As we head back to school in the first month of 2022, a period that is normally dominated by high hopes is already requiring a change of plans. A blizzard of policy changes is aiming to keep students and teachers in school during a new COVID surge. In this episode, we discuss what many teachers say they want right now — reliable guidance for teaching the rest of the school year that doesn’t leave us conflicted.

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Amanda Slaten Frasier is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy from Michigan State University. She has held a variety of positions in both K-12 and higher education. Dr. Frasier is currently a social studies teacher at University School at East Tennessee State University.
Frederick M. Hess is a senior fellow and the director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he works on K–12 and higher education issues. He is the author of Education Week’s popular blog “Rick Hess Straight Up,” is a regular contributor to Forbes and The Hill, and serves as an executive editor of Education Next. Dr. Hess started his career as a high school social studies teacher and has since taught at colleges including Rice, Harvard, Georgetown, and the University of Virginia. His books include “Spinning Wheels,” “Letters to a Young Education Reformer,” “Cage-Busting Leadership,” and “A Search for Common Ground.” He holds an MA and a PhD in government and an MEd in teaching and curriculum from Harvard University.
Dr. Steven Weber serves as the Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in Fayetteville Public Schools (Arkansas). During his career in public education, he has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of secondary instruction, and executive director of curriculum and instruction. He has also served as a social studies curriculum coordinator with the Arkansas Department of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.