Welcome to the Knights in the Classroom podcast! The guests on this show are Marian University alumni who are teaching and leading in K–12 schools and living out Marian’s vision to “transform lives, society, and the world.”
Katherine Board is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a graduate of Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis, IN and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2024 from Marian University. Kathrine was a San Damiano Scholar during her time at Marian and also involved in Mission and Ministry events and Knights for Life. Listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom intro
(00:25) Introducing Katherine Board
(02:22) What it's like to teach Kindergarten and 3rd grade
(04:24) Background of her current school (St. Pius X)
(07:49) Teaching theology in elementary school
(10:18) Involvement in extracurriculars
(14:22) Deciding to become a teacher
(25:00) Highlights of being a 3rd grade teacher
(27:23) Benefits of Marian's education program
(31:42) Advice for someone considering the teaching profession
7 Sept 2026
Ep 13 - Josie (DeFreese) Moore: English and Secondary Education '23, Master of Arts in Teaching '24
Josie (DeFreese) Moore is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a graduate of Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis, IN and earned undergraduate degrees in English and Secondary Education in 2023 from Marian University. Josie continued at Marian by completing the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2024.
Josie was a student athlete at Marian as a member of both the cross country and track teams, and she was nominated for Teacher of the Year after just her SECOND year of teaching! Listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom intro
(00:27) Introducing Josie (DeFreese) Moore and her nomination as teacher of the year!
(03:37) Teaching experiences up to this point
(08:40) Coaching track and field
(13:36) Getting to know Scecina Memorial High School
(17:13) Incorporating faith while in a public school setting
(21:08) Reasons for choosing to become an educator
(26:55) Being a first-year teacher
(31:54) Meeting the coworker who was suspended by her dad!
(34:42) Growing as an educator
(39:43) Challenges encountered in the teaching profession
(43:32) Impact of Marian's education program on her teaching career
(45:54) Advice for someone considering becoming an educator
2 Aug 2026
Ep 12 - Abigail Riehle: Elementary Education '22, Master of Arts in Teaching '23
Abigail Riehle is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a graduate of Milan High School in Milan, IN and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2022 from Marian University. Abigail then completed the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2023.
Abigail is an advocate for students with diverse liniguistic backgrounds, so listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom intro
(00:28) Introducing Abigail Riehle
(06:50) Teaching at Winchester Village (Perry Township)
(11:10) Professional development for teaching multilingual learners
(13:15) Extracuricular activities before and after school
(20:01) Reasons for choosing the teaching profession
(31:14) Embarassing moments as a beginning teacher
(34:13) Areas of growth as an educator
(44:26) Advice for someone considering becoming an educator
1 Aug 2026
Ep 11 - Savannah (Myers) Fox: Mathematics, Spanish, and Secondary Education '22, Master of Arts in Teaching '23
Savannah (Myers) Fox is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a graduate of Westfield High School in Westfield, IN and earned undergraduate degrees in Mathematics, Spanish, and Secondary Education in 2022 from Marian University. Savannah continued at Marian by completing the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2023.
Savannah goes above and beyond to help her students become successful in math, so listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom intro
(00:27) Introducing Savannah (Myers) Fox
(06:21) Teaching at Whiteland High School
(10:18) Recognition as a student's favorite teacher
(14:39) Teaching and assessing math with online resources
(19:29) Reasons for wanting to become an educator
(22:44) First year of teaching
(32:21) Growth as a veteran teacher
(45:49) Challenges in the teaching profession
(59:25) Advice for someone considering becoming an educator
30 Jul 2026
Ep 10 - Deiny Toss: Biology and Secondary Education '23, Master of Arts in Teaching '24
Deiny Toss is a Knight in the Classroom! Deiny came to Marian University from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology and in Secondary Education in 2023. She then completed the 4+1 residency program in 2024 where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching while teaching as a resident at Believe Circle City High School. Listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world" through her work inside and outside of her biology classroom.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview
(00:26) Introducing Deiny
(05:14) Teaching AP Biology
(05:52) Being the American Sign Language Club moderator
(07:22) Reasons for choosing to be an educator
(11:48) First year of teaching and performing as Elphaba!
(15:02) TEACHER OF THE YEAR!!!
(19:02) Growth as an educator
(27:15) Impact of Marian's education program
(29:22) Advice for someone considering the education profession
18 Apr 2026
Ep 9 - Summer Cress: Elementary Education '22, Master of Arts in Special Education '23
Summer Cress is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a 2018 graduate of Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2022 from Marian University. Summer continued at Marian by completing the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Special Education in 2023.
Summer is an educator, a coach, and a role model for her students in and out of the classroom, so listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom intro
(00:28) Introducing Summer Cress
(05:29) Involvement in theater and tee ball coaching
(11:02) Decision to study education
(22:06) Growth as an educator
(24:59) Marian's impact on her teaching
(28:21) Challenges encountered
(32:14) Advice for someone considering the education profession
9 Mar 2026
Ep 8 - Lyric Jones: Elementary Education '23, Master of Arts in Teaching '24
Lyric Jones is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, IN and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2023 from Marian University. Lyric continued at Marian by completing the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2024.
Lyric is a dedicated educator who constantly focuses on her own growth, so listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom intro
(00:27) Introducing Lyric Jones
(03:48) Embarrassing moments in the classroom...and the gym!
(07:19) Decision to pursue becoming an educator
(10:52) The impact of the Marian residency program
(16:00) Teaching math and growing in literacy
(19:35) Growth as an educator
(22:07) Preparing 3rd graders for standardized testing
(27:57) Working with data as a new teacher
(30:22) Advice for someone considering becoming a teacher
(32:11) Building a classroom community
30 Jan 2026
Ep 7 - Kain Rust: Elementary Education '21
Kain Rust is a Knight in the Classroom! Kain enrolled in the Fred S. Klipsch Educators college at Marian University after graduating from Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis. Kain was a member of the Marian wrestling team and earned his degree in Elementary Education in 2021.
