The Teacher Leader Podcast
The most powerful change in education?
It doesn't come from the top down—it comes from teachers like you.
Welcome to The Teacher Leader Podcast, where everyday educators become agents of change. Whether you're navigating your first year in the classroom or mentoring the next generation of teachers, this podcast is your resource for leading with impact, not authority.
Hosted by lifelong educators Jody Tucker, Esther Valdez, and Allison Johnson, we explore the topics that matter most: sparking classroom innovation, navigating tough conversations, building supportive teacher communities, and mastering practical strategies that transform your practice and inspire those around you.
What sets us apart?
Authentic stories from real educators. Sincere discussions about the challenges and triumphs of teaching, along with practical insights you can implement immediately.
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Join a community of educators who refuse to wait for change—they create it. Because the future of education isn't waiting for permission, it's being shaped by teachers like you, right now.
Meet Your Hosts
Books
Learning
Lead Beyond Your Classroom
CU Denver's Graduate Certificate in Clinical Teacher Mentoring, facilitated by Dr. Jody Tucker, is a fully online program for experienced educators. Across three courses, you'll build the skills that help new teachers succeed and join a statewide Mentor Teacher Community of Practice. You can also add the Colorado Department of Education's Mentor Teacher Endorsement, and credits count toward a CU Denver Personalized Professional Master's degree.
Mentoring That Makes New Teachers Thrive
The first years of teaching are demanding. Most support programs aim to keep new teachers from leaving. This two-day workshop sets a higher goal: schools where both novice teachers and the veterans who mentor them thrive.
Created by seven leading experts in instructional supervision, the workshop grounds you in current research on mentoring and teacher development — and in a strengths-based approach that treats new teachers as assets from day one. You'll leave with a framework for creating safety and belonging, ending teacher isolation, and helping new teachers become decision-makers in their classrooms and change agents in their communities.
Who it's for:
Mentors, instructional coaches, school leaders, district administrators, and anyone working to improve outcomes in new teachers' classrooms.
The Seven I's of Schools That Thrive:
A Framework for Sustainable Leadership
Discover how the Seven I’s Framework supports and empowers school personnel as they navigate the complex systems that influence their work. This framework establishes a structured pathway for developing processes that respond to the unique needs of individual schools. Through intentional and authentic collaboration, the Seven I’s Framework—integrated with broader organizational systems—cultivates strong, sustainable partnerships that enable schools not only to operate effectively, but to thrive.
Interested in this workshop? Contact us to learn more.
