Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Beyond My Years
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategies for new teachers to overcome disillusionment, starring Tina Boogren, Ph.D. | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:39:58 | |
Tina Boogren, Ph.D., joins Ana Torres, not only to discuss how it’s completely normal for first-year teachers (and even some veterans) to experience disillusionment, but also to offer tactics for overcoming those feelings. Tina and Ana kick off this episode by explaining Ellen Moir's “The Phases of First-Year Teaching," which outlines the emotional stages new teachers move through. They discuss how teachers have to name their feelings to tame their feelings, the difference between stress and burnout, and the importance of giving ourselves grace and avoiding comparison with others. Tina also details her three research-backed strategies for self-care: gratitude, altruism, and laughter. Finally, Classroom Insider Eric Cross joins Ana to share takeaways from the interview, including how and why to ask for help, even if it’s just so you can take a small break. Show notes:
Quotes: “It's teeny tiny little things. When you combine those together, you are tapping into that brain research that's giving our brain a different assignment and looking for the positive. And we will find it.” —Tina Boogren, Ph.D. “I always say it's an ‘and’; it's not an ‘or.’ It's not instruction or self-care.” —Tina Boogren, Ph.D. ”It's those small wins that we look over. If we're not looking for them, we can miss them, and we just keep thinking, ‘I'm not as good as that person.’” —Tina Boogren, Ph.D. “It's vulnerable but it's necessary to be able to honor yourself and say, ‘I need help. I need support.’” —Ana Torres “Sometimes your day is just teaching someone a life skill…and hopefully that's going to get them to learning.” —Eric Cross “ Whatever I'm feeling is not just impacting me, even though I want to think it is, or that I’m masking it. I know that if I'm not at my A game, it's impacting my students.” —Eric Cross | |||
| Phone policies and the science of self-control, starring Angela Duckworth, Ph.D. | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:45:41 | |
Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., the New York Times bestselling author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, joins Ana Torres to discuss school phone policies and what the science of self-control can tell us works. In this episode, Angela highlights the many complexities surrounding student cell phone use in schools and why there is a need to conduct research, such as her “Phones in Focus” study, to look at which phone policies are actually yielding the best outcomes. She also outlines the limitations of “growth mindset” and "simply trying hard," and instead suggests four ingredients that set young people up to reach their goals. Finally, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross reflect on Angela’s insights, and Eric shares the strategies he plans to implement to provide mentors to his students. Show notes:
Quotes: “It is not just trying hard that makes you successful. You need to be set up in a situation that helps you like an ally, as opposed to fighting you like an enemy.” —Angela Duckworth, Ph.D. “Aside from parents, there's nobody more important than teachers in the life of a kid. They are looking to you as a role model.” —Angela Duckworth, Ph.D. “The strategy for regulating yourself that is the most successful for people of any age tends to be situation modification. That is not relying on willpower, but deliberately placing things either farther or closer, depending on whether you want to do them more or do them less.” —Angela Duckworth, Ph.D. “There is nothing more beautiful than a person who is fulfilling their potential. When people are doing what they love and doing it with all of their heart, it is like music. It is like poetry.” —Angela Duckworth, Ph.D. “That science of self-control—we have to actually teach that to our students. That is not something they come out of the womb knowing how to do.” —Ana Torres | |||
| Your starter pack to mentorship, starring Serena Klosa | 08 Jan 2025 | 00:49:28 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres gets wisdom from Serena Klosa, an educator with 37 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and now deputy chief of schools. Serena discusses what it takes to be a good mentor and to be mentored by others—stressing the humility it requires and the strength it creates. She also shares stories of the “Queens of the Third Floor” and their no-nonsense approach to mentoring, and opens up about the lessons she won’t let herself forget. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross discuss maintaining positive routines with students, staying humble, and valuing every role in the school.
