Podcasts about teacher of the year

Show Notes1:50 – Felicia Mayfield - the noble field of education 2:45 – George Wurtzel - blindness is not the loss of your knowledge and skill5:20 – Cassidy Magill Evans - a great teacher...6:45 – Anjelika Riano - support students and keep them focused on a vision7:55 – Tylan Bailey - treat others well and make a difference9:55 – Amy Gropper - challenge students to intrigue them12:15 – David Reynolds - go against the grain every now and then14:35 – Christy Todd - persistence, not perfection15:55 – Vlada Galan - world leaders or educators? In order of appearance, here are links to the full episode for each guest featured in Episode 57 - Great Teachers Matter Greatly.Episode 12 - Felicia MayfieldEpisode 37 - George WurtzelEpisode 56 - Cassidy Magill EvansEpisode 2 - Anjelika RianoEpisode 48 - Tylan BaileyEpisode 44 - Amy GropperEpisode 52 - Christy ToddEpisode 6 - Vlada GalanLead. Learn. Change. main podcast page (access to all episodes)Other Teacher Appreciation Episodes:2024 – episode 55 – What Great Teachers Do – May 2, 2024 – 15 minutesEpisode SummaryWe all have stories about our favorite teachers. Sometimes those memories are about how they led their classes, making everyone feel accepted and valued, and sometimes we recall a humorous moment, or maybe a hat or other accessory that became that teacher's "brand."  More often, however, we look back fondly on how that teacher made us feel, what he or she did to help us learn, or the way their concern and understanding was conveyed to us. If you are a great teacher now, you are also building a storehouse of memories. Thank you.  If you don't serve in a teaching role, you know someone who does, regardless of their job title. Take a moment to share a word of appreciation with that person. Great teachers make a difference. Let them know that you've noticed. 2023 – n/a 2022 – episode 38 – Great Teachers – Everyone Knows One – May 6, 2022 – 13 minutesEpisode SummaryReleased for Teacher Appreciation Week, but pertinent at any time, this episode consists of a brief compilation of comments from Lead. Learn. Change. podcast guests who highlight the importance of teachers and remind us of the impact that great teachers can–and do–have on the lives of those they serve. If you are an educator, listen and be inspired to keep making a difference. Whatever your role, consider taking a few minutes today to contact a current or former teacher and say, “Thank you.” 2021 – episode 34 – Many Voices, One Message – Teachers Matter – April 30, 2021 – 15 minutesEpisode SummaryReleased for Teacher Appreciation Week, but pertinent at any time, this episode consists of a brief compilation of comments from Lead. Learn. Change. podcast guests who highlight the importance of teachers and remind us of the impact that great teachers can–and do–have on the lives of those they serve. If you are an educator, listen and be inspired to keep making a difference. Whatever your role, consider taking a few minutes today to contact a current or former teacher and say, “Thank you.” Music for Lead. Learn. Change. is Sweet Adrenaline by Delicate BeatsPodcast cover art is a view from Brunnkogel (mountaintop) over the mountains of the Salzkammergut in Austria, courtesy of photographer Simon Berger, published on www.unsplash.com.Professional Association of Georgia EducatorsDavid's LinkedIn pageLead. Learn. Change. the bookInstagram - lead.learn.change

White House officials say 139,000 unauthorized immigrants have been deported in President Trump's first 100 days. A new CBS News poll shows 56% of Americans approve of Mr. Trump's plan to deport immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally, a key promise from the president. However, his overall handling of immigration has slipped to 49% approval. In President Trump's first 100 days, tariffs have been at the center of his economic policy. Goods made in the U.S. make up 10% of the country's total gross domestic product, which the president hopes to change. CBS News' Weijia Jiang has more on how businesses are being affected. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told "CBS Mornings" co-host Tony Dokoupil that she's "very confident" the people arrested for stealing her purse are undocumented migrants. "From the information that has been shared with me so far in the investigation," Noem said, "these are career criminals." Speaking at a Michigan air base today, President Trump is expected to ease tariffs on automakers just weeks after imposing them, as tensions rise with Canada's newly elected liberal government. On Monday, prosecutors in Karen Read's retrial called a forensic cellphone expert who testified about when John O'Keefe's phone likely stopped working. The expert also testified that O'Keefe, who was Read's police officer boyfriend, likely never made it inside a home for a party, potentially hurting the defense's argument. Only on "CBS Mornings," English teacher Ashlie Crosson of Mifflin County High School in Pennsylvania is honored as the 2025 National Teacher of the Year for her impact on students and journalism program leadership. In an interview with "CBS Mornings," Jeremy Renner reflects on his snowcat accident, his recovery, and the life lessons he writes about in his new memoir "My Next Breath." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week I have the opportunity to sit down with TLC 2025 keynote speaker Juliana Urtubey, the 2021 National Teacher of the Year, to explore what it really means to create schools where joy and justice aren't just ideas — they're lived experiences.Juliana's story is compelling. As a bilingual, first-generation immigrant, her journey into education has been deeply personal, and that lived experience shows up in every part of her practice.Throughout our conversation, Juliana talks about how her background has shaped not only how she teaches, but why she teaches. She emphasizes the central role of community and reflection — two elements we know are foundational for authentic learning and growth. Her "Choice and Just Framework" is all about reimagining the classroom as a space for collaboration rather than compliance, where students are seen, heard, and valued.What I found especially powerful is Juliana's unwavering belief that classrooms can be places of both rigor and joy — that justice and belonging aren't add-ons, but essential. If you're an educator looking to build inclusive, affirming environments where every student's strengths are honored, this conversation offers not just inspiration, but real insights you can act on.Thank you for being a part of our community. Feedback: We love hearing from you! Leave us a rating or comment to let us know what you think.Stay Connected: Follow our podcast for more episodes packed with insights and inspiration.Learn more about TLC 2025:https://shorturl.at/E9wTaLearn more about the Virtual Institute:https://shorturl.at/dXnK6

In this final special episode of our nasen award winner series, Clare Brun shares her experiences and insights as the Teacher of the Year, highlighting her work at Holyrood Academy and the transformative impact of their enhanced learning provision. Throughout the discussion, Clare emphasises the importance of support, collaboration, and strong relationships within the school community.  She explains how her dedication to inspiring both students and colleagues has led to a successful learning environment for all, particularly for students with special educational needs. Clare recounts her own journey, from working in primary education to leading the enhanced learning provision, where she focuses on individualised support and integration with mainstream classes.  The conversation highlights the challenges and strategies of creating an inclusive educational environment, such as maintaining consistent routines and effective communication with staff and parents. Clare discusses how establishing trust and understanding among teachers and students can lead to better learning outcomes, allowing students to thrive academically and socially.  About Clare I was a primary school for 22 years. I started at Holyrood Academy in 2022 when they advertised for a primary teacher to lead their new provision for Year 7 students with cognition and learning needs. This is an initiative led by Somerset County Council. Alongside the SENDco, Educational Psychologist and the headteacher, I set up the Enhanced Learning Provision which now supports students in Year 7, 8 and 9. An ELP sits within a mainstream secondary school and delivers tailored and high-quality teaching to pupils with SEND who are working at very low curriculum levels or who may have other identified needs which makes them more vulnerable than their peers at transition. Details of this provision can be found on the Somerset County Website.  I then won the Nasen Teacher of Year in Nov 2024.  Contact Clare https://www.facebook.com/holyroodacademyfb https://x.com/HolyroodAcademy  cbrun@holyrood.bep.ac  https://holyrood.bep.ac/  Useful Links nasen website nasen events and CPD nasen live conference  nasen Awards   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Another FISD Coach has been announced as a campus Teacher of the Year!

Today we meet a man who has not only been the pioneer but instrumental in creating the first aviation subject taught in a secondary school in Victoria.Chris grew up in Melbourne with his mum and sister and chats with us on what has shaped him as a person.Chris initially trained as a commercial airline pilot and decided that he wanted to share his skills with others.He has had an incredibly rewarding career as pilot and as a teacher but what drives and inspires him, is seeing others succeed in life.So sit back and be inspired by this incredible human, he will definitely inspire you to achieve your own dreams I am sure!Send us a text if you want to come on the show and share your story with us!Don't forget to check out and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560498093086&mibextid=LQQJ4dand Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/lives_worth_telling?igsh=encxbjRpMXBiazJ3&utm_source=qrIf you love what you hear please rate and review us on your favourite Podcast App.If you have any questions you can get in touch with us through Facebook or Instagram.If you or a family member would like to come on the show please don't hesitate to flick us a message or an email - livesworthtelling@icloud.com.If you want to grab yourself some Lives Worth Telling merch, jump onto RedBubble to check out our available products.https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Lives-Worth-Telling-Podcast-by-Lofty72/162137085.EJUG5As always thanks to our guests for sharing and thanks to our listeners for listening!Jodes

