Unfiltered Education
By Educators. For Educators.
Public education is facing new challenges, and it is time for honest conversations about what school districts are up against.
Unfiltered Education is hosted by Brian J. Stephens, CEO and founder of Caissa K12, an organization that helps public school districts strengthen enrollment, recruitment, retention and family engagement.
Through candid conversations with superintendents, policymakers and education leaders, the podcast explores the biggest issues affecting public schools today, including chronic absenteeism, declining enrollment, student recruitment, funding challenges and policy changes.
Each episode goes beyond the headlines to share real experiences, practical strategies and solutions public school leaders can use in their own communities.
Have a topic you would like us to cover or a guest you would like to see featured on the show? Email Elizabeth@caissaps.com
Episodes
71 episodes
Why Being Too Polite is Ruining Your Reputation
Smart professionals often fall into the trap of telling people what they want to hear to avoid immediate conflict. It's a natural response that prioritizes short term comfort over long term success. But choosing surface level politeness instead...
Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth: Building Community Trust
Public schools are competing for families, but the bigger battle may be trust. Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth, Superintendent of Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD, joins Brian to challenge the national narrative around public education and unpack school choi...
Why Teachers Need to Think Like Entrepreneurs
Teachers are already doing what entrepreneurs do every day: managing people, solving problems, adapting on the fly, and making something work with limited resources. Former teacher and WIT founder Sarah Hernholm joins Brian to explain why educa...
Inside Caissa K12: The Communication Training We Give Our Own Team
This week, we’re taking you behind the scenes at Caissa K12 for a real professional development session with our team. No polished presentation, just an unfiltered conversation about the communication habits that create friction, waste time, an...
How To Spot a Data Con Artist
Bad data doesn’t always look bad. It can come wrapped in convincing numbers, polished headlines, and surveys designed to get a certain answer. This episode exposes the tricks behind misleading polls, manipulated questions, and questionable numb...
Two Separate School Systems
Brian Stephens breaks down a new federal school choice program taking effect in 2027 and what it could mean for public schools. He explains how the new tax-credit system works, where the money can go, and the differences in accountability betwe...
Amity Schuyler: The Untapped Power of Education Foundations
In this episode, Brian sits down with Amity Schuyler, President & CEO of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, to explore how education foundations can connect public schools with funding, businesses, and community partner...
Will 27 Million Students Leave Public Schools?
As districts welcome students back for a new school year, one question matters more than ever: How do you protect enrollment in an era of increasing school choice? In this special back-to-school episode, Brian shares practical strategies distri...
Have Public Schools Had Their Chance?
Brian challenges the common claim that public schools have "had their chance" and failed by putting today's debate into historical context. He explains that for most of human history, education was reserved for a privileged few, and truly unive...
Why Are Satisfied Families Still Leaving?
In this special Q&A episode of Public Education Unfiltered, Brian answers listener questions about school choice, enrollment, and the challenges facing public school districts today.Drawing on his work with more than 100 pub...
Hartford's Superintendent on Leading Through Budget Challenges
What does it take to earn the largest funding increase in your district's history? Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Andraé Townsel joins Brian to reveal the leadership principles, difficult decisions, and "cheat code" that help...
2026 Texas School Choice Survey Webinar
Are Texas Parents Really Satisfied With Their Schools?In our newly released 2026 Texas Parent Survey, parents share what matters most when choosing a school, why many are considering other options, and how they really feel about school ...
The Most Dangerous Phrase in Leadership
"That's the way we've always done it."It sounds harmless, but it may be the biggest barrier to growth. In this episode, Brian explores why our brains resist change, how status quo bias keeps us stuck, and why lasting transformatio...
The Private School Myth
In this episode, Brian explores what the research actually says about private school outcomes, why family background plays such a significant role in student success, and how our assumptions about school quality may not always match the evidenc...
Inside Florida's School Choice Revolution
After examining Texas school vouchers, Brian turns his attention to Florida, the state at the center of the school choice movement.In this episode, Brian unpacks Florida's expanding voucher programs, examines what families are choosing, ...
Why We (Falsely) Believe Private Schools Are Better
Many Americans believe private schools are inherently better than public schools, but is that belief actually supported by evidence? In this episode, Brian explores how perception, status, and cognitive bias often shape opinions about education...
2026 Florida School Choice Survey Webinar
Are Florida Parents Really Satisfied With Their Schools? The answer may surprise you. In our newly released 2026 Florida Parent Survey, parents reveal what matters most when choosing a school, why so many are actively explori...
Trust In The Age Of AI
AI can make communication faster, more frequent, and more efficient, but trust is still built between people.Schools that rely too heavily on AI risk sounding robotic, impersonal, and disconnected. The organizations that will stand out ...
The Rise of No Child Left Behind
This episode introduces major school reforms and focuses on the origins of No Child Left Behind. It explains how persistent achievement gaps led to a push for accountability, driven by the belief that higher expectations and transparency would ...
The 7 Ways You’re Failing at Conflict (And How to Fix It)
Are you reacting or thinking? Most people default to fight-or-flight responses that escalate conflict instead of solving it. This episode explores how to break that pattern by shifting from emotional reactions to strategic thinking. Learn how t...
The Truth About Texas School Vouchers
This episode explores the school choice movement, with a focus on Texas’s new universal voucher program. It explains key education models, including public schools, charter schools, vouchers, and education savings accounts, while outlining the ...
Stop Guessing What People Want to Hear, Just Say the Right Thing Pt. 2
In Part 2 of this conversation, Brian dives deeper into one of the most common communication mistakes: telling people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.Whether in leadership, schools, or everyday conversations, avo...
Stop Guessing What People Want to Hear, Just Say the Right Thing Pt. 1
This episode explores the real psychology behind effective communication, especially in high-emotion situations. When someone is upset, logic alone isn’t enough. Telling people to “calm down” or becoming defensive often escalates conflict rathe...