What’s it really like to be a first-year teacher? 🍎

From lesson plans and classroom management to exhaustion 😴, unexpected challenges, and those breakthrough moments that make it all worth it 🌟—two new teachers get real about their first year in education.

The wins. The mistakes. The things nobody warned them about. And what they wish they’d known on Day One. 🎙️✏️

Nationally award-winning Grand Junction High School history teacher Lisa Moot joins Teaching Better Together to share her best practices for making history meaningful, relevant, and memorable. She explores the art of engaging today’s students and offers insights into the passion, creativity, and relationships that bring history education to life.

In Part 2 of our conversation with District 51 Superintendent Dr. Brian Hill, educators Terry Schmalz and Miranda Bailey continue their discussion about leadership, education, and the future of schools in Western Colorado.

Dr. Hill shares his thoughts on one of education's biggest challenges today—educator burnout—and offers practical insights on how teachers and leaders can sustain their passion for the work.

He also discusses District 51's vision for educational technology, the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence, and how the district is preparing students for a rapidly changing world.

The conversation explores ways community members can best support local schools, highlights some of Dr. Hill's proudest moments as superintendent, and provides valuable advice for those considering a career in education.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Hill reflects on the importance of relationships, innovation, and keeping students at the center of every decision.

Whether you're an educator, parent, community member, or simply interested in the future of public education, this episode offers an encouraging and thoughtful look at leading through change.

Guests: Dr. Brian Hill, Superintendent of Mesa County Valley School District 51
Hosts: Terry Schmalz & Miranda Bailey

In this episode, educators Terry Schmalz & Miranda Bailey interview Dr. Brian Hill of D51 in Western Colorado.

Hill shares his journey in education, discusses the district's student cell phone policy update, explores the challenges of school funding, explains his decision-making process, and reflects on how he measures student success.

📅 Stay tuned for Part 2 on June 12, 2026, where Dr. Hill discusses educator burnout, the role of AI in the classroom, his proudest moment as superintendent, and the one word he uses to describe himself.

🎙️ D51 Superintendent Dr. Brian Hill shares his journey to educational leadership, the story behind the district’s widely discussed Colorado cell phone policy 📱➡️📚, and the growing challenges of funding schools during a time of declining enrollment nationwide 🌎

🎧 Episode 4: Student Voices on AI 🤖🎓

In this episode of Teaching Better Together, hosts Terry Schmalz and Miranda Bailey sit down with Central High School seniors Nic Pinnt and Pedro Medina for an honest, insightful conversation about artificial intelligence in today’s classrooms.

Both students—aspiring engineers—share how they’ve already encountered and used AI in their learning, from academic support to problem-solving, and where they see its role heading in the future. Their perspectives offer a refreshing, student-centered look at a topic that’s rapidly reshaping education.

From questions of integrity and independence to innovation and opportunity, Nic and Pedro give educators a front-row seat to how students are really thinking about AI—not just as a tool, but as part of their academic and career journeys.

✨ Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or simply curious about the future of learning, this episode brings valuable insight straight from the students experiencing it firsthand.

What happens when artificial intelligence rolls into the classroom? 🤖📓
In this episode, we sit down with D51 Instructional Coach and Magic School Bus Fellow Vanessa Moore to explore how District 51 is navigating the fast-moving world of AI in education.

Vanessa shares a thoughtful, boots-on-the-ground look at:
✨ How D51 teachers and leaders are approaching AI
⚖️ The real pros and cons of using AI with students
🧠 Ways AI can support creativity, differentiation, and critical thinking
🚧 Concerns around ethics, overreliance, and academic integrity
🔮 What the future of AI in classrooms might look like

Whether you're an educator, parent, or just curious about the future of learning, this conversation offers an honest and hopeful look at how schools can embrace innovation while protecting what matters most in teaching and learning. 🍎🎧

Tune in for a practical, inspiring conversation about the evolving role of AI in our schools — and what it means for students today and tomorrow.

From Crayons to Cap & Gown
Everything I Needed to Learn, I Learned in Kindergarten

What do high school seniors really remember about their earliest years of school? In this episode, we sit down with Zoe Clingaman and Quinn Seeman to reflect on their memories of kindergarten and elementary school—classrooms filled with crayons, circle time, playground rules, friendships, and first lessons about kindness, curiosity, and resilience. Through laughter, nostalgia, and thoughtful reflection, Zoe and Quinn look back at how those early experiences shaped who they are today as graduating seniors. It’s a reminder that some of the most important lessons don’t come from textbooks—they start on the classroom rug.

Say hello to The Kindergarten Whisperer herself — Shannon Koppenhafer! 🍎✨
We had the BEST time talking all things Kinder education:
💛 How to nurture curiosity in our tiniest learners
🎨 Why play, creativity, and movement matter more than ever
🧠 Practical strategies to support emotional + academic growth
🤝 And the magic that happens when teachers truly see their students
Shannon’s wisdom, warmth, and love for kids shine through every minute. If you teach K–2, work in early childhood, or have a soft spot for the littles, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧🌈