Inspiring Teachers: The Honored Podcast

This month, we are celebrating National Agriculture Week to recognize and celebrate the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives. In recognition of this celebration, we are honored to share the story of our March Honoree, Kera Reterstoff. 
Kera Reterstoff, a high school Agriscience teacher and FFA Advisor at Ravenna High School in Ravenna, Michigan, is the recipient of our March 2026 Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by her student, Kodi. Joining Mrs. Reterstoff in this episode are Kodi and Kodi’s mom, Jamie.
 
You'll hear about:
- Mrs. Reterstoff's journey to becoming a teacher.
- The impact Mrs. Reterstoff has had on Kodi and her family.
- Mrs. Reterstoff's dedication to agriscience and FFA.
- Mrs. Reterstoff's passion for ensuring her students leave high school feeling prepared for their futures. 
 
You'll also hear from Brent DeSaegher, the 2025-2026 Michigan FFA State President. He shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired".
Brent DeSaegher graduated from Ithaca High School in 2025, and is currently at Michigan State University studying biosystems engineering, with the intention of becoming an agriculture engineer. Growing up on his family's dairy farm, he has always had a deep passion for agriculture. This fondness deepened when he entered high school, and began taking agriscience classes. Not only did this foster his interest in agriculture and its relation to science, but also led him to be passionate in advocating for agriculture, and what quickly became his other passion: FFA. Through FFA, he was able to expand his leadership and knowledge, all of which culminated in his year of service as the Michigan FFA State President.
 
Links Mentioned:
- Read more about Mrs. Reterstoff's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/kera-reterstoff
- Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Read the incredible nomination for Mrs. Reterstoff: https://www.honored.org/nominees/kera-reterstoff/
- Learn more about FFA: https://www.ffa.org/
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Follow us on X: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
 

In recognition of Black History Month, we have partnered with Summer House Institute to honor an incredible Black male educator. Summer House Institute is an organization that exists to grow and develop young men of color who will soon finish college and enter the workforce through an affinity-based learning model. 
Julian Coleman, a K-8 music teacher at Global Leadership Academy West in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the recipient of our February 2026 Honored National Teaching Award. Joining Mr. Coleman in this episode are eight of his scholars from 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th grade.
 
You'll hear about:
- Julian Coleman's journey to becoming a teacher.
- The impact Mr. Coleman has had on his scholars.
- Mr. Colemnan's dedication to creating a safe haven in the music room.
- Mr. Coleman's passion for supporting scholars in cultivating a passion for music and the arts.
 
You'll also hear from Viola Davis, EGOT award-winning actress, philanthropist, and CEO/Co-Founder of JuVee Productions & JVL Media. She shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired". This audio is credited to The Associated Press archive, and you can find more information on the source of this audio in the episode description.
 
Links Mentioned:
- Read more about Julian Coleman's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/julian-coleman
- Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Learn more about Summer House Institute: https://www.summerhouseco.org/
- Follow Summer House Institute on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summerhouseinstitute
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Follow us on X: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
- Teachers Who Inspired segment audio of Viola Davis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pps41eu9-qw
 

Devon Houghton, a 4th-grade teacher at Beatrice H Wood Elementary School in Plainville, MA is the recipient of our January 2026 Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by the parents of her student, Sammy. Joining Mrs. Houghton in this episode are Sammy and Sammy's mom, Erin.
 
You'll hear about:
- Mrs. Houghton's journey to becoming a teacher.
- The impact Mrs. Houghton has had on Sammy and her family.
- Mrs. Houghton's dedication to building strong relationships with her students. 
- Mrs. Houghton's passion for creating a safe, fun, and growth-oriented environment for her students.
- How Mrs. Houghton supported Sammy when she was experiencing bullying. 
 
You'll also hear from Angel Wunderlich, the Senior Regional Partnerships Manager at TEACH.org Minnesota. She shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired".
With a deep background in education and community development, Angela leads statewide efforts to diversify the teaching workforce and remove barriers to entry for aspiring educators. Angela brings years of experience in inclusion strategy, program leadership, and cross-sector collaboration to this mission. Before joining TeachMN, Angela taught high school Spanish at the Neighborhood House Charter School in Dorchester, MA, and served as the Director of Community Development and Inclusion for the YMCA of the North.
 
Links Mentioned:
- Read more about Devon Houghton's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/devon-houghton
- Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Read the incredible nomination for Devon Houghton: https://www.honored.org/nominees/devon-houghton/
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Follow us on X: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
 

Lynn Darby, high school History teacher and Founder of the Teacher's Lounge, joins us for a spotlight podcast episode. Lynn Darby was born and raised in South Central Pennsylvania. Coming from a small but tight-knit family, Lynn had the opportunity to watch both his mom and uncle serve as educators from a young age. This, along with a strong intrinsic desire to make a positive impact in the world, inspired Lynn to pursue a career in education. Graduating from Temple University in Fall '21 and Relay Grad School of Education in Spring '24, Lynn currently works as a high school history teacher at MacArthur High School, Washington, DC's first new public high school in over 30 years. In his free time, Lynn enjoys watching Steelers football, cooking, working out, and spending time with friends.
 
You'll hear about:
- Lynn's journey to becoming a teacher.
- The Teacher's Lounge's initiatives to provide networking and fellowship opportunities for educators in DC.
- The importance of diversity and representation in the education field.
- How cultivating positive student relationships improves student outcomes.
 
Links Mentioned:
- Learn more about the Teacher's Lounge: https://www.instagram.com/teacherslounge.dc/
- Listen to the Teacher's Lounge podcast: https://lellisdllc.podbean.com/
- Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Read the episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UomhrxPKnL4Evljp5DIjQu9LaeJaBBh9JTIOiVPjAw8/edit?usp=sharing
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
 

Luis Durán, a 6th-8th-grade Special Education cluster class teacher at Talcott Fine Arts & Museum Academy in Chicago, Illinois is the recipient of our December 2025 Honored National Teaching Award. He was nominated for this award by his student, Kenny, and Kenny’s mother, Kimberlee. Joining Luis in this episode are Kenny and Kimbelee.
 
You'll hear about:
- Luis Durán's journey to becoming a teacher.
- The impact Luis has had on Kenny and his family.
- Luis's dedication to creating an inclusive and encouraging environment for his students.
- Luis's passion for making learning fun and interactive.
 
You'll also hear from award-winning journalist Walter Ray Watson, Jr. He shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired". He has produced and reported news stories, features, and specials for more than three decades with NPR. He launched NPR’s Code Switch podcast that explores race, identity, and culture. Walter previously produced the weekend broadcasts of NPR’s All Things Considered. 
He is the recipient of a Peabody Award and several Salute to Excellence Awards from the National Association of Black Journalists, most recently, for a feature co-reported with correspondent Debbie Elliott in 2024, among other honors. He began his career writing about arts and culture for The New Pittsburgh Courier in Pennsylvania. Walter earned his Bachelor of Arts in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh and was a 2008 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.
 
Links Mentioned:
- Read more about Luis Durán's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/luis-duran
- Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Read the incredible nomination for Luis Durán: https://www.honored.org/nominees/luis-duran/ 
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Follow us on X: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
 

Kareem Farah, CEO and Co-Founder of the Modern Classrooms Project, joins us for an organizational spotlight podcast episode. Kareem began his career as a high school math teacher in Hawaii and Washington, DC. Instead of using a traditional lecture model, Kareem taught mathematics through a blended model where students accessed content through his self-made videos. In 2018, he received the DC Public Schools Award for Classroom Innovation and was featured in Edutopia and CBS News for his work.
In an effort to scale his classroom model, Kareem co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project. Under his leadership, the Modern Classrooms Project equips teachers to redesign their classrooms with blended, self-paced, mastery-based practices that personalize learning and strengthen student engagement, while preserving the human connection at the heart of great teaching. Kareem is also a member of Honored’s Board of Directors.
 
