For this last episode of the OEA Grow Podcast, member co-producers Beth Aydelott and Leonne Bannister discuss what the podcast has meant to their own professional growth and that of educators, not only in Oregon, but around the world. With 135 episodes and over 20,000 downloads and streams, the podcast has built union member community and addressed educator concerns from conflict resolution strategies to incorporating art and innovation in the classroom; from creating welcoming and inclusive school communities to maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Topics for each conversation have arisen from educators’ needs, interests, and expertise, living up to the goal of amplifying educator voice. This podcast has always been by OEA members for OEA members.

This episode also features clips from the following episodes:

• Season 1 episode Compassion Fatigue and Burnout with host Jesse Bray and guest Talia Akre
• Season 3 episode Special Education and Inclusion with host Leonne Bannister and guest Niels Pasternak
• Season 4 episode What I Wish I Knew During My First Year with host Kayla Potter and guest Malik White
• Season 5 episode Co-regulation with host Alexis Hennessey and guest Mary Michael
• Season 9 episode Survival Guide for BIPOC Educators with host Malik White and guest Gregory Dunkin
• Season 10 episode Challenges of Language Learning with host Sakura Hamada and guest Gaby Aguilar-Lopez
• Season 10 episode Avid and High School with host Sakura Hamada and guest Ethelyn Tumalad
• Season 10 episode Supporting Newly Arrived Elementary Students with host Sakura Hamada and guest Jocelin Morales
• Season 11 episode Educator Wellness with host Amy Yillik and guest Sandi Washburn
• Season 11 episode Interoceptive Strategies and Co-regulation with host Amy Yillik and guest Katie Diez
• Season 11 episode Trauma Informed Practices with host Amy Yillik and guest Jessica Reamon
• Season 11 episode Restorative Justice and Practices with host Amy Yillik and guest Sorahi Harati
• Season 11 episode Introduction to Culture of Care part b with host Amy Yillik and guests Amber McGill and Erin Taylor
• Season 12 episode Career and Technical Education with host Toni Myers and guests Nicole Merchant and Bibiana Gifft

What happens when school design is inspired by students and collaboratively run by a group of teachers? Wendy Salcedo-Fierro, Director of Teacher-Powered Coaching, explains how shared leadership works in the teacher-powered public schools that thrive in 27 states. Equity-minded educators in these schools share power with students, families, and the full educator team. Decision-making is accomplished by those directly affected, resulting in strong relationships and rich learning. Students feel that their voices are heard and become agents of change. Educators become learners as they listen and respond.

Educators who are interested in this model of school governance are encouraged to consult the resources listed below. The goal is to create spaces where everyone feels as if they belong and as if they matter.

Resources -

Teacher-Powered Schools and Student-Centered Learning

Teacher-Led Schools: They’re Here and More Are on the Way

When Teachers Take Charge

Steps to Creating a Teacher-Powered Schools

How can schools engage families in their children’s education? This episode’s guests offer concrete suggestions for supporting dialogue between parents and educators. Rebecca Honig, Director of Content and Curriculum with Parent Powered, and Ilana Steinhauer, Executive Director of Volunteers in Medicine (VIM), explain how both organizations offer educators strategies for partnering with their students’ families. At the core of these efforts is building trust through communication in whatever form meets the families’ needs.

Rebecca and Ilana stress that parents want to know that their feedback matters. Suggestions for engaging families include contact in different ways throughout the year and asking directly about specific needs. Educators can offer support for families and show them how to partner with their children’s school.