Sarah Brown Wessling Teaching & Learning

Sarah Brown Wessling Teaching & Learning Welcome to this space for teachers and learners! I love to share practical ideas for the classroom a

Space Camp 2026. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve been to Space Camp because when I’m there with new people who are...
07/23/2026

Space Camp 2026. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve been to Space Camp because when I’m there with new people who are experiencing it for the first time, I’m uniquely aware of how special the gift is to see it through their eyes.

We laughed, we wondered, we tried, we tried again, we held tightly, we let go. We cried, we hugged, we laughed some more and we didn’t take a moment of it for granted.

I’m not sure how I got so lucky to do this work and learn from these extraordinary teachers, but my life is certainly more rich because of it. 💛🚀💛

One day each summer, I get to make my way to Dover, Delaware for a day of professional learning with all of the district...
07/15/2026

One day each summer, I get to make my way to Dover, Delaware for a day of professional learning with all of the district teachers of the year from across the state. I love watching how they go from tentative to assured, hesitant to purposeful by the time they leave. Watching teachers start to claim this in themselves is the most affirming work. AND…the incredible bonus is the wisdom of all of these Delaware State Teachers of the Year who keep coming back to pour into each other and their newest colleagues. 💛

A week later and I’m still thinking about what a joy and privilege it is to stand behind and stand up for teachers. NEA’...
07/13/2026

A week later and I’m still thinking about what a joy and privilege it is to stand behind and stand up for teachers. NEA’s Representative Assembly not only gave me the chance to keep learning from 2026 NTOY, Leon Smith, but I also got to see and squeeze so many state teachers of the year! I’m in awe of these humans and never take for granted the joy they bring me.

This weekend I got to join Miss Crosson at the ISTE/ASCD conference as she crossed the finish line of this big and beaut...
07/02/2026

This weekend I got to join Miss Crosson at the ISTE/ASCD conference as she crossed the finish line of this big and beautiful year of service as the 2025 National Teacher of the Year.

In so many ways, this was the perfect way to watch the circle come full. She talked about her students and her community in the ways I first heard her talk about them a year and a half ago: with appreciation and gratitude. The stories may be similar, but the person telling them has grown and stretched and wondered and worked with diligence to represent a nation of educators.

In her own words as she closed out the panel at ISTE to a robust round of applause: “I want to be a teacher who leads.” It’s that teacher sense and self that guides this year of service we are so grateful to her for. Thank you, Ashlie for letting me come along for the ride!

Commence.I spent most of last night rewinding and fast forwarding through the memory tapes of this guy as he did the cer...
05/16/2026

Commence.

I spent most of last night rewinding and fast forwarding through the memory tapes of this guy as he did the ceremonial walk from one side to the other. It’s a beautiful, funny thing to hang on and let go at the same time. So proud of you, .wessling ❤️

Commence.I spent most of last night rewinding and fast forwarding through the memory tapes of this guy as he did the cer...
05/16/2026

Commence.

I spent most of last night rewinding and fast forwarding through the memory tapes of this guy as he did the ceremonial walk from one side to the other. It’s a beautiful, funny thing to hang on and let go at the same time. So proud of you, Evan. ❤️

I can’t believe it’s been a week since this whirlwind two days in NYC to and ABC News Prime Live with Linsey Davis! Bei...
05/13/2026

I can’t believe it’s been a week since this whirlwind two days in NYC to and ABC News Prime Live with Linsey Davis! Being off to the side, watching Leon Smith step into this new National Teacher of the Year role again and again, just reaffirms what I already believe: teachers can turn any space into their classroom.

I’m so grateful to do this work and be right there as these stories get told.

What a day! We got to announce the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, Leon Smith on ! I’ve been doing a lot of watching…...
04/21/2026

What a day! We got to announce the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, Leon Smith on ! I’ve been doing a lot of watching…the way every minute is purposeful in his classroom, the way his students talk to him and to each other, the way his colleagues laugh with him, the way his own children look up to him. Then I got to watch today as everyone else got to experience what I have: a teacher defined by humility, purpose, and a genuine passion for making the world a little better one student, one teacher at a time. Enjoy a few of the BTS moments and a special surprise from Dr. J! (That was a tough secret to keep! 😉)

Classrooms will always have my heart and teaching 7th and 8th grade ELA last week filled it. We worked on following tran...
04/18/2026

Classrooms will always have my heart and teaching 7th and 8th grade ELA last week filled it.

We worked on following transition words to elaborate on writing, we started a new novel, we analyzed photos and artwork and TEDtalks, we used shape and color to represent our thinking and got meta about all of it. I’m incredibly grateful to Ashley Brown and Paolo Wheaton for opening their classrooms and all the grade level teachers at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Hanford for jumping into this “coaching from the classroom” kind of professional development.

Working in the classroom is the ultimate rubber meeting road and where we learn our best lessons.

I often have to pinch myself when I’m doing this work, especially when I get to learn about the extraordinary teaching b...
03/08/2026

I often have to pinch myself when I’m doing this work, especially when I get to learn about the extraordinary teaching being done in classrooms across the country. Interviews for 2026 National Teacher of the Year is one of these experiences that leaves me humbled and inspired. Katie, Rachel, Michelle, Linda, and Leon brought their whole selves to this process and along with them the students, families and communities they love. Watching these five individually and together fills me with so much joy and hope. Congrats you five, you did it!!

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