What I Want to Know, with Kevin P. Chavous

In classrooms across America, only about 1% of teachers are Black men. That gap shapes how millions of students see themselves and their futures. In this episode, Kevin P. Chavous talks with Ahmoni Jones, a seventh-grade math teacher at Soulsville Charter School in Memphis, who's part of that 1%. Jones grew up in a predominantly Black district, surrounded by teachers who looked like him—but never...

In this episode, host Kevin P. Chavous introduces Denisha Merriweather, founder of Black Minds Matter and a leading advocate for education freedom. Her path includes failing third grade twice, growing up amid instability, earning a scholarship, and becoming the first in her family to graduate from college before completing a master's degree. The theme is second chances in education reform, and the...

In this episode of What I Want to Know, host Kevin P. Chavous sits down with Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children and a national leader in education reform. From classrooms to courtrooms, Shaka has been at the center of the fight for school choice, charter schools, and equitable education policy. Together, they explore whether choice truly expands opportunity, how...

Every once in a while, there's a story that stops you in your tracks - a reminder of what's possible when someone refuses to let their circumstances define them. In this episode, host Kevin P. Chavous shares one of those stories with David Heiber, CEO and founder of Concentric. David's journey reads like something out of a movie: from serving time in prison to earning a doctorate, from being pushe...

Corey DeAngelis joins Kevin P. Chavous to unpack the rapid rise of the education freedom movement. They explore school choice's impact on public schools, bipartisan momentum, the role of teachers' unions, and how personalized learning will reshape education's future. Corey DeAngelis is a leading voice in the school choice movement, a researcher, author, and advocate for giving parents control over...

Kris Stewart leads Ohio Virtual Academy, the largest high school in the state and one of just two virtual schools in the U.S. with a RAMP-certified counseling program. With 17,000 students and 750 staff, she's proving that online learning can deliver real connection, support, and results. In this episode, Kris joins Kevin to share how her team tracks student well-being daily, supports mental healt...

In this episode, Kevin sits down with Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Workforce Development at MedCerts, to examine a growing question: What if college isn't the only path to a good career? They dive into how MedCerts is helping high school students land well-paying jobs in healthcare—no four-year degree required. From AI-powered training to employer-backed certifications, Jen shares how this new...

In this episode, Kevin sits down with Vida Williams, Chief Data Officer at Stride, to explore the promise—and risks—of artificial intelligence in education. From personalized tutoring to curatorial learning, they dive into how AI is reshaping what it means to teach, learn, and build trust in a digital world. They discuss how AI can reduce teacher overload, personalize instruction, and expand acces...

Public dollars. Private schools. Political firestorms. In this episode, Kevin talks with long-time school choice advocate John Schilling about what happens when education funding follows the student instead of the system. They dig into the proposed federal scholarship tax credit: what it is, who it helps, and why supporters say it's about opportunity—not ideology. Opponents fear it's the beginning...

We're re-releasing this episode because the questions it raises are more relevant than ever. In 2025, as technology transforms how students learn and entire industries evolve, the role of educators is shifting rapidly. Classrooms are becoming more digital, expectations more complex, and the pressure to keep students engaged—and prepared for the future—has never been greater. Yet, many teachers are...

This is an encore episode — and with good reason. As the school year winds down and summer approaches, the "summer slide" — the loss of academic progress over the break — becomes a very real concern once again. Without intentional learning opportunities, students can lose ground they've worked hard to gain, making each new year harder than the last. In this conversation, Kevin revisits a timely di...

College. Careers. Credentials. Teens today are facing big decisions—and most don't even know where to start. In this episode, Kevin P.Chavous talks with Allison Danielsen, CEO of Tallo, about why the old ways of guiding students—career quizzes, outdated job charts, one-size-fits-all advice—no longer cut it. Allison's team is building a digital career co-pilot designed to help Gen Z explore real ca...

During lockdown, a math teacher and his son 3D-printed a board game on their kitchen table. Now it's transforming how students feel about math—and school in general. In this episode, Eric Olsen, principal of Idaho Technical Career Academy, joins Kevin to share how his creative approach to teaching, including developing innovative tools like the board game "Glyphics," inspires students and shapes t...

