Just Thinking… About Federal Funds, Student Support, and the Future of Education with Eric Reaves

As conversations around the future of the U.S. Department of Education continue to intensify, educators and federal program leaders are facing mounting uncertainty about how federal funds will be managed, distributed, and regulated. At the same time, schools serving historically underserved students remain heavily reliant on programs like Title I and other federally supported initiatives to close learning gaps and provide critical services. In 2024, nearly three-quarters of public-school lunches were served free or at a reduced price through the National School Lunch Program, underscoring just how many students depend on federally supported services that reach far beyond academics.But as policies shift and compliance requirements evolve, how can school leaders ensure federal dollars are still reaching the students who need them most? And perhaps more importantly, how can educators remain focused on the human stories behind the funding formulas?On this episode of Just Thinking, host Kevin Dougherty sits down with Eric Reaves, Acting Director of the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators (NAFEPA), for a deeply personal and timely conversation about federal education funding, leadership, resilience, and the life-changing power of mentorship. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of federal education programs, the growing need for compliance and guidance amid regulatory uncertainty, and the personal experiences that shaped Reaves’ passion for serving students and educators alike.Key takeaways from the episode…Federal education leaders are navigating unprecedented uncertainty as discussions around Department of Education restructuring raise questions about compliance, EDGAR regulations, and program oversight.Student behavior often reflects unseen trauma, and educators must become better equipped to recognize the warning signs behind academic struggles and disengagement.Mentorship, gratitude, and curiosity can transform lives, as Reaves reflects on the influential people who helped guide him from a difficult childhood to national educational leadership.Eric Reaves currently serves as the Acting Director of NAFEPA, an organization dedicated to supporting K–12 federal education program administrators nationwide. With nearly 4,000 members, NAFEPA provides training, resources, and policy updates to professionals responsible for managing federal education funding and compliance. Reaves brings a unique perspective to the role, shaped not only by years of leadership and operational experience, but also by his own experiences growing up as a Title I student facing adversity at home. Before entering education leadership, Reaves built a successful career in the orthotic and prosthetic industry, where mentors and medical professionals helped cultivate his lifelong passion for learning, service, and people-centered leadership.