A crowded kindergarten room, a sudden crack in the ceiling, and a teacher who jumps first to shield her students—Laura Terech’s story starts with instinct and turns into impact. From art history to Title I classrooms, from a six‑year health battle to the Arizona State House, we explore how a winding path can still lead straight to the heart of public service.

We dig into the moment Arizona cut full‑day kindergarten funding and why early learning time isn’t “just babysitting” but the bedrock of literacy, social growth, and long‑term success. Laura walks us through the call that went unanswered, the decision to take the fight to the Capitol, and the long road back from illness that began with one small act: showing up to volunteer. That habit—care deeply, raise your hand often—opened doors to campaign work, nonprofit policy tracking, and ultimately a seat in a purple district where cooperation wasn’t a slogan but a mandate. You’ll hear how a teacher caucus prepared seven and a half hours for a 30‑minute debate, how bipartisan trust helped pass major policy on water and elections, and how the simple phrase “I hear your passion” can cool a midnight negotiation.

Now, as executive director of Arizona America 250, Laura brings that educator’s mindset to a statewide celebration of the nation’s semi‑quincentennial. We highlight a student town hall with all three branches of government, a traveling museum that will tour the Replica Liberty Bell through all 15 counties, and a pathway to the Seal of Civic Literacy for students. Plus, discover Passport 250—a partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism featuring 250 sites across the state—and the powerful moment a 17‑year‑old’s winning logo design headed to the Smithsonian. Along the way, we talk about patriotism as something personal: how you show up for neighbors, define community broadly, and make room for everyone in the story.

If you believe small steps can spark big change, press play—and then tell a friend. Subscribe, leave a review, and share your take: what’s one action you’ll take for your community this week?

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What if a 10-minute story from the past could make today’s headlines finally click? We sit down with David Olson, Director of Education at Retro Report, to unpack how short documentaries and first‑person voices turn history into a powerful lens for understanding civics now—without turning classrooms into battlegrounds. David shares why narrative structure matters, how unintended consequences make the best teachable moments, and why the “40-word” version of a story can distort what students think they know.

We trace vivid examples—the Berlin Airlift’s path to NATO, the real stakes behind the McDonald’s hot coffee case, and camp newspapers from Japanese American incarceration that list baseball scores next to a military draft notice. Along the way, David lays out practical routines for tackling fast-moving news: mapping what we know, what we think we know (with sources), and what questions still stand. We dig into primary sources as a safer foundation for hard conversations about political violence, polarization, and rights, shifting authority from opinion to evidence.

You’ll also get a first look at timely classroom tools: a new film on the 2008 financial crisis for students born after it, an eye-opening exploration of Island Trees v. Pico and who decides what stays on library shelves, plus upcoming pieces on Tiananmen, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and America 250. Every resource is free, scaffolded for diverse learners, and built with teacher feedback through Retro Report’s ambassador network.

If you’re a civics, history, ELA, or social science teacher looking to connect past and present with less risk and more clarity, this conversation is your playbook. Dive into the full library at retroreport.org, share these resources with a colleague, and tell us which story helps your students “get” the world today. And if you found this helpful, follow, rate, and leave a review—your support helps more educators find practical, free tools that work.

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A quiet chill has crept into civics classrooms: teachers are pulling back from timely, contested topics because they fear blowback. We sit down with Liam Julian, vice president of programs and public policy at the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy, to unpack what that looks like on the ground, why vague standards and thin district guidance leave educators exposed, and how to rebuild a culture of confident, evidence-based civic dialogue.

Liam shares striking findings from a new policy brief—nearly 80% of teachers report self-censoring—and explains why “safe,” purely procedural civics isn’t just dull; it deprives students of the core skills democracy needs: civil disagreement, compromise, and reasoned argument. We explore practical strategies teachers are using right now to lower the temperature without ducking substance, from anchoring debates in founding documents and Supreme Court cases to designing classroom norms and protocols that keep criticism on ideas, not people. The conversation also dives into preparation gaps—many educators never had strong civics themselves—and what high-quality professional development looks like when it blends deep content with facilitation moves for tough moments.

Looking ahead to America 250, we talk state standards that are clear and teachable, district leadership that backs educators when complaints arise, and the power of making civics visible across the campus—in band rooms, math classes, and student councils. If you care about democratic literacy, teacher support, and helping students connect government to daily life, this is a timely, hopeful roadmap from fear to confidence.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a review telling us the one change you want to see in civics education. Your feedback shapes what we explore next.

Check out the policy briefs here: https://oconnorinstitute.org/research/

The Arizona Constitution Project

Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona History and Government!

Follow us on:
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Interested in a Master's Degree? Check out the School of Civic and Economic Leadership's Master's in Classical Liberal Education and Leadership