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.