You'll hear about:
- The Modern Classrooms Project's mission and initiatives.
- The impact of self-paced learning on student success, teacher burnout, and teacher retention.
- The incredible work the Modern Classroom Project is doing in supporting teachers who want to move beyond the traditional teaching method.
- The Modern Classrooms Project's amazing success with its instructional model. 
 
Links Mentioned:
- Learn more about the Modern Classrooms Project: https://www.modernclassrooms.org/
- Follow the Modern Classrooms Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernclassproj/ 
- Listen to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast: https://www.modernclassrooms.org/podcasts 
- Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Read the episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e03-Y0nZ-malKQzJfUDH-JKXB6uN1UibZ9QLCI_9_V0/edit?usp=sharing
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
 

Hui Couch, a 9th-grade Algebra teacher at Newcomer Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, is the recipient of our November 2025 Honored National Teaching Award. She was nominated for this award by the Modern Classrooms Project, a nonprofit organization that equips teachers to redesign their classrooms with blended, self-paced, mastery-based practices that personalize learning and strengthen student engagement. To help share the impact of Hui’s teaching, we are joined today by three of her students, Juan, Obama, and Kelia.
 
You'll hear about:
- Hui Couch's journey to becoming a teacher.
- The impact Hui has had on her students.
- How Hui utilizes the Modern Classrooms Project method to teach her Algebra class with nine home languages.
- Hui's dedication to equipping her students with lifelong skills such as empathy, independence, and resiliency.
 
You'll also hear from Kareem Farah, the CEO and Co-Founder of the Modern Classrooms Project, as he shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on their journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired". Kareem began his career as a high school math teacher in Hawaii and Washington, DC. Instead of using a traditional lecture model, Kareem taught mathematics through a blended model where students accessed content through his self-made videos.
In 2018, he received the DC Public Schools Award for Classroom Innovation and was featured in Edutopia and CBS News for his work. In an effort to scale his classroom model, Kareem co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project. As CEO, he has led the organization to become a nationally recognized leader in instructional innovation, training, and supporting over 20,000 educators across diverse schools and districts.
 
Links Mentioned:
- Read more about Hui Couch's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/hui-couch
- Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Learn more about the Modern Classrooms Project: https://www.modernclassrooms.org/
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Follow us on X: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
 

Omar Lisojo, a high school English teacher at Dover High School in Dover, New Jersey, is the recipient of our October Honored National Teaching Award. He was nominated for this award by multiple students. Joining Mr. Lisojo in this episode are his students Jacob, Nicole, and Osvaldo.
 
You'll hear about:
- Mr. Lisojo's journey to becoming a teacher.
- The impact Mr. Lisojo has had on his students and their families.
- Mr. Lisojo's dedication to seeing the humanity in each student and creating a safe environment where they can come as they are.
- Mr. Lisojo's ability to meet students at their level to help them succeed.
 
You'll also hear from Tomiko Ball, as she shares about a teacher who left an incredible impact on her journey in our segment "Teachers Who Inspired".  Dr. Ball has sixteen years of experience serving elementary youth in Washington, D.C. Employing conscious leadership, she utilizes affirmative-based pedagogical practices and learning designs for all students in PreK-20. She has two book chapters published in 2024; advocating her research on the inequities within higher education, healing practices of doctoral students of color, and socially just leadership. Presently, Dr. Ball serves as an Assistant Principal in the district, an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at American University School of Education, and a Contributing Writer with Philly’s 7th Ward.
 
