Front of the Class

Send us Fan Mail From community partnerships and service projects to “productive struggle,” Megan Johnson has embraced it all over her 19-year career in education. That’s why the 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year confidently believes a great career for educators — and a great education for students — starts with relationships and meaningful experiences.  In this episode, Johnson shares how educatio...

Send us Fan Mail Linda “Wally” Wallenberg has spent more than 50 years helping students discover the joy of learning. As the 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, she teaches English at Eden Prairie High School, where she blends literature, movement, and pop culture to create memorable classroom experiences.  In this special topical episode, Wallenberg shares how she has adapted to decades of change...

Send us Fan Mail After beginning his professional life as an attorney in Las Vegas, Matthew Neale made an unexpected career shift, moving across the country and into the classroom, where he was named the 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year.  In this episode, Neale discusses the deep fulfillment and “psychic income” of teaching as he draws on more than 20 years of coaching soccer, building relationsh...

Send us Fan Mail Hakeem Young is a math teacher and coach in Washington state, where he works with students across grades 6-8 while also mentoring student-athletes through football and wrestling programs. With years of experience guiding young people both in the classroom and in sports, Young focuses on helping students develop the character, responsibility, and respect they’ll need long after the...

Send us Fan Mail Becky Haenfler, the 2026 South Dakota Teacher of the Year, has spent 20 years building relationships and inspiring readers. Now in her role as a middle school ELA teacher in Avon, SD, she serves the same community that shaped her as a student.  In this episode, Haenfler shares how teaching in a small rural school influences everything from translating lessons between coaching and...

Send us Fan Mail Cici Chen is an educator at a bilingual international school in Shanghai, China, with 14 years of experience teaching young learners. Known for creating joyful, engaging classrooms, Chen believes that when students genuinely enjoy learning, deeper growth naturally follows.  In this special topical episode, Chen shares how her approach to teaching has evolved from relying on games...

Send us Fan Mail After working in the high-intensity world of hedge funds, Sarah Emma Alexander made a life-changing pivot into international teaching and administration. Now teaching at a high school in upstate New York, she brings a strategic, problem-solving lens to education.  In this episode, Alexander shares stories from her professional journey and insights about how educators can expand th...

Send us Fan Mail At Clover Park Technical College in Washington state, educators Ronald Lethcoe and Dionna Faherty are building digital resource libraries and exploring how AI can be used to enhance classrooms and the learning experience.  In this special topical episode, these colleagues go in-depth to highlight how thoughtful AI use can help students move beyond surface-level answers and engage...

Send us Fan Mail Paddy Bailey is an elementary teacher in upstate New York who believes physical education can have an impact beyond games and competition. Teaching kindergarten through sixth grade, Bailey focuses on building relationships, providing leadership opportunities, and helping students grow through both success and failure.  In this episode, Bailey reflects on why he prioritizes “proces...

Send us Fan Mail Located in Washington, D.C., Dr. Emily Feistritzer has spent more than six decades shaping the field of education. From leading high school science and math classes as a 19-year-old to founding Moreland University and creating its innovative educator preparation program, she has dedicated her life to elevating the teaching profession.  In this episode, Dr. Feistritzer shares insig...

Send us Fan Mail Megan Elniff is a fifth-grade science teacher at a Greek immersion school in North Carolina where the Socratic method is central to learning. Over 13 years in education, she has taught in multiple states and served in roles ranging from special education teacher to multilingual learner specialist, all of which shaped her dynamic, student-centered approach to teaching.  In this epi...

Send us Fan Mail Tiffani Jaseph is a veteran educator with 16 years of experience and a clear purpose: meeting each student’s individual needs. A former general education teacher who transitioned into special education, she now teaches in an extended resource program, helping students with the highest support needs from kindergarten through fifth grade.  In this episode, Jaseph — the 2026 Arizona...

