In this first full episode of Every Voice Matters, Dr. Sherri Rochel sits down with Michelle, an educator from the Anoka-Hennepin School District, at a moment of deep uncertainty for teachers.

At the time of this conversation, educators in the district are working without a finalized contract, continuing under last year’s salary while facing a 22% increase in insurance costs, with a potential teacher strike just days away. Classrooms remain open. Students are being taught. But the strain is real.

Michelle speaks candidly about:

• What it’s like to teach amid ongoing contract uncertainty

• The emotional and professional toll of feeling unheard

• Why teacher exits are rarely impulsive — and often inevitable

• Her own exit strategy and the founding of Parents for Good, a 501(c)(4) organization focused on advocacy, accountability, and meaningful reform

• What parents, school boards, and communities often don’t see — but need to understand

This conversation isn’t about blame.
It’s about listening.

Every Voice Matters exists to create space for honest dialogue among the people most impacted by education policy — teachers, students, parents, administrators, and school leaders — because lasting change doesn’t happen without understanding what’s happening inside our schools.

🎧 New episodes drop every Friday

📣 Interested in sharing your story?
Email “Talk to Me” to Sherri.Rochel@outlook.com
or visit educationthatmatters.net/reform

If education matters to you — this conversation does too.

Education won’t improve until we start listening — especially to students.

In Episode 0 of Every Voice Matters, Dr. Sherri Rochel introduces the purpose behind this series and explains why this space exists. This episode is not about blame, politics, or quick fixes. It’s about listening to lived experiences, identifying patterns, and turning honest conversation into meaningful action.

Every Voice Matters is a space for students, parents, educators, administrators, and community members to share what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change — with students at the center of the conversation.

This short introductory episode sets the tone for the series and invites listeners to be part of a broader, student-focused dialogue about the future of education.

🎙️ Real voices
🎙️ Real stories
🎙️ Change that starts with listening