GAEL UnscriptED Podcast

Ready to turn career choices into retirement confidence? We sat down with Georgia’s Teacher Retirement System leadership to decode the rules that matter most: how promotions interact with anti-spiking safeguards, why your highest 24 months drive your benefit, and when a June paycheck might outweigh an earlier COLA. We walk through clean, real-world scenarios so […]

A bus route to the boardroom isn’t a cliché here—it’s the real path two former superintendents took before stepping into leadership at Georgia’s Teacher Retirement System. We open with their unexpected journeys, the mentors who nudged them forward, and the idea that leadership is transferable when anchored in service, data, and relationships. From there, we […]

Start the new year with a clean slate and a smarter plan for leading your school. We kick off season two by inviting members to share their best campus ideas on the show and by laying out concrete support you can plug in right away. From statewide cohorts to targeted coaching and a literacy series […]

Ready for a clear look at what leaders need next? We close the fall season with Cindy Flesher and a practical preview of Winter GAEL, our three-day gathering in Athens that puts member voice at the center. From the first survey response to the final agenda, every session is built to solve problems you face […]

If leadership is a muscle, this conversation is the workout plan. We sit down with the team from UGA’s Fanning Institute to unpack Youth Lead Georgia—a statewide program that starts with a three‑day kickoff in Athens and expands into a year of hands‑on learning, industry immersion, and post‑secondary exploration. From team building and self‑awareness to […]

Want proof that high school leadership doesn’t have to be performative or reserved for a select few? We sit down with the team at UGA’s JW Fanning Institute for Leadership Development to unpack a model that helps teens lead right now—no jargon, no fluff, just practical skills and real opportunities. From the pressures students feel […]

Think a teacher salary can’t build real wealth? We invite Danny Kafke back to show how educators can pair the Georgia TRS pension with smart, low-fee savings and the right insurance to create stability that rivals seven-figure portfolios. We start with the simple math of the pension—2% per service year—then connect it to a practical […]

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 […]