The Teacher’s Lounge en Copyright © 2026 Anderson University | All rights reserved A podcast solely dedicated to teachers and all that they do. Tune in for real talk, classroom stories, and what's really important to teachers. This is our way of showing just how much they mean to us and reminding ourselves how important they truly are. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/247f7cdc-2874-11f1-a9e8-4f9eef507d56/image/8311d34242b6a947179ec59d56016151.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress The Teacher’s Lounge episodic Eliana Castano A podcast solely dedicated to teachers and all that they do. Tune in for real talk, classroom stories, and what's really important to teachers. This is our way of showing just how much they mean to us and reminding ourselves how important they truly are. A podcast solely dedicated to teachers and all that they do. Tune in for real talk, classroom stories, and what's really important to teachers. This is our way of showing just how much they mean to us and reminding ourselves how important they truly are.

]]> Eliana Castano elianacasatno815@gmail.com BONUS CUT - Episode 07: "Let's just say hypothetically the fish has feelings." Moments and behind the scenes that didn't make it into the episodes! A huge thank you to all teachers involved in the production of this podcast. To teachers everywhere, The Teacher's Lounge loves and appreciates you! Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0000 bonus Eliana Castano Moments and behind the scenes that didn't make it into the episodes! A huge thank you to all teachers involved in the production of this podcast. To teachers everywhere, The Teacher's Lounge loves and appreciates you! Moments and behind the scenes that didn't make it into the episodes!

A huge thank you to all teachers involved in the production of this podcast.

To teachers everywhere, The Teacher's Lounge loves and appreciates you!

]]> 611 Episode 06: "Who needs this class to graduate?" Today I’m joined by Ray Castano and Carl DePuy. Ray is a music and band teacher at Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School and has been teaching for 13 years. Carl is an ecology and environmental science teacher at the same school and has been there for 20 years. Both Ray and Carl teach grades 8-12 and are the only teachers on this podcast who teach teenagers. Their patience and grit to operate their day-by-day is truly a herculean effort. Quick PSA, Ray is my dad, so don’t be alarmed when I call him as such. Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0000 full Eliana Castano Today I’m joined by Ray Castano and Carl DePuy. Ray is a music and band teacher at Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School and has been teaching for 13 years. Carl is an ecology and environmental science teacher at the same school and has been there for 20 years. Both Ray and Carl teach grades 8-12 and are the only teachers on this podcast who teach teenagers. Their patience and grit to operate their day-by-day is truly a herculean effort. Quick PSA, Ray is my dad, so don’t be alarmed when I call him as such. Today I’m joined by Ray Castano and Carl DePuy. Ray is a music and band teacher at Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School and has been teaching for 13 years. Carl is an ecology and environmental science teacher at the same school and has been there for 20 years. Both Ray and Carl teach grades 8-12 and are the only teachers on this podcast who teach teenagers. Their patience and grit to operate their day-by-day is truly a herculean effort. Quick PSA, Ray is my dad, so don’t be alarmed when I call him as such.

]]> 1170 no Episode 05: "It's weird being in a season of life where my coworkers are as old as my dad." This episode's guest is Kevin Arseneaux. Kevin is a first year teacher from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After receiving a degree in education from Geneva College in Pennsylvania, he took a job at Light of Hope school in Jakarta, Indonesia. He teaches humanities and social studies to 7th and 8th grade.  Kevin is not only going through the struggles of a first year teacher, but doing so in a completely new culture on the other side of the globe.  Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0000 full Eliana Castano This episode's guest is Kevin Arseneaux. Kevin is a first year teacher from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After receiving a degree in education from Geneva College in Pennsylvania, he took a job at Light of Hope school in Jakarta, Indonesia. He teaches humanities and social studies to 7th and 8th grade.  Kevin is not only going through the struggles of a first year teacher, but doing so in a completely new culture on the other side of the globe.  This episode's guest is Kevin Arseneaux. Kevin is a first year teacher from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After receiving a degree in education from Geneva College in Pennsylvania, he took a job at Light of Hope school in Jakarta, Indonesia. He teaches humanities and social studies to 7th and 8th grade. 

Kevin is not only going through the struggles of a first year teacher, but doing so in a completely new culture on the other side of the globe. 

