In this episode of "Swimming Upstream" host Tom Luna, sits down with Aimee Guidera, Virginia’s Secretary of Education, live from the ASU GSV conference in San Diego. As Guidera approaches the end of Governor Youngkin’s administration, she reflects on the challenges and achievements of transforming education in Virginia—a state with the unique constraint that its governor serves only one term.

Guidera shares deep insights into her role overseeing education from early childhood through higher ed, emphasizing the urgent need for breaking down silos and preparing students for today’s rapidly evolving workforce. She highlights the innovative use of labor market data through the Virginia Office for Education Economics (VOE), which equips students, families, and institutions with actionable information to create responsive education strategies and align academic plans directly with regional job demands.

Listeners will hear about Virginia’s overhaul of academic standards in core subjects, the process of benchmarking against national best practices, and the state’s renewed commitment to educational transparency. Guidera and Luna discuss the tough but vital decision to confront an “honesty gap” in student achievement reporting and the shift toward accountability systems focused on real outcomes rather than compliance.

Guidera wraps up by sharing little-known facts about Virginia, adding a touch of state pride and history to this thoughtful and inspiring episode. Perfect for education leaders, policymakers, and anyone passionate about student success and innovation in public policy.

Key Moments

04:39 Virginia: Top State for Business & Education

07:54 Empowering Informed Education Paths

10:36 Enhancing Educational Standards Nationwide

15:26 Challenging Misguided Perceptions

17:58 Empowering Parents Post-COVID

19:16 Enhancing Parent-Teacher Data Sharing

23:16 Student Support: A Three-Legged Stool

27:25 Virginia Launches Job Support Initiative

29:13 Exploring Data’s Impact and Value

Connect with Aimee Guidera

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-guidera-27a2646

Website: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna sits down with Cheryl Carrier, Executive Director of Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL), for a thought-provoking conversation recorded live at the ASU+GSV Summit. With a career rooted in public education and corporate innovation, Carrier brings a unique lens to one of education’s biggest challenges: how to make high school relevant for every student.

Carrier shares the origin and evolution of the Ford NGL model—a nationally recognized framework designed to transform teaching and learning through career-themed academies that connect schools with local businesses, civic leaders, and community stakeholders. Drawing from years of implementation across diverse regions—from rural Idaho to urban Nashville—Carrier outlines Ford NGL’s three-part transformation framework and its five-phase roadmap, offering a blueprint for sustainable, community-driven school reform.

This episode dives deep into how Ford NGL helps districts shift from siloed instruction to collaborative, real-world learning environments that spark student engagement, boost graduation rates, and create stronger pathways to college, career, and life. Carrier also opens up about her personal connection to the work, her roots in Michigan's auto industry, and the formative experiences that shaped her passion for authentic education.

Key Moments

05:10 Career Academy Model Benefits Students

08:35 Self-Discovery and Career-Aligned Academies

11:15 Transforming Education Through Collaboration

13:43 Navigating Education Policy Barriers

18:52 "Community Feedback on Transformation"

21:00 "High-Level Executive Community Tracks"

26:13 "Success of Career Academy Model"

27:18 Community and Hands-on Learning

30:15 Rural Education Challenges

33:33 Community-Driven Educational Change

Connect with Cheryl Carrier

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-carrier-fordng

Website: https://fordngl.com/cheryl-carrier/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host and Strategos Partner Tom Luna sits down with former Florida Education Commissioner and current University of West Florida Interim President Manny Diaz Jr. to discuss the state's bold strides in education reform. Recorded at the ExcelinEd conference in Oklahoma City, this conversation highlights Florida’s leadership in school choice, civics education, early literacy, and teacher recruitment.

Commissioner Diaz shares how Florida has expanded school choice options, with over 500,000 students now benefiting from education savings accounts, charter schools, private school scholarships, and hybrid learning models. He explains how Florida’s innovative "a la carte" approach allows families to tailor education to their children’s unique needs, driving a national movement toward greater parental choice.

The discussion also delves into Florida’s comprehensive civics education initiatives, including the Civic Seal of Excellence program and debate championships aimed at preparing students to be informed citizens. Commissioner Diaz emphasizes the importance of early literacy, citing Florida’s investments in progress monitoring and curriculum reforms to ensure students are reading at grade level by third grade.

Addressing the teacher shortage, Diaz outlines Florida’s alternative certification pathways, teacher apprenticeship programs, and professional development investments, all designed to elevate and retain educators. He also highlights Florida’s new transparency initiatives, ensuring parents and taxpayers have full access to classroom materials.

Key Moments

03:35 Homeschooling Challenges and Solutions

07:49 DeSantis Boosts Civics Education Initiatives

11:45 Early Learning Investment Focus

13:55 Florida's Strategy for Teacher Shortage

18:04 Classroom Transparency and Curriculum Shift

21:21 Tallahassee's Origin as Florida's Capital

23:20 Disappointment Over Florida's Capitol Building

Connect with Manny Diaz Jr.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manny-diaz-jr-47463b55/

Website: https://www.flbog.edu/