Shows
K-12 ConfidentialEpisode 12. The K-12 Governance Mess: Teacher UnionsK-12 Confidential Co-Hosts, Trina and Mani, discuss the complexities and challenges faced by teachers and unions in K-12 education, specifically in the context of teacher strikes. The discussion includes U.S. literacy rankings, the impact of teacher unions, personal experiences of stress and burnout among educators, the financial struggles due to inadequate pay, and the emotional toll of going on strike. They highlight that teachers are often overworked, underpaid, and misrepresented by district leaders during strike negotiations. The hosts emphasize the need for a national K-12 Educator Governing Board to allow teachers to lead the profession from within, aiming...
2025-11-1659 minK-12 ConfidentialEpisode 11. The K-12 Governance Mess: A Former Administrator Blows the Whistle!In this episode of K-12 Confidential, the hosts discuss the complexities and failings of K-12 governance with Roxanne, a former district office administrator with over 40 years of experience in education. The episode delves into the problematic nature of current K-12 administration, characterized by a lack of teacher autonomy, the detrimental effects of standardized test-driven governance, and the deprofessionalization of roles such as librarians and nurses. Roxanne provides a historical perspective on these issues and criticizes both the political agendas of Republicans and certain DEI frameworks in education. The episode emphasizes the need for a national K-12 educator governing board...
2025-11-1650 minK-12 ConfidentialEpisode 10. The Teacher Pay Mess: An Interview with an ExpertThis episode of K-12 Confidential features an interview with Dr. Paul Bruno, a distinguished assistant professor of education policy. The discussion focuses on the complexities of teacher compensation, highlighting evidence that higher salaries significantly impact teacher recruitment and retention. The speakers emphasize the need for differential teacher pay and challenges the outdated step and column salary structures. Throughout, it advocates for the formation of a national K-12 educator governing board to address these systemic issues and empower teachers to lead their profession from within. The episode also covers the broader socio-economic challenges teachers face, including high living costs and...
2025-10-2654 minK-12 ConfidentialEpisode 9. Intro to the Teacher Pay MessIn this episode of K-12 Confidential, hosts Trina and Melissa discuss the critical issues surrounding teacher pay in the United States. Melissa, a veteran teacher with diverse educational experiences, joins Trina for an in-depth conversation about why teacher salaries are so low and the historical and systemic reasons behind it. They explore the impact of structural flaws in the educational system, the disparities in per-pupil spending across different states, and the misplaced values affecting education. The episode also covers the complexities of the step and column pay structure and its implications for teachers' financial well-being. They highlight how these...
2025-10-181h 06K-12 ConfidentialEpisode 8. The Teacher Shortage Mess: Take This Mess and Shove It!In this episode of the K-12 Confidential podcast, veteran educators discuss the dire state of the U.S. K-12 education system, focusing on the systemic issues driving teachers away. The episode features an interview with Kelvin Mack, a high school English teacher who left the profession after two years due to low pay and structural problems. Through this conversation, listeners gain insight into the challenges teachers face, such as emotional labor, lack of fair compensation, and the struggle to effect meaningful change within an oppressive system. The episode also touches upon the generational shift in attitudes towards work-life balance...
2025-09-2919 minK-12 ConfidentialEpisode 7. Big Textbook Exposed: An Interview with Two Confidential Teacher InformantsIn this episode of the K 12 Confidential podcast, veteran teachers discuss the detrimental impact of canned curriculum in public schools. With an emphasis on the marginalization of English Language Development (ELD) teachers and students, the episode explores how lack of teacher autonomy and corporate-driven education solutions are harming the education system. Two ESL teachers share their struggles and experiences, revealing the inefficiencies and inequities caused by standardized, rigid curriculums. The discussion covers key concepts such as ELPAC, EL, ELD, and CLAD, while showcasing the complex challenges faced by immigrant students. Listeners are urged to understand the broader implications of...
2025-09-2142 minK-12 ConfidentialEpisode 6. Intro to the "Big Textbook Mess:" Stuffing the Mess Into a CanIn this episode of K 12 Confidential, the host introduces the 'Can Curriculum Mess' series, outlining the basic problems with large textbook companies in U.S. K-12 education. The episode discusses the massive profits of these companies despite low literacy rates, and the detrimental effects of canned curriculum on both teachers and students. It highlights how such curriculum limits teacher autonomy, fails to meet the specific needs of students, and contributes to teacher burnout and shortages. The host shares personal anecdotes and experiences to illustrate these issues, and mentions an upcoming episode featuring teachers who fought against harmful canned content...
