Welcome to Innovating Education, the podcast where we explore the future of education through insightful conversations with administrators, policymakers, and educators. I'll be your host, Dr. Riley Williams, and I'm excited to have you join me on this journey of re-imagining what education can be. In each episode, we'll dive into innovative ideas from those shaping the system and pressing issues in education reform and policy changes.

Our focus will be solution driven, fostering a positive space for collaborative dialogue that inspires actionable change. So whether you're a decision maker, teacher, or simply passionate about education, this podcast offers fresh perspectives and practical insights to help build a brighter future for learners everywhere.

Now, I'll be honest, I haven't spent my entire career in education. I recently retired from the Federal Aviation Administration. After college, I passed the TEKS exam for Science 8 through 12 in Texas, fully intending on teaching. But, then Lockheed Martin called and Well, let's just say that educators are extremely underpaid.

In graduate school, I really began to dive into education research. I traveled to 20 school districts in Oklahoma, conducting a baseline environmental literacy assessment of over a thousand students. The results were incredible. With only 2 percent of students meeting the requirements in all domains to be considered environmentally literate.

That experience sparked my curiosity in curriculum intervention programs, which became the focus of my doctoral dissertation. At this point, I can imagine some of you are asking yourselves, why should I listen to someone who hasn't taught or led education in a traditional capacity? The truth is, I'm a student, a lifelong learner, Someone who wants to help our students build a brighter and better future.

Just like you. I intend to serve as a facilitator. I started this podcast to create a space where educators, administrators, and thought leaders can come together to share ideas, strategies, and stories to inspire positive change.

So what can you expect from innovating education in each episode will feature insightful conversations with experts and leaders in education will dive into topics like curriculum design, integrating technology, leadership strategies and fostering equitable learning environment. My focus is on actionable ideas and solutions.

It's not just talk. It's going to be about making an impact. So give us a shot. And if you'd like to join me on the podcast as a guest, please message me on LinkedIn. Thanks for tuning in. And, if you enjoy the show, please share it with your network.