Mike Smith, President, Teaching Channel by K12 Coalition

Could you please tell us your name, the name of the institution that you represent and your position?

I’m Mike Smith, president of Teaching Channel. We prefer the full name, Teaching Channel by K12 Coalition. K12 Coalition is our parent company.

Could you give us an introduction to the Teaching Channel?

I think we’re at a very interesting time in the education field, coming out of the pandemic, where the stakes are high. Teaching Channel is, first and foremost, rooted in professional development. Everything we do comes from the lens of the educator—the teacher. Our focus is on how to support teachers and make them better so they can ultimately drive student achievement and impact.

We focus on three main areas. First, we have the best video library, showcasing authentic classroom videos for new, experienced and veteran teachers and even those exploring the profession. We aim to show what a day in the life of a classroom and teaching looks like. 

We’ve filmed more than 2,000 videos across diverse classrooms in the U.S., capturing authentic teaching in settings ranging from large cities to small farming communities. Our library covers all grade levels—from Pre-K to high school, including special education and all subjects, like math, reading, English and even physical education.

Our big priority is ensuring these tools are accessible and timely, providing trendy and topical content that supports educators. The pace of change has accelerated post-pandemic, and we’re trying to