EPISODES & TRANSCRIPTIONS

This episode we speak with Jere Chang, also known as @mrschanggifted, about her work as a classroom teacher, gifted education teacher, speaker, and author. We discuss her teaching path from university administration to high school English and ESOL, and then into elementary and gifted education while balancing family life. We also talk about her book, *Becoming the Teacher I Needed*, which draws on her own experiences with disability, being LGBTQIA, and not fitting in at school, alongside practical advice for teachers. She shares themes from her talks on teacher well-being, retention, school climate, advocacy, and creative thinking in gifted education. We cover her advice on boundaries, support, and managing workload, including limiting work email and being intentional about time off. We also discuss working conditions in schools, the balance between school and family responsibilities, and common misunderstandings about teachers and their workload.

We talk with Stephanie Lachenauer, the 2025 New Jersey Teacher of the Year, about her work as a middle school teacher and her focus on global leadership, skills for success, and teen mental health. We also discuss her travel experiences in southern Africa and her participation in an international student program focused on environmental stewardship. We talk about her book, *Let the Glitter Settle*, and the glitter jar metaphor she uses to teach mindfulness and emotional regulation through a workbook format for students. We also cover her classroom routines, her emphasis on sleep and structure, and the practical systems she uses to manage work, schedules, and daily responsibilities.

The interview features educator Nicholas Ferroni discussing his recent travel in Europe, where visits to historic sites and schools reinforced his interest in history, preservation, and teaching. He also talks about his current projects, including preparing for the school year, creating teacher-focused content, and continuing his series *Historically Correct*. Ferroni then addresses education issues such as teacher pay, school funding, attendance, grading, technology, and AI. He says teachers need more support, students should meet academic standards, and AI should be treated as a tool rather than a replacement for teachers.

In this episode we kick off season four from the New Jersey Hall of Fame and talk about recording in a new space, upcoming guests, and new opportunities connected to education and public policy. We also reflect on changes in our own lives over the summer, including empty nesting, grief, recovery, rest, and time with family. We discuss the value of bringing students to the Hall of Fame and helping them connect New Jersey people and places to what they already know. We also imagine what would belong in a Teacher Hall of Fame, share thoughts on cafeteria duty and school supply lists, and talk about New Jersey food, culture, and the routines and priorities we are balancing now.