September 12, 2025 • 13 mins
For the second consecutive year, a majority of students report that when they are most engaged in school, it is because their teachers made the coursework exciting and interesting. Yet, just half of middle school and high school students say their teachers seem excited about what they teach. Only 43 percent say the lessons are interesting, and 37 percent say coursework feels connected to the real world. When schoolwork is challenging and relevant, it helps students build lasting skills and confidence. The increase from 70 to 78 percent of students with a teacher who excites them about the future highlights the powerful role educators play in student engagement and outlook. These findings highlight a chance for schools, communities, and policymakers to respond. The Walton Family Foundation is committed to expanding access to engaging, relevant learning so that every young person, no matter their path, can thrive in school and in life.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, good morning, Rummy. How are you doing today.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
I got to tell you, I am intrigued by your book,
your study, your everything. And the reason why is because
I'm on the opposite side of education in the way
that my students are anywhere between eighteen and sixty four.
And everything that I'm learning about people that are in
school today, high school, middle school, they are no different
than a fifty five year old man or woman. I
(00:27):
swear to God, I feel like I'm reading about my
students when I am reading your study.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, I'm so happy that the study feels meaningful to
your own life, and I agree there's many lessons to
draw from it as an adult.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
One of the things that has always scared me about
young adults, and I do work with a lot of
young adults at the essential job, and that is is
that they're not really looking forward to the future. How
does that really dive into their education.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
It's so important that students feel inspired and motivated about
their futures. And one of the things we're excited about
in this study is that more than ever before, students
are saying they feel ready for the future. Fifty six
percent of gen Zers are saying they feel ready for
their future. That's the highest level we've seen in the
(01:15):
three years we've done this survey. But we also know
that we have more work to do to actually prepare
students for the challenges they will meet and the opportunities
they will meet in life and as they pursue jobs
of the future.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Don't you think though, that part of those studies and
part of the discipline has got to be that when
they go and land their very first job, they've got
to be held accountable and they can't have leaders that say, well,
they are sixteen or seventeen, you've got to lean on
them and understand when when you know that you and
I were never shaped like that.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I think that it starts in school, and it starts
in terms of developing the skill sets and mindsets that
students need to succeed, and part of that is grit
and resilience. Only thirty seven percent of students in this
survey say their course work feels connected to the real world.
(02:10):
So we have more work to do to ensure that
students have access to those life experiences and job experiences
at an earlier age so that they start to get
ready and they start to see what it means to
even be part of the working world.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I tell students to go get a job at a
grocery store, and the reason why is because they're going
to meet doctors, they're going to meet lawyers, they're going
to meet all of these people in the world of
business that will serve as an inspiration to them because
they'll answer their questions for free. I mean, it's like
an internship right there at Register number four.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I am a big supporter of the idea of work experience,
whether that is through apprenticeships or internships, or career connected learning,
which is about making sure that career experiences and knowledge
are blended into the academic model of a school. And
there are high schools across the country that are taking
(03:06):
really creative approaches to making sure that students even know
what the jobs out there are and the kind of
skills that they require. So I think you're spot on
when you say that we need to expose students. Exposure
is a big part of it, and then also give
them access to the experiences that will prepare them for
(03:28):
what's next.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Please do not move. There's more with romy Drucker coming
up next. This study is all about students and how
to get them engaged in the realms of the real world.
We're back with Romy Drucker. I totally agree with you
when it comes to the right class can build lasting
skills and confidence. Because Tony sweer Engine in nineteen seventy
eight was my broadcast instructor in Buildings, Montana. I'm forty
(03:52):
six years deep into this career because of Tony swear Engine.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
That's such a great anecdote and it goes to show
what strong mentorship and teachers who inspire and the impact
that makes on a student's life. Seventy eight percent of
students in this survey say they feel more excited when
a teacher makes learning and challenging. So teachers mentors adults
(04:19):
in their lives. It's key to student inspiration. It's key
to helping students find that spark and really tap into
their interests and purpose, which we ultimately know will lead
to a more fulfilling and stable life.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Falling witness to a lot of students go off to
their first year in college. They seem to be on
the shy side when you ask the question what are
you going to study? I would love to see more
confidence in the students saying, well, you know what, I'm
going into biology, I'm going into this, and that's what
I would love to see.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
I think if high school was a place that really
helped you think about what your interests are in a
more concrete way than and you would see more of
that kind of response. And I do want to say
that I feel like schools across the country are making
progress here. They are thinking differently about helping students tap
(05:12):
into their interests and the kind of experiences they find meaningful.