In this episode of the Just Schools Podcast, Jon Eckert interviews Chris Mihealsick, the 2025 Texas Teacher of the Year from Westwood High School in Round Rock ISD. They discuss her passion for expanding access to high-level science education, the importance of mentorship for new teachers, and the challenges facing public education today. Mihealsick shares insights on supporting students new to AP coursework, fostering a collaborative classroom culture, and navigating the demands of teaching while avoiding burnout. The conversation also explores the impact of uncertified teachers and the role of teacher preparation programs.  The Just Schools Podcast is brought to you by the Baylor Center for School Leadership. Be encouraged. Mentioned: Armadillos to Ziziphus: A Naturalist in the Texas Hill Country by David Hillis Courage is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave by Ryan Holiday Connect with us: Baylor MA in School Leadership EdD in K-12 Educational Leadership Jon Eckert LinkedIn X: @eckertjon Center for School Leadership at Baylor University: @baylorcsl     Jon Eckert: All right. This week we have Chris Mihealsick, the 2025 Texas Teacher of the Year from Westwood High School. She is in Round Rock ISD, and so she's representing educators across the state of Texas and we're really excited to have her here today. So Chris, welcome in. Chris Mihealsick: Thank you so much. It's so good to be here. Jon Eckert: And just give us a little background about how you got into teaching in the first place. I always love teacher origin stories, so how did you get to doing what you're doing now? Chris Mihealsick: Well, both of my parents were in education and for a really long time I thought, "Nope, nope, not for me, not for me." When I started college, I was a bio major. I worked in a lab. I thought maybe that would be my path. I kind of thought I was going to switch to environmental engineering, but my freshman year, I tutored some at-risk kids in biology and chemistry and I just loved it. I loved seeing them grow. I loved them going from really struggling in biology to being able to get Bs on their tests and be excited about science. And even as hard as I pushed against the family business, I just couldn't deny that that was where I was meant to be. I really liked working with teenagers and helping them learn and grow. Jon Eckert: The kids are always the draw. That's always the thing. And I feel like other professions that don't get to work with kids and see the way they become more of who they were meant to be, they miss out on that joy. And so that's cool that that's what pulled you in even though you were fighting the family business. So we're glad that you broke through that barrier. So tell us a little bit about... You have a platform this year as the 2025 teacher of the year. What are you most passionate about as an educator? Chris Mihealsick: I am incredibly passionate about students having access and being able to do higher level science. I teach AP Environmental Science, and I really say, "My course is a course for anybody." I work really, really hard to build students up that have never taken an AP class before. I also oftentimes will have some of the top students at our school, and I work very, very hard to make my class engaging for all levels. So I really believe that every kid deserves to have a higher level science experience before they leave high school. And that's kind of my mission as an educator. Jon Eckert: Oh, that's such a gift. As a former middle school science teacher, I always loved being able to pass my kids along to science educators like you because kids are naturally curious about the world. Environmental science, what a great place to try to explore where we fit in the world and how is this made to work and how can we be better stewards of this earth? That's something that a great teacher, I think, can hook any kid into. And so I love this idea that any kid can access those higher level courses because for so long we've been tracked in ways that some kids never get access to that class. Do you have any examples where you've seen a kid who maybe would've not gotten that opportunity in another school or with another teacher where you've seen some incredible growth that gives you belief that this is the right thing for each kid? Chris Mihealsick: Yeah. Every year I get students that this is their first time taking it. For example, I have two students this year. I have a student that has never taken another AP class and she started out getting 30s or 40s on most of the quizzes, and she's worked really hard. She stuck with it. I checked with her a semester, "What support do you need?" She just needed some extra help with some of the writing props because we do essays. Which is sort of a little bit unusual, I guess, in a science class, you don't tend to think of science classes doing essays, but our AP tests, they take a multiple choice part and they have to write three pretty large robust essays. So we do a lot of lab report writing, but we also practice that skill a lot because that's where the kids that have never taken an AP class before really tend to struggle. They can answer the multiple choice questions, okay, they're great in lab, they're fantastic in class, but they really struggle with that writing component. So really working with her this year and helping build her writing up as well as helping build her confidence up. She wasn't quite sure she fit in the class when we started this year, and she absolutely belongs there, I think every kid that comes to my door that's willing to take that chance, and that's a risk for kids, right? They've never taken a higher level of science before. Maybe they had a bad science experience before and they're jumping into this advanced class. So I want to honor that courage that those kids show, that decide, "I'm going to try this, I'm going to take this." So just giving them enough support. And I think also building that culture where the kids really work on helping each other. I try to build up really tight lab groups and then we switch them and they have to build up tight lab groups with a whole new group of kids. So really working with their peers quite a bit is a big cornerstone of my class as well. Jon Eckert: That's one of the things I love about AP is that it forces the writing, because writing is where you really see how kids are thinking, and that's the power in that. It's not rote memorization. You have to be able to think. And as an educator, it's the closest thing we get to getting inside a kid's head. And so I love that that's where you started. And people that listen to this podcast will know I'm always talking about joy through struggle. And it's so true that that student who struggles at the beginning and then gets to the point where she gets a three, four or five on that AP exam in her first attempt at an AP class, she's going to experience so much more joy than the kid who's taking their eighth AP class and they're getting their eighth or ninth four or five. That's great, that's success, but you don't experience the same level of joy if you haven't had that struggle. And so what I also love, the last thing you said really sticks with me, I've been pushing this for a while, that schools obviously have to be safe and psychological safety and physical safety all matter, but what you're celebrating and respecting is that struggle that kids do with others. And so it's not about being safe because those kids don't feel safe when they sign up for that first AP class. That feels like a risk. And so if kids feel like, "Feeling safe is not taking risks," that's a problem. And so what you've created is an environment in your classes where kids know, "Hey, this is a place where I can take risks," and then it's going to be celebrated and respected. And so I love that you're moving kids into that in tangible ways. What have been the benefits to other students in the class? Not the kids who are taking their first AP class, but to other AP students that are seeing a wider range of students in your class than, say, they might in another AP class. Have you seen any benefits to the classroom culture from that? Chris Mihealsick: I think students seeing anybody at our school attempting an AP class and being successful and being part of our group is really important. I think sometimes the highest flying kids at the school tend to think like, "I'm here and everybody else is not as academically robust as me." So really seeing, "Nope. You know what? A lot of people can succeed in a lot of different ways." Sometimes I have some of the kids that are the super high-flyer academic students that struggle with some of our lab work, and then other students are able to step in and be like, "Oh, nope, I got this. I can handle this procedure," or whatnot. And it just shows that there's huge value in everybody working together. There's huge value in everybody having access to these classes. And I think it opens everybody's eyes a little bit in terms of working with all kinds of different kids. Jon Eckert: Well, and again, going back to middle school science. In the lab, I felt like the lab was the grade equalizer because you had some high-flying students that never want to be wrong because that's identity threat to them. And so they don't want to take risks in labs because they don't want to look like they don't know what they're doing. And you can't fake your way through a lab very easily. And so I felt like getting kids partnered up of different abilities was gold because sometimes the kid that you thought would be leading in the lab is not. It's the kid who's like, "Oh, I'm willing to jump in and try this and we don't know what's going to happen and we're going to do this and we're going to track the procedure and we're going to do it safely." But I think that's a great point that I think science has some nice advantages when you have those labs because it's a vulnerable thing, especially for those high-flying kids that never want to be wrong. And that's really problematic for learning if you're not willing to acknowledge, "Hey, I don't know how to do this." That's the whole reason why you're in class. So it's good. So love that you came up with that. I also like... We've talked earlier about how you see building the profession. So we've talked about students, but where are your passions for the profession? Because you don't get to be teacher of the year in a state like Texas if you're only focused on kids. I mean, that's always our primary focus, but what's your hope for other educators in Texas and beyond? Chris Mihealsick: So I really, really care about good teacher leadership. I want every teacher to work in a department or a learning team that has a really competent, caring teacher leader. I want everybody to have a department chair that's a competent, caring department chair. I want people to be able to be mentored. I've been mentored five different times in my career and I'm getting mentored right now by the 2024 Texas Teacher of the Year for my next role. And just that ability for somebody that's there with you in the trenches. We're still in the classroom. I'm still teaching full-time. Teacher leaders are still there. They know the struggle, but they also can help guide you in really great ways that help you grow. I would not be where I am right now without mentorship I got when I first started teaching AP I didn't know what I was doing, Holy cats. And I had two AP teachers that kind of took me under their wing. They weren't even AP environmental science teachers at my school and really helped me learn what it was to help kids learn how to write for AP and how to do the more advanced lab skills. So I think teacher leadership is so important, especially right now when we're talking about, "How do we keep good teachers in the classroom?" Well, it's having people that support them that can help you grow to the next level. Really helping set that culture of your department is so important as well, that support system that... I am very, very fortunate I work for an amazing principal and I'm so grateful to have her support, but at the end of the day, there's one principal, right? But there's 200 of us in our building, and having those teacher leaders in the departments or in the learning communities is just really, really important in smoothing over the day to day, when you have questions about different strategies for working with a kid or how do I teach this in a more engaging way? Those teacher leaders can grow the staff and there's a lot more job satisfaction and working with people that are invested in you staying. Jon Eckert: And I think what you're saying is more important now than ever that the session that I met you in, they had put up a slide... This is from Raise Your Hand Texas, that 56% of new teachers in 2024 were uncertified. So this need for mentoring has never been greater because you have... And there's some great people who have come into the profession without certification, but the only way they're going to succeed is with great coaching and mentoring from people that have done this before because those uncertified people, for the most part, will not have gone through a teacher training program, they won't have done student teaching, they won't have had all those pieces, and now they're in your building. And over half of new teachers in Texas, that's their story. Have you seen an increased need for mentoring, or is this just kind of more of the same? Chris Mihealsick: No, we've seen a huge increase in the need for mentoring. There's a huge difference in getting a pre-service teacher that's gone through student teaching and has had some courses and knows the lingo, right? 