Together, we'll explore the triumphs, struggles, lessons, laughter, and occasional chaos that come with dedicating your life to education. From heartwarming moments and hilarious mishaps to the experiences that make us question everything we thought we knew, this podcast is a place for educators to share the stories that rarely make it into the lesson plans. Whether you're a future teacher, a current educator, a retired school employee, or simply someone who appreciates the impact of great teachers, you'll find something familiar here. Because teaching is more than a profession; it's a collection of moments, relationships, and stories that shape who we are.
The Co-Teacher, Cartwheeling, Sister I Didn't Know I Needed
What happens when your first year of teaching throws you into the deep end with a co-teacher who starts as a colleague and becomes family? From classroom chaos and hallway cartwheels to Friday night shenanigans, this episode of Chalk Dust Chatter celebrates the unexpected friendships that help us survive teaching, find the laughter in the madness, and realize we were never meant to do this alone. Because sometimes, the best thing you take away from teaching isn’t a lesson plan. It’s your people.
Submit your own Chalk Dust Chat. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0duKWeFaUlEiUdhC8kl5D11GlIrPiK1Hao_TApwiFCThteg/viewform?usp=dialog) I'd love to hear more about the colleagues and students that shaped your school years and helped you grow.
16 Oct 2026
Make the Deposits Before the Ducks Hit the Fan!
That first phone call home can make even the most confident new teacher break into a sweat. But what if building strong family relationships didn't have to start with a problem?
In this episode of Chalk Dust Chatter, we're talking about making the deposits before you need to make the withdrawals! From celebrating student successes and connecting with families before the first day of school to navigating tough conversations with empathy, we'll explore how small, intentional interactions can build the trust that makes a lasting difference for students.
And because no classroom story is complete without a little unexpected chaos, I'll share the unforgettable parent conference that began with one question: “What is this about the damn ducks?” 🦆
Whether you're a brand-new teacher or a seasoned educator looking to strengthen family partnerships, this episode is a reminder that communication isn't just about sharing information. It's about building relationships, listening with curiosity, and remembering that we're all on the same team.
So grab your coffee, brush off a little chalk dust, and get ready to make some deposits!
Because the best time to build a partnership with families is before you need one.
20 Sept 2026
First Year Fumbles
First year teaching. What could possibly go wrong?
In this episode, Missy shares some of her most memorable first year missteps, from questionable co-teaching decisions and overdone bulletin boards to getting locked in the school and going shoeless.
Because sometimes the best lessons come from getting it completely wrong.
Have your own first year story to share? Submit your own Chalk Dust Chat (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0duKWeFaUlEiUdhC8kl5D11GlIrPiK1Hao_TApwiFCThteg/viewform?usp=dialog).
You can submit anonymously. Protect identities. Share your truth.
4 Sept 2026
Mashed Potatoes & Mentors: Welcome to Your First Year
You have the degree. You have the classroom. You have the job.
Now... what the heck are you supposed to do?
In this episode of Chalk Dust Chatter, Missy heads back to the week before her first year of teaching, when three days of state required induction left her excited, overwhelmed, and feeling a little like a bare wall someone had been throwing mashed potatoes at just to see what would stick.
There are familiar faces, an unexpected reunion, mentors, professional development, old classmates, and one BIG question still hanging in the air...
It's the beginning of Year One, and Missy is about to discover that no orientation could possibly prepare her for what comes next.
Have your own first-year story, professional development disaster, mentor moment, or “What did I get myself into?” tale?
Share your Chalk Dust Chat (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0duKWeFaUlEiUdhC8kl5D11GlIrPiK1Hao_TApwiFCThteg/viewform?usp=dialog).
You can submit anonymously. Protect identities. Share the truth.
Because someone else needs to hear they're not alone.
23 Aug 2026
The Interviews
What do you do when you're trying to land your first teaching job, get called for an interview with almost no notice, and at a less that ideal time? You improvise. You interview. And somehow, you might just land your dream job.
Join Missy for a story about first interviews, unexpected questions, career-changing phone calls, and the moment she officially became the elementary educator she had been told she couldn't become.
Have your own interesting interview story? Be sure to share it via our anonymous form.
Submit your Chalk Dust Chat (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0duKWeFaUlEiUdhC8kl5D11GlIrPiK1Hao_TApwiFCThteg/viewform?usp=preview).
Because you never know when your story is the one someone else needs to realize they're not alone in this profession.
25 Jul 2026
What Did I Get Myself Into?!?
Fresh out of college with a teaching degree in hand, your host thought she was walking into a one day substitute assignment at her former student teaching school. Join Missy as she shares lessons learned as a long-term substitute teacher. This episode is a reminder that every educator has a "What did I get myself into?" story.
Whether you're a current educator, retired educator, or someone who simply appreciates the incredible work teachers do, you'll laugh, cringe, and maybe even see a little of your own journey in this story.
We want to hear your story! Share your own Chalk Dust Chat (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0duKWeFaUlEiUdhC8kl5D11GlIrPiK1Hao_TApwiFCThteg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=107858940579097095576) and you may hear it featured on a future episode.
Thanks for listening to Chalk Dust Chatter. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share the podcast with the educators in your life. Every story reminds another teacher that they're not alone.
6 Jul 2026
The Classrooms That Made Me & the Lessons They Taught Me
Student teaching isn't just about learning how to teach. It's about discovering the kind of educator you're becoming.
In this episode of Chalk Dust Chatter, Missy reflects on two very different student teaching placements, the mentor teachers who shaped her thinking, and the students who reminded her that relationships, curiosity, and creativity are at the heart of meaningful learning. From first-grade routines to fifth-grade storytelling (and one unforgettable alien wedding proposal), this episode explores the lessons that can only be learned by stepping into a classroom.
To submit your own Chalk Dust Chats, complete this submission form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0duKWeFaUlEiUdhC8kl5D11GlIrPiK1Hao_TApwiFCThteg/viewform?usp=dialog) and our host will consider sharing your chat with listeners in a future episode.
20 Jun 2026
The Long Way Around
In the premiere episode of Chalk Dust Chatter, Missy shares the winding journey that led her to the classroom. From being told teaching wasn't a realistic career path to finding mentors who challenged her to "make it possible," this personal story explores perseverance, self-belief, and the educators who change lives. Along the way, she reflects on the teachers who inspired her, the obstacles that nearly derailed her dream, and why the long way around sometimes leads exactly where you're meant to be. A heartfelt conversation about persistence, purpose, and the power of someone believing in you before you believe in yourself.
To submit your own Chalk Dust Chats, complete this submission form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0duKWeFaUlEiUdhC8kl5D11GlIrPiK1Hao_TApwiFCThteg/viewform?usp=dialog) and our host will consider sharing your chat with listeners in a future episode.
12 Jun 2026
Chalk Dust Chatter: Trailer
Thank you for listening to Chalk Dust Chatter. If you are an educator, future, present, or past, and this podcast resonates with you, please consider sharing it with a fellow educator. Our collective stories may serve to entertain, inspire, and connect educators to one another.
Please consider sharing your own chalk dust chat with the host of this podcast. To do so, please complete this submission form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0duKWeFaUlEiUdhC8kl5D11GlIrPiK1Hao_TApwiFCThteg/viewform?usp=dialog). The host will follow up with you if you allow it. Please know that with permission, your submission may be shared on one of the next episodes of Chalk Dust Chatter. Your story is appreciated.
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