In this episode of Swimming Upstream, guest host Johnny Key, in for Tom Luna, sits down with Dr. Molly Hart, Utah Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Utah State Board of Education, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, school choice, workforce readiness, and the enduring power of public education.

Dr. Hart reflects on her personal journey as a first-generation college student growing up in rural Michigan, where access to public education and a simple trip to the library helped shape her future. She shares how her path from classroom teacher to principal, charter school leader, state board member, and now state superintendent has reinforced her belief that education must remain deeply rooted in community, opportunity, and student growth.

Throughout the conversation, Hart emphasizes the importance of restoring joy and purpose to classrooms while maintaining high expectations for teaching and learning. She discusses the need for stronger instructional practices, better principal development, and more meaningful professional support for educators, all while recognizing that successful schools cannot simply copy and paste solutions from other states or districts.

The episode also explores Utah’s innovative work around workforce development, career pathways, and student choice. Hart explains how initiatives like First Credential and Catalyst Centers are helping students gain hands-on experiences and industry credentials while still building strong academic foundations. She also offers a nuanced perspective on school choice, arguing that families benefit when education systems provide flexible, high-quality options that meet diverse student needs.

Grounded in both practical leadership and personal conviction, this conversation highlights Dr. Hart’s belief that education works best when systems empower teachers, honor local communities, and keep students at the center of every decision.

Key Moments:

05:16 Moving and teaching in Utah

09:18 Missing the cafeteria experience

10:16 Principals building school relationships

13:19 Finding joy and purpose at work

17:56 Federal changes in education policy

19:25 High school CTE stories

24:30 Converting to a charter school

28:39 Discussing school choice options

31:55 Planning innovative student projects

Connect with Dr. Molly Hart

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-hart-ed-d-997664139

Website: https://schools.utah.gov/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna is joined by Johnny Key live from the Excel in Ed Conference in New Orleans for a conversation with Richard Woods, Georgia’s elected State School Superintendent.

Woods reflects on his path from classroom teacher to statewide office sharing how the post No Child Left Behind era pushed him to focus on what he felt was missing most: talking about kids, not just tests. Now entering his 12th year in office and running for a fourth term, he describes what it takes to stay relevant, energized, and centered on student outcomes over multiple terms.

The conversation explores Georgia’s push to strengthen early literacy, including the rollout of new K–12 literacy standards grounded in the science of reading. Woods shares early results from Georgia’s federally identified CSI schools, where coaching support modeled after Mississippi’s approach has driven initial gains and is now being replicated more broadly across the state.

Woods also discusses Georgia’s comprehensive approach to school safety—not only hardening buildings through cameras, SROs, and facility design collaboration with first responders, but also addressing the “question behind the question” through mental health supports, stronger inter-agency coordination, and telehealth access in rural communities.

Key Moments

06:12 "Importance of Reading for Kids"

09:57 "Focusing on Kids' Basic Needs"

11:14 Prioritizing School Safety and Readiness

17:15 "Teaching the Peach Initiative"

18:05 Addressing Teacher Retention Challenges

21:45 "Improving Literacy Through Accountability"

24:49 "Integrating Subjects for Deeper Learning"

Connect with Richard Woods

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-woods-52571849/

Website: https://www.gadoe.org/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna is joined by Strategos Group Partner Johnny Key for a live conversation from the Excel in Education Conference in New Orleans with Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education for the state of Tennessee.

A major focus of the conversation is literacy. Reynolds explains Tennessee’s commitment to the science of reading, the importance of early literacy benchmarks, and how statewide implementation from teacher preparation to instructional materials and tutoring has helped drive improvement. She emphasizes that literacy is foundational not only to academic success, but to students’ long-term economic and life outcomes.

The episode also explores assessment and accountability, including Tennessee’s A–F school grading system, the push for clearer and faster data reporting, and how states can use assessment results to support not punish schools and educators. Reynolds discusses how Tennessee is reimagining high school accountability through a “Future Ready” lens that values college, career, and military readiness.

The conversation closes with a hopeful outlook on Tennessee’s educators, school leaders, and students and a fun piece of trivia: Mountain Dew originated in Tennessee, originally created as a whiskey mixer.

Key Moments

00:00 Tom Luna on leadership, accountability, and Swimming Upstream

01:08 Introducing Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds live from New Orleans

01:43 Reynolds’ path from federal education policy to Tennessee leadership

04:32 Implementing Tennessee’s A–F accountability system

07:34 Why literacy and the science of reading matter long-term

10:03 Tutoring, teacher prep, and instructional support statewide

15:13 Assessment, ESSA waivers, and accountability going forward

17:42 Future Ready Tennessee: rethinking high school outcomes

21:43 Using assessment data to individualize instruction

24:10 What gives Reynolds hope for Tennessee’s students

25:39 Tennessee trivia: the origin of Mountain Dew

Connect with Lizzette Reynolds

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzetteg