Teacher Tales

In this episode, we meet Stephanie who was just named the SCOLT regional teacher of the year. Stephanie's story of being a first generation American born to immigrant parents from Argentina, of being a struggling reader and also, not following a traditional path to become a teacher will inspire all

In this episode, we will meet Hayes, a fascinating man of many talents…and sounds! As a jazz musician and film composer, Hayes understands the power that sound has on humans…and we are not talking music, but sound. Having worked as a teacher with young people in all kinds of capacities

In this episode, we will have a truly inspiring conversation with Matt, an award-winning teacher in New Jersey whose enthusiasm and passion for teaching is contagious. Need a lift to rise up to your greatest potential, just listen to Matt! He says that his greatest passion is to make kids

In this episode, we meet Ebony, a Spanish teacher of color who gets real with us about what it is like to be a teacher post-pandemic and in a large metropolitan city in Georgia. Ebony reminds all teachers that we are only ONE person with limited time, and that we

In this episode, we will gain another perspective on education and be deeply inspired by yet another fabulous educator, this time from the post-secondary world. Grant is a college professor at Georgia Southern where he not only researches and is an expert on chivalry, but he also is a Medievalist

In this episode, we will gain great insight on education from an international perspective. My guest, Brantley, is the East Asia Education Director of Dwight Schools, and she shares with us the great need for students to be exposed to an international curriculum, to develop intercultural skills and to strive

In this episode, I have a personal conversation with Adrienne, a teacher who helped lift me up and kept me going when I was ready to quit and leave the profession. So many teachers are feeling this now, and it is so critical that we realize how important it is

In this episode, we meet JoAnne, a district supervisor in New Jersey who wears many hats. Originally, JoAnne set out to become a lawyer. However, after working in a refugee center in college, JoAnne became impassioned to become a teacher and champion for ESL bilingual students. She became a mentor,

In this episode, you are going to meet many people…well, at least it will feel like that because this individual, Jennifer (author name, Ivy), is a multi-talented, accomplished educator that completely debunks the saying “those who can, do and those who can't, teach”! Like all outstanding and effective teachers, Jennifer

In this episode, you will meet Tony, a middle school Mandarin teacher who once believed the most important thing he wanted to achieve in life was to pursue the “American dream” of success by going into business and eventually becoming a millionaire. He did pursue this dream, and was indeed

In this episode, which comes just as teachers finish up what has proven to be one of the MOST difficult years in their careers, we present this opportunity to rekindle their SPARK in teaching. Meet Mary, a teacher and visionary who, like most teachers, still has a big heart in

In this episode, we journey through the career and lessons of a very wise role model in education. Her name is Jana, and she shares with us how she “never” wanted to be a teacher like her mom. Well, the first lesson she learned was to “never say never” because

In this episode, Nilda, an inspiring teacher in Puerto Rico, is a great example of what the Spirit of Teaching is all about. Listen to her story and her powerful metaphors that capture the true heart of teaching and the real value of teachers to our society and to the

In this episode, we get to know Hannah, a multi-faceted and multi-talented educator and mental health professional. Hannah explains how she is a “third culture kid” as well as a product of a military family upbringing. She tells us how these experiences helped her to become highly sensitive and tune

In this episode, we meet Diane, an educator and speech therapist who transitioned from the classroom to start her own company of consultants that has become a champion for children and inclusive education. CMDI – Consulting that Makes a Difference, “focuses on providing professional development that celebrates diversity, promotes the

In this episode, I chat with my longtime friend and colleague, Pam. As teachers, we establish and develop deep connections and friendships with colleagues that last a lifetime. We learn from each other; we support each other; we share experiences and emotions; we cheer each other on; we lift each

In this very special episode, which I have saved for the magic number three (in double digits!) as well as for the beginning of a new year, you will hear the story of a former student of mine, Ethan, who has woven a red thread of loving and lasting memories

In this episode, Linda, a teacher from Puerto Rico, shares her wholehearted journey to become the most honest, authentic and supportive teacher she can be for the happiness and well-being of her students. As an “equity champion” in her school district, she talks to teachers about how to respect every

In this episode, Tracy shares his story and journey as a Black man from the projects of Atlanta who is the Kentucky World Language Teacher of the Year. He tells us that all teachers are like “griots” or storytellers from the West African culture. He explains how our personal stories,

In this episode, Bonnie, a teacher who immigrated from China, helps us gain valuable insight and heart connections to the culture shock and linguistic challenges that she experienced both as an immigrant student and as a teacher. Bonnie first came from China to study at an American university in Oregon.

In this episode, we hear the powerful story of Brandon, a Special Education teacher, who says his purpose as a teacher is to help empower his students to self-advocate, self-regulate their emotions and to communicate their needs effectively to others. Brandon explains many of the misconceptions that the regular classroom

In this episode, we have a super powerful and insightful conversation with Jessica, a former college professor now teaching in a high school in the Midwest. Jessica says that it was destiny that she made that change because she feels like, with high school students, she gets to “teach with

In this episode, we have the great pleasure and honor of meeting Dr. Malik Boykin, the first Black professor in the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Science at Brown University. Dr. Boykin studies discrimination and the psychological impact of it. He also teaches a popular course on stigma and

In this episode, you will find hope, inspiration, support and direction from Kim, the founder of Free the Mind Co.  Education Week released a study that shows that teachers are more vulnerable to anxiety and depression than any other profession. Another survey shows that over 50% of teachers are burned