But also college should be a place for exploration.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
So it is a balance how much is AI changing
the course because I'm not addicted to chat GPT, but
i will go to it because I'm too lazy to
go to Google, and Google was once that machine.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
I think that a really important impact of AI is
actually on the world of work, and so students need
to be more adaptive and have technological skill sets and
a sense of being willing to change with the times,
and the jobs today may look different in a couple
(05:56):
of years, so again we need to be introducing student
evidence to the technology and building hard skills, but also
developing those soft skills like grit and resilience that will
help students succeed in a changing economy.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Who I've got a lot of compassion for are the teachers.
Because my wife is a retired teacher. I know what
she went through. I knew her daily challenges and struggles
and victories and things like that. But I would like
to see what a modern day teacher is going through.
And I wish that they would put more real people
in there. In other words, if I'm a broadcaster, go
in there and teach writing, go in there and teach journalism.
Don't rely on a book, teach experience. What's your gut.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
That's a great point, and the Walton Family Foundation in
Gallup have also partnered on research about teachers, which I
would encourage your listeners to check out. What we know
is that, first of all, teachers play an outsized role
in students' lives and really are the spark, and that
teaching and learning is about human connection. And I think
that the more real world experiences that teachers bring into
(06:59):
the class, the better. Students in this survey say we
are more engaged and expired when we see that what
we're learning is relevant to the world of work. So
maybe we should all, you know, go to our local
school and see if there is a way for us
to get involved and engaged.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
One in three students, according to your study, don't feel
like that they're learning anything. And I can agree with
this because I've got a senior. His name is Jimmy.
Jimmy says, I want, I Want, I want, And I said, Jimmy,
it's all about you. You can't do that. It's got
to be about the guest. Make it about them. I
don't want to. So how can how can we been
that rule? Because I realize selfishness is part of life,
(07:36):
but how can we get out of it a lot quicker?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
We know that we need to support teachers to make
learning interesting and inspiring for students, and that that is
the difference maker. So let's make sure teachers have what
they need, the professional supports, the high quality instructional materials,
but also the creativity to adapt curriculum in their classroom
(08:01):
so that they can meet kids where they are and
personalize that experience. I think that's really the key in
terms of reimagining the school experience.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Now, am I wrong in saying that just because I
work for this major corporation? I always say that I
am not an employee. I am a student. I am
here to learn. And the reason why I say that
is because I would like to see a lot more
adults really look at their jobs and be prepared, be optimistic,
be that person that's going to be a leader in
your business, just like a school student.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
This generation gen Z is very hopeful and we need
to harness that. So we need to meet them where
we are. We need to work hard as a community
of adults to make sure that they don't lose that
optimistic spirit about what's possible. And school is key to that.
School is key to helping them feel ready for the future.
(08:54):
But also school is a place that can help to
address other challenges they're facing in their lives, like their
mental health and helping to build community and friendships. So
we're very focused at the Walton Family Foundation on school
as the unit of change and investing in supporting teachers
and making sure that students are getting what they need.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
How many people can really dive into helping out the
Walton Foundation, because I mean, this is so interesting to me,
because I mean, if the door is already open, why
not invest in those that are already there.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I think that American employers have a huge role to
play in creating access points and inroads for students to
have early work experiences. Like we were just talking about,
so anyone who's working at a company who has ideas
about how to engage students, I've seen so many amazing
(09:48):
partnerships between employers and schools that help students gain exposure
and experience to the jobs of the future, and in
some cases you know that starts a pathway that changes
a child's life. So there are lots of ways to
think about partnerships, and this is going to be an
all hands effort.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Confidence encourage is one thing that I truly believe in,
and I guess maybe it's the martial artists coming out
in me. But I'll show somebody how to do something
and then I erase it, bring the problem back, and
I make them do it. Don't you think that part
of that engagement for students is letting them figure it out.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
We definitely know that curiosity and life wrong learning, and
also the ability to fail and then be willing to
try again, that those are skill sets that get developed
really early on in a child's life and also need
to be practiced in school. So great teaching that supports
(10:48):
students in failing and then succeeding. Great teaching that helps
students feel connected to their interests. That's the key to
unlocking student success.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
I love the real relationship that the younger adults are
really trying to have with the older adults. I mean,
because growing up, you know, it was like, that's our grandparents.