Quotes: “My teaching is not something I do. It's who I am.” —Serena Klosa “Asking for mentoring is not a sign of weakness. It's saying, ‘I want to be better and I want to grow.’ And sometimes, if you don't ask, they're not going to do it.” —Serena Klosa | |||
| The best of Beyond My Years (so far!) | 19 Dec 2024 | 00:03:25 | |
To close out the year, we’re revisiting some of our favorite moments from the first nine episodes of the Beyond My Years podcast – and looking ahead at some of what’s to come in 2025! Listen to Beyond My Years: | |||
| Advancing together as educators, starring LaTonya Goffney, Ed.D. | 04 Dec 2024 | 00:46:56 | |
On this episode of Beyond My Years, Ana Torres picks up every nugget of wisdom she can learn from LaTonya M. Goffney, Ed.D., superintendent of schools for the Aldine Independent School District in Texas. LaTonya shares her journey through many different roles in education before she ended up in an educational leadership role. She stresses the importance of building a teaching community, including finding teacher mentorship, having people advocating for you, and valuing the work you do. LaTonya notes that if it weren't for those that believed in her and encouraged her to strive for more, she never would have ventured to apply for the opportunities she did. She goes on to share one of her most valuable lessons: As you grow in education, you need to make sure you're looking behind you and pulling other people up. She concludes with tips for connecting with other educators, learning from each other constantly, and continuing to grow. Taking all those opportunities back to the classroom, Eric and Ana discuss pursuing professional growth opportunities, embracing your power as an educator, and focusing on excellence where you're at.
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| Teaching takes trust, starring Luz Selenia Muñoz | 20 Nov 2024 | 00:49:47 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres walks alongside Luz Selenia Muñoz as she retraces the path that led her from planning to become a psychologist in Puerto Rico to living in Chicago as a veteran bilingual teacher with 20 years under her belt. Luz shares how finding her happy place in second grade took time, describing how she quickly learned that teaching upper elementary was not for her. She also dives into how immigrating from Puerto Rico to the United States taught her how to persevere through the struggles of a new environment, and how she learned to balance her independence with reliance on and trust in her fellow educators for support. Luz stresses some of the most important lessons she has learned along the way, including teaching a culture rather than just a language, staying focused on your target language, making connections with students, trying something different instead of giving up, and understanding that tomorrow will get better.
Quotes: “You need a lot of love for your students. Doesn't matter where you are. You need love for your students and understanding that tomorrow is going to get better.” —Luz S. Muñoz | |||
| Para enseñar se necesita confianza, con Luz Selenia Muñoz | 20 Nov 2024 | 00:14:10 | |
En este episodio especial de Beyond My Years, Ana tiene el placer de hablar con Luz Selenia Muñoz en español, su idioma de origen. Luz ha sido maestra por 20 años, en dos países diferentes y en dos idiomas distintos. Con toda esa experiencia, Luz comparte las lecciones que le han parecido trascendentes para todos los estudiantes y todas las escuelas, como la importancia de crear conexiones significativas con los estudiantes, ser paciente con sus estudiantes y consigo misma, así como encontrar colegas que hablen su idioma de origen. Luz también entrega a los oyentes una estrategia fácil y factible que pueden intentar hoy mismo para involucrar a los estudiantes mediante la escucha activa cuando da las instrucciones.
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| Teaching takes joy, starring Rebecka Peterson | 06 Nov 2024 | 00:49:56 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres delves into the wisdom offered by Rebecka Peterson, an educator whose journey began much like Ana’s: as a young immigrant to the United States. Rebecka shares all that she has come to love and appreciate about the K–12 environment after a tough transition from teaching college-level courses. She also reveals her most important lesson learned: Teach humans over content. Rebecka talks about her “One Good Thing” blog, where she documented daily positives in her classroom that transformed her perspective on teaching. She shares personal experiences of feeling like an outsider and how those experiences drive her to create an environment of belonging for her students. Rebecca stresses the significance of building authentic relationships with students as well as the impact of mentors in education. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Eric and Ana discuss strategies like “rebellious joy” that are essential to sustaining a long career in education.
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| Teaching is advocacy, starring Missy Testerman | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:48:09 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres learns from the best, sitting down with 2024’s National Teacher of the Year, Missy Testerman. Missy talks about always being open to new ideas and perspectives, offers tips on building relationships with families, and discusses the importance of slowing down. She also shares the story of being the “bossy” kid in the classroom, because she wanted to help her classmates learn.Today, she feels that being a dedicated teacher means advocating for her students, because she believes that showing up means creating a vital safe place. Missy does not shy away from tough topics, such as knowing when it’s time to step away from teaching, and managing the “who knows best” struggle between administrators and teachers, parents and teachers, etc. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Ana and her Classroom Insider Eric Cross discuss understanding your community, being more flexible and present in your lessons, and seeking mentorship and continuous growth.
