History teacher Tracy Barnett focuses on ideas over dates, inspiring students to connect the past to today's issues, including Black Lives Matter.

In 8th grade, Kathryn Isaacs learned a powerful lesson about how we view teachers. Decades later, her career reveals the story's irony and her reflections on teaching amid a pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Denver teacher Jason DiGioia shares how inspiring educators shaped his love of literature, his approach to teaching life lessons, and how he’s navigating the challenges of the pandemic and a shocking act of hate at his school.

Landi Tessman, a special ed teacher in Minneapolis, shares the profound impact of the coronavirus on her students and the challenges of remote education. Despite the difficulties, she highlights lessons of hope emerging from the crisis.

Author and educator Alfie Kohn challenges us to define our shared, long-term goals for children before identifying what makes a good teacher. In this thought-provoking podcast, he argues that to cultivate thoughtful, life-long learners, teachers must empower students to question, challenge, and take control of their own learning.

In spring 2019, CSU San Bernardino conducted a Celebration of Teaching Event for undergraduates interested in becoming a teachers. Faculty member, Wil Greer, shared this moving story about a child and the teachers who changed his life. 

As a child, Karina Figueroa-Ramirez had never encountered a teacher who shared her cultural background until 7th grade. Her Latinx English teacher encouraged her love of books, listened to her, and inspired her to envision a brighter future—an impact Karina is now paying forward nearly 20 years later.

In this story, we revisit a moving tribute from Nikki Ahrenstorff about her former English teacher and Above & Beyond honoree, Mr. Childs.

Nikki once believed her high school was “reserved for a special group of people” and that she wasn’t part of it. That changed when she stepped into Mr. Childs’ English class. His encouragement and belief in her helped change the way she saw herself—and what she believed was possible.

Nikki’s story is part of Teacher Stories’ ongoing work to capture the lasting impact of extraordinary educators, including those recognized by Above & Beyond Teaching.

Gwen Reid develops a passion for "cowboy poetry"...in her sixties.  Her junior high summer school teacher and great grandmother had a lot to do with this.