We don't hang out with our grandparents. But I'm starting
to see a lot of young adults learn from the
older people. But the thing is, it still comes with
that stigma, how do you see me? Well, you're the
old guy. You learn from the old guy. I'm the
old guy, Thanks buddy.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Our foundation really believes deeply in the idea of intergenerational
change and collaboration and also working across lines of difference,
So we need more of that. I think older generations
can learn from younger people's experiences and vice versa. I'm
(11:42):
hopeful that our institutions can support that kind of dialogue,
and I think philanthropy has an important role to play
in helping to support that conversation and making sure we're
all learning from each other and building bridges.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
You know what my game changer is with the young adults,
it's food it's taste. They love food, they love to
take snacks, and so what we do is we'll do
a tasting and then I make them break it down,
do the marketing, and then sit there and try to
figure out how they even got to this grocery store,
because I want them to understand it didn't just happen.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Well, I couldn't agree with you more that food builds
community and is a really important part of bringing people together.
So I love that story and there's a great lesson
in there for what needs to be true when we
bring people together.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Where can people go to find out about this incredible
journey that you're presently on, because at least you're trying, No,
in fact, you're activating. You are putting yourself out there
with information that is about growing forward and outward.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Well, thank you so much for saying that. On behalf
of the Walton Family Foundation. I'm excited to be doing
this work with our team. You can learn more at
Waltonfamilyfoundation dot org slash gen Z Study.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Please come back to the show anytime in the future. Roalmy,
the door is always going to be open for you.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Thank you so much. Really enjoyed the conversation and happy
back to school.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Will you be brilliant today?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Okay, thank you, you too.
Hi, good morning, Rummy. How are you doing today.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
I got to tell you, I am intrigued by your book,
your study, your everything. And the reason why is because
I'm on the opposite side of education in the way
that my students are anywhere between eighteen and sixty four.
And everything that I'm learning about people that are in
school today, high school, middle school, they are no different
than a fifty five year old man or woman. I
(00:27):
swear to God, I feel like I'm reading about my
students when I am reading your study.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, I'm so happy that the study feels meaningful to
your own life, and I agree there's many lessons to
draw from it as an adult.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
One of the things that has always scared me about
young adults, and I do work with a lot of
young adults at the essential job, and that is is
that they're not really looking forward to the future. How
does that really dive into their education.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
It's so important that students feel inspired and motivated about
their futures. And one of the things we're excited about
in this study is that more than ever before, students
are saying they feel ready for the future. Fifty six
percent of gen Zers are saying they feel ready for
their future. That's the highest level we've seen in the
(01:15):
three years we've done this survey. But we also know
that we have more work to do to actually prepare
students for the challenges they will meet and the opportunities
they will meet in life and as they pursue jobs
of the future.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Don't you think though, that part of those studies and
part of the discipline has got to be that when
they go and land their very first job, they've got
to be held accountable and they can't have leaders that say, well,
they are sixteen or seventeen, you've got to lean on
them and understand when when you know that you and
I were never shaped like that.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I think that it starts in school, and it starts
in terms of developing the skill sets and mindsets that
students need to succeed, and part of that is grit
and resilience. Only thirty seven percent of students in this
survey say their course work feels connected to the real world.
