Episode Details

In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Mary Lynn Pruneda, Director of Education & Workforce Policy at Texas 2036 and former education policy advisor to Gov. Greg Abbott.

They dive into the controversies and complexities of Texas public education—from the end of the STAAR test to the new three-test system, literacy challenges, teacher pay, and the long-term workforce impact if Texas fails to catch up.

Pruneda explains why public education is harder than most people realize, the consequences of pandemic learning loss, how Texas stacks up against other states like Mississippi, and what parents can do to step up as their children’s first teachers.

If you care about the future of Texas schools, accountability, testing, and workforce readiness, this conversation is a must-listen.

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