Episodes
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Candidate Convos - Recap - Austin ISD Trustees
Sharyn and Cuitlahiac recap their conversations with all the cbaiddtes for the Austin ISD Board of Trustees.
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Candidate Convos - Candace Hunter - Austin ISD Trustee District 1
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Candace Hunter, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 1
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Candidate Convos - Cheryl Bradley - Austin ISD Trustee District 1
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Cheryl Bradley, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 1
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Candidate Convos - Edward Bradfield - Austin ISD Trustee District 4
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Edward Bradfield, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 4
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Candidate Convos - Tricia Mitchell Kim - Austin ISD Trustee District 4
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Tricia Mitchell Kim, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 4
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Candidate Convos - Jessica Neufeld - Austin ISD Trustee District 4
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Jessica Neufeld, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 4
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Candidate Convos - Kirk Becker - Austin ISD Trustee At Large / District 9
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac talk to Kirk Becker, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee At Large / District 9
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Candidate Convos - Pamela Mathai - Austin ISD Trustee At Large / District 9
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac speak with Pamela Mathai, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 9, a city wide At Large board trustee.
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Candidate Convos - Cynthia Soliz - Austin ISD Trustee At Large / District 9
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac speak with Cynthia Soliz, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 9, a city wide At Large board trustee.
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Candidate Convos - Jimmy Counihan - Austin ISD Trustee District 7
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Jimmy Counihan, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 7
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Candidate Convos - Laurie Solis - Austin ISD Trustee District 7
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Jimmy Counihan, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 7
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Candidate Convos - Sarah Dille - Austin ISD Trustee District 6
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Sarah Dille, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 6
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Candidate Convos - Alex San Martin - Austin ISD Trustee District 6
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Alex San Martin, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 6
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Candidate Convos - Marie Lebron- Austin ISD Trustee District 6
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Marie Lebron, candidate for Austin ISD Trustee District 6
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The Mayor’s Plan to Save Austin ISD - Aug 27 & Sep 10 Meetings
Special education advocate Lisa Flores join Sharon and Cuitlahuac to talk about the payday loan the district is taking out, supposed gains and improvement in special education services, and give their take on Austin Mayor Kirk Watson’s plan to stay off a TE I take over.
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Letter Grades & Bud Hubs - Aug 20, 2026 Info Meeting
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac break down what that district wide B-letter grade really means, how the district measure fidelity to curriculum, and how transportation hubs are impacting the start of the school year.
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Closure of Paredes Middle School - Aug 9, 2026
Shary and Cuitlahuac read into the record the lived experience of a member of the Paredes Middle School community who details the “disruption” experienced prior to the district’s decision to close the campus in an effort to avoid a fourth consecutive “F” grade. They also discuss changes to the…
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Sea of Uncertainty- Austin ISD Budget Voting Meeting - June 2026
Shary and Cuitlahuac break down the budget passed by the Austin ISD school board and highlight some unanswered questions and concerns with regards to transportation and takeovers.
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Candidate Convos - Tiffany Perkinz - SBOE District 7
Candace Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Democratic nominee for the State Board of Education District 7 Tiffany Perkinz. The hosts talk about her candidacy, the upcoming SBOE meeting where new social studies standards and a. Requires reading list will be voted on, and why it’s important…
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Budget Breakdown - Trustee Dr. David Kauffman - June 7, 2026
Trustee Dr. David Kauffman joins Candace Sharyn and Cuitlahuac to talk about the proposed budget for Austin ISD . The trustees talk about the cuts to campus positions, if the district has done enough at central office, and contrast the impact state funding has on smaller rural districts with the...
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Military Occupation of Austin ISD - Dan Dawer - May 29, 2026
Candace Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Daniel Dawer, a PhD student at UT-Austin who is researching the Texas Education Agency takeover of Houston ISD. They discuss the news that the 1882 partnership proposed by Austin ISD was rejected by TEA setting up the possibility of a state takeover.…
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Budgets and Baselines (or lack thereof) - Apr 23rd & 30th AISD Board Meeting
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac breakdown the plans discussed to address the budget deficit, share their takes about some of the proposed solutions including “7 of 8” , and reflect on their experience at KUT Festival.
