Transparency in Teaching is education reform from the front lines. Hosted by current K–12 classroom teachers with nearly 80 years of combined experience, this monthly podcast examines how education policies and mandates actually impact real classrooms. We challenge public narratives, break down today’s biggest education debates, and offer solutions grounded in daily classroom reality — for parents, policymakers, and anyone who wants honest insight into public education.
Special education enrollment in the United States has reached record highs, but what's really driving the increase? Is it better diagnosis, changing academic expectations, broader legal protections, or something else entirely? (NOTE: If you don't want to hear about Jen's wild concert adventure and why her voice sounds like a 70-year-old smoker, bypass our banter and skip to the 6:50 time stamp) In…
Get ready to get deep into the realm of Special Education. As a general ed teacher, I've had a love-hate relationship with how best to work with special education students and the teachers who support them. While I understand the necessity, the implementation in a general education classroom often felt awkward and overwhelming. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. I'm also sure our special education…
Anne and Jen talk about where they've been and preview this season's upcoming educational topics. Jen had quite the school year, buried in new administration and navigating how to stay afloat. Now that summer vacay has arrived, Jen took lots of naps and has now found time to catch her breath and sit down for a preview of the episodes to come! Join us for all the banter you've missed!
In today's episode, Jen and I solve the problem with schools, and spoiler alert! It's not the schools! It's the people who attend them. More specifically, the economic status of the neighborhoods and the people who have to live in them. It's just a plain fact that students from lower-income and impoverished communities have worse educational outcomes than their more economically stable…
In this episode of Transparency in Teaching, I had the pleasure of speaking with Madeline, a former student teacher of mine who is now an adjunct faculty member at Chaffey College. Madeline shared her unique journey into the field of education, highlighting her initial struggles with dyslexia and how overcoming these challenges inspired her to help others learn to read. Madeline discussed her…
As of 2025, 32 states, along with Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, have some form of school voucher or voucher-like program (such as education savings accounts or tax-credit scholarships). Seems that voucher programs are spreading across the US like hot TikTok influencer video, captivating, but ya better check your facts first! And I, unfortunately, don't think voucher programs will be retreating…
In this episode of Transparency in Teaching , host Anne sits down with Zach, a recent intern turned full-time educator, who opens up about the highs and lows of his first year in the classroom—all while adjusting to life as a new parent. Zach shares the realities of teaching, emphasizing that it's far more than a nine-to-five job. From building meaningful relationships with students to navigating…
In this episode of "Transparency in Teaching," we tackle the hot topic of school choice and its potential impact on public education. On the surface, letting families decide where to spend their educational tax dollars on the school of their choice seems to make sense. But once we pull back the curtain on the consequences of this financial diversion of public funds, the idea seems more like…
🎙️ Welcome to Transparency in Teaching! In this episode, Anne reconnects with her first-ever student teacher, Steven Arredondo, now a first-year educator navigating the world of online teaching. Steven shares insights on managing virtual classrooms, acing the CalTPA, and balancing workload, offering fresh perspectives for teachers curious about the digital side of education. Tune in for stories,…
In this episode of the new series The Rookie Report, Transparency in Teaching, host Anne interviews Mark Garcia, a passionate music educator currently teaching at a high school in Rialto. Mark shares his journey from his master's program at the University of Redlands to his current role, where he teaches a diverse range of music subjects, including music education, theory, marching band, jazz…