Fluorescent lights. Constant noise. Rigid schedules. For a lot of kids with special needs, school was less a place to learn and more a daily test of endurance. In this episode, Jenny Kendall—a national leader in special education—joins Kevin to talk about what happens when you take students out of a system that was never designed for them and build something better. Virtual learning isn't a compro...

Since the pandemic, the demand for online tutoring has surged by 200%, with families seeking flexible, effective, and accessible academic support for their children. But does virtual tutoring truly measure up to in-person sessions? Research from the Annenberg Institute and Johns Hopkins University suggests that well-designed virtual tutoring can significantly boost student performance—often rivali...

During lockdown, a math teacher and his son 3D-printed a board game on their kitchen table. Now it's transforming how students feel about math—and school in general. Meet Eric Olsen, the STEM rebel behind Glyphic, and principal of Idaho Technical Career Academy, where Zoom school gets a creative upgrade. From TikTok-style math reels to student-led TED Talks, Eric's not just teaching equations—he's...

This is an encore episode of What I Want to Know, revisiting one of our most impactful conversations on the power of storytelling. Storytelling isn't just about entertainment—it's a crucial tool for learning, connection, and confidence-building in children. In this episode, host Kevin P. Chavous sits down with award-winning children's book author and NPR Foundation board member Jesse Byrd to discu...

Imagine spending 17 hours competing in one of the biggest fencing tournaments in the world and winning a bronze medal. That's exactly what Joseph Guth, a student at Ohio Virtual Academy, did at the Paris Foil Competition. But his story is even more incredible because he's also an eighth grader balancing his schoolwork with training for international events.  In this episode of What I Want to Know,...

National School Choice Week is January 26th through February 1st! We've put together expert highlights from our previous "What I Want To Know" podcast episodes, featuring key insights from education leaders, parent advocates, and school choice experts.  EPISODE SEGMENTS: 00:00 Intro 00:02 State of School Choice with Andrew Campanella Full Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rok1pSPaGUQ 00:03...

In this encore episode, Kevin P. Chavous revisits an important conversation with Linda Charmaraman, founder and director of the Youth Media and Wellbeing Research Lab at Wellesley College. With a potential TikTok ban looming in the U.S.—which could take effect as early as January 19, 2025, pending a Supreme Court decision—and the emergence of new social media platforms, this discussion is more rel...

In this special episode, Kevin P. Chavous reflects on an extraordinary year for What I Want to Know. In 2024, the show explored some of the most vital conversations in education, from school safety and supporting students through tragedy, to the power of literacy and the future of school choice. They examined violence prevention, celebrated Hispanic heritage in classrooms, and uncovered how play a...

In this episode, we explore how online education is transforming lives for students facing housing insecurity. Host Kevin P. Chavous sits down with Alanna Vickers, a remarkable recent graduate of the Digital Academy of Florida, who turned her challenging circumstances into a story of triumph. Among the 1.2 million students in U.S. schools experiencing housing instability, Alanna's journey stands o...

Remember when a classroom meant four walls, a blackboard, and rows of desks? Not anymore. With online schools growing by over 30% in recent years, virtual education is reshaping learning for millions of students worldwide. How is online learning and AI transforming student learning? How can teachers prepare for the virtual landscape? And what does the future of online education hold? In this episo...

In today's rapidly changing educational landscape, how do we transform our schools to truly prepare students for the future? And what role does technology play in bridging educational gaps? In an era of increasing polarization, one education reformer offers insights on bringing innovation to America's classrooms. Joining Kevin P. Chavous today is Michelle Rhee, former Chancellor of Washington D.C....

In our digital age, how do we prepare students for the ever-evolving workplace of tomorrow? And how do we turn virtual classrooms into spaces of real skill development and career readiness? In a world where screens often isolate, one educator has found a way to use them to connect students with their future. Joining Kevin P. Chavous today is Laura Massey, the student career coaching manager at K12...