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| Teaching is listening, starring Patti and Rod Lloyd | 09 Oct 2024 | 00:47:07 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres takes you to the northernmost region of Alaska to sit down with Patti and Rod Lloyd. Patti and Rod are longtime educators in a rural school district where caribou outnumber people, the village is only accessible by plane, and the indigenous culture of the Iñupiat people goes back 10,000 years. They teach Ana about how they make the content matter by connecting it to student life outside of the classroom, the honor of teaching where children are the most valuable part of the community, the importance of listening more than you speak, and they offer advice for teaching responsibly as an outsider. They also share stories of how the first week of every school year is spent connecting to the land and having the village elders teach about their culture, emphasizing the joy to be found when you open yourself up to what your students have to teach you. Throughout the conversation, it is clear that despite teaching in a unique landscape, the lessons that Patti and Rod have learned are applicable to teaching any student anywhere. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Eric and Ana discuss the benefits of building genuine community relationships, making learning culturally relevant, and the importance of focusing on effective teaching methods.
Quotes: “We’ve just got to be quiet enough, long enough to hear what our students are saying—or not saying.” —Patti Llloyd “I know teaching now is a very high-pressure situation. There is so much pressure on us and so much to do, but we can't forget to take that time and enjoy it because if you enjoy it, your kids will enjoy it.” —Rod Lloyd | |||
| Teaching with determination, starring Khamphet Pease | 25 Sep 2024 | 00:49:56 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres learns all she can learn from the life stories and lessons of Khamphet Pease. While other teenagers might have been sneaking around to go to late night scary movies, Khamphet was applying for scholarships and submitting college applications. As a refugee from Laos, Khamphet shares the difficulty she experienced navigating a home culture that did not encourage education or career ambitions for women. Despite that, she laughs over her stubbornness that she sees as an integral part of what has motivated her to chase her dreams, spend over 20 years as a STEM teacher, and what earned her the presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching. Due to gendered norms and expectations, she almost lost out on the future she truly wanted. Since then, she has made it her mission to champion a learning environment where young girls feel they belong and can thrive in STEM fields. Khamphet takes Ana on a journey through all the lessons she learned along the way of managing work/life balance, creating a classroom culture of trust, and the importance of finding a mentor during the hardest teaching years of your life. Once back in the classroom, Eric Cross and Ana check in on Eric’s first two weeks of back-to-school and discuss practical ways to take care of yourself first so you can then take care of your students.
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| Teaching with resilience, starring Fawn Nguyen | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:49:20 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres learns from Fawn Nguyen, a math educator with over 30 years of classroom experience! Fawn tells Ana the story of her near-death experience being lost at sea while escaping Vietnam, and explains how it shaped the sense of gratitude she leads with in the classroom. She also discusses what it means to be yourself in the classroom, the importance of sharing your mistakes with your students, and the merits of advocacy vs. authority with students. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross then discuss connecting with students through shared struggles and challenges.
Quotes: “It has to be an exchange. We can't be just receiving, asking kids to be [themselves], and yet we ourselves are not.” —Fawn Nguyen “[Seasoned educators] are experienced and experience means good and bad. We want to learn from both. I certainly didn't want a mentor who never made a mistake, ‘cause I'm not gaining anything.” —Fawn Nguyen “It's about separating the behavior from the person. And another thing, separate what they don't know at the time from what they're capable of.” —Fawn Nguyen “I don't mind telling kids the mistakes I've made because I'm hoping that they're listening and that, then that’s okay. To move from it, to learn from it, and not repeat it is the whole idea and to admit when we're wrong.” —Fawn Nguyen “In my next lifetime, I would still teach, I would go back to teaching. That's how much I love it.” —Fawn Nguyen “The mistake that you make today, what would it look like if somebody else made that mistake, for example, when people share something they did that they're not so proud of, what would be my advice to them? And so I want to give myself that advice because we're hardest on ourselves.” —Fawn Nguyen | |||
| Learning alongside your multilingual learners, starring Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D. | 15 Oct 2025 | 00:39:29 | |
Host Ana Torres is joined by Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D., a linguist and speech pathologist known for her work with multilingual learners. In this episode, Elsa focuses on small changes that educators can make to create classrooms that are more inclusive and supportive of multilingual learners. She shares strategies for morphology instruction, learning useful information about students’ home languages, shifting away from a deficit mindset when it comes to multilingual learners, and more. She’ll also touch on why techniques like asking students to respond in full sentences and slowing down your rate of teaching can better serve students. Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross then reflect on Elsa's insights, and Eric shares a vulnerable moment that demonstrates his recognition of humility and openness to learning as a core teaching principle. Show notes:
Quotes: “First come in with the attitude of ‘I'm a learner too: I want to learn about you, and you'll learn about me.’” —Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D. “I look at the faces of the students that are there and that motivates me. All the other noise doesn't matter because I'm there to help them reach their dreams.” —Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D. “You don't have to be an expert in every single language. You just need to know enough about that language to serve your students.” —Ana Torres “I am an educator of all students; it doesn't matter who they are.” —Eric Cross | |||
| Teaching for life, starring Eric Jones | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:46:02 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres becomes a student of Eric Jones, an educator who came out of retirement at 80 years of age to help with a national teacher shortage—thus becoming the oldest paid teacher in Britain. Eric talks with Ana about building a collaborative classroom and what it means to teach children, not content. He also shares how the trajectory of his life changed when one man recognized and encouraged his desire to be a teacher. He’ll also discuss how going to school in the ‘50s shaped his teaching style; retiring before the age of the smartphone only to return to teaching when every kid has one; how his work in anti-bullying contributed to a national law; and why his love for teaching has lasted a lifetime. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Eric Cross and Ana then discuss how they would apply the tenets of respect and collaboration in their own classrooms.
