Join us on Teachers in America to hear the incredible stories of real teachers. By connecting with educators across the country, we explore ideas about improving student outcomes, incorporating SEL and equity in the classroom, and adjusting to new challenges like remote learning. In this blog post, we've compiled our full list of Teachers in America episodes so that you can meet the inspiring educators we've had the opportunity to interview.
Teachers in America: Seasons 2–4
Our latest seasons are hosted by HMH's Senior Director of Community Engagement and former teacher, Noelle Morris. Join her as she sits in on class time with her teacher guests, and follow along as COVID-19 challenges her and the educator community to connect virtually. Influencers, authors, and Teacher of the Year winners make up the guest list for seasons 2–4, where we cover the following themes:
- Building student relationships
- Writing lessons for young learners
- Virtual learning
- Equity and diversity
- Classroom communities
Teachers in America: Season 1
When we set out to record the Teachers in America series, we wanted to give teachers a platform to tell the story of what it means to be a teacher in America. Season 1 is hosted by Rose Else-Mitchell and covers important topics like the following:
- Bullying
- Burnout
- Classroom management
- The school-to-prison pipeline
- Social and emotional learning
Check out our full episode list below!
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Podcast: Why Teaching Is Rewarding, With Darla Moyers and Renae Kuhn in WV and VA on Teachers in America
Mother-daughter educators, Darla Moyers and Renae Kuhn, share a passion for education. Hear them discuss everything from their teaching journeys to blended learning.
Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief -
Podcast: Perseverance in Middle-School Math With Velnetta Runyon in WV on Teachers in America
Middle school math teacher Velnetta Runyon wants to ensure no student is afraid of math. In this episode, see how she teaches perseverance.
Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief -
Podcast: Being Bold and Wishing for Change with Kyle Schwartz in Denver, CO for Teachers in America
Teacher and author of I Wish My Teacher Knew, Kyle Schwartz, discusses how she helps students feel empowered to make a difference.
Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief -
Podcast: Tapping Pencils and Classroom Management with Stacy Salter
When customs broker Stacy Salter took on teaching elementary as a second career, she had to learn the ins and outs of classroom management to build student relationships.
Ali Habashi
Shaped EditorChristine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief -
Podcast: A Tale of Two Virtual Classrooms with Rachel and Steven Lamb
Educator couple Rachel Lamb and Steven Lamb join us for a special episode on EdTech and Virtual Team Teaching.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Grow Your Own Hydroponic Learning Lab with Melissa Tracy
Between their raised planters, vertical gardens, and hydroponic learning lab, Melissa Tracy and her high school students grow enough leafy greens to help feed the local community.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Place-Based Learning in Hawai‘i with Whitney Aragaki
Hawai’i State Teacher of the Year Whitney Aragaki joins us for a discussion on place-based learning, her student-led science curriculum, and teacher mentoring.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Teacher Appreciation Week with Special Guest, Secretary Miguel Cardona
Special guest U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona explains why now is the most impactful time to become a teacher.
Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-ChiefAli Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Classroom Transformations with Autumn Dvorak
From a museum to a bakery to a carnival, Autumn Dvorak's classroom transformations use hands-on projects and games to get her students excited about learning.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Serving Students, Country & Self with Samuel Gonzalez
Pennsylvania educator Samuel Gonzalez has been teaching for just two years, and all while studying for his doctorate and serving in the National Guard.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Fostering a Passion for STEM with Chicago Teacher Misty Richmond
We're kicking off season 4 with Chicago Public Schools teacher Misty Richmond, who discusses how she gets her students invested in STEM careers.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor
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Podcast: The Freedom in Reading for Quarantined Kids with Kitty Donohoe
Elementary teacher Kitty Donohoe joins us for a discussion on reading, looping with her class, and her debut children’s novel, How to Ride a Dragonfly.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: The Benefits of Outdoor Teaching with Hannah French
Meet fourth grade teacher Hannah French, who has moved many of her classes into the woods nearby. There, students engage in location-specific challenges, journaling, and free play.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: The Right Book for Reluctant Readers with Qorsho Hassan
Meet Qorsho Hassan, a second grade teacher and the 2020 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. On this episode we discuss the importance of independent reading, identity, and representation for our students.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Flex on Them Fridays with Perry Hollins
Meet Perry Hollins, a fourth grade teacher and former DJ who 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 environment for independent, flexible thinkers.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Creativity, Community, and Pride with Owen Bondono
Meet Owen Bondono, a high school ELA teacher and the first known transgender Michigan Teacher of the Year. He uses his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ student spaces and anti-racist teaching practices.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Lessons in Language and Loss with Angelica Moreno
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 dual language learnering, the El Paso Walmart shooting, and the school's reaction to losing one of their own to COVID-19.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: 2021 National Teacher of the Year Juliana Urtubey
