What makes school fun? An inspiring teacher! Stories of gratitude for the people who devote their lives to helping students learn and grow: classroom teachers, librarians, and principals. Click here for this episode's transcript.

Segments were produced by Jay from Southlake, Texas; Marium and Aruja from El Paso, Texas; and Connor and Jay from Clinton Township, Michigan.

Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with editing and mixing by Wyatt Mayes, with help from Genesis Magpayo. Ryan Janes is the camera and audio operator.

To wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week, we present this special BONUS episode where we flipped the mic and gave space to educators who reflected on the small moments that make it all worth it—student shoutouts, surprise gifts, and memories that linger. This episode is an audio love letter to the people who keep showing up: one student, one story, one rubber duck at a time.

Click here for this episode’s transcript.

Featured educators:

• AJ Chambers, Columbia, South Carolina
• Evan Andre, Meadville, Pennsylvania
• Jared Agard, Beaverton, Oregon
• Jennifer Wax, McKeesport, Pennsylvania
• Jen Chaffman, Huntersville, North Carolina
• Julie Tiedens, Black River Falls, Wisconsin
• Heather Putnam, Goodyear, Arizona
• Michael Kaufman, Clinton Township, Michigan
• Mindy Pavone, Clinton, New York

Student voices:

• Anastasiia – Leander, Texas
• Alexis – Clinton Township, Michigan
• Brianna – Clinton Township, Michigan
• Ani – Royal Oak, Michigan
• Beatrix – Austin, Texas
• Roury – San Diego, California
• Zion – Clinton Township, Michigan

Have a story about teaching you'd like to share? Record a voice memo and upload it here.

SRL Senior Manager of Community Engagement Manager Emily Hope Dobkin and Youth Media Producer Justin Rhodes produced this episode with support from Senior Youth Programming Director Victor Fernandez and Youth Media Producer Becky Wandel. Wyatt Mayes edited and mixed this episode.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen joins student reporter Khadeejah Khan for a thoughtful discussion on identity, memory, activism, and the role of art in "abolishing the conditions of voicelessness." In addition, Annalise shares a conversation with her father about growing up Chinese in Ecuador and how he embraces his multiple cultures. Click here for this episode's transcript.

Segments were produced by Annalise from Danville, CA and Khadeejah from Santa Clara, CA. Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with editing and mixing by Genesis Magpayo, and help from Wyatt Mayes. Ryan Janes is the camera and audio operator.