Classroom Conversations

More than 12% of Georgia's school-age children are affected by asthma. In the continuation of our Health Barriers to Learning series, we explore this often overlooked problem in our schools and learn how the creation of asthma-friendly spaces can improve student learning. Join us in conversation with Dr. Maisha Otway, principal at College Park Elementary, and Daija Norwood, fifth-grade teacher at High Point Elementary, to learn more about asthma-friendly practices.

As Georgia kicks off its new “Teach in the Peach” campaign, we're celebrating the passion and purpose behind the profession with stories from the classroom, campus, and beyond. Join us in conversation with 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Christy Todd, along with Jay Lovett and Jonathan Feicht. Whether you're a veteran, a newbie, or just curious—this episode is for you. Let's talk recruitment, retention, and the future of teaching in Georgia.

Be present and accounted for in learning the strategies that address chronic absenteeism. Hear Dr. Duke Bradley III (superintendent, Newton County Schools) and Dr. Dana Rickman (president and CEO, GPEE) as they discuss how to improve student attendance.

Put STEM theory into practice with the modern day science fair! Join us in conversation with Shelley Kozowski, Science Fair Coordinator at Whitewater High School and Laura Brewer, the program director of the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair.

To celebrate Arts in Education month, we're rerunning one of our favorite arts episodes! Join us in conversation with music teachers, Melissa Delman and Michael Kobito to learn how music can develop a greater sense of community and collaboration in our classrooms.

In honor of Pi Day, we're rerunning this special episode with tips on getting students excited about numbers in math class and beyond! Join us in conversation with Seticia Smith of Oak Hill Middle School to learn more.

In this installment of our Health Barriers to Learning series, we offer an uplifting tale of local healthcare partnerships providing resources that help student health and learning flourish. Join us in conversations with Dr. Katina Cooper of Grady County Schools to learn more.

When students are struggling with health conditions, educators can respond with multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) to help their students succeed under difficult circumstances. Join us for the continuation of our Health Barriers to Learning series with guests Ashley Pitts and Emily McCracken of the Colquitt County School District.

A school nurse and a teacher work together to overcome a major barrier to learning: access to health services. Join us for the kickoff of our special series of episodes on Health Barriers to Learning with guests Amanda Dubreuiel and Shannon Bynum of Ben Hill County Middle School. 

Want to encourage student innovation? Foster the spirit of invention! Join us in conversation with Scott Frank, Roxanne Moore, and Julia Varnedoe to learn more about student invention and intellectual property's role in protecting student ideas.

2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year Holly Witcher has 23 years in education. In our season 6 premiere, Witcher reflects on her journey as a special education teacher at Tesnatee Gap Elementary, her love for overcoming challenges, and the joy of celebrating student growth. Tune in for a heartwarming conversation with one of Georgia's most beloved educators!

Looking to bring AI into your classroom with confidence? Join us with Amber Jones, a certified computer science educator and co-designer of AI for Georgia, to explore accessible tools, ethical considerations, and hands-on strategies for teaching AI to students.

Tech and creativity join forces in this episode of Classroom Conversations! Join us in our conversation with Tiffany Jones to learn how she and her students make beats with code.

Robots are revolutionizing K-12 classrooms—enhancing STEM learning, automating tasks, and sparking innovation! Join us in conversation with Robert Kraushaar and Tyler Kinner to learn more.

Looking to make STEM accessible for all students? Join us in conversation with Abbie Hudson and Lindsey Cook of Harris County School District to learn how!

Happy Veterans Day! How does teacher military experience feed classroom community? Find out in this special rerun episode with Josh Adee of Columbia County Alternative School.

Looking to encourage student creativity with technology, but not sure where to start? Join us in conversation with Mike Afdahl to learn practical tips that will get your students excited about sharing their ideas!

We are facing a serious problem in our schools: underage vaping. Join us for this week's Red Ribbon episode of Classroom Conversations with Drew Hayes of Forsyth County Schools.

