Beyond My Years

Amplify Education
  • 4.8 (34)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Beyond My Years

Host Ana Torres knows firsthand how hard it is to be a teacher. That's why on Beyond My Years, she seeks out the people who have thrived over decades in the classroom: seasoned educators.  You'll hear stories that make you cry, make you laugh... and may change the way you think.

  1. MAY 28

    Springing forward and looking back, with Ana and Eric

    Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres and Classroom Insider Eric Cross reconnect with three past guests—Fawn Nguyen, Rebecka Peterson, and Simone McQuaige—to explore key challenges from their early teaching days: classroom management, decentering oneself, and time management. Ana and Eric share their own experiences with these common hurdles, then offer a quick look at what’s ahead in Season 2. Show notes: Episodes mentioned:Simone McQuaigeRebecka PetersonFawn NguyenSubscribe to Beyond My Years: https://amplify.com/beyond-my-yearsFollow us on Instagram: @amplify.education Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/ Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/Quotes: " So my biggest mistake early on was needing to have the last word." - Fawn Nguyen " Something I really struggled with and I actually took me several years to feel confident in how to manage my classroom in a way that like felt good and true to me." - Rebecka Peterson " Looking back, I realized it would've been so helpful to have learned how to set boundaries for myself and prioritize task, and definitely build time for my own self-care." - A. Simone McQuaige

    30 min

  2. FEB 5

    No broken children—only broken systems, starring Kareem Weaver

    Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres soaks up wisdom from Kareem Weaver, an educational powerhouse who has spent over 30 years working toward the end of illiteracy. Kareem levels with Ana about the hard truths of education reform. Together, they get vulnerable about the personal costs they’ve paid in being committed to their work and the belief they share that no teacher should have to make those sacrifices. Kareem also discusses his time working in juvenile detention facilities, how a frightening diagnosis changed the way he approaches education, and how administrators can best help create sustainable careers. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Ana and Beyond My Years Classroom Insider Eric Cross talk about preparing more than just lesson plans, developing focused skill improvement, and making the connections between academic success and behavior reform. Show notes: FULCRUM website: https://www.fulcrumliteracy.org/kareem-weaver Research for Better Teaching: https://www.rbteach.com/ Subscribe to Beyond My Years: https://amplify.com/beyond-my-yearsFollow us on Instagram: @amplify.education Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/ Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/Quotes: “Where do we want our young people to go? What opportunities, what paths do we want them to have access to? Reading is a gateway for life.” —Kareem Weaver “If you can't grow people, what are you doing in a seat? If you're an administrator and you can't grow teachers' practice, then you're a manager, not an administrator.”—Kareem Weaver “Hope is wonderful, but that's not a strategy. You have to be very specific about what you're going to fix, what you're going to address, and what you're going to master.” —Kareem Weaver “There are no broken children; there's broken systems.” —Kareem Weaver

    49 min

  3. JAN 22

    Building an education network to make change, starring A. Simone McQuaige

    Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres absorbs wisdom from A. Simone McQuaige, winner of Amplify's Science of Reading Changemaker Star Award in 2024. Simone teaches Ana about what it takes to support wider change across an entire district, and about the common traits she sees in all seasoned educators. She also shares stories about how her mother tried to convince her not to become a teacher, about learning to be calm and reflect, and about how she thinks about her legacy as an educator. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross discuss creating a teacher network, building buy-in, and student-designed projects. Show notes:  Connect with A. Simone McQuaigeListen: Hear McQuaige’s advice on the Science of Reading Listen to McQuaige and the rest of the Star Award winners on Science of Reading: The PodcastLinkedIn: Simone McQuaigeX: @simone_mcquaige @PGCPSK5RELASubscribe to Beyond My Years https://amplify.com/beyond-my-yearsFollow us on Instagram @amplify.education Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/ Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/Quotes: “There are a lot of lessons to be learned from ‘back in the day’. It doesn't mean we always had it right. We were learning along the way and we recognize that our students are not the same students that were sitting in front of us ‘back in the day.’” —A. Simone McQuaige “Seasoned teachers are often looked at as the ones with all the answers, and they may not truly have all the answers, but they've lived experiences that I think a lot of new teachers could learn from.” —A. Simone McQuaige “When you look at a lot of the seasoned teachers who've been in the profession for quite some time, there's a calmness about them. And you work effectively when you're in that calm space.” —A. Simone McQuaige “One of the things that I've learned over the years is you cannot make change by yourself.”  —A. Simone McQuaige

    50 min

  4. JAN 8

    Your starter pack to mentorship, starring Serena Klosa

    Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres gets wisdom from Serena Klosa, an educator with 37 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and now deputy chief of schools. Serena discusses what it takes to be a good mentor and to be mentored by others—stressing the humility it requires and the strength it creates. She also shares stories of the “Queens of the Third Floor” and their no-nonsense approach to mentoring, and opens up about the lessons she won’t let herself forget. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross discuss maintaining positive routines with students, staying humble, and valuing every role in the school. Show notes: Connect with Serena Klosa on X: @spetersonklosaSubscribe to Beyond My Years https://amplify.com/beyond-my-yearsFollow us on Instagram @amplify.education Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/ Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/Quotes: “Every kick in the butt is a boost up.” —Serena Klosa “My teaching is not something I do. It's who I am.” —Serena Klosa “Asking for mentoring is not a sign of weakness. It's saying, ‘I want to be better and I want to grow.’ And  sometimes, if you don't ask, they're not going to do it.” —Serena Klosa

    49 min

  5. 12/19/2024

    The best of Beyond My Years (so far!)

    To close out the year, we’re revisiting some of our favorite moments from the first nine episodes of the Beyond My Years podcast – and looking ahead at some of what’s to come in 2025!  Listen to Beyond My Years:  Subscribe to Beyond My Years on AppleSubscribe to Beyond My Years on SpotifyListen to Beyond My Years via web browser

    3 min

  6. 12/04/2024

    Advancing together as educators, starring LaTonya Goffney, Ed.D.

    On this episode of Beyond My Years, Ana Torres picks up every nugget of wisdom she can learn from LaTonya M. Goffney, Ed.D., superintendent of schools for the Aldine Independent School District in Texas. LaTonya shares her journey through many different roles in education before she ended up in an educational leadership role. She stresses the importance of building a teaching community, including finding teacher mentorship, having people advocating for you, and valuing the work you do. LaTonya notes that if it weren't for those that believed in her and encouraged her to strive for more, she never would have ventured to apply for the opportunities she did. She goes on to share one of her most valuable lessons: As you grow in education, you need to make sure you're looking behind you and pulling other people up. She concludes with tips for connecting with other educators, learning from each other constantly, and continuing to grow. Taking all those opportunities back to the classroom, Eric and Ana discuss pursuing professional growth opportunities, embracing your power as an educator, and focusing on excellence where you're at. Show notes: Connect with LaTonya Goffney, Ed.D. on LinkedInConnect with Aldine Independent School DistrictWebsite: AldineISD.orgX: @AldineISDFacebook: @AldineSchoolDistrict IG: @aldineschooldistrict Subscribe to Beyond My YearsFollow us on Instagram @amplify.education Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/ Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/ Quotes: "When you have passion for people and you have a purpose for making a difference, and if you're open to learning, anything is possible. And that's what my life has demonstrated in education." —LaTonya Goffney, Ed.D. "The best way to get the next job is to do a good job where you are." —LaTonya Goffney, Ed.D. "Public education is the profession that makes all other professions possible." —LaTonya Goffney, Ed.D. "We can't be siloed. We can't just go to our classrooms, close the door, and not be helpers to one another." —LaTonya Goffney, Ed.D

    47 min

  7. 11/20/2024

    Para enseñar se necesita confianza, con Luz Selenia Muñoz

    En este episodio especial de Beyond My Years, Ana tiene el placer de hablar con Luz Selenia Muñoz en español, su idioma de origen. Luz ha sido maestra por 20 años, en dos países diferentes y en dos idiomas distintos. Con toda esa experiencia, Luz comparte las lecciones que le han parecido trascendentes para todos los estudiantes y todas las escuelas, como la importancia de crear conexiones significativas con los estudiantes, ser paciente con sus estudiantes y consigo misma, así como encontrar colegas que hablen su idioma de origen. Luz también entrega a los oyentes una estrategia fácil y factible que pueden intentar hoy mismo para involucrar a los estudiantes mediante la escucha activa cuando da las instrucciones. In this special bonus episode of Beyond My Years, Ana has the joy of speaking with Luz Selenia Muñoz in her native language of Spanish. Luz has been a teacher for 20 years, in two different countries and in two different languages. With all that experience, Luz shares the lessons that stand out as transcendent across all students and all schools like the importance of making meaningful student connections, being patient with your students and with yourself, and finding fellow teachers that speak your native language. She also gives listeners an easy, actionable strategy they can try out today to engage students in active listening when teachers are giving instructions. Show notes: Listen: Check Luz Muñoz’s conversation with host Ana Torres in English Dear Ana: Tell us about a veteran teacher who inspired you!Listen: How the Science of Reading serves multilingual/English learners (in English)Amplify Caminos - Spanish Language Arts ProgramConnect with Luz Selenia MuñoInstagram: @lucecitaluneraFacebook: @sonrisas.que.inspiran.dual.languageSubscribe to Beyond My Years https://amplify.com/beyond-my-yearsFollow us on Instagram @amplify.education Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/ Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/ Quotes: Yo creo que le diría que tenga paciencia. Paciencia. Que respire. Que las cosas van a mejorar cada día."–Luz Selenia Muñoz "Yo diría que algo que se ha quedado grabado es hacer conexiones. Hacer conexiones con los estudiantes, conocer quiénes son, de dónde vienen, qué les gusta. Y al hacer eso haces tu vida como maestro más fácil y más sencilla."–Luz Selenia Muñoz

    14 min

  8. 11/20/2024

    Teaching takes trust, starring Luz Selenia Muñoz

    Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres walks alongside Luz Selenia Muñoz as she retraces the path that led her from planning to become a psychologist in Puerto Rico to living in Chicago as a veteran bilingual teacher with 20 years under her belt. Luz shares how finding her happy place in second grade took time, describing how she quickly learned that teaching upper elementary was not for her. She also dives into how immigrating from Puerto Rico to the United States taught her how to persevere through the struggles of a new environment, and how she learned to balance her independence with reliance on and trust in her fellow educators for support.. Luz stresses some of the most important lessons she has learned along the way, including teaching a culture rather than just a language, staying focused on your target language, making connections with students, trying something different instead of giving up, and understanding that tomorrow will get better. Show notes: “Dear Ana”: Tell us about a veteran teacher who inspired you! Connect with Luz Selenia Muñoz:Instagram: @lucecitaluneraFacebook: @sonrisas.que.inspiran.dual.languageListen: Check out Luz Muñoz’s bonus conversation with Ana Torres in Spanish Listen: How the Science of Reading serves multilingual/English learners Subscribe to Beyond My Years: https://amplify.com/beyond-my-yearsFollow us on Instagram: @amplify.education Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/ Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/Quotes: “I'm here to teach this language. And it's not just the language; it's the culture that comes with the language.” —Luz S. Muñoz “Sometimes people say, ‘Oh, teaching is not for me. I tried for one year and it didn't work.’ Maybe you were in the wrong place. Maybe that's not the grade level for you. Just try something different before quitting. Try something different.” —Luz S. Muñoz “You need a lot of love for your students. Doesn't matter where you are. You need love for your students and understanding that tomorrow is going to get better.” —Luz S. Muñoz

    50 min
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4.8
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

Host Ana Torres knows firsthand how hard it is to be a teacher. That's why on Beyond My Years, she seeks out the people who have thrived over decades in the classroom: seasoned educators.  You'll hear stories that make you cry, make you laugh... and may change the way you think.

Information

  • Creator
    Amplify Education
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Beyond My Years
  • Show Website
    Beyond My Years

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