Diving into Accountability: Tennessee's Education Reforms with Lizzette Reynolds

State Chiefs, Technology, and the Tennessee Way: Education Innovation with Lizzette Reynolds

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, guest host Johnny Key sits down with Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education for the State of Tennessee, for a timely conversation recorded live at the ASU GSV Conference in San Diego. Reynolds shares her perspective on how states can better align education systems with real workforce needs, emphasizing that the goal is not to replace educators with technology, but to use innovation thoughtfully to strengthen teaching and learning. She highlights Tennessee’s strong focus on the science of reading and emerging efforts in math, while urging edtech providers and philanthropic partners to focus on building capacity, improving efficiency, and supporting—not disrupting—classroom instruction. A central theme of the conversation is the importance of tailoring solutions to each state’s unique context. Reynolds explains that while national models and policies can offer guidance, effective implementation must reflect local values, student needs, and economic priorities. This approach is especially critical as Tennessee works to strengthen connections between K–12 education, higher education, and workforce development, ensuring students are prepared for a wide range of career pathways. Reynolds also discusses the need for stronger collaboration between education systems and the business community, noting that both sectors ultimately share a common goal: expanding opportunities for students through meaningful, sustainable careers. She underscores the importance of balancing academic rigor with career and technical education, ensuring students build both foundational knowledge and practical skills without limiting future growth. Key Moments: 05:17 Perspective on educational policy roles 08:57 Focusing on district support needs 10:05 Using AI for education pathways 14:03 Concerns about young teacher prep 17:24 Integrating education with workforce development 19:47 Addressing healthcare education needs 24:59 Importance of foundational knowledge 26:46 Improving education in Tennessee 31:28 Bringing personal items to spa Connect with Lizzette Reynolds LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzetteg Website: https://www.tn.gov/

Empowering Students through Choice, Community, and CTE in Utah

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, guest host Johnny Key, in for Tom Luna, sits down with Dr. Molly Hart, Utah Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Utah State Board of Education, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, school choice, workforce readiness, and the enduring power of public education. Dr. Hart reflects on her personal journey as a first-generation college student growing up in rural Michigan, where access to public education and a simple trip to the library helped shape her future. She shares how her path from classroom teacher to principal, charter school leader, state board member, and now state superintendent has reinforced her belief that education must remain deeply rooted in community, opportunity, and student growth. Throughout the conversation, Hart emphasizes the importance of restoring joy and purpose to classrooms while maintaining high expectations for teaching and learning. She discusses the need for stronger instructional practices, better principal development, and more meaningful professional support for educators, all while recognizing that successful schools cannot simply copy and paste solutions from other states or districts. The episode also explores Utah’s innovative work around workforce development, career pathways, and student choice. Hart explains how initiatives like First Credential and Catalyst Centers are helping students gain hands-on experiences and industry credentials while still building strong academic foundations. She also offers a nuanced perspective on school choice, arguing that families benefit when education systems provide flexible, high-quality options that meet diverse student needs. Grounded in both practical leadership and personal conviction, this conversation highlights Dr. Hart’s belief that education works best when systems empower teachers, honor local communities, and keep students at the center of every decision. Key Moments: 05:16 Moving and teaching in Utah 09:18 Missing the cafeteria experience 10:16 Principals building school relationships 13:19 Finding joy and purpose at work 17:56 Federal changes in education policy 19:25 High school CTE stories 24:30 Converting to a charter school 28:39 Discussing school choice options 31:55 Planning innovative student projects Connect with Dr. Molly Hart LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-hart-ed-d-997664139 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-hart-ed-d-997664139] Website: https://schools.utah.gov/ [https://schools.utah.gov/]

Literacy, School Safety, and Teacher Retention: Richard Woods on Leading Georgia Education