Meet Juliana Urtubey, elementary teacher and the 2021 Nevada Teacher of the Year. Active and informed on educational policies and the importance of bilingual education, Juliana is also the 2021 National Teacher of the Year.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: From Foster Care to State Teacher of the Year with Anthony Swann
Meet Anthony Swann, a fifth grade teacher in Rocky Mount, Virginia. An advocate for hope and empathy when it comes to students contending with trauma, Anthony was named the 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Creating Classroom Content Worth Watching with CJ Reynolds
Meet CJ Reynolds, a high school teacher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By creating the teacher YouTube channel Real Rap with Reynolds, he has discovered that what might be ordinary for his classroom, may be someone else's extraordinary.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Shaking Up the Kindergarten Curriculum with LaNesha Tabb
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 turned her sights on writing a book about the importance of teaching social studies.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor
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Podcast: On Embracing Native Culture in Alaska with Danielle Riha
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.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: A Seat at the Peace Table with Karen Johnston
Meet Karen Johnston, an elementary school teacher at Harriet Tubman Montessori in New Orleans, Louisiana. Karen helps build a comfortable and open learning environment for her students by utilizing student-directed activities in mixed grade level classes.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Retiring During COVID-19 with Karl Grubaugh
Meet Karl Grubaugh, a former AP economics teacher and advanced journalism advisor at Granite Bay High School in California. A journalist and editor himself, Karl advised for the award-winning student newspaper The Granite Bay Gazette, and retired in 2020 after almost 40 years as an educator.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Finding Acceptance as an Immigrant Student with Margarita Lezama
Meet Margarita Lezama, an ESL and ESOL teacher at Brownsville Middle School in Miami, Florida. Originally from Nicaragua, Margarita now teaches a large immigrant population and relates with her students on topics like coping with culture shock, learning English, and facing discrimination.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Virtual Learning During COVID-19 with Sharon Biava
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. A 4th grade math teacher at Silver Lakes Elementary in Florida, Sharon is passionate about literacy, civics, and equity for all students.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Embrace Being Wrong, Applaud Being Right with Sharon Biava on Teachers in America
Meet Sharon Biava, a 4th grade math teacher at Silver Lakes Elementary in Miramar, Florida. A proud single mother of twins, Sharon has been an educator for 18 years and is a coach for both speech and debate and the chess team. She is passionate about literacy, civics, and equity for all students.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: On Being a POC in Academic Spaces with Dr. Chris Emdin on Teachers in America
Meet Dr. Chris Emdin, an Associate Professor of Science Education at Columbia University in New York, NY. He is the founder of Science Genius and HipHopEd, and the author of of White Folks Who Teach In the Hood and the Rest of Ya’ll Too. Chris works to support diverse students and educators in their STEM learning through an understanding of race and culture.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Teaching During COVID-19 with Priyank Bhatt on Teachers in America
Priyank Bhatt, a lead math teacher at West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey, 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.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: From ELL Student to HS Math Teacher with Priyank Bhatt on Teachers in America
Priyank Bhatt, a lead math teacher at West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey, discusses his personal and professional journey, which began in India. From learning English with the help of a dedicated ELA teacher—and American cartoons—to excelling in math class and eventually tutoring his friends, Priyank forged a path rooted in education.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Amplifying Student Voices with Kelly Harper on Teachers in America
Meet Kelly Harper, a third-grade teacher at Mary Bethune Elementary in Atlanta, Georgia. After winning the 2019 District of Columbia Teacher of the Year Award and being named one of four finalists for the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, Kelly moved to Atlanta, where she employs social-emotional learning to work toward dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Overcoming Trauma in Parkland, FL with Sarah Lerner for Teachers in America
Meet Sarah Lerner, an advisor for the award-winning yearbook Aerie and an English and journalism teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Sarah is passionate about mental health and advocating for gun reform and oversaw the publication of the student written anthology Parkland Speaks.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: On Virtual Learning and BLM Protests with Bianca Cole on Teachers in America
Meet Bianca Cole, a middle school special education and language arts teacher from Washington. From the effects of COVID-19 on Seattle to the Black Lives Matter protests that have taken place across America, 2020 has already presented Bianca with ample teaching moments outside of her classroom.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Homeschooling During COVID-19 with Debra Liese on Teachers in America
Meet Debra Liese, who met with Noelle to discuss Homeschooling during COVID-19. Like many parents, Debra has been working remotely full-time while helping to teach her children whose public schools have been shuttered during the COVID-19 crisis.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Podcast: Displaced Katrina Student Comes Home to Teach with Chris Dier on Teachers in America
Meet Chris Dier, a teacher of World History and AP Human Geography at Chalmette High School in St. Bernard’s Parish, Louisiana, who is the 2020 Louisiana Teacher of the Year. Chris’s focus is to provide an equitable and multicultural education for all.
