Beyond the Bell

Beyond the Bell

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A podcast about educators who are teaching during a global pandemic hosted by Evelyn Lauer, a high school English/media teacher with 20 years experience. It doesn’t matter what format we’ve been forced to teach in – remote, hybrid, or in-person wearing masks – we’re all struggling and we’ve all lost a piece of our identity. Lauer converses with teachers in different situations from different states with different rules in place to see how education has been flipped on its head for better or worse. What can we learn from this moment in time? What can we say we miss? What needs to change? And what do we now know to never take for granted? Lauer is currently teaching freshman English, digital storytelling, and film--all remotely via Zoom and Canvas. Her work has been published in The Huffington Post, Education Week, The English Journal, Sentence, and elsewhere. She served as the PR/Publications director for the Journalism Education Association for six years and is currently serving that organization as a mentor teacher. BTB was recently highlighted in the New York Times Education Briefing. You can follow her on Twitter @evelynalauer.

Evelyn Lauer


    • Jan 2, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 33 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Beyond the Bell

    Kaine Osburn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 46:15


    K-8 superintendent Kaine Osburn and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the decisions schools must make while the pandemic continues and Omicron spreads. Lauer describes her own experience with Covid-19.Osburn is an educational leader who believes equity is the real engine for growth in student achievement and innovation in learning. He has broad and deep experience as a high school English teacher, union leader, principal, and district leader. He currently leads Avoca District 37, a high performing K-8 district in the near north suburbs of Chicago, which sends students to New Trier High School. As a superintendent, previously he led large-scale community engagement and strategic planning, a successful $78M bond referendum, installation of a new staff training center through an innovative community partnership, and he developed powerful relationships with civic and business leaders on behalf of students. As a Deputy Superintendent and a Principal, he engaged in multiple sectors across larger and smaller school districts -- from operations, to curriculum and instruction, to finance, human resources, and community relations. He also has experience working directly with elementary and secondary families, teachers, principals, and community leaders. Follow Kaine on Twitter @AvocaOsburnFollow Evelyn on Twitter @evelynalauer

    Doug Robertson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2021 59:17


    Fifth-grade educator Doug Robertson and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the challenges of in-person/full-capacity school during the pandemic and his decision to take a medical leave from his classroom.Robertson is currently a 5th grade teacher just outside of Portland, Oregon. He is in his16th  year of teaching overall, and in that time he has also taught in California and Hawaii OR. On the side, he is also an author, having published four books so far, three of which are education focused [He's the Weird Teacher, THE Teaching Text (You're Welcome), and A Classroom of One] and one novel (The Unforgiving Road). He is also a husband and has three children. He plays bass and rides a motorcycle. You can find Doug on Twitter at @TheWeirdTeacher and also on Instagram at the same. Follow host, Evelyn Lauer, on Twitter or Instagram, @evelynalauer.

    Julie Rowse

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2021 46:53


    Media educator Julie Rowse and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the challenges of beginning the school year during the Delta variant, especially with a inconsistency in the rules and guidelines at different schools in different states. Rowse is a recovering Air Force Brat currently living in Bellevue, Nebraska. She holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and an M.A. in Popular Culture from Bowling Green State University. Julie teaches Journalism and Popular Culture at a suburban high school, where she is also the principal pianist for the school musical every year. She is the host and producer of the Teachers Talking TV podcast. When she isn't teaching or writing, she's watching a movie, college sports, or reading a book. But there's also a good chance she's napping. Follow her @msrowse on Twitter, @jlrowse on Instagram, or at julierowse.com. Follow host, Evelyn Lauer, on Twitter or Instagram, @evelynalauer.

    Season 4 Intro

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2021 3:24


    Host Evelyn Lauer introduces the fourth season of Beyond the Bell, a podcast about teaching during the pandemic. On BTB, Lauer, a 21-year educator interviews other teachers about their experiences.Please follow her on Twitter @evelynalauer. 

    Season 3 Finale

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 6:00


    Host Evelyn Lauer looks back on the challenges of the 2020-2021 school year and looks ahead to the future of education post pandemic. To contact Evelyn, please email her at evelau@d219.org, or DM her on Twitter @evelynalauer.