Send us Fan Mail How do you prepare high school students for the realities of work, collaboration, and leadership before they enter college or the workforce?  2026 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Joel Coyne uses his classes to connect them with businesses and nonprofits to make a real impact on their community.  In this special topical episode, Coyne explains how real-world expectations, consistent...

Send us Fan Mail Frannie Tunseth is the 2026 North Dakota Teacher of the Year and a math and reading interventionist serving grades 4-8 in a small rural community. With experience as a kindergarten, first-grade, and fourth-grade teacher — and even as an elementary school principal — she has a unique perspective on what students need to succeed, especially those who arrive in her classroom feeling...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Lehan spent 6 years playing in the NFL before navigating the education world as a principal, superintendent, head of school, and district leader. From growing up in foster care to graduating from the University of Minnesota and playing football at the highest level, his journey reflects a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives.  Now in Massachusetts,...

Send us Fan Mail Ali Snabon-Jun, the 2026 Nevada State Teacher of the Year, has spent 20 years teaching music in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas. From opening new schools to re-establishing elementary music programs from the ground up, she has created classrooms and choirs defined by joy and the belief that every student can rise to meet high expectations.  In this episode, Snabon-Ju...

Send us Fan Mail Named the 2026 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, Toni Fink has spent her career teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools, the largest and most diverse district in the state. After teaching abroad and pursuing an alternative pathway into the profession, she has built a career on the belief that every child deserves to be seen and valued.  In this episode, Fink shares how she creates learn...

Send us Fan Mail Before becoming a teacher, Linda Alvarez built a successful career in the corporate sector — honing leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills that would later define her approach to education. Now the 2026 Vermont Teacher of the Year, she reflects on how her journey into teaching reveals the value of bringing real-world experience into the classroom.  In this special t...

Send us Fan Mail Sarah Dully has built her career on helping young people articulate their ideas with confidence and clarity whether they’re crafting college essays, analyzing literature, or navigating everyday communication.  In this episode, Rhode Island’s 2026 Teacher of the Year reflects on the classroom moments that shape her work, the joys and challenges of teaching English and special educa...

Send us Fan Mail As the 2026 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year, Megan Philbrook focuses on filling her classroom with curiosity and creativity for the fifth through eighth grade social studies students in her rural community.  In this episode, Philbrook shares how she brings history to life through immersive lessons, why students love her simulations, and the importance of listening and emotional...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Jenna DiEleuterio is the 2026 Delaware State Teacher of the Year and a middle school reading specialist in the Brandywine School District. She channels her passion for creating meaningful relationships and stronger school–community connections into helping students build confidence in their reading skills.  In this episode, Dr. DiEleuterio shares her insights on approaching re...

Send us Fan Mail Tammy Irminger has spent 20 years in education, from teaching third, fourth, and sixth grade to serving as a librarian at MacArthur Elementary School on the Fort Leavenworth military base. With a passion for literacy and creating meaningful connections with students, she’s built a career centered on helping every child feel seen, supported, and inspired to learn.  In this episode,...

Send us Fan Mail After 25 years in education, Kimberly Henderson knows that where you teach and who you teach alongside can shape every part of your career. Now based in Egypt, Henderson reflects on her journey through U.S. and international classrooms, and what it really means to find your people, your purpose, and the right school for you.  In this special topical episode, Henderson shares how s...

Send us Fan Mail Rachel J. is a first-grade teacher in an urban Iowa district, where more than half of her students are learning English as a second language. She has established a classroom environment grounded in warmth, teamwork, and high expectations — and achieved remarkable results. In just one year, her students’ reading proficiency rose from about 50% in the fall to nearly 90% by the end o...

Send us Fan Mail Orlando Rodriquez’s journey from college baseball player to special education teacher in Surprise, Arizona, is one of perseverance and purpose. Now in his 13th year as an educator, Rodriquez recently earned his master’s degree while balancing studying with leading his own classroom and keeping his passion for sports alive by coaching collegiate baseball.  In this episode, Rodrique...