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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 Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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
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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.

Send us 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 Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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 us a text

As the 2026 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year, Megan Philbrook focuses on filling her classroom with curiosity and creativity for the fifth through eighth grade social studies students in her rural community. 

In this episode, Philbrook shares how she brings history to life through immersive lessons, why students love her simulations, and the importance of listening and emotional engagement. From reenacting the stock market crash to debating the Articles of Confederation, her students don’t just learn about history — they experience it. Teachers in any subject area can come away with new inspiration from Philbrook’s insights. 

Get your FREE Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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 us a text

Dr. Jenna DiEleuterio is the 2026 Delaware State Teacher of the Year and a middle school reading specialist in the Brandywine School District. She channels her passion for creating meaningful relationships and stronger school–community connections into helping students build confidence in their reading skills. 

In this episode, Dr. DiEleuterio shares her insights on approaching reading intervention with empathy and data, why she believes teaching is both an art and a spiritual practice, and how teachers can help create community movements. Her reflections can offer inspiration for educators seeking to make a deeper impact in their classrooms and beyond.

Get your FREE Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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 us a text

Tammy Irminger has spent 20 years in education, from teaching third, fourth, and sixth grade to serving as a librarian at MacArthur Elementary School on the Fort Leavenworth military base. With a passion for literacy and creating meaningful connections with students, she’s built a career centered on helping every child feel seen, supported, and inspired to learn. 

In this episode, Tammy shares how she builds strong relationships in a school community where students often move, encourages reluctant readers to fall in love with books, and maintains high expectations while creating a family-like classroom environment. Her insights offer heartfelt lessons for educators at every stage of their career.

Get your FREE Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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 us a text

After 25 years in education, Kimberly Henderson knows that where you teach and who you teach alongside can shape every part of your career. Now based in Egypt, Henderson reflects on her journey through U.S. and international classrooms, and what it really means to find your people, your purpose, and the right school for you. 

In this special topical episode, Henderson shares how she found a school community that feels like home and offers advice for educators searching for the same sense of belonging and alignment. 

Get your FREE Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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 us a text

Rachel J. is a first-grade teacher in an urban Iowa district, where more than half of her students are learning English as a second language. She has established a classroom environment grounded in warmth, teamwork, and high expectations — and achieved remarkable results. In just one year, her students’ reading proficiency rose from about 50% in the fall to nearly 90% by the end of the spring semester. 

In this episode, Rachel shares how she helps young learners build confidence, overcome challenges, and discover joy in learning. From whole brain teaching and songs that make lessons stick to building strong partnerships with parents, her story offers practical inspiration for educators at any stage of their career.

Get your FREE Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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 us a text

Orlando Rodriquez’s journey from college baseball player to special education teacher in Surprise, Arizona, is one of perseverance and purpose. Now in his 13th year as an educator, Rodriquez recently earned his master’s degree while balancing studying with leading his own classroom and keeping his passion for sports alive by coaching collegiate baseball. 

In this episode, Rodriquez shares how he brings lessons from the field into his classroom and vice versa; encourages students through his “Motivational Mondays” strategy; and leads with structure and positivity. His story is an inspiring look at what it means to help students grow academically, personally, and emotionally. 

Get your FREE Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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 us a text

From growing up dreaming of space exploration to building a 10-year teaching career across two continents, Kyle Letot’s journey is one of resilience, discovery, and purpose. Now teaching English conversation at a foreign language high school in South Korea, Kyle reflects on how her early experiences in U.S. classrooms and her transition abroad have shaped her approach to education as well as what she’s learned about helping students thrive in high-pressure environments. 

In this episode of Front of the Class, Kyle shares lessons on embracing challenges, adapting to new cultures, and finding fulfillment in the everyday victories of teaching. Her story offers inspiration for educators seeking growth, balance, and connection, no matter where in the world they teach. 

Get your FREE Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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 us a text

Dr. Susanne H. Thompson has a background spanning higher education leadership, building administration, superintendency, and more that has taken her from leading classrooms in Pennsylvania to serving as Moreland University’s president in Washington, D.C. 

As she focuses on preparing teachers to thrive in a changing world, Dr. Thompson reflects on her career journey, the evolution of the education landscape, and the role of technology in modern teachers’ day-to-day work in this episode. Her story offers encouragement for educators navigating challenges and inspiration for those thinking about their long-term impact.

Get your FREE Workbook ➡️ The K-12 Teacher's Workbook for New Year Resolutions 

This free resource for teachers is a practical way to set (and achieve) your professional goals this year.

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.