Quotes “You've got to love teaching, you've got to love the kids, and you've really got to want to do it. Almost, dare I say, in your blood.” —Eric Jones “I collaborate with my students about what the rules are, and that's their creation as well as mine.” —Eric Jones “It's nothing to do with, ‘I'm a teacher, you're a student.’ It's, ‘We are human beings together.’” —Eric Jones “I like teaching kids things they didn't know before and now they're excited about. I love the idea that they will then move on into realms of industry and economics success that I would never dream of.” —Eric Jones | |||
| Teaching with heart, starring Joyce Abbott | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:49:26 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres soaks up wisdom from Joyce Abbott, an educator so passionate about her students that she inspired one of them to go on and write the hit show “Abbott Elementary. Joyce tells Ana all about her experiences working in a Title 1 school and what it means to know the community of Philadelphia. They also discuss how Joyce's time serving in the military informed her work as an educator, how she transformed a challenging classroom during her first year teaching, how it has felt to witness the success of "Abbott Elementary," and the passion she sees as her driving force. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Eric and Ana then discuss teaching tips and strategies for connecting with students.
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| About Beyond My Years, with Ana Torres and Eric Cross | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:10:54 | |
Join host Ana Torres and her classroom insider, Eric Cross, to learn what the new Amplify podcast Beyond My Years is all about. Together, they dig into the essence of what it means to be an educator, the challenges that come with it, and how Beyond My Years will connect with it all. Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek into what's ahead, including conversations with legendary educators (like one who was an inspiration for a hit TV show). “The people who've been in the game for a long time, they can save new teachers a lot of years of trial and error.” —Eric Cross “We're more than just the educator or the teacher. We're more than that. We're the nurturer. We're the nurse, we're mom, we're dad, we're aunt, we're all, we play different roles in their lives. And again, it is showing up.” —Ana Torres | |||
| Beyond My Years podcast trailer | 27 Jun 2024 | 00:03:05 | |
Listen to this trailer for our new podcast, Beyond My Years, launching August 14th. Every day headlines tout something “new” in education—the latest research, the hottest tech, the trendiest new hacks for organizing your classroom. However, beyond all the hype there’s one underestimated resource that’s truly deserving of our attention: educators who’ve been doing this for years. In this trailer, you’ll hear from host and educator Ana Torres as she explains her season-long journey of learning from the experiences and lessons of seasoned educators from around the world. Their stories will make you laugh, make you cry, and—just maybe—change the way you think. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a thing. | |||
| The right questions for the “wrong” answers, starring Dan Meyer, Ph.D. | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:39:22 | |
On this episode of Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres is joined by Dan Meyer, Ph.D., Vice President of User Growth at Amplify and former Chief Academic Officer at Desmos. Dan’s journey in education began much like that of many other teachers—with a love of his content area. But entering the classroom proved difficult as he struggled to engage students who didn’t share his interest in math. In this episode, Dan gives listeners insight into his secret for engaging students in anything. He provides models for grounding lessons in real life, giving students more opportunities to show off their personalities, and reframing mistakes and “wrong answers” as valuable answers to different questions. He also touches on technology use in the classroom and how to know when it's the right tool for the job. Ana and Classroom insider Eric Cross then reflect on Dan’s insights, and Eric shares his top takeaways for the classroom. Show notes:
Quotes: “The posters are one thing, but the pedagogies are another.” —Dan Meyer, Ph.D. “What I'm always thinking about is how to make math more like the humanities, how to allow students to be right in personal ways and wrong in smart ways.” —Dan Meyer, Ph.D. “Kids like and learn from teachers who like and learn from them.”—Dan Meyer, Ph.D. “As human beings, sometimes we can get binary with things like tech or analog. But in reality, it's a tool. If I use the proper tool for the right job, I can be much more precise and accurate and detailed and creative.” —Eric Cross “Education is the kind of job that I love because I think I'll always feel, to some degree, like an amateur, like a learner in the work.”—Dan Meyer, Ph.D. “Create spaces where every kid could come in and say, “Whatever I offer here, if it's personal and earnest, it's gonna be well received and valuable.” —Dan Meyer, Ph.D. | |||
| The science behind a joyful classroom, starring Tracey Severns, Ed.D. | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:39:45 | |