Links Mentioned:
- Read more about Omar Lisojo's story: https://www.honored.org/honoree/omar-lisojo
- Nominate a teacher: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Read the incredible nominations for Omar Lisojo: https://www.honored.org/nominees/omar-lisojo/
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
 

Aimee Cunningham, President and CEO of The Boone Family Foundation, joins us for an organizational spotlight podcast episode. Aimee is a highly experienced principal in the progressive movement with significant fundraising, strategic planning, and management expertise. Over the last 20 years, Aimee has led work on the politics and policies that impact women and families, particularly around access to sexual and reproductive health care.
Previously, Aimee served as the Chair of the Board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and founded several organizations designed to empower women to engage in politics and to fight for the right of all people to access affordable, high-quality healthcare. In addition, Aimee has served on the boards of a number of national progressive organizations, including the Center for Reproductive Rights and EMILY’s List.
Today, Aimee leads The Boone Family Foundation in charting its mission to create equity for women and girls; to drive innovation and justice for students in public schools; and to steward and create accessible green spaces. In 2015, Aimee received the Robbie and Tom Ausley Award to honor her work on behalf of Planned Parenthood in Texas. She was also the 2022 recipient of Viola’s House Hero Award; in 2023, she received the Texas Women’s Foundation’s Maura Award for Women Helping Women. Aimee lives with her husband, Ed Cunningham, in Austin, Texas.
 
You'll hear about:
- The Boone Family Foundation's mission and initiatives.
- Incredible education organizations in North Texas making life-changing impacts.
- Aimee's passion for gender equity and the importance of gender equity in schools.
- The necessity for and impacts of teacher appreciation and recognition.
 
Links Mentioned:
- Learn more about The Boone Family Foundation: https://www.theboonefamilyfoundation.org/
- Nominate a teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Read the episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xEGnHg8OEZe-iEfcOJt7l0DSFfyphUy0mcI1mkZXmEA/edit?usp=sharing
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
 

Award-winning actress, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Jennifer Garner joins us for an episode to celebrate receiving our first-ever annual Honored Advocate for Teachers Award!
Garner is known for her versatility in a wide range of starring-roles in Alias, Dallas Buyers Club, Love Simon, Juno, and more. Most recently, Garner executive produced and starred in the hit Apple TV+ limited series The Last Thing He Told Me, based on the eponymous New York Times bestseller by Laura Dave, and the Netflix comedy features Family Switch and Yes Day, which became Netflix’s biggest Kids & Family film release after launching on the platform. Next, Garner will star and executive produce a sequel to Yes Day for Netflix and The Five-Star Weekend for Peacock. Garner recently wrapped production on Season 2 of Apple TV+ The Last Thing He Told Me where she also serves as an executive producer. 
In 2017, Garner co-founded a leading childhood nutrition company Once Upon a Farm. As Chief Brand Officer, she has helped grow the company with the goal of providing organic, crave-worthy snacks and meals for children of all ages. As a businesswoman, Garner has worked with major brands including Neutrogena and Capital One, and also joined the Virtue Labs team to amplify and raise awareness about the unique health and beauty benefits of the company’s premium hair care line. 
As a philanthropist, Garner is a Save the Children Trustee and has worked with the organization since 2008. In 2014, Garner joined the global non-profit’s board of trustees, deepening her commitment to issues affecting children in America and around the world.
 
You'll hear about:
- The teachers who have left a life-changing impact on Jennifer.
- The incredible work Jennifer is doing with Save the Children.
- The effects of generational poverty on education.
- The importance of teacher recognition and how to take action to recognize teachers.
 
About Honored:
Honored's mission is to inspire and retain great teachers, keeping them in the classroom as long as possible. Every month of the school year at Honored, we select an exceptional educator in the United States to be the recipient of the Honored National Teaching Award. Each Honoree, as we call them, receives a $5,000 cash reward, and we then tell the story on our website and our social media platforms of how that teacher has impacted their students' lives. To learn more about our organization, you can go to our website at Honored.org. While you're there, if you have a teacher you would like to recognize, you can nominate them at honored.org/nominate. 
 
Links Mentioned:
- Follow Jennifer Garner on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.garner/
- Learn more about Save the Children: https://www.savethechildren.org/
- Nominate a Teacher for our Honored National Teaching Award: https://www.honored.org/nominate/
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honored/
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honoredteachers
- Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/honored/
- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honored.org/
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honored.org
 
Episode Music Credits:
- Music by DanaMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/danamusic-31920663/
- Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/