Teachers Pet

Justin Copeland is a coach, father, and podcast host. His show Navigating the Intentional Life can be found on all major podcast platforms. We go deep into the journey of becoming the man he is today, how that informs the way he raises his sons, and where he thinks parents are falling short in the age of technology and distractions. It was a personal honor to talk with a man who was a really positive influence in my early youth. Go listen!

Talking with curriculum specialists is always a treat and Milton Bowens was no exception. Mr. Bowens currently works in Chickasha, OK as the visionary behind their short and long term goals as a district. We get into what his day to day looks like, community engagement, and how currently laws are going to be a hindrance to the education of our students. Go listen!

Hailee Alcaida is a former ELA teacher who has recently left the field for the time being. This was honestly a really hard episode to do. Hailee was one of my best friends while I was working with her and to hear why she chose to leave the field should be a wake up call to policy makers and educators alike. We discuss toxic environments, how a lack of resources is destroying entire generations of students, and how the education system is buckling at an alarming rate. Go listen.

Jena Nelson is the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year from 2020. We took a deep dive into how to assure every student has a chance to succeed and have an outlet. We also put our tin foil hats on to talk about why we continue to see such a major lack of funding and resources. Give it a listen!

Who doesn't love music teachers! Chris Hogan is an assistant band director working out of the Putnam City School District. As a percussion specialist, his day looks a little different than most teachers but you won't find anyone as passionate about teaching as him. Give it a listen!

What a time! We had another opportunity to talk with another elected official today and had a great conversation about education policy, what we need to do to attract more educators to OK, and what life is like working at the capitol. Rep. Ranson was a great guest and we look forward to talking again very soon!

Who doesn't love a good Social Studies teacher? Eric is a forward thinking SS teacher who has a lot to say about what happens in the classroom. Listen for some insights into his life and how he handles himself as an educator.

Jason Stephenson is an accomplished ELA Pro with many years of teaching experience. He currently work for the OKSDE and is in charge of Secondary ELA Curriculum for the State of Oklahoma.