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In this episode, Amanda and Trina interview Kelvin Mak, a UC Berkeley and Standford educated teacher who quit the profession after only two years due to the oppressive pay system in place in our nation's schools. He reacts to the revelation he learned while listening to the previous epsiode that teachers are only paid a fraction of a complete salary due to the system sexism baked into our profession. Both Amanda and Trina struggle with his decision to leave feeling simulataneously happy for him, and sad for their profession at the loss of exciting new talent.

00:00 Introduction to the Teacher Pay Mess

00:56 Unpacking Teacher Pay: Common Misconceptions

03:18 Structural Oppression in Teacher Pay

05:41 Historical Context: The Origins of Teacher Pay

12:45 Modern Challenges: Step and Column System

24:26 The Impact of Healthcare Costs

30:34 Per Pupil Spending and Political Will

37:07 Conclusion: Rethinking Teacher Pay

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In this introductory episode of 'The Teacher Pay Mess,' Amanda and her co-host, both seasoned educators, delve into the convoluted and problematic structure of teacher pay. They discuss the historical roots of the pay system, which originated in the 18th century, and how it was designed based on sexist assumptions. They also elucidate 'step and column,' the mechanism dictating teacher salaries which they argue is archaic and oppressive. Additionally, they touch upon themes of structural sexism, lack of racial diversity, and income inequality affecting the teaching profession. The conversation broadens to include the inadequacies in per pupil spending in states like California, and how these financial shortcomings contribute to the ongoing teacher shortage crisis. The episode is a call to action for teachers and listeners to challenge the status quo and advocate for systemic changes in the education sector.

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In this episode, Trina introduces a continuation podcast discussing the teacher shortage crisis with Amanda and Dr. Paul Bruno, who co-authored an article attempting to quantify the problem. The discussion touches on the complexity and messiness of the data surrounding teacher shortages due to local control, where each district operates independently with little oversight. Dr. Bruno challenges the terms 'shortage' and 'crisis,' arguing that the data shows more teachers than ever, though they might not be in traditional classrooms. He also voices concerns about the press misrepresenting the issue, potentially leading to political agendas that dismantle public education. Trina and Dr. Bruno further discuss the difficulties of measuring the impact of teacher shortages on student outcomes and reflect on how specialized roles and new teachers affect classroom dynamics and effectiveness. The conversation concludes with insights into the need for targeted solutions, the limitations of current data, and the potential benefits of differential pay and elevating teacher leadership to address the crisis.

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In this episode, host, Trina English, dives into the complexities of the teacher shortage crisis in the United States. Using AI and a scholarly article by Drs. Tuan Nguyen, Chan Lam, and Paul Bruno as reference points, the discussion touches on teacher job satisfaction, the dangers of accepting simplistic answers, and the lack of comprehensive data on teacher vacancies. The speaker also highlights the uneven distribution of teacher shortages across subject areas and socioeconomic demographics, criticizing current recruitment practices and suggesting the establishment of a national professional teacher workforce.

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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.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:09 Theresa Copeland's Story

01:32 Advice for Teachers Facing Challenges

11:02 The Solution Framework

12:31 The Importance of Teacher Leadership

14:15 Challenges in the Education System

18:09 The Need for a National Teaching Board

31:22 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

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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.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

00:07 Theresa Copeland's Story Begins

00:53 Theresa's Experience with Administration

05:14 Theresa's Instagram Controversy

09:04 The Fallout and Aftermath

22:02 Reflections and Broader Implications

30:47 The Complexity of Teacher Autonomy

31:27 The Role of Standards in Teaching

32:42 Challenges with Canned Curriculum

34:54 Teacher Health and Well-being

36:22 The Importance of Teacherpreneurship

39:09 Issues with Pacing and Curriculum Enforcement

47:11 The Problem with Decision Makers in Education

54:56 The Reading Instruction Dilemma

56:55 Conclusion and Call to Action

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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.

00:00 Introduction to Rebel Teachers Rising Podcast
00:26 Overview of the Podcast Series
02:09 The Reading Mess in K-12 Education
05:44 Highlighting Expert Contributions
10:41 Climate and Culture in Schools
17:12 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Challenges
22:04 Special Education Struggles
27:35 Teacher Health and Well-being
34:10 Teacher Autonomy and AI Concerns
37:51 Conclusion and Call to Action

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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.

00:00 Introduction: Setting the Stage

00:20 The Real Issues in K-12 Education

01:28 Creating a Teacher-Led Space

02:09 A Bipartisan Approach

02:50 The Fight for Public Education

05:12 Investigative Journalism and Teacher Voices

09:41 Philosophies of Education

19:42 The Journey of Creating the Podcast

28:15 Introduction to the Teacher Shortage Crisis

28:48 The Reading and DEI Mess

29:56 Title IX and Sexual Violence in Schools

30:31 Connecting the Dots: Teacher Shortage and K-12 Governance

31:11 The Petition for Teacher Leadership

32:29 Exploring the Teacher Shortage Mess

38:34 Teacher Pay Mess: Unpacking the Issues

43:26 Teacher Preparation Mess: The Hidden Costs

45:55 Canned Curriculum: A One-Size-Fits-All Problem

51:24 Conclusion and Call to Action

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