This week I have the opportunity to sit down with TLC 2025 keynote speaker Juliana Urtubey, the 2021 National Teacher of the Year, to explore what it really means to create schools where joy and justice aren’t just ideas — they’re lived experiences.
Juliana’s story is compelling. As a bilingual, first-generation immigrant, her journey into education has been deeply personal, and that lived experience shows up in every part of her practice.
Throughout our conversation, Juliana talks about how her background has shaped not only how she teaches, but why she teaches. She emphasizes the central role of community and reflection — two elements we know are foundational for authentic learning and growth. Her "Choice and Just Framework" is all about reimagining the classroom as a space for collaboration rather than compliance, where students are seen, heard, and valued.
What I found especially powerful is Juliana’s unwavering belief that classrooms can be places of both rigor and joy — that justice and belonging aren’t add-ons, but essential.
If you’re an educator looking to build inclusive, affirming environments where every student’s strengths are honored, this conversation offers not just inspiration, but real insights you can act on.
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