    Brent Crouse

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 24:59


    Assistant director of elementary and middle school literacy Brent Crouse and host Evelyn Lauer discuss engagement strategies, culturally responsive teaching, and the outlook for the 2021-2022 academic year.Crouse began his career as a non-traditional Teach For America corps member in 2010, at the age of 32. After acceptance into the program, he moved from Portland, OR to Philadelphia, where he taught for his  first four years as an Upper Elementary School ELA teacher at LEAP Academy Charter School in Camden, NJ. Seeking a change, he transitioned to Philadelphia, where he was hired by Mastery Charter Schools, teaching at their Mann Elementary Campus for five years as the 5th and 6th grade writing teacher. He left the classroom in June, 2019, and joined the Mastery Academic Team as an Assistant Director of Elementary and Middle School Literacy. Hoping to use his classroom experience to help teachers better help their students, he has spent the past two years dividing his time between teacher coaching, managing curriculum and resources, and designing and facilitating professional development for 3rd through 8th grade ELA teachers across Philadelphia and Camden.Follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter @evelynalauer.

    Cheryl Nesbitt

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2021 35:00


    World languages teacher Cheryl Nesbitt and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the complicated space of hybrid learning, including the challenges of breakout rooms and the magic of face-to-face interaction. Nesbitt has been teaching for more than 30 years in various contexts, both domestically and overseas in Japan. She taught at private schools, but returned to college in 2014 to complete her credentials and has been teaching public school since 2016.  Currently, she works at Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California, teaching Japanese 1 and 2, and Spanish 1. She has always loved school, as a student and as a teacher. She particularly loves teaching world languages, but has also taught English language and literature, ESL, and home educated her own children for a time as well. You can follow Cheryl on Twitter @teachernesbitt.You can follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter @evelynalauer

    Jenny Lynch

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2021 31:29


    Physical education teacher Jenny Lynch and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the instruction of dance classes without touch and the importance of mindfulness and movement, especially this year.Lynch is in her 18th year of teaching high school in Aurora, Colorado.  She teaches Freshmen English, Basic Dance, Intermediate/Advanced Dance, and Beginning Ballroom Dance. She is an active person who enjoys the outdoors.  Her preferred activities include dancing, biking, walking, yoga, reading, writing, and attempting to raise two well-informed, responsible children with her husband of 17 years. You can follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter @evelynalauer. 

    Alyssa Guzman

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 31:00


    English teacher Alyssa Guzman and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the challenges of being a first-year educator during the pandemic and the experience of presenting diverse texts and controversial conversations in a conservative community, especially this school year. Guzman is a first-year teacher out of Lincolnwood, Illinois. Her time at Niles West High School led to her becoming passionate about reading, writing, and the power of words. She pursued those interests at the University of Iowa, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing in 2018, and her Master of Arts in secondary English education in 2020. She believes a very important aspect of her job is ensuring her students take in a diverse array of authors and that they leave her classroom thinking critically about the world around them. You can follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter @evelynalauer. 

    Megan Barber and Erin Helgren

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2021 25:54


    Preschool teacher Megan Barber and policy director Erin Helgren share how their school district in rural Oregon created solutions to keep young children learning through the pandemic. Megan Barber is the Yoncalla School District Preschool Director and Head Teacher. She has a strong background in social work and parenting education as well as elementary education. These experiences have given her the gift of understanding the unique needs of all children and families, in particular those who have endured challenging life circumstances. Barber has been instrumental in shifting the model of educational approaches in Yoncalla -- she believes in the power of connection and the universal right for all children to feel safe and valued. She currently lives in rural Douglas County, Oregon with her son and daughter. Erin Helgren joined the Children's Institute in November 2015. She brings nearly 25 years of experience and knowledge working with young children and families. She has experience in a wide range of programming, including home visiting, early childhood classrooms, parenting education and play to learn groups.Before joining Children's Institute, Helgren worked as the North Douglas County Family Relief Nursery program manager. In this position, she built programming around the unique needs of rural, isolated families. These experiences have given her a deeper understanding and insight into the needs of rural communities. Helgren supports the Yoncalla School District in the Early Works project, a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of young children through community engagement, parent/ teacher collaboration and aligned programs for families. In addition, she leads the district's emerging P3 alignment work.  She currently lives and works in rural Oregon.You can follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter @evelynalauer.  