Host Ana Torres welcomes former NJDOE Chief Academic Officer Tracey Severns, Ed.D., to discuss not just how to bring more joy to the classroom but how joy and laughter can draw in even the most vulnerable students. Tracey outlines the current research on what humor can do in the classroom and shares her own observational research in a case study school on the power of increasing smiles. She shares tips and tricks for both classroom teachers and administrators for how to encourage a culture of joy. Finally, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross reflect on Tracey’s insights, with Eric sharing his top three takeaways and what specifically he incorporated in his classroom after a trip to Disney. Show notes:
Quotes: “We can do both rigor and relationships. We can address standards and smiles. We can do content and care.” —Tracey Severns, Ed.D. “ When you have a joyous classroom, you have a learning classroom.” —Tracey Severns, Ed.D. “There's research out there. I know some of us feel like we intuitively know that [smiling] is important, but the data shows how important that was.” —Ana Torres “When we view students not as difficult, but as those who challenge us to be our best, we switch from frustration to growth.” —Eric Cross | |||
| Beyond My Years is back: Season 2 trailer | 03 Sep 2025 | 00:02:09 | |
Ana Torres and Eric Cross give you the first look at Season 2 of Beyond My Years, launching September 17, 2025. This trailer highlights what’s coming this season including shorter episodes and takeaways from our Classroom Insider. Season 2 focuses on common classroom challenges, looking to the experts and to the research to get you answers. We'll discuss topics from how to find your teaching style and actually engage students in math, to helping students develop critical thinking, and more! Show notes:
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| Everything is literacy, starring Susan Lambert, Ed.D. | 20 Aug 2025 | 00:41:44 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres is joined by Science of Reading: The Podcast host Susan Lambert, Ed.D., who’s here to make the case for all educators investing in student literacy development, regardless of the content domain they teach. Throughout the conversation, they discuss how all teachers are literacy teachers and share four simple tips for developing academic language in any classroom. Finally, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross discuss what they learned and Eric shares his top three takeaways from Susan. Show notes:
Quotes: “Any teacher in a classroom, no matter what content area they teach, is teaching something about language.” —Susan Lambert, Ed.D. “I got into education because one of my children had a hard time learning how to read. It's an experience that leads you to protect your child, find answers for your child, and then make sure that other kids and parents don't have to go through the same kind of trauma that you went through.” —Susan Lambert, Ed.D. “Reading and writing and understanding language is not just an English language arts teacher's responsibility. It's the responsibility of every educator to communicate their discipline and the words and the concepts from their discipline to their students.” —Susan Lambert, Ed.D. “Background knowledge, we either mine it or we make it. We either mine it by tapping into what students already know, or we make it by building the experiences they need.” —Eric Cross | |||
| Springing forward and looking back, with Ana and Eric | 28 May 2025 | 00:29:55 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres and Classroom Insider Eric Cross reconnect with three past guests—Fawn Nguyen, Rebecka Peterson, and Simone McQuaige—to explore key challenges from their early teaching days: classroom management, decentering oneself, and time management. Ana and Eric share their own experiences with these common hurdles, then offer a quick look at what’s ahead in Season 2. Show notes:
Quotes: " So my biggest mistake early on was needing to have the last word." - Fawn Nguyen " Something I really struggled with and I actually took me several years to feel confident in how to manage my classroom in a way that like felt good and true to me." - Rebecka Peterson " Looking back, I realized it would've been so helpful to have learned how to set boundaries for myself and prioritize task, and definitely build time for my own self-care." - A. Simone McQuaige | |||
| No broken children—only broken systems, starring Kareem Weaver | 05 Feb 2025 | 00:49:17 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres soaks up wisdom from Kareem Weaver, an educational powerhouse who has spent over 30 years working toward the end of illiteracy. Kareem levels with Ana about the hard truths of education reform. Together, they get vulnerable about the personal costs they’ve paid in being committed to their work and the belief they share that no teacher should have to make those sacrifices. Kareem also discusses his time working in juvenile detention facilities, how a frightening diagnosis changed the way he approaches education, and how administrators can best help create sustainable careers. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Ana and Beyond My Years Classroom Insider Eric Cross talk about preparing more than just lesson plans, developing focused skill improvement, and making the connections between academic success and behavior reform.
