Lessons from the 2024 National Teacher of the Year
This week, we鈥檙e highlighting an episode of Beyond My Years, our sibling podcast that gives you exclusive access to all the wisdom of veteran educators. Beyond My Years host Ana Torres learns from the best as she sits down with 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman. Missy teaches Ana about being open to new ideas and perspectives, offers tips on building relationships with families, and discusses the importance of slowing down. Missy doesn鈥檛 shy away from tough topics, like managing the 鈥渨ho knows best鈥� struggles among administrators, teachers, and parents, and knowing when it鈥檚 time to step away from teaching, In addition, Classroom Insider Eric Cross and Ana discuss understanding your community, being more flexible in presenting your lessons, and seeking mentorship and continuous growth.
Meet our guest(s):
Missy Testerman
2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman is a kindergarten through eighth grade English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher who is a staunch advocate for students, teachers, and families. Missy prioritizes instruction that ensures her students have the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve. She served as a first and second grade teacher at Rogersville City School in Rogersville, Tennessee, for three decades before taking advantage of the state鈥檚 Grow Your Own initiative and adding an ESL endorsement three years ago.
During her year of service as National Teacher of the Year, she鈥檚 empowered teachers to advocate for students and fellow educators by using their voices and sharing their experiences with those outside the classroom.
Meet our host, Susan Lambert
Susan Lambert is the Chief Academic Officer of Elementary Humanities at Amplify, and the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast. Throughout her career, she has focused on creating high-quality learning environments using evidence-based practices. Lambert is a mom of four, a grandma of four, a world traveler, and a collector of stories.
As the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Lambert explores the increasing body of scientific research around how reading is best taught. As a former classroom teacher, administrator, and curriculum developer, Lambert is dedicated to turning theory into best practices that educators can put right to use in the classroom, and to showcasing national models of reading instruction excellence.
