WarriorEDU

MCHS Warriors

A podcast for Warriors who want to do more for their kids and the colleagues who work with those kids.

  1. 04/11/2021

    Coach Niemic & Warrior Football

    Join Leah and Jeff as we talk football during a pandemic with Coach Jon Niemic and the Student Captains of MCHS Football.

    21 min

  2. 04/04/2021

    "Why Still Teach French? with Andy Hillier

    Welcome to Warrior EDU, Episode 13 with Andy Hiller, MCHS French Teacher & Theatre Director Andy’s Teacher Story Always wanted to be a teacher Loved the big steps on the bus - synonymous with being in the school environment Foreign language in HS, knew he wanted to teach French Doing music at the same time Went to France, stayed for a year Went back to ISU and got his degree - France - elementary school Libertyville Middle School Gets along with stricter teachers Open up the idea of possibility Explore after high school! Leah’s Wedding Dress Sewing - out of the blue told Leah that if she needed someone to make her wedding dress for her, he would do it. Almost ruined it attaching the ribbon by hand - pricked his finger, got blood on the ribbon, had to re-do the ribbon! Theatre Always enjoyed productions and theatre, studied a lot of opera Staging of productions Worked with a theatre group in France, staged productions Applied here knowing that he could do theatre Very difficult to do, so much to do Working with students on a monologue Challenge Faced in the Trenches Why still teach French? Language education is not an extra, shouldn’t be an elective Opens your mind to see what jobs are out there and possible We should all experience this as human beings Break down the barrier of “core vs. elective” They all have a place at the table HOPEFUL Right now - COVID related. Long Term - A change in education, a broadening of perspectives. HOST CONTACT INFORMATION INSTAGRAM Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier TWITTER Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier

    28 min

  3. 03/15/2021

    "What's on Your Playlist?" with Tri-M Music Honor Society

    Join Leah & Jeff as we chat with Ashley Burger and her FANTASTIC group of Tri-M Honor Society members!  MCHS Educators! Share the Tri-M application with your young musicians!

    49 min

  4. 03/04/2021

    "Got Ink?" with Matt Connor

    Join Leah & Jeff as we chat with MCHS Graphic Instructor, Matt Connor! Matt’s Teacher Story Graphics when he went to HS Difficult upbringing, lots of family tragedy at a young age Graphics teacher saw he was going down the wrong path; teacher was also his wrestling coach. Started hanging out in the Graphics lab Wrestled D3 - never actually wrestled due to injury Job utilizing graphics skills for Fortune 500 companies during college Stopped school 8 credits shy, went to work Former Graphics teacher encouraged him to go into teaching (PE), loved coaching, went back to school - NIU for 4 years Graphics Lab Predecessors before him grew the program to where it is today Design, layout, printing, large format printing - cars, doors, etc. 2nd school in nation (?) with auto screen press Learning how to be a part of the Graphics business Soft skills are so critical! Sending email, dealing with customers, etc. Challenge Faced in the Trenches Dealing with understanding both sides (teaching & admin) How do we bridge the gap? Understanding the “Why” isn’t always clear at first - sometimes we have to have faith Dealing with controversial things kids say HOPEFUL: Setting a good path for (my) kids. Seeing their dad doing something worthwhile Graphics Industry - wanting to get a handle on where the graphics field is going in order to move in a unified GUEST CONTACT INFO: www.mchswarriorsinc.com Email: connormatthew@dist156.org HOST CONTACT INFO: INSTAGRAM Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier TWITTER Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier

    51 min

  5. 02/09/2021

    "Anti-Band?" with Spencer Hile

    Join Leah and Jeff as we chat with MCHS Band Teacher, Spencer Hile! Spencer’s Teacher Story Parents both music teachers, Grew up at high school football games, basketball games, etc. Parents wanted him to be an engineer All of his mother’s families are engineers Anti-Band Doing sports and being mean was cool at the time Parents are biggest mentors as former teachers Having a Student Teacher during COVID Understanding the day-to-day pace and rhythm, Teaching her what the classroom is like Challenge Faced in the Trenches Work & Home balance Air mattress in the car just in case 2-3am - late nights during his first or second year Changing culture of the Band program HOPEFUL: That the pandemic will give people a bigger appreciation for school; deeper appreciation for each moment together. Teaching us to be humans. This before content. “COVID Cuts” - what have you cut out of your life as a result of COVID, or just in general? What have you taken off of your plate so that you can be more in the moment? GUEST CONTACT INFO: hilespencer@dist156.org HOST CONTACT INFO: INSTAGRAM Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier TWITTER Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier

    34 min

  6. 12/04/2020

    Being a Grad Student & 1st Year Teacher (in a Pandemic) with Leah Nolan

    Join Leah and Jeff as we chat with ANOTHER Leah... Leah Nolan, MCHS 1st Year English Teacher, who also happens to be a grad school student. All during a pandemic.  More from Leah:  -Being a new teacher in a pandemic -School spirit! -Finding your teacher identity and battling self-doubt -Student choice and building rapport -Creating a teacher space. (decorating my classroom, even though the students are not here to see it. I think having a workspace that makes you happy is so important) Leah’s Educational Journey New teacher, “pandemic” teacher Great HS experience; KNEW she wanted to be an educator Went to community college Went to ISU School counseling kept coming up; Graduate student and FT teacher at same time Knew how to be a “Zoom Student” Aspirations: “it’s okay that my journey includes being a teacher” Let life be what it may Battling Self-Doubt as a Teacher: Comparing herself to others “I should have thought of that” Compare yourself to you YESTERDAY The teacher IS the environment this year Decorating the classroom shapes the environment Challenges in education & how you dug yourself out of the trenches: Setting boundaries for myself Can’t run on empty Can’t pour from an empty cup NOT doing anything on Saturday HOPEFUL: I hope students come back with a new-found love for school I hope we see school spirit High-Fives in the hallways GUEST CONTACT INFORMATION:  Leah's Twitter HOST CONTACT INFORMATION: INSTAGRAM Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier TWITTER Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier

    33 min

  7. 11/20/2020

    "You're Not Just Here to Get a Credit" with Dane Erbach

    Join Leah and I as we chat with MCHS English Teacher & Newspaper Advisor, Dane Erbach! Dane’s Educational Journey Not from a “teacher family” Punk Rock kid in HS; “art nerd” Lake Forest College, started doing more writing and “art stuff” “Daydreaming about what I would do if I were the teacher” Stumbled into this field where it all made sense - stumbled upon a passion - didn’t know what he would do Teacher prep prepared him for diverse learners Lake Forest College - NOT diverse at all Taught at Highland Park HS Newspaper Advisor Role - Yearbook was developed into an award-winning publication “Make it a student publication” “Inspiring them to create” Want it to be something sacred, not a place to go to get a credit Goal is for them NOT to need me “Through a little bit of encouragement, and the push from a teacher” Challenges in education & how you dug yourself out of the trenches: “Challenge was not the students - challenge was the grownups” “You are not an entertainer, you are a teacher” - professor mentioned this Had a terrible year last year with newspaper; Played the middle role between admin and student writing. Empowering students - challenging values - hold truth to power HOPEFUL: Watching my students walk into the classroom for the first time this year. It will be genuine, not much need for hyping it up. If not this year, eventually there will be kids here. I will not take them for granted. I’ll be thinking about my job differently. GUEST CONTACT INFORMATION Twitter: Dane Erbach HOST CONTACT INFORMATION INSTAGRAM Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier TWITTER Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier

    56 min

  8. 11/13/2020

    "What a Wonderful Opportunity We Have" with Heidie Dunn

    Join Leah & Jeff as we chat with MCHS English Teacher and Former Theatre Director, Heidie Dunn! "My dad was heavily involved in the civil rights movement in the 60's and was a professor at UW Milwaukee. He actually left his job in protest over a decision to not hire a perfectly qualified woman of color in the history dept. about a month before I was born.  We ended up living in his childhood home in northern Wis after his father died, in a century-old farmhouse without running water, phone or television.  That upbringing taught me a lot about essentials and luxury and how to carve my own educational path." Heidie’s Education Story - Mom was an elementary teacher; dad a history professor at UW Milwaukee, quit his job in protest; bought the family farm, became a farmer; graduated with 88 kids in his class from a small, rural HS; reading Thoreau at 12 because of her father. Dad active in the Civil Rights movement; history dept. Hired someone from a phone interview; Dept. decided they didn’t want to go in that direction once they found out she was African-American. Grew up with no running water, electricity run with a generator, all through elem and high school. More from Heidie: Who you are “Has a lot to do with who you are inside” It's what have you gained, not what you have lost The Silver Lining - the ability to take advantage of things... Challenges in education & how you dug yourself out of the trenches: Time & Balance Never feeling there is enough time Balance of time Not saying YES every time, but coming to yes EVENTUALLY Adoption Story - her son Braden: Former theatre student who was engaged to a young woman, wanted to have a baby for Heidie and her husband; “The Gifts students give” Advice for New Teachers: It is SO worth it. You still have the ability to do all the things you were trained to do What we are creating are students who become independent learners more so than EVER before; HOPEFUL: When we see the other side of a dark tunnel, we are better people.  What a wonderful opportunity we have.   Opportunity gives me hope. GUEST CONTACT INFO: Twitter: Heidie Dunn HOST CONTACT INFO: INSTAGRAM Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier TWITTER Dr. Jeff Prickett Leah Pelletier

    44 min
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About

A podcast for Warriors who want to do more for their kids and the colleagues who work with those kids.

Information

  • Creator
    MCHS Warriors
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2021
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MCHS Warriors
  • Show Website
    WarriorEDU