In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna sits down with James Lane, former Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction and a key leader in U.S. education. With a career spanning classroom teaching, district leadership, and senior roles in both state and federal education departments, Lane brings a wealth of experience and insight to the pressing challenges in education today.

Recorded at the ASU+GSV Summit, the episode highlights the intersection of innovation and leadership in addressing critical issues like the national teacher shortage. Lane discusses his current work with Educators Rising, a program under the PDK umbrella that aims to inspire high school students to pursue careers in education. By focusing on a "grow your own" model, Educators Rising seeks to address teacher shortages locally, empowering districts to recruit future educators from within their communities.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into Lane’s mission to build a sustainable teacher pipeline and his vision for the future of education. This episode underscores the importance of leadership, innovation, and collaboration in tackling education’s toughest challenges.

Key Moments

04:19 Band director transformed school program and became administrator.

08:52 Multiyear effort ensuring effective American Rescue Plan.

10:52 Left Biden Admin to foster future educators.

15:40 Focus on high school students becoming teachers.

16:49 Teacher quality is crucial; subject gaps persist, especially in STEM.

20:30 Passionate about teaching from a young age.

23:51 Appointed for a 4-year term, achieved goals despite COVID.

26:26 Children are the future; subscribe for more insights.

Connect with James Lane

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-lane-7b712066/

Website:https://education.virginia.edu/