PODCAST · education
The Teacher Leader Podcast
by The Teacher Leader Press
The most powerful change in education? It doesn’t come from the top down—it comes from teachers like youWelcome to The Teacher Leader Podcast, where everyday educators become agents of change. Whether you’re navigating your first year in the classroom or mentoring the next generation of teachers, this podcast is your resource for leading with impact, not authority.Hosted by lifelong educators Jody Tucker, Esther Valdez, and Allison Johnson, we explore the topics that matter most: sparking classroom innovation, navigating tough conversations, building supportive teacher communities, and mastering practical strategies that transform your practice and inspire those around you.What sets us apart? Authentic stories from real educators. Sincere discussions about the challenges and triumphs of teaching, along with practical insights you can implement immediately.Subscribe now and join a community of educators who refuse to wait for change—they create it. Because the future of education is
Episodes
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Sheldon Reynolds: Want Student Agency? Start With Staff
Do you ever wonder whether teachers leave the profession because of the job itself or because of where they're asked to do it? Denver principal Sheldon Reynolds says there is no teacher shortage, only a shortage of schools where teachers want to work, and he explains how he builds schools around...
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Robin Whitacre: The Day I Realized I Was the Gorilla
Ever had a coworker suddenly become your boss, and watched the whole dynamic shift overnight? Robin Whitacre has, and she's got the gorilla story to prove it (yes, an actual gorilla, raised by chimpanzees, is involved). In this warm, funny, and reflective conversation, Robin joins Jody, Esther…
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Kris Ferrell on the Power of Hot Cheetos
A first-grader kept missing every other Friday and Monday. The school decided he was defiant and filed a petition to bring him into truancy court, a six-year-old standing in front of a judge. It took his court-appointed attorney about two minutes to find out why: his parents had split up, and on...
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Saira Galindo on SEL Beyond the 20-Minute Block
Every school has an SEL block on the schedule, and most of them have a collective eye roll to go with it. Saira Galindo, Transformative Social Emotional Learning Specialist with Denver Public Schools, has a clear diagnosis for why. SEL got handed to teachers as a prepackaged twenty minutes with…
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Breanna Wilson: Keep Your Revolutionary Optimism
Breanna's path into teaching didn't look like the brochure. A teacher's-kid childhood, a false start at a "best in the nation" education program, family obligations that pulled her home to Denver, nearly a decade as a full-time para while she was also a full-time student — and finally, in her…
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Educational Equity: Jenna Martin on Teaching Every Child
What does it take to build a classroom where every child can bring their whole self? Dr. Jenna Martin has spent two decades chasing that question—from a paraprofessional job to a Fulbright in South Korea to leadership roles guiding the next generation of teachers. Adopted from South Korea and...
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Bountiful Belonging: Dr. Arianne Rivera on Co-Creating Togetherness
In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, we welcome Dr. Arianne Rivera — educator, researcher, and lifelong champion of multilingual learners — to discuss her doctoral research on bountiful belonging. Drawing on painful experiences of exclusion in school, Dr. Rivera reframes belonging not…
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Christopher Rivas: Every Kid Has a Story — But Are We Really Listening? The Power of Storytelling and Silence
What if the secret to student engagement isn't a new curriculum — it's simply making space for silence? In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, hosts Jody Tucker, Esther Valdez, and Allison Johnson sit down with Christopher Rivas — actor, playwright, author, educator, and self-described...
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Brilliant, Beautiful, Unbreakable: Nicole Salinas on Being the Teacher Every Student Deserves
In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, Nicole Salinas shares her powerful journey into education—from growing up in a Spanish-speaking immigrant family to becoming a first-generation college graduate and special education teacher. Nicole reflects on the challenges she overcame, the…
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Rediscovering Purpose: How Lori Ranney's Second Career Became Her Greatest Calling
In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, veteran educator Lori Ranney shares her inspiring journey from the legal field to the middle school classroom, revealing how true teacher leadership grows from curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to students. Through stories of launching...
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Leading with Heart: John McCluskey on Alternative Education and Student-Centered Leadership
Educational leader John McCluskey joins the Teacher Leader Podcast to discuss why "we're not making widgets—we're creating human beings." From his early days teaching on the Navajo reservation to leading at Jefferson County's Open School and New Vista High School, John shares how centering…
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Breaking Barriers: Jackie Doerr's 41-Year Journey in Education
In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, we speak with Jackie Doerr, an educator whose career spanned 41 years (1968-2009) and included being one of the first female principals in her district. Jackie's journey from a first-grade teacher to a school leader in a predominantly male…
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Teaching with Heart: Aaron Valle’s Journey Begins
In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, we talk with Aaron Valle, a recent graduate who has just started his teaching career. Aaron shares his journey to becoming an educator and emphasizes the importance of authenticity and meaningful relationships in the classroom. As a Latino male...
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The Living Tree Book Launch
In this episode, co-host Allison Johnson welcomes fellow co-hosts, colleagues, and co-authors Jody Tucker and Esther Valdez to discuss their newly released children's book, The Living Tree. Jody and Esther discuss how they first met in the education sector and explain how the book's theme emerged...
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Welcome to the Teacher Leader Podcast
In the inaugural episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, lifelong educators Jody Tucker, Esther Valdez, and Allison Johnson highlight the role of teacher leaders, focusing on impact over titles. They discuss the challenge of teacher retention, noting that many leave within 5 to 7 years. Through...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The most powerful change in education? It doesn’t come from the top down—it comes from teachers like youWelcome to The Teacher Leader Podcast, where everyday educators become agents of change. Whether you’re navigating your first year in the classroom or mentoring the next generation of teachers, this podcast is your resource for leading with impact, not authority.Hosted by lifelong educators Jody Tucker, Esther Valdez, and Allison Johnson, we explore the topics that matter most: sparking classroom innovation, navigating tough conversations, building supportive teacher communities, and mastering practical strategies that transform your practice and inspire those around you.What sets us apart? Authentic stories from real educators. Sincere discussions about the challenges and triumphs of teaching, along with practical insights you can implement immediately.Subscribe now and join a community of educators who refuse to wait for change—they create it. Because the future of education is
HOSTED BY
The Teacher Leader Press
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Teacher Leader Podcast have?
The Teacher Leader Podcast currently has 15 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Teacher Leader Podcast about?
The most powerful change in education? It doesn’t come from the top down—it comes from teachers like youWelcome to The Teacher Leader Podcast, where everyday educators become agents of change. Whether you’re navigating your first year in the classroom or mentoring the next generation of teachers,...
How often does The Teacher Leader Podcast release new episodes?
The Teacher Leader Podcast has 15 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Teacher Leader Podcast?
You can listen to The Teacher Leader Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Teacher Leader Podcast?
The Teacher Leader Podcast is created and hosted by The Teacher Leader Press.
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