“Some of us come into teaching because we always loved school. Some of us come into teaching because we didn't love school, and we want to change something about it.” 

That’s a glimpse into Dr. Rachael Mahmood’s journey. With a Russian Jewish mother and an Indian Hindu dad, Rachael never felt like she fit in when she was a child attending school. That experience fueled her desire to become an educator, and now, Dr. Mahmood is wrapping up her term as our 2024 Illinois State Teacher of the Year. In this episode, you’ll hear how she came to view her heritage as a way to be a “connector,” and how educators can make all students feel like they fit.
 
“We can do it differently,” Dr. Mahmood says. “We can do it better than the experience that we've had.”

Our theme music is by José Rivera. Incidental music is “Rain On Lake Erie” from Purple Planet Music.