    Nicholas Pahl

    Play Episode Play 60 sec Highlight Listen Later Apr 11, 2021 37:00


    Business teacher Nicholas Pahl and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the pros and cons of teaching team/project-based courses during remote and hybrid learning.  Pahl teaches investing, marketing, and INCubatoredu,  a national, entrepreneurial program that started out of Barrington, IL. Pahl, who has been in education for 10 years,  started this program at Dundee Crown High School. The program won Uncharted Learning's national pitch competition, started six legally recognized businesses, and brought in more than 100 community members to help students learn how to start their own companies. He is now doing the same thing at Niles North High School. He also serves as a Curriculum & Technology coach for the district. Pahl is passionate about learning and passionate about change, and has found a true calling in equity work in his district. Most importantly, he married a teacher who is far better than he is, and they have two beautiful little ones.You can follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter and Instagram @evelynalauer.

    Season 2 Finale

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 1:29


    Host Evelyn Lauer discusses all the challenges of hybrid teaching and looks toward season 3.Season 3 of BTB will kick off April 11.Connect with Evelyn on Twitter and Instagram @evelynalauer.

    Mothers who Teach Roundtable

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2021 54:29


    Host Evelyn Lauer talks with four educators who are also mothers of young children and asks the age-old question: How do you do it all? The group chats about the toll the pandemic has had on working moms, the insanity of most days, and how to balance teaching and grading and parenting -- and doing the dishes!Julia Kapelnikova is an English teacher and instructional coach at Highland Park High School. She lives in Chicago with  her son who is just over 2, her husband, and dog.Rachel Gross has been teaching high school English in Skokie for 16 years. In addition to teaching, she helps advise the school newspaper and has written the district's teachers' union newsletter. Rachel also lives in Skokie with her spouse and two children. Jessica Pritzker (@jessicapritzker) is a science teacher, former administrator, mother, and life enthusiast. She's taught for 18 years in Argentina and in two high schools in the Chicago suburbs and still enjoys learning daily whether it be from her peers, students, or the world around her. Lia Sosa has been a grateful member of the Niles West English department for fifteen years after earning Masters degrees in both English and reading. Together with her husband who teaches math for Chicago Public Schools, she has struggled to both do her own job all the while caring for her two young daughters who are seven and three years old. She enjoys cooking and baking, spending time in her yard with a book, traveling out West, and a cup of Earl Gray that helps her find a moment of peace.  To connect with host Evelyn Lauer, please follow her on Twitter at @evelynalauer.

    Leland Mallet and Rebecca Pollard

    Play Episode Play 36 sec Highlight Listen Later Feb 28, 2021 38:00


    Journalism educators Leland Mallett and Rebecca Pollard discuss their experiences with the extreme cold, snow, and power outages in Texas recently and the effect on schools -- and their student media coverage of it all. Mallett has been advising yearbooks and newspapers since 1999. He is the newspaper, yearbook, and photo adviser at Legacy High School in Mansfield, Texas. Legacy's publications have won Crowns, Pacemakers, and Stars. Mallett serves as the Webmaster for the Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE). Mallett won JEA's Distinguished Yearbook Adviser award in 2018.  In 2015 he won the Texas Adviser of the Year award from ILPC. He has also won the Edith Fox King Award, TAJE Trailblazer, Dow Jones Special Recognition Adviser and JEA's Yearbook Special Recognition Adviser. Leland loves the art of telling stories in any media. But really, he's just going through life trying not to look like a moron.Pollard, MJE, advises the yearbook at Lovejoy High School, in Lucas, Texas. She loves all student media, which is why she has advised at five different schools and all mediums in 21 years. Her programs have won top state and national awards including Pacemakers and Crowns. She is a recipient of the JEA Distinguished Yearbook Adviser in 2019, Medal of Merit in 2020 and ILPC Edith Fox King Award in 2013. She is a JEA mentor and also serves on the planning committee for the Gloria Shields/NSPA Media Workshop.Connect with Leland and Rebecca on Twitter: @mallett and @rebecca_pollard.You can follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter and Instagram @evelynalauer.

