The Teacher Story

In this episode I share about my experience leading a student trip to Germany from March 23rd-March 31st, 2023. This was my first time leading an international student trip. This was a life changing experience and something that will stay with me my whole life. On this trip we visited the following cities/towns: Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Bamberg, Nuremberg, and Munich. Some of the historical sites include: Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag (German parliament), Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, Leipzig walking tour, Dresden walking tour, Museum of Military History in Dresden, Bamberg walking tour, Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial, Marienplatz in Munich, Munich walking tour, BMW Headquarters, and. Olympiapark (1972 Olympics). I left my students with this message: "To feel history is powerful and I think we did just that on this trip." Sharing laughter and tears with my students will stay with me forever.

I interviewed Jason Wilson, who is an ESL Teacher in Colombia, CEO of Circle of Friends Club, CEO of EDFX Media ,Spiritual Life Coach, and Podcast Producerof three podcasts: Victory Circle, Podcast, La Mezcla Perfecta, and Living On Purpose. He is originally from America and found a wonderful wife and life in Colombia. He shares Colombia is not what you see in the news but it is a vibrant and beautiful country. His work today consists of helping 40+ somethings look like rock stars on social media. He is always engaged with connecting people. His latest project is creating a Spanglish group where Spanish and English speakers can engage and learn from one another through social events. Jason is a community builder and he thinks outside-the-box when it comes to language instruction!

Jason Wilson's LinkedIn

Circle of Friends Club website

EDFX Media website

Podcasts Page on Circle of Friends Club website

I interviewed Jessica Madenford who is an Art Teacher and Educator Wellness Coach with her company, The Journey to Here LLC. Jessica is also a Master NLP Practitioner and Reiki Practitioner. She is a passionate teacher and coach who is dedicated to helping to support wellness for teachers. I have personally worked with her and she has a gift! She currently teaches in three different schools as the single Art Teacher commuting many distances, and over the course of her k-12 career has taught at five schools. She has been through it all! She came into her own coaching business when she realized she needed the extra support. Teachers and all professionals can build a healthy work/life balance and take care of their health with the support of a coach. Jessica has the compassion, empathy, skill, and gift to help any teacher looking for true wellness.

Jessica Madenford’s LinkedIn

The Journey to Here website

I interviewed Dr. Peter Berg who is a Speaker, Author, Adjunct Faculty Ed.D at SNHU, School Leader, Teen Mental Health Coach, and Alternative Education Organizer and Assistant Director of AERO (Alternative Education Resources Organization). Dr. Berg works with teens and young adults as a mental health counselor, is an educational leader, and works with educational innovation and the transformation of education. He works with learners and families to find the right educational fit. He is an author of the best-selling book The Tao of Teenagers: A Guide to Teen Health, Happiness & Empowerment. His research focuses on holistic education, self-determinant education models that are directed by learners, and transformative leadership. Dr. Berg says "Let the child guide you" and speaks about how school should truly be a democratic process.

Peter Berg’s LinkedIn

AERO LinkedIN

AERO website

AERO Conference-June 23-25, 2023

I interviewed Dr. Colleen Kelley who is a Chemistry Instructor and Creator/Founder of Kids' Chemical Solutions. Her program consists of a series of comic books where characters represent different chemicals. Colleen is in her research phase and working with 4th graders to see how they take to this new way of learning chemistry. She says "When the class is over they do not want to stop!" The kids are loving chemistry and feel great success in their understanding of what is commonly known as one of the most difficult subjects. Kids' brains are ripe for learning this content. Her goal is to make this program accessible for all to create a more equitable education system. She shares a startling statistic that shows this truly is a civil rights issue. "In 2022 there was a 80% failure rate for underrepresented students in chemistry after two years."

Colleen Kelley’s LinkedIn

Kids’ Chemical Solutions

PBS Short: https://youtu.be/wDmkJzcm4Pc

How to order the comic books: http://mcdetectiveagency.org

I interviewed Elizabeth Peterson who is an Art Educator and Founder of The Inspired Classroom which features her Arts Integration and SEAL (Social Emotional Art Learning) program. She is a Creative Social Emotional Learning Expert and Arts Integration Specialist with degrees in Education, Music, Arts, Leadership and Learning. She is in her 24th year of teaching and 16th year hosting workshops, retreats, and online courses in Arts Integration and Social Emotional Learning. She offers free resources and opportunities for PD for individual teachers and schools. Elizabeth says "You need to get inspired to be inspiring." There is so much truth and wisdom in that statement, Elizabeth is inspiring!

Elizabeth Peterson’s LinkedIn

The Inspired Classroom

The Inspired Classroom for School PD

I interviewed Brantley Turner, who is a Director of East Asian Education, Co-founder and Board Member of Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School in China, and an Educator. Drawing on 25 years of China-based work and 10 years as the founding principal of the only Sino-U.S. independent, cooperatively run high school approved by the Ministry of Education in China, Brantley is consistently ahead of conversations that others are having about globalized education for the 21st Century. Driven by a belief in the power of disruption, Qibao Dwight is a living laboratory. Brantley says "How come we can't put the shoe on the other foot and look at ourselves with that lens." This is an important conversation about global perspective and one that is very much needed in the education space right now.

Brantley Turner’s LinkedIn

Dwight School

Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School

I interviewed Calvin Lawrence, who is a former K-12 Educator, Administrator, and now a Motivational Speaker and Educational Consultant. He is also the Founder & Consultant for Calvinlawrencespeaks LLC. He currently speaks at many universities including his alma mater, James Madison University. Calvin shares many intimate stories in this episode that include inspirational people in his life who made him who he is today. One of the many quotes that stood out to me in this conversation include "We have to be careful not to lose this time period...this is a time for a reset." We talk about everything from inspiration, leadership, the school-prison pipeline, and how we can support teachers at the foundational level. Calvin is the ultimate mentor!

Calvin Lawrence’s LinkedIn

calvinlawrencespeaks.net

I interviewed Matt Gilhooly who is a Podcaster and Educator. Matt is a Podcast Producer/Host/Editor of The Life Shift podcast and Associate Course Director in higher education. Matt teaches PBL (project based learning) in his finance classes where students create real-world projects that bring their understanding of the subject matter to life. He talks about the long term impact of No Child Left Behind, and how students should be okay with failure. Matt shares “Understanding failures are not failures, but they are learning opportunities.” He is authentic, speaks the truth, cares about education reform, and wants to see people live a life of passion and not just a checklist life. Matt ends with “The more we share our stories, the less people feel alone.”

Matt Gilhooly’s LinkedIn

The Life Shift LinkedIn

The Life Shift website

The Life Shift YouTube

I interviewed Lorraine Connell who is a former Chemistry Educator and now is a Leadership Coach with her business Peers-not-fears. She is also the Creator/Host of Education Unimagined podcast where she interviews students about their ideas for education. She is the ultimate champion for students sharing their voice. Lorraine left teaching because she knew she had more to do to empower kids. She is working to build leadership in our youth through peer mentoring. A quote that stood out to me that was said by one of her students was "You know, Ms. Connell, we have always been wearing masks." There is so much truth and power in that statement. We have to listen to our kids! They know what we need to change in education and in the world.

Lorraine Connell’s LinkedIn

Peer-not-fears website

Education Unimagined Podcast