Notes from the Backpack: A PTA Podcast

In Part One of this two part conversation, we explore how mental health challenges can impact relationships, academics, and the entire family dynamic.

2026 National Teacher of the Year Leon Smith joins host Kisha DeSandies Lester to share what inspired him to become a teacher and explore what students need from their teachers, their classrooms, and the education system today.

For more than 20 years, Jere Chang has been bringing passion, curiosity, and heart into the classroom—and now she’s bringing that same energy to the podcast.

Known to millions as “Ms. Chang,” Jere has built a community of more than 3.5 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook by sharing humor, radical kindness, honest stories, and everyday inspiration. As a longtime teacher in the Atlanta area and the author of Becoming the Teacher I Needed: Lessons in Radical Kindness and Resilience, Jere brings a unique perspective on education, resilience, relationships, and what it means to show up for o...

PTA’s award-winning podcast, Notes from the Backpack, returns with an important and deeply emotional conversation. Host Kisha DeSandies Lester sits down with Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, to hear the story of her son Dylan, who was just six years old when he was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Nicole shares her powerful perspective on turning unimaginable loss into a commitment to creating safer schools and communities. This is a mom-to-mom conversation you don’t want to miss.

From addressing climate change to destigmatizing mental health, young people are stepping up as leaders to create a better world. Our hosts talked with DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething.org, to learn how we can empower youth to create change. DeNora shares about the causes most important to young people, how they're getting involved and what families and educators can do to encourage service learning.

It’s time to think creatively about school reform! Co-CEO of Transcend Education Aylon Samouha joined the show to share the latest in school transformation. Tune in to explore the purpose of education, innovative learning models and the journey towards creating extraordinary, equitable learning environments. 

How can families partner with schools to ensure their children are enjoying nutritious meals? Our hosts talked with Briana Webster-Campbell, the managing director of Center for Best Practices at No Kid Hungry to get an inside look into the school cafeteria. Briana shares how schools determine what foods to serve, how families can get more involved and why your child’s cinnamon roll may be healthier than you think!

Innovations in rural schools are paving the way for more successful futures for our youth! Tune in as Michael Gonzalez, executive director of the Rural Schools Innovation Zone shares about the challenges rural schools face and how they’re facing them head on. From expanding career and technical offerings to substantial teacher retention bonuses, Mike shares how pooling resources between districts in rural Texas has been a game changer for their students.

How is the political climate shaping the curricula in schools today? From book bans to censorship, our guest Denise Forte, president and CEO of the Education Trust, delves into the tensions facing education today. Tune in to discover current challenges and bright spots and to explore where we go from here.

From supplemental instruction to grade skipping, there are options when it comes to challenging our most advanced learners, but these opportunities can be hard to access. Brandon Wright, editorial director at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute joins the show to share best practices in gifted education and what families can do if their child would benefit from a more advanced curriculum.

How do teachers find the most effective ways to engage families? Teachers often learn from their colleagues and even their own experiences as students. In this episode, Dr. Soo Hong, researcher and professor at Wellesley College, highlights the lack of formal family engagement training and the systemic changes needed to support early career teachers.

As new state and local laws target LGBTQ+ students, what can families do to ensure schools treat all students with care and empathy? Teen transgender activist Harleigh Walker and her father, Jeff Walker, join the show to share their advocacy experience. They highlight how harmful policies are impacting school life for kids around the country and what you can do to help.

Friendships are a cornerstone of childhood, but some kids have an easier time making friends than others. We talked to psychologist, author and friendship expert, Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore to learn how families can support their children in building and maintaining healthy relationships with their peers. Dr. Kennedy-Moore shares how friendships change and develop as children age and how parents can coach from the sidelines.

Many parents feel unsure when they should start talking to their children about addiction and even more uncertain about what to say. In this episode, author and educator, Jessica Lahey, offers practical tips and guidance for having conversations about drug and alcohol abuse. She draws on the latest research and her own experiences to share what families need to know to keep their kids safe.

There is so much children can learn from the great outdoors! We spoke with Bianca Myrick, executive director of the Virginia Association of Environmental Education to learn how families can explore the environment together and raise kids who care for the planet. Bianca shares ideas on how you can replace screentime with green time at home and advocate for environmental education in your child’s school. 

Choosing a summer program that is fun, educational and affordable is no easy task. Brodrick Clarke, VP of Programs at the National Summer Learning Association joined the show to help. He talks about the tools families can use to find high-quality summer programs and offers tips for finding a program that will be a good fit for your child. 

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How can families partner with schools to ensure their children are enjoying nutritious meals? Our hosts talked with Briana Webster-Campbell, the managing director of Center for Best Practices at No Kid Hungry to get an inside look into the school cafeteria. Briana shares how schools determine what foods to serve, how families can get more involved and why your child’s cinnamon roll may be healthier than you think!

When our kids talk about the latest social media trends, it can feel like they’re speaking a foreign language. Founder and CEO of the Social Institute, Laura Tierney, joined the show to help us understand how we can best support our children in navigating the current social media landscape. She highlights the importance of positive social media education and shares how technology can support our children’s mental health and even their study habits. 

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While segregation may seem like a thing of the past, it’s still a major issue affecting our schools today. We spoke with Stefan Lallinger, executive director of Next100, to explore why schools aren’t more diverse and how we can advocate for systemic change. He also shares his insight on the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action and its implications for the future of K-12 education.

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We often ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, but how often do we help them figure out the answer? We invited Jean Eddy, Executive Director of the American Student Assistance (ASA) and ASA’s “Solve It” contest winner and high school student, Elliana Cabellon to talk about career exploration. They share how families can help kids follow their passions, plan for their futures and explore STEM career pathways.

