Can We Get A Minute?

Rebeca Shackleford, Jenn Ellis
  • 5.0 (2)
  • EDUCATION

"Can We Get A Minute?" cuts through the confusion of education policy to answer the questions teachers are too busy to research themselves. Join Jenn Ellis (a recovering lawyer) and Rebeca Shackleford (a former teacher and principal) as they decode who really calls the shots in our schools. From classroom policies to curriculum decisions, they break down complex education bureaucracy into actionable insights. Whether you're wondering why your school board made that controversial decision or how to effectively advocate for your students, Jenn and Rebeca combine their unique expertise to give you the straight answers you need—all in the time it takes to prep for your next class. Finally, education policy explained by experts who've been in your shoes. For season one, we’ll be talking about school meals, books, AI, college & career pathways, mental health, data & assessments.

  1. 19H AGO

    Lost Lifelines: Advocating When Access Disappears

    There is a lot happening in DC right now, and if you're a teacher trying to make sense of the noise, this episode is for you. Rebeca and Jenn are joined by returning guest Blair Wriston from Ed Trust for a frank, grounded conversation about the federal actions reshaping education as we know it and what they actually mean for students, educators, and schools. From interagency agreements quietly hollowing out the Department of Education, to Title I and special education funding uncertainty, to the heartbreaking real-world effects of immigration enforcement in and around schools, Blair and the hosts don't shy away from the hard stuff. But they also don't leave you without hope. This last episode of the season is the episode for educators who are anxious, confused, or exhausted by the headlines and want straight answers from people who are deep in the work every single day. Connect with us:  🌐 https://all4ed.org/  ➡️ https://twitter.com/All4Ed  ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/All4ed  ➡️ linktr.ee/all4ed    All4Ed is a national nonprofit advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. We are committed to expanding equitable educational opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families, and other marginalized groups. We advance transformation from the classroom to Congress by advocating for federal, state, and local policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life.

    55 min

  2. APR 30

    High School Reimagined: New Paths, New Possibilities

    Connect with our guests:  X - @mdpublicschools  Instagram - @mdpublicschools  Facebook - Maryland State Department of Education (@mdpublicschools)  LinkedIn - Maryland State Department of Education (@mdpublicschools) Connect with us:  🌐 https://all4ed.org/  ➡️ https://twitter.com/All4Ed  ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/All4ed  ➡️ linktr.ee/all4ed    All4Ed is a national nonprofit advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. We are committed to expanding equitable educational opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families, and other marginalized groups. We advance transformation from the classroom to Congress by advocating for federal, state, and local policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life.

    46 min

  3. APR 23

    When Educators Speak Up: The Power of Teachers’ Voices

    What does it look like when teachers stop being subjects of change — and start driving it? In this episode, Jenn and Rebeca sit down with Evan Stone, co-founder and CEO of Educators for Excellence (E4E), a national movement of 40,000 teachers working to ensure educators have a real voice in the policies that shape their classrooms. Evan shares his journey from a sixth-grade teacher in the Bronx who felt "crushed by the system" to building one of the most influential teacher advocacy organizations in the country. Along the way, the trio dives into what it means to amplify teacher voices in policymaking, how collective action can shift power back to educators, and why the political climate makes that work more urgent than ever. They also get personal — swapping favorite teacher memories, talking about the emotional and mental health toll of teaching, and exploring what real systemic support for educators could look like. Whether you're in the classroom, adjacent to it, or just passionate about education policy, this episode is a powerful reminder: the people closest to students should be the ones shaping the future of education. Connect with us:  🌐 https://all4ed.org/  ➡️ https://twitter.com/All4Ed  ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/All4ed  ➡️ linktr.ee/all4ed    All4Ed is a national nonprofit advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. We are committed to expanding equitable educational opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families, and other marginalized groups. We advance transformation from the classroom to Congress by advocating for federal, state, and local policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life.

    40 min

  4. 11/19/2025

    Self-Care Isn't Selfish: Taking Care When Times Are Tough

    Teaching has always been demanding work, but right now? It feels especially heavy. Between policy uncertainty, increased expectations, and the weight of supporting students through their own challenges, educators are running on empty. And yet, there's often an unspoken expectation that teachers should just keep going—that taking care of yourself somehow means you care less about your students. In this episode, right before the holiday break, we sit down with Sam Levine, one of the founding leaders of Breathe for Change, to talk about why self-care isn't selfish—it's essential. Sam helps us understand the difference between performative wellness and the deep, sustainable practices that actually help educators show up as their best selves for students. We explore what it really means to take care of yourself when times are tough, why the system often makes self-care feel impossible, and how building these practices isn't just about individual survival—it's about collective resilience. This conversation is a reminder that you can't pour from an empty cup, and that taking care of yourself is actually one of the most important things you can do for your students. Take a breath. You've earned it.   Connect with us:  🌐 https://all4ed.org/  ➡️ https://twitter.com/All4Ed  ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/All4ed  ➡️ linktr.ee/all4ed    All4Ed is a national nonprofit advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. We are committed to expanding equitable educational opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families, and other marginalized groups. We advance transformation from the classroom to Congress by advocating for federal, state, and local policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life.

