Hobby Talks
Hobby Talks is a podcast series from the Hobby School of Public Affairs produced in partnership with the Center for Student Media at the University of Houston. Hosted by Dean Jim Granato and Hobby School faculty, the podcast features timely conversations on politics and policy with experts, scholars and those guiding the most complex challenges facing our region and state.
Hobby Talks
State of Public Education with Robert Pondiscio
On this episode of Hobby Talks, education policy expert Robert Pondiscio discusses the state of public education in Texas and across the country. Pondiscio takes listeners through the education reform landscape, reflecting on its history and fast-forwarding to today's most significant challenges. He shares insight into how his experience inside the classroom informs his perspective on championing meaningful change in an era of increasing choice. Hobby Talks host Jim Granato asks Pondiscio about the state's pivotal moment on school vouchers and the latest developments from Houston ISD under state-appointed leadership.
Pondiscio is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a public policy think tank, where he studies K-12 education, school choice, teaching and civic education. He previously worked as an adviser and civics teacher at Democracy Prep Public Schools in New York City. Before that, he was in journalism for 20 years, holding senior positions at Time and BusinessWeek.