504, IEP, all the acronyms. And somebody that has a good heart for kids and knows the content, but knows none of the management skills. So mentoring has been hugely critical. I've noticed a huge uptick in the mentoring that we've done on our campus in the last two to three years, for sure. Jon Eckert: Well, and it feels kind of crazy that we will turn kids over to someone who has no certification to teach when... My favorite statistic on this, I think this is right. In Ohio, to become a barber, you need 1500 hours of supervision. And I'm grateful. I don't want somebody coming in and hacking my hair up. But if you're requiring 1500 hours to cut somebody's hair and then nothing to be responsible, to be the teacher of record for children who are only going to get one shot at environmental science, who are only going to get one shot in third grade to increase their reading or to become a better human in first grade, to be... No certification. In some states it's even worse than in Texas where we're now... In some states, we're not even requiring a bachelor's degree. It's like we're having college students come in and be teacher of record because we're hurting in the profession so much. So my question for you... Obviously, when we have those teachers in our building, we're going to do everything we can to serve those teachers, but I do not want to burn out teachers like you who feel this burden not only for their students, but then for teachers who are coming in who are underprepared and who might be good in two or three years, but in those first couple of years, that's a lot of intensive work for you. What do we do to make sure we don't add more to plates that are already overflowing so that those teacher leaders don't burn out and leave? Chris Mihealsick: That is a really, really important question because I've seen that happen at our school where we've had good teachers leave because they've had two uncertified teachers they've needed to work with. And it's just overwhelming because you have all of your regular day-to-day responsibilities. You're maybe the team lead, so you're also working with your team, plus you also have to support the people that are working on training and getting into teaching. So it's really, really, really challenging. Our school tries to be really judicious about who we assign as mentors. So somebody isn't mentoring... Like for example, we had a biology teacher last year mentoring a brand brand new teacher, and this year we took her off mentoring. She's the team lead for our bio team, but we're like, "Nope, we're not going to have her mentor anybody else this year," because it was a lot last year. It was a lot. And you don't want to burn people that you know are effective and are doing good things for kids and really helping them grow. You don't want them leaving either. Jon Eckert: That's right. Well, I love that rotation idea, and that just means you have to develop a wide, wide range of teacher leaders because you have all different disciplines, especially in a comprehensive high school like you're in. You have all different disciplines. You have department chairs, but you just can't keep putting more on department chairs. Administrators, if they don't have background... If you've never been a science teacher, it's very difficult to give very specific feedback for how to get better if you've never run a lab. You can give general classroom management practices and think about student engagement, but you've got to have people with a lot of different kinds of expertise to give the mentoring just in time for people that are really needing that kind of feedback. So as you look around Texas, are there any real bright spots you see where you're really encouraged by some of the things that you've come across, maybe through the teacher of the year process or just people that you've worked with? I'm sure you're in networks of educators, but is there anything that has been really encouraging to you as you step into this role as teacher of the year? Chris Mihealsick: So I was really fortunate to do two different kind of talks. I did one in late February at Weatherford College with the Jack Harvey Awardee teachers. And first of all, I love, love, love hearing the good work that teachers are doing across the state because it just fills my bucket to hear how much teachers around the state truly care about the kids that they're in charge of. And Weatherford College is a two-year college, but they have some four year degrees and they have a teaching program, and their teaching program is growing. So that was really exciting. They're in North Texas. And I am a University of Texas grad. I will always be proud that I'm a UTeach teaching program graduates. They are doing some really, really... They've done historically since 1998... '99 I think is when they started. And they do some really great work at teacher prep. We consistently try to hire their graduates if we can because we know their graduates have the content knowledge, but also they've had a lot of field experience so they really know how to work with kids. So I think there's some really good stuff still happening all over the state in our teacher prep work. And that's something... Obviously, I want more people to join those programs. Lower enrollment is an issue that both of the schools have talked to me about, but I think that there's some really good work preparing some of our university students. And that's for sure. Besides all the great work from the teachers that I've just kind of talked to anecdotally as I've been kind of tootling about with my work is good. Jon Eckert: And I think why I love talking to educators like you is we have to stop cannibalizing our profession. So we have administrators making administration look so miserable that no teacher wants to step into it. And we have teachers making teaching sound so miserable that students don't want to step into it. And teachers told my own children, I've heard it said multiple times to their children, "Don't go into teaching right now." And what they don't understand is they're looking out for that person. They're saying it in love, but what they're doing is, is they're cannibalizing the profession. And if we don't have a strong teaching profession, we don't have other professions. And so that is really troubling to me. So I really respect what University of Texas does. Good to hear about Weatherford. When I came to Baylor six years ago and saw the program that they run for... I don't get to work in the pre-service teacher program, but they've done six different placements in a full year student teaching internship. Now in many districts, it's a paid internship if they're in high need districts. That is amazing. That is blowing away what we were doing in Illinois with our teacher preparation program where they had a 12-week student teaching placement and they had four practicum placements. That experience is gold when you're in with good teachers like you, and they can see, "Here's how I set this lab up and here's what it looks like at the beginning of the year, and here's what it looks like at the end of the year. That is powerful. And I am not a big fan of bureaucratic requirements that are unnecessary, but I certainly want good preparation for my kids' teachers, which means I want it for every kid in the state of Texas. And so really grateful for the way you're representing education. So let's shift into our lightning round here. I usually have three or four kind of common questions that I go across, and these are just pretty brief answers, if you have them. So best and worst advice you've ever given or received, you can start with either best or worst, but let's start with those two. Chris Mihealsick: Okay. Worst advice for sure was, "Don't smile till Christmas." Who thinks that's a good idea? You don't build relationships with your students by being a jerk. So worst advice for sure. Best advice was from my mentor who helped me when I was first teaching AP, Joy [inaudible 00:20:00]. She said, "You only have so much life energy, so decide what you're really passionate about and what you feel really skilled at, and just work to be really, really great at that." And I thought that was amazing because you get asked to do so many things as an educator, I am not great at facilities. I probably shouldn't sit on the facilities committee. So focus on what you're really good at and use your energy and your passion to get better at that, to make a bigger difference. Jon Eckert: Yeah, that's really, really helpful advice. So follow up on that, what is the most life-giving part of your job and what is the most soul sucking part of your job? Chris Mihealsick: For sure, working with the students. Even with all of amazing things I've gotten to do as Texas Teacher of the Year so far. And I love working with teachers. When I'm back in my classroom, which is most of the time, and just working with the teenagers and seeing them grow. I could teach for another 15, 20 years probably. We'll see how that all works out. But... Because I'm 23 years into my career, but for sure life-giving is just... I love working with the teenagers. Every single day is a little different. They'll say something funny or unique or they'll make a new discovery. Soul sucking, I would say probably paperwork. Not a fan. I'll do it because it's all the laws and all the things and I like my job. I'll do all the paperwork, but not my fave. Jon Eckert: Yeah, there's always some component of the job that is the reason why you need to get paid for the job. And I say paperwork for most of us is there because that's always going to be part of it. But all right. Best book that you've read in the last year. This could be education-related or just a fun read. Anything that jumps out at you as a good book you've read. I'm always looking for recommendations. Chris Mihealsick: So I read a mix of science and historical fiction and kind of leadership books. So my favorite that I've read lately is Armadillo's to Ziziphus by David Hillis. He is a professor at UT in biology. He actually discovered the Barton Springs Salamander. And it's just a whole bunch of short essays about natural history in Central Texas. And I am currently in the middle of reading Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday. I like his work too. He's a stoic, so he kind of talks about when things happen in life, we can't control that, but we can always control how we react to things. And I think his book right now has a whole bunch of little anecdotes about historical figures and their courage in different things. And I think it's just really relevant right now. I think being a teacher takes courage always, but I think especially right now, it's good to hear about other people's struggles and things they've overcome to make the world a better place. Jon Eckert: No, it's beautiful. I love those two. I have not read either of them, so I've got them written down. So thank you for that. Last two questions. What do you think is the greatest obstacle facing teachers right now? And then the second, the follow-up is what gives you the most hope? As you look around the state of Texas, what gives you most hope about what's happening in education? Chris Mihealsick: So challenging... I'm just going to be honest. I think the budget situation is really challenging right now. I'm hoping that changes for us because I'd like to see smaller class sizes for all of my colleagues and me so that we could give students the more individual attention that they deserve. But what gives me hope is two things. First of all, the students that I work with... I just... Every single year, I think, "You guys are going to change the world. You're going to go out, you're going to do something amazing for Texas and it's going to be phenomenal." So just seeing the potential and the energy that... I love working with juniors and seniors, they're my jam. Seeing them kind of grow and change and get ready to go off and then go off into the world and... That energy and that passion. Texas is in good hands with the teenagers that are continuing to graduate from our public schools. Yeah. Also hope the teachers that I've been meeting across the state... As a teacher in Central Texas, I'm a little bit insular and this is my world, but being able to get to travel a little bit and talk to people in other parts of the state has been really phenomenal. And I have a lot of hope for the kids of Texas because of the people I've been meeting. And I hope to meet a whole bunch more. So my hope for the next year is just to get to meet some more folks and to be able to start highlighting some of their good work as part of what I do. Jon Eckert: I love that. Well, Chris, thank you for what you do. And Round Rock, thank you for what you're going to do for the state of Texas. Thanks for your heart, for students and for educators. So grateful to be able to highlight your good work, and hope this year is amazing and we'll have to catch up with you at the end of your year. So thank you for joining us. Chris Mihealsick: Thank you so much for having me. This has been delightful.

