Journeys of Teaching

This week, we will sit down with Mr. Vương, an upper‑elementary teacher whose TikTok account, @teamvuong—centered on social‑emotional learning and social‑justice‑oriented teaching practices—has garnered more than 100,000 followers.

On this episode, Mr. Vương reflects on his decade‑long teaching career and the ways he centers community building and student humanity in his practice. In his classroom, critical literacy and inquiry take precedence as he and his students navigate both professional and social systems. He also discusses how he leverages TikTok to promote creativity and innovation within the teaching profession.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC

This week, we will sit down with Dr. Alex Corbitt⁠, an Assistant Professor of Literacy Education in the Syracuse University School of Education.

During our conversation, Alex shared about his years of teaching in the Bronx in which play, inquiry, and failure were central to his students’ language arts engagement. He also shared his perspective on how today’s teachers can connect language arts curricula to student interests while still maintaining best practices aligned to science of reading principles.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC

This week, we will sit down with ⁠Scott Weiler⁠, an Instructor of Robotics and Automation at Pima JTED, a career and technical education high school in Tucson, Arizona. Scott is also an Adjunct Professor of Automated Industrial Technology at Pima Community College.

On this episode, Scott will share about Girl Power in Science and Engineering, an initiative Scott started in 2012 for connecting girls with mentors to learn more about STEM fields.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC

This week, we will sit down with Scott Weiler, an Instructor of Robotics and Automation at Pima JTED, a career and technical education high school in Tucson, Arizona. Scott is also an Adjunct Professor of Automated Industrial Technology at Pima Community College.

On this episode, we will learn about Scott’s journey from studying language to robotics to teaching. We will also hear about how the tenets of hands-on, experiential learning and career connections are central to his teaching approaches.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC

This week, we will sit down with Maddi Briguglio, the Director of Operations for the Inside Out Network and a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University. The Inside Out Network brokers connections between individuals released from prisons and service providers to facilitate the reentry process.

On this episode, Maddi will share how her work at Inside Out and her teaching at Arizona State University inform each other. She works with criminal justice majors and students who take her course as an elective.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC

This week, we will sit down with Maddi Briguglio, the Director of Operations for the Inside Out Network and a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University. The Inside Out Network brokers connections between individuals released from prisons and service providers to facilitate the reentry process.

On this episode, we will learn about Maddi’s reentry work and the impacts Maddi and the Inside Out Network team make on the lives of system-impacted individuals.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC

This week, we will sit down with Maggie Beeber, the recently retired Undergraduate Advising Coordinator and Teacher Certification Officer in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 

This interview was recorded about five weeks before Maggie’s retirement. She looked back on a career grounded in service to School of Education students and the extended university community as well as the Maggie Beeber Future Educators Scholarship.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC

This week, we will sit down with Erika MacNeil, a teacher librarian in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, who previously appeared on this podcast in 2023. 

In our conversation this year, I caught up with Erika about her teaching over the past few years as I prepared to finalize a chapter about her in my book, Narratives of Pedagogical Development and Navigation of Educational Contexts, which was published by IGI Global this June. As you will hear, Erika continues to make relationships with students and families truly central to her work and how she curates and shares literature within her school community.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC

This week, we will sit down with ⁠Maria Loy Carson⁠, the Executive Director of ⁠Camp HOPE⁠, a weekend camp in Central Wisconsin for children who have lost a loved one to work through the grieving process.

On this episode, Maria will describe the origins of Camp HOPE and the work being done for campers and their families.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC

This week, we will sit down with Maria Loy Carson, the Executive Director of Camp HOPE, a weekend camp in Central Wisconsin for children who have lost a loved one to work through the grieving process.

On this episode, Maria will discuss her career transitions from social work to higher education to now directing Camp HOPE and becoming a first-time parent.

Dr. Aaron R. Gierhart is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and previously taught in the Illinois public schools for 11 years. Visit his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with him. 

Thank you to Mitch Furr for the podcast intro/outro music and Adam Gierhart for the logo artwork. 

Transition Music Credit: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radiate Instrumental (GLASS)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠”, Nuisance, Free Music Archive CC BY-NC