SXSW2025 Edition: The Future of Education with Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson

·38 min·3 clips

Nearly 400,000 teacher positions are vacant or underqualified, a crisis driven by high turnover in the first five years.

Jen Hatmaker opens the episode by sharing her personal experience as a former teacher, emphasizing her passion for educators. She introduces Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson from Western Governors University, who explains WGU's competency-based education model, focusing on skills alignment, assessments, and student support through program mentors. The conversation shifts to the challenges in education, with Dr. Johnson detailing the teacher shortage, citing data on vacant positions and high turnover rates among new teachers. She stresses the importance of teacher retention and well-being, linking it to student outcomes. Dr. Johnson suggests solutions like school culture improvements, mentorship, and community building. They explore future trends, including personalized learning, social-emotional support, competency-based education, and AI integration in teacher training. Dr. Johnson also discusses teacher apprenticeships as a way to reduce financial barriers. Jen asks for advice for discouraged teachers, and Dr. Johnson encourages them to prioritize self-care and advocacy. The episode concludes with information on WGU's programs and Jen's appreciation for their work.

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