Sponsors: The Clergy Confessions Podcast (www.clergyconfessions.com); Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity (www.gardner-webb.edu); Baptist Seminary of Kentucky (www.bsk.edu); Baylor's Garland School of Social Work; The Community Transformation Center at Palm Beach Atlantic University (www.pbactc.org); The Center for Congregational Health (healthychurch.org); and The Baptist House of Studies at Union Presbyterian Seminary (www.upsem.edu/). Join the listener community at www.classy.org/campaign/podcast-…r-support/c251116. Music from HookSounds.com.

Episode 1675 - brought to you by our incredible sponsors: Turtle Beach: Level up your game and get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code HARDFACTOR at turtlebeach.com/HARDFACTOR! #turtlebeachpod Fitbod: Level up your workout. Join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE for seven days at www.Fitbod.me/HARDFACTOR Birddogs: For a limited time, our listeners get a FREE HAT with any order when you use code HARDFACTOR at birddogs.com. Get their best-selling hat completely free when you use code HARDFACTOR at birddogs.com. Support our show and let them know we sent you! DeleteMe: Get 20% off your data protection DeleteMe plan by texting Hard Factor to 64000 Timestamps: (00:00:00) - Fake Scientists, what's the deal? (00:05:10) - Mugshawty of the Year early contestant: Lily Stewart in Georgia (00:23:00) - Local Man is Determined to Map the Bottom of Lake Tahoe (00:30:23) - 54 pet dogs eat owner's mother with dementia (00:32:30) - Trump DoD and Cabinet accidentally texted Houthi bombing plans to Atlantic Editor (00:37:20) - Sex Teacher of the Year Candidate Emerges from Indiana with disgusting Scream Mask Antics Thank you for listening! Join our community and support the pod with access to bonus pods and discord chat at Patreon.com/HardFactor, but Most Importantly: HAGFD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Humboldt Education Foundation (HEF) is excited to host the annual HUSD Teacher of the Year Banquet on April 17, 2025, from 5:30 pm-8:30 pm at The Warehouse Event Center. This esteemed event celebrates the dedication and excellence of HUSD teachers, honoring nominees from both K-6 and 7-12 categories. During the banquet, one finalist from each category will be recognized as the HUSD Teacher of the Year. Tickets are now available for purchase at each. Attendees can choose general seating or opt to sit with representatives from specific schools, including: Bradshaw Mountain High School Bradshaw Mountain Middle School Coyote... For the written story, read here >> https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/celebrate-excellence-get-tickets-for-the-2025-husd-teacher-of-the-year-banquet/Check out the CAST11.com Website at: https://CAST11.com Follow the CAST11 Podcast Network on Facebook at: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network

In this special episode, Michelle Madziak discusses her recognition as a joint winner of the Teacher of the Year award at the nasen Awards. She emphasises her passion for empowering students and the transformative impact of her work in a special needs setting. Michelle highlights her innovative use of communication tools like tactile signing and iPads to enhance inclusion. She shares her experiences leading outdoor activities, such as camping and canoeing, for students with complex needs, stressing the importance of providing them with opportunities similar to their mainstream peers. Michelle also introduced "Deals on Wheels," a student-led shop that fosters independence and entrepreneurship. Throughout the conversation, she highlights the collaborative effort of her team and the support from school leadership in implementing her ideas. She encourages other educators to embrace challenges and focus on what students can do, advocating for inclusive practices that empower all learners.   About Michelle I grew up and did my teacher training in Canada. When I graduated from education I decided to move to Australia to teach and travel. It was in Melbourne where I fell in love teaching in an SEN school. When I returned to Canada I started looking for SEN jobs and found one in Wolverhampton England! I came for a tour and fell in love! I have worked at Green Park school for just over 11 years now. I found my passion in sixth form. I am an advocate for young adult's voice and choice and opportunities to transfer their skills into their community. I take pupils into the community swimming, spin class, shopping, work experience, markets stalls, library and more! I have lead residentials and have lead the Duke of Edinburgh for the last three years. For the last two years I have had 10 pupils achieve their bronze award and this year two pupils are doing their silver award, and 16 pupils are doing their bronze. With the support of Laches Wood all pupils experience an inclusive camping trip and a canoe expedition!   Contact Michelle https://www.facebook.com/GreenParkSchoolWolverhampton mmadziak@greenparkschool.co.uk   About the nasen awards The nasen awards celebrate outstanding contributions to the education and support of children and young people with SEND. These annual awards recognise individuals, schools, and organisations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to inclusive education and the advancement of SEND practices. nasen is a charitable organisation that supports children and young people with SEND. nasen's goals include Influencing government policy, providing information, training and resources to support practitioners and contributing to the debate and effecting change to improve outcomes for children and young people.   Useful Links nasen website nasen events and CPD nasen live conference  nasen Awards   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

