Schools are being asked to solve problems they were never designed to fix.

In this episode, Dr. Sherri breaks down a new Iowa education bill and connects it to a much bigger issue: a system built around standardized assessments and federal funding pressures.

From screen time limits to snow days to preschool expansion, this conversation reveals why education keeps treating symptoms instead of solving the root problem—and what needs to change.

A student brings a gun to school, shoots a teacher, and takes his own life.

We call it “unpredictable.”
But inside classrooms, the signals are often already there.

In this episode, Dr. Sherri breaks down the gap between what schools see and what they actually do—from student behavior struggles to system breakdowns, to what structured success actually looks like.

This isn’t about three separate stories.

It’s about one issue showing up everywhere.

Take a minute and step behind the curtain.

In this first one-on-one interview, Dr. Sherri (Founder of Education That Matters) breaks down what’s actually happening when students start to struggle—and why so many never recover from it.

This isn’t about homework help.
It’s about clarity.

We talk about:
• what makes ETM different
• what the Academic Clarity Assessment actually reveals
• why students who “hate math” usually just don’t understand it yet
• and how confidence is rebuilt when learning finally makes sense

If you’ve ever looked at your child and thought, “I know they’re capable… so what’s going on?”
This conversation is for you.

Hosted by Gordie.co, this is the first of many behind-the-scenes conversations with Dr. Sherri.

In this comeback episode of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Education Edition, Dr. Sherri breaks her silence and tackles three stories shaping education right now:

The Good: A model of transparency and community engagement in Iowa — and why that’s how trust gets rebuilt.

The Bad: Why technology isn’t “just a factor” — it’s reshaping teen brains, attention, and long-term memory (growth is uncomfortable… grow anyway).

The Ugly: The hard truth about student safety — with at least seven school-linked incidents across multiple states in the last 10 days involving arrests or active investigations tied to exploitation or inappropriate conduct.

This is not a headline recap. It’s an educator’s reality check — built on trust, brain science, and protecting kids.

If you’re a student: if something feels off, tell a trusted adult immediately. If you’re stuck and don’t know where to start, you can message Dr. Sherri to help connect you to the right support.

Sources:

KTIV. (2026, February 26). Kingsley-Pierson community voices concerns over proposed 4-day school week.https://www.ktiv.com/2026/02/26/kingsley-pierson-community-voices-concerns-over-proposed-4-day-school-week/

MSN News. (2026). Doctors warn Senate that Gen Z cognitively underperformed previous generation; screen time could be to blame.https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/doctors-warn-senate-that-gen-z-cognitively-underperformed-previous-generation-screen-time-could-be-to-blame/ar-AA1W1qbl

MSN News. (2026). Huron middle school staff member arrested for possession of child pornography.https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/huron-middle-school-staff-member-arrested-for-possession-of-child-pornography/ar-AA1X4bt2

Yahoo News. (2026). Indiana school secretary charged along with husband in case involving student misconduct allegations.https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/indiana-school-secretary-charged-husband-235323546.html

Fox News. (2026). California middle school assistant principal nabbed in child sex sting.https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-middle-school-assistant-principal-nabbed-child-sex-sting

WOWT. (2026, February 4). Atlantic police investigating incident involving school staff member, students.https://www.wowt.com/2026/02/04/atlantic-police-investigating-incident-involving-school-staff-member-students/

KCCI. (2026, February 12). Atlantic school board fires staff member amid investigation.https://www.kcci.com/article/atlantic-school-board-fires-staff-member-facing-allegations-police-investigate/

South Dakota’s HB 1017 is aiming to address disruptive student behavior by allowing schools to move students to “alternative instruction.” On paper, it sounds simple — but the real-world implications for students, teachers, and long-term outcomes are anything but.

In this mini episode of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, Dr. Sherri breaks down:
• the good — acknowledgment of the behavior crisis
• the bad — implementation without direction
• the ugly — who alternative instruction really impacts
• and the quiet risk no one is talking about: the dropout pipeline

Sometimes the hardest students are the ones who need school the most.
Let’s talk about it.

In this special listener-requested episode of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – Education Edition, Dr. Sherri Rochel walks through the full story of first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner — the events leading up to the January 6, 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School, the warnings that were raised, and the systemic failures that allowed a preventable tragedy to occur.

This episode goes beyond the headlines.

We explore:

• Abby’s story as a teacher, not a statistic

• The documented warning signs and missed opportunities

• The criminal and civil legal outcomes

• The ripple effects this case has had on school safety, administrators, teachers, and families nationwide

And finally, we break it down through the GBU lens:
🟢 The Good — courage, instincts, and voices that spoke up
🟨 The Bad — systems that failed long before the shot was fired
🔴 The Ugly — what educators have been forced to normalize

This episode is about accountability, trust, and what it means when the people closest to children aren’t listened to.

Because Abby’s story isn’t just her story — it’s a warning for every school in America.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. And ask what must change.

