Front of the Class

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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 copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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. 

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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 copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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 Fan Mail

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 copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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 Fan Mail

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 copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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 Fan Mail

Hakeem Young is a math teacher and a head football coach at Spanaway Middle School in Washington state. He’s also an assistant football coach at Spanaway Lake High School. On top of it all, he’s achieved a 100% graduation rate as the head coach of the high school’s girls’ wrestling team. 

In this special topical episode, Young discusses how he gets buy-in from parents and helps student-athletes — particularly female wrestlers — build dedication, commitment, and other life skills that pay off beyond the mat with insights that are useful for teachers and coaches alike.

Get your free copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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 Fan Mail

From teaching on a military base at Fort Leavenworth to her current role as a fourth-grade teacher in rural Gardner, Kansas, Amanda Heilman has experienced a wide range of school communities. Over 13 years as an educator, she's found her sweet spot in helping students grow academically and personally while maintaining strong relationships with families. 

In this episode, Heilman reflects on her teaching journey, how she uses AI tools like MagicSchool and ChatGPT to reimagine tricky lessons, and the importance of boundaries and teamwork for avoiding burnout, offering practical insights for new and seasoned educators alike. 

Get your free copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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 Fan Mail

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. 

Get your free copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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 Fan Mail

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. 

Get your free copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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 Fan Mail

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. 

Get your free copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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 Fan Mail

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. 

Get your free copy of The K-12 Teacher's Guide to Saving Time While Lesson Planning! 

Download for free here ➡️ https://teach.moreland.edu/save-time-lesson-planning-guide

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.