On this episode of Govs Teach Unplugged, host Megan Simpson welcomes Megan Schneck. A two-time award winner in the Eriksson College of Education — recognized as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student in 2025 and an Outstanding Graduate Student in 2026 — Megan recently completed her first year teaching third grade at Liberty Elementary School in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. She earned both her bachelor's degree in education (K-5) and her master's degree in reading from Austin Peay, and this spring she took her scholarship to the national stage as a presenter at the National Social Science Association conference in Las Vegas. From student to teacher to researcher, Megan's journey is a testament to the power of finding your place.

Dive Deeper:

⁠APSU Eriksson College of Education⁠

APSU Master of Arts in Education: Reading

The Six-Minute Solution: A Reading Fluency Program

National Social Science Association

APSU receives $50K Google grant to expand STEM education in rural Middle Tennessee

Bridging distances: Reflections on STEM education in Suriname’s interior

State Board of Education Announces Educator Advisory Team

Beyond Accommodations: Building Belonging for Autistic College Students

Full Spectrum Learning Admissions Process

On this episode, host Megan Simpson sits down with Dr. Christi Maldonado, associate dean of assessment and accreditation and assistant professor in the Eriksson College of Education.

Dr. Maldonado brings more than 20 years of experience in public education to the conversation, including 15 years as an assistant principal in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. Now, she helps prepare the next generation of school leaders through Austin Peay's Master of Arts in Education: Educational Leadership Studies program — the university's second-largest graduate program.

The discussion covers everything from what makes the program unique to Dr. Maldonado's role in a historic achievement: the U.S. Department of Labor's recent approval of the first-ever National Guideline Standards for K-12 Principal Apprenticeships. She also shares candid advice for teachers considering the leap into administration.

Whether you're a classroom teacher eyeing a leadership role or just curious about what it takes to run a school, this episode offers an inside look at the pathway from teacher to principal.

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⁠APSU Eriksson College of Education⁠

APSU Master of Arts in Education: Educational Leadership Studies

Principal Apprenticeships: 2026 National Guideline Standards

New U.S. Department of Labor Standards for Principal Apprenticeships Amplify Educator Pipeline

Eriksson College of Education celebrates achievements at annual ceremony

Tennessee Educational Leadership Journal Latest Issue

A Decade After the Passage of ‘Say Dyslexia’ Bill, Confusion Still Persists

On this episode of Govs Teach Unplugged, host Megan Simpson sits down with Mollie Scruggs, a junior elementary education major who is proving that leadership doesn't wait for a diploma. A native of Columbia, Tennessee, and a "legacy Gov," Mollie shares what it was like following in her father’s footsteps to Austin Peay while carving out a path uniquely her own through faith and service.

The conversation dives into Mollie’s extensive campus involvement, including her time as a Resident Assistant and her leadership as the President of Austin Peay’s Student Tennessee Education Association (STEA) chapter. Mollie discusses the lessons she has learned about teamwork and delegation, her experiences at the recent STEA state conference in Nashville, and her inspiring plan to use her education degree for overseas missions work after graduation.

Whether she is sharing advice on why students should lean on their professors or discussing her love for coffee and Gilmore Girls, Mollie’s story is a testament to how passion and preparation can transform the future of education.

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⁠APSU Eriksson College of Education⁠APSU K-5 Education

Licensure Bachelor’s Degree Program

APSU Student Tennessee Education Association

APSU Full Spectrum Learning