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If learning communities are not truly inclusive, then they are not really meeting the needs of everyone — that’s the core belief that drives International Schools Services (ISS) Director of Learning, Research, & Outreach Dana Specker Watts, Ph.D. It’s why she’s made sure that the “Netflix for schools” education model that she’s been developing as a passion project is available and accessible to everyone at the schools she works with, from security and food service employees to TAs, teachers, and school leaders. 

Now living and working in New Jersey, Watts reflects on her own teaching career in the U.S. and abroad in this episode. Whether it's the challenge of adjusting from teaching college students to middle schoolers, unforgettable classroom experiences like having a Hiroshima survivor to speak with her students, or highlighting innovative practices that connect teachers, students, and parents in powerful ways, Watts shares insights for everyone. 

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

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With more than 20 years of experience across rural, urban, and international schools, Gregg Pait has seen almost every challenge education can offer. From teaching K-12 social studies to launching project management courses on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University, Pait has built his career on variety, adaptability, and a passion for lifelong learning. 

In this episode, Pait shares what it’s like to prepare for an entirely new subject area, how he sets the tone in the first weeks of school, and why he believes authentic connections make all the difference in an education career. His reflections on community and classroom procedures provide insightful takeaways for new teachers and experienced educators alike. 

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

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• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
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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.

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After more than two decades in project management and administration, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Ayoko Vias’ career and left her unemployed. Then, she found herself stepping into a kindergarten classroom in Togo, West Africa, and discovered her true calling. 

In this episode, Ayoko reflects on her journey from office manager and event planner to international school educator. She shares how her personal leap of faith turned into a passion for teaching, the lessons she strives to instill in her students, and the ways she balances challenges with joy in the classroom. 

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

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
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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.

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For most teachers, confidence in the classroom doesn’t come overnight. It’s something that has to be built through experience, reflection, and support. Angie Haller, an educator based in Arizona, knows this firsthand. 

In this special topical episode, Haller shares her perspective on what confidence looks like for teachers and how they can intentionally develop it over time. She talks about the challenges she faced as a new teacher, the moments that helped her grow, and strategies for becoming more confident at any stage of your education career. 

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

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
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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.

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When he used “99 Problems” in a lesson about search and seizure last school year, some of Dominic Helmstetter’s ninth grade government students didn’t know who Jay-Z was until somebody mentioned that he was Beyonce’s husband — but he got plenty of emails filled with laughing emojis from appreciative parents. 

That’s just one example of how Helmstetter, a social studies teacher in Ohio, creates deeper relationships with anyone connected to his classroom as part of his dedication to creating learning environments that spark curiosity and prioritize belonging. 

In this episode filled with takeaways for teachers at any stage of their career, Helmstetter shares insights about building meaningful bonds, what technology teachers can use to enhance their classrooms from day one, and much, much more. 

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

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
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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.

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"When it’s in you, it’s in you, and you can’t run from it." 

That’s what Jazzmyne Townsend’s mom told her as she avoided a career in education to study business administration and marketing. But when Jazzmyne graduated from college during a recession and found work as a paraprofessional, it set her on a 16-year path toward being named the 2025 D.C. Teacher of the Year and a National Teacher of the Year Finalist. 

In this episode, Jazzmyne shares how she creates lessons that stick with students by having them build aquariums out of fruit boxes and construct simulations of the Wright brothers’ inventions. Jazzmyne also shares the “why” that sustains her through challenges in this conversation filled with powerful takeaways for new teachers and experienced educators. 

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

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
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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.

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Emily Chaskelson studied journalism as an undergraduate, honing her observation skills. So, when she noticed the difficulties created by the language barrier between Spanish speakers and English speakers in Chicago, she became motivated to bridging the gap. 

Fast forward and Emily has been teaching multilingual learners in public schools for 18 years, most recently in North Carolina. In this episode of the Front of the Class podcast, she discusses the lessons she’s learned through almost two decades working in education, including how student buy-in can change a learning environment for the better, strategies for teachers facing challenges in the classroom, and why it’s best for teachers not to be friends with their students immediately. 

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

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
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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.

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Kathy Schmidt’s path to the classroom started in some unlikely places, from working in zoos and aquariums to traveling the world as a cruise ship staffer, to becoming a certified dive instructor. But through all the twists and turns, she’s stayed focused on one thing: engaging learners of all subjects with energy, empathy, and creativity. 

Now a middle school teacher in Casablanca, Morocco, Kathy supports multilingual, multicultural students in a dynamic, global learning environment. In this episode, she shares how she builds inclusive classrooms, balances challenges with curiosity, and channels her environmental education background into project-based learning that sparks joy. 

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

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
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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.

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What does it take to teach across borders, and thrive while doing it? 

In this special topical episode, Rainier Lee shares insights from his inspiring journey from the U.S. to South Korea and the Netherlands, showing that teaching internationally isn’t just possible — it’s transformative. 

Rainier dives into what it means to be a culturally responsive educator, how choosing a country outside of your comfort zone can be the best thing for a teacher, and why it’s essential to stay connected to your purpose when teaching abroad. 

Whether you're interested in international schools, planning to relocate, or simply want to hear what it’s like to teach across cultures, this episode offers insights and inspiration from someone who's done it all. 

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

Keep the conversation going with us on social:

• Instagram: @frontoftheclass.podcast
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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.

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Julie Rudlosky — an educator in Ohio — didn’t set out to become a classroom comedian, but after 15 years of teaching English, she’s learned that laughter is one of her most powerful tools. 

From re-enacting Shakespearean swordfights to creating escape rooms, Rudlosky’s classroom is an environment where students can be themselves, explore creative projects, and truly engage with literature. Even when new curricula bring new challenges, she finds ways to bring joy and resilience into her teaching. 

Whether you’re a veteran educator or just entering the profession, Julie’s approach to building rapport while teaching lessons with warmth and humor will leave you inspired. 

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.