Teachers in America

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week everyone! Join us today as we welcome our special guest, Dr. Miguel Cardona, the 12th Secretary of Education for the U.S. We learn  how educators have inspired him on his journey across 32 states, and why now is perhaps the most impactful time to become a teacher in America in recent history. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsth...

Autumn Dvorak's third graders never know what to expect when they enter her classroom. From a bakery to a museum to a carnival, her classroom transformations use hands-on projects and games to get her students excited about learning. 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 s...

Pennsylvania educator Samuel Gonzalez spent his first year as a teacher attempting to build student relationships through a screen. Now that his virtual teaching journey is over and his students are back in the classroom, Sammy strives to provide diverse books to his second graders, all while studying for his doctorate and serving in the National Guard. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers a...

We're kicking off season 4 of the podcast with Chicago Public Schools teacher Misty Richmond. By introducing her students to a range of careers paths and opportunities like the Chicago Invention Convention, she encourages a lifelong passion in STEM for her students. She shows students they matter. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people wh...

For the season 3 finale of Teachers in America, we've compiled highlights from each episode this year on the theme of teacher love. Featuring every guest from the last 10 episodes, this is our thank you to teachers everywhere for the work that you do for students every day. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young live...

Meet Kitty Donohoe, an elementary teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School, part of the Santa-Monica Malibu Unified School District in Santa Monica, California. Kitty joins us for a discussion on reading, looping with her class, and her debut children’s novel, How to Ride a Dragonfly , coming to shelves near you summer 2023. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firstha...

Meet Hannah French, fourth grade teacher at Rowe Elementary School in Western Massachusetts. Hannah utilizes the woodland area around her school for place-based learning, and has moved many of her classes outdoors.  There, students engage in location-specific challenges, journaling, and free play, all while becoming more familiar with the natural area around them. Teachers in America profiles K–12...

Meet Qorsho Hassan, a second grade teacher at the Echo Park Elementary School of Leadership, Engineering and Technology in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district in Burnsville, Minnesota. She is also the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year! On this episode we discuss the importance of independent reading, identity, and representation for our students. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers a...

Meet Perry Hollins, a fourth grade teacher at Oakton Elementary School in the Evanston/Skokie School District in Evanston, Illinois. Before becoming a teacher, Perry worked in radio and television. As an educator, he has spent the past 11 years infusing an African-centered pedagogy into the curriculum. Perry utilizes his education to create a culturally responsive, project-based learning environme...

The Teachers in America crew is off for the summer, but Noelle's got some episode recommendations to keep you entertained in the meantime. For more K-12 podcast content, head over to the  Shaping the Future  podcast to hear from industry leaders on what the future holds for students, teachers, and classrooms. Vote for Teachers in America  in the Education and People's Choice categories t...

Meet Owen Bondono, a high school ELA teacher at Oak Park High School, located in the Oak Park School district in Oak Park, Michigan. In 2021, Owen was named the first known transgender  Michigan Teacher of the Year. He uses his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ student spaces and anti-racist teaching practices. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the pe...

Meet Angelica Moreno, a Spanish kindergarten teacher at the Dual Language Academy at Dr. Sue Shook Elementary in El Paso, Texas. This week's discussion includes the struggles of students (and their parents) as they learn a new language, the effect of the El Paso Walmart shooting on the community, and the school's reaction to losing one of their own to  COVID-19. Teachers in America profi...

Meet Juliana Urtubey, co-teacher and instructional strategist at Kermit R. Booker Senior Innovative Elementary School in Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Juliana is the 2021 Nevada Teacher of the Year and the 2021 National Teacher of the Year. Join us as we learn more about educational policy, and how our guest came to be known as "Ms. Earth." Teachers in America profi...

Meet Anthony Swann, a fifth grade teacher in Rocky Mount, Virginia. From ages 9 to 21, Anthony lived in the foster care system. Today, he is an advocate for hope and empathy when it comes to students contending with trauma, and has been named the 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young li...

Meet CJ Reynolds, a high school teacher at an all-boys school in inner city Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By creating the teacher YouTube channel Real Rap with Reynolds, he has discovered that what might be ordinary for his classroom, could be someone else's extraordinary. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives i...

Meet LaNesha Tabb, a kindergarten teacher at the Metropolitan School District in Lawrence Township in Indianapolis, Indiana. After starting a blog called Education with an Apron, LaNesha set her sights on writing a book about the importance of teaching social studies. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the cl...

Find out what's up next on Season 3 of Teachers in America . Host and former teacher Noelle Morris gives you the scoop!

Meet Danielle Riha, a middle school teacher at the Alaska Native Cultural Charter School in Anchorage. She is passionate about equity, indigenous languages, and culturally relevant lessons. She was the Alaska Teacher of the Year and one of four finalists for the National Teacher of the Year Award in 2019. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people...

Meet Karen Johnston, an elementary school teacher at Harriet Tubman Montessori in New Orleans, Louisiana. Karen studied at The University of Southern Mississippi before she began her 14-year career in education. Montessori schools utilize student-directed activities with mixed grade level classes and Karen currently teaches grades K through 2. She serves as the Chief of Staff for the Blue Campus a...

Meet Karl Grubaugh, a former AP economics teacher and advanced journalism advisor at Granite Bay High School, part of the Roseville Joint Union High School District in California. In 2020, Karl retired after almost 40 years as an educator and over 30 years in the journalism business. The student newspaper that he advised, The Granite Bay Gazette , has been inducted into the high school journalism...

Meet Margarita Lezama, a middle school ESL and ESOL teacher at Brownsville Middle School, part of Miami-Dade Public Schools in Miami, Florida. When she was a child, Margarita and her family fled the political situation in Nicaragua and immigrated to Mexico before seeking asylum in the United states in 1983. She now teaches a large immigrant population and relates with her students on topics like c...

Sharon Biava joins us once again to discuss virtual learning during COVID-19, and how she adapted to her new digital classroom with the help of her students. Sharon discusses strategies for mastering virtual learning, creating digital classroom rules, and taking time for self-care during this stressful time. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the peo...

Meet Sharon Biava, a 4th grade math teacher at Silver Lakes Elementary in Miramar, Florida, part of Broward County Public Schools. A proud single mother of twins, Sharon has been an educator for 18 years after two successful careers in finance and healthcare marketing. She is a coach for both the speech and debate team and the chess team, and is passionate about literacy, civics, and equity for al...

Meet Dr. Chris Emdin an Associate Professor of Science Education at Columbia University. Chris is the founder of Science Genius and HipHopEd, a nonprofit educational organization that boosts student voice by utilizing youth culture. His articles can be found in the New York Times and The Atlantic . He is also author of White Folks Who Teach In the Hood and the Rest of Ya’ll too , a New York Times...

Meet Priyank Bhatt, a lead math teacher at West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey. This week he joins us for a follow-up episode to discuss his experiences with virtual learning as an urban educator, and the social-emotional learning required in the age of COVID-19. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the...