Episode 1: From Classroom Dreams to Future Teachers at CUNY
What inspires someone to become a teacher? And what happens when those dreams meet the realities of a classroom?
In our very first episode of Teacher Candidate Voices from the Field, a special series of NACCTEP NOW, host Julie Ferin welcomes two inspiring teacher education graduates from Kingsborough Community College, part of the City University of New York, along with their former professor and mentor, Dr. Denise Farrelly.
Jammie Faulkner shares how raising her son with autism inspired her journey into teaching and deepened her passion for supporting children and families. Andrea Ansah reflects on the experiences that led her to early childhood education and the classroom moments that continue to shape the teacher she hopes to become.
Together, they share honest stories about lesson plans that didn't go as expected, overcoming self-doubt, learning through field experiences, and the professors and peers who helped them grow.
And through it all, one message comes through loud and clear. Great teachers aren't born knowing everything. They grow through experience, reflection, and the people who believe in them.
Join us as we celebrate the voices, experiences, and future of the teaching profession.
Community College Voices. National Impact.
11 Sept 2026
Dr. Jerell Hill - Author of Developing Conscious Gratitude in Schools
This episode has NACCTEP Now in conversation with Dr. Jerell Hill, currently Dean of Counseling and Guided Pathways at Los Angeles City College and Affiliated Scholar at the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Dr. Hill's background from being a first generation community college student through to both public and private universities encompasses more than twenty-five years in education, including as a classroom teacher working with special education students in middle and high school settings before moving into school and district administrative roles. All of these roles have shaped Dr. Hill's research interests which include teacher preparation, academic achievement, educational equity, and student motivation among several other areas.
Dr. Hill discusses the need for leaders to be learners, that students can be both learners and teachers for their teachers. He describes conscious gratitude as honoring and transforming hardships into purposeful successes and achievements, as resilience and determination in the face of the burdens that students face.
His research and work has shaped his new book Developing Conscious Gratitude in Schools: A Blueprint for Shifting from Burdens to Brilliance (Emerald Publishing).
28 Aug 2026
Darcie Peterson of the IRIS Center
Darcie Peterson of the IRIS Center is back to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the IRIS Center. In this episode she shares how the IRIS Center's modules and resources are constantly evolving based on the latest research-backed information as well as from user feedback. Their primary focus is translating research into high-quality instructional resources that are accessible and flexible.
Among this year's updates are significant revisions to several modules in the secondary transition and early childhood topic areas, as well as the Measuring Behavior case study. Other tools and supports have been relocated to the For Faculty section of the website, including the Wraparound Resources and Navigation Videos.
In order to reduce confusion around earning a downloadable PD certificate for module completion, IRIS has made changes to the module landing pages offering the choice up front regarding whether or not someone wants the certificate or simply to complete the module without earning the certificate which includes pre- and post-tests. They have also removed the module outlines and will be retiring the answer keys on August 31st.
Lastly, Mrs. Peterson feels the hidden gems of the IRIS Center website are the Fundamental Skill Sheets which can be found using the IRIS Resource Locator.
https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/ (https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/)
https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/resources/faculty/ (https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/resources/faculty/)
https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/resources/iris-resource-locator/ (https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/resources/iris-resource-locator/)
IRIS Fundamental Skill Sheet Spotlight - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vEFTMYqk_R4sEcFINFJt1FrD65Lw0qcU/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vEFTMYqk_R4sEcFINFJt1FrD65Lw0qcU/view?usp=sharing)
IRIS Top Tips for Faculty - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G0v6PEmM-KJ2XN72Mfv20yPIJcVG6ZfX/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G0v6PEmM-KJ2XN72Mfv20yPIJcVG6ZfX/view?usp=sharing)
Who has been a guest on NACCTEP Now
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Dr Heidi Kasevich
Dr Kevin Wong
Michelle Melani
Dr Melanie Abts
Floyd Rumohr
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100
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49
Social presence
91
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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