Owen Bondono joins Donnie and Alisa to share a few classroom ideas that he uses in his high school English class.  

Owen Bondono (pronouns: he/they) teaches 9th grade English at Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Michigan. He is the 2021 Michigan Teacher of the Year. His teaching focuses on growing students’ empathy, critical thinking, and communication skills in a space where they are safe and empowered. Owen is focused on bringing anti-racist and queer-affirming practices into the classroom and believes that advocacy drives all good teaching practices. In his spare time, Owen is a writer, the Detroit Municipal Liaison for National Novel Writing Month, and a Dungeons and Dragons player.

You can follow Owen on Twitter at https://twitter.com/owenmakesstuff

Like Teachers Passing Notes? Please like, subscribe, and share it with other educators!

For more great shows, visit GZMshows.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Justin comes back to pass a note about how he encourages his students to discover new composers and how a solid music program can become the backbone of a school building. 

Justin Johnson is entering his 10th year as director of bands at Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois, where he oversees all aspects of the band program. Justin prides himself on creating a classroom culture focused on student growth while creating an atmosphere that cultivates accountability, responsibility, and good will. His voice is valuable as a fresh perspective in education, and he continues seeking to teach values and lessons that reach beyond the band room.  

You can follow Justin on Twitter at @1ILNupe

Like Teachers Passing Notes? Please like, subscribe, and share it with other educators!

For more great shows, visit GZMshows.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Justin Johnson is entering his 10th year as director of bands at Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois, where he oversees all aspects of the band program. Justin prides himself on creating a classroom culture focused on student growth while creating an atmosphere that cultivates accountability, responsibility, and good will. His voice is valuable as a fresh perspective in education, and he continues seeking to teach values and lessons that reach beyond the band room.  

On this episode, Justin shares some excellent reading, writing, and art activities that his musicians participate in.  

You can follow Justin on Twitter at @1ILNupe

Like Teachers Passing Notes? Please like, subscribe, and share it with other educators!

For more great shows, visit GZMshows.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2021 National Teacher of the Year is back and better than ever! A believer in outdoor education for all, Juliana worked with her elementary special education students for years to have them develop a school and community garden.  

As 2021 National Teacher of the Year, Juliana advocated for a “joyous and just” education for all students, one that is inclusive and celebratory of all students’ identities, families and communities. Since being announced as National Teacher of the Year in May 2021, Juliana has shared her “joyous and just” message with pre-service teachers, educators and policymakers across the country – including at the White House – and through U.S. and international media, including People Magazine, the TODAY Show, Univision, Telemundo, and Colombia’s El Pais, El Espectador, and RCN Noticias.

You can follow Juliana on Instagram at @julianaurtubey

Like Teachers Passing Notes? Please like, subscribe, and share it with other educators!

For more great shows, visit GZMshows.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Juliana Urtubey is the 2021 National Teacher of the Year. On this episode, Juliana chats with Donnie and Alisa about how she used worms to teach her special education students to “celebrate their success and compost their failures.”

As a first-generation, bilingual immigrant, she has worked throughout her teaching career to serve as a mirror for her school community, helping students to be proud of their identities and families, and to acknowledge their strengths and contributions to the community.

As 2021 National Teacher of the Year, Juliana advocated for a “joyous and just” education for all students, one that is inclusive and celebratory of all students’ identities, families and communities. Since being announced as National Teacher of the Year in May 2021, Juliana has shared her “joyous and just” message with pre-service teachers, educators and policymakers across the country – including at the White House – and through U.S. and international media, including People Magazine, the TODAY Show, Univision, Telemundo, and Colombia’s El Pais, El Espectador, and RCN Noticias.

You can follow Juliana on Twitter at @JulianaUrtubey3

Like Teachers Passing Notes? Please like, subscribe, and share it with other educators!

For more great shows, visit GZMshows.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jena Nelson returns for another episode to talk about the joys of public education. As an educator with almost two decades of experience, Jena knows her stuff!  

You can follow Mrs. Nelson on Twitter at @Jena4OK

Like Teachers Passing Notes? Please like, subscribe, and share it with other educators!

For more great shows, visit GZMshows.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mrs. Jena Nelson teaches middle school at Classen SAS Middle School in Oklahoma City. In addition to being the 2020 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, she has a background in theater and dance, and lives on a farm with the happiest chickens you’ll ever meet. 🐔

You can follow Mrs. Nelson on Twitter at @Jena4OK

Like Teachers Passing Notes? Please like, subscribe, and share it with other educators!

For more great shows, visit GZMshows.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The one and only DC talks with Alisa and Donnie about how he uses his elementary school gym to create a strong, supportive, and positive community within his building. DC is believer in what he calls the five “Learn Languages”: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Reassurance.  

…and yes, DC did actually record this episode from his elementary school gymnasium.  

You can follow Mr. DC on Instagram at @darrionc20

Like Teachers Passing Notes? Please like, subscribe, and share it with other educators!

For more great shows, visit GZMshows.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jess from GZM Shows is learning how to make a podcast, and she’s taking you along for the ride! Join her as she learns from her friends in the industry aspects of planning, pre-production, production and post-production… from picking a good title and theme music to RSS feeds and everything in between! Tune in weekly with classrooms, kids and adults alike to learn how to make your own show in funny-yet-informative 5-10 minute episodes.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Darrion Cockrell – or Mr. DC as he likes to be called – teaches physical education at Crestwood Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri. He has nine years of teaching experience and has been at Crestwood since 2015. 

Mr. DC started a program for his students called CRESTFIT to get them, and the entire Crestwood community, up and moving. You can check out the CRESTFIT program in action here.  

He is the 2020 Emerson’s Excellence in Teaching Award winner, Missouri’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, and the NEA’s 2021 Horace Mann Friend of Education award winner. In 2020 Chance the Rapper presented him with the National Box Tops for Education Twilight Award.  

You can follow Mr. DC on Instagram at @darrionc20

Like Teachers Passing Notes? Please like, subscribe, and share it with other educators!

For more great shows, visit GZMshows.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.