Quotes: “If you can't grow people, what are you doing in a seat? If you're an administrator and you can't grow teachers' practice, then you're a manager, not an administrator.”—Kareem Weaver “Hope is wonderful, but that's not a strategy. You have to be very specific about what you're going to fix, what you're going to address, and what you're going to master.” —Kareem Weaver “There are no broken children; there's broken systems.” —Kareem Weaver | |||
| Building an education network to make change, starring A. Simone McQuaige | 22 Jan 2025 | 00:49:39 | |
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres absorbs wisdom from A. Simone McQuaige, winner of Amplify's Science of Reading Changemaker Star Award in 2024. Simone teaches Ana about what it takes to support wider change across an entire district, and about the common traits she sees in all seasoned educators. She also shares stories about how her mother tried to convince her not to become a teacher, about learning to be calm and reflect, and about how she thinks about her legacy as an educator. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross discuss creating a teacher network, building buy-in, and student-designed projects.
Quotes: “Seasoned teachers are often looked at as the ones with all the answers, and they may not truly have all the answers, but they've lived experiences that I think a lot of new teachers could learn from.” —A. Simone McQuaige “When you look at a lot of the seasoned teachers who've been in the profession for quite some time, there's a calmness about them. And you work effectively when you're in that calm space.” —A. Simone McQuaige “One of the things that I've learned over the years is you cannot make change by yourself.” —A. Simone McQuaige | |||
| Discovering your own teaching style, with Neysa Olivares-Torres | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:39:54 | |
Our guest this week, Neysa Olivares-Torres, breaks down the process of finding and developing your own personal teaching style. Neysa details how she landed on her “firm-but-fair" approach before sharing tips for other educators trying to develop their authentic teaching style. Neysa and Ana also discuss how finding—and embodying—your teaching style can reduce classroom behavior challenges. Our beloved Classroom Insider, Eric Cross, then joins Ana to share how he carved out his personal teaching style, “the warm demander.” Show notes:
Quotes: "Understand that a teaching style is not just [something] you find once and then that's it, right? It's ever evolving; it's always in progress; and its not one size fits all." –Neysa Olivares-Torres "Great teaching is just like cooking, right? You never really stop learning, adjusting, and reflecting because our students keep evolving. And so we should, also." —Neysa Olivares-Torres "My style came, really, with experience, with time, and with observing other teachers." —Neysa Olivares-Torres "It's important to make sure that it feels like a partnership with your students, that we are equal partners in learning." —Neysa Olivares-Torres "When I did show up as my authentic self, it made such an impact in my classroom." —Ana Torres "Look at your strengths, your personality, and your values, and then build your classroom approach based on that." —Eric Cross | |||
| Empowering diverse learners in math, starring Keri Brown | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:39:53 | |
Alabama K–2 educator, national presenter, and curriculum author Keri Brown discusses strategies for supporting students in the math classroom. While Keri focuses on math in the episode, many of her takeaways can be applied to all subjects. Keri breaks down the power of small-group instruction, the value of multisensory hands-on manipulatives, and the role of intervention. She also explains how to help students who may already be struggling feel comfortable and confident talking about math. Classroom Insider Eric Cross then joins Ana to reinforce the importance of implementing a routine in the classroom. Show notes:
Quotes: "When you see the light bulb come on in a kid and I'm like, Ah this is why [I teach]." —Keri Brown "Sometimes it is hard. You're like, 'Why do I do this? The kids are this, the parents are this.' But then, you get that sweet note." —Keri Brown "We start small with just talking to them, helping them figure out how to have a conversation about math. They can talk about everything else, but we have to teach them how to talk about math. We have to give them the words, give them the tools." —Keri Brown "Predictable routines really help students feel safe because they know what's going to happen." —Eric Cross "It's impactful to spend that little extra time saying, 'Let me build some relationships and show these babies how to be students in my classroom.'" —Ana Torres | |||
| Teach with resilience in the new year, starring Fawn Nguyen | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:52:16 | |
As we wrap up another incredible year together, Ana revisits her Season 1 conversation with the director of STEM Initiatives at Amplify, Fawn Nguyen. Ana is joined by Classroom Insider Eric Cross to pull out some brand-new takeaways and actionable tips that educators can use right away to create a classroom environment that sets students up for success. They also look ahead and give a sneak peek of what's coming up on Beyond My Years in 2026. Before the episode's end, Fawn gives new advice for avoiding burn out in the second half of the school year by "doing less, but doing it better." Show notes:
