Inspiring Teachers: The Honored Podcast

Honored
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Teacher recognition is a powerful way to keep exceptional educators engaged and fulfilled and prevent attrition—yet too often, their incredible contributions go unacknowledged. Inspiring Teachers: The Honored Podcast shines a spotlight on the extraordinary impact teachers make across the country.

  1. K-8 Music Teacher is Building Confidence and Community Through Music: Meet Julian Coleman, Our February 2026 Honoree

    FEB 9

    K-8 Music Teacher is Building Confidence and Community Through Music: Meet Julian Coleman, Our February 2026 Honoree

    In recognition of Black History Month, we have partnered with Summer House Institute to honor an incredible Black male educator. Summer House Institute is an organization that exists to grow and develop young men of color who will soon finish college and enter the workforce through an affinity-based learning model.  Julian Coleman, a K-8 music teacher at Global Leadership Academy West in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the recipient of our February 2026 Honored National Teaching Award. Joining Mr. Coleman in this episode are eight of his scholars from 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th grade.   You'll hear about: - Julian Coleman's journey to becoming a teacher. - The impact Mr. Coleman has had on his scholars. - Mr. Colemnan's dedication to creating a safe haven in the music room. - Mr. Coleman's passion for supporting scholars in cultivating a passion for music and the arts.   You'll also hear from Viola Davis, EGOT award-winning actress, philanthropist, and CEO/Co-Founder of JuVee Productions & JVL Media. She shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired". This audio is credited to The Associated Press archive, and you can find more information on the source of this audio in the episode description.   Links Mentioned: - Read more about Julian Coleman's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/julian-coleman - Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/ - Learn more about Summer House Institute: https://www.summerhouseco.org/ - Follow Summer House Institute on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summerhouseinstitute - Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/ - Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers - Follow us on X: https://x.com/honored/ - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/ - Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org   Episode Music Credits: - Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/ - Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/ - Teachers Who Inspired segment audio of Viola Davis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pps41eu9-qw

    30 min
  2. 4th-Grade Teacher is Shaping Confident Learners: Meet Devon Houghton, Our January 2026 Honoree

    JAN 5

    4th-Grade Teacher is Shaping Confident Learners: Meet Devon Houghton, Our January 2026 Honoree

    Devon Houghton, a 4th-grade teacher at Beatrice H Wood Elementary School in Plainville, MA is the recipient of our January 2026 Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by the parents of her student, Sammy. Joining Mrs. Houghton in this episode are Sammy and Sammy's mom, Erin.   You'll hear about: - Mrs. Houghton's journey to becoming a teacher. - The impact Mrs. Houghton has had on Sammy and her family. - Mrs. Houghton's dedication to building strong relationships with her students.  - Mrs. Houghton's passion for creating a safe, fun, and growth-oriented environment for her students. - How Mrs. Houghton supported Sammy when she was experiencing bullying.    You'll also hear from Angel Wunderlich, the Senior Regional Partnerships Manager at TEACH.org Minnesota. She shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired". With a deep background in education and community development, Angela leads statewide efforts to diversify the teaching workforce and remove barriers to entry for aspiring educators. Angela brings years of experience in inclusion strategy, program leadership, and cross-sector collaboration to this mission. Before joining TeachMN, Angela taught high school Spanish at the Neighborhood House Charter School in Dorchester, MA, and served as the Director of Community Development and Inclusion for the YMCA of the North.   Links Mentioned: - Read more about Devon Houghton's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/devon-houghton - Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/ - Read the incredible nomination for Devon Houghton: https://www.honored.org/nominees/devon-houghton/ - Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/ - Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers - Follow us on X: https://x.com/honored/ - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/ - Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org   Episode Music Credits: - Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/ - Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

    31 min
  3. The Teacher's Lounge's Commitment to Creating Community Among Students and Teachers: A Conversation With Lynn Darby

    12/15/2025

    The Teacher's Lounge's Commitment to Creating Community Among Students and Teachers: A Conversation With Lynn Darby

    Lynn Darby, high school History teacher and Founder of the Teacher's Lounge, joins us for a spotlight podcast episode. Lynn Darby was born and raised in South Central Pennsylvania. Coming from a small but tight-knit family, Lynn had the opportunity to watch both his mom and uncle serve as educators from a young age. This, along with a strong intrinsic desire to make a positive impact in the world, inspired Lynn to pursue a career in education. Graduating from Temple University in Fall '21 and Relay Grad School of Education in Spring '24, Lynn currently works as a high school history teacher at MacArthur High School, Washington, DC's first new public high school in over 30 years. In his free time, Lynn enjoys watching Steelers football, cooking, working out, and spending time with friends.   You'll hear about: - Lynn's journey to becoming a teacher. - The Teacher's Lounge's initiatives to provide networking and fellowship opportunities for educators in DC. - The importance of diversity and representation in the education field. - How cultivating positive student relationships improves student outcomes.   Links Mentioned: - Learn more about the Teacher's Lounge: https://www.instagram.com/teacherslounge.dc/ - Listen to the Teacher's Lounge podcast: https://lellisdllc.podbean.com/ - Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/ - Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/ - Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/ - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/ - Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org - Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers - Read the episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UomhrxPKnL4Evljp5DIjQu9LaeJaBBh9JTIOiVPjAw8/edit?usp=sharing   Episode Music Credits: - Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/ - Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

    27 min
  4. Middle School Special Education Teacher is Cultivating an Inclusive Classroom Environment: Meet Luis Durán, Our December 2025 Honoree

    12/03/2025

    Middle School Special Education Teacher is Cultivating an Inclusive Classroom Environment: Meet Luis Durán, Our December 2025 Honoree

    Luis Durán, a 6th-8th-grade Special Education cluster class teacher at Talcott Fine Arts & Museum Academy in Chicago, Illinois is the recipient of our December 2025 Honored National Teaching Award. He was nominated for this award by his student, Kenny, and Kenny’s mother, Kimberlee. Joining Luis in this episode are Kenny and Kimbelee.   You'll hear about: - Luis Durán's journey to becoming a teacher. - The impact Luis has had on Kenny and his family. - Luis's dedication to creating an inclusive and encouraging environment for his students. - Luis's passion for making learning fun and interactive.   You'll also hear from award-winning journalist Walter Ray Watson, Jr. He shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired". He has produced and reported news stories, features, and specials for more than three decades with NPR. He launched NPR’s Code Switch podcast that explores race, identity, and culture. Walter previously produced the weekend broadcasts of NPR’s All Things Considered.  He is the recipient of a Peabody Award and several Salute to Excellence Awards from the National Association of Black Journalists, most recently, for a feature co-reported with correspondent Debbie Elliott in 2024, among other honors. He began his career writing about arts and culture for The New Pittsburgh Courier in Pennsylvania. Walter earned his Bachelor of Arts in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh and was a 2008 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.   Links Mentioned: - Read more about Luis Durán's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/luis-duran - Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/ - Read the incredible nomination for Luis Durán: https://www.honored.org/nominees/luis-duran/  - Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/ - Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers - Follow us on X: https://x.com/honored/ - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/ - Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org   Episode Music Credits: - Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/ - Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

    24 min
  5. The Modern Classrooms Project's Transformative Classroom Structure: A Conversation With Kareem Farah

    11/10/2025

    The Modern Classrooms Project's Transformative Classroom Structure: A Conversation With Kareem Farah

    Kareem Farah, CEO and Co-Founder of the Modern Classrooms Project, joins us for an organizational spotlight podcast episode. Kareem began his career as a high school math teacher in Hawaii and Washington, DC. Instead of using a traditional lecture model, Kareem taught mathematics through a blended model where students accessed content through his self-made videos. In 2018, he received the DC Public Schools Award for Classroom Innovation and was featured in Edutopia and CBS News for his work. In an effort to scale his classroom model, Kareem co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project. Under his leadership, the Modern Classrooms Project equips teachers to redesign their classrooms with blended, self-paced, mastery-based practices that personalize learning and strengthen student engagement, while preserving the human connection at the heart of great teaching. Kareem is also a member of Honored’s Board of Directors.   You'll hear about: - The Modern Classrooms Project's mission and initiatives. - The impact of self-paced learning on student success, teacher burnout, and teacher retention. - The incredible work the Modern Classroom Project is doing in supporting teachers who want to move beyond the traditional teaching method. - The Modern Classrooms Project's amazing success with its instructional model.    Links Mentioned: - Learn more about the Modern Classrooms Project: https://www.modernclassrooms.org/ - Follow the Modern Classrooms Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernclassproj/  - Listen to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast: https://www.modernclassrooms.org/podcasts  - Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/ - Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/ - Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/ - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/ - Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org - Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers - Read the episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e03-Y0nZ-malKQzJfUDH-JKXB6uN1UibZ9QLCI_9_V0/edit?usp=sharing   Episode Music Credits: - Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/ - Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

    19 min
  6. High School Algebra Teacher is Empowering English Language Learners: Meet Hui Couch, Our November 2025 Honoree

    11/03/2025

    High School Algebra Teacher is Empowering English Language Learners: Meet Hui Couch, Our November 2025 Honoree