(02:10):
So we have more work to do to ensure that
students have access to those life experiences and job experiences
at an earlier age so that they start to get
ready and they start to see what it means to
even be part of the working world.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I tell students to go get a job at a
grocery store, and the reason why is because they're going
to meet doctors, they're going to meet lawyers, they're going
to meet all of these people in the world of
business that will serve as an inspiration to them because
they'll answer their questions for free. I mean, it's like
an internship right there at Register number four.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I am a big supporter of the idea of work experience,
whether that is through apprenticeships or internships, or career connected learning,
which is about making sure that career experiences and knowledge
are blended into the academic model of a school. And
there are high schools across the country that are taking
(03:06):
really creative approaches to making sure that students even know
what the jobs out there are and the kind of
skills that they require. So I think you're spot on
when you say that we need to expose students. Exposure
is a big part of it, and then also give
them access to the experiences that will prepare them for
(03:28):
what's next.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Please do not move. There's more with romy Drucker coming
up next. This study is all about students and how
to get them engaged in the realms of the real world.
We're back with Romy Drucker. I totally agree with you
when it comes to the right class can build lasting
skills and confidence. Because Tony sweer Engine in nineteen seventy
eight was my broadcast instructor in Buildings, Montana. I'm forty
(03:52):
six years deep into this career because of Tony swear Engine.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
That's such a great anecdote and it goes to show
what strong mentorship and teachers who inspire and the impact
that makes on a student's life. Seventy eight percent of
students in this survey say they feel more excited when
a teacher makes learning and challenging. So teachers mentors adults
(04:19):
in their lives. It's key to student inspiration. It's key
to helping students find that spark and really tap into
their interests and purpose, which we ultimately know will lead
to a more fulfilling and stable life.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Falling witness to a lot of students go off to
their first year in college. They seem to be on
the shy side when you ask the question what are
you going to study? I would love to see more
confidence in the students saying, well, you know what, I'm
going into biology, I'm going into this, and that's what
I would love to see.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
I think if high school was a place that really
helped you think about what your interests are in a
more concrete way than and you would see more of
that kind of response. And I do want to say
that I feel like schools across the country are making
progress here. They are thinking differently about helping students tap
(05:12):
into their interests and the kind of experiences they find meaningful.
But also college should be a place for exploration.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
So it is a balance how much is AI changing
the course because I'm not addicted to chat GPT, but
i will go to it because I'm too lazy to
go to Google, and Google was once that machine.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
I think that a really important impact of AI is
actually on the world of work, and so students need
to be more adaptive and have technological skill sets and
a sense of being willing to change with the times,
and the jobs today may look different in a couple
(05:56):
of years, so again we need to be introducing student
evidence to the technology and building hard skills, but also
developing those soft skills like grit and resilience that will
help students succeed in a changing economy.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Who I've got a lot of compassion for are the teachers.
Because my wife is a retired teacher. I know what
she went through. I knew her daily challenges and struggles
and victories and things like that. But I would like
to see what a modern day teacher is going through.
And I wish that they would put more real people
in there. In other words, if I'm a broadcaster, go
in there and teach writing, go in there and teach journalism.
Don't rely on a book, teach experience. What's your gut.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
That's a great point, and the Walton Family Foundation in
Gallup have also partnered on research about teachers, which I
would encourage your listeners to check out. What we know
is that, first of all, teachers play an outsized role
in students' lives and really are the spark, and that
teaching and learning is about human connection. And I think
that the more real world experiences that teachers bring into
(06:59):
the class, the better. Students in this survey say we
are more engaged and expired when we see that what
we're learning is relevant to the world of work. So
maybe we should all, you know, go to our local
school and see if there is a way for us
to get involved and engaged.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
One in three students, according to your study, don't feel
like that they're learning anything. And I can agree with
this because I've got a senior. His name is Jimmy.