Ali Habashi
Shaped Editor -
Meet Noelle Morris: Host of Teachers in America Podcast
Get to know veteran educator, the original READ 180 teacher, and host of our Teachers in America podcast: Noelle Morris.
Onalee Smith
Shaped ContributorNoelle Morris
Senior Director Community Engagement, HMH; Host of HMH Learning Moments: Teachers in America Podcast -
Podcast: Becoming a History Teacher with Debra Reynolds on Teachers in America
Meet Ms. Debra Reynolds, a world history teacher at Wicomico Middle School. She talks about building relationships with her students from day one, and how she finds time for her hobbies (like skydiving and antiquing)!
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: Wearing the Kindness Cape with Julia Allan on Teachers in America
Meet Julia Allan, a Kindergarten teacher in Howard County Public Schools. She talks about equity in education, social-emotional learning, the tooth fairy, bus stresses, and the joys of seeing her students grow together.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: Words from a Teacher Influencer with LaQuisha Hall on Teachers in America
Meet LaQuisha Hall, 2018 Baltimore City Teacher of the Year, as she talks about teaching in the community of Baltimore, using social media as a teacher, and being a survivor of sexual abuse and a former ward of the state.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor
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Podcast: 2019 National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson on Teachers in America
Rodney Robinson, 2019 National Teacher of the Year, talks about the school-to-prison pipeline, teaching social studies and civics education to incarcerated students in a juvenile detention center, and other major education issues.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: Looping with a Classroom Family with Tracy Childers on Teachers in America
On Teachers in America, Tracy Childers, a science teacher at a STEM magnet middle school, talks about project-based learning, looping with his students, and considering retirement.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: Becoming a Better Learner with Monica Fitzgerald on Teachers in America
On Teachers in America, Monica Fitzgerald, a reading teacher and literacy coordinator, talks about growing up in a military family and as the child of an immigrant—and how she connects her experiences to her teaching practice.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: SEL in the Face of Natural Disaster with Garrett Jackson on Teachers in America
Garrett Jackson, a special education teacher in Saipan, CNMI, talks about teaching in isolation, supporting students after a natural disaster, and using edtech in occupational therapy.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: Budget Cuts, Burnout, and Self-Care with Georgette McClain on Teachers in America
On the Teachers in America podcast, Georgette McClain, a life sciences teacher in Blanchester, Ohio, talks about school safety, teacher salaries, and state testing.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: Growth and Development in Elementary Students with Alexa Tegtmeier on Teachers in America
On the Teachers in America podcast, Alexa Tegtmeier, a 3rd grade teacher in Boston, talks about serving a large population of English Learners and the differences in access between districts.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: On STEM Learning and Community Outreach with Donna Gradel on Teachers in America
This episode of Teachers in America features Donna Gradel, 2019 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year and a finalist for National Teacher of the Year.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: Creating a Classroom Management Plan with Brittany Mamphey on Teachers in America
On Teachers in America, Brittany Mamphey—a teacher in Cincinnati—talks about classroom management, teacher retention, and student empowerment.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: Recognizing the Needs of Students with Amanda Rack on Teachers in America
On the Teachers in America podcast, Amanda Rack—a teacher in Southern California—opens up about the struggles of being a teacher mom.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor -
Podcast: Spotting Signs of Bullying with Rachel Swartz on Teachers in America
On the Teachers in America podcast series, Rachel Swartz—a teacher in the Bronx, New York—talks bullying, SEL, and inspiring teachers
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor
Understanding how educators teach today and hearing about the important strides they are making in the classroom give us a glimpse into the worlds of our K–12 learners through the eyes of the people who encourage them to be the best they can be.
We are always looking for more teacher guests, so if you or someone you know would be good on the podcast, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com. We can't wait to meet you!
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Subscribe now to Teachers in America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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