This week on The Good, The Bad, The Ugly – Education Edition, Dr. Sherri looks at what’s happening inside teacher contract negotiations and labor tensions as districts head toward 2026.

This isn’t a surface-level news recap. It’s a grounded conversation about what these moments feel like for educators, students, and communities when communication stalls and escalation becomes the only remaining option.

🟢 The Good — A tentative contract agreement in Waterbury, Connecticut, shows what progress can look like when districts and educators stay at the table without escalation.
🔴 The Bad — In Anoka-Hennepin, Minnesota’s largest school district, teachers have set a potential strike date after months of stalled negotiations. Dr. Sherri shares insight from a direct conversation with Michelle Powers, a member of union leadership.
⚫ The Ugly — A broader pattern across districts where contracts may get signed, but trust doesn’t automatically return — and students feel that instability long before adults acknowledge it.

Michelle’s full conversation will be the first featured interview on Every Voice Matters, a new podcast launching in 2026 focused on slowing education stories down long enough to hear what’s really happening inside them.

This episode isn’t about choosing sides.
It’s about choosing sustainability.

If you’re an educator, parent, administrator, or community member navigating these moments, this conversation is for you.

Host: Dr. Sherri
Series: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly – Education Edition
Produced by: Education That Matters

In this episode:

🎧 Today’s GBU in Education: School Safety, Fentanyl, and Campus Violence

A real conversation for students, parents, and educators

Some days in education require us to slow down and talk honestly about what’s happening in the real world.

In this episode, Dr. Sherri Rochel walks through The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly in education — not as a news reporter, but as a caring teacher having the conversations students, parents, and schools need to have before crises happen.

This episode includes thoughtful discussion on:
• School safety and positive adult presence
• A 13-year-old middle school student and fentanyl exposure
• Why speaking up early can save lives
• The Brown University shooting and what it reveals about campus violence
• How students and adults can respond when something feels “off”

This is not fear-based content.
It is prevention-focused, trust-centered, and rooted in care.

🧠 WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS

School safety is not just about rules, drills, or security measures.
It’s about connection, awareness, and adults showing up before something goes wrong.

This episode is designed to help:
• Parents talk with kids about hard topics
• Educators think proactively about prevention
• Students understand when and how to ask for help

⚠️ CONTENT NOTE

This episode discusses:
• Drug exposure and fentanyl awareness
• School and campus violence
• Student safety and mental health

Listener discretion advised, especially for younger audiences.

🌱 KEY TAKEAWAY

Big change doesn’t start with headlines.
It starts with showing up, speaking up, and not staying silent when something feels wrong.

🔍 SEARCH KEYWORDS (Spotify SEO)

education podcast
school safety
fentanyl awareness
middle school safety
campus violence
college campus shooting
mental health in schools
parent education podcast
teacher perspective
student safety

Tonight’s Good, Bad & Ugly walks through an inspiring win for Career and Technical Education, a concerning spike in teacher shortages, and a hard truth about ongoing learning loss that parents deserve to understand.

In this episode, Dr. Sherri breaks down:

🌟 The Good: CTE programs expanding nationwide, with 32 states now reporting career-readiness indicators — giving students real-world skills, confidence, and purpose.

⚠️ The Bad: New data showing 1 in 8 teaching positions is unfilled or staffed by someone not fully certified — and how that impacts student learning.

💥 The Ugly: AP reports confirming students remain half a grade level behind pre-pandemic in reading and math, and why this gap persists.

If you’re a parent, educator, or school leader trying to make sense of what’s happening in education right now, this episode gives you the facts — and the context — you need.

Tune in, share with a friend, and join the conversation about what truly matters in our schools.

#Education #SchoolNews #TeacherShortage #LearningLoss #CareerAndTechnicalEducation #DrSherri #EducationThatMatters #ETMMethod

Today’s episode of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Education Edition dives into three stories shaping classrooms across the Midwest and the nation.

🟩 THE GOOD — Minnesota’s Attendance Boost
Minnesota schools are seeing early improvements in attendance thanks to relationship-centered supports like home visits, daily check-ins, and community partnership work. It’s a reminder that when adults show up consistently, kids do too.

🟨 THE BAD — Chicago’s $23.6M Travel Audit
A new watchdog report reveals Chicago Public Schools spent $23.6 million on staff travel over six years, including luxury hotels, international trips, and conferences flagged as “excessive” or “unsupported.” What happens when dollars meant for students don’t reach the classroom?

🟥 THE UGLY — South Dakota School Lockdown
A South Dakota elementary school went into lockdown after a student brought a weapon to school. No one was hurt, but incidents like this highlight the real safety concerns teachers and students face every day.

✨ Hosted by Dr. Sherri Rochel (@DrSherriRochel)
Breaking down education news in a way that’s warm, honest, and easy to understand — for parents, teachers, students, and anyone who cares about what’s happening in schools.

📚 Show notes & source links:
educationthatmatters.net

📺 Watch on YouTube:
youtube.com/@DrSherriRochel