    Hui Couch, a 9th-grade Algebra teacher at Newcomer Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, is the recipient of our November 2025 Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by the Modern Classrooms Project, a nonprofit organization that equips teachers to redesign their classrooms with blended, self-paced, mastery-based practices that personalize learning and strengthen student engagement. To help share the impact of Hui’s teaching, we are joined today by three of her students, Juan, Obama, and Kelia.   You'll hear about: - Hui Couch's journey to becoming a teacher. - The impact Hui has had on her students. - How Hui utilizes the Modern Classrooms Project method to teach her Algebra class with nine home languages. - Hui's dedication to equipping her students with lifelong skills such as empathy, independence, and resiliency.   You'll also hear from Kareem Farah, the CEO and Co-Founder of the Modern Classrooms Project, as he shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired". Kareem began his career as a high school math teacher in Hawaii and Washington, DC. Instead of using a traditional lecture model, Kareem taught mathematics through a blended model where students accessed content through his self-made videos. In 2018, he received the DC Public Schools Award for Classroom Innovation and was featured in Edutopia and CBS News for his work. In an effort to scale his classroom model, Kareem co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project. As CEO, he has led the organization to become a nationally recognized leader in instructional innovation, training, and supporting over 20,000 educators across diverse schools and districts.   Links Mentioned: - Read more about Hui Couch's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/hui-couch - Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/ - Learn more about the Modern Classrooms Project: https://www.modernclassrooms.org/ - Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/ - Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers - Follow us on X: https://x.com/honored/ - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/ - Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org   Episode Music Credits: - Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/ - Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

    34 min
  7. High School English Teacher Is Transforming Lives Through Relationship Building: Meet Our October 2025 Honoree

    10/01/2025

    High School English Teacher Is Transforming Lives Through Relationship Building: Meet Our October 2025 Honoree

    Omar Lisojo, a high school English teacher at Dover High School in Dover, New Jersey, is the recipient of our October Honored National Teaching Award. He was nominated for this award by multiple students. Joining Mr. Lisojo in this episode are his students Jacob, Nicole, and Osvaldo.   You'll hear about: - Mr. Lisojo's journey to becoming a teacher. - The impact Mr. Lisojo has had on his students and their families. - Mr. Lisojo's dedication to seeing the humanity in each student and creating a safe environment where they can come as they are. - Mr. Lisojo's ability to meet students at their level to help them succeed.   You'll also hear from Tomiko Ball, as she shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on her journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired".  Dr. Ball has sixteen years of experience serving elementary youth in Washington, D.C. Employing conscious leadership, she utilizes affirmative-based pedagogical practices and learning designs for all students in PreK-20. She has two book chapters published in 2024; advocating her research on the inequities within higher education, healing practices of doctoral students of color, and socially just leadership. Presently, Dr. Ball serves as an Assistant Principal in the district, an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at American University School of Education, and a Contributing Writer with Philly’s 7th Ward.   Links Mentioned: - Read more about Omar Lisojo's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/omar-lisojo - Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/ - Read the incredible nominations for Omar Lisojo: https://www.honored.org/nominees/omar-lisojo/ - Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/ - Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers - Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/ - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/ - Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org   Episode Music Credits: - Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/ - Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

    24 min
  8. The Boone Family Foundation's Passion For Education: A Conversation with Aimee Cunningham

    09/22/2025

    The Boone Family Foundation's Passion For Education: A Conversation with Aimee Cunningham

    Aimee Cunningham, President and CEO of The Boone Family Foundation, joins us for an organizational spotlight podcast episode. Aimee is a highly experienced principal in the progressive movement with significant fundraising, strategic planning, and management expertise. Over the last 20 years, Aimee has led work on the politics and policies that impact women and families, particularly around access to sexual and reproductive health care. Previously, Aimee served as the Chair of the Board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and founded several organizations designed to empower women to engage in politics and to fight for the right of all people to access affordable, high-quality healthcare. In addition, Aimee has served on the boards of a number of national progressive organizations, including the Center for Reproductive Rights and EMILY’s List. Today, Aimee leads The Boone Family Foundation in charting its mission to create equity for women and girls; to drive innovation and justice for students in public schools; and to steward and create accessible green spaces. In 2015, Aimee received the Robbie and Tom Ausley Award to honor her work on behalf of Planned Parenthood in Texas. She was also the 2022 recipient of Viola’s House Hero Award; in 2023, she received the Texas Women’s Foundation’s Maura Award for Women Helping Women. Aimee lives with her husband, Ed Cunningham, in Austin, Texas.   You'll hear about: - The Boone Family Foundation's mission and initiatives. - Incredible education organizations in North Texas making life-changing impacts. - Aimee's passion for gender equity and the importance of gender equity in schools. - The necessity for and impacts of teacher appreciation and recognition.   Links Mentioned: - Learn more about The Boone Family Foundation: https://www.theboonefamilyfoundation.org/ - Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/ - Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/ - Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/ - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/ - Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org - Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers - Read the episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xEGnHg8OEZe-iEfcOJt7l0DSFfyphUy0mcI1mkZXmEA/edit?usp=sharing   Episode Music Credits: - Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/ - Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

    26 min
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Teacher recognition is a powerful way to keep exceptional educators engaged and fulfilled and prevent attrition—yet too often, their incredible contributions go unacknowledged. Inspiring Teachers: The Honored Podcast shines a spotlight on the extraordinary impact teachers make across the country.

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