Teaching is an Act of Hope

Why do we teach?

It’s a question educators are asked all the time, often with a mix of curiosity, disbelief, and admiration. In this solo reflection and community episode, I explore the answer that often hides just beneath the surface: hope.

Teaching is one of the greatest acts of hope we can offer the world. Every day, we welcome students from all walks of life and help them learn not just academic content, but how to think, how to question, how to care for themselves and one another, and how to live in a shared society. Much of this work is quiet. Much of it is unseen. And most of the time, we are playing the long game.

As we move into  2026, I  invited teachers from across the United States to share their own messages of hope for the year ahead. Their voices- honest, generous, and deeply human- remind us why this work matters and why we keep coming back. In this episode, we reflect on the deeper purpose of teaching across disciplines, from reading and math to science and social studies, and how each subject helps students develop the tools they need to think critically, recognize injustice, resolve conflict, and imagine a more just world.

To every educator listening: thank you for showing up day after day, year after year. You are doing the work of democracy. My hope for you is a happy, healthy New Year, and that you hold onto hope, even when it speaks in a whisper.

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