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"Teaching is a universal language of love." — on meeting teachers at the school in La Fortuna Becky Rowe teaches Teaching Professions Academy at Turpin High School in the Forest Hills School District, a satellite program of Great Oaks Career Development Centers in Cincinnati, Ohio — and this year marks her 18th year teaching and 10th at Turpin. In this conversation with host Kathleen Vail, Becky talks about how Educators Rising became the backbone of her TPA program, then dives into the story behind her recent Educators Rising scholarship trip to Costa Rica: nine days spent chasing fluency in
Host: Kathleen Vail, editor, Kappan Guest: John Wilson, educator, advocate, and former executive director of the National Education Association and 2025 Educators Rising Champion In this episode, Kappan editor Kathleen Vail sits down with John Wilson — a teacher, union leader, policy advocate, and one of Educators Rising’s 2025 Champions — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it means to spend a lifetime in service to the teaching profession. Wilson’s story begins in a cafeteria line at Western Carolina University, where a chance encounter with a student NEA table set the course for five
In this episode, Kathleen Vail interviews Elizabeth Bennett, Associate Vice President for Career and Technical Education at Northern Essex Community College and former Associate Commissioner for College, Career, and Technical Education for the state of Massachusetts. Bennett shares how her career journey — from classroom teacher to state leadership and now higher education — has been driven by one goal: expanding equitable access to career-connected learning for students. Key Takeaways from the Conversation Career-connected learning makes school more meaningful Bennett explains that students i
Hawaii is one of the most geographically isolated places on Earth — and one of the most complex when it comes to recruiting and retaining teachers. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Janet Kim, a tenure-track faculty member at the University of Hawaii at Manoa whose job is one of a kind: recruiting the next generation of educators into the profession full-time. Janet traces her own winding path from Northern Virginia military kid to elementary special education teacher to the first (and possibly only) tenure-track university faculty position dedicated exclusively to teacher recruitment. Alo
In this episode, Kappan editor Kathleen Vail sits down with Dr. Gladys Cruz, Superintendent of Questar III BOCES and past president of AASA, to discuss the personal experiences, leadership strategies, and innovative programs shaping the future of education. Dr. Cruz reflects on the educators who changed the course of her life and explains how those moments of encouragement ultimately led her from a planned career in dentistry into education. The discussion also explores how Questar III BOCES built strong teacher pathway programs long before teacher shortages became a national conversation. Dr.
Alabama faces one of the nation's most severe teacher shortages — over 800 vacancies in early childhood and elementary alone. In this webinar, PDK International sits down with Alabama State Coordinator Suzanne Clemons and three standout teacher leaders — Becky Tomaso, Moriah Miller, and Stephanie Cody — to share how Educators Rising is turning today's high school students into tomorrow's educators. Hear how one program grew from 40 students to over 200, how students published their own bilingual children's books, and why the best teacher recruiters in Alabama are the students themselves. What
Tracy Kern has spent more than two decades at Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, South Dakota — a district that has grown from 750 students to more than 5,000 since she arrived in 2000. A Family and Consumer Science educator and longtime CTE pathway teacher, Kern was honored as a 2025 Educators Rising Champion at the national conference, recognized for her role in building one of the largest and most active Educators Rising chapters in South Dakota. In this episode, she sits down with Kappan Editor-in-Chief Kathleen Vail to talk about what it really takes to build a chapter that lasts. Kern
In this episode of There's Power in Teaching, host Kathleen Vail speaks with Karley Picou, a school administrator from Lake Charles, Louisiana, and lead advisor for the school's Educators Rising program. Picou was honored as an Educators Rising Champion at the 2025 Educators Rising National Conference — part of PDK's annual recognition program celebrating the school leaders, teacher leaders, state partners, and other champions who are advancing the future educator pipeline across the country. Picou shares how she first got involved with Educators Rising in 2022 at Washington Marion Magnet High
