What can happen when you stop allowing fear to keep you in the background and begin stepping into the purpose God has placed on your life?

On this episode of The Conversation on The Write Team Podcast, host David Weaver reconnects with longtime friend and former colleague Kresha Lane for a conversation about education, faith, prayer, mentorship, writing, and discovering the calling behind your life experiences.

A Marshall, Texas native and longtime educator, Lane has spent much of her career working with at-risk students and young people facing difficult circumstances. Her passion is deeply personal, shaped in part by watching her own brother overcome struggles as a young man and by her belief that every child deserves someone willing to invest in them.

Today, that calling is expanding well beyond the classroom.

Lane discusses the creation of Baby Sisters’ Haven, a nonprofit designed to mentor and support at-risk youth; her vision for reconnecting churches, schools, families, and communities; and the need for ordinary adults to realize they already possess experiences and wisdom that can change a young person's life.

She also shares the story behind her 31-day devotional, From the Background to the Forefront of God’s Will, which grew from personal prayer journals and her own struggle to become more confident in publicly sharing her faith.

Throughout the conversation, Lane returns to one powerful idea: much of what God has accomplished in her life began with one small step of obedience at a time.

From education and mentorship to writing, prayer picnics, nonprofit work, and a growing desire to serve her hometown of Marshall, Lane's story is a testimony to what can happen when faith becomes action.

#TheConversation #TheWriteTeamPodcast #KreshaLane #Faith #Purpose #ChristianPodcast #ChristianLeadership #Prayer #Mentorship #Education #AtRiskYouth #MarshallTexas #EastTexas #Testimony #FaithInAction

The Write Team Podcast is a production of Write Team Services, LLC.

*This episode of The Conversation on The Write Team Podcast is brought to you by Stiles Electric of East Texas.

Who will win the 2026 Heisman Trophy? 🏆🏈

David  and Matt close out their college football preview on From The Press Box by revealing their preseason Heisman hopefuls—and somehow manage to select six completely different players.

The discussion also includes Miami playmaker Malachi Toney, Texas receiver Cam Coleman, and the debate over whether an elite quarterback makes his receivers better—or whether a game-changing receiver makes his quarterback look like a Heisman candidate.

But the predictions don't stop with the Heisman.

David and Matt also look at some of the biggest storylines they'll be watching throughout the 2026 college football season, including the ongoing SEC vs. Big Ten debate, the arrival of Lane Kiffin at LSU, and which struggling programs could become college football's next great turnaround story.

August predictions rarely survive an entire college football season—but making them is half the fun.

Who's your preseason Heisman favorite, and what storyline are you watching most closely in 2026?

#FromThePressBox #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootball2026 #HeismanTrophy #ArchManning #JeremiahSmith #JulianSayin #CJCarr #TrinidadChambliss #TexasFootball #OhioStateFootball #NotreDameFootball #MiamiFootball #SEC #BigTen

The Write Team Podcast is a production of Write Team Services.

*Support your local Write Team school district and your business with an INSANELY affordable monthly sponsorship of the podcast! Contact us to learn more!

*Thank you to our Write Team Podcast sponsors!

Who makes the 2026 College Football Playoff? 🏈🏆

David and Matt put their preseason predictions on the record as they build their projected 12-team CFP fields on From The Press Box.

The usual national powers are represented—but there are also some bold picks, potential sleepers and plenty of disagreement over which teams will still be standing when the regular season ends.

The discussion also examines the strength at the top of the field, including Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame, Miami, Oregon, Indiana and Georgia, and the potential first-round matchups that could emerge.

☘️ And then there's Notre Dame.

After the Fighting Irish finished 10-2 and still missed last year's 12-team playoff, David and Matt discuss the consequences of remaining independent. Should Notre Dame continue enjoying the benefits of independence while accepting a more difficult path into the CFP—or is it finally time for the Irish to join a conference?

Nobody knows what the 2026 playoff bracket will actually look like in December. That's exactly why making the picks in August is so much fun.

Who are your 12 CFP teams—and who are we leaving out?

#FromThePressBox #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootball2026 #CFP #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFPPredictions #TexasFootball #OhioStateFootball #NotreDameFootball #IndianaFootball #GeorgiaFootball #TexasTech #TexasAMFootball

The Write Team Podcast is a production of Write Team Services.

*Support your local Write Team school district and your business with an INSANELY affordable monthly sponsorship of the podcast! Contact us to learn more!

*Thank you to our Write Team Podcast sponsors!

Who wins the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 in 2026? 🏈🏆

On this segment of From The Press Box, David Weaver and Matt Paul make their 2026 college football conference championship predictions, picking potential title-game matchups, champions and sleeper teams capable of disrupting the race.

🔥 SEC: Both see Texas vs. Georgia as the matchup to beat—but they disagree on the winner. Meanwhile, South Carolina and Texas A&M could emerge as "sleeper" teams worth watching.

🌹 Big Ten: What about defending national champion Indiana? Can Matt Campbell quickly turn Penn State back into a contender?

🌴 ACC: Miami is the clear favorite, but picking its opponent isn't nearly as easy. We are also fascinated by what James Franklin could build at Virginia Tech.

🌵 Big 12: Texas Tech and Kansas State headline the discussion, with the Red Raiders entering the season with major expectations. Can Tech finish the job, or will sleeper Kansas State emerge on top? And don't sleep on Kansas.

The guys also discuss why conference races have become increasingly unpredictable in the NIL and transfer portal era—and why the difference between a preseason favorite and an October disappointment can be razor thin.

Who are your 2026 conference champions?

#FromThePressBox #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootball2026 #SEC #BigTen #Big12 #ACC #TexasFootball #GeorgiaFootball #OhioStateFootball #OregonFootball #MiamiFootball #TexasTech

The Write Team Podcast is a production of Write Team Services.

*Support your local Write Team school district and your business with an INSANELY affordable monthly sponsorship of the podcast! Contact us to learn more!

*Thank you to our Write Team Podcast sponsors!

The 2026 AP Preseason College Football Poll is out—but do preseason rankings really mean anything before anyone has played a game? 🏈

On this segment of From The Press Box, David Weaver and Matt Paul put the official poll aside and build their own 2026 College Football Preseason Top 10.

Both agree on one major point: defending national champion Indiana deserves to begin at No. 1 until somebody knocks the Hoosiers off. From there, however, the debate begins.

🏆 David & Matt's Preseason Top 10

David has Texas at No. 3, believing this may be Steve Sarkisian's best roster yet, while Matt goes Big Ten-heavy at the top with Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon occupying his first three spots.

The biggest disagreement comes near the bottom of the rankings, where David puts Texas A&M at No. 8 while Matt remains skeptical after the Aggies' 2025 season.

And ultimately, that's the fun—and the problem—with preseason polls: nobody has played a game yet.

So who belongs at No. 1? And which team is being overrated or underrated before the 2026 season even begins?

#FromThePressBox #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootball2026 #APTop25 #CollegeFootballRankings #IndianaFootball #OhioStateFootball #TexasFootball #TexasAMFootball #TexasTech #OregonFootball #GeorgiaFootball

The Write Team Podcast is a production of Write Team Services.

*Support your local Write Team school district and your business with an INSANELY affordable monthly sponsorship of the podcast! Contact us to learn more!

*Thank you to our Write Team Podcast sponsors!

Football is back—and From The Press Box is kicking off the season with our complete 2026 College Football Preview! 🏈

David Weaver and Matt Paul break down the teams, players and storylines they’ll be watching as another college football season gets underway. Who belongs in the preseason Top 10? Which teams will win the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12? And when the dust settles, who will make the 12-team College Football Playoff?

David and Matt reveal their own preseason Top 10 rankings before making conference championship predictions and identifying sleeper teams that could shake up the national picture.

Among the biggest questions: Can Indiana defend its national championship? Is Ohio State the team to beat? Can Texas finally get past Georgia and win the SEC? Is Texas Tech ready to sustain control the Big 12? Can Miami build on last season’s national championship appearance?

They also debate Notre Dame’s independent status, make their early Heisman Trophy predictions, examine whether the Big Ten has surpassed the SEC, and identify programs that could be poised for a major resurgence.

Plus, what will Lane Kiffin at LSU look like? Can Texas A&M take another step? Could Navy become a CFP contender? And which former powers could become college football’s next great turnaround story?

The predictions probably won’t all be right—but that’s what makes August fun!

Topics include: 2026 college football predictions, College Football Playoff projections, SEC predictions, Big Ten predictions, Big 12 predictions, ACC predictions, Group of Six contenders, Heisman Trophy candidates, Texas Longhorns, Ohio State Buckeyes, Indiana Hoosiers, Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Miami Hurricanes, Texas A&M Aggies, LSU Tigers and more.

#FromThePressBox #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootball2026 #CFP #CollegeFootballPlayoff #SEC #BigTen #Big12 #ACC #HeismanTrophy #TexasFootball #OhioStateFootball #IndianaFootball #TexasTech #NotreDameFootball #TheWriteTeamPodcast

The Write Team Podcast is a production of Write Team Services, LLC.

"From The Press Box" on The Write Team Podcast is sponsored by Stiles Electric of East Texas.

After nearly a decade in the classroom, Terra Croley reached a defining moment: She loved teaching, but she also wanted the freedom to be fully present for her son.

In this episode of The Conversation, host David Weaver talks with Terra about teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating grief and depression, and recognizing when it was time to make a change. Terra explains how faith gave her the courage to leave her comfort zone, pursue a new path and become a mentor to other women seeking greater purpose, flexibility and freedom.

It’s an honest conversation about motherhood, mental health, teacher burnout, entrepreneurship and trusting God when the next step feels uncertain.

The Conversation features real talk with real people making a real impact. 