Quotes: “In my next lifetime, I would still teach, I would go back to teaching. That's how much I love it.” —Fawn Nguyen "If I could give one piece of advice to young teachers, it would be to hold high expectations of their students." —Fawn Nguyen "We can have high expectations of [students] and still be very compassionate and be their biggest cheerleaders." —Fawn Nguyen “It has to be an exchange. We can't be just receiving, asking kids to be [themselves], and yet we ourselves are not.” —Fawn Nguyen "One of the things I always believed as an educator was when we make children believe they can, they do." —Ana Torres "Be willing to change your practice even when it challenges tradition." —Eric Cross | |||
| Cultivating critical thinkers in your classroom, starring Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D. | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:37:46 | |
Host Ana Torres is joined by nationally recognized educational consultant and thought leader Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D., to discuss what critical thinkng is and how to help students develop it. In addition to explaining why critical thinking is crucial for long-term academic success, Mitchell also gives educators four clear steps that they can implement to effectively develop critical thinking skills in their classrooms. Ana is then joined by Classroom Insider extraordinaire Eric Cross, who discusses how he encourages his students to hone their critical thinking skills in his classroom. Show notes:
Quotes: "When you're a school administrator, you can't be confusd as to what your identity is. People expect you to step in with voice, with passion, with vision, and direct the path," —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D. "[Critical thinking] is actually cognitive support. It's a mental act of process in which you acquire knowledge and understanding." —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D. "When I see questioning that probes, that's how I know I'm in a classroom where a teacher honors students' thinking. It is an honor to hear what children have to think." —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D. "That's how you know your in a classroom with critical thinking: We're not rushing the conversation. We're enjoying it." —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D. "There's an art and a science to teaching, and I think that they're two different things." —Eric Cross "The importance of modeling can't be overstated." —Ana Torres | |||
| Embodying your passion, purpose, and personal values as an educator, starring Daniela Anello | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:39:43 | |
Ana is joined by Daniela Anello, CEO of DC Bilingual Public Charter School, to discuss how educators can create environments in which they can be their whole selves. Daniela tells her own story of identifying her values as a teacher and claiming the sense of purpose she wanted to bring into her own classroom; and then lays out how she works to incorporate them on a day-to-day basis. She also explains why its important for teachers to take chances, make mistakes, and try again—behaviors should be modeled for students. Ana is then joined by our Classroom Insider, middle school science teacher, Eric Cross, who delves into the importance of "being yourself on purpose" when. you teach. Show notes:
Quotes: "I needed to be in a place where I could be my full self, demonstrating all of the identities that make me who I am." —Daniela Anello "The first step is recognizing your own identity and your own values and the aspects of you that you want to see reflected in the place that you're going to pour your love and heart into." —Daniela Anello "Change and improvement happen over time." —Daniela Anello "Go where you're going to grow." —Eric Cross "If I'm in an environment where I can't be my authentic self, and I know what that is and I know what I value, then it might be time for me to go somewhere where I can flourish." —Eric Cross "A system is not a person. If you build something on a person, then when that person leaves or gets burned out, your system falls apart." —Eric Cross | |||
| Embracing productive beliefs to transform your teaching, starring Mike Flynn | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:41:24 | |
To celebrate this second season of Beyond My Years, Ana is joined by Mike Flynn, nationally recognized expert in mathematics education and online learning. He explains how "disorienting dilemmas" can bolster our productive beliefs and lead to transformative change in our teaching. Mike and Ana also discuss the importance of teacher advocacy, the power of collective voice, and ways to overcome barriers to change. Our favorite Classroom Insider, Eric Cross, joins Ana to discuss how important it is to challenge our assumptions as we continue to grow and change. Show notes:
