Q-ed Up Podcast

How do schools continue supporting students when specialized educators are in short supply? In this episode of Q-Ed Up, Tracy Lynn sits down with Deanna Goodrich, Director of Program Services at Sonya Biggs Educational Services, to discuss the realities of supporting students with visual impairments, building partnerships with school districts, and navigating educator shortages across multiple sta...

What makes a strong leader in special education? In this episode of Q-Ed Up, Tracy Lynn chats with Dr. Mary Lynn Boscardin to explore leadership, innovation, evidence-based practices, and how educators can turn research into real-world impact. Beginning her career as a speech pathologist, Dr. Boscardin shares how science, service, and leadership shaped her path. She also discusses the evolution of...

What happens when educators focus on a student's strengths instead of their struggles? In this episode of Q-Ed Up, Tracy Lynn sits down with Sam Mitchell, Executive Director of Autism Rocks and Rolls, to discuss his journey as an individual with autism, podcast host, speaker, and advocate. Through his work, Sam is helping others better understand autism while encouraging educators to recognize the...

What makes a strong leader in special education? In this episode of Q-Ed Up, Tracy Lynn chats with Dr. Mary Lynn Boscardin to explore leadership, innovation, evidence-based practices, and how educators can turn research into real-world impact. Beginning her career as a speech pathologist, Dr. Boscardin shares how science, service, and leadership shaped her path. She also discusses the evolution of...

What if the real opposite of inclusion is exclusion? In this episode of Q-Ed Up, Tracy Lynn talks with Dr. Francis Stetson, a longtime leader in special education and inclusive practices, to explore how schools can move beyond labels, outdated systems, and limiting beliefs. Dr. Stetson shares stories from the early days of special education reform, what has changed over the last 50 years, and why...

About the Guest Julie Weatherly is a nationally recognized attorney focused on special education law, educator training, and supporting school systems through evolving legal challenges. About the Host Tracy Lynn is the host of Q-Ed Up and Vice President of Growth and Educational Solutions at Quantum Education Professionals. With a background in special education and educational leadership, Tracy i...

In this episode of Q-Ed Up, host Tracy Lynn sits down with Dr. Luann Purcell, Executive Director of the International Council of Administrators of Special Education at CASE, to talk about a career that spans more than five decades in education and special education. From starting in the classroom at just 19 years old to helping shape systems and support structures at the district level, Dr. Purcel...

In this episode of Q-Ed Up, we sit down with Dr. Jarius Jones, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources in Kansas City, Kansas, to talk about the mentors and mindset that shape a career in education. From a pivotal experience in middle school math to leading at the district level, Dr. Jones shares how belief, opportunity, and perseverance can influence not only a career path but the lives of ot...

Host Tracy Lynn welcomes Michele Tolson, Assistant Director of Secondary Special Education for Kansas City Public Schools, to discuss leading districtwide special education with an equity lens. Michele shares how growing up as one of the few Black students shaped her commitment to representation, inclusion, and making students feel capable and welcomed. She explains her responsibilities overseeing...

Host Tracy Lynn sits down with David Carlson, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the Lee’s Summit School District, to talk about what it takes to lead HR for a district serving 18,000 students and 3,000 employees. They discuss how hiring has shifted to a candidate’s market and how the district recruits through a strong “grow your own” pipeline, extensive student-teacher placements, an...

In this episode, Ashley Jones, Executive Director of Human Resources at Platte County School District, joins host Tracy Lynn, VP of Growth and Educational Solutions at Quantum Education Professionals, to discuss leadership, community, and the evolving landscape of education. Together, they discuss the challenges and triumphs of recruiting and retaining quality educators, the impact of school size...

In this episode of Q-Ed Up, host Tracy Lynn, VP of Growth and Educational Solutions at Quantum Education Professionals, sits down with Mike Black, President and CEO of ESB Financial in Emporia, Kansas, for a conversation at the intersection of education, community, and financial literacy. Together, they talk through what financial literacy can look like across elementary, middle school, and high s...

In this episode of Q-Ed Up, host Tracy Lynn sits down with Sasha Kalis, whose career spans more than two decades within the Park Hill School District. From elementary classroom teaching to building leadership and now serving as Director of Human Resources, Sasha shares her perspective on what it means to support people across every role in a school system. Their conversation reflects on the transi...

In this episode, host Tracy Lynn, VP of Growth and Educational Solutions at Quantum Education Professionals, connects with Daniel O’Shaughnessy, CEO and Co-Founder of Red Rover. Together, they explore his path in K12 Human Resources, the experiences that shaped Red Rover’s development, and the ideas that guide their approach to supporting educators and school communities. Their conversation touche...

In this episode, Tracy Lynn, VP of Growth and Educational Solutions at Quantum Education Professionals, joins Dr. Stephanie Amaya, Assistant Superintendent of HR at Grandview School District, for a conversation about her path in education and the experiences that have influenced her work. They talk through leadership development, mental wellness, empathy, and ways schools can encourage supportive...

In this episode, Tracy Lynn, VP of Growth and Educational Solutions at Quantum Education Professionals, chats with Amy Joyce, Executive Director of the Missouri Association of School Personnel Administrators to shed some light on the role HR can play in schools. Amy shares her journey spanning over three decades in public education, discusses strategies for recruiting and retaining talent, explore...

In this episode of Q-Ed Up, host Tracy Lynn, VP of Growth and Educational Services at Quantum Educational Professionals, sits down with Terrence Flowers, Adjunct Faculty Professor at Park University and DEI Building Representative/Teaching Fellow at Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, to share his unique journey from earning multiple business degrees to experiencing burnout in corporate America, an...

In this episode, Tracy Lynn, VP of Quantum Education Professionals, sits down with Alicia de Lorenzo, a keynote speaker, high performance coach, and engagement strategist, to explore her transformative journey in education. Alicia shares her innovative concept of positive disruption, emphasizing how finding and scaling what's working can reframe problem-solving in schools. She also dives into the...

In this episode, Tracy Lynn, VP of Growth and Educational Solutions at Quantum Education Professionals, welcomes Stephani Conway, Marketing Manager at Crux KC, an advocate and TikTok content creator. Together they discuss the unique dynamics of growing up with an autistic sibling, the integral role of educators, and the power of inclusion and empathy in education. Stephanie shares touching and hum...

In this episode, Tracy Lynn, VP of Growth and Educational Solutions at Quantum Education Professionals, sits down with Dr. Patty Corum, Educational Leadership Developer at Corum, LLC., to discuss her strategies for turning messy moments into meaningful ones for educators. Patty, author of 'How to Have Difficult Conversations as an Educational Leader,' shares powerful stories and insights on improv...

Q-ED Up is the space built to amplify the voice of the educator. Hosted by Tracy Lynn — educator, BCBA, and lifelong advocate for kids — the show brings you honest conversations with people shaping education today. From superintendents and district leaders, to innovators reimagining schools, to teachers making it real in their classrooms, each episode digs into what’s working, what’s broken, and w...