When it comes to student learning, we need to assess the full picture. School social workers are an integral part of this whole child approach. Join us in conversation with Dr. Abifee Thomas and Caitlin Tripp of Atlanta Public Schools to learn more!

Technology-use in education is on the rise, so how can we keep our students safe from cyber attacks? Join us in conversation with cybersecurity expert Lakecia Gray of Gwinnett County Public Schools to learn more.

Technology should help rather than hinder student learning. How can we encourage positive technology use? Join us in conversation with Saundra Watts of Cobb County to learn more!

Can we ask you a question? Are you interested in strategies to get your students to think critically? Join us in conversation with Dr. Misty Givens of Henry County to learn how effective questioning can get your students to think about subjects on a deeper level.

What can the simple art of reading aloud do for student comprehension? Join us in conversation with Jordan Motsinger of Cobb County Schools for this special rerun episode of Classroom Conversations.

Take learning to the next level by encouraging students to work together! Join us in conversation with Stephanie Sisk of Fayette County Public Schools to learn more about collaborative learning.

Unlock understanding in mathematics with the power of storytelling! Join us in conversation with Jabal Moss of the Richmond County School System to learn how.

Visual literacy practices can help our students in all subject areas. Join us in conversation with Anne Aurand, an art educator for North Paulding High School to learn more!

Looking to improve communication with your students? Join us in conversation with Ashleigh Wright of Southeast Bulloch County High School to learn how dialogue circles can make a difference in your classroom!

Calm your students by teaching them these practical self-regulation strategies. Join us in conversation with Amy Beasley and Mary Simmons in our very special Season 5 premiere!

Join us in conversation with the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Christy Todd, for our very special Season 4 finale! Tune in to hear her insights on the power of student creativity in the classroom!

Improving student well-being improves their educational experience! Join us in conversation with Seth Winstead of Rome High School to learn more.

Students are getting excited about reading at Randolph County Elementary School! Join us in conversation with Principal Heather Melton to learn more.

Want to help your students to love reading? Enter literacy interventions! Join us in conversation with Amanda Phelps, Assistant Principal of Wayne County High School, to learn more!

How can we maximize the impact of our literacy efforts in our schools and communities? Learn how in our conversations with Ronda Hightower and Ronda Walker of Laurens County Schools.

Support learning by supporting school safety! Join us in conversation with Dr. Grant Rivera and Chuck Gardner of Marietta City Schools to learn more.

How can we build connections between families and schools that benefit our students? Join us in conversation with Laura Bucio and Nikki Huckaby of Rome City Schools to learn more!

​​​​​​​Add an element of fun to get your students interested in classroom standards! Join us in conversation with Autumn Sutton of the University of North Georgia and Brandon Murry of Fayette County Public Schools to learn how to gamify learning in your classroom.

Hey teachers! Join us in conversation with Katie Seymour of the Georgia Council on Literacy and Putnam County Primary School for another extra special episode on literacy leadership!

Hey teachers! You know the journey to graduation starts well before students cross the stage. To learn more about what graduation coaches are doing to improve graduation rates, join us in conversation with Shaniqua Caldwell and Amanda Campbell of Peach County High School.

Looking to improve reading skills in your classroom? Join us in conversation with Beth Herod, Early Learning and Elementary Curriculum Director for Gordon County Schools to learn how to implement skill checks and interventions to improve student literacy!

Want to create a vibrant school community to help your students engage in learning? Join us in conversation with Jacob Runyon and Marcella Baker of Paulding County to learn more!

How can we better support our students starting middle and high school? Join us in conversation with Newton County's Laura Lambert and Muscogee County's Vanessa Ellis to get some transformative tips!

How can we get ahead of teacher burnout and retain staff in our schools? Join us in conversation with Principal Jeff Cher of Eastside High School to learn the secrets of building leadership capacity.