In this powerful episode, host Jacob Chastain sits down with Dr. John B. King Jr., the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education under President Obama, to discuss his new book Teacher by Teacher.

They explore Dr. King's journey from classroom teacher to national education leader, offering a rare insider’s perspective on the state of American education.

Together, they unpack the challenges educators face today, including the growing politicization of the profession and its impact on schools and communities. A must-listen for anyone passionate about teaching, policy, and the future of education.

John B. King Jr. served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education. Over the course of his extensive and influential career in public education, he has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal, the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner, a college professor, and the president and CEO of the Education Trust, a national education civil rights organization.

King is currently the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. Both of King’s parents were career New York City public school educators.

SPONSOR LINK: The School Me Podcast from NEA

Hello everyone! In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we dive into one of the most vital—and often overlooked—elements of teaching success: building genuine, lasting partnerships with parents. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator, gaining parent support can transform your classroom culture, student outcomes, and your overall teaching experience.

Join us as we explore five actionable steps to connect with parents on a deeper level: Invite, Communicate, Extend, Follow-Up, and Educate. These steps go beyond surface-level interactions and help foster real trust, meaningful collaboration, and shared investment in student success.

Tune in to learn how to move from parent contact to true parent partnership—and why this shift is essential for modern educators.

Are you currently working on building parent relationships or preparing for future connections?

Hello everyone! What a title for a podcast. But, this is a real one. No guest, just me (Jacob Chastain,) the reality of changes in my life, and my continued frustration with the discussions around education.

For followers of the show, you have seen a lot of "Greatest Hits" episodes dropping. This is due for a lot of reasons that I go into, but the short of it is that life has thrown some major curveballs my way and it has been hard to balance everything. I am slowly getting there, but some things take time.

This episode details changes in my life and where I am finding it hard to navigate the changing landscape of discourse in education. Come along and dialogue with me!