2025-09-1533 minK-12 ConfidentialEpisode 5. Evidence of the Mess: An Interview with Dr. Paul BrunoIn this episode of K-12 Confidential, the hosts discuss the convoluted and fragmented governance of K-12 education and its role in the teacher shortage crisis. The core argument posits that the decentralized local control model obfuscates accountability, leading the public to mistakenly blame teachers and the federal government. The podcast extends an invitation for public engagement and emphasizes the non-partisan nature of the discussion. It features an interview with Dr. Paul Bruno, co-author of a scholarly article on teacher shortages, who discusses his journey in education and the methodology behind their research. The episode argues for targeted interventions based...
2025-08-301h 13K-12 ConfidentialEpisode 4. The Teacher Shortage Mess: Where Did All the Teachers Go?In this episode of K12 Confidential, we delve into the complexities surrounding the teacher shortage crisis in the United States. As the new school year kicks off, many school districts struggle to fill vacant teaching positions. The host traces back the origins of misleading media reports about this crisis to one scholarly article and speaks with one of its authors to clarify the data. The episode tackles the intricate nature of the problem, explores how AI misinterprets data, and highlights the geographic and subject-area disparities in teacher vacancies. It also criticizes the lack of accurate data and reporting, emphasizing...
2025-08-2435 minK-12 ConfidentialEpisode 3. Introduction to the Teacher Shortage MessThe podcast 'K-12 Confidential' addresses the multifaceted issues within the American K-12 education system, focusing on the severe teacher shortage crisis. Hosted by Trina and new co-host Manuwellla Allen (Mani), the discussion highlights how low literacy rates and inadequate teacher preparation impact educational quality. Notable contributions include Dr. Paul Bruno's research on the teacher shortage, emphasizing the lack of consistent data reporting across districts and the nuances of the crisis. The conversation underscores the necessity of a K-12 Educator Governing Board to standardize reporting and empower teachers to lead their profession. The episode concludes by urging viewers to support...
2025-08-2118 minK-12 ConfidentialEpisode 2. Introduction to the Messes: Experts Chime InIn this introductory episode of the K-12 Confidential podcast, hosts Shawn and Trina—a married couple with over 35 years of teaching experience—discuss the current state of K-12 education in the U.S., touching on various systemic issues such as poor literacy rates, teacher shortages, inadequate pay, and flawed teacher preparation programs.. The episode sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of 'messes' in the education system, with the goal of mobilizing teachers and stakeholders towards systemic reforms. Special guests, including fellow teachers, experts, and the hosts’ supportive family members, will join future episodes to explore themes such as specia...
2025-08-041h 08K-12 ConfidentialEpisode 1. Intro to the Messes: K-12 Education is BIZARRE!The inaugural episode of the K 12 Confidential podcast dives into the complex and pressing issues plaguing the American K-12 education system. Host Trina English discusses with her sister Mandy Walker the alarming states of literacy and sexual violence in schools, the opaque and ineffective governance structures, and the exploitative practices of for-profit educational corporations. The episode sets the stage for a series of investigative discussions aimed at unveiling the root causes and proposing solutions through a petition for the creation of a national K-12 educator governing board.00:00 Welcome to K-12 Confidential00:19 Introduction to the Podcast...
2025-08-0446 minK-12 ConfidentialEpisode 0. K12 Confidential--Episode 0: We Don't Need Another HeroOur short scripted description of our podcast!Welcome to K 12 Confidential, a podcast crafted by veteran K 12 teachers for the American people. This introductory episode outlines the podcast's mission to uncover the harsh realities and systemic issues plaguing K 12 education. Highlights include deep investigative journalism, a call to action to center teacher voices, and themes focused on the structural problems in the education system. The podcast promises apolitical, bipartisan discussions that cut through the surface to address real issues and propose solutions. Despite expected controversies and challenges, the hosts emphasize the urgent need for a national governing...
2025-08-0411 minK-12 ConfidentialK-12 Confidential Intro SongWe need more teacher voices to this this justice! Visit us at k-12confidential.com to request to speak on the podcast. Sign the petition to join the movement to save K-12 Education!
2025-07-1400 min
Empower Students Now89. Courageous Teachers Speak Out Against a Serious Problem Being Overlooked in K-12 SchoolsCheck out the episode show notes and more here: https://amandawritenow.com/courageous-teachers-speak-out-against-a-serious-problem-being-overlooked-in-k-12-schools/
In this episode, hosts Amanda and Trina, along with guest Manuwella Allen (Mani), discuss gender equity in education, with a focus on the intersection of race and gender. They address issues of sexual harassment and abuse in schools, highlighting several disturbing cases. The conversation covers the lack of attention given to gender equity in education, the need for a more intersectional approach, and the importance of implementing Title IX. They also discuss the adultification of black girls' bodies, the problematic nature of dress codes, and the...
2023-10-221h 07