Front of the Class
The Front of the Class podcast brings you real stories from real educators — insightful, inspiring, and sometimes unexpected! Hear from passionate teachers, school leaders, and education experts as they share career journeys, challenges, and game-changing strategies. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, this podcast is your go-to for fresh ideas, motivation, and a community that gets it.
Episodes
30 episodes
Building Teacher Confidence with Angie Haller
For most teachers, confidence in the classroom doesn’t come overnight. It’s something that has to be built through experience, reflection, and support. Angie Haller, an educator based in Arizona, knows this firsthand. In this specia...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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54:00
A Serious Love for Learning with Dominic Helmstetter
When he used “99 Problems” in a lesson about search and seizure last school year, some of Dominic Helmstetter’s ninth grade government students didn’t know who Jay-Z was until somebody mentioned that he was Beyonce’s husband — but he got plenty...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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56:55
Finding Joy in Everything Teachers Are with Jazzmyne Townsend
"When it’s in you, it’s in you, and you can’t run from it." That’s what Jazzmyne Townsend’s mom told her as she avoided a career in education to study business administration and marketing. But when Jazzmyne graduated from college d...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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46:24
18 Years of Teaching with Emily Chaskelson
Emily Chaskelson studied journalism as an undergraduate, honing her observation skills. So, when she noticed the difficulties created by the language barrier between Spanish speakers and English speakers in Chicago, she became motivated to brid...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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46:04
Embracing the Unexpected with Kathy Schmidt
Kathy Schmidt’s path to the classroom started in some unlikely places, from working in zoos and aquariums to traveling the world as a cruise ship staffer, to becoming a certified dive instructor. But through all the twists and turns, she’s stay...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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47:23
The Ins and Outs of Teaching Abroad with Rainier Lee
What does it take to teach across borders, and thrive while doing it? In this special topical episode, Rainier Lee shares insights from his inspiring journey from the U.S. to South Korea and the Netherlands, showing that teaching in...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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51:49
Creating Space to Learn and Laugh with Julie Rudlosky
Julie Rudlosky — an educator in Ohio — didn’t set out to become a classroom comedian, but after 15 years of teaching English, she’s learned that laughter is one of her most powerful tools. From re-enacting Shakespearean swordfights ...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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46:05
Leading with Empathy with Jenny Mitchell
"One phrase can make a difference, and it can be positive or negative." Jenny Mitchell didn’t always plan to be a teacher. But after a chance encounter with an international school during a study abroad experience, her path changed ...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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43:24
“People Over Things” with Cole Cooper
Cole Cooper didn’t take a straight path to education. From working at a pallet recovery plant at age 10 to working part-time and short-term jobs to make ends meet while supporting his family as an adult, every step of his journey built toward o...
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Episode 22
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1:00:25
Making it About the Students with Jake Knapp
"Make it about the kids." That’s the guiding principle for Ohio high school teacher Jake Knapp, who believes that everything in the classroom should be focused on what helps students learn and grow. In episode 21 of the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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42:10
Building Student-Centered Classrooms with Miya Hourani
What happens when students say that your class is boring? For Miya Hourani, that’s not the end of the conversation — it’s the starting point. In this special topical episode, Miya returns to share practical strategies for building t...
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Episode 20
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56:34
Teaching Beyond Borders with David Wilson
David Wilson didn’t plan to become a teacher. In fact, his first teaching experience happened by chance when a friend asked him to cover a physics class. What started as a temporary substitute role quickly became a lifelong calling.
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Episode 19
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37:44
“Hiring for Heart” with Savannah Steger
Savannah Steger, an educator in South Carolina, initially tried to ignore the childhood feeling that she would work in education — even going as far as starting college as a broadcast journalism major before pursuing what she termed her "callin...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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37:38
"It’s a Grind, But I’m Also Doing What I Love” with Carson Letot
Hands-on and high-impact. That’s how educator Carson Letot approaches his work at a North Carolina community college, where students learn not just concepts, but how to build successful careers. In this episode, Letot sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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51:37
Being “Agents of Our Future” with Rachel Davison Humphries
"Is this the best way to make change in people's lives?" That's the question Rachel Davison Humphries faced in the 2000s. As an EMT in East Texas, she knew she was providing immediate help to people in need, but she was searching fo...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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47:27
Searching for Teeth on the Playground with Neely Trull
Neely Trull's grandmother was a local celebrity — but maybe not the kind you would think. She spent 28 years working as an educator, making a positive impact on their community. So, when Neely was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, i...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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44:03
Character Building and Snowball Fights with Rainier Lee
How can one meal change your life? Rainier Lee shares how trying Korean food led him from a life as a cultural anthropologist in the U.S. to a career as a confident classroom leader in the Netherlands. In this episode, Rainier opens...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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45:08
‘The Job I Never Knew I Always Wanted’ with Michele Banks
What do classroom mantras, self-care, and unexpected career twists have in common? They’re all part of Michele Banks’ inspiring journey into special education. In this episode, Michele shares how she unexpectedly found herself teach...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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40:52
Meant to Do This with Miya Hourani
What happens when someone who never planned to be a teacher ends up changing students' lives around the world? In this inspiring and refreshingly honest episode, Miya Hourani (a middle school language arts teacher in Kuwait) takes us o...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:06:58
Working Alongside Educators with Courtney Thompson
With 7 years of experience as a classroom teacher in Georgia, Courtney Thompson shares her journey into a non-profit organization that advocates for student apprenticeships and internships. Discover how she transitioned from teaching history an...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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37:19
Finding the Thing that Lights You Up with Warry Bonney
From teaching K-12 in Fairfax County Public Schools (VA) and coaching wrestling to teaching in Saudi Arabia and educating teachers at Moreland University, Warry Bonney’s 10+ years in education has insights for educators new and experienced! In ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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47:13
'A Fire Inside Us’: Pioneering Technology in Education with RJ Bialk
Join RJ Bialk as he shares his inspiring journey from a marketing graduate to becoming the Chief Technology Officer of Deerfield Public Schools (IL). In this engaging episode, RJ recounts his unexpected path into education, the challenges he fa...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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41:38
‘A Little Bit of Everything’: From Teacher to Principal with Dr. Alicia Abbey
Wondering about the journey from teacher to principal? Join us as we talk to Dr. Alicia Abbey, Principal at Morningstar Catholic School in Florida and adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida, who shares her journey from teaching ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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33:09
Teaching in Your Zone of Genius with Rebecca Joyner
Join Rebecca Joyner, a former high school science teacher in South Carolina turned curriculum writer. Discover her journey from the classroom to creating It’s Not Rocket...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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37:04
Keeping Teaching Fresh and Relevant with Nathan Cohen
Dive into the world of education with Nathan Cohen, a seasoned 5th-grade teacher from Birmingham Public Schools in Michigan. With 24 years of experience, Nathan shares his journey, teaching strategies, and the joys and challenges of being an ed...
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Episode 6
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45:27