On this episode, Megan chats with Amanda Bradley, a new reading instructor in the Eriksson College of Education at Austin Peay State University. Amanda discusses her previous experience as a student at Austin Peay and her extensive experience as a teacher in the Cheatham County and Clarksville-Montgomery County school districts in Tennessee.

Amanda provides tips and strategies for ELL and reading teachers and shares some of her favorite classroom memories. Amanda is full of energy, and we are excited to see the impact she makes at Austin Peay.

Tune in to hear about Amanda’s “old lady job” and her suggestions for college students!

Dive Deeper:

⁠APSU Eriksson College of Education⁠

English Language Learner Certificate

Reading Graduate Degree

Financial Peace University

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave

Following a trailblazer's footsteps: L.M. Ellis's granddaughter completes her own historic journey at Austin Peay

‘Pillar of my motivation’: APSU graduate receives doctoral hood from mother during commencement

On this episode, we chat with Kristen Johnson, a current student in the Grow Your Own Teacher Residency Program at Austin Peay State University. Kristen is set to graduate in August 2025, after which she will continue her dedicated work as a teacher at Norman Smith Elementary.

Kristen highlights the immense benefits of the Grow Your Own program and candidly discusses the highlights of her teacher apprenticeship, including the strong bonds she formed with her cohort and the challenges she overcame, including re-learning how to write academic papers as a nontraditional student.

This episode is a must-listen for aspiring educators and anyone interested in the transformative impact of teacher apprenticeship programs.

Dive Deeper:

⁠APSU Eriksson College of Education⁠

Austin Peay State University Grow Your Own Teacher Apprenticeship

Tennessee Educational Leadership Journal

Dr. Lisa Barron served as the interim dean of the Eriksson College of Education, concluding her tenure in June 2025 after a 15-year career at Austin Peay State University. Dr. Barron is a nationally recognized expert on teacher apprenticeships, as Austin Peay State University and the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System worked together to launch the Grow Your Own Teacher Residency, which became the first federally registered teacher apprenticeship in January 2022. In this interview, Dr. Barron chats about her time teaching in Tennessee public schools and at Austin Peay, how she has seen teaching change over time, the benefits of teacher apprenticeships, and what’s next after her retirement from Austin Peay.

Dive Deeper:

⁠APSU Eriksson College of Education⁠

Austin Peay State University Grow Your Own Teacher Apprenticeship

National Center for Grow Your Own

⁠RISE Above: Supporting Teacher Candidates with Autism Through Specialized Coaching

⁠APSU doctoral students complete transformative study abroad experience in South Korea

Austin Peay’s MPH program receives $27K for childhood literacy initiative