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/

In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna sits down with Kathy Hoffman, former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction and a passionate advocate for special education. Now serving as the Executive Director for Innovation and Special Education Initiatives at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Kathy is leading Project OASIS—a groundbreaking initiative to rethink and improve special education systems.

Kathy shares her journey from speech-language pathologist to state education leader, explaining how her firsthand experiences in Arizona classrooms shaped her drive for reform. She discusses the challenges facing special education today, including severe teacher shortages, overwhelming administrative burdens, and the need for more inclusive classroom models. Through Project OASIS, she is bringing together educators, researchers, parents, and business leaders to explore innovative strategies that improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

Tom and Kathy also dive into the complexities of special education funding, teacher training, and the need for community collaboration to ensure that every child—regardless of ability—receives the support they need to succeed.

Tune in for an insightful discussion on how reimagining special education can create lasting, positive change for students, teachers, and school systems nationwide.

Key Moments

03:49 Challenges in Special Education Compliance

09:29 Parents' Role in Education Improvement

12:11 Special Ed Challenges in Arizona

14:40 Challenges in Inclusive Education

17:27 Children: 100% of Our Future

Connect with Kathy Hoffman

X: https://x.com/supt_hoffman?lang=en