    Laura Doran

    Play Episode Play 44 sec Highlight Listen Later Feb 21, 2021 37:00


    Kindergarten educator Laura Doran and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the importance of building community, the incorporation of toys into lessons, and what it looks like to teach five year olds how to read via Zoom.Doran teaches at Walled Lake Consolidated School District in Michigan. She has been teaching for 23 years, primarily grades first through third. Currently, she teaches kindergarten remotely. She blogs about her experiences at Days with Ms. Doran. She also has four of her own children -- grades 5, 8, 10, and 11 -- at home remote learning.You can follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter and Instagram @evelynalauer.  

    Abdel Shakur

    Play Episode Play 29 sec Highlight Listen Later Feb 14, 2021 32:00


    English teacher Abdel Shakur and host Evelyn Lauer discuss creating a community during remote learning, holding conferences to connect with individual students, and working on a podcasts while teaching.Shakur teaches 9th and 10th grade at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, IL. He is a writer and teacher concerned with telling the stories of Black teachers. A Catalyst Chicago Classroom Story Slam winner and a 13th year veteran in the classroom.  On his podcast Black Teacher Matters, Shakur and his guests reflect on an essential question: Why are Black teachers so important to the lives of children? You can  connect with Abdel on Twitter at @misstraknowit.You can connect with host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter and Instagram, @evelynalauer

    Michelle Salerno

    Play Episode Play 39 sec Highlight Listen Later Feb 7, 2021 32:02


    Drama educator Michelle Salerno and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the limitations of teaching theater during a pandemic, the embracement of masks during production, and the magic of extracurriculars, especially now. Salerno has a Ph.D. in theatre and has taught several subjects in colleges, high schools, middle school, and in a community jail. She is currently teaching drama and communications classes at an independent school in Louisville, KY. To purchase tickets to her students' performance of Miss Holmes, visit http://kcdtheater.com/ Follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter or Instagram @evelynalauer. If you are interested in being a guest on the show, please DM her on Twitter. 

    Sarah Lerner

    Play Episode Play 45 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 31, 2021 28:07


    English and journalism teacher Sarah Lerner and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the tease of hybrid learning, the productivity of working back at school, and her 46 days of working remotely after Covid-19.Lerner teaches at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. She was the 2014 Sun-Sentinel High School Journalism Teacher of the Year,  a 2019 CSPA Gold Key recipient and 2020 Special Recognition Adviser from CSPA, as well as the 2019 Woman of Distinction from Alpha Xi Delta. She was also the editor and a contributing writer for Parkland Speaks, published by Random House. She writes a blog called Life Long Lerner.You can connect with Sarah on Twitter @mrs_lerner and follow "Parkland Speaks" on both Instagram & Twitter via @parklandspeaks.You can follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter or Instagram @evelynalauer. 

    Natalie Brown

    Play Episode Play 35 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 35:27


    Media publications teacher Natalie Brown and host Evelyn Lauer discuss tips for hybrid teaching, the challenges of creating a yearbook during a pandemic, and the joys and reliefs of receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. Brown is the Dragon Media adviser at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas -- a 6A school in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex home to around 3000 students. Brown has been a journalism instructor and has advised newspaper, yearbook, and broadcast programs for the last 13 years. A graduate of the University of Mississippi journalism school, she worked as a writer, editor and PR/communications specialist for five years before pursuing her master of secondary education at the University of North Texas and entering the classroom. Since that time, the publications she has advised have been awarded numerous state and national honors including CSPA silver crown and NSPA Pacemaker finalist. She currently serves as a regional representative for her state organization -- Texas Association of Journalism Educators and teaches workshops for Jostens. Her students' work can be seen @slcdragon media on Instagram and Twitter. Follow Natalie on  Twitter and Instagram  @nataliehbrown.Follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter and Instagram @evelynalauer. BTB is produced by Evelyn Lauer. Its music is written and performed by Jim Streisel and his band, The Dead Squirrels. 

