This week, Rod and Jal are joined by former Kentucky Commissioner of Education and longtime education leader Jason Glass for a wide-ranging conversation about power, democracy, and what schools are really teaching students. Jason shares his journey from traditional accountability-focused reform work to a deeper belief that the real work of education happens at the human level: in relationships, student experiences, and meaningful learning.
Jason E. Glass. Ed.D., has more than 25 years of leadership experience in public education, spanning classroom teaching, district and state-level leadership, and executive roles in higher education, and currently holds the title of Superintendent of the Laguna Beach Unified School Distrirct. Prior to joining LBUSD, Dr. Glass served as Associate Vice President of Teaching and Learning at Western Michigan University, held the title of Commissioner of Education for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, where he led statewide efforts centered on deeper learning, equity, and student well-being, and also served as Chief State School Officer for the State of Iowa, focusing on literacy and support for the teaching profession. Highlights from the conversation include: understanding the distinction between macro and micro level changes in school systems; why compliance-driven leadership has its limits; the importance of listening before leading; how schools shape students’ understanding of authority and democracy; why arts education may hold some of the deepest lessons about learning; the role of trust, voice, and shared decision-making in healthy systems; Jason's experience as a choir singer; and a lightning round that has producer Gino "thoughtfully" fired up!
Read Jason's Article: Teaching Power: What Schools Teach About Authority and Democracy
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