Change Is Coming

Topic: Education Reform, Healthcare Advocacy, and Running for Georgia Superintendent of SchoolsIn this 43-minute episode, host JR Sparrow sits down with Dr. Nelva Lee, a healthcare administrator, entrepreneur, and candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Lee shares her inspiring journey from Panama to the United States, her work in healthcare advocacy, and her vision for transforming Georgia's education system through literacy, trade certifications, and school choice.Growing up in Panama during the Noriega dictatorshipFamily heritage from Costa Rica and JamaicaMoving to the US as a teenager and appreciating democratic freedomsLessons learned from her grandmother Nelva about gratitude and work ethicObtaining a trade certification in healthcare during high schoolEarning bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in healthcare administrationWorking as Director of Patient Advocacy at Grady Health SystemFounding a vocational school for medical interpretersCreating the certification exam for medical interpretersInvolvement with AI and human interpreting integrationAppointment to Georgia Department of Community Health by Governor KempLearning the slow process of government policymakingImportance of community engagement in healthcare policyAdvocacy rooted in personal experience with dictatorshipCurrent State of Georgia Education:Georgia ranks 38th out of 50 states in educationMississippi improved from 50th to top 10 by returning to basicsKey Campaign Initiatives:Literacy FirstNo child leaves second grade without learning to readClear guidelines for teachers on literacy benchmarksRecognition that prisons are built based on third-grade literacy ratesUniversal Trade CertificationsAll Georgia graduates receive high school diploma AND trade certificationBenefits both college-bound and workforce-ready studentsProvides financial independence and career optionsExpanded School ChoiceExpansion of Promise Scholarship ActMore public Montessori and KIPP schoolsMatching learning environments to individual student needsSpecial Education & IEP Reform:Concerns about overuse of IEP labelsIEP test scores don't count toward school performance metricsRisk of implicit bias from teachers toward labeled studentsNeed for appropriate learning environments rather than automatic labelingPost-COVID Challenges:Addressing learning deficits in current 6th-7th gradersMental health impacts from isolation (anxiety, depression)Need for motivation and self-esteem building"By the third grade, they're building prisons based on whether or not children are literate.""Every child can learn, but they need to have a learning environment that matches their specific learning needs.""Good leaders really are great because they motivate others to do the best.""Anything that you do for children lasts a lifetime."Learn More About Dr. Nelva Lee:Website: drnelvalee.comBooks and additional information available on her websiteFollow WV Uncommon Place:Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedInMerch: wvuncommonplace.square.siteSubscribe and rate on your favorite podcast platformEducation ReformHealthcare AdvocacyEntrepreneurshipImmigration & DemocracySpecial EducationTrade Schools & Vocational TrainingSchool ChoiceLeadership & Public ServiceEpisode SummaryKey Topics DiscussedBackground & Immigration (0:00 - 8:00)Healthcare Career & Entrepreneurship (8:00 - 18:00)Public Service & Policy (18:00 - 25:00)Running for Georgia Superintendent of Schools (25:00 - 43:00)Notable QuotesResourcesEpisode Themes