03/10/25: Tyler Axness hosts Afternoons Live on KFGO, and is filling in for Joel Heitkamp live from the North Dakota Capitol building. He's joined by the 2024 Teacher of the Year from North Dakota, Sheila Peterson. Sheila has taught for 22 years and currently teaches peer-to-peer and physical education at Wachter Middle School in Bismarck, North Dakota. She also recently helped write a Letter to the Editor regarding public dollars going towards private schools. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Sol Pelaez, an associate professor here in the Department of Classical & Modern Languages and Literatures. Dr. Pelaez was recently named as the university's 2025 Mississippi Humanities Council Teacher of the Year, and she joins us to talk about the award and her research.  https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2025/02/celebrating-excellence-msus-sol-pelaez-earns-statewide-humanities

In this episode, former teacher turned two-time Teacher of the Year, Daryl Williams Jr., shares the secret to maximizing your teaching impact by pinpointing the exact skills you need to improve. He discusses the 'Teacher Toolbox' and introduces a step-by-step process to identify and focus on areas that will bring the greatest return on effort. Daryl reveals the 'Six Principles of Effective Instruction'—Encourage, Engage, Empower, Evaluate, Extend, and Endure—and explains how mastering these principles will transform your classroom. He also offers a free quiz to help you self-assess and determine which skill to work on next, and introduces his impact community for ongoing support. This episode is filled with actionable strategies and insights that aim to skip the trial and error and fast-track your journey to becoming a highly effective educator.CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction: The Quest for Better Teaching00:17 Identifying Key Areas for Improvement01:15 The Teacher Toolbox: Essential Skills01:57 The Do Now and Exit Ticket Dilemma03:12 The Importance of Relevant Training03:56 Launching Live Tuesday Teacher Trainings05:43 The Six Principles of Effective Instruction14:11 Taking the Quiz: Pinpointing Your Focus17:37 Student Engagement Challenges17:52 Evaluating Teaching Approaches18:13 Concerns About Student Learning18:29 Magic Wand for Teaching Success18:55 Quiz Results and Next Steps20:00 Importance of Student Engagement24:06 New Teacher Quick Tip: Preemptive Reset28:10 Teacher's Lounge: Practical Solutions32:46 Exit Ticket: Reflecting on Next Steps________________________________________________________________________________________

Jacqueline Ma, 35 sobbed in court as she admitted to being sexually involved with multiple students. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textEver wondered what happens when a classroom becomes a hub of curiosity and discovery? Join us as we dive into the world of Amari Shields, a three-time Teacher of the Year, who transforms science education into a magical experience, inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders. Summary:In this episode, we sit down with Amari Shields, the dynamic CEO of Mentored Motivation and a celebrated eighth-grade science teacher. Amari shares her inspiring journey from an English teacher to a leading advocate for inquiry-based science education. Her approach, reminiscent of Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus, encourages students to explore, question, and understand the world around them. Through engaging classroom activities and a commitment to equity in STEM education, Amari empowers students to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. Join us to learn how Amari Shields is redefining science education and paving the way for future STEM leaders!Chapters with Timestamps:1:02 Empowering Inquiry-Based Science Teaching: Discover the strategies that make Amari a stand-out three-time teacher of the year. 10:02: Fostering Inquiry-Based Science Skills for All Ages: Delve into strategies to cultivate curiosity and observation in students through collaborative and playful learning.18:16: Exploring the Importance of Science Skills: Understand the role of critical thinking and problem-solving in science education, illustrated through real-world examples and classroom activities.24:15: Investigating Biodiversity Through Science Education: Experience Amari's creative teaching approach as students explore the environmental impact of palm oil plantations, emphasizing biodiversity and sustainability.30:15: Ad -- Explore Learning and Leading Through Play with Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor and Amari Shields31:30 Journey to STEM Teaching Success: Follow Amari's path from corporate sales to a fulfilling career in science education, highlighting the power of project-based and inquiry-based learning.44:30: Inspiring STEM Education and Motivation: Learn about Mentored Motivation and Amari's work to address education disparities and empower students from diverse backgrounds.Links:Joyful Play/Connected Learning online course with Amari and Dr. DianeEarth Day, Every Day STEM Pack K-4 developed by Amari and Dr. Diane@amarishieldseducationLinkedInThornton Middle School Teacher of the Year postSupport the showSubscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

What does it take to foster confidence, independence, and resilience in the next generation? Missy Testerman is 2024's National Teacher of the Year. Her insights, honed over three decades of teaching elementary schoolers in rural Tennessee, have impacted not just classrooms but the entire educational landscape.Missy has a unique gift for transforming challenges into opportunities—both for her students and herself. In this conversation, we explore her journey as a first-generation college graduate, her path to becoming a nationally recognized educator, and the lessons she's learned about leadership, resilience, and the art of teaching.Missy's insights go far beyond the classroom – we discuss the importance of building authentic relationships, the role of “productive struggle” in learning, and why love alone isn't enough to help someone reach their potential.As you're listening, you will quickly discover what a Teacher of the Year can teach us about raising our children, influencing & understanding others, and creating an ideal environment for learning.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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!

Mountain Brook Schools is excited to share the stories of its faculty and staff members throughout the district! Listen to this episode to learn about our MBS family, who they are, what they are interested in and what Mountain Brook Schools means to them! In this episode, Superintendent Dr. Dicky Barlow visits with 2025 Mountain Brook Junior High Teacher of the Year, Brittany Henegar. Watch the episode: https://mbs.eduvision.tv/default?q=X3Y5NcZVhaC2Xm08fdl5Yw%253d%253d

Mountain Brook Schools is excited to share the stories of its faculty and staff members throughout the district! Listen to this episode to learn about our MBS family, who they are, what they are interested in and what Mountain Brook Schools means to them! In this episode, Superintendent Dr. Dicky Barlow visits with 2025 Mountain Brook High School Teacher of the Year, Jane Ganey.

Mountain Brook Schools is excited to share the stories of its faculty and staff members throughout the district! Listen to this episode to learn about our MBS family, who they are, what they are interested in and what Mountain Brook Schools means to them! In this episode, Superintendent Dr. Dicky Barlow visits with 2025 Mountain Brook Elementary Teacher of the Year, Bill Andrews. Watch the interview here: https://mbs.eduvision.tv/default?q=X3Y5NcZVhaCxIDTU5MMBTw%253d%253d

Mountain Brook Schools is excited to share the stories of its faculty and staff members throughout the district! Listen to this episode to learn about our MBS family, who they are, what they are interested in and what Mountain Brook Schools means to them! In this episode, Superintendent Dr. Dicky Barlow visits with 2025 Cherokee Bend Elementary Teacher of the Year, Barbara Parker.