Listen to how Kain is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with his students and the athletes he coaches.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview
(00:29) Introducing Kain Rust
(01:04) Kain's teaching background
(04:25) Serving as a high school wrestling coach
(08:02) The best restroom duty teacher
(08:24) Reasons for choosing the teaching profession
(15:18) First year of teaching
(21:18) Griddy dance contest...in the cafeteria
(22:17) Growth as a teacher
(30:34) Impact of Marian's teacher education program
(33:15) Advice for someone considering becoming a teacher
6 Dec 2025
Ep 6 - Taylor Grant: Elementary Education '21, Master of Arts in Teaching '22
Taylor Grant is a Knight in the Classroom! Taylor graduated from Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2021 from Marian. Taylor then went on to complete the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2022.
Listen to how Taylor is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her elementary students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview
(00:29) Introducing Taylor Grant
(02:05) Taylor's career background
(06:56) Reasons for choosing education as a profession
(10:07) First year of teaching
(13:55) Growth as a teacher
(17:50) Challenges faced in the early years
(24:57) Lessons learned from education program at Marian
(26:57) Advice for someone considering becoming a teacher
23 Oct 2025
Ep 5 - Treanna McKinney: Elementary Education '23, Master of Arts in Special Education '24
Treanna McKinney is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a 2019 graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2023 from Marian University. Treanna continued at Marian by completing the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Special Education in 2024.
Treanna is a leader and role model for her students in and out of the classroom, so listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview
(00:27) Introducing Treanna McKinney
(00:51) My apology to Treanna for my embarrassing email
(03:06) Teaching career up to this point
(07:25) Coaching cross country and other extracurriculars
(12:14) Reasons for choosing to be an educator
(17:55) Advocating for pursuing the residency (4+1) program at Marian
(19:38) Singing over the loud speaker for the whole school
(23:22) Growth from beginning of teaching career
(26:50) Leading a professional development session for her peers
(29:44) Unexpected challenges of being an educator
(32:55) Impact of Marian's education program
(39:19) Advice for people considering the teaching profession
1 Sept 2025
Ep 4 - Max Horrigan: Chemistry and Secondary Education '22
Max Horrigan is a Knight in the Classroom! Max came to Marian as a Carmel High School alum and graduated in 2022 with two degrees - one in Chemistry and another in Secondary Education. Listen to how he is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with his high school science students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview
(00:27) Introducing Max Horrigan
(05:48) Favorite science lab to conduct with students (no fire involved!)
(08:54) Coaching cross country and ultimate frisbee and advising National Honor Society
(13:43) Reasons for choosing to be an educator
(19:53) First year of teaching
(26:47) Growth as a teacher
(36:48) Challenges in the profession
(43:25) Teaching in a Catholic school and the beauty of faith AND reason
(47:58) Advice for beginning educators
11 Aug 2025
Ep 3 - Erynne Pope: Special Education '22, Master of Arts in Teaching '23
Erynne Pope is a Knight in the Classroom! Erynne came to Marian from Decatur Central High School and earned her undergraduate degree in Special Education in 2022. She then completed the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2023. Erynne is an aspiring doctoral student with a passion for reaching ALL students in the classroom and in the larger school community. Listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her special education students.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview
(00:26) Introducing Erynne Pope
(01:14) Working with Society of Aspiring Minority Engineers (SAME)
(03:34) School experience up to this point
(07:53) Working with Special Olympics and Student Council
(09:31) Reasons for choosing teaching
(12:46) First year as a teacher
(16:13) Growth as a teacher
(18:42) Aspiring doctoral student
(20:15) Challenges being an educator
(24:33) Passion for urban education
(26:01) Appreciation for Marian's program
7 Aug 2025
Ep 2 - Patrick Scheidler: Elementary Education '22, Master of Arts in Special Education '23
Patrick Scheidler is a Knight in the Classroom! Patrick attended Southmont High School in Crawfordsville, IN and is a 2022 graduate from the Fred S. Klipsch Educators College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. He then entered the 4+1 residency program and graduated with a Master of Arts in Special Education in 2023. Listen to how he is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” in his special education classroom.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview
(00:27) Introducing Patrick
(01:09) Impact of Grandpa on wanting to become a teacher
(04:32) Navigating conversations with teacher naysayers
(06:48) Impact on male students
(13:22) Growth in the teaching profession
(15:03) Challenges as an educator
(23:38) Embrace not being perfect
(28:58) Role as a fitness coach
(37:34) Building Level Administrator license
(42:45) Dancing for the school dressed as...Princess Peach!
13 May 2025
Ep 1 - Ellie Haydock: Mathematics and Secondary Education '21, Master of Arts in Teaching '22
Ellie Haydock is a Knight in the Classroom! Ellie came to Marian from Zionsville High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and in Secondary Education in 2021. She then completed the 4+1 residency program in 2022 where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching while teaching as a resident at Guerin Catholic High School. Listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world" through her work in her math classroom.
(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview
(00:26) Introducing Ellie
(04:28) Falling at a pep rally
(07:37) Impact of cadet teaching
(09:40) Digging up an old reflection on wanting to be a math teacher
(11:54) Making math "engaging" (and how that is different than "fun")
(14:47) First year of teaching
(18:24) Administrative support
(21:32) Growth as an educator
(23:42) Challenges in the profession
(27:24) Advice for someone thinking about being an educator
(29:35) Ellie's presentation at the Indiana Non-Public Educators Conference
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