Leading with Heart: John McCluskey on Alternative Education and Student-Centered Leadership

Bountiful Belonging: Dr. Arianne Rivera on Co-Creating Togetherness

In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, we welcome Dr. Arianne Rivera — educator, researcher, and lifelong champion of multilingual learners — to discuss her doctoral research on bountiful belonging. Drawing on painful experiences of exclusion in school, Dr. Rivera reframes belonging not as something we seek from others but as something we can actively create and give away. Her research shows that the most transformative moments of belonging rarely occur in large groups — they happen when one person genuinely says, "You can sit with me."   Dr. Rivera challenges educators to move away from systems that demand conformity as the price of inclusion and instead make small, intentional micro-adjustments: mixing age groups, deepening community, widening the welcome. Her guiding belief? Belonging, like love, only grows the more you give it. Dr. Rivera has over 25 years of experience in PreK-16 Education. She has worked as a teacher’s aide, substitute teacher, classroom teacher, K-6 ESL teacher/instructional coach, K-12 ESL and dual language resource teacher, central administrator, university instructor and program director, and consultant. Her passions are learning and connection. She develops practices and systems grounded in dignity, joy, and multi-directional impact. Her research interests include the phenomenological study of authenticity, belonging, community, and safety within and beyond educational contexts. Arianne currently serves as the Director of Student Success at the University of Colorado Denver School of Education and Human Development.   For books, resources, and events, visit: theteacherleader.org [https://www.theteacherleader.org] Thank you to our sponsor(s): Math and Movement [https://mathandmovement.com/] Teacher Leader Summit [https://education.ucdenver.edu/continuing-education/professional-development/teacher-leader-summit]

Christopher Rivas: Every Kid Has a Story — But Are We Really Listening? The Power of Storytelling and Silence

What if the secret to student engagement isn't a new curriculum — it's simply making space for silence? In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, hosts Jody Tucker, Esther Valdez, and Allison Johnson sit down with Christopher Rivas — actor, playwright, author, educator, and self-described "healthy disruptor" for a wide-ranging conversation about education, identity, and the transformative power of human connection. Christopher shares how genuine connection, not content delivery, is what young people are truly hungry for, and why he believes "communion" — not task completion — should be at the heart of every learning environment. From the story behind his memoir Brown Enough to his children's book You're a Good Swimmer (born in 15 minutes in a college dorm room), Christopher weaves together themes of identity, belonging, and the radical act of simply being seen. He also introduces the Brown Literacy Movement, his initiative to get diverse voices and books into schools that can't afford them. Whether you're a classroom teacher, a school leader, or anyone who works with young people, this conversation is a joyful, grounding reminder that relationships always come before results — and that the most powerful thing you can offer a student is your full presence. Christopher Rivas is an actor, author, podcaster, and storyteller best known for his on-screen work on the Fox series, CALL ME KAT. In addition, he hosts two podcasts on SiriusXM's Stitcher: Rubirosa, a limited series about the life of Porfirio Rubirosa, and a weekly show, Brown Enough. He is a Ph.D. Candidate in Expressive Arts for Global Health & Peace Building from The European Graduate School and a Rothschild Social Impact fellow. Rivas resides in Los Angeles, CA. For books, resources, and events, visit: theteacherleader.org [https://www.theteacherleader.org] Thank you to our sponsor(s): Math and Movement [https://mathandmovement.com/] Teacher Leader Summit [https://education.ucdenver.edu/continuing-education/professional-development/teacher-leader-summit]

Brilliant, Beautiful, Unbreakable: Nicole Salinas on Being the Teacher Every Student Deserves

In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, Nicole Salinas shares her powerful journey into education—from growing up in a Spanish-speaking immigrant family to becoming a first-generation college graduate and special education teacher. Nicole reflects on the challenges she overcame, the mentors who believed in her, and the experiences that shaped her commitment to advocating for students from marginalized communities. With honesty, optimism, and a deep sense of purpose, Nicole Salinas reminds listeners why representation, resilience, and inclusive education matter—and why the next generation of educators is ready to lead. For books, resources, and events, visit: theteacherleader.org [https://www.theteacherleader.org] Thank you to our sponsor(s): Math and Movement [https://mathandmovement.com/] Teacher Leader Summit [https://education.ucdenver.edu/continuing-education/professional-development/teacher-leader-summit]

Rediscovering Purpose: How Lori Ranney's Second Career Became Her Greatest Calling

In this episode of the Teacher Leader Podcast, veteran educator Lori Ranney shares her inspiring journey from the legal field to the middle school classroom, revealing how true teacher leadership grows from curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to students. Through stories of launching innovative programs, mentoring new teachers, and designing lessons that connect learning to real-world issues, Lori shows how classrooms can become spaces where students find their voice and educators rediscover their purpose. The conversation highlights the power of supportive school culture, creative risk-taking, and joyful teaching—reminding listeners that some of the most impactful leadership in education happens not in offices, but right alongside students every day. For books, resources, and events, visit: theteacherleader.org [https://www.theteacherleader.org] Thank you to our sponsor(s): Math and Movement [https://mathandmovement.com/] Teacher Leader Summit [https://education.ucdenver.edu/continuing-education/professional-development/teacher-leader-summit]

Leading with Heart: John McCluskey on Alternative Education and Student-Centered Leadership

Educational leader John McCluskey joins the Teacher Leader Podcast to discuss why "we're not making widgets—we're creating human beings." From his early days teaching on the Navajo reservation to leading at Jefferson County's Open School and New Vista High School, John shares how centering student voice and authentic relationships transform school culture. He explores the power of four-year advisory programs, practical community-building strategies like CCCs (Cares, Concerns, Celebrations), and why teaching presence matters as much as lesson plans. John's leadership philosophy is rooted in the circle metaphor: no front, everyone in it together. He challenges educators to move beyond compliance-based schooling, offering real talk about balancing systemic demands with genuine human connection, creating space for teacher leadership, and remembering that both students and teachers need to show up as whole people. For books, resources, and events, visit: theteacherleader.org [https://www.theteacherleader.org] Thank you to our sponsor(s): Math and Movement [https://mathandmovement.com/] Teacher Leader Summit [https://education.ucdenver.edu/continuing-education/professional-development/teacher-leader-summit]