Inspiring Teachers: The Honored Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Welcome to Inspiring Teachers: The Honored Podcast, where we shine a spotlight on life-changing teachers across the country. Our podcast is brought to you by Honored, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and elevating great teachers.

In this episode, you will hear about:

- The history and impact of Honored

- The importance of teacher recognition

- What you can expect from our podcast

Links Mentioned:

- Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Download The Episode Transcript Here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11S62uu_64l6CZk5rpH78do30mrHkESPAOMoMHslj_-U/edit?usp=sharing 

Marcy Anderson, a 2nd-grade teacher at Manchester Park Elementary School in Lenexa, Kansas, is the recipient of our March 2025 Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by her student, Ben, and Ben's mom, Jessica. Joining Marcy in this episode are her student, Ben, and Ben's mom, Jessica.

You'll hear about:

- Marcy Anderson's journey to becoming a teacher

- The impact Marcy has had on Ben and his family

- Marcy's dedication to creating a supportive and safe environment for her students

- The extraordinary work Marcy is doing to make a life-changing impact on her students

You'll also hear from Steve Drummond, who shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey. Steve Drummond is an author, educator, and, for more than 20 years, a journalist at NPR in Washington.

Links Mentioned:

- Read more about Marcy Anderson's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/marcy-anderson

- Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Kurk Watson, a K-8 Drama teacher at Albert M. Greenfield School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the recipient of our February 2025 Honored National Teaching Award. He was nominated for this award by Summer House Institute: https://www.summerhouseco.org/. Joining Kurk in this episode are his student, Nate, and Nate's parent, Erica.

You'll hear about:

- Kurk Watson's journey to becoming a teacher

- The impact Kurk Watson has had on Nate and Erica

- Kurk's dedication to providing experiences and supporting students in cultivating passions

- The extraordinary work Kurk is doing to make a life-changing impact on his students

You'll also hear from Global Managing Partner of Paul Hastings, Sherrese Smith, who shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey.

Links Mentioned:

- Read more about Kurk Watson's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/kurk-watson/

- Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Aleah Washington, a middle school Resource Specialist at Murray Middle School in Ridgecrest, California, is the recipient of our January 2025 Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by Jocelin Quinton, who shares the incredible impact Aleah Washington has had on Jocelin's son, Ty. 

You'll hear about:

- Ms. Washington's journey to becoming a teacher

- The impact Ms. Washington's class has had on Ty and Mrs. Quinton

- Ms. Washington's dedication to building confidence and supporting her students

- The extraordinary work Ms. Washington is doing to make a life-changing impact on her students

You'll also hear from Oscar-winning actor and professor, Matthew McConaughey, who shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey. This audio is credited to Nicholas Ferroni, who is an Educator, Advocate, and Activist. You can learn more about Nicholas Ferroni in the episode credits below.

Links Mentioned:

- Read more about Aleah's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/aleah-washington/

- Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

- Teachers Who Inspired segment audio of Matthew McConaughey: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1nSjjquaxv/?hl=en

Joseph Keeney, a middle and high school Orchestra teacher at Lee's Summit North High School in Lee's Summit, Missouri, is the recipient of our December 2024 Honored National Teaching Award. He was nominated for this award by his student, Evita Churchill. In this episode, we are also joined by Evita and her mom, Jennifer Churchill.

You'll hear about:

- Mr. Keeney's journey to becoming a teacher

- The impact Mr. Keeney's class had on Evita

- Jennifer's heartfelt story of the impact she saw on Evita

- Mr. Keeney's commitment to creating an inclusive space where all students can have fun and feel valued

You'll also hear from our special guest, Wendy Kopp, CEO and Co-founder of Teach For All, as she shares the story of a teacher who had a lasting impact on her life.

Links Mentioned:

- Read more about Joseph's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/joseph-keeney/

- Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Diana Fernandez, a kindergarten teacher at Pinecrest Cove Preparatory Academy in Miami, Florida, is the recipient of our November 2024 Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by parent Lianet Sarduy, who shares the incredible impact Diana Fernandez has had on Lianet's son, Aidan.

You'll hear about:

- Diana’s inspiring journey to becoming a teacher

- Aidan’s favorite experiences in Mrs. Fernandez’s classroom

- Lianet’s heartfelt story of her son’s transformation

- Diana’s commitment to emotional learning, fostering a nurturing environment, and empowering her students to reach their full potential

You'll also hear from our special guest, Garrett Boone, co-founder of the container store, as he shares the story of a teacher who had a lasting impact on his life.

Links Mentioned:

- Read more about Diana's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/diana-fernandez/

- Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Download The Episode Transcript Here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vN9hfk4g9xB7MUYn_wLMKRwtoD6WnpPz4dIR-Do8abg/edit?usp=sharing 

To celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, we are honored to share the story of an incredible educator who has made an impact on the life of a student with autism. Kiersten Wood, a 1st-3rd grade Special Day Class teacher at Henry Miller Elementary School in Los Banos, California, is the recipient of our March 2025 Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by the parents of her student, Payton. Joining Kiersten in this episode are Payton’s mom and dad, Anthony and Samantha.

You'll hear about:

- Kiersten Wood's journey to becoming a teacher

- The impact Kiersten has had on Payton and his family

- Kiersten's dedication to creating an empathetic and encouraging environment for her students

- Kiersten's passion for supporting families with children with disabilities

You'll also hear from Matthew Kenslow, who is the author of "Juggling the Issues: Living with Asperger's Syndrome". He shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired". You can learn more about Matthew Kenslow in the episode credits below.