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Is your school district prioritizing Family-School Partnerships? The Director of Family-School Partnerships at Colorado Department of Education, Darcy Hutchins, shares how states and districts can embed best practices into their protocols to ensure strong family-school partnerships. She also offers advice for where families can look for information about policies affecting their own communities.

What does it mean to be an advocate for all children and how can you jumpstart your own advocacy journey? We discussed the answers to these questions and so much more with Rosazlia Grillier, a founder and governing council member of the United Parent Leaders Action Network (UPLAN). She shares her own experience, how you can find the leader in you, and how to get connected to a network of advocates and take action.

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Since the start of 2020, it feels like we’ve experienced—or witnessed—one crisis after another. How should we talk with our children about these challenging topics—and how can we cope with them ourselves? We interviewed Dr. Pamela Cantor, founder and senior science advisor at Turnaround for Children to get her advice. She shares how relationships, routines and resilience can help us traverse these tumultuous times.

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• Visit TurnaroundForChildren.org for resources and resources focused on whole child development

• Follow Pamela Cantor on social media at @DrPamelaCantor and read her articles in Psychology T...

Do you start sweating when your kids ask for help with math homework? Lots of parents struggle with math anxiety—our child’s and our own—but math is everywhere and it’s our job to help our children embrace it. We sat down with Eugenio Longoria Sáenz, founding director of the Center for Family Math at The National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE). He shares how you can overcome your own math anxiety and help your child learn how to approach math with curiosity and an open mind.

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What goes into a school rating? School ratings often leave families feeling confused, wondering what a singular number tells them about the quality of a school. To get to the bottom of this, our hosts interviewed Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools.org who shares how families can use school ratings as a starting point for making informed choices for their child’s education.

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School transitions can be hard—and not just for the kids, but for parents, too! Our guest, child development expert and author, Deborah Farmer-Kris, has tips for making school transitions a little smoother. Whether your child is struggling to get out the door in the morning, experiencing anxiety in the classroom or melting down when they get home, Deborah has advice to ease your back-to-school transition.

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Our nation is facing an adolescent mental health crisis. Teens are struggling in the classroom and at home. Our guest, Instructional Support Specialist and Social Emotional Learning Lead, Leona Fowler, shares her experiences navigating these challenges and what approaches can equip our kids with the coping skills they need. She discusses how mindfulness and other social emotional learning techniques can improve student wellness at school and at home.

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Since the pandemic began, the phrase “learning loss” has become a frequently used term in the education field. What kind of “learning loss” are teachers actually seeing in their classrooms and how are they working to address it? Angela Burley, sixth grade social studies teacher and a 2021-2022 Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellow, joins the show to share her perspective on the issue.

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In the last few years, teachers have faced unprecedented challenges that have left a lot of them feeling burnt out. Experienced educator and activist, Sofia Gonzalez, shares her thoughts on teacher burnout and how systemic changes could make teaching a more sustainable profession.

Fostering motivation is an important part of a teacher’s job. Larry Ferlazzo, veteran high school teacher and Education Week writer, shares his insights on how to motivate students. Learn what teachers most want you to know about student motivation and get tips on how to get your child to do their homework, chores and more. 

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The college admissions process was stressful enough before the pandemic, now it’s more confusing than ever. Ffiona Rees, board chair of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), joins us to answer all of your questions. Listen to discover her top tips for supporting your teen as they navigate through the college admissions process.

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What do your kids know about money? Jen Hemphill, host of the podcast, Her Dinero Matters, shares tips from her experience as an accredited financial advisor and as a mom. Learn how to talk about money with children of all ages and how you can help them to become financially responsible.

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Most people can count on one hand the number of Black teachers they had during their schooling. Our guest Sharif El-Mekki is working to change that. Sharif discusses how underrepresentation of Black teachers has repercussions for all of our children, and for Black children in particular. 

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Parents can often feel overwhelmed when they receive their child’s test scores. What do the scores mean and do they even matter? Dr. Andrew Ho, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, breaks down what you need to know about standardized testing so you can understand what really matters for your child’s learning and development.

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Whether your child is transitioning to a new school or a new country, change can be hard. We can learn a lot from military families who experience these types of transitions more frequently than most. Dr. Keith Mispagel, superintendent of Fort Leavenworth Unified School District, talks with our hosts about helping children adjust to new environments.

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Celebrity chef, Duff Goldman, joins the show to help you and your family have a blast in the kitchen. Duff shares tips for teaching your kids science while cooking and helping them develop independence and confidence using tools and appliances. The hosts also discuss his parenting style and cooking journey!

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From people who mispronounce your child’s name to teachers who expect them to explain your family’s holiday traditions to the class, your child may be struggling with the pressure to represent an entire culture. Actress and author Sheetal Sheth joins the show to discuss how families can help kids embrace their identities and explains how she shared her own identity and experience as a mother in her children’s books Always Anjali and Bravo Anjali.

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Help your child channel their frustrations into social action! This week, our hosts chatted with author and founder of 1000 Black Girl Books, Marley Dias, and her mom, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, who is an educator and author as well. They share how you can help your child develop their entrepreneurial spirit and enhance their problem solving skills—all while making the world a better place!

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How can schools do a better job affirming children’s racial identities? Dr. Shawn Jones, psychologist and professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University, joined the podcast to offer guidance on creating schools that better serve students of color. He shares how families can help by talking openly and honestly about their own experiences with race. He also offers suggestions for how white families can be part of the effort to create more affirming schools for students of color.

From the cyberbullying risks to dangerous social media challenges, many parents feel terrified when their child enters the world of social media. How can families have proactive discussions about navigating the online world responsibly? Dr. Sameer Hinduja, director of the Cyberbullying Research Center joins the show to share practical tips and respond to some of your most commonly asked questions!