Educating From the Heart Florida Education Association

Of all the education legislation passed this session, HB 1, the Universal Voucher bill, is likely to have the greatest long-term impact.



In this episode of Educating from the Heart, we are joined by Norin Dollard, PhD, of the Florida Policy Institute and Rev. Dr. Russel Meyer, Executive Director of the Florida Council of Churches.



Together, we discuss both the financial and the moral implications of Florida becoming the latest state to offer universal vouchers.



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* Norín Dollard, PhD, Florida Policy Institute, Senior Policy Analyst

* Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer, Executive Director Florida Council of Churches 



Resources



* Educating from the Heart Episode 7: Vouchers for All, Buyer Beware--In this episode you'll hear why some Florida parents regret pulling their child out of public schools for a chance to grab a private school voucher.

* Universal Vouchers in the News



* Florida Won't Tell you What's Wrong at its Voucher Schools -- Unless we Pay $10,413 (April 26, 2023)

* Arkansas Becomes Fifth State with Universal Education Opportunity. Which State Will be Next? (March 8, 2023):

* Arizona: Half of Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account students left public schools, latest data show (Feb 13, 2023)

* What Sweden's Teacher Shortage Says About Privatizing Education. (Dec. 19, 2022)

* Sweden: Is Sweden proof that school choice doesn’t improve education? (Feb 28, 2018)

* Billionaires v Teachers: the Koch Brothers’ plan to starve public education (Sept. 07, 2018)

* Milton Friedman on Vouchers (2003)







Transcript

Andrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA President Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit www.feaweb.org/podcast.



Announcer: Sharon: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents, and students as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flint.



Tina, Host: Welcome back to another episode of Educating from the Heart. I'd like to open up with a quote from Mark Twain. No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session. I don't know if you've noticed it in the news, but Florida lawmakers have been busy at the state capi...

A growing number of Florida parents are expressing their opposition and concerns over the increasing list of books that are being removed from Florida public school classroom and district libraries. They say it’s another attack on education that could impede student success and push more educators out of the classroom.In this episode, you'll hear how these parents are mobilizing support and fighting back within their local communities. And you'll learn what you can do to become an education activist and join the movement to regain safe schools and the freedom for students to read, learn, and thrive.



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GuestsRaegan Miller: Public School Advocate and Parent Activist* email Raegan* Follow Raegan on Twitter* Read Raegan's column, Stand up for Our Public Schools, Don't be Distracted by Fake OutrageJabari Hosey: Parent & President of Families for Safe Schools-Brevard County* email Jabari* Read Jabari's column, Gov. DeSantis talks of freedom while Florida's schools and children sufferJen Cousins: Parent & Education Activist, Co-Founder of Florida Freedom to Read Project * Watch Jen's testimony about academic censorship in Florida to the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights * Watch Florida Mom is on a Mission to end Book Banning 

Resources* PEN America report shows Florida has 2nd highest number of school-related book bans* Florida Library Association (FLA) press statement in support of the freedom to read and the right to free speech. * FL Freedom to Read Project on Youtube * Public Voices for Public Schools

TranscriptAndrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA President Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools. Be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit www.feaweb.org/podcast.Announcer: Sharon: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with. Support professionals, parents, and students as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts,

Megan Betche has been teaching since 2004. Much has changed during that time; she notes that it is now harder than ever before to strike a work-life balance. The need to see a positive change led Betche to step outside her comfort zone and run for political office.In this episode of Educating from the Heart, we talk with Betche about her successes, her challenges, and her view of what public service should be about. 



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GuestMegan Betche, Seminole County ESE teacher

ResourcesSee Educators Run Candidate Training, NEAHundreds of Teachers Ran for Office, Education WeekMegan Betche Candidate Profile, Orlando Sentinel Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District  

TranscriptAndrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA president Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit feaweb.org/podcast Sharon Nesvig: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents, and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt. Tina Dunbar, Host: Welcome back to another edition of Educating from the Heart. Thanks for listening. Luke, I have a puzzling question, which I believe you'd be able to provide some clarity. We've recently completed local, state and congressional elections, where we asked educators to identify and select candidates who support students and public education. We urged them to talk with their family and friends to choose the best candidates for their schools for teachers and for support staff, and to talk with those who have some knowledge of the ongoing issues and concerns that educators face. Well, to my surprise, I received pushback from some who stated that school employees should not be actively involved in politics.Well, Luke, that doesn't make sense, especially when you consider every decision made in public education begins with an elected official. I just don't get it. Everyone employed in public service, especially education need to be engaged in the political process to actively advocate for themselves, for their profession and their livelihood.Luke Flynt, Host: You know, Tina, when I started my teaching career, I didn't see myself as a very political person, but what happened is I realized that the over-testing that my students were facing was a policy choice, that my low pay was a policy choice, that Florida being last in the nation and student funding is a policy choice.And when we look at today's current environment, from book banning to the attacks on LGBTQ students and staff, those are policy decisions. And whenever there is a policy decision that negatively impacts you, you really have three choices: number one,

Like most Floridians, Charlie Crist and Karla Hernandez believe every child in Florida should have the freedom to learn and to thrive. Together, they have a plan to improve the lives of Florida's students and educators alike. In this month’s episode of Educating from the Heart, we talk with them about how they will increase educators’ pay and retirement benefits and lower healthcare costs while also making sure educators have the time, resources and freedom they need to do their jobs.



