Add as a preferred source on Google

2018 Teachers of the Year Share Powerful, Personal Stories in Third Season of “Leading from the Classroom” Podcast Series from NWEA

  • 12/10/18

Portland, Ore. –The 2018 State Teachers of the Year share personal and powerful stories that crystallize the importance of teaching in the third season of the podcast series “Leading from the Classroom,” launching today on TeacherPodcasts.org. The educators speak as advocates and ambassadors for their students, for the teaching profession, and to influence meaningful education policy change. 

The 48-part series is produced by NWEA, the not-for-profit provider of assessment solutions. New episodes, each about 3–5 minutes, will be released twice a week through the end of January. Listeners can subscribe to the podcast to be alerted of new episodes. The first six episodes releasing this week — three today, December 10th, and three Wednesday, December 12th — are:

  • Washington and National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning shares the story of an 18-year-old refugee student and mother who needed a little extra support to overcome extraordinary circumstances and reach her potential.
  • Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Jon Hazell touchingly recounts how his late father inspired him to change career paths and become a teacher.
  • Indiana Teacher of the Year Jerome Flewelling explains how learning and teaching became an exciting journey once he shifted his approach to engage and challenge his students.
  • Louisiana Teacher of the Year Kimberly Eckert reveals how two very different students helped define her approach to teaching and a new practice she calls “Genius Hour.”
  • South Carolina Teacher of the Year Erin Fox describes how her experience at Space Camp pushed her out of her comfort zone and inspired her to create a summer literacy program in her district.
  • Georgia Teacher of the Year John Tibbetts discusses why he’s challenging his fellow educators to focus less on teacher evaluations and more on innovation and student achievement.

“We created this series to give parents, policymakers, prospective teachers, and the public a deeper understanding of the commitment teachers have to their work and their students,” said Katie Topping, EVP Communications and Marketing, NWEA. “These inspiring stories should compel us to better support teachers and our systems of education. Our children, and ultimately our communities, reap the rewards.”

“It is powerful to hear these exceptional educators share in their own words what fuels and inspires them,” said Carissa Moffat Miller, Executive Director of CCSSO. “Their dedication to students, and their profession, is admirable and relentless. It’s CCSSO’s honor to support these educators through the National Teacher of the Year program.” 

NWEA is a partner of the National Teacher of the Year program run by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The national program identifies exceptional teachers throughout the country and recognizes their effective work in the classroom and the community. During their tenure, Teachers of the Year engage in diverse professional learning opportunities, amplify their voices, participate in policy discussions, and serve as champions for all students.

TeacherPodcasts.org includes headshots of the State Teachers of the Year as well as more information on the “Leading from the Classroom” series and the National Teacher of the Year program. For the latest updates on the “Leading from the Classroom” podcast series on social media, follow the hashtag #ntoy18.

Featured

  • FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

    Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.

  • Texas District Finishes Construction on New Middle School, Admin Building

    The Westwood Independent School District recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Westwood Middle School and Administration Building in Palestine, Texas, according to a news release. The campus covers 106,000 square feet and has the capacity for 650 students in grades 6–8, and it will also play home to the district’s staff and administration.

  • New eBook Shares Guidelines on Building CTE Centers

    Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum and resources provider iCEV recently announced the publication of a new eBook sharing guidance and insights on building new CTE facilities, according to a news release.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

Digital Edition