The Ashley B. Cash Show

The Texas Story with Dr. Donald Frazier

What does it truly mean to know the Texas story — and who is responsible for making sure it gets told? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Donald S. Frazier, Director of The Texas Center at Schreiner University, six-time author, historian, filmmaker, and the man Governor Greg Abbott appointed to lead the Texas 1836 Project. Dr. Frazier shares his journey from the college classroom to the forefront of public history, what it will take to restore pride and accuracy in how we teach Texas to the next generation, and why getting parents engaged is one of the most powerful tools we have. Of course, we dive into education reform — what's broken, what Texas is doing about it, and how short-form video and parent engagement could be the key to unlocking student success. This is a conversation every Texas parent, educator, and history lover needs to hear. Learn more about Dr. Frazier's work at thetexascenter.org [https://thetexascenter.org] and subscribe to The Texas Center on YouTube at youtube.com/@thetexascenter [https://www.youtube.com/@thetexascenter]. About The Ashley B. Cash Show: The Ashley B. Cash Show features conversations with education leaders, policy experts, parents, teachers and reform advocates who are working to transform K-12 education. Host Ashley B. Cash brings her perspective as both a parent and business owner to explore systemic education issues and practical solutions for creating better outcomes for students, families, and communities. About Ashley:  As both a mother and business owner, Ashley brings a unique dual perspective to education reform advocacy, driven by her desire for better educational outcomes for future generations and informed by her firsthand experience with the skills gap facing employers today. Her passion for transforming K-12 education stems from witnessing the real-world consequences of educational failures and recognizing the critical need for a system that prepares students for diverse career pathways, not just college. Through this podcast, Ashley champions solutions including aptitude-based education tracks, expanded school choice, practical skills integration, and alternative career pathways that align with students' individual strengths and interests. Follow @AshleyBCashOfficial on Instagram & @Ashley Bowes Cash on Facebook. Visit www.AshleyBCashOfficial.com for more content and features.

All Eyes on Texas | Julie Pickren, SBOE District 7

Texas is the economic powerhouse of the nation — and what happens here shapes the rest of the country, especially in education. In this episode of The Ashley B. Cash Show, we're pulling back the curtain on the battle being waged over your child's curriculum, and we brought in someone who has been fighting on the front lines for over a decade. Julie Pickren served as an Alvin ISD Trustee from 2015–2021, where she helped build nine new schools while honoring the state compressed tax rate — saving taxpayers millions — and led the state in teacher pay. Today, she represents SBOE District 7, covering eleven counties across Southeast Texas, and she is sounding the alarm on what is quietly being pushed into Texas classrooms. From budget surpluses fueling major publishing attention to powerful groups working to remove patriotism and founding documents from our kids' education, Julie breaks down exactly what is at stake and what parents can do about it. The June 2026 Texas State Board of Education Meeting is one every parent, educator, and concerned citizen needs to have on their radar. Your voice matters. Send your comments and concerns directly to the Texas SBOE at sboesupport@sboe.texas.gov [sboesupport@sboe.texas.gov] and make sure they hear from you. Stay informed. Stay engaged. All eyes on Texas. 🇺🇸 About The Ashley B. Cash Show: The Ashley B. Cash Show features conversations with education leaders, policy experts, parents, teachers and reform advocates who are working to transform K-12 education. Host Ashley B. Cash brings her perspective as both a parent and business owner to explore systemic education issues and practical solutions for creating better outcomes for students, families, and communities. About Ashley:  As both a mother and business owner, Ashley brings a unique dual perspective to education reform advocacy, driven by her desire for better educational outcomes for future generations and informed by her firsthand experience with the skills gap facing employers today. Her passion for transforming K-12 education stems from witnessing the real-world consequences of educational failures and recognizing the critical need for a system that prepares students for diverse career pathways, not just college. Through this podcast, Ashley champions solutions including aptitude-based education tracks, expanded school choice, practical skills integration, and alternative career pathways that align with students' individual strengths and interests. Follow @AshleyBCashOfficial on Instagram & @Ashley Bowes Cash on Facebook. Visit www.AshleyBCashOfficial.com for more content and features.

