Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow, American Federation for Children

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In this episode of the Square Pizza Pod, Greg welcomes Shaka Mitchell, educator, policy leader, and advocate for school choice, for an engaging and candid conversation about education, leadership, and civic engagement.

From his early days in Nashville to his current work shaping education policy across Tennessee, Shaka reflects on what’s changed—and what hasn’t—about how we prepare students for the future. Along the way, he shares sharp insights on the role of local leadership, the real stories behind school choice debates, and how families and communities can stay engaged in creating better systems for kids.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why Shaka believes “parents are the most important education reformers”
• How Tennessee’s education landscape is shifting post-pandemic
• Lessons from the charter sector and what traditional districts can learn
• His advice for building civic trust and bridging ideological divides
• How he uses music as a common ground to spark conversation and bridge differences
• A few Nashville stories (and laughs) along the way

If you care about schools, leadership, or the future of public education, this is one you don’t want to miss.

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