Sounding like a broken record here, but I have some amazing friends doing wonderful things. With fall approaching, back to school is on top of mind for all the educators and folks with kiddos, so I thought it would be nice to check in on those doing the work. Very proud to showcase them.

I asked my friends who are different points in their teaching careers and specialties to join me in studio to talk about everything from motivation, connecting with students, compensation and leave benefits for educators (hint, it’s not enough), and burnout and the mass exodus that is occurring among the teaching profession when we need them most.

In “microphone order”, we have Alexa Johnson (Ms. J), a math teacher at West Fargo High School, Gary Suchor (Mr. Suchor), an english teacher at Nathan Twining School on the Grand Forks Air Force Base, and Carly Grandner (G) a choir teacher at Davies High School. All three are tremendously invested in the success of their students and inventive in how to tailor programming to every kid. They also have great senses of humor.

The whole episode is worth listening to, but I am experimenting with technology and have embedded a clip below where Carly (G) explains the cornerstones of a teacher’s support system and why things are particularly challenging right now.