In this episode of Teach in Ten, Steph sits down with Kristin Mayes, a social science teacher and literacy coach at Crystal Lake Central High School, to discuss literacy not as an add-on but as a gateway to deeper learning.

Kristin reflects on how confronting literacy as a barrier profoundly shaped her instructional approach. Working with her students, she quickly recognized how literacy challenges could limit access to content, and that realization became a driving force in how she designs her classroom today. Rather than lowering standards, she embeds meaningful literacy strategies directly into her social science curriculum, ensuring students engage with rigorous content while building essential skills.

A central theme of the conversation is innovation driven by curiosity. Kristin explains that perspective-shifting teaching doesn’t start with flashy tools. It starts with asking better questions. How do we help students access complex texts? How do we maintain high expectations while providing support?

She also highlights the power of desirable difficulties, intentionally designing learning experiences that challenge students in productive ways. By normalizing struggle and emphasizing daily practice, Kristin helps students see that they are capable of doing hard things. Growth becomes something students take pride in, not something they fear.

Hosts: Cori & Steph

Guest: Kristen Gioe – Teacher, Literacy Coach, and Advocate at Haber Oaks

In this episode, Cori and Steph sit down with Kristen Gioe, a passionate educator whose work centers on literacy, access, and meeting students exactly where they are. Kristen shares her journey from special education teacher to literacy specialist and coach, and how those experiences shaped her belief that every student deserves instruction tailored to their needs.

Kristen talks about what innovation looks like in a setting like Haber Oaks, where flexibility, empathy, and responsiveness matter just as much as strategy. She highlights how research-based practices such as retrieval practice, quick checks, and low-stakes assessments have transformed her classroom, making learning feel achievable rather than overwhelming. These small, intentional moves help all students engage, regardless of reading level or learning profile.

She also shares powerful examples of connecting students to authentic literacy experiences, including ongoing collaboration with author Ellen Hopkins, which gives students a rare opportunity to interact directly with the voices behind the books they read.

Throughout the conversation, Kristen emphasizes that innovation isn’t about flashy tools or perfect lessons. It’s about care, connection, and motivation. Whether it’s ensuring students have what they need to learn, adapting instruction on the fly, or building trust through relationships, her work reminds us that meaningful innovation often starts with compassion.

Hosts: Cori & Steph

Guest: Hannah Martin, Cary-Grove High School Social Science Teacher & ML Leader

In this episode of Teach in 10, Cori and Steph sit down with Hannah Martin to explore what innovation looks like when it’s rooted in accessibility, student voice, and belonging. Hannah shares her journey into teaching, the educators who inspired her, and how her work with multilingual learners has reshaped her instructional approach.

The conversation highlights practical, classroom-ready innovations—especially how Hannah uses tools like Snorkel and Notebook LM to reduce language barriers, provide meaningful feedback, and empower students to demonstrate learning in multiple ways. Rather than innovation for innovation’s sake, Hannah emphasizes intentional shifts that meet students where they are and support them as they take academic risks in a supportive environment.

Listeners will also hear how innovation connects to real-world skills like communication, collaboration, and a growth mindset, as well as the importance of explicitly teaching social-emotional skills alongside content. This episode is a great reminder that some of the most powerful innovation happens when teachers focus on relationships, equity, and giving every student a voice.