In this episode, we hear from three voices driving one of the most dynamic Educators Rising programs in the country. Brynne Massie, Kentucky's state coordinator, is joined by Leah Jefferson, veteran teacher leader and adjunct professor at Northern Kentucky University, and Alyssa Pollard, a high school senior, chapter president, and state officer who has become a passionate advocate for the profession. Together, they offer a ground-level look at what it actually takes to build a grow-your-own teacher pipeline — and why it matters now more than ever. What You'll Hear in This Episode The case for
Part 2: Growing the Pipeline—How Community and Leadership Sustain Renton’s Teacher Academy In Part 2 of our conversation with Carla Smith and her colleagues from Renton Public Schools in Washington, we take a deeper look at how their Teacher Academy evolved from a small cohort into a thriving, district-wide pipeline preparing the next generation of educators. What began as a simple effort to inspire students to consider teaching has grown—piece by piece—into a powerful, community-driven program serving more than 150 students annually, with plans to expand even further. The team shares how the
This is part 1 of a three-part series of a conversation with the Teacher Academy team at Renton Public Schools (Washington) who have a mature pre-educator CTE pathway in their district, bolstered by a strong relationship with Central Washington University. Part 1: From Curiosity to Calling: Building Renton’s Teacher Pipeline How do you turn high school students into future teachers—and bring them back to serve their own community? We travel to Renton School District in Washington to explore how their Teacher Academy and Educators Rising program has created a thriving “grow your own” teacher pi
Why Teaching Needs the Next Generation: A Conversation with PDK’s New Chief Executive In this episode of There’s Power in Teaching, host John Hendron sits down with PDK International’s new CEO, Jeanie Lee, for a candid conversation about the future of the teaching profession — and why the next generation of educators matters more than ever. Drawing from her journey as a classroom teacher, systems leader, and now national education executive, Jeanie shares insights on belonging, mentorship, career pathways, and building a stronger educator pipeline. ⸻ 🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: Why
Episode Overview In this episode of There’s Power in Teaching, we’re joined by longtime Phi Delta Kappa leaders Patricia Williams and Lidia Zatopek. Together, they share practical insights and hard-earned wisdom on how to build, sustain, and energize a thriving professional chapter—while staying relevant to the future of the education profession. Listeners will hear how intentional programming, meaningful recognition, and deep investment in future educators through Educators Rising have helped their chapter maintain high engagement, strong retention, and a powerful sense of community. What You
In this episode, Dr. Scott McLeod, PDK Distinguished Educator Fellow and Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver, sits down with Owen Elsasser, National Vice President of Communications for Educators Rising. Owen shares his journey from high school leadership roles to college, and why he’s passionate about increasing male representation in education—especially in elementary and middle school classrooms. Together, they explore: Why male educators are so rare and why that mattersThe statistics behind gender representation in teachingHow early exposure and role mo
Host: Kathleen Vail Guest: John Hendron In our third and final episode dedicated to the topic of gamification, John Hendron chats with Kathleen Vail on the potential for hard fun in our pursuit of learner engagement with gamification. We explore user stories, the unique needs of adult learners, and share examples of how others are using gamification in fields both inclusive and exclusive of education and learning. Finally, John discusses the genesis of the Playful Learning Designer, an attempt to use an AI tool to provide coaching for teachers interested in exploring how gamification can be em
Host: Kathleen Vail Guest: John Hendron In this episode of There’s Power in Teaching, Dr. John Hendron continues his conversation with Kathleen Vail on gamification, moving beyond surface-level mechanics to explore the psychology that actually drives motivation. Rather than treating gamification as a set of tools, the discussion focuses on why certain game-inspired strategies resonate with learners—and why others fall flat when used in isolation. The episode is grounded in classroom practice but applies equally to professional learning and adult education. The conversation begins with a discus
In this kickoff conversation, host Kathleen Vail talks with John Hendron about the foundations of gamification—what it is, what it isn’t, and why educators and learning designers should care. John traces his path from instructional technology leadership to researching how elements from games—like motivation loops, points, badges, social play, and competition—can improve adult professional learning. Using examples that span Apple Watch rings, Peloton leaderboards, classic board games, movie references, and even McDonald’s Monopoly, he illustrates how game mechanics quietly shape behaviors in ev
Host: John Hendron; Guest: Starr Sackstein – Author, educator, assessment expert, columnist, and Massachusetts State Coordinator for Educators Rising. “Your voice, your story is what makes it important.” ⸻ Overview In this episode, John sits down with veteran educator and prolific author Starr Sackstein to explore her writing journey, her unexpected career shifts, and her work supporting future educators through Educators Rising. Starr offers candid advice for aspiring writers, unpacks her process for creating books with (and without) co-authors, and reflects on the challenges and rewards of t
Host: John Hendron. Guest: Dr. Damon Christopher Lewis, Principal, Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, Norwalk, CT In this episode, we talk with Damon Lewis, 2025 NASSP Principal of the Year, about his leadership journey and the transformative work happening at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy. Damon shares how his school’s commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) weaves through every discipline, empowering students—many from marginalized backgrounds—to thrive academically and personally. From implementing project-based learning (PBL) to building a culture of continuous improveme
In this special episode of There’s Power in Teaching, PDK Emerging Leader Fellow Dr. Ryan Tauriainen, executive director of Teach For America (Washington, D.C. and Virginia), and Haylie Johnson, national vice president of engagement for Educators Rising, sit down with Dr. John B. King Jr. — former U.S. Secretary of Education and current Chancellor of the State University of New York. Together, they explore King’s deeply personal new book, Teacher by Teacher (Legacy Lit, 2024), a tribute to the educators who shaped his life and a reminder of the transformative power of great teaching. King shar
Interviewers John Hendron and Kathleen Vail recently sat down with our very own, Starr Sackstein, a well-known author and educator, about her past year authoring the Career Confidential column in Kappan magazine. Sackstein received National Board Certification in 2012 and was recognized as an outstanding educator by Education Update. She is also a certified Master Journalism educator through the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and served as JEA’s New York State Director. She was named an ASCD “Emerging Leader” class of 2016, a Champion in Education in 2022, and had the opportunity to gi
Host: Dr. John Hendron, Director of Public Relations. Guest: Faith Gonder, National Vice President of Service, Educators Rising In this episode, we meet Faith Gonder, a senior from Perry High School in Massillon, Ohio, and one of Educators Rising’s national officers. Faith shares how her community, career-tech education program, and inspiring teachers shaped her journey toward becoming an educator. Highlights •Community & School Life – Faith describes growing up in Massillon and the support system that makes her school and town special. Career-Tech Pathway – How Perry High School’s education c
In this episode of There’s Power in Teaching, we sit down with Haylie Johnson, National Vice President of Engagement for Educators Rising and a student at Central Connecticut State University. Haley shares her journey from joining a small high school chapter of Educators Rising to becoming a national leader inspiring thousands of students across the country. Key Topics: •Starting Small, Growing Big – How Haylie and her teacher leader grew their chapter from just 4 members to nearly 40 in one year. The Power of Role Models – Haylie reflects on the influence of her teacher preparation instructor
PDK International has polled the American public for the 57th time this year with its annual poll focused on attitudes about public education in America. In this edition, Kathleen Vail, editor in chief of Kappan Magazine, interviews PDK International’s director of public relations, Dr. John Hendron about this year’s poll. Highlights of this conversation and this year’s poll include: Attitudes about DEI Initiatives,Attitudes about cell phone policiesAttitudes about the use of AI in schoolsAttitudes about local and national school performance The full results of this year’s poll will be featured
In this follow-up conversation, Kaplan editor-in-chief Kathleen Vail sits down with professors Rick Ginsberg and Yong Zhao—authors of a recent Kappan article and the book Duck and Cover (Teachers College Press, 2023)—to explore how schools can embrace new definitions of literacy and meaningful innovation in the age of AI. Drawing on their work with the Center for Reimagining Education, Ginsburg and Zhao share lessons from schools experimenting with AI integration, co-created learning with students, and new models of transformation. Their “three lenses” framework offers educators a practical pa
