Episode description

Jeff sits down with Jason Glass, the Director of Education from Iowa to discuss the state of education and how teachers can prepare students for their futures.

• The State of Education
• Describe our countries educational system today
• What are some of your favorite things to do as Director of the Department of Education
• Are teachers, schools, school districts ready to embrace today's technology?
• Working within a shrinking budget
• How schools are meeting the needs of our students today
• What technologies should we be embracing? Leaning away from?
• Should Technology be driven by the students, or by the teachers? (or by the community?)
• At what age should students be learning social technologies… and how?
• Should we be teaching “basic skills” in school? (long division, cursive, etc…)

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Governor Terry Branstad appointed Dr. Jason Glass as the director of the Iowa Department of Education on December 29, 2010. He was confirmed by the Iowa Senate on April 11, 2011.

Director Glass has pledged that the Department of Education will focus on the values of demonstrating courageous leadership, promoting innovation in education, and acting as a servant to schools and communities in Iowa.

As Director, he works with the Governor, legislators, the State Board of Education, and people across the state in supporting efforts and initiatives to restore Iowa’s tradition as a national leader in education and to lead transformative change.

Born and raised in a family of educators, and married to a teacher, Director Glass’s career in education spans more than 15 years where he has worked in a variety of roles and diverse settings.

After teaching at the high school and university levels in Kentucky, Director Glass worked for the Colorado Department of Education in ensuring a quality education for students with disabilities. Director Glass served as vice president of Qualistar Early Learning in Denver, Colorado where he helped develop an early childhood education quality rating system and raised funds to help providers make needed improvements. He was the Director of Human Resources for Eagle County Schools in Colorado, a pioneering district in innovative human resources strategies including performance-based compensation.

In 2010, Director Glass joined Battelle for Kids as Senior Director of Human Capital, providing states and districts counsel in implementing transformational change as part of the federal Race to the Top program in Tennessee and Ohio.

Director Glass is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he received a Bachelor’s degree and two Master’s degrees, and holds a Doctorate in Education from Seton Hall University.