Idaho EdNews Podcasts
Episode 36: Previewing the 2022 Legislature, a roundtable
The Legislature is back again — and already, after wrapping up its 2021 session in November. So what will 2022 bring? All-day kindergarten? Pay raises for teachers and other school staff? Political fireworks? To set the stage, Kevin Richert interviews three of Idaho’s education lobbyists: Matt Compton of the Idaho Education Association; Rod Gramer of…
Episode 35: Looking back at ’21, looking ahead to ’22
It’s been quite the year. The rollercoasters of vaccines and variants. Wild education politics — on pandemic protocols, critical race theory and school “indoctrination.” And the infighting within the Idaho Republican Party provides the backdrop for a raucous election year. Kevin Richert recaps the year that was, and sets the stage for the year to…
Episode 34: Hints about the ’22 session, and the Yenor story
Plenty to talk about for a between-holiday news week. Gov. Brad Little gives some hints into the 2022 legislative session, and his election-year mindset. And, of course, there’s the ongoing story about Boise State University professor Scott Yenor and his polarizing remarks about feminism. Kevin Richert and “Idaho Reports” host Melissa Davlin break it down…
Episode 33: Trustees talk about the job, and what keeps them coming back
In Idaho — and across the nation — school trustees are facing a challenging moment in time. The pandemic and the national backlash over critical race theory and social-emotional learning have placed school boards under a microscope. What keeps volunteer trustees on the job? For this week’s podcast, Kevin Richert sat down for a roundtable…
Episode 32: Mapping Idaho’s changing election landscape
Every 10 years, Idaho redraws its political map to reflect new Census numbers. The new map shifts the political balance of power — and it could set up some fascinating elections in 2022. If the new map survives court challenges, that is. This week, Clark Corbin of the Idaho Capital Sun joins Kevin Richert to…
Episode 31: Talking about this week’s school board elections
There was plenty of turnover Tuesday, as voters across Idaho elected dozens of new school trustees. Will turnover translate into turmoil? To look at what happened this week — and what might come next — Idaho Education News reporters Blake Jones and Kevin Richert sort through the election results. Listen here. Idaho Education News ·…
Episode 30: Meet Idaho’s Teacher of the Year
For this week’s podcast, Kevin Richert interviews Todd Knight, a science teacher at the West Ada School District’s Crossroads Middle School and Idaho’s newly named teacher of the year. They talk about Knight’s journey into teaching, instruction during the pandemic — and advice for the next generation of educators. Also, check out our Soundcloud page…
Episode 29: Trustee turmoil, and school board elections
In parts of the state. school board elections are becoming more heated, more expensive — and maybe more partisan. And yet, other trustees are resigning midterm, as school boards come under close community scrutiny. Idaho Education News writers Blake Jones and Kevin Richert break it all down in this week’s podcast. Also, check out our…
Episode 28: COVID-19 and children’s health, an inside look
The trends and the numbers are clear. As the delta variant has taken hold in Idaho, children’s coronavirus cases have soared to record levels. But what does that mean for children’s health? And if 5- to 11-year-olds can get the vaccine within a few weeks, will that make a difference? To get some answers, we…
Episode 27: Reclaim Idaho’s $300 million education vision
Reclaim Idaho, the architect of the 2018 Medicaid expansion initiative, has a $300 million K-12 plan. This week, Kevin Richert interviews Reclaim co-founder Luke Mayville about its plan to increase income tax rates and plow the proceeds into education funding. Also, check out our Soundcloud page for other recent podcasts: Episode 26: The present, and…