An Education Marked by Opportunity and Inspiration and by Roadblocks and Racism

An Education Marked by Opportunity and Inspiration and by Roadblocks and Racism

Author: Teacher Stories August 8, 2020 Duration: 56:55
Dr. Sharon Tettegah, a Professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, shares stories about her life and her most memorable teachers. Growing up in Wichita Falls, Texas (a completely segregated community) all of her teachers were Black. Here, she received an excellent education and was two grade levels ahead of her classmates when, as a fifth grader, she and her family moved to San Francisco. She soon moved across the Bay to Oakland and was fortunate to have had teachers who recognized her potential and desire to learn. But she also encountered racism at school in the form of low expectations and negative attributions. "Education," Dr. Tettegah discovered, was "about assimilating to whiteness." She sees the Black Lives Movement as an opportunity for educators to confront systemic racism, a process that begins by examining one's own biases.

Behind every person who learns, there is someone who taught them. Teacher Stories is a quiet space dedicated entirely to those someones. This podcast moves beyond the general appreciation for educators to share the specific, often overlooked moments that define a life in the classroom. Each episode features a different voice-sometimes a teacher recounting a breakthrough or a challenge, other times a former student sharing how an educator’s influence quietly shaped their path years later. You’ll hear the unscripted reality of the profession: the small victories that happen off the report card, the frustrations that never make it to a staff meeting, and the profound connections that form in the most unexpected ways. By listening to these personal narratives, we get a clearer, more human picture of the immense role teachers play in stitching the fabric of our communities together. The stories collected here are a testament to the lasting impact of a single dedicated individual. Tune in for a genuine, heartfelt exploration of education from the inside out, one story at a time. This podcast is an ongoing conversation about why these personal histories matter, inviting everyone to reflect on the educators who left a mark on their own lives.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 71

Teacher Stories
Podcast Episodes
Lisa Godwin shares a story that she had kept secret for 20 years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:06
Lisa Godwin waited 20 years before telling anyone about a traumatic childhood experience. She credits a first grade teacher and a guidance counselor for helping her cope and eventually overcome this painful episode in he…
Teaching Abroad, Josh Gaston Learns to Navigate Cultural Divides [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:35
Unsure what to do with his life, Josh Gaston decides to become a teacher of English -- first in Asia and then in other countries around the world. His stories are about navigating the striking, but sometimes subtle, diff…
Teaching History Through Troubled Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:12
An unexpected letter from one of her students reminds Tracy Barnett that her approach to teaching history, at least for this 8th grade student, has paid off. The student said she acquired a keen new interest in history a…
Victor Rios' Teacher Saved His Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:39
At age 14, Victor Rios' best friend is shot and killed. Afterwards, Victor thought, "I am going to end up dead like him or in prison for life." But Victor turns his life around after having a high school technology teach…
Never Again Will Kathryn Isaacs use the Phrase 'Merely a Teacher' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:44
When Kathryn Isaacs was in 8th grade she proudly read an essay aloud in class, comparing her very demanding teacher, Mr. Del Rossi, to the Wizard of Oz. At the end of her essay, she describes him as "merely a language te…
Award-Winning Filmmaker Pays Tribute to his High School Drama Teacher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:10
Mike Barnard's first high school theatre audition was a disaster, but he finds the courage to try again and lands a part in another production. With the support of his drama teacher, Jim Lund, Mike develops confidence an…