The State of Ag: Mental Health, Politics & Reform | Venessa Wood

In this episode, I sit down with Ag Women Connect founder and CEO Venessa Wood for a wide-ranging conversation that hits close to home for anyone with roots in agriculture. We dig into the real issues facing the ag industry today, the mental health crisis impacting farmers and veterans alike, and what steps the Trump administration is taking toward solutions. We also break down the 2026 runoff election for Texas Congressional District 19, talk education reform, and so much more. This one is packed. You don't want to miss it. About The Ashley B. Cash Show: The Ashley B. Cash Show features conversations with education leaders, policy experts, parents, teachers and reform advocates who are working to transform K-12 education. Host Ashley B. Cash brings her perspective as both a parent and business owner to explore systemic education issues and practical solutions for creating better outcomes for students, families, and communities. About Ashley:  As both a mother and business owner, Ashley brings a unique dual perspective to education reform advocacy, driven by her desire for better educational outcomes for future generations and informed by her firsthand experience with the skills gap facing employers today. Her passion for transforming K-12 education stems from witnessing the real-world consequences of educational failures and recognizing the critical need for a system that prepares students for diverse career pathways, not just college. Through this podcast, Ashley champions solutions including aptitude-based education tracks, expanded school choice, practical skills integration, and alternative career pathways that align with students' individual strengths and interests. Follow @AshleyBCashOfficial on Instagram & @Ashley Bowes Cash on Facebook. Visit www.AshleyBCashOfficial.com for more content and features.

Commissioner Mike Morath on Reform & the April 2026 SBOE Meetings

What does it actually take to move the needle on education in a state as large and complex as Texas? In this episode, we sit down with Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath — a product of Texas public schools who's been leading the Texas Education Agency since 2016 — for a candid conversation about what reforms are happening in education right now. We break down everything that happened at the April 2026 State Board of Education meetings: what was decided, what it means for students in classrooms right now, and what parents, educators, and community leaders need to be watching in the months ahead. Whether you're a parent trying to understand how state-level decisions affect your child's school, an educator navigating a shifting landscape, or a leader who cares deeply about the future of Texas kids — this conversation is for you. In this episode: * Key decisions from the April 2026 SBOE meetings and their real-world impact * How TEA approaches education reform at scale * What Commissioner Morath sees on the horizon for Texas students and schools * What you can do as a parent, educator, or community leader About The Ashley B. Cash Show: The Ashley B. Cash Show features conversations with education leaders, policy experts, parents, teachers and reform advocates who are working to transform K-12 education. Host Ashley B. Cash brings her perspective as both a parent and business owner to explore systemic education issues and practical solutions for creating better outcomes for students, families, and communities. About Ashley:  As both a mother and business owner, Ashley brings a unique dual perspective to education reform advocacy, driven by her desire for better educational outcomes for future generations and informed by her firsthand experience with the skills gap facing employers today. Her passion for transforming K-12 education stems from witnessing the real-world consequences of educational failures and recognizing the critical need for a system that prepares students for diverse career pathways, not just college. Through this podcast, Ashley champions solutions including aptitude-based education tracks, expanded school choice, practical skills integration, and alternative career pathways that align with students' individual strengths and interests. Follow @AshleyBCashOfficial on Instagram & @Ashley Bowes Cash on Facebook. Visit www.AshleyBCashOfficial.com for more content and features.

Inside Texas Education Reform | Mary Lynn Pruneda

Mary Lynn Pruneda has been at the center of Texas education policy for years — and this conversation proves it. As Governor Abbott's Education Policy Advisor, Mary Lynn was the lead advisor on House Bill 3, one of the most sweeping school finance overhauls in Texas history. She served as General Counsel for the Senate Education Committee under Chairman Larry Taylor, and today she's the Director of Education and Workforce Policy at Texas 2036, where she works on assessment, accountability, and school finance. We get into what real policy change actually looks like from the inside — the competing interests, the tradeoffs, and why the structural problems in Texas education keep showing up in the same places. If you care about where Texas schools are headed, this is a conversation you don't want to miss. Oh — and she's an 8th generation Texan. When she talks about the future of this state, it's personal. For both of us. Visit Texas 2036. [https://texas2036.org/assessments/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23736558655&gbraid=0AAAAACz0MpoWFaLL4r39EDVwfetguk6kq&gclid=CjwKCAjwnZfPBhAGEiwAzg-VzNoSqa00HpHMfoi7jkgmfkes6y5ASBq-LFcVByZNKA9gzseKjDvv3hoCsowQAvD_BwE] About The Ashley B. Cash Show: The Ashley B. Cash Show features conversations with education leaders, policy experts, parents, teachers and reform advocates who are working to transform K-12 education. Host Ashley B. Cash brings her perspective as both a parent and business owner to explore systemic education issues and practical solutions for creating better outcomes for students, families, and communities. About Ashley:  As both a mother and business owner, Ashley brings a unique dual perspective to education reform advocacy, driven by her desire for better educational outcomes for future generations and informed by her firsthand experience with the skills gap facing employers today. Her passion for transforming K-12 education stems from witnessing the real-world consequences of educational failures and recognizing the critical need for a system that prepares students for diverse career pathways, not just college. Through this podcast, Ashley champions solutions including aptitude-based education tracks, expanded school choice, practical skills integration, and alternative career pathways that align with students' individual strengths and interests. Follow @AshleyBCashOfficial on Instagram & @Ashley Bowes Cash on Facebook. Visit www.AshleyBCashOfficial.com for more content and features.