    Justin Johnson

    Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 17, 2021 22:00


    Music teacher Justin Johnson and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the impossibility of recreating performances online, the benefit of asynchronous time for enrichment, and the use of polls to increase engagement and competition. Johnson is in his ninth year as Director of Bands at Niles West where he conducts the concert band, symphonic band, and symphonic wind ensemble. Johnson also directs the pep band, marching band, and jazz band. He received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Memphis and is currently finishing a Masters in Music Education at Eastern Illinois University. Johnson serves on staff for a number of nationally recognized ensembles. This past summer would have been his 12th year as a staff member with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. He was also a member of the Bluecoats where he performed on mellophone. Johnson has additionally served on staff for the US Army All-American Marching Band from 2013-2015 and again in 2018. He has adjudicated and given clinics for concert ensembles, marching band, indoor drumline, winter guard, and jazz ensembles in Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, New York, Indiana, Michigan, and Georgia. In 2016, Mr. Johnson was named a finalist for the Golden Apple Award and additionally named teacher of distinction. In 2020, he was named the Zemsky Teacher of the year for Niles West High School. Johnson is the 2021 Illinois Teacher of the Year and is also an active member of the National Band Association, Illinois Music Educator Association, National Association for Music Education, Phi Beta Mu, and the Jazz Educators Network. Follow host, Evelyn Lauer, on Twitter and Instagram @evelynalauer.BTB is produced by Evelyn Lauer. Its music is written and performed by Jim Streisel and his band, The Dead Squirrels. 

    Sachin Jhunjhunwala

    Play Episode Play 28 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 10, 2021 26:38


    Mathematics teacher Sachin J. Jhunjhunwala and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the magic and humanity in remote learning, the importance of group work, and the escape of John Hughes films. Jhunjhunwala is a second-year Instructional Coach and third-year mathematics teacher at Highland Park High School in Highland Park, IL.   There, he has taught Algebra I Survey, Geometry, and AP Statistics.  Prior to that he taught at Evanston Township High School for nine years as a mathematics teacher, where he taught AP Statistics, PreCalculus, Algebra II, Geometry, and Algebra I. Before teaching, Jhunjhunwala was a Director of Technology, Product Manager, and Program Manager for Expedia, Inc. in the Puget Sound area and in London.  He currently lives in Evanston, IL with his wife and two sons.Follow host, Evelyn Lauer, on Twitter and Instagram, @evelynalauer.BTB is produced by Evelyn Lauer. Its music is written and performed by Jim Streisel and his band, The Dead Squirrels. 

    Season 2 Intro

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2021 1:26


    Host Evelyn Lauer introduces the second season of Beyond the Bell.Please follow her on Twitter @evelynalauer. 

    Season 1 Finale

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020 9:00


    Host Evelyn Lauer discusses her highs and lows of semester 1 of remote teaching. She also gives her resolutions for the new year.Season 2 of BTB will kick off Jan. 3, 2021. Connect with Lauer on Twitter @evelynalauer 

