Nurturing Educators
Welcome to Nurturing Educators, the podcast that brings you inspiring and insightful conversations with teachers who are passionate about education and well-being. Join host Debbie Ross as she explores the personal stories, challenges, and triumphs of educators from diverse backgrounds, sharing practical tips and strategies for thriving in and out of the classroom. Whether you're a teacher looking for support or just curious about the world of education, this podcast offers a fresh perspective on what it means to teach and live well.
Episodes
In this episode of Nurturing Educators, we sit down with Irene, an experienced English teacher in Spain, to discuss the transformative impact of bilingual education and language immersion. Reflecting on five months of working together, we dive into how the bilingual programme operates on the ground and the invaluable role that international language assistants play in opening students' eyes to a world of diverse acc...
Nervous System Secrets: Creating Calm in Your Classroom with Lisa Danahy.
We’ve all been there, that frantic post-lunch slump on a rainy day when the classroom energy is through the roof and your chest starts to tighten. In this episode of Nurturing Educators, I'm sitting down with the wonderful Lisa Danahy author of Creating Calm in Your Classroom, to dive into the science of classroom energy.
Lisa shares her i...
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating and often intense world of the Spanish public education system through the eyes of Elena, a veteran English teacher with 34 years of experience. From the high-stakes "lottery" of the oposiciones state exams to the gruelling process of earning a permanent post, Elena pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to build a lifelong teaching career in Spain. She shares her...
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the heart of the Swedish education system through a conversation that is over twenty years in the making. Host Debbie reunites with her long-time friend and fellow educator, Hanna, to compare their teaching experiences across Sweden, New Zealand, and Spain. From the cultural significance of taking your shoes off at the school door to the "school law" that makes education tru...
In this episode, Debbie Ross sits down with her bestie, Anna-Marie. A mum and local PTA chair, to offer a candid and heartfelt look at the world of primary education through the lens of a parent. Set against the backdrop of their move from Auckland to a tight-knit coastal community, they explore how the school serves as the heartbeat of a small town and why integrating into that community is so rewarding. Anna-Marie...
In this episode, Host Debbie sits down with Andrea, a dedicated Art History teacher and Year 9 Dean, to discuss the transformative power of art education and the current challenges facing the subject in New Zealand schools. Andrea shares her personal journey from studying law to becoming an advocate for visual literacy, sparked by her own teachers who used storytelling to bring the past to life. She explores how her...
In this episode, Debbie sits down with Lisa, a passionate and energetic PE teacher with over 25 years of experience in education. Lisa shares her journey into teaching, a path that began almost by accident, and reflects on a career that has spanned PE, health, technology, food and fabrics. Her love for learning, people, and practical, hands-on teaching shines through as she talks about the value of reflection, adapt...
In this episode, Debbie sits down with her friend and performing arts colleague Elaisha, who spent eight unforgettable years living and working in Japan. Together, they explore what it’s really like to pack up your life and move overseas, from learning a complex new language and navigating cultural differences to teaching across kindergartens, high schools, and language schools.
Elaisha shares hilarious, heartf...
In this episode, I sit down with Jaymee, a vibrant fourth-year media and performing arts teacher whose journey into education began long before her teaching degree. From playing “school” as a child with whiteboards and worksheets to discovering the power of creative expression in high school, Jaymee always knew teaching was her calling.
She shares how her love of musical theatre and media studies shaped h...
Today on Nurturing Educators, we’re joined by the wonderful Laura Alpe, founder of Aura Wellbeing. Laura is a te reo Māori-speaking educator, remedial massage therapist, yoga lover, and new mum, who brings authenticity, warmth, and wisdom to everything she does.
In this honest conversation, Laura shares how her journey into teaching began through her deep love for te reo Māori and how early burnout completely r...
In this episode, Debbie talks with Sam, a former student who has blended her love of teaching with her passion for animals to become a primate keeper at Wellington Zoo. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a biology minor, Sam now spends her days caring for tamarins, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, and lemurs, while also teaching visitors and school groups about conservation.
Sam reflects on the teacher...
Today I sit down with Candice, a business studies and accounting teacher in her eleventh year, to explore how faith, family, and community shape her approach to life and teaching. She shares the surprising moment that led her into the classroom, how humour helps her build genuine relationships with students, and why adopting her “good enough” principle has been key to keeping balance and joy in the job. ...
In this inspiring conversation, Debbie sits down with Sandy, an experienced educator, former principal, and current leadership adviser with the Ministry of Education. We congratulate Sandy, as she has been recognised in the New Year's honours list as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to education. Sandy shares the remarkable journey that took her from growing up on a farm in Ōamaru to leadi...
This week on Nurturing Educators, we’re mixing things up! Instead of me hosting, my dear friend Catie takes over the mic and interviews me about my journey as a teacher, the struggles I’ve faced with burnout, and how I’ve found a new path in health coaching.
As we celebrate Mental Health Week at school, I thought it was the perfect time to open up and share my personal story with you. From sta...
In this episode, I talk with David, Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science at Wintec, to talk about the power and importance of Outdoor Education in Aotearoa. David shares his journey from high school teacher to tertiary educator and why outdoor education has been a life-changing force for both himself and countless students.
We explore how outdoor ed builds resilience, leadership,...
In this episode of Nurturing Educators, I catch up with Alyssa Golding, once my student, now a thriving intermediate school teacher and sports coach. At just 23, Alyssa has already built an impressive teaching career while balancing her love for football, both as a player and coach. She shares how early experiences coaching younger kids, a lifelong passion for sport, and the example set by her mother, a respected ed...
In this episode I chat with Liz, a seasoned educator whose career has taken her from the PE department and language classroom to the skies as a flight attendant and finally into her current role as a careers advisor. Liz shares her journey of transformation with honesty and warmth, reflecting on what led her to teaching, the joys of extracurricular involvement, and the decision to step away after two decades in the ...
In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Jess, an experienced and passionate maths teacher, to unpack her 13-year journey in education. From helping out in her mum’s primary school classrooms to now leading the junior maths program at a large Auckland secondary school, Jess offers valuable insights into her evolution as an educator.
She shares how her background in science eventually led her to teaching...
In this heartwarming and insightful episode, I am joined by two passionate champions of te reo Māori—Mel, a secondary school Te Reo teacher, and Emma, a Māori Media student at AUT and kapa haka tutor. Together, they share their personal journeys with the language, the cultural richness it brings to students’ lives, and the important role it plays in shaping our national identity.
Mel and Emma discus...
In this episode, I sit down with Gloria Vazquez – a vibrant, passionate, and much-loved figure in the Spanish teaching community here in Aotearoa. Originally from Asturias in the north of Spain, Gloria came to New Zealand in the late 1980s for love and adventure, and ended up building a life and legacy that has touched countless students and fellow educators over the years.
Gloria shares the story of her ...
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