The superstar teachers of our Student Podcast Challenge

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Cicero, Ill— Teachers Mark Sujak, Sarah Lorraine, Jeremy Robinson and Sophia Faridi pose with students and podcast finalists Julian Fausto and Eric Guadarrama for portraits in front of Morton East High School, Friday July 30, 2021. Photo: Olivia Obineme for NPR.





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Once students have an idea and start discussing their project, they have to pitch it to a panel of three people. It could be the principal, the school nurse and a maintenance worker, or a school counselor, a Spanish teacher and the front office receptionist. The teachers really wanted to get the whole school involved in this process. They modeled the process off of the TV show Shark Tank, and they say normally the process gets students’ ideas more refined and overall in better shape to finish the project.

Last year, with almost everything at the school moved online, the four teachers had to change things around a bit. Students submitted video presentations for faculty to watch, and those educators would give video feedback on their own time.

The four teachers are gearing up to build podcasting into their classes this year, and we’ll be looking out for great podcasts from their students… and thousands of others around the country!

Listen to more about the Cicero teachers on this week’s episode of The Students’ Podcast:


The superstar teachers of our Student Podcast Challenge


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Some specifics:


So this year, like last year, we’ll host two contests: the traditional Student Podcast Challenge with two categories: grades 5-8 and 9-12; and the College Podcast Challenge where all students, regardless of age, pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, can apply.

In both cases, the basics are pretty much the same: Students will create a podcast about a topic they want to explore — and, basically, that can be just about anything. In the past, we’ve had podcasts about climate change and racism and what it’s like to be a kid. Entries about Tater Tots and video games and history and life in a pandemic, and whether skunks or hedgehogs make the best pets.

As in the past, entries from middle- and high-school students will come from a teacher or a student leader who’s a grown-up. College students — as long as you’re 18 years or older — can enter on their own.

The maximum length of podcasts is 8 minutes for both contests.

Entries for the College Podcast Challenge will open on Dec. 1, with a final deadline of Feb 28, 2022. For middle and high school students, entries will open on Jan. 1, and close on March 21.

So, students, we can’t wait to hear from you: Put on your headphones, plug in your microphones, and start recording!!