The Path Forward

Welcome back to The Path Forward at the TASA/TASB TexED Conference! Today, Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by Ryan Bedell, Director of Operations at Walker Quality Services, and Alfred Walker, President of Walker Quality Services. These two are helping reimagine school lunches to not only create a healthy option for students but a tasty one as well. Hear how they can preserve the quality and taste of...

Welcome back to The Path Forward at the TASA/TASB TexED Conference! In today's episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by JW Marshall, Vice President of Marketing at Summit K12. JW explains the importance of creating your media in today's society and how dipping your toe in can often lead to more failures than jumping in with full commitment. Learn how to create content worth watching and some t...

Welcome back to The Path Forward at the TASA/TASB TexED Conference! In today's episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Dr. Michael Cardona, Superintendent at San Marcos Consolidated ISD. Hear from one of the most passionate educators on some of the hottest topics in our education system today. Join Dr. Michael Cardona as he shares his thoughts on the new voucher system and the politics behind our...

Welcome back to The Path Forward podcast! In today's engaging episode, your host, Rick Fernandez, is joined by guest James Stoffer, CEO of Abre. James and Rick discuss the importance of data collection and different approaches that are affected by real-time data and accuracy. James brings up the importance of assessing the problems in real time and how data plays a crucial role in the timeline...

Welcome back to The Path Forward at the TASA/TASB TexED Conference! In today's episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Wade Stanford, Superintendent of Westwood ISD. Hear from a finalist for Superintendent of the Year and the impact and honor that it was to be in the running for it. You won’t want to miss out as Rick and Wade dive into the community accountability system Westwood ISD is building...

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today our host, Dr. Rick Fernandez, is joined by an amazing guest, Brandey McDonald, Fengate Project Director and P3 Award Winner. Tune in to today's episode to hear the amazing movements that Brandey is behind and her recent experience winning the P3 Future Leader Award. Share a laugh with Rick and Brandey as they dive into the importance of mentors and the c...

Welcome back to The Path Forward at the TASA/TASB TexED Conference! In today's episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Dr. Matthew Gutiérrez, former Superintendent of Seguin ISD. Join us today as we dive into Dr. Matthew Gutiérrez’s time at Seguin ISD and his massive impact on the school. Matthew is now looking ahead and moving into a role at Leander ISD as the Chief of Schools, in this episode h...

Welcome back to The Path Forward at the TASA/TASB TexED Conference! In today's episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Carnelius D. Gilder, Superintendent at West Sabine ISD. Get excited and listen in as we hear the growth and programs being built and developed in West Sabine ISD. Hear how Superintendent Gilder is making moves that not only work with the school district but create an entire ecosy...

Welcome back to The Path Forward at the TASA/TASB TexED Conference! In today's episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Cissy Reynolds-Perez, Superintendent of Kingsville ISD, and Joe Mireles, School Board Vice President of Kingsville ISD. Tune in to hear the exciting and community-focused movements happening in Kingsville ISD. Also, discover how this school board stays so connected and the power...

Welcome back to The Path Forward at the TASA/TASB TexED Conference! In today's episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Cissy Reynolds-Perez, Superintendent of Kingsville ISD. Join us as Rick and Cissy delve into Kingsville ISD's innovative new four-and-a-half-day workweek, which is rekindling the joy of learning among students and teachers. But Kingsville's spirit of innovation and willin...

Welcome back to The Path Forward at the TASA/TASB TexED Conference! In today’s episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Travis Fanning, Superintendent of Beeville ISD, and Art Gamez, Beeville ISD Board of Trustees. They discuss the great things that are happening in Beeville ISD and the steps they are taking to connect with the community in exciting and engaging ways. Hear Travis and Art’s outlook on...

Welcome back to The Path Forward! In today’s episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Amy Dodson with Raise Your Hand Texas. They discuss what Raise Your Hand Texas is all about and where it came from as well as the political hot topic of vouchers. Listen in to hear the challenge that Texas School Districts are facing with teacher retention and discussion on possible solutions for the future of educat...

