Episodes

Get ready to get deep into the realm of Special Education. As a general ed teacher, I've had a love-hate relationship with how best to work with special education students and the teachers who support them. While I understand the necessity, the implementation in a general education classroom often felt awkward and overwhelming. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. I'm also sure our special education teachers have similar grievances when dealing with general ed teachers. So I decided to do a deep div...

Anne and Jen talk about where they've been and preview this season's upcoming educational topics. Jen had quite the school year, buried in new administration and navigating how to stay afloat. Now that summer vacay has arrived, Jen took lots of naps and has now found time to catch her breath and sit down for a preview of the episodes to come! Join us for all the banter you've missed!

In today's episode, Jen and I solve the problem with schools, and spoiler alert! It's not the schools! It's the people who attend them. More specifically, the economic status of the neighborhoods and the people who have to live in them. It's just a plain fact that students from lower-income and impoverished communities have worse educational outcomes than their more economically stable counterparts. If you want schools to improve, stop blaming the schools and start working to improve the lives o...

In this episode of Transparency in Teaching, I had the pleasure of speaking with Madeline, a former student teacher of mine who is now an adjunct faculty member at Chaffey College. Madeline shared her unique journey into the field of education, highlighting her initial struggles with dyslexia and how overcoming these challenges inspired her to help others learn to read. Madeline discussed her current role as a part-time professor, teaching English to a diverse group of community college student...

As of 2025, 32 states, along with Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, have some form of school voucher or voucher-like program (such as education savings accounts or tax-credit scholarships). Seems that voucher programs are spreading across the US like hot TikTok influencer video, captivating, but ya better check your facts first! And I, unfortunately, don't think voucher programs will be retreating back into the Pandora's box of alternate education any time soon. So public school teachers and the...

In this episode of Transparency in Teaching, host Anne sits down with Zach, a recent intern turned full-time educator, who opens up about the highs and lows of his first year in the classroom—all while adjusting to life as a new parent. Zach shares the realities of teaching, emphasizing that it's far more than a nine-to-five job. From building meaningful relationships with students to navigating the demanding workload beyond school hours, he offers an honest look at what it takes to thrive in e...

In this episode of "Transparency in Teaching," we tackle the hot topic of school choice and its potential impact on public education. On the surface, letting families decide where to spend their educational tax dollars on the school of their choice seems to make sense. But once we pull back the curtain on the consequences of this financial diversion of public funds, the idea seems more like nonsense. Are the potentially devastating effects school choice can wreak on public school resources and t...

🎙️ Welcome to Transparency in Teaching! In this episode, Anne reconnects with her first-ever student teacher, Steven Arredondo, now a first-year educator navigating the world of online teaching. Steven shares insights on managing virtual classrooms, acing the CalTPA, and balancing workload, offering fresh perspectives for teachers curious about the digital side of education. Tune in for stories, tips, and laughs, and explore more at TransparencyinTeaching.com. Perfect for educators, from classro...

In this episode of the new series The Rookie Report, Transparency in Teaching, host Anne interviews Mark Garcia, a passionate music educator currently teaching at a high school in Rialto. Mark shares his journey from his master's program at the University of Redlands to his current role, where he teaches a diverse range of music subjects, including music education, theory, marching band, jazz band, mariachi, and concert band. The episode aims to provide insights for aspiring educators by highlig...

Welcome to Transparency in Teaching! In this special episode, Anne introduces an exciting new series that dives into the real-life journeys of brand-new teachers. From navigating the certification process to stepping into their first classrooms, these fresh educators share candid stories, practical tips, and lessons they wish they’d known before starting. Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll hear in this series: Mark’s Advice: Choosing between the student teaching or internship route. Stephan’s...

Ok, it's just a couple of days before we have to decide what some are calling "the fate of our county." Part of that fate is what's on the slate for public education. Both candidates have education as part of their platforms. I went to each candidate's pages to see their education plans. I am bringing my findings to you in a way that is as unbiased as I can manage. Ultimately we all want the same thing-- for our children to have the best education possible that will help them be adults that cont...

We've been here before, twice! This is our third episode on this topic. It seems some things don't change. Districts are still struggling to hire and retain educators. This job we do and love comes with a price many aren't willing to pay to stay. We dive deep into the ongoing teacher exodus and explore the multifaceted reasons behind it. Joined by new host, Jimese, a seasoned educator from a continuation high school, the discussion covers: AI and Cyberbullying: Discover what Jen learned on her...

