Leading From The Classroom

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 CNMI Teacher of the Year Antenille Santos tells us what happened when she chose to ignore one class’s reputation and focused on believing in them instead. 

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 North Carolina Teacher of the Year Lisa Godwin shares how her own journey of learning to be vulnerable helped her become a better teacher.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year Sam Neill tells us what it’s like to feel powerless to make big changes—and how she started by helping a student she’ll never forget.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Virginia Teacher of the Year Michelle Cottrell-Williams tells us about Leo—a student who struggled to find his own voice, until he had something to say about the Parkland shooting.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Oregon Teacher of the Year Matthew Bacon-Brenes talks about one of the most challenging classes of his career—and how he used his commitment to his students as a tool for helping them learn Japanese history.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Vermont Teacher of the Year Linda Cloutier-Namdar tells us about Jessie, a 9th grader who needed a teacher to believe in him—and how discovering his love of hip-hop reminded her just how powerful student-teacher relationships can be.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 South Dakota Teacher of the Year Rachel Schaefer tells us how she developed an important personal motto: teachers need teachers.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Maryland Teacher of the Year Josh Carroll tells us about the impact climate change is having on schools in his state—and how entire communities are rising up to the challenges. 

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 California Teacher of the Year Brian McDaniel tells us about Jessica, a non-verbal student who found her voice in his choir class—and the inspiring message she left him with before she graduated.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Iowa Teacher of the Year Aileen Sullivan shares the story of how her son inspired her to take on a new mission: making the first day of high school more welcoming for freshman students.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Arkansas Teacher of the Year Randi House talks to us about why it’s important to use your own judgment as a teacher to engage kids—even if that means going off-book sometimes.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Nebraska Teacher of the Year Michelle Helt tells us the story of how going to one of the country’s most prestigious primary schools transformed her own feelings of inadequacy. 

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Michigan Teacher of the Year Luke Wilcox shares the secret behind his approach to getting kids to connect with new ideas at school: Experience first, formalize later. 

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Corey Bulman shares why he believes building connections with students is key to his job as a teacher—and why it’s so important to inspire the teachers of tomorrow. 

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Florida Teacher of the Year Tammy Jerkins discusses the challenge of finding and keeping good teachers—and why she believes the solution lies in creating a support system for new teachers.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Cicely Woodard discusses why it’s important to challenge all students, even the star students—and why all students need teachers who believe in them.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Michael Soskill shares what happened when his students met a classroom of kids from Nairobi—and the lessons it taught them about helping others. 

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 New Jersey Teacher of the Year Amy Andersen tells us how one deaf child in a daycare inspired her to advocate for language equality and change how school systems treat deaf early learners.

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 North Dakota Teacher of the Year Leah Juelke tells us how a class project about immigration became a powerful school-wide movement to help students support one another in what she calls, “the power of empathetic teaching."

In this episode of Leading from the Classroom, 2018 Ohio Teacher of the Year Jonathan Juravich tells us about Ava, a student with autism, who showed him just how powerful differentiated instruction can be.