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna is joined by Johnny Key live from the Excel in Ed Conference in New Orleans for a conversation with Richard Woods, Georgia’s elected State School Superintendent. Woods reflects on his path from classroom teacher to statewide office sharing how the post No Child Left Behind era pushed him to focus on what he felt was missing most: talking about kids, not just tests. Now entering his 12th year in office and running for a fourth term, he describes what it takes to stay relevant, energized, and centered on student outcomes over multiple terms. The conversation explores Georgia’s push to strengthen early literacy, including the rollout of new K–12 literacy standards grounded in the science of reading. Woods shares early results from Georgia’s federally identified CSI schools, where coaching support modeled after Mississippi’s approach has driven initial gains and is now being replicated more broadly across the state. Woods also discusses Georgia’s comprehensive approach to school safety—not only hardening buildings through cameras, SROs, and facility design collaboration with first responders, but also addressing the “question behind the question” through mental health supports, stronger inter-agency coordination, and telehealth access in rural communities. Key Moments 06:12 "Importance of Reading for Kids" 09:57 "Focusing on Kids' Basic Needs" 11:14 Prioritizing School Safety and Readiness 17:15 "Teaching the Peach Initiative" 18:05 Addressing Teacher Retention Challenges 21:45 "Improving Literacy Through Accountability" 24:49 "Integrating Subjects for Deeper Learning" Connect with Richard Woods LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-woods-52571849/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-woods-52571849/] Website: https://www.gadoe.org/ [https://www.gadoe.org/]

Diving into Accountability: Tennessee's Education Reforms with Lizzette Reynolds

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna is joined by Strategos Group Partner Johnny Key for a live conversation from the Excel in Education Conference in New Orleans with Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education for the state of Tennessee. A major focus of the conversation is literacy. Reynolds explains Tennessee’s commitment to the science of reading, the importance of early literacy benchmarks, and how statewide implementation from teacher preparation to instructional materials and tutoring has helped drive improvement. She emphasizes that literacy is foundational not only to academic success, but to students’ long-term economic and life outcomes. The episode also explores assessment and accountability, including Tennessee’s A–F school grading system, the push for clearer and faster data reporting, and how states can use assessment results to support not punish schools and educators. Reynolds discusses how Tennessee is reimagining high school accountability through a “Future Ready” lens that values college, career, and military readiness. The conversation closes with a hopeful outlook on Tennessee’s educators, school leaders, and students and a fun piece of trivia: Mountain Dew originated in Tennessee, originally created as a whiskey mixer. Key Moments 00:00 Tom Luna on leadership, accountability, and Swimming Upstream 01:08 Introducing Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds live from New Orleans 01:43 Reynolds’ path from federal education policy to Tennessee leadership 04:32 Implementing Tennessee’s A–F accountability system 07:34 Why literacy and the science of reading matter long-term 10:03 Tutoring, teacher prep, and instructional support statewide 15:13 Assessment, ESSA waivers, and accountability going forward 17:42 Future Ready Tennessee: rethinking high school outcomes 21:43 Using assessment data to individualize instruction 24:10 What gives Reynolds hope for Tennessee’s students 25:39 Tennessee trivia: the origin of Mountain Dew Connect with Lizzette Reynolds LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzetteg [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzetteg]

School Choice, Transparency, and Idaho’s Growth With Sen. Lori Den Hartog

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna sits down in New Orleans at the Excel in Education Conference with Senator Lori Den Hartog, Senate Majority Leader from Idaho, to explore how education policy, school choice, and government accountability intersect especially in a fast-growing state. Sen. Den Hartog shares her personal story growing up on a dairy farm in rural Ada County and how that upbringing shaped her work ethic and her views on private property rights, regulation, and the real-world cost of government bureaucracy especially for small businesses and family operations. The conversation then turns to education policy, where Den Hartog emphasizes the importance of transparency, especially since K–12 education represents a major portion of Idaho’s state budget. She explains why unclear funding flows make it difficult to track spending, measure outcomes, and defend policies ultimately limiting the state’s ability to evaluate what’s working. Finally, Den Hartog explains the broader challenge legislators face: balancing education investments alongside transportation, healthcare, corrections, and other core state responsibilities while remembering that every dollar is taxpayer money. Key Moments 00:00 Tom Luna intro + the “not rocket science… more complicated” line 00:41 Live from New Orleans: introducing Sen. Lori Den Hartog 02:58 Growing up on a dairy farm + how it shaped her leadership 07:43 Growth, regulation, and why “time is money” for small businesses 10:46 Why education funding needs transparency and traceable results 13:06 Why school choice has always felt “normal” to her 16:41 Idaho’s refundable education tax credit: who qualifies + what it covers 22:07 Balancing education with roads, healthcare, and other state priorities Connect with Lori Den Hartog Website: https://www.dordt.edu/ [https://www.dordt.edu/]