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Candidate Convos - Allison Bush - SBOE District 5
We sit down with some of the candidates for State Board of Education District 5 to hear why they are running for this office, what they plan to do if elected, and why they should get your vote. Like listen and share!
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New Social Studies Frameworks - Megan Dougherty
Megan Dougherty joins Candace Sharyn and Cuitlahuac to talk about the new social studies framework and standards going through the Texas State Board of Education approval process right now. They discuss the changes, the impact, and what you can and should do to make your opinion heard.
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Bloated Inefficient Inequitable Racist System - Feb 26 AISD Board Public Hearing and Voting Meeting
Sharyn is back! and joins Cuitlahuac to break down the disconnect between what the administration tells the board and what actually is happening in the schools the district continuously under supports and under resources and which are now facing state takeover in the forms TIPs TAPs and 1882s.…
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Candidate Convos - Abigail Gray - SBOE District 5
We sit down with some of the candidates for State Board of Education District 5 to hear why they are running for this office, what they plan to do if elected, and why they should get your vote. Like listen and share!
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Candidate Convos - Stephanie Bazán - SBOE District 5
We sit down with some of the candidates for State Board of Education District 5 to hear why they are running for this office, what they plan to do if elected, and why they should get your vote. Like listen and share!
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Candidate Convos - Neto Longoria - SBOE District 5
We sit down with some of the candidates for State Board of Education District 5 to hear why they are running for this office, what they plan to do if elected, and why they should get your vote. Like listen and share!
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Candidate Convos - HD 49 - Kimmie Ellison
Candace and Cuitlahuac speak with Texas House District 49 Democratic candidate Kimmie Ellison who talks about her personal and professional journey, education-specific legislative goals, and what she's thinks is important for her constituents.
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Nothing Burger Investigation, “uNiVeRsAL” Choice Sheets, New Grievance Process - February 15, 2026
What should happen now that Austin ISD’s internal investigation reveals no data manipulation during the school closure process? What do the so called “universal” choice sheets reveal about the inequities in Austin ISDl? How will proposed changes to the district grievance process affect families?...
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Candidate Convos - Robin Lerner HD 49
Candace and Cuitlahuac speak to Texas House District 49 Democratic candidate Robin Lerner who talk about her personal and professional journey, education-specific legislative goals, and how her work in human rights guides her work beyond education.
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You're Not From Texas...- Feb 1, 2026
Candace joins Cuitlahuac to breakdown the different local, state, and federal elections voters will cast a ballot for in the upcoming primary and how each office can and does affect education.
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1882s Are For Me, Not For Thee - Jan 15 Info Session
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac break down the transparency or lack thereof in the process of bringing in 1882 charter school operators to take over Dobie, Webb, and Burnet Middle Schools, as well as celebrate milestones achieved by the district in Special Education evaluations and highlight the work that...
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Candidate Convos - Montserrat Garibay HD 49
Candace and Cuitlahuac speak with Texas House District 49 Democratic candidate Montserrat Garibay who talks about her personal and professional journey, education-specific legislative goals, and what she's hearing is important to the people in her district.
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Promises Made & Promises Delayed - Dec 18 Board Voting Meeting
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac breakdown the last board meeting of 2025 and some of the promises made include ensuring smooth transitions for staff and families at closing or consolidating campuses, promises to begin work on an Academic Vision that will guide curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and...
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Piecemeal Takeover - Dec 11, 2025 Info Session
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac break down how trustees responded to the possibility of handing over three academically unacceptable middle schools over to a charter school organization, how the superintendent responded to calls from trustees to raise the goals on his scorecard, and how students are...
