In the first episode of the Rebel Teachers Rising Podcast, hosts Trina English, Jessica Martin, and Amanda Werner introduce their mission to create a teacher-led space to address systemic issues in K-12 education. They emphasize that the podcast is apolitical, welcoming diverse perspectives from public and private K-12 teachers nationwide. The hosts discuss their educational philosophies and the motivations behind starting the podcast while highlighting several critical 'messes' in the education system, such as the teacher shortage crisis, inadequate teacher pay, excessive teacher preparation requirements, the canned curriculum mess fueled by corporate greed, and the broader K-12 governance failures. They assert that these problems are bipartisan and require urgent attention from policymakers by amplifying teachers' voices and expertise. The episode serves as an introduction to their investigative journalistic series aiming for a national professional governing board of teachers to fix these entrenched issues in the education system.

In this episode of the Rebel Teachers Rising Podcast, the hosts continue their introduction to the series, discussing various 'messes' within the K-12 education system in the U.S. They stress the need for a national K-12 educator governing board to address issues like poor literacy rates, ineffective reading curriculums, inequitable working conditions, and the lack of teacher autonomy. The episode highlights the systemic flaws exacerbating these messes, such as income inequalities, special education inadequacies, and mental health crises among teachers and students. Upcoming episodes will feature stories from guest teachers sharing personal experiences and solutions, aiming to empower educators to advocate for substantial changes to sustain democracy and improve public education.

Intro to the Mess: True Life I’m a Teacher—Theresa Copeland Tells It Like It Is. (Part I)

In this episode of the Rebel Teachers Rising Podcast, hosts interview Theresa Copeland, known on Instagram as 'True Life, I'm a Teacher,' who shares her harrowing story of being fired from her K-12 school. The discussion touches on various themes including teacher autonomy, the challenges of CAN curriculum, the teacher pay mess, and the detrimental effects of school administration's lack of experience and insecurity. Theresa reveals the struggles of maintaining professionalism while navigating administrative oversight and emphasizes the importance of thoughtfully curated, teacher-driven curricula. The conversation also underlines how teacher autonomy is being eroded, impacting teachers' mental health and the overall quality of education. Part two of the interview will further delve into Theresa's experiences and potential solutions to these systemic issues.

Intro to the Mess: True Life I’m a Teacher—Theresa Copeland Tells It like It Is (Part II)

In this episode of the Rebel Teachers Rising Podcast, Trina and Jess host part two of an interview with Theresa Copeland, known on Instagram as True Life. I'm a Teacher. Theresa shares her experiences of facing administrative challenges and being fired despite being an effective educator. They discuss the systemic issues within the K-12 education system, focusing on the lack of support for teachers, poor administrative decisions, and the urgent need for a national governing body to oversee the teaching profession. Theresa emphasizes the importance of not staying silent, seeking better environments, and advocating for systemic change to improve educational outcomes. The conversation also touches on significant issues such as teacher evaluations, curriculum development, and the broader socio-economic context affecting education.