Mountain Brook Schools is excited to share the stories of its faculty and staff members throughout the district! Listen to this episode to learn about our MBS family, who they are, what they are interested in and what Mountain Brook Schools means to them! In this episode, Superintendent Dr. Dicky Barlow visits with 2025 Brookwood Forest Elementary Teacher of the Year, Amanda Potaczek. Watch the interview here: https://mbs.eduvision.tv/default?q=X3Y5NcZVhaDVjySP3dW1jw%253d%253d

A quick interview with Teacher of the Year, Shereen Reid, as FCSA Executive Director Lynn Norman-Teck visits her class and they sit for a fantastic talk about what inspires Shereen on Providing Choice: The Florida Charter School Alliance Podcast The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on influencing legislative policy and environments with unrivaled success in advocating for and protecting charter schools and parental choice. The FCSA advocates for, defends, supports, and collaborates with public charter schools that serve close to 400,000 students statewide. #FloridaCharterSchoolAlliance #FCSA www.flcharteralliance.org

Cathy Newman and Tina Hemby talking Teacher of the Year! by 904 Now

Mountain Brook Schools is excited to share the stories of its faculty and staff members throughout the district! Listen to this episode to learn about our MBS family, who they are, what they are interested in and what Mountain Brook Schools means to them! In this episode, Superintendent Dr. Dicky Barlow visits with 2025  Crestline Elementary Teacher of the Year, Dr. Lauren Anson.   Watch the interview here: https://mbs.eduvision.tv/default?q=X3Y5NcZVhaAYcrMZ0DP%252b9Q%253d%253d

Send us a textWhat if we recognized language learners as linguistically gifted individuals, rich in stories, knowledge, and potential?In this powerful conversation, Juliana Urtubey, 2021 U.S. Teacher of the Year, shares her inspiring framework of Joy and Justice in Education. Rooted in her experience as a bilingual special education teacher, Juliana offers practical ways to recognize students' strengths, build classroom community, and redefine what success looks like in education.

As the 2024 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, Scott Phillips traveled the state and country sharing his experiences as an educator. But those events are winding down as his time in the role comes to a close.

This week, we're highlighting an episode of Beyond My Years, our sibling podcast that gives you exclusive access to all the wisdom of veteran educators. Beyond My Years host, Ana Torres, learns from the best as she sits down with 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman. Missy teaches Ana about being open to new ideas and perspectives, offers tips on building relationships with families, and discusses the importance of slowing down. Missy doesn't shy away from tough topics, like managing the “who knows best” struggles among administrators, teachers, and parents, and knowing when it's time to step away from teaching, In addition, Classroom Insider Eric Cross and Ana discuss understanding your community, being more flexible in presenting your lessons, and seeking mentorship and continuous growth. Show notes:Connect with Missy TestermanInstagram: @missytesterman2024ntoyLinkedIn: @missy-testermanX: @missytestermanSubscribe to Beyond My Years https://amplify.com/beyond-my-yearsFollow us on Instagram @amplify.education Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/ Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/Quotes:“Find a mentor. Someone you trust. Listen to that person, watch that person, ask that person questions. You know, you don't have to figure this out on your own. People want to help you and you have to take that help. It's not a sign of weakness. It's a sign that you want to be better.” —Missy Testerman“I want them to be proud of where they came from, always, because that's part of their story. It's always going to be an important part of their story.” —Missy Testerman“I have no magic answers. I have some experiences and I have a little bit of wisdom from three decades of time spent in the education field, but I absolutely do not have it all figured out.” —Missy Testerman“The reality is that the journey toward wisdom in any career, especially in education, has to be slow and steady.” —Missy Testerman

Twinsburg High School teacher Daneé Pinckney says she knew she wanted to be a teacher ever since she was a small child, but it wasn't that long ago that she found herself at a burnout point in her career and was considering leaving the profession. Starting an African American literature course for her students and empowering them to be engaged citizens helped reignite her passion. Now, as the 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year, Pinckney is hoping to help other educators find their passion again while shining a spotlight on what they need to succeed for their students. LEARN MORE ABOUT DANEÉ PICKNEY'S PATH TO HER EDUCATION CAREER | Click here to read the 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year's story on the Ohio State Board of Education site.   LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DISTRICT TEACHERS OF THE YEAR | The State Board of Education selects the Ohio Teacher of the Year from among the State Board District Teachers of the Year, all of whom are OEA members this year. Click here to learn more about each of these outstanding educators!SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.Featured Public Education Matters guest: Daneé Pinckney, Twinsburg Education Association member Daneé Pinckney began teaching in Columbus, Ohio after graduating from The Ohio State University. There Pinckney earned her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Middle Childhood Education. Later, she realized her passions were more suited to high school, and received her Ohio English K-12 Certification before earning a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Educational Technology from Ashland University. Pinckney, currently, teaches 11th and 12th-grade English at Twinsburg High School in Twinsburg, Ohio. Here, she makes a point to constantly search for new opportunities to challenge herself professionally and personally, as evidenced by her creating a senior-level course on African American Literature. The course addressed a need for representation sought by both students and community members. She obtained grant funding to support its implementation enriching educational experiences for all.Using literature as the anchor, she works to encourage students' engagement in community service and activism projects instilling in them a sense of social responsibility and civic engagement. She believes students can change the world “right here and right now.” Believing this to be true, her students most recently collaborated with students in Ghana and led a community fundraiser building global community and empathy. Pinckney's dedication to pursuing personal growth as an educator has earned her recognition as the 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year, a Master Teacher Finalist by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, and accolades such as the 2023 Twinsburg City Schools Teacher of the Year, and a 2023 Fund for Teachers Fellow. Connect with OEA:Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topicsLike OEA on FacebookFollow OEA on TwitterFollow OEA on InstagramGet the latest news and statements from OEA hereLearn more about where OEA stands on the issues Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative WatchAbout us:The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio's schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio's children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio's schools.Public Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children. This episode was recorded on September 30, 2024.

This week Nick Averwater continues his conversation with Gillian Desmarais, who teaches Music Production and Engineering at Harmony Learning Center in Maplewood, MN. Gillian is the founder of Sound Tech Ed, a website that provides resources for music programs that allow students to learn and grow with music technology. She has also been named to the 2024 Yamaha 40 Under 40 list of music educators, and was named 2024 Teacher Of The Year by TI:ME.In this episode Gillian will tell us more about Harmony Learning Center, the students she teaches there, and the ways in which she customizes the curriculum so that they can excel academically, and musically. She'll also tell us about how she continues to evolve and improve as a music educator.Our conversation was recorded August 12, 2024. We've broken it up into three episodes, and this is part three.

Voices in Teaching: A Conversation with Educator Megan HelbergThis week we are very excited to kick off a new 16:1 series called Voices in Teaching, where we will interview educators who have been recognized for innovation and excellence in their craft. Our first featured educator is Megan Helberg, who hails from rural Loup County, Nebraska, where she taught 8th-12th grade English for 15 years. In 2020, Helberg received the prestigious honor of being named the Nebraska Teacher of the Year. Helberg is passionate about Holocaust and genocide education, having received a Fund for Teachers grant to visit Holocaust-related sites throughout Europe and to purchase Holocaust literature resources for her school. Megan was named a Museum Teacher Fellow for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in 2016 and now assists the USHMM as a mentor for incoming teacher fellows. Helberg was selected as a Lowell Milken Center Fellow in 2021, to The Olga Lengyel Institute (TOLI) summer seminar in 2022, and recently was selected to study at the highly-acclaimed institution, Yad Vashem. She is also the 2024 Anne Frank Educator of the Year.Megan recently accepted a job with the Anne Frank Center (the Anne Frank House's official partner in the USA), where she now travels the world to share resources, educational opportunities, and peer-to-peer trainings centered on the Frank family, the Holocaust, and the lessons of history that are still highly relevant to today's learners.In this episode, we explore Megan's journey as an educator in the classroom and beyond, including the story of a heartwarming surprise meeting with Dr. Jill Biden at the White House. We also explore the challenges and rewards of teaching in a small, rural community and how teachers might foster a sense of belonging, community, and shared values among students. Megan's innovative approaches to education, including the founding of a travel club that has taken students and community members around the world, exemplifies her belief in the power of experiences to broaden horizons and strengthen communal bonds.Join us for an inspiring conversation that highlights the profound difference one dedicated teacher can make.

This week Nick Averwater continues his conversation with Gillian Desmarais, who teaches Music Production and Engineering at Harmony Learning Center in Maplewood, MN. Gillian is the founder of Sound Tech Ed, a website that provides resources for music programs that allow students to learn and grow with music technology. She has also been named to the 2024 Yamaha 40 Under 40 list of music educators, and was named 2024 Teacher Of The Year by TI:ME.In this episode Gillian will share some ideas for music educators who want to introduce music technology into their classroom, or expand upon what they are already using.Our conversation was recorded August 12, 2024. We've broken it up into three episodes, and this is part two.Here are the different music technology resources Gillian mentions in this episode:FL StudioSoundtrapGarage BandLaunchpadBandLabLogicAbleton LiveCubaseAbleton PushAkai MIDI Controllers

  One of the many areas in which Hurricane Helene has had a devastating impact in western North Carolina is public education. While the state Board of Education has made an initial request of 166 million dollars to begin to address some of the destruction, many school districts remain closed indefinitely and the recovery is […]

MTPR's Austin Amestoy sat down with Montana Teacher of the Year Dawn Sievers to talk about the award and how teaching has changed in the nearly three decades since her career began.

This week we continue our look at using technology in music education, as Nick Averwater talks with Gillian Desmarais, who teaches Music Production and Engineering at Harmony Learning Center in Maplewood, MN. Gillian is the founder of Sound Tech Ed, a website that provides resources for music programs that allow students to learn and grow with music technology. She has also been named to the 2024 Yamaha 40 Under 40 list of music educators, and was named 2024 Teacher Of The Year by TI:ME.In this episode we'll be learning about Gillian's early interest in music technology, and how that influenced the way she teaches music. We'll also find out which software and web-based programs she uses. We have links to all of these resources below.Our conversation was recorded August 12, 2024. We've broken it up into three episodes, and this is part one.Here are the hardware, software, and web-based resources Gillian mentions:LaunchpadAbletonSoundtrapdrumbitGroove PizzaChrome Music Lab

Dick Termes, South Dakota's own Leonardo da Vinci, talks about how to make art rooted in math. Plus, 2023's National Teacher of the Year discusses quantifying success.

A federal judge has temporarily halted enforcement of a 2023 Indiana law that criminalizes anyone who gets within 25 feet of an on-duty police officer after being told to stop. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources released 25 endangered ground squirrels at Kankakee Sands nature preserve. Indiana lawmakers took their first steps last week in exploring whether changes are needed in the ways homeowners associations operate. The Indiana Department of Education on Friday announced the Teacher of the Year. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts. Today's episode of WFYI News Now was produced by Drew Daudelin and Abriana Herron, with support from News Director Sarah Neal-Estes.

I have the honor of sitting down with 4 of the district teachers of the year to share stories of teaching . I hope you enjoy the podcast and stay tuned for future episodes where we talk to other members of the 2025 teachers of the year cohort. #TheBozeKnows #FLTOY2025

The National Rural Education Association named a Minnesotan the 2024 National Rural Teacher of the Year. Melissa Oberg teaches special education at Cook County Schools in Grand Marais. She is the first special education teacher to receive the honor and the second from Minnesota in a row. Oberg joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her approach to the classroom and how she plans to use her platform.

Bennington middle school teacher will be the 2025 Teacher of the Year. Nebraska Education Commissioner Brian Maher surprised her with the honor on Thursday.

The Minnesota Department of Education released test scores Monday morning for K-12 students across the state. The data shows scores have still not rebounded from a slump that began during the pandemic. About half of Minnesota public school students are proficient in reading and about 45 percent are proficient in math — numbers that have not changed since last year. These standardized tests are known as the MCA's or Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. Third through eighth graders typically take them every year. And high school students take one reading and one math test during their 10th or eleventh grade years. Joining MPR News guest host Nina Moini for perspective from the classroom is Washburn High School english teacher and 2024 teacher of the year Tracy Byrd.

We Have Already Found The Teacher Of The Year.

Missy believes, "there will always be joy in teaching."Today we are joined by 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman. Missy serves as at K-8 English as a second language specialist and program director for her school in rural Rogersville, Tennessee. In this episode, Missy reflects on her education career and offers words of inspiration and practical advice to nurture the joy in teaching. Plus, she shares tips on teacher mentoring, getting ready for the back-to-school season, and supporting multilingual learners.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.

The Indiana Department of Education announced the finalists for Indiana Teacher of the Year. Advocates say many Medicaid members are confused about how their coverage has been affected by a recent court ruling. Educator feedback on Indiana Department of Education's new diploma draft is mostly positive. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick unveiled her new tax relief plan. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts. Today's episode of WFYI News Now was produced by Drew Daudelin, with support from News Director Sarah Neal-Estes.

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