In this episode, we have the privilege and pleasure to travel halfway around the world to meet Maryam, an Indian heritage, British born teacher who is teaching in an International School in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Through her own struggles with anxiety and mental health challenges, losing loved

In this episode, we meet Jennifer, a Middle School English Language Arts teacher who was featured in a Reuters article about mental health in our schools. Jennifer teaches in the Parkland School District in Allentown, PA and speaks about all of the great initiatives that her school and her district

In this episode, our guest, Tamara, takes us down technology memory lane and reminds us how teaching is more than a textbook and a chalkboard. This especially came to light during the pandemic as teachers struggled to find a way to reach and teach their students. She highlights how technology

In this episode, we cross oceans, continents, language barriers and stereotypes to gain wise, profound and personal insights from Alaa, a young man born in Palestine, and who taught English there for 11 years. But then, life carried him on a journey to the “land of opportunity” where he would

In this episode, Adrienne, a black female educator in Georgia, takes us on a journey through the “seasons” of her teaching career…the ups, the downs, the ins, the outs. She explains how through the changing of these teaching seasons, she has had many personal and professional awakenings that have led

In this episode, we meet Andrea, a teacher whose journey has taken her across the country from the sandy beaches of California to the space coast of Florida. Andrea has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels as well as college. As her journey progressed, so did her

In this episode, we travel to many different places to learn the story of Cristin, a teacher who has taught in Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, Mexico, Colombia, Albania and India. Cristin shares with us how wanting to know and communicate better with “cute boys” from Mexico led her on a path

In this episode, we meet Lisa and gain a new perspective on what it is like to teach a subject that only four other teachers in your state teach. Lisa tells us how challenging it was to even become certified in a subject such as Chinese, but also how difficult

In this episode, we hear from Ginger who tells us that she has been associated with teaching many different subjects like drama, P.E. and science, but that really, she considers herself a teacher of people and that in this role, it was her job to coach and encourage. Ginger says

In this episode, Cheri lightens things up with stories and humor and human connections in the classroom. She shares how the impact of a teacher may not be felt or show up right away, but assures us that it is always there. It shows up in the stories we tell

In this episode, Lynn joins us for a deep conversation about the bigger picture lessons of life and how we learn from them, share them and teach them to others, especially our students. After studying and experiencing different ancient wisdom traditions of indigenous cultures around the world, Lynn realized how

In this episode, we have the opportunity to meet Carmen, a teacher with a heart of gold and a radiant smile. Carmen teaches in a rural community of North Carolina, but she says that every day she wants to show her students the world of possibilities beyond where they live.

In this episode, we get a chance to meet Annie, a math teacher who is originally from the Philippines. Annie helps us to see different perspectives on learning math, teaching in different countries, contexts and cultures and what it takes to help students become successful in her class and in

In this episode, we meet Dawn, an accomplished and nationally renowned educator. As the daughter of missionary parents, Dawn’s learning journey began as a non-French speaking student in the French educational system. She talks about how she had to figure things out on her own and how there weren’t any

In this episode, Lee, a Spanish teacher from Georgia, talks about how to manage teacher burnout and re-kindle the joy in teaching again. He shares with us valuable wisdom he has learned throughout his career in teaching, which he once left because of burnout and damage to his vocal cords.

In this episode, we hear Amanda’s story and what called her to teach. Amanda says that “teaching is life” because of all the real world connections and lessons a teacher can impart on students. She also says that the impact of a teacher can stay with us forever as we

In this episode, I talk to Michelle, another former student who answered the calling to become a teacher. Born and raised in a teacher family, Michelle decided early on that she did NOT want to become a teacher. So, she pursued a PhD in psychology. However, a life crisis and

In this episode, I talk to Leslie, one of my former students who answered the calling to become a teacher. Leslie shares great insight into what it was like to teach in a Title 1 school that the state took over and managed because of low scores on state tests.

In this episode, I talk to Ricky, a person who has worn many hats related to the field of education. His varied and profound experiences have taught him many lessons. Both as a teacher and as an actor, his purpose was to engage and motivate his “audience” to see more

In this episode, I talk to Krista and Sandrine, two college professors who are PFFs (professional friends forever). These lovely ladies will have you laughing out loud as they share their stories of partnership and collaboration on special projects and professional development  “adventures” together. They support, encourage and help each

In this episode, we talk to Meredith, a high school Spanish teacher and conference “junkie” who gives so much to her students, to her colleagues and to her profession. So, how does she do it? She explains that the etymology of the word “priority” was always singular, but how we

In this episode, we talk to Norah, a kindred spirit who has had a long career in education as a teacher, supervisor, and organization leader, and in world language educational publishing as an author, trainer, and director of professional development. Norah is a certified Gallup Strengths Coach and has her

In this episode, we talk to Lisa, a high school English Language Arts teacher who shares the importance of creating comfort, care and connections in the classroom. She tells many engaging stories about the lessons she has learned in the classroom such as the need for reflection, not taking things

In this episode, we talk to Heather, a middle school Spanish teacher who shares the importance of creativity and making mistakes in the learning journey, the essential need for good mental health and self-care for teachers and why she recently left teaching to pursue a new adventure in Mexico. But

In this very first episode of Teacher Tales, we talk to Laura, a 4th grade teacher in Florida who has been teaching for 20 years. She has taught 3rd and 4th grade ELL and Gifted classes. Her story tells us about the importance of building relationships with students, meeting students