Hey there, amazing listeners! I'm thrilled to share the latest episode of our Transparency in Teaching podcast. In this episode, my fabulous co-host, Jen, and I dive into some hot topics making waves in the education world. We start by discussing Oklahoma's recent mandate requiring the Bible to be given more credit for helping our forefathers create the foundations of this country. We explore its implications and the controversy surrounding it. Next, we delve into the Louisiana mandate requir...

In this episode of Transparency in Teaching, Anne and Jen discuss three intriguing news stories that could impact schools across the country. The topics include Tennessee's rethinking of its third-grade retention policy, Ohio school districts buying mobile homes to teach teachers how to shoot guns, and Iowa's potential law requiring the daily singing of the national anthem. Tune in to stay informed about these developments in education. Like what you heard? Please rate and review our podcast so...

YAY! It's state testing time at schools all over the country. We love the inconvenient schedule changes and the disruption of the end-of-year rush to get through our curriculum, said no teacher ever. In this episode, Jen explains the new way state testing is being implemented and how they are trying to increase student engagement. She also empathizes with the trepidation the PE teachers are feeling about having to teach the new sex education curriculum. Key Topics Discussed: Sex Education Pro...

Welcome back to another episode of TransparencyInTeaching.com. Today, we're diving into the controversial state takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), which has been making headlines. With me, your host, Miss Anne, and my co-host Jen, we're unpacking the drastic changes implemented in HISD and discussing their potential impact. HISD, the largest school district in Texas and the eighth largest in the country, has been underperforming for years. The state's intervention was t...

In today's episode, we dove deep into teacher collaboration, discussing the why and how to do it. We explored why teacher collaboration is crucial for both teacher and student performance, and shared personal anecdotes to illustrate our points. Collaboration is not just about meeting once a week; it's about creating a culture where teachers feel supported and are encouraged to share ideas and strategies. It's about building a community within the school that ultimately benefits the students. We...

In today's episode, we dove deep into teacher collaboration, discussing the why and how to do it. We explored why teacher collaboration is crucial for both teacher and student performance, and shared personal anecdotes to illustrate our points. Collaboration is not just about meeting once a week; it's about creating a culture where teachers feel supported and are encouraged to share ideas and strategies. It's about building a community within the school that ultimately benefits the students. We...

Jen and I, Anne, sat down for a Zoom interview with Christopher Nesi, the head of the Education Podcast Network. The EPN plays host to a terrific collection of education-related podcasts, which you should definitely check out. Our interview was the first in a series called "Behind the Mic: Voices of the EPN." Christopher is interviewing the podcast hosts and creators of each of the shows you can find on the network. The episodes give listeners a great overview of what each podcast has to offer ...

In this episode, Anne and Jen shed light on the issue of teacher burnout and its prevalence in the education system. We discuss teachers' experiences facing challenges such as an intense curriculum without sufficient resources, mold-infested classrooms, and unaddressed disciplinary issues. We explain how teachers are not burned out simply because of their workload but rather because they are set up to fail by systemic issues. We cover the definitions of burnout, highlighting symptoms like exhaus...

This week, Anne shares updates and opinions on the ongoing battle of whether to tell or not to tell on Trans kids. Is this trust-busting practice worth fighting about? And she sheds light on the growing academically deadly pandemic affecting our schools, Chronic Absenteeism. To get all the resources and research used to create this episode, head over to TransparencyinTeaching.com. There, you'll find all of our informative episodes and blog posts to give you the information you need to improve y...

In this episode of EdNews This Week, Anne announces that she and co-host Jen will be featured guests on another podcast called Behind the Mic, out September 1st on the Education Podcast Network. This week's three news stories from the education world share how New Hampshire teachers are getting paid to teach chess, with the state providing funding for training and equipment, how Rhode Island's realignment of graduation requirements created with input from the community ensures all students will ...

The Teacher Workload: Teachers Get Less for More In this episode, Anne, Jen, and their special guest Maria delve into the multifaceted nature of the teacher workload, shedding light on the fact that the profession entails much more than simply standing in front of a classroom and delivering the curriculum. We discuss the term "teachering." Anne found this term in a blog post on teachbetter.com’s site. The curriculum coordinator for 21st Century Teaching and Learning, Alexy Valencic’s discussed...

Welcome to another edition of Ed News This Week. This week I’ll share why LAUnifed School District teachers (and a lot of us other teachers) are not happy about mandated discipline changes, What Congress has heard about mental health issues in school (will they finally listen?), and How ChatGPT has a sister AI being born that is supposed to be better for students. This week's question: How does your school or district handle discipline? Is it working? Add your comments below. For links to the ...