    Iowa Round Table

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2020 36:00


    Host Evelyn Lauer and the Iowa Round Table -- Patrick Johnson, Natalie Niemeyer-Lorenz, Jonathan Rogers, and Chris Snider -- discuss the challenges of hybrid teaching, the differences and similarities between high school and collegiate instruction on Zoom, the understanding that SEL matters at all levels, and the reality that we must simplify our lessons.Patrick Johnson is a doctoral student and graduate instructor at the University of Iowa in the School of Journalism. He has ten years of experience teaching journalism and media studies at Marquette University and spent the seven years prior to becoming a Hawkeye at a high school in Illinois teaching journalism and English, as well as advising award-winning publications. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Quill and Scroll, the international journalism honors society, and the Daily Iowan. He is also a JEA Master Journalism Educator.Natalie Niemeyer-Lorenz teaches journalism and advisers yearbook and newspaper at Des Moines East High School in Des Moines. She is currently serving as president of Iowa High School Press Association and is a JEA Master Journalism Educator. Jonathan Rogers advises The Little Hawk journalism team at Iowa City High School. Before teaching he was a sports and environmental journalist.  He was a Dow Jones Distinguished adviser in 2013, and Iowa Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2015.  He is a Adobe Education Leader and a JEA Master Journalism Educator.Chris Snider is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University. He teaches classes on digital media strategy, multimedia, web design, and visual communication. To follow the guests and host on Twitter:@evelynalauer@PR_Johnson@MsNiemeyerEHS@jon_rogers@ChrisSnider

    Shanna Yarbrough

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2020 35:00


    Middle school ELA teacher Shanna Yarbrough and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the dilemma of the three-percent Covid positivity rate threshold in New York City, the benefits of new technologies, and the challenges of summative assessments while teaching remotely. Yarbrough has a BA in Creative Writing from UC Santa Cruz, an MFA in Book Arts from the University  of Alabama, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School in NYC. She began teaching as a NYC Teaching Fellow in 2014. She has also taught bookbinding and letterpress printing for about 10 years. She is currently teaching eighth graders at Highbridge Green Middle School in the Highbridge area of the South Bronx.Follow host, Evelyn Lauer, on Twitter and Instagram, @evelynalauer.

    Adriana Chavira

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2020 21:15


    Media and English teacher Adriana Chavira and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the need for flexibility, the challenges of teaching remotely, and the escape of Queens Gambit. Chavira is a native of Los Angeles and spent a decade as a newspaper reporter in Southern California before becoming a teacher 18 years ago. She teaches photography, advises the news magazine, news website, and yearbook at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School in Lake Balboa, California, and is an educator with PBS NewsHour's Student Reporting Labs program. She holds a master's in English Education, a Career Technical Education credential and is a Master Journalism Educator, awarded by the Journalism Education Association (JEA). She serves as a JEA mentor and serves on that organization's Scholastic Journalism Week committee. Chavira is also one of the News Literacy Project's Ambassadors, whose goals are to increase awareness about media literacy. She is also working on becoming a National Board Certified Teacher. When she's not teaching, she can be found running and hiking. You can connect with her on Twitter @adrianachavira and Instagram @achavira.You can connect with host, Evelyn Lauer, on Twitter and Instagram, @evelynalauer.

    Jarrin Williams

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2020 32:46


    English teacher Jarrin Williams and host Evelyn Lauer discuss  the chaos of hybrid/blended learning, technology as a form of engagement, and the difficulty of building relationships when both students and teacher are wearing masks. Williams teaches freshman English at Rock Island High School in northwestern Illinois. This is his twentieth year in the classroom, having taught in Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. He has a bachelor's degree in Speech Communication with a specialization in Public Relations and minor in Journalism from SIUC (1994) and a bachelor's degree in English Education from WIU (2001). Williams has also coached track and field for 24 years and has  just completed his fourth year as head boys' cross country running coach at RIHS. You can follow Jarrin on social media:Facebook: Jarrin WilliamsInstagram: @williamsjarrinTwitter: @coachjwYou can follow host Evelyn Lauer on Twitter and Instagram @evelynalauer

    Jesse Gardner

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2020 33:21


    Art teacher Jesse Gardner and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the challenges of teaching a supply-heavy course remotely, engagement in a cameras-off classroom, and the beauty of a growth mindset during these times. Gardner is an artist, teacher, mother, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-jeans kinda gal. She lives on a small-ish island near Seattle, WA, where she makes a home with her wife and blended family, including their four kids ages 16-20, two dogs, and a couple of pet rats. She holds degrees in theatre (BFA) and education (MA), both of which were earned from a small, private university whose loans she will probably never actually repay in this lifetime. Gardner teaches drawing, painting, and photography at a medium-sized urban high school in Seattle. During the before-times, her commute spanned a glorious four-mile water crossing via ferry but these days she walks about 100-feet to a backyard shed, where she teaches 100% remotely. Throughout her 20-plus years in public and private education, she's played many parts -- including administrator, teacher, advocate, and ally. Her students have inspired nearly every evolution of her career, and she remains continually gob-smacked by how lucky she is to be a part of their lives, even if it's just for a bit.You can follow Jesse on Instagram,  @jesse_star_gardner. Follow your host, Evelyn Lauer @evelynalauer on Twitter & Instagram.

    Sarah Govis

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 24:41


    History teacher Sarah Govis and host Evelyn Lauer discuss hybrid learning, the struggles of engagement while wearing masks, and student teaching the week of the election. Govis is a senior at Winona State University  who is currently student teaching U.S. history and sociology near St. Paul, Minnesota. She will graduate in December with a double major in History and Social Science Education, with a history emphasis. You can follow her on Twitter @br4tty_b and Instagram @sarahsaysaloh.Follow your host, Evelyn Lauer, @evelynalauer on Twitter & Instagram

    Aaron Mathieu

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2020 33:51


    Biology teacher Aaron Mathieu and host Evelyn Lauer discuss the need to scale back the AP curriculum, including resource-intensive labs, and how Covid makes us consider our core values in education. Mathieu teaches Honors Biology and AP Biology at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in Acton, Massachusetts. In addition to his classroom teaching, Aaron is the advisor for the BioBuilder Club at ABRHS. This fall, Aaron began his 25th year as a high school teacher. He was named the NABT Outstanding Biology Teacher for the state of Massachusetts in 2015.   In 2016, he started the Life of the School Podcast where he interviews life science teachers from around the country about their teaching practices and goals.  You can follow Aaron on twitter @MrMathieuTweets and his podcast @lifeoftheschool.

    Wileen Hsing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2020 38:45


    Mandarin Chinese teacher Wileen Hsing and host Evelyn Lauer discuss what participation means digitally, why some meetings should be held on zoom forever, and how fanny packs -- both literally and metaphorically -- are the pandemic trend. Hsing has been a public high school teacher for more than 20 years. Initially, she taught ELL and English, but for the last twelve years, she's been teaching Mandarin Chinese in the World Language department. Through these two decades, Hsing has been Chinese Club sponsor, a union rep, a cooperating teacher, a mentor teacher, Steward for Evaluations and PD, and teacher rep for her district's Peer Assistance and Review panel. She has also hosted two exchange programs to China and has written proposals for her district's Asian American Studies and Asian American Literature courses. When not teaching, she is a handwriting artist for a card company called Punkpost, where she is the Midwest regional leader. You can connect with Hsing on Twitter and Instagram at @madebytofu.Follow your host, Evelyn Lauer @evelynalauer on Twitter & Instagram.


    Multimedia educator Don Goble and host Evelyn Lauer discuss remote learning, technology tips, and how to avoid burnout. Goble is an award-winning multimedia instructor at Ladue High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He advises LHS-TV & Films (LHSTV.net) and has published numerous digital media resources for students and educators all over the world. Goble is an Apple Distinguished Educator and global Adobe Education Leader, who speaks internationally at education conferences, conventions, and provides professional development workshops and webinars, offering educators innovative ways to incorporate video, multimedia, and media literacy into the classroom. The Journalism Education Association named Goble as its Broadcast Adviser of the Year 2015. Follow Don on Twitter & Instagram @dgoble2001 or connect with him at DonGoble.com.Don's Self Care resource: @thewalkingeds on TwitterFollow your host, Evelyn Lauer @evelynalauer on Twitter & Instagram.

    Introducing: Beyond the Bell

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2020 2:45


    A new podcast for educators teaching during a global pandemic hosted by Evelyn Lauer, a high school English teacher with 20 years experience. Lauer will converse with teachers in different situations from different states with different rules in place to see how education has been flipped on its head for better or worse. What can we learn from this moment in time? What can we say we miss? What needs to change? And what do we now know to never take for granted?

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