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Guests Congressman Charlie Crist, candidate for governor United Teachers of Dade President Karla Hernandez, candidate for lieutenant governor  

Resources * Crist/Hernandez Freedom to Learn plan* 'Parental Rights' movement leaves out these Florida parents  (USA Today)* Ron DeSantis targets teachers with demagoguing and fear-mongering (Florida Politics) * Gov. Ron DeSantis leads a nationwide shift to politicize school board races (Georgia Public Broadcasting)* Protecting Public Education in the 2022 Election (NEA)

Transcript Andrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA president Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit FEAweb.org/podcast. Sharon Nesvig: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with support professionals, parents and students as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt. Tina Dunbar, Host: Welcome back to Educating from the Heart. I'm Tina here with Luke, and we've been spending a lot of time thinking about voting, and we're watching for our vote by mail ballots. Luke, have you received your mail ballot?Luke Flynt, Host: I am so excited, Tina, because not only have I received my vote by mail ballot, on my ballot are two people at the top of the ticket who we know will support students, educators, and public education. We sat down with them recently for episode 20 of our podcast with Charlie Crist and Karla Hernandez.  Tina: FEA President Andrew Spar kicks off our podcast conversation.Andrew Spar, FEA President: So, it is so exciting today to have the next governor of the state of Florida join us, Charlie Crist. And as an educator what we know about Charlie Crist is when he was governor, he chose to stand on the side of teachers, staff, and students in the state of Florida at a really crucial point in public education in the state of Florida. He understands the importance of pay, being able to pay your rent, pay for your bills. He understands the importance of making sure you have the right to do your job in the classroom.

We kick off this year in conversation with Alex McKean, an art teacher from St. Johns County. As you’ll hear her explain, even pre-kindergarten art class is not immune from the culture wars certain politicians are waging on public education.Nonetheless, she has a hopeful vision for the future and works to make sure her art classroom is a place where all students have fun while learning new skills and gain confidence in themselves.



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GuestAlex McKean, Art teacher, St. Johns County

Resources* Arts Curriculum – St. Johns County School District (stjohns.k12.fl.us)* Visual Arts Resources (fldoe.org)* Arts in Education - Division of Arts and Culture - Florida Department of State (myflorida.com)* Arts Education Matters: We Know, We Measured It (Opinion) (edweek.org)* The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth: Findings from Four Longitudinal Studies* New evidence of the benefits of arts education (brookings.edu)

TranscriptAndrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA president Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit feaweb.org/podcast  Sharon Nesvig: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents, and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt.  Tina Dunbar: Welcome back to another new season of Educating from the Heart. I'm Tina, here with my cohost, Luke. And we’re kicking off the start of a brand-new school year, as close to 3 million Florida students head back to their classrooms. And I bet you can relate to this, Luke. This is an exciting and busy time of the year for parents, students, and for teachers too.Luke Flynt: You are absolutely right, Tina. As a teacher, there was nothing more exciting to me than the start of a new school year. the first day of school was one of my favorite days of the entire calendar year. It was actually my favorite time of the entire calendar year. There was just no other time where you have that sense of joy and hope and optimism of what a new year can bring. I also really looked forward to the start of a new school year as a student.In particular, I looked forward to my band class with Mr. Sammons. He did such a great job of creating a sense of community, a sense of camaraderie that we all wanted to be back together at the start of a new school year.Tina: That sounds like a really wonderful experience, you know, as a parent, it's all about preparing your child for school and completing all the paperwork at the beginning of the school year. And with the recent changes to the law,

As the third Covid-impacted school year draws to a close, we sat down with two experienced teachers to get their take on this school year and the importance of cultivating positive relationships with parents and students.It's a heartwarming discussion that highlights the passion and dedication of Florida's teachers and shines a light on the value of experience. 



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GuestsMorgan Mousley, English teacher, Creekside High School, St. Augustine Megan Young, English teacher, Tocio Creek High School, St. AugustineResources* Join your local union * Future Educators of America* FEA's 2022 Legislative Session Report 

TranscriptAndrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA President, Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit FEAweb.org/podcast.Sharon Nesvig: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with support professionals, parents and students as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt.Tina Dunbar, Host: Hello, and welcome back to Educating from the Heart. I'm Tina here with my co-host, Luke.Luke Flynt, Host: Hey, Tina.  Tina: Well, Luke, you know, May is a very special month for teachers, and I'm not referring to the end of the school year or summer vacation. I'm talking about a special event that encourages us to pause for a moment and reflect on the people who work in our schools and contribute so much to our children's lives.And while that moment is only a week showing teachers and all educators that we appreciate their work is an act that needs to occur throughout the school year. Of course, Luke, we all know that showing a little gratitude and appreciation really goes a long way.Luke: It really does. And showing that appreciation is important, perhaps now more than ever because when you talk with teachers, you will hear that so many of them, especially experienced educators, feel that this year has been the most difficult of their careers. Between the stress of teaching during a global pandemic, the seemingly endless attacks from certain politicians, outrageous testing policies that negatively impact teaching and outside groups trying to form a wedge between parents and teachers, I can certainly understand why this year has been so hard.Tina: And to complicate the situation, some parents who homeschooled their children during the pandemic now believe they know the teaching experience and understand the pressure points and frustrations that classroom teachers face.  Yet during many of our podcasts, Luke, you know our listeners heard from teachers who shared their feelings of being misunderstood, unheard and above all disrespected. Teachers have told us one of the main reasons they walk away is poor working conditions, unreasonable demands,