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Located in Washington, D.C., Dr. Emily Feistritzer has spent more than six decades shaping the field of education. From leading high school science and math classes as a 19-year-old to founding Moreland University and creating its innovative educator preparation program, she has dedicated her life to elevating the teaching profession. 

In this episode, Dr. Feistritzer shares insights from her unique career journey and reflects on the enduring purpose of teachers and why she believes artificial intelligence represents one of the most exciting opportunities in the history of education. 

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.

Send a text

Megan Elniff is a fifth-grade science teacher at a Greek immersion school in North Carolina where the Socratic method is central to learning. Over 13 years in education, she has taught in multiple states and served in roles ranging from special education teacher to multilingual learner specialist, all of which shaped her dynamic, student-centered approach to teaching. 

In this episode, Elniff shares how discussion-based instruction transforms her classroom into a space where students lead with curiosity and grow as critical thinkers. Her insights about teaching in diverse communities and continually refining her craft to better serve students will resonate with teachers at any stage of their career. 

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.

Send a text

Tiffani Jaseph is a veteran educator with 16 years of experience and a clear purpose: meeting each student’s individual needs. A former general education teacher who transitioned into special education, she now teaches in an extended resource program, helping students with the highest support needs from kindergarten through fifth grade. 

In this episode, Jaseph — the 2026 Arizona Teacher of the Year — discusses how she builds trust with families, and what it means to turn the smallest of progress into the biggest of victories while opening up about the emotional realities of the work, the importance of paraprofessionals and aides, and the power of creating an inclusive culture. 

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.

Send a text

How do you prepare high school students for the realities of work, collaboration, and leadership before they enter college or the workforce? 

2026 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Joel Coyne uses his classes to connect them with businesses and nonprofits to make a real impact on their community. 

In this special topical episode, Coyne explains how real-world expectations, consistent feedback, and strong classroom culture help his students rise to the occasion and feel truly prepared for life after school.

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.

Send a text

Frannie Tunseth is the 2026 North Dakota Teacher of the Year and a math and reading interventionist serving grades 4-8 in a small rural community. With experience as a kindergarten, first-grade, and fourth-grade teacher — and even as an elementary school principal — she has a unique perspective on what students need to succeed, especially those who arrive in her classroom feeling discouraged or behind. 

In this episode, Tunseth shares how she helps students reignite their passion for learning and make academic gains through trust, out-of-the-box writing lessons about early-2000s music, and data-driven instruction. Her insights can help teachers at every level more meaningfully celebrate academic progress and change the way their students see themselves as learners. 

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.

Send a text

Dr. Michael Lehan spent 6 years playing in the NFL before navigating the education world as a principal, superintendent, head of school, and district leader. From growing up in foster care to graduating from the University of Minnesota and playing football at the highest level, his journey reflects a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives. 

Now in Massachusetts, Dr. Lehan joins this episode to discuss how school can be both a challenging environment and a safe place, how educators can help shape students’ identities, and why he believes in leading with humility and curiosity. His story offers meaningful insight for any educator striving to build trust, create thriving learning spaces, and help children grow in all aspects of their lives. 

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.

Send a text

Ali Snabon-Jun, the 2026 Nevada State Teacher of the Year, has spent 20 years teaching music in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas. From opening new schools to re-establishing elementary music programs from the ground up, she has created classrooms and choirs defined by joy and the belief that every student can rise to meet high expectations. 

In this episode, Snabon-Jun shares how she builds trust with administrators to teach creatively, why she leads with encouragement and honesty, and how her inclusive classroom culture gets meaningful results. Whether she's inspiring students to discover their voices or making an 80-member choir into a schoolwide family, Snabon-Jun offers a fresh perspective for teachers looking to inspire confidence and growth in every learner. 

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.

Send a text

Named the 2026 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, Toni Fink has spent her career teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools, the largest and most diverse district in the state. After teaching abroad and pursuing an alternative pathway into the profession, she has built a career on the belief that every child deserves to be seen and valued. 

In this episode, Fink shares how she creates learning environments on a foundation of safety and trust, where curiosity is celebrated and students’ needs guide every decision. She shares how flexible classroom design and personal relationships help students excel both academically and socially.

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.

Send a text

Before becoming a teacher, Linda Alvarez built a successful career in the corporate sector — honing leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills that would later define her approach to education. Now the 2026 Vermont Teacher of the Year, she reflects on how her journey into teaching reveals the value of bringing real-world experience into the classroom. 

In this special topical episode, Alvarez explores the power of transferable skills and how career changers can use their backgrounds to connect with students, collaborate effectively, and thrive in education. 

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.

Send a text

Sarah Dully has built her career on helping young people articulate their ideas with confidence and clarity whether they’re crafting college essays, analyzing literature, or navigating everyday communication. 

In this episode, Rhode Island’s 2026 Teacher of the Year reflects on the classroom moments that shape her work, the joys and challenges of teaching English and special education, and the value of embracing constant learning and feedback. Dully’s stories offer practical insight for educators and encouragement for anyone striving to help students find their voice. 

Get your FREE GUIDE ➡️ 100+ AI Prompts to Save Teachers Time 

This free, teacher-tested resource is packed with over 100 AI prompts across 10 categories to help you lighten your load and reclaim your time. 

Moreland University can help you create the teaching career of your dreams. 

• Get your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months 
• Earn a master's degree in 12 months 
• Keep growing with professional development

Learn more at moreland.edu

Thanks for listening to Front of the Class: Real Stories From Real Educators.

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
• TikTok: @frontoftheclass.podcast

Want to jumpstart or grow your teaching career?

Moreland University's 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can help you get certified in as little as 9 months. Moreland also offers master's degrees in high-demand areas that can be completed 12 months.