]]> 1007 no Episode 04: "Wow, this is life now." This episode features Abbey Lemon and Noel Criser. Abbey is a 5th grade teacher at Myers Park Traditional in Charlotte, North Carolina in her 3rd year of teaching. Noel is a 4th grade teacher in the same building in her first year of teaching.  Abbey and Noel have gone through similar tracks to get where they are now - both have a degree in education. They are also sisters who grew up in Massachusetts, navigating a new living environment and growing as adults. Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0000 full Eliana Castano This episode features Abbey Lemon and Noel Criser. Abbey is a 5th grade teacher at Myers Park Traditional in Charlotte, North Carolina in her 3rd year of teaching. Noel is a 4th grade teacher in the same building in her first year of teaching.  Abbey and Noel have gone through similar tracks to get where they are now - both have a degree in education. They are also sisters who grew up in Massachusetts, navigating a new living environment and growing as adults. This episode features Abbey Lemon and Noel Criser. Abbey is a 5th grade teacher at Myers Park Traditional in Charlotte, North Carolina in her 3rd year of teaching. Noel is a 4th grade teacher in the same building in her first year of teaching. 

Abbey and Noel have gone through similar tracks to get where they are now - both have a degree in education. They are also sisters who grew up in Massachusetts, navigating a new living environment and growing as adults.

]]> 1099 no Episode 03: "Oh this is going to be easy." I’m joined today by Elena Romero, a senior currently enrolled at Anderson University in South Carolina. She is finishing out her bachelor’s degree with a semester of student teaching at Chandler Creek Elementary in Greer, South Carolina. She teaches music to grades k-5 and is the only student teacher to join me on this podcast.  Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0000 full Eliana Castano I’m joined today by Elena Romero, a senior currently enrolled at Anderson University in South Carolina. She is finishing out her bachelor’s degree with a semester of student teaching at Chandler Creek Elementary in Greer, South Carolina. She teaches music to grades k-5 and is the only student teacher to join me on this podcast.  I’m joined today by Elena Romero, a senior currently enrolled at Anderson University in South Carolina. She is finishing out her bachelor’s degree with a semester of student teaching at Chandler Creek Elementary in Greer, South Carolina. She teaches music to grades k-5 and is the only student teacher to join me on this podcast. 

]]> 1195 no Episode 02: "Would you rather be buried or cremated?" Today’s guests are Dan Hayward and Katie Castano. Dan is a special education teacher at Barnstable Middle School in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. He’s been at BMS for 17 years and works with grades 4 and 5. Katie is a Speech and Language Pathologist for Truro Central School in Truro, Massachusetts. She’s been working at TCS for the past 23 years with grades k-6, and is currently chair of the special education department.  These two educators are heavily involved in special education, so their experiences are completely different from other teacher perspectives on this podcast. Also, Katie is my mother, so even though I call her mom, both her and Dan have great insights to share.   Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:21:00 -0000 full Eliana Castano Today’s guests are Dan Hayward and Katie Castano. Dan is a special education teacher at Barnstable Middle School in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. He’s been at BMS for 17 years and works with grades 4 and 5. Katie is a Speech and Language Pathologist for Truro Central School in Truro, Massachusetts. She’s been working at TCS for the past 23 years with grades k-6, and is currently chair of the special education department.  These two educators are heavily involved in special education, so their experiences are completely different from other teacher perspectives on this podcast. Also, Katie is my mother, so even though I call her mom, both her and Dan have great insights to share.   Today’s guests are Dan Hayward and Katie Castano. Dan is a special education teacher at Barnstable Middle School in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. He’s been at BMS for 17 years and works with grades 4 and 5. Katie is a Speech and Language Pathologist for Truro Central School in Truro, Massachusetts. She’s been working at TCS for the past 23 years with grades k-6, and is currently chair of the special education department. 

These two educators are heavily involved in special education, so their experiences are completely different from other teacher perspectives on this podcast. Also, Katie is my mother, so even though I call her mom, both her and Dan have great insights to share.  

]]> 1241 no Episode 01: "A remarkable privilege" Today I am joined by Susannah Criser and Wendy Veara. Susannah is a kindergarten teacher at Marguerite E. Small Elementary school in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and she’s been working there for 13 years. Wendy is a para-professional who aids Susannah in her classroom at M. E. Small. This is her 15th year.  Susannah and Wendy bring a boots-on-the-ground perspective to what it’s truly like to manage a kindergarten classroom, with more than one educator in the room. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:07:00 -0000 full Eliana Castano Today I am joined by Susannah Criser and Wendy Veara. Susannah is a kindergarten teacher at Marguerite E. Small Elementary school in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and she’s been working there for 13 years. Wendy is a para-professional who aids Susannah in her classroom at M. E. Small. This is her 15th year.  Susannah and Wendy bring a boots-on-the-ground perspective to what it’s truly like to manage a kindergarten classroom, with more than one educator in the room. Today I am joined by Susannah Criser and Wendy Veara. Susannah is a kindergarten teacher at Marguerite E. Small Elementary school in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and she’s been working there for 13 years. Wendy is a para-professional who aids Susannah in her classroom at M. E. Small. This is her 15th year. 

Susannah and Wendy bring a boots-on-the-ground perspective to what it’s truly like to manage a kindergarten classroom, with more than one educator in the room.


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