EDUP Xcelerated Excellence

About EDUP Xcelerated Excellence

A podcast for the advancement of educational excellence and equity for traditional and non-traditional educational experiences and contexts, across higher education and beyond. The podcast seeks to engage educators, scholars, entrepreneurs, advocates, and policy makers at all levels.

Publisher

Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Mar 2024

Latest episode

24 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

108 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Jimmy Adams—Leading NASDTEC and Championing Educator Ethics and Standards for Novice Teachers

   Our guest, Jimmy Adams, is the Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Educationand, Certification (NASDTEC (https://www.linkedin.com/company/nasdtec/home/)). He worked in public education for 27 years serving as the Chief of Human Resources for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS (https://www.linkedin.com/company/jefferson-county-public-schools/home/)) in Louisville, Kentucky, the Executive Director for the Education ProfessionalStandards Board for Kentucky with experience in Fayette, Woodford, and Jessamine counties which included classroom teacher, technology resource teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of technology, director of secondary schools and assistant superintendent. He also served as an adjunctprofessor in two educator preparation programs in Kentucky. Jimmy received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky (https://www.linkedin.com/school/universityofkentucky/home/) and did additional postgraduate work at Eastern Kentucky University (https://www.linkedin.com/school/eastern-kentucky-university/home/). In addition to his work in the classroom and school leadership, Jimmy previously served on NASDTEC's Executive Board,the KY Center for Education and Workforce Statistics (KCEWS) Board, and the Committee for Mathematics Achievement in Kentucky. He also served as a member of the U.S. Department of Education’s Effective Educator Development (EED)Advisory Council. Jimmy received the Champion for Children award from the National Association of School Psychologist for his assistancein developing the Interstate Compact for School Psychologist. He is a recipient of the University of Kentucky Department of Mathematics Sally E. Pence for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics, the University of Kentucky Teacher Who Madea Difference Award, the Golden Apple Achiever Award from Ashland Oil, a two time recipient of the Joseph B. Whitehead Educator of Distinction Award for Exemplary Dedication to the Field of Education, recognized as a Friend of the KentuckyAssociation of Colleges of Teacher Education, and recipient of the Murray State University (https://www.linkedin.com/school/murray-state-university/home/) Dean’s Award for contributions to the teaching profession. Associations AACTE (https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-association-of-colleges-for-teacher-education/posts/) AAQEP (https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaqep/posts/) CAEP (https://www.linkedin.com/company/council-for-the-accreditation-of-educator-preparation-caep-/home/) Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jacob-easley-ii-pmp-1a6b8037/) Resources: EDUP The Experience (https://www.linkedin.com/company/highereducationpodcast/posts/?feedView=all) National Code of Ethics for Educators (https://www.nasdtec.net/page/MCEE_Doc) EDUP Xcelerated Excellence (https://www.linkedin.com/company/edup-xcelerated-excellence/?skipRedirect=true) Greeting:  Dr. Jennifer Young Wallace (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-young-wallace-phd-4b3381b/) #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #Ethics #educatorethics#XEListeningTour

2. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Dr. Marianne Lucas Lescher—Life Beyond Retirement: Giving Back by Mentoring School Leadership Teams

   Our guest, Dr. Marianne Lucas Lescher (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-lescher-aa580716/), is a lifelong educator, as a teacher, district curriculum director, and school principal for total of 43 years.  In her 26 years as a K-5 and K-8 principal,she led her school to a National Blue-Ribbon recognition, the highest award a school can receive.  Her schools receivedArizona's highest school recognition, the A+ School of Excellence honor 5 times.  Dr. Lescher received her Ph.D.from Boston College (https://www.linkedin.com/school/boston-college/), in Educational Research. Her M. Ed. is in Educational Administration, and her undergraduate degree is in Elementary and Special Education.  Most recently, Dr. Lescher was chosen as National Distinguished Principal for 2025 from the National Association of Elementary Principals and is in the Inaugural Class of Inductees into the Arizona Educator Hall of Fame for 2026. Sponsor NAESP (https://www.linkedin.com/company/naesp/).  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals andassistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org. Host: Jacob Easley II, PhD., PMP (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jacob-easley-ii-pmp-1a6b8037/) Connections: Northern Arizona University (https://www.linkedin.com/school/northern-arizona-university/) Resources: EDUP The Experience (https://www.linkedin.com/company/highereducationpodcast/posts/?feedView=all) EDUP Xcelerated Excellence (https://www.linkedin.com/company/105481343/admin/dashboard/) Greeting: Tiffani Jaseph (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffani-jaseph-8599b238) #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #XEListeningTour #Principal

3. 

   8 Sept 2026

   James Wilson—Youth Leadership and Developing Education as a Community Good through Policy

   Our Guest, James Wilson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswilson0904/), is a public policy professional, education advocate, and graduate student at Georgia StateUniversity’s (https://www.linkedin.com/school/georgiastateuniversity/) Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (https://www.linkedin.com/school/gsu-andrew-young-school-of-policy-studies/), where he is pursuing a Master of Public Administration. A recent cum laude graduate of Georgia State with a degree in Public Policy, a minor in Urban Education, and a certificate in Social Science and Data Analytics, James has focused much of his academic and professional work on improving educational opportunity, student success, and public systems. James has served as Student Government Association President at Georgia State University, representing one of the largest and most diverse student bodies in the country. His experience spans education policy, legislative affairs, student advocacy, data analysis, and community engagement, including work with the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (https://www.linkedin.com/company/state-charter-schools-commission-of-georgia/), the University System of Georgia (https://www.linkedin.com/company/university-system-georgia/), the National Education Association (https://www.linkedin.com/company/nea/), and the Southern Education Foundation (https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-education-foundation/). Rooted in a deep commitment to Georgia students and families, James brings both lived experience and policy experience to conversations about education. His work centers on how schools, colleges, governments, and communities can bettersupport students from cradle to career. Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jacob-easley-ii-pmp-1a6b8037/) Resources: EDUP The Experience (https://www.linkedin.com/company/highereducationpodcast/posts/?feedView=all) 21st Century Leaders (https://www.linkedin.com/company/21st-century-leaders-inc./) National Partnership for Educational Access (https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-partnership-for-educational-access/) Intercultural Development Research Association (https://www.idra.org/) Greeting:  Tiffani Jaseph (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffani-jaseph-8599b2381/) #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #YouthLeaders#XEListeningTour

Who has been a guest on EDUP Xcelerated Excellence

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Kaplan Mobray
• Mario Jovan Shaw
• Dr Robert Kelty
• Dr Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy
• Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

75

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact EDUP Xcelerated Excellence

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about EDUP Xcelerated Excellence