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Closures Are Here - Nov. 20 Board Voting Meeting
Lisa, Sharyn, and Cuitlahuac break down a historic 9-hour hearing + meeting that includes how the district (supposedly) plans to use data to ensure schools currently in or headed for a Turn Around Plan succeed, why certain parent groups are given more explicit support in finding new academic...
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Academic Vision & Abrupt Changes to the Closure Plan with Dr. Maxwell and Superintendent Segura
Dr. Mary Anne Maxwell, Assistant Superintendent K-12 Academics and Superintendent Matias Segura join Sharyn and Cuitlahuac to talk about the academic vision of the district and address abrupt changes to the consolidation and closure plan.
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Dual Language, Choice Schools, & Gentrification
Dr. Valerie Sterne join Nadia and Cuitlahuac to discuss choice schools specifically the wall-to-wall dual language schools Austin ISD is closing and relocating.
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The TAP Experience
We catch up with three former Dobie Middle School teachers and talk about their experience going through a Turn Around Plan at their campus.
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How Did We Get Here? - Oct 20, 2025
Current and Former AISD Trustees Candace Hunter and Noelita Lugo join Sharyn and Cuitlahuac to discuss how, in terms of academic accountability, finances, and instructional leadership Austin ISD is once again closing schools.
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Candace & Closures- Oct 12, 2025
Trustee Candace Hunter returns to talk to Sharyn and Cuitlahuac about the Austin ISD proposed closures and consolidation plan.
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Parent Reaction to AISD Closure Plan - Oct 5
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac are joined by Lisa Bennett and Emily Germain, two parents with children at Maplewood and Sunset Valley elementary schools respectively, both schools on the closure list of Austin ISD's draft plan released October 3rd, to talk about how it feels to have their school targeted...
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"don't close MY school" & 1984 - Sept 18 AISD Board Information Session
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac respond to the public comments at the Sept 18 board information session and detail how Lone Star Governance has become the Party by telling trustees that whatever LSG holds to be student centered, is student centered. They also ask, can the superintendent even keep the...
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Cell Phones & Celebrities - Aug 21 Board Voting Meeting 2025
Cuitlahuac and Sharyn talk about new policies the board recently passed, Lone Star Governance’s iron grip on the district, and Bryker Woods’ high-profile lobbying to stay open.
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No More Feedback? - Aug 14 Board Meeting 2025
Former Trustee Noelita Lugo joins Lisa, Nadia, Sharyn, and Cuitlahuac to go over closure plans, literacy goals, special education compliance, the cell phone ban, and if the district is actually interested in community feedback.
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The Rubric - Consolidations & Closures Workshop - Aug 7th 2025
Nikkie and Nadia join Sharyn and Cuitlahuac to review the rubric published by Austin ISD that will be used to formulate a consolodiations and closure plan this fall.
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Closing in on a Closure Plan - AISD Consolidation Community Meetings - July 2025
Sharyn and our panel of advocates, Nikkie, Nadia, and Lisa, share their takeaways from AISD's recent consolidation workshops: pleasant surprise, wat was missing, and they they way to see in the final plan.
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What is the Academic Vision? - June 26, 2025 Voting Meeting
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac discuss why the leadership in Austin ISD cannot articulate a clear academic vision, whether it be pedagogical curriculum and instruction, or a baseline of offerings and programs that every parent can expect at any AISD school, as trustees vote to approve a budget, turnaround...
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Drinking from a Fire Hose - June 12 Info Session
Sharyn and Cuitlahuac cover a lot of topics including -TEA Commissioner Mike Morath on curriculum and literacy -Austin ISD Protesting at TEA Offices -Turnaround Plans for 3 Middle School -Consolidation and Closure Plans for the district -Instruction Support for Special Education -Budget Deficit...
About this show
While this ex officio or unofficial podcast focuses on issues in Austin and Central Texas, our conversations about education are important to everyone.
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EdXP
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