandemic. The episode’s focus on innovative practices aligns with Issue 6 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024.

For more on this topic, download the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

• EdQuest Georgia Priority: Educator Recruitment and Preparation
• Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
• KSU Avatar Lab
• KSU Innovation Lab

In episode 5 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and guest Sue Parr, President and CEO of the Augusta Metro Chamber, discuss the Students2Work program, an initiative that provides paid work-based learning experiences for Richmond County high school students. Our guest highlights the benefits for interns, employers, and school district leaders providing career pathways programming. 

For more on this topic, download the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

• Augusta Metro Chamber
• Students2Work FAQs

In episode 4 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research and guests Cheryl Oldham (US Chamber of Commerce) and Tim Cairl (Metro Atlanta Chamber), discuss the important role that chambers of commerce play in linking education and economic development. Our guests share how the networking and relationship building opportunities that the US Chamber provides has improved the Metro Atlanta Chamber's capacity to serve its members in the talent development space.

For more on this topic, download the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch. 

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

• America Works Initiative
• Metro Atlanta Chamber 2023-24 Public Policy Agenda

In episode 3 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Sr. Policy Analyst with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and guest, Dr, Tim Sass of the Metro Atlanta Policy Lab for Education, discuss the findings from a recent study he conducted on Metro Atlanta student outcomes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more on this topic, download the 2022 Top Ten Issues to Watch Report.

In episode 2 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Sr. Policy Analyst with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and guest, Dr. Ventura Rodriguez of Education Resource Strategies (ERS), discuss the ways his organization is helping school and district leaders more effectively leverage their resources.

For more on this topic, download the 2022 Top Ten Issues to Watch Report.

In the inaugural episode of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Sr. Policy Director of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and guest, Gina Adams, Sr. Fellow, Urban Institute, discuss the challenges surrounding access early learning and childcare, particularly for low-income families and families of color.

To learn more, check out these additional resources:

• Assessing Child Care Subsidies through an Equity Lens (Urban Institute, September 2021): Written by Gina and her colleague Eleanor Pratt, this research report served as the basis for our discussion, particularly that how subsidy programs are designed could reinforce, rather than relieve, barriers to childcare access.
• Navigating Child Care and Employment in the Era of COVID-19: Parents and Caregivers Tell Their Stories (GEEARS, June 2022): This focus group report demonstrates the need for a comprehensive system of supports for families with young children, including health, education, and community supports.
• Georgia Child Care Market Rate Survey 2021 (Care Solutions, Inc. for Department of Early Care and Learning, January 2022): The report estimates the cost of weekday childcare by region, accounting for childcare subsidies and the Quality Rated level of the learning center. The report highlights access challenges in rural areas and the higher cost of childcare for infants and toddlers attending three-star learning centers.