Links Mentioned:

- Read more about Kiersten Wood's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/kiersten-wood

- Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

- Teachers Who Inspired segment audio of Matthew Kenslow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9FUkVOj0TI

Award-winning actress, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Jennifer Garner joins us for an episode to celebrate receiving our first-ever annual Honored Advocate for Teachers Award!

Garner is known for her versatility in a wide range of starring-roles in Alias, Dallas Buyers Club, Love Simon, Juno, and more. Most recently, Garner executive produced and starred in the hit Apple TV+ limited series The Last Thing He Told Me, based on the eponymous New York Times bestseller by Laura Dave, and the Netflix comedy features Family Switch and Yes Day, which became Netflix’s biggest Kids & Family film release after launching on the platform. Next, Garner will star and executive produce a sequel to Yes Day for Netflix and The Five-Star Weekend for Peacock. Garner recently wrapped production on Season 2 of Apple TV+ The Last Thing He Told Me where she also serves as an executive producer. 

In 2017, Garner co-founded a leading childhood nutrition company Once Upon a Farm. As Chief Brand Officer, she has helped grow the company with the goal of providing organic, crave-worthy snacks and meals for children of all ages. As a businesswoman, Garner has worked with major brands including Neutrogena and Capital One, and also joined the Virtue Labs team to amplify and raise awareness about the unique health and beauty benefits of the company’s premium hair care line. 

As a philanthropist, Garner is a Save the Children Trustee and has worked with the organization since 2008. In 2014, Garner joined the global non-profit’s board of trustees, deepening her commitment to issues affecting children in America and around the world.

You'll hear about:

- The teachers who have left a life-changing impact on Jennifer.

- The incredible work Jennifer is doing with Save the Children.

- The effects of generational poverty on education.

- The importance of teacher recognition and how to take action to recognize teachers.

About Honored:

Honored's mission is to inspire and retain great teachers, keeping them in the classroom as long as possible. Every month of the school year at Honored, we select an exceptional educator in the United States to be the recipient of the Honored National Teaching Award. Each Honoree, as we call them, receives a $5,000 cash reward, and we then tell the story on our website and our social media platforms of how that teacher has impacted their students' lives. To learn more about our organization, you can go to our website at Honored.org. While you're there, if you have a teacher you would like to recognize, you can nominate them at honored.org/nominate. 

Links Mentioned:

- Follow Jennifer Garner on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.garner/

- Learn more about Save the Children: https://www.savethechildren.org/

- Nominate a Teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Rachel Bowen, a middle school Math teacher and volleyball, basketball, and track coach at Warren Middle School in Forney, Texas, is the recipient of our September Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by her student, Ethan. Joining Rachel in this episode are Ethan and Ethan's mom, Jessica.

You'll hear about:

- Rachel Bowen's journey to becoming a teacher.

- The impact Rachel has had on Ethan and his family.

- Rachel's dedication to creating an environment that instills hard work and perseverance.

- Rachel's passion for helping students of all abilities gain confidence in math.

You'll also hear from Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy, Tony Award-winning songwriter, actor, producer, and director Lin-Manuel Miranda, who shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on his journey. This audio is credited to CBS Mornings.

Links Mentioned:

- Read more about Rachel Bowen's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/rachel-bowen

- Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

- Teachers Who Inspired segment audio of Lin-Manuel Miranda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulJcC7kMDYc&t=123s

Angela Wunderlich and NiKole Nickerson, Senior Regional Program Managers at TEACH.org, join us for an organizational spotlight podcast episode. As Senior Program Manager at TEACH.org North Carolina, Nikole combines a deep empathy and passion for education with a BA in History and an M.Ed in Social Studies Education, and an MPA, with an Ed.D in Higher Education Leadership on the horizon. Her passion for education drives her work, creating impactful programs and initiatives. Angela, a Senior Program Manager at TEACH.org Minnesota, is an educator and innovator who has pioneered roles and programs in every full-time position she’s held. With a BA in Education and Hispanic Studies from Bowdoin College and a K-12 World Language Teaching Certification, she brings a passion for language learning and curriculum development. Whether leading new initiatives or shaping learning experiences, Angela thrives in dynamic environments.

You'll hear about:

- TEACH.org's mission and initiatives.

- The incredible work TEACH.org is doing in recruiting and retaining teachers. 

- The tools and resources offered through TEACH.org's one-stop shop platform.

- How TEACH.org is chipping away at the barriers individuals face on their paths to becoming educators.

Links Mentioned:

- Learn more about TEACH.org: https://www.teach.org

- Learn more about TEACH.org North Carolina: https://northcarolina.teach.org

- Learn more about TEACH.org Minnesota: https://minnesota.teach.org

- Follow TEACH.org on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teach.org

- Follow TEACH.org on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/teach-org/

- Follow TEACH.org on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachorg/

- Follow TEACH.org North Carolina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachNCorg

- Follow TEACH.org Minnesota on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teach_mn

- Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/

- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/

- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/

- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/

- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org

- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers

- Read the episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11CnrsHV5Ek_dhWzYQfXbs4YDG7amjDxif71sqng0JZc/edit?usp=sharing

Episode Music Credits:

- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/

- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/