Jimmy says, I want, I Want, I want, And I said, Jimmy,
it's all about you. You can't do that. It's got
to be about the guest. Make it about them. I
don't want to. So how can how can we been
that rule? Because I realize selfishness is part of life,
(07:36):
but how can we get out of it a lot quicker?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
We know that we need to support teachers to make
learning interesting and inspiring for students, and that that is
the difference maker. So let's make sure teachers have what
they need, the professional supports, the high quality instructional materials,
but also the creativity to adapt curriculum in their classroom
(08:01):
so that they can meet kids where they are and
personalize that experience. I think that's really the key in
terms of reimagining the school experience.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Now, am I wrong in saying that just because I
work for this major corporation? I always say that I
am not an employee. I am a student. I am
here to learn. And the reason why I say that
is because I would like to see a lot more
adults really look at their jobs and be prepared, be optimistic,
be that person that's going to be a leader in
your business, just like a school student.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
This generation gen Z is very hopeful and we need
to harness that. So we need to meet them where
we are. We need to work hard as a community
of adults to make sure that they don't lose that
optimistic spirit about what's possible. And school is key to that.
School is key to helping them feel ready for the future.
(08:54):
But also school is a place that can help to
address other challenges they're facing in their lives, like their
mental health and helping to build community and friendships. So
we're very focused at the Walton Family Foundation on school
as the unit of change and investing in supporting teachers
and making sure that students are getting what they need.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
How many people can really dive into helping out the
Walton Foundation, because I mean, this is so interesting to me,
because I mean, if the door is already open, why
not invest in those that are already there.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I think that American employers have a huge role to
play in creating access points and inroads for students to
have early work experiences. Like we were just talking about,
so anyone who's working at a company who has ideas
about how to engage students, I've seen so many amazing
(09:48):
partnerships between employers and schools that help students gain exposure
and experience to the jobs of the future, and in
some cases you know that starts a pathway that changes
a child's life. So there are lots of ways to
think about partnerships, and this is going to be an
all hands effort.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Confidence encourage is one thing that I truly believe in,
and I guess maybe it's the martial artists coming out
in me. But I'll show somebody how to do something
and then I erase it, bring the problem back, and
I make them do it. Don't you think that part
of that engagement for students is letting them figure it out.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
We definitely know that curiosity and life wrong learning, and
also the ability to fail and then be willing to
try again, that those are skill sets that get developed
really early on in a child's life and also need
to be practiced in school. So great teaching that supports
(10:48):
students in failing and then succeeding. Great teaching that helps
students feel connected to their interests. That's the key to
unlocking student success.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
I love the real relationship that the younger adults are
really trying to have with the older adults. I mean,
because growing up, you know, it was like, that's our grandparents.
We don't hang out with our grandparents. But I'm starting
to see a lot of young adults learn from the
older people. But the thing is, it still comes with
that stigma, how do you see me? Well, you're the
old guy. You learn from the old guy. I'm the
old guy, Thanks buddy.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Our foundation really believes deeply in the idea of intergenerational
change and collaboration and also working across lines of difference,
So we need more of that. I think older generations
can learn from younger people's experiences and vice versa. I'm
(11:42):
hopeful that our institutions can support that kind of dialogue,
and I think philanthropy has an important role to play
in helping to support that conversation and making sure we're
all learning from each other and building bridges.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
You know what my game changer is with the young adults,
it's food it's taste. They love food, they love to
take snacks, and so what we do is we'll do
a tasting and then I make them break it down,
do the marketing, and then sit there and try to
figure out how they even got to this grocery store,
because I want them to understand it didn't just happen.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Well, I couldn't agree with you more that food builds
community and is a really important part of bringing people together.
So I love that story and there's a great lesson
in there for what needs to be true when we
bring people together.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Where can people go to find out about this incredible
journey that you're presently on, because at least you're trying, No,
in fact, you're activating. You are putting yourself out there
with information that is about growing forward and outward.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Well, thank you so much for saying that. On behalf
of the Walton Family Foundation. I'm excited to be doing
this work with our team. You can learn more at
Waltonfamilyfoundation dot org slash gen Z Study.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Please come back to the show anytime in the future. Roalmy,
the door is always going to be open for you.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Thank you so much. Really enjoyed the conversation and happy
back to school.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Will you be brilliant today?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Okay, thank you, you too.
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