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

On this episode of Govs Teach Unplugged, host Megan Simpson sits down with Dr. Terri Clark, who joined the Eriksson College of Education in Fall 2025 as the lead for the nursing educator concentration in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program. As the first-ever graduate of the concentration she now leads, Dr. Clark shares her inspiring journey from nursing to higher education. She discusses how her philosophy of being "clear and kind" has guided her through 20 years of experience in hospital work, community health, and teaching.

The heart of the conversation dives into Dr. Clark’s research on technostress and the intersection of health education and work-life balance. She introduces her original "Balance Framework," which is designed to help busy professionals manage the stress of constant connectivity through seven simple strategies.

Listeners will also get a personal look at Dr. Clark’s life outside the classroom, from her "mini farm" in Tennessee — complete with horses, dwarf goats, and a "grand puppy" — to her early days as a theater major with dreams of starring on Days of Our Lives. Whether she is hosting the Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing podcast or mentoring future nurses, Dr. Clark’s story is a powerful testament to how education can enlarge one's vision for life and create ripples of change in the world.

Dive Deeper:

⁠APSU Eriksson College of Education⁠

APSU Doctor of Education: Nurse Educator Concentration

APSU Full Spectrum Learning

Dr. John McConnell named dean of APSU's Eriksson College of Education

Austin Peay professor publishes new volume of teaching labor history

Audiobooks surge as travel favorite, helping fuel debate over what 'counts' as reading

Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing Podcast

Work–Life Balance in an Online World: Simple Strategies for Managing Technostress