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 

In episode 15 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Dale Simpson, the superintendent of Foothills Regional High School, shares how his special completion school supports students who are at risk of not earning their high school diploma. Dr. Simpson identified one-on-one mentoring and career counseling as two areas that help students succeed.  

The episode’s focus on improving workforce readiness aligns with the content covered in Issue 7 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. 

• Foothills Website 
• Foothills Fast Facts 
• Scanning the Landscape of High School Alternatives 

In episode 14 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Elton Dixon reveals how education and community leaders in Valdosta, Georgia created a regional college and career academy. The journey illustrates the importance of corporate involvement and community partnerships in expanding post-secondary options for youth.    

The episode’s focus on improving workforce readiness aligns with the content covered in Issue 7 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. 

• One Valdosta Lowndes 
• College and Career Academy Model 
• State High Demand Career List  

Dr. Adrian Epps is a friend of the Georgia Partnership. He served as the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State University for four years. During his deanship, Bagwell led the state in the number of candidates who completed teacher education programs.  

Upon his retirement, the Georgia Partnership reached out to ask if Dean Epps would share key lessons from his tenure and provide his unique perspective on the state of public education in Georgia. Our wide-ranging conversation resulted in the release of two episodes.  

Part two focuses on engagement and resilience for current educators and features Dean Epps’ recommendations for how school and community leaders can rediscover the purpose of public education. 

The episode’s focus on the future of public education aligns with the content covered in Issue 1 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. 

• Supporting Family and Community Engagement in Schools 
• A New, Bipartisan Agenda for Raising Student Achievement 

Dr. Adrian Epps is a friend of the Georgia Partnership. He served as the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State University for four years. During his deanship, Bagwell led the state in the number of candidates who completed teacher education programs.  

Upon his retirement, the Georgia Partnership reached out to ask if Dean Epps would share key lessons from his tenure and provide his unique perspective on the state of public education in Georgia. Our wide-ranging conversation resulted in the release of two episodes.  

In part one of this episode, Dean Epps reflects on his leadership, highlights key achievements, and describes how he worked with school systems to expand Bagwell’s reach and impact. 

The episode’s focus on improving educator quality aligns with the content covered in Issue 4 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. 

• Bagwell College of Education Annual Report 
• Bagwell Community Partnerships 
• Deans for Impact Building Blocks 

In episode 13 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Joy Schofield describes how the Hall County School District uses Dialectical Skills Groups (DSG) to equip students with the tools to regulate their emotions, practice mindfulness, and pursue healthy interpersonal relationships.  

In this extended episode, Joy shares how school leaders executed the DSG strategy and describes how initial success allowed for expansion of supports to educators and parents. While originally intended as a behavioral intervention, teachers and school leaders report that the DSG strategy has improved school climate and parent and community involvement.   

The episode’s focus on student emotions and well-being aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 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. 

• The Dialectical Skills Group Model 
• Introduction to Tier 2 Interventions (Center on PBIS) 
• Helping Students Connect the Dots: Thoughts, Feelings, & Behaviors 

In episode 12 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Emily Rubin, a student engagement expert and professional development leader, outlines how teachers and school leaders can improve student engagement by fostering social and emotional connections.   

The episode’s focus on building social and emotional connections aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 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. 

• The Social Emotional Engagement – Knowledge and Skills (SEE-KS) Framework 
• Language as a Missing Link Toolkit (Deal Center Resource) 
• The Learning and Cognitive Science of Student Engagement 

In episode 11 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matthew Smith, Director of Policy and Research, welcomes Shawnell Johnson to share how PAACT: Promise All Atlanta Children Thrive initiative supports families and early care providers. Ms. Johnson also identifies specific strategies that build public will for comprehensive child development strategies.

The episode’s focus on early learning aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 4 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024 and Issue 5 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025.

For more on this topic, download the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources highlighted during the episode.

·      PAACT Website

·      BOOST Scholarship Programs

In episode 10 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Amy Jacobs, Commissioner of the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), updates listeners about new state investments that reduce class sizes, increase teacher pay, and fund grants to set up new classrooms.  

The episode’s focus on early learning aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 4 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024. 

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

Check out these additional resources highlighted during the episode.

·      House Working Group on Early Childhood Education Final Report

·      Quality Rated Child Care Website

In episode 9 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and Judy Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children, discuss how a focus on mental health and wellness supports student success in learning and life. The episode’s focus on student mental health strategies aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024. 

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

To learn more about Voices, check out these additional resources: 

• Outcomes for Children and Families, 2024 Legislative Session 
• Crisis in Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health 
• Healthy Minds and Bodies 

In episode 8 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Matt Smith, Director of Policy and Research, and guests Emily Anne Vall and Audrey Idaikkadar, discuss how Resilient Georgia supports regional leaders who are strengthening mental health partnerships across Georgia. The episode’s focus on student mental health strategies aligns with the recommendations outlined in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024. 

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

To learn more about Resilient Georgia, check out these additional resources: 

• Statewide Advocacy 
• Regional Coalitions | Resilient Georgia 
• Learning Cards | Resilient Georgia 
• Training Roadmap | Resilient Georgia 
• IEC Professional Development | Workforce 
• The Carter Center | Mental Health Parity Act Information 

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