Powerful Lessons from Julie Hasson's Collection of Teacher Stories

Powerful Lessons from Julie Hasson's Collection of Teacher Stories

Author: Teacher Stories January 13, 2022 Duration: 23:37
Julie Hasson and Ken Futernick discuss some of the powerful lessons learned from the teacher stories she writes about in her new book, Safe, Seen, and Stretched - the Remarkable Ways Teachers Shape Students' Lives.  Julie shares an inspiring story about her own teacher, Mrs. Russell, who, Julie says, laid the foundation for everything she has achieved.  Julie also tells the story of an engineering student who recalled what it was like when he and his elementary school classmates first got a chance to play volleyball with the "big kids." They'd hit the ball so hard and it got so rough that eventually the younger ones quit playing. But a teacher noticed what was happening and, "in all his genius," suggested a different way to play the game. He challenging them to hit the ball back and forth at least twenty times. To meet the challenge, the students taught one another how to keep the ball in the air, and from then on, at every recess, they all played a new version of volleyball -- the "the infinite game," they called it. It was here, as a young elementary student, that this engineering student first learned the power of collaboration, a practice he says is serving him well as an aspiring scientist.

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
From Strangers to Connection: A Day That Changes Everything (Ep. 51) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:23
What if just 6 hours could transform how students see each other—and themselves? In this powerful episode, we take you inside Breaking Down the Walls, a high school workshop where simple conversations evolve into moments…
Bending the Moral Arc: How One Teacher's Conscience Changed Lives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:25
In this episode, host Ken Futernick sits down with Bruce Wasser, a former history teacher whose life story is as inspiring as his teaching career. Bruce shares his poignant journey from being a conscientious objector dur…
“You Can’t Take Monica from Monica” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
“You can take all of my belongings. You can make me carry my life in a trash bag. I can be homeless. You can even take my family from me if that's what you must do, but you can't take Monica from Monica.” Those are the w…
From Classroom to Grammy Stage - Adrian Maclin’s Teacher Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:55
Meet Adrian Maclin, the Tennessee high school music teacher honored as Music Educator of the Year at the 2025 Grammys. In this episode, you’ll hear the extraordinary music from his students that earned him this prestigio…
A Teacher Story For the Ages - “Elaine’s Circle” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:47
Author Bob Katz shares the extraordinary story of a gifted 4th-grade teacher named Elaine Moore, the central character of his book Elaine’s Circle: A Teacher, a Student, a Classroom, and One Unforgettable Year. One revie…