
An Idea On A Whiteboard Part 2 with Mike Ragsdale
From At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast by tnAchieves
February 9, 2026 · 34 min
About this episode
Mike Ragsdale discusses the origins of Knox Achieves and the future of education in Tennessee.
Every statewide movement has a beginning — and for tnAchieves, that beginning was a simple but bold idea sketched out on a whiteboard: every Tennessee student deserves a chance to continue their education and build a future through a credential of value. In this episode, An Idea on a Whiteboard Part 2, former Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale — founding board member and longtime champion of public service — reflects on the roots of Knox Achieves, the partnerships that helped spark Tennessee Promise, and the future of completion-focused workforce pathways across our state. Support At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast
People in this episode
Host: tnAchieves
Guest: Mike Ragsdale
Topics covered
- education
- workforce pathways
- public service
- Tennessee Promise
- Knox Achieves
Keywords
- tnAchieves
- Knox Achieves
- Tennessee Promise
- education
- workforce pathways
- public service
- Mike Ragsdale
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: tnAchieves, Knox Achieves, Tennessee Promise
Places: Tennessee, Knox County
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- Innovative Ideas on Student Success with Dr. Tracy Hall and Dr. Michael Torrence · April 20, 2026 · 53 min
- Taking the "Idea On A Whiteboard" Statewide with Governor Bill Haslam · April 6, 2026 · 38 min
- Tennessee's Future Workforce Framework · March 23, 2026 · 30 min
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