• addressing diversity in the classroom with kids of different abilities and needs

• creating community - implementing team-building activities that are unrelated to academics

• how mental health affects students' attendance

• differences between special education teaching credentials vs general education teaching credentials

• Biggest takeaway - many general education teachers lack understanding and support for students with mental health illnesses. Many students struggle in silence, and it goes unnoticed.

Something that stuck with me in my interview was how important diversity and student connection is. The teacher I interviewed prioritizes teacher and student connection in order to be able to manage his classroom more easily. He says that by just learning their names, that goes a long way in making students feel valued. Of course it varies with each class, but small acts are what makes a teacher memorable.