Welcome back to The Path Forward! We're thrilled to have Jeni Neatherlin, Superintendent at Granger ISD, and Daryl Stefek, Board President at Granger ISD, with us today. This is the first of many episodes filmed at the educational conference of the year, the TASA/TASB Convention! Listen to how Jeni and Daryl are cultivating a culture of excellence and care at Granger ISD, a move that has yield...

Welcome back to The Path Forward! We're thrilled to have Jessy Milner with us today, the esteemed President of Frontline Advisory Group. In this exhilarating episode, we will explore Jessy’s compelling journey from his role as a military interrogator to earning the prestigious title of Green Beret, culminating in the founding of the Frontline Advisory Group. With a vision that’s as clear as it...

Welcome back to The Path Forward! This is an exciting one folks. In the 52nd episode of #TPF, we were delighted to bring on Steve Kinard, Director of Bitcoin Mining Analytics for the Texas Blockchain Council. Rick’s conversation with Steve breaks down how Bitcoin mining and blockchain have tremendous upside not only in general but for the state of Texas specifically. They go through topics such as...

Welcome back to The Path Forward! In today’s episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Carol Todd, Director of Communications for the Association for the Improvement of American Infrastructure (AIAI), an organization solely dedicated to moving P3s forward and strengthening American infrastructure. Follow along as they talk about procurements and P3s and why they could be a great leveraging tool not a l...

Welcome back The Path Forward ! In today’s episode, Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by Chip Baker, Author, and motivational speaker. We start this inspiring and motivational episode by discussing giving back to those around us, learning how to be in the moment, and then moving on to subjects like dealing with failure, mentors and so much more. From someone looking to improve their school to the avera...

Welcome back to The Path Forward Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Rick Fernandez sits down with a very special guest, Logan Rayburn, a College football athlete and intern at Anser Advisory.  Rick starts the show by getting some background on our guest, then moves on to ask his perspective on the internship at Anser Advisory, the lessons he has learned from being an athlete, and some fantastic advice...

Welcome back to The Path Forward podcast! In today's engaging episode, your host Rick Fernandez is joined by guest, John Vaglienty, Executive Director of Secondary Education of Willis ISD. Together, they dive into a thought-provoking discussion centered around the future job landscape for students and the critical importance of adaptability, trade jobs, and effective principal leadership in sc...

Welcome back to The Path Forward podcast! In today's engaging episode, your host Rick Fernandez is joined by guest, James Burns, Executive Vice President of PGW Solutions. At PGW they believe that everything they deliver should provide tangible benefits to everyone involved, and it is their mission to be at the forefront of operational efficiency solutions not just right now, but as their proc...

Welcome back to another episode of The Path Forward! In today’s episode, Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by Cie Gee and Erica Clark with UTSA at The Cannon. They discuss developing real-world skills with students that corporations and businesses will value when they get out into the workforce and put in the WIIFM factor that students ask today with school, ‘What’s In It For Me.’ Rick and his guests t...

Welcome back The Path Forward ! In today’s episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Willy Verbrugghe with Score at the Cannon event. Willy tells us about what his non-profit organization, Score does, and his role with Socre, our guest also tells us the five steps to make a successful company. Willy, having dealt with and helped hundreds of start-ups, knows how to get things going for a business, this...

Welcome back The Path Forward! In today’s episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Darryl Henson Superintendent of Marlin ISD. They discuss the controversy around the 90% of Marlin ISD students not graduating this past year and failing to meet Texas school standards. How they plan to fix the problem, Darryl announces some exciting news he has for the coming new year and has a lot of wisdom for the you...

Welcome back The Path Forward ! In today’s episode, Rick Fernandez is joined by Darryl Henson Superintendent of Marlin ISD. They discuss the controversy around the 90% of Marlin ISD students not graduating this past year and failing to meet Texas school standards. How they plan to fix the problem, Darryl announces some exciting news he has for the coming new year and has a lot of wisdom for the yo...

On today’s TASA midwinter edition, host Rick Fernandez is joined by Dr. Michael Webb, Chief Academic Officer of Tomball ISD, to talk about all things literacy and innovation in education. Dr. Webb also touches on special education, getting out of your comfort zone, and shifting mindsets about CTE. You won’t want to miss this informative episode of The Path Forward! Timestamps & Show Notes (Vid...