2015 Tribune Festival: Audio From the Public Ed Track

The Public Education track at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured panel discussions on turning around struggling schools, pre-K, public education and the Legislature, and charter schools. There was also a one-on-one conversation with outgoing Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams. Scroll down to listen to audio from those sessions.

The "How to Turn Around a School" panel, moderated by Texas Tribune reporter Morgan Smith, featured Raise Your Hand Texas CEO David Anthony, State Board of Education Chairwoman Donna Bahorich, El Paso Independent School District Superintendent Juan Cabrera, Austin Independent School District Superintendent Paul Cruz and Texas A&M University-Kingsville President Steven Tallant.

The "Why Pre-K Matters" panel, moderated by Houston Chronicle reporter Lauren McGaughy, featured state Reps. Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio, Helen Giddings, D-DeSoto, and Dan Huberty, R-Houston; U.S. Department of Education Deputy Assistant Secretary Libby Doggett; and Center for Public Policy Priorities policy analyst Chandra Kring Villanueva.

The "Public Ed and the Legislature" panel, moderated by Texas Tribune reporter Kiah Collier, featured state Reps. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, Mary González, D-Clint, and John Otto, R-Dayton; and state Sens. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, and Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood.

The "Charters, Choice and Accountability" panel was moderated by Campbell Brown, founder and editor-in-chief of The Seventy Four. The panel featured state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, Families Empowered Executive Director Colleen Dippel, Grand Prairie Independent School District Superintendent Susan Simpson Hull, former U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige and State Board of Education Vice Chairman Thomas Ratliff.

Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams is interviewed by Dan Rather, host of The Big Interview and Dan Rather Reports.