Teachers' Lounge

What are the most important education issues of the year? WNIJ's Peter Medlin and NIU's Jason Klein share everything you need to know.

This week, we're revisiting our 2022 conversation with Dr. Kathleen “Kadi” Billman. This is an episode unlike we’ve ever had. We’re diving into some heavy, emotional topics today. Until her retirement during the pandemic, Dr. Billman was a professor of pastoral ministry, pastoral theology and director of the Master of Divinity program at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Billman also tau...

Paraprofessional. Teachers' aide. Instructional Aid. The other teacher who comes in to help. Whatever you might know them as — paraprofessionals can be the glue that keeps classrooms together.

Before 2024, we revisit a few of the education stories from Teachers’ Lounge that stuck out to us this year. Some of them are very serious, some are uplifting or even fun — but they’re all important.

A look back at some of our favorite Teachers' Lounge conversations in 2023. If you've never heard our show — think of this as a great holiday sampler!

Everybody needs a coach…including teachers.“We can spend entire careers standing by ourselves in a room full of students with nobody to bounce ideas off — and that's a shame.”How an instructional coach helps teachers help their students.

On a new Teachers’ Lounge, it’s a unique burden and responsibility to be the only Black teacher at your school.“I take it so seriously, because a lot of times this is a child's first interaction with an African American person, or at least a positive role model, unlike a stereotype which they may have seen in a movie or something. It's nerve-racking,” said Mira. Hear that conversation and much mor...

On a new Teachers’ Lounge podcast, Susan’s been teaching 2nd grade for a long time and the technology changed so much. But, sometimes you still have to go old school -- literally.

This week, we’re chatting with Michelle Roberts! She teaches deaf and hard of hearing students at Community High School District 155 in Crystal Lake. She’s an adapted Physical Education teacher, helping make games and sports accessible for students with disabilities.

On a new Teachers’ Lounge podcast -- there’s something about learning in the great outdoors that makes school so much more exciting! We’re talking to a STEAM teacher with a passion for outdoor education. Listen now!

We're revisiting our 2021 conversation with comic book artist and art teacher extraordinaire: Marcel Walker!

On a new Teachers’ Lounge podcast, it’s not often 17 and 70-year-old students share the same classroom. But that’s every day in this adult education class. Learn more about adult education and English language learning!

This week, we’re bringing you two conversations about the state of early childhood services and why the system is on the verge of collapse.

On a new Teachers’ Lounge podcast, Biology Professor Dr. Sheela Vemu says "not only is science for everyone, understanding and appreciating science is something that everyone can do.”

on a new Teachers’ Lounge podcast -- Jill teaches deaf students and is a sign language interpreter for swimming meets, dog obedience, and karate classes! Hear how Jill supports her hard of hearing students.

This week, Laurie Pillen! She just retired a few weeks ago after nearly 40 years as a counselor at Rochelle Township High School. We talked about how she never knew what issue or question a student was going to come into her office with -- and how that kept the job really fresh for decades. She also shared some advice for anyone at a career crossroads.

On a new Teachers’ Lounge, Eugene’s journey to become a teacher was not an easy one. Hear a special education teacher’s story from growing up in poverty in the Philippines to advocating for his students in Illinois.

In honor of her retirement from teaching, we're revisiting Peter's 2021 interview with...his mom!

Every month on the Teachers' Lounge radio show, we catch up with high school teacher Erik Czerwin. Hear all of those segment in order and follow Erik's journey from August through May right here on the Teachers' Lounge podcast.

On a new episode, we caught up with high school seniors about how COVID impacted their experience & our student correspondents make their podcast debut!

On a new Teachers' Lounge, we talk about what makes religious schools unique and a very quirky and admittedly a bit odd tradition they have at Aquin.

We’re bringing you a LIVE episode of Teachers’ Lounge featuring an audience Q&A! This time, we recorded in Springfield, Illinois at the Illinois News Broadcasters Association’s spring conference.

This week, we’re talking with Mendota High School civics teacher Jason Artman! Jason played a key role in Mendota joining the Democracy Schools network last year and we talk about what emphasizing democracy across a whole school really looks like.

On a new Teachers’ Lounge podcast, A LIVE conversation at Beloit College with Wayne Au. He was this year’s Weissberg Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice at Beloit. Hear the live conversation and audience Q&A!

We revisit our 2021 chat with Jeff Pitner. He’s a psychology teacher and esports coach at Guilford High School in Rockford. We talked about building that community and how his psychology classes have evolved as he’s learned about restorative justice.