The Educator's Why

Doug Yarbrough and Tori Sinco

Behind every educator is a story—a journey filled with challenges, victories, lessons learned, and an unwavering commitment to students. This podcast goes beyond the headlines and the classroom to uncover the heart of education: the people who dedicate their lives to making a difference. In each episode, we'll sit down with teachers, principals, superintendents, and education leaders to explore their personal journeys, the experiences that shaped them, and the purpose that fuels their work every day. Along the way, we'll discuss leadership, innovation, policy, technology, and the future of ed

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  1. 4일 전

    The Simple Words That Changed a Student’s Life with Mary Kay Rendock

    This episode of The Educator’s Why Podcast is a reminder that some educators never truly retire—they simply find new ways to make an impact. In this episode, we sit down with Mary Kay Rendock, a 37-year educator, former Connecticut Teacher of the Year, math coach, technology leader, and lifelong believer in the power of encouragement. From her classroom “warning sign” that promised to brainwash students into believing they could do anything, to the moment she learned that one student said, “She changed my life,” Mary Kay shares the moments that defined her journey. We talk about productive struggle, relationships, mistakes, teacher leadership, and why students don’t necessarily fear learning—they fear being embarrassed. Mary Kay also shares how her passion for education continues through mentoring future teachers, teaching students about beekeeping, and staying connected to the community she served for nearly four decades. Her story is about more than curriculum or teaching math. It’s about what can happen when one person believes in another long enough for them to start believing in themselves. 🎙️ What is the lasting impact of a great educator? And what happens when education isn’t just your career—but part of who you are? Listen to this powerful episode of The Educator’s Why Podcast and hear why Mary Kay believes that, sometimes, the simplest encouragement can change a life.

  2. 8월 18일

    Why We Teach with Lisa Duncan and Jason Suber

    In Episode 3 of The Educator’s Why, we sit down with two incredible educators from Colquitt County, Lisa Duncan and Jason Suber, both recognized multiple times as Teachers of the Year. This conversation gets to the heart of why they continue to teach. We talk about relationships, productive struggle, student success, classroom culture, and what it really means to make an impact on a child’s life. Jason shares how one teacher’s investment in him as a young student shaped his decision to become a teacher. Lisa shares the influence of growing up in a family of educators and the legacy her mother created. We also dive into some great classroom stories—from building rivers to understand how deltas form, to challenging gifted students with problems that force them to struggle, think critically, and ultimately discover that they can do more than they thought possible. But perhaps the biggest takeaway is this: Success isn't always measured by a test score. Sometimes it's a former student coming back years later to say hello, a student discovering a love for learning, or simply knowing that someone believed in them. And when burnout creeps in, what brings these two educators back to their WHY? Their answer is simple: the kids. If you've ever wondered why great teachers continue to show up, continue to care, and continue to make a difference long after the school year ends, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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Behind every educator is a story—a journey filled with challenges, victories, lessons learned, and an unwavering commitment to students. This podcast goes beyond the headlines and the classroom to uncover the heart of education: the people who dedicate their lives to making a difference. In each episode, we'll sit down with teachers, principals, superintendents, and education leaders to explore their personal journeys, the experiences that shaped them, and the purpose that fuels their work every day. Along the way, we'll discuss leadership, innovation, policy, technology, and the future of ed