The “Psychic Income” of Education with 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year Matthew Neale

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After beginning his professional life as an attorney in Las Vegas, Matthew Neale made an unexpected career shift, moving across the country and into the classroom, where he was named the 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year. 

In this episode, Neale discusses the deep fulfillment and “psychic income” of teaching as he draws on more than 20 years of coaching soccer, building relationships with students, and launching community wellness initiatives that address real challenges in their rural community in the Appalachian Mountains. 

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