#TheConversation #TheWriteTeamPodcast #TerraCroley #TeacherLife #TeacherBurnout #WorkingMoms #PresentMotherhood #MentalHealth #WomenInBusiness #ChristianPodcast #FaithOverFear #EastTexas

The Write Team Podcast is a production of Write Team Services, LLC. Learn more about us at writeteamservices.net.

The Write Team Podcast is also sponsored by Stiles Electric of East Texas.

A new school. Improved facilities. New students. And a new chapter for Elysian Fields ISD.

In this episode of School House Rocks, host David Weaver visits with Elysian Fields ISD Superintendent Amy Dickson as the district prepares for one of the most exciting school years in its history.

At the center of that excitement is the opening of the brand-new Elysian Fields Elementary School. Years of planning, community support, bond work, construction, and patience will culminate with students walking through the doors of the new campus for the first time this school year.

But the elementary school is only part of the story.

Dickson discusses renovations and improvements across the district, including work at the high school and field house, and the advantages of bringing EFISD's campuses together in one centralized area. The changes are reshaping the district physically while creating new opportunities for students, educators, and families.

The conversation also explores Elysian Fields' decision to accept transfer students and what it means to become a rural school district of choice in East Texas.

Elysian Fields doesn't need to become a large district to thrive. Its size is one of its greatest strengths. Educators know their students personally and can help individual children discover paths in academics, athletics, fine arts, career and technical education, skilled trades, and beyond.

It's a vision of rural public education built around opportunity without sacrificing community.

As a new school opens its doors and EFISD welcomes new students and families, there may be no more exciting time to be an Elysian Fields Yellow Jacket.

#SchoolHouseRocks #TheWriteTeamPodcast #ElysianFieldsISD #ElysianFields #EastTexas #RuralEducation #TexasEducation #PublicEducation #SchoolChoice #DistrictOfChoice #NewSchool #EducationLeadership #StudentSuccess #CTE #YellowJackets

What makes a school district more than just a collection of campuses?

For Hallsville ISD Superintendent John Martin, it comes down to people, relationships, leadership, and a community that genuinely cares about its schools and students.

In this episode of School House Rocks, host David Weaver sits down with Martin as Hallsville ISD prepares to begin another school year. A 1987 Hallsville High School graduate, former coach and teacher, principal, administrator, and now superintendent, Martin reflects on more than three decades in education and what it means to lead the school district he once attended as a student.

The conversation explores what allows Hallsville to maintain its small-town identity while serving as a growing 5A school district, how strong leadership teams are built, and why Martin believes great leaders don't have to be the smartest people in the room—they need to surround themselves with talented people and empower them to lead.

Martin also discusses Hallsville ISD's new administrative structure, including dedicated principals for the fifth- and sixth-grade campuses, along with major facility improvements and future projects designed to better serve students and staff.

At the heart of the conversation is Hallsville ISD's theme for the new year: “Be the One.”

For Martin, that means recognizing that every educator and staff member has an opportunity to be the person who makes a lasting difference in a student's life.

And ultimately, he says the true measure of success isn't found only in grades, test scores, or graduation ceremonies. It's found years later when former students become successful adults, parents, employees, and contributing members of their communities.

#SchoolHouseRocks #TheWriteTeamPodcast #HallsvilleISD #BeTheOne #EducationLeadership #SchoolLeadership #PublicEducation #TexasEducation #SchoolCulture #EducationalLeadership #StudentSuccess #CommunitySchools #EastTexas

How do you change the culture of a school district?

For Smackover-Norphlet School District Superintendent Bo Smith, it starts by getting students, educators, administrators, families, and the community believing they can accomplish something greater together.

In this episode of School House Rocks, host David Weaver sits down with Smith as Smackover-Norphlet prepares for another school year. Smith discusses the district's dramatic academic improvement, including its progress from what he describes as roughly D-level performance before his arrival to a B—and a district now setting its sights even higher.

But the transformation goes well beyond test scores.

Smith discusses changing expectations among students and staff, building trust across communities brought together through consolidation, recruiting and retaining quality educators, preparing teachers before students ever enter the classroom, and creating a culture where everyone understands their role in student success.

The conversation also explores major facility improvements—including new artificial turf at Buckaroo Stadium and a planned gym renovation—along with growing athletic and fine arts programs, the remarkable success of Smackover's championship cheer program, and the district's preparation for future enrollment growth.

Through it all, Smith emphasizes a simple philosophy: don't become comfortable, don't become complacent, and keep chasing better.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, school board member, coach, parent, or community leader, this episode demonstrates what can happen when an entire school community begins pulling in the same direction.

#SchoolHouseRocks #TheWriteTeamPodcast #EducationLeadership #SchoolCulture #SmackoverNorphlet #ArkansasEducation #PublicEducation #SchoolLeadership #StudentSuccess #EducationalLeadership #SchoolImprovement #CommunitySchools #ChasingBetter