GAEL UnscriptED Podcast

What if a 42K salary could still build a rich, secure life? We sit down with longtime educator and author Danny Kofke to map out the practical money moves that help teachers thrive today and retire strong tomorrow. Danny’s story starts in the classroom—first grade, kindergarten, and a decade in severe and profound special education—and […]

A deepfake with a boss’s voice. A viral post that turns a school into a headline. A teacher’s split-second decision in a chaotic classroom. We dive into the real frontiers of K-12 HR and the practical systems that keep leaders steady when everything moves fast. Stephanie Dobbins (Executive Director, GASPA) and Tyler Gwyn (Executive Director […]

What if professional learning actually counted twice—toward your graduate degree and your district’s biggest challenges? We sit down with Dr. Mike Dishman, dean at the University of West Georgia, to unpack a practical blueprint for educator growth, retention, and real results. From SummerGale’s community heartbeat to the nuts and bolts of a redesigned doctorate, this […]

What if one well-intended schedule change quietly cut thousands from your special education funding? We sit down with G CASE leaders Mary Kay Berry and Demita James to unpack the real-world moves that keep students supported, teams aligned, and districts out of trouble. From the fall Savannah gathering focused on the balance between instruction and […]

Teacher shortages aren’t solved by salary alone. We sit down with Jimmy Jackson from American Fidelity to unpack how a school-first benefits strategy can tip the scales on recruitment, retention, and day-to-day employee satisfaction. From transportation teams to parapros to classroom teachers, school districts have a unique workforce and a unique calendar—and a partner that […]

What actually changes a school—policies on paper or people in the building? We sit down with Jay Floyd to map the moments that matter, from his first days as a biology teacher and coach to leading large high schools and a district. Jay is candid about the hard parts of leadership, the joy of seeing […]

The most effective help often comes from people who know your world firsthand. Craig Harper, executive director of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), joins us to share how a Georgia-grown, educator-led association supports 91,000+ members with advocacy, coaching, grants, and professional learning—while keeping dues low and dollars local. From the earliest days in […]

The hardest part of school leadership isn’t the schedule or the spreadsheets—it’s standing in front of people you care about and making calls that keep kids first, even when you don’t have every answer. We sit down with two seasoned leaders—one who rose from kindergarten teacher to deputy superintendent, another who went from coaching girls’ […]

Attorney Cory Kirby pulls back the curtain on the most pressing legal challenges facing Georgia's schools today in this engaging and informative conversation. With 25 years of experience representing school districts, Kirby shares why the upcoming Fall Legal Issues Conference (October 29-31 in Athens) is essential for district leadership teams. The landscape of school law […]

The landscape of school safety has transformed dramatically in recent years, with technology now playing a pivotal role in protecting our most vulnerable populations. In this powerful episode of GAEL UnscriptED, host Ben Wiggins sits down with Mary Ford and Jay Floyd from CENTEGIX to explore how their innovative CrisisAlert™ system is revolutionizing emergency response […]