SXSW2025 Edition: The Future of Education with Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson

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In this special SXSW2025 edition of For the Love, Jen Hatmaker sits down with Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson, Senior VP and Executive Dean at Western Governors University (WGU) School of Education. A lifelong advocate for educators, Dr. Johnson is at the forefront of reimagining how we train, support, and sustain teachers in today’s challenging educational landscape. Jen, a former teacher herself, brings her deep passion for education into this conversation, unpacking the real issues educators face today—from teacher shortages to burnout—and discussing how innovative models like WGU’s competency-based education are transforming access to learning. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Dr. Johnson’s Path to Leadership – How she transitioned from working in corrections to becoming a pioneer in online education. • Competency-Based Education – What it is, how it differs from traditional models, and why it’s a game-changer for adult learners. • Educator Burnout & Retention – The state of teacher well-being and what’s being done to ensure teachers not only enter the profession but thrive in it. • School & Community Support for Teachers – How schools, administrators, and parents can create environments where teachers feel valued. • Future Trends in Education – How AI, technology, and apprenticeship programs are shaping the next generation of educators. Thought-Provoking Quotes: “We don’t believe in courses just for the sake of courses. Everything at WGU is designed to build skills that translate directly into a career.” – Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson “Retention is just as critical as recruitment—if we don’t take care of our teachers, we will never solve the teacher shortage crisis.” – Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson “Teachers are literally helping us raise the next generation. Every second of what they do matters.” – Jen Hatmaker “The future of education must include personalization, technology integration, and real-world experience to prepare students for success.” – Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations like this! Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Learn more about WGU: wgu.edu Guest’s Links: Interested in becoming a teacher or continuing your education? WGU offers flexible, affordable degree programs designed for working adults. Website - https://www.wgu.edu/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/westerngovernorsu/ Twitter - https://x.com/wgu Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wgu.edu/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/WesternGovernorsUniv TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wgu Stacey Ludwig Johnson’s Website - https://www.wgu.edu/blog/authors/stacey-ludwig-johnson.html Stacey Ludwig Johnson’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-ludwig-johnson-0bba1715/ Connect with Jen! Jen’s Website - https://jenhatmaker.com/ Jen’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmaker Jen’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ Jen’s Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmaker Jen’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy.