Valentine's Day is often about cards, candy, and grand gestures — but this episode is about something deeper.

In this special Valentine edition of Driving Education, Katie walks through the halls of Hoover High School where she witnesses the You Matter movement in action reminding every single student, staff and faculty member that their inherent worth is seen---and the world needs every single person---because every person matters.

Whether you're leading a school, teaching in a classroom, taking a test, playing an instrument, serving lunch, coaching a team, or pushing a broom,— your presence makes a difference and you make the world SO MUCH BETTER solely because you are in it!

From the passenger seat to the long drive ahead, this episode is a love letter to the heart of every person.

Because the days can be hard.Because the road can feel lonely. Because in case you may forget...YOU MATTER!

In this episode of Driving Education, Katie sits down with Hailey Ridgeway from the Alabama State Department of Education — one of the brilliant minds behind ALEX (Alabama Learning Exchange).

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by standards, lesson planning, or finding high-quality resources that actually fit your students, this episode is for you.

Hailey pulls back the curtain on how ALEX has evolved into a powerful, teacher-centered platform — designed to help educators work smarter, not harder. From unpacked standards and vetted resources to collaborative sandboxes, AI-supported lesson planning, and interactive Sparkle activities, ALEX is changing how Alabama educators plan, teach, and collaborate.

In this conversation, you'll hear about:

• How ALEX supports teachers without telling them how to teach

• Why standards are a guide — not a curriculum

• The power of collaboration across schools and districts

• Using AI thoughtfully to support (not replace) teachers

• Why Alabama educators are trailblazers nationwide

This episode is a reminder that teachers are the number one predictor of student success — and the systems supporting them matter.

🎧 If you're an Alabama educator, this is an episode you'll want to bookmark.

Hailey Ridgeway

• Project Director, Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX)

• Alabama State Department of Education

• Advocate for teacher support and innovation

https://alabamalearningexchange.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@TeachWithALEX/playlists

In this episode of Driving Education, Katie welcomes Dr. Mackey for a joyful, thoughtful conversation about leadership, perspective, and what it means to show up fully — even when the road is hard.

Dr. Mackey brings humor, honesty, and heart as he reflects on leadership, resilience, and the importance of choosing joy in the work of education. From lighthearted moments to meaningful insights, this episode reminds us that how we lead — and how we live — matters just as much as what we accomplish.

In this conversation, you'll hear about:

• Why joy is a leadership strategy, not a bonus

• Showing up authentically in hard seasons

• Keeping perspective when the work feels heavy

• Leading people, not just systems

• Remembering why education is worth the long drive

🎧 This episode feels like rolling the windows down, turning the music up, and remembering why you started.