Gayathri Ramkumar is one of 22 semifinalists for Colorado’s 2026 Teacher of the Year award.

Michael Mann, a North Star Academy school principal, sticks to the basics when it comes to community engagement: He’s outside at dismissal every day — 'rain, snow, or shine'.

The Bush brothers graduated from Lawrence North High School and went on to pursue degrees in finance and business. But the school district from which they graduated ultimately inspired careers in education.

Lauren Brady, a winner of the Math for America’s 2025 Muller Award, helped turn around Park East High School’s math program by focusing on small group instruction.

Terita Walker is a product of Chicago Public Schools and started her education career there.

Rachael Mahmood traveled around Illinois to hear from educators, administrators, students, and parents. Race, background, and years in the classroom often impacted their answers.

Historian and former NYC teacher Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, the lead scholar on a new Jewish American history curriculum, hopes it will inform students and foster empathy.

High school students might struggle with longer deadlines and larger assignments. Here’s how Jill Cali breaks it down for them.

Less than a decade ago, Keiron Darnley often skipped class. Now he’s a success mentor at Brooklyn’s A-Tech High School.

Potter-Thomas School Principal Nichole Polk was bullied for her stutter in fifth grade. Now she wants her students and staff to support each other in finding their voices.

Victor Hurtado came to Chicago as a teenager from Mexico and graduated from Schurz High School in the 1990s. Today, he’s the math department chair at Schurz and teaches bilingual teens advanced algebra and calculus.

Mario Lemons isn’t just the principal at Detroit Achievement Academy. He’s also an arts supporter and has taught American Sign Language to his students.

El Houcin Houssam, the Essex County Teacher of the Year for 2024-25, initially wanted to pursue finance. Then he found inspiration in teaching.

This Indiana educator takes listeners beyond the ‘colorful classroom decor and perfectly curated lesson plans.’

Veteran educator Steve Lazar is part of a growing virtual program that helps give small schools access to a wider range of advanced classes.

Shannon Houtrouw has been teaching computer science since 1998. This year, he learned he won a top award for educators.

Patricia Houston is director of Children's Community School, a nonprofit preschool and early childhood education center in a racially diverse but rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of West Philadelphia.

Makeba Averitte, an art teacher at Liberty Grove Schools, connects art in the classroom to life outside the classroom — from building family relationships to providing clothes and haircuts to students.

Middle school English teacher Marc J. Gregson is a bestselling fantasy novelist. He hasn’t quit his day job.

Tobye Ertelt says more students are checking out books since the pandemic.