Quotes: "Leadership comes in a lot of different formats, but anyone interested in influencing change can orchestrate experiences to disrupt unproductive beliefs." —Mike Flynn "Don't be afraid of your own teacher voice and exercising that. Advocacy is one of the best things you can do." —Mike Flynn "Sometimes it gets really hard before it gets better. It just always reminds me to remember the long game." —Mike Flynn "As a learner, you have to have humility. Otherwise you won't grow." —Eric Cross "Change really behinds when you look at the unintended consequences of our practice." —Eric Cross | |||
| Special: Building Literacy Across The Curriculum: Why Every Teacher Is a Reading Teacher | 06 Mar 2026 | 00:59:53 | |
In this special episode, we're bringing you an inspiring conversation from a recent edWebinar that will transform how you approach literacy across every subject area. Join Ana Torres, Beyond My Years podcast host, Eric Cross, our Classroom Insider, and Susan Lambert, host of our sister podcast, Science of Reading: The Podcast as they share how literacy fits into every subject area, why this is such an important topic, and what it looks like in practice. In this episode, you'll: - Discover strategies to weave literacy seamlessly into your classroom. - Learn strategies and tactics for supporting multilingual learners. - Get strategies for developing academic language across all subjects. - Explore what literacy instruction looks like in an adolescent classroom. Show notes:
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| Putting teacher voices at the center of math adoption, starring Matt Cash | 15 Apr 2026 | 00:39:08 | |
In the first episode of a special Beyond My Year two-part math series, Ana chats with Matt Cash, director of elementary curriculum and instruction for Lake Elsinore Unified School District, in California, about math leadership and change management. Matt shares his experience helping move his district from a localized approach to a unified system to provide centralized resources, professional development, and assessment. Together, Matt and Ana discuss the importance of listening to educators during adoption processes, the power of creating systems that support teachers, and the best ways to build unity around instructional approaches. Matt also shares practical advice for educators navigating curriculum reviews and pilots. Before the episode's end, Ana is joined by Classroom Insider Eric Cross, who reflects on how teachers can use their voices early in adoption processes, pilot with fidelity, and give themselves grace during implementation. Show notes:
Quotes: "When you're removing variability out of your system, quality is going up." —Matt Cash "Professionals are obsessed with the idea of getting better." —Matt Cash "Advocate for your kids." —Matt Cash "Give yourself grace in year one, but stay engaged and keep asking for support." —Eric Cross "Instead of quietly struggling and going back to old materials, put that energy into requests and make your voice heard." —Eric Cross "Sometimes the buy-in comes when we understand things better." —Eric Cross | |||
| Season 2 wrap-up: Six takeaways from Ana and Eric | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:08:14 | |
Host Ana Torres and Classroom Insider Eric Cross recently recorded a video with their six takeaways from Season 2 of the Beyond My Years podcast. Listen right here, or watch the takeaways video on our new YouTube channels, linked below.
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| Helping students "not hate" math, starring Ian Brown | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:41:36 | |
In the second part of our special Beyond My Years two-part math series, Ana is joined by Ian Brown, second-grade teacher at Mukilteo School District in Washington and author of the comic book I Hate Math, for a coversation focused on reducing math anxiety and creating positive math experiences. Ian shares his approach to helping students who genuinely dislike math, describing how he helps them get to a place where math success feels manageable and achievable. Together, Ian and Ana explore the power of honoring students' real feelings; creating classroom environments where mistakes don't carry shame; and using storytelling, humor, and metaphors to make abstract concepts concrete. Finally, Ana is joined by Classroom Insider Eric Cross to discuss making math feel safe, ways to give students both story and stage, and how the foundational work of differentiation and meeting students where they are is critical to the work of educators. Show notes:
Quotes: "You can't force someone to love something or to like something. But you can kind of talk them into not hating something." —Ian Brown "I hate shaming children. I hate shaming anyone. I think shame is the most insidious thing in the world." —Ian Brown "Math is just a description of the world around us. We live in the world, we can do it." —Ian Brown "I don't attach any value to success or failure. I only attach value to hard work and kindness." —Ian Brown "It's gonna be a grind. We're gonna be here for 180 some days. Well, let's have fun doing it." —Ian Brown "You have to feel your feelings so you can think your thoughts." —Eric Cross "The boring work is the real work." —Eric Cross "You need both culture and rigor. If you have culture without rigor, then learning is hollow. If you have rigor without culture, that's what made students hate the subject." —Eric Cross | |||