EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures

EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures is a podcast amplifying the voices and stories at the intersection of foster care and education. Through in-depth conversations with educators, CASA volunteers, social workers, legal advocates, and policymakers, this series explores the challenges and solutions shaping the educational outcomes of foster youth. Produced in collaboration with Texas Tech University and key community partners, EduVoices blends research, advocacy, and storytelling to inform, inspire, and drive systemic change.

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🎙️ Meet the Hosts

EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures is hosted by Dr. Dusty L. Palmer, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Texas Tech University, and Dr. Stephanie Barbre, Ph.D., School Psychologist, Assistant Professor of Practice, and Program Director of School Psychology at Texas Tech University. Their work focuses on educational leadership, student support, and school–community partnerships, with particular attention to children and youth impacted by foster care. Through EduVoices, they bring together research, practice, and lived experiences to elevate conversations that inform and support educators, advocates, and communities serving students in care.

Episodes

4 days ago

Inside the Foster Parent Journey — Daily Realities, Challenges, and Successes

4 days ago

In this episode of EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures, we welcome Dr. Selenda Cumby, Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership and former foster caregiver, for an in-depth conversation on the realities of foster parenting.
This episode explores the lived experiences of foster parents, including what motivates individuals to foster, what daily life in a foster home looks like, and how foster families navigate relationships, trauma-informed care, and collaboration with schools and support systems. Dr. Cumby shares honest reflections on the challenges and rewards of foster care, along with real success stories that highlight the impact stable, caring adults can have in a child’s life.
Listeners will gain insight into foster parent sustainability, child well-being, and the importance of strong educational and community support for children in care. This episode is valuable for foster parents, educators, CASA volunteers, child welfare professionals, and anyone passionate about supporting youth in foster care.
If you care about foster care, child advocacy, education for foster youth, or strengthening outcomes for vulnerable children, this conversation offers both practical insight and inspiration.