Somehow we are already at the halfway point of a tumultuous 25/26 school year! Between end of the semester grading and final exams, teachers certainly have a lot of administrative work to do. But it's also an opportunity to reflect on all the great learning happening in our classrooms year-round.

On this month's episode, Lance, Natalie, and Matthew look back at some of the more memorable lessons they have had the privilege to teach this semester, as well as share the joy they find in their individual subjects. Finally, the three educators discuss the broad picture of how they know what they are "supposed" to teach, diving into ways that objectivity can sometimes get a little murky.

Texas Tribune Article on social studies curriculum overhaul: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/14/texas-sboe-social-studies-redesign-conservative-advisers/

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Hosted By: Natalie Arias, Matthew Balter and Lance Barasch

Produced By: Ace Arias

Big changes are happening in public schools, lately! Declining enrollment is a concerning trend across Texas, even in some of the larger districts in the state.

In today's episode, we scratch the surface and explore what is happening and why. Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 in future episodes!

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Hosted By: Natalie Arias, Matthew Balter and Lance Barasch

Produced By: Ace Arias

Today's episode explores some nuanced examples of how policy translates to implementation in schools across the state, and what stakeholders can do to advocate for what makes sense.

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Hosted By: Natalie Arias, Matthew Balter and Lance Barasch

Produced By: Ace Arias

This has been quite an active year in Austin, between the regular and special legislative sessions. Lawmakers have been busy, and the world of education is no exception. But which laws are actually creating a tangible impact on Texas classrooms, and more importantly, what are our students and families actually talking about?

On this month's episode, Lance, Natalie, and Matthew cut through the noise of the huge glut of bills that have recently gone into implementation mode. We try to answer the question of which laws are actually on the minds of public school students, and which are better left "unread."

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Join the Conversation! Connect with us on Instagram and send us a DM with your thoughts or questions on any and All Things Education. Your submission may be featured on a future episode!

Hosted By: Natalie Arias, Matthew Balter and Lance Barasch

Produced By: Ace Arias

Since the pandemic, adolescent boredom has been on a steady and concerning rise. Many studies point to excessive screen time as being a major contributing factor to this rise in boredom. But it's no different in the classroom; kids in school are...well...bored. And more so now than in years passed. From favorite TV shows to movies, music to literature, all too often the American classroom is portrayed as place where boredom thrives. Is school boring? And if so, why?

For today's episode we're joined by two high school students who give their pespectives on what makes school so boring, and how that problem might be addressed.

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Join the Conversation! Connect with us on Instagram and send us a DM with your thoughts or questions on any and All Things Education. Your submission may be featured on a future episode!

Hosted By: Natalie Arias, Matthew Balter and Lance Barasch

Produced By: Ace Arias

Teacher preparation in Texas has, for a long time, entailed a semester in a classroom marked mostly by observation and with little hands-on practice. That's all evolving thanks to big changes in policy, funding and regulation around educator preparation programs!

For today's episode, we're joined by Geoff Carlisle and Patrick Steck from Deans For Impact. They share key insights on the future of teacher apprenticeships and the potential impact of this shift for education stakeholders in Texas and Nationwide.

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Join the Conversation! Connect with us on Instagram and send us a DM with your thoughts or questions on any and All Things Education. Your submission may be featured on a future episode!

Hosted By: Natalie Arias, Matthew Balter and Lance Barasch

Produced By: Ace Arias

The 89th Texas Legislature has adjourned, and there was a lot of exciting action around public education this time around!

In today's episode we debrief major legislation that passed, and examine other legislation that was highly-anticipated but failed to make it across the finish line. Tune in for our take on what matters most as the conversation continues around state assessments and the accountability system that is so closely tied to them.

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Join the Conversation! Connect with us on Instagram and send us a DM with your thoughts or questions on any and All Things Education. Your submission may be featured on a future episode!

Hosted By: Natalie Arias, Matthew Balter and Lance Barasch

Produced By: Ace Arias

Are we preparing our students for the future, and what does that even mean in 2025?

As we ride the latest wave of big tech advancement, what do we do about AI in schools?

These are the million-dollar questions we're exploring in today's episode, with varied opinions and perspectives among the ATE pod team.

Now Playing on all major platforms! Follow and Share wherever you listen to podcasts. We appreciate your ratings and reviews!

Join the Conversation! Connect with us on Instagram and send us a DM with your thoughts or questions on any and All Things Education. Your submission may be featured on a future episode!

Hosted By: Natalie Arias, Matthew Balter and Lance Barasch

Produced By: Ace Arias