Teaching is listening, starring Patti and Rod Lloyd
Meet Our Guest(s):
Meet our guest, Patti Lloyd.
Patti is a licensed social worker and elementary teacher now serving as the Meade River School counselor. Patti has a bachelor of arts degree in social work, a bachelor of science degree in elementary education, and 18 years of teaching experience. Patti was a social worker in Idaho prior to teaching, and is certified as an alcohol and chemical addictions counselor. She previously taught early childhood education and kindergarten. She is on the Board of Trustees of Ilisagvik College (the only tribal college in Alaska) and has worked for the North Slope Borough School District for 27 years. Patti is happy living in this beautiful place and loves the strong Inupiat culture surrounding her.
Meet our guest, Rod Lloyd.
Rodney Lloyd is a primary elementary teacher with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education and a master of arts degree in language and literature with specialization in reading instruction and intervention. Rod has certifications in math recovery and is working towards a master’s degree in elementary math instruction. Rod has 30 years of teaching experience and was selected as NSBSD Teacher of the Year for 2013 and 2024. He has been teaching a Kindergarten/first grade combination class but works with students of all ages. He will be working in an intervention role at Meade River School for the 2024-25 school year. Rod is also the current presidentMeade River School, School Advisory Committee (SAC) president. Rod loves living in the Arctic and learning from the cultural members he considers close friends.
Meet our host, Ana Torres.
Ana has been an educator for 30 years, working in both the K–8 and higher education sectors. She served as an administrator and instructor at various public and private colleges and universities and as a bilingual and dual language teacher, dual language math and reading interventionist, dual language instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal in K–8 schools. Ana is currently the bilingual and multilingual specialist on Amplify’s product specialist team, and delivers literacy and biliteracy presentations across the nation. Ana’s passion and advocacy for biliteracy and multiculturalism has led her to educate leaders, teachers, and parents about the positive impact of bilingualism and biliteracy in our world.
Meet our Classroom Insider, Eric Cross.
Eric Cross is a middle school science teacher who hopes to someday be a lifelong educator, like the guests on Beyond My Years! In each episode, Eric connects with host Ana Torres to discuss her guests’ best insights gleaned from their long and rewarding careers in the classroom. Then, Eric talks about bringing some of their wisdom into his current classroom and busy life.
Transcripts and additional resources:
Quotes
“Even though they’re coming to me at five and six years old, they are coming with a lot of rich knowledge that I don’t have. And then if I remain open and work with them, I’ve got a lot to learn.”
“The people that have lived there for 10,000 years; they know how to live in the Arctic. There’s architectural or archaeological evidence of 10,000 years of continued occupation of that land. So they have a lot to teach us. They’re experts there.”
“I wish I could go back and tell myself, ‘Don’t be so concerned with what you’re teaching but how you’re teaching it.’ Really get into the community.”
“We’ve just got to be quiet enough, long enough to hear what our students are saying—or not saying.”
“When you do make a mistake, ‘cause you’re going to make cultural mistakes, we have to kind of own up to it and then ask for advice on how to fix it or how to not make that mistake again.”
“Enjoy it. Enjoy the kids. Take time to enjoy your job. I know teaching now is a very high-pressure situation. There is so much pressure on us and so much to do, but we can’t forget to take that time and enjoy it because if you enjoy it, your kids will enjoy it.”
“Teachers are taking care of the world. So now teachers take care of you.”