    42 min

  5. 11/12/2025

    Are We On the Same Team?: District Leadership and Teacher Voice

    For many teachers, it can feel like decisions are constantly being made at the district level—and their job is simply to comply. But what if there's more to the story than top-down mandates? In this episode, we sit down with Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation at All4Ed and former teacher, principal and district leader, to bridge the gap between the classroom and the district office. Thomas helps us understand what's really happening behind those decisions that land in teachers' inboxes, why the "why" often gets lost in translation, and how the pressure district leaders face can sometimes create the very disconnects they're trying to avoid. But this isn't just about understanding district leadership—it's about finding ways to work together more effectively. How can teachers make their voices heard in district decision-making? What do district leaders wish teachers understood about their role? And how do we move from a culture of compliance to one of genuine partnership where everyone is truly on the same team? Join us for an honest conversation about the challenges on both sides of this relationship—and how we can build the trust and communication that our students deserve. Connect with us:  🌐 https://all4ed.org/  ➡️ https://twitter.com/All4Ed  ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/All4ed  ➡️ linktr.ee/all4ed    All4Ed is a national nonprofit advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. We are committed to expanding equitable educational opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families, and other marginalized groups. We advance transformation from the classroom to Congress by advocating for federal, state, and local policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life.

    47 min

  6. 11/05/2025

    Beyond Engagement: Parents as Partners in Students Rights

    Every teacher knows family engagement is critical to success for a student, classroom, and school year. But how do we move from talking about parents, to talking with them, and how do we ensure students are truly centered in partnerships with families? In this episode, we sit down with Keri Rodrigues, the Co-Founder and Founding President of the National Parents Union for a conversation on how teachers and parents can better align to cut through conflict and focus where our unified energy is truly needed: to protect students’ rights. Whether you are a parent, teacher, both, or neither - Keri offers critical insight into taping parents as experts in the area they know best: their children. Join us for a conversation that ranges from student-centered advocacy, the TikTok teacher/parent discourse, and the unified power of parent and teacher partnerships. Connect with us:  🌐 https://all4ed.org/  ➡️ https://twitter.com/All4Ed  ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/All4ed  ➡️ linktr.ee/all4ed    All4Ed is a national nonprofit advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. We are committed to expanding equitable educational opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families, and other marginalized groups. We advance transformation from the classroom to Congress by advocating for federal, state, and local policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life.

    47 min

  7. 10/29/2025

    Course Correction: Reimagining Pathways for Real Opportunities

    For over a decade, the pathways movement promised to bridge K-12, postsecondary education, and careers—opening doors for young people far from opportunity. But what if we've been building pathways that actually close more doors than they open? In this episode, we sit down with Charlotte Cahill and Kyle Hartung, Senior Advisors at All4Ed, to explore some uncomfortable truths about where pathways are headed. Too many pathways have become narrowly focused on job training and short-term credentials, funneling students—especially those furthest from opportunity—into linear routes that can lead to dead ends. Charlotte and Kyle challenge us to think bigger: What if we designed pathways that honor young people's complexity and aspirations? What if we stopped presenting false choices between college and career, between purpose and paycheck, between self-determination and economic security? And what would it take to build pathways systems that actually expand opportunity rather than replicate the tracking systems of decades past? Join us for a conversation about the urgent need for a course correction—and what it will take to create pathways that truly serve all students.     Connect with us:  🌐 https://all4ed.org/  ➡️ https://twitter.com/All4Ed  ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/All4ed  ➡️ linktr.ee/all4ed    All4Ed is a national nonprofit advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. We are committed to expanding equitable educational opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families, and other marginalized groups. We advance transformation from the classroom to Congress by advocating for federal, state, and local policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life.

    48 min

  8. 10/22/2025

    Permission Granted, Progress Lost?: What We Risk In an Era of Waivers

    Sweeping waiver proposals are on the horizon in Iowa, Indiana, and Oklahoma—and they could fundamentally change how we track whether all students are being served. When states ask for flexibility, it sounds reasonable. But what happens when that flexibility means losing critical data and dismantling the safeguards designed to ensure transparency and accountability? In this episode, we sit down with returning guest, Anne Hyslop, Director of Policy Development at All4Ed, and Nicholas Munyan-Penney, Assistant Director of P-12 Policy at EdTrust, to unpack what's at stake. What are these states asking to be excused from? What information could we lose? And most importantly, which students are most at risk when oversight disappears? Join us for a clear-eyed look at the trade-offs we're making in the name of flexibility—and what it means for the students who need protection most. Connect with us: 🌐 https://all4ed.org/ ➡️ https://twitter.com/All4Ed  ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/All4ed  ➡️ linktr.ee/all4ed  All4Ed is a national nonprofit advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. We are committed to expanding equitable educational opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families, and other marginalized groups. We advance transformation from the classroom to Congress by advocating for federal, state, and local policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life. Connect with us:  🌐 https://all4ed.org/  ➡️ https://twitter.com/All4Ed  ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/All4ed  ➡️ linktr.ee/all4ed    All4Ed is a national nonprofit advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. We are committed to expanding equitable educational opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families, and other marginalized groups. We advance transformation from the classroom to Congress by advocating for federal, state, and local policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life.

    43 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

"Can We Get A Minute?" cuts through the confusion of education policy to answer the questions teachers are too busy to research themselves. Join Jenn Ellis (a recovering lawyer) and Rebeca Shackleford (a former teacher and principal) as they decode who really calls the shots in our schools. From classroom policies to curriculum decisions, they break down complex education bureaucracy into actionable insights. Whether you're wondering why your school board made that controversial decision or how to effectively advocate for your students, Jenn and Rebeca combine their unique expertise to give you the straight answers you need—all in the time it takes to prep for your next class. Finally, education policy explained by experts who've been in your shoes. For season one, we’ll be talking about school meals, books, AI, college & career pathways, mental health, data & assessments.

Information

  • Creator
    Rebeca Shackleford, Jenn Ellis
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Can We Get A Minute?

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