School M‪e‬ National Education Association

April Burch is a paraprofessional currently working in clerical services and co-founder of Cooking Autism, a nonprofit that helps educators offer life skills programs to children with special needs. As a mother to two sons with special needs herself, she discusses the unique experience of educating students with special needs during a pandemic.

Becky Pringle, current NEA president, stops by the podcast to talk about her path from science teacher to union leader, and her vision for the NEA -- and public education as a whole.

Aneeka Ferrell, a Substitute Coordinator in Washington, has seen a passion of hers take off in a big way in 2020: educators are clamoring for her implicit bias trainings. Aneeka joins the podcast to discuss the importance of recognizing and challenging your biases -- about everything from race, to gender, to disabilities -- for the sake of your students.

The recently elected Chair of the NEA Aspiring Educators Program Cameo Kendrick stops by to discuss the unique position of the next generation of educators -- who are graduating and beginning their careers in the midst of a pandemic -- and her vision for the role of Aspiring Educators within the Association.

Jaim Foster, a 20-year early childhood educator, shares his experiences—from Nebraska to Virginia—as a gay teacher and LGBTQ+ advocate, and offers advice for early career LGBTQ+ educators.

Part 2 of our Back to School series. NEA General Counsel Alice O'Brien returns to the podcast to discuss legal rights, protections, and concerns educators should be aware of as they start a new school year in the midst of a global pandemic.