Great gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week

Great gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week

Author: Jeff Utecht & Tricia Friedman May 4, 2026 Duration: 21:42

This week Jeff and Tricia share their five top gifts to celebrate the special educator in your life.

They take you through why these five gifts celebrate creativity, learning, wellness, and show personal recognition during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Featured on the show:

 


Ever feel like the conversation around education moves faster than a school day? Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators is here to slow things down just enough for a meaningful dialogue. Hosted by practicing educators Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman, this podcast creates a necessary space for teachers and administrators to dig into the real work of modern teaching. Instead of just theory, you’ll hear from fellow practitioners and thought leaders who are navigating the same challenges you face daily. The discussions move beyond surface-level trends to unpack practical strategies and tools that can be adapted for your own classroom or school. Whether it’s rethinking assessment, integrating technology with purpose, or fostering a more inclusive learning environment, each episode is grounded in the shared goal of improving outcomes for every student. Tuning in feels less like another professional development requirement and more like a candid staff room conversation with colleagues who get it. This is where the abstract ideas about educational change meet the concrete reality of the K-12 world, offering actionable insights for anyone committed to the craft of teaching. Find Shifting Schools wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts for a regular dose of perspective and practical ideas.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators
Podcast Episodes
Dr. Brittney Cooper on Picture Books, Collaboration, and Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:49
This week, Tricia Friedman welcomes Dr. Brittney Cooper to the podcast to talk about her new picture book, Mama Says I'm Fine, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony. The conversation explores the story behind the book, the emot…
Why Patricia Cornwell Still Believes in Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:03
Patricia Cornwell joins Tricia Friedman for a conversation about memory, writing, curiosity, forensic science, and the memoir she never expected to write. In this episode, Cornwell reflects on the childhood experiences t…
What we learn when we listen to students [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:06
What happens when you stop talking about students and start talking with them? In this episode, Jeff Utecht sits down with high schoolers and asks a question most adults skip: what do you actually need from school right…
The Business of You with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:26
This week Jeff talks with Nick and Marnie about why we want to help students stop waiting for permission and start building a bridge to a career on your their own terms. In this episode, Jeff Utecht is joined by Marnie S…
Sara Amini: The Stories We Carry and the Friends Who See Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:26
What can a graphic novel teach educators about belonging, friendship, and the inner lives of young people? Sara Amini is an actor and author whose semi-autobiographical middle grade graphic novel Mixed Feelings started a…
Why Friendship Is Serious Business for Kids and Adults [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:19
Alyson Gerber joins Tricia Friedman to talk about The Liar Society, why friendship is serious business, and what mystery stories can teach young readers and adults about belonging, trust, competition, and connection. In…
Living at the edge of emerging technology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:24
What happens when we stop asking AI to do everything faster and start asking how it might help us understand people better? In this episode, Jeff sits down with Andy Sitison, CTO of Share More Stories, for a conversation…
Human Still Required: out now! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:36
Jeff Utecht is back with a brand new book for schools looking to understand what to prioritize in the era of AI. Human Still Required is available for purchase, and you can get chapter one free: https://humanstillrequire…
Billy Ray on Writing Hope in Dark Times, and Building Future Worlds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:32
What does it take to write a story that faces darkness without surrendering to it? In this episode, Tricia speaks with acclaimed screenwriter Billy Ray about his move into YA fiction with Burn the Water, a future-set sto…