The Chalk & Slate Podcast examines the major tectonic shifts reshaping American K–12 education, specifically: Technology, Choice, Funding, the School Model, and the Postsecondary Landscape.
These forces are not theoretical, small, or distant. They are unfolding now, interacting in real time, and poised to radically reshape K–12 education in the near future. Hosts Karen Nussle and Jeff Pestrak interview guests who have expertise in these topics and explore the key questions about what's changing in how we educate Americas children.
Karen and Jeff break down their conversation with Andy Rotherham of Bellwether Education Partners. What drives his optimism about the future of education? Are the big shifts just new distractions from what we know works and matters for how to teach kids? Will we ever be able to get beyond the politics? So many questions, so little time!
24 Sept 2026
Ep. 5 Looking into the Future w/Andy Rotherham
Karen and Jeff go “off script” with Andy Rotherham of Bellwether Education Partners. The result is a wide ranging conversation covering many of the big shifts happening in education right now. We talk optimism. We talk pendulum shifts. We talk politics. It’s a great conversation!
9 Sept 2026
Ep. 4 POST-cast: Prepping for AI
Jeff and Karen review their conversation w/Dr. Sharon Ravitch on the tensions facing schools this fall as they try to navigate the use of AI by all actors in the building. What is the best way to get ahead of this speeding train? Find out where they landed.
9 Sept 2026
Ep. 4 Preparing School Leaders for AI w/Dr. Sharon Ravitch
Jeff and Karen welcome Dr. Sharon Ravitch to Chalk & Slate to talk about how to prepare school leaders for AI. A complicated set of issues face all levels of leadership in schools as AI becomes ubiquitous among students, teachers and administrators. For this year’s “back to school” moment, this conversation is VERY timely!
25 Aug 2026
Ep. 3 POST-cast: School Choice
Karen and Jeff break down their conversation on school choice with Kristen Forbriger of City Fund. Navigating the choice landscape seems particularly challenging right now as new types of schooling seem to be evolving quickly. Parents have more options than ever. "School choice" no longer means simply the choice between a traditional public school and a charter school, as it once did. Find out where they landed on what the future holds for education options and choices.
25 Aug 2026
Ep. 3 School Choice w/Kristen Forbriger
Jeff and Karen connect with City Fund's VP of External Engagement, Kristen Forbriger to talk all things School Choice. Specifically, we talk about how much the choice landscape is changing and what we think the future of school choice looks like. Kristen brings great perspective from her professional lens as well as her personal experience for a particularly authentic and grounded conversation about how parents navigate finding the best education options for their kids.
10 Jul 2026
Ep. 2 POST-cast: AI for Instruction
Jeff and Karen debrief their conversation with Emily Freitag about how AI might impact classroom instruction and outcomes for students. Is it too good to be true? Find how where they landed after their fascinating conversation with Emily on this fast moving and timely topic.
10 Jul 2026
Ep. 2 AI for Instruction w/Emily Freitag
Karen and Jeff welcome Emily Freitag, CEO of Instruction Partners to talk about AI in education -- and specifically AI for instruction. Is AI bad? Should it be banned? Is it the next revolution in education? Or is this the wild west? Emily takes us on a fascinating behind the scenes of her tour of schools where she has seen AI in action and shares with us what she has learned -- the good, the bad and the still unknown!
12 Jun 2026
Ep. 1 Post-cast: Ed Freedom Tax Credit
Karen and Jeff break down their conversation with Shaka Mitchell about the new Education Freedom Tax Credit. Is it all upside? Or are there downsides lurking in the shadows? Is this local control at its best or government policy at its worst? Get their take on this new education policy coming soon to a school system near you!
On the inaugural episode of Chalk & Slate, Jeff and Karen are joined by Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children, to discuss the new Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit. What is it? How will it work? Who can get it? It's a complete primer on what some think may be the biggest thing to impact k-12 education in American in decades.
12 Jun 2026
C&S Podcast Introduction
Introducing the Chalk & Slate Podcast! An examination of the big 5 disruptions happing right now in American K-12 education with hosts Karen Nussle and Jeff Pestrak. In this introduction episode, Jeff and Karen talk about their inspiration for this podcast and preview guests and episodes to come.
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