{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"What’s Up, Wake","title":"Exploring Wake County Magnet Schools With Dr. Mariah Walker & Tamani Powell","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/f873bf44\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2309,"description":"In this episode of What’s Up, Wake, host Melissa Wistehuff sits down with two women helping shape education in Wake County: Dr. Mariah Walker, principal of Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy and the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, and Tamani Anderson Powell, director of marketing and recruitment for Wake County Public School System’s magnet programs. Both have also been recognized as Women of Western Wake honorees. They explain what makes Wake County’s magnet schools different, from leadership and STEM to visual and performing arts, International Baccalaureate programs, language immersion, early college opportunities, and specialized learning environments.\nDr. Walker shares how Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy combines leadership development with early college opportunities, allowing students to earn up to 60 college credits at no cost through its partnership with Shaw University. Many graduates can enter college academically positioned as sophomores or juniors. Tamani breaks down how magnet schools work for Wake County families, including base schools, applications, the weighted selection process, and why choosing a school should be about finding the environment where an individual student can thrive — not simply choosing the program a parent thinks sounds best.\n00:00 Smart Shades Intro\n00:32 Local Sponsor Spots\n01:25 Show Opens\n01:48 Meet The Guests\n02:41 Mariah Background\n06:00 Tamani Background\n08:05 Principal Of The Year\n11:02 Leadership Advice\n14:37 Women Of Western Wake\n15:12 Wake YWLA Explained\n16:56 Early College Credits\n20:22 What Magnet Means\n23:32 Magnet Logistics Basics\n24:15 Choosing Magnet Schools\n25:14 Lottery and Student Fit\n27:29 Magnet Themes Explained\n28:08 IB and Immersion Options\n30:20 College and Career Prep\n35:06 Tours and Info Sessions\n36:53 Final Thanks and Wrap","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/3FPpkJ7JIRSxqmup6bUJfqr8_rMrqpK7grf9C8PwVsk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iNmM5/OWRmY2Y4NDg0ZDEy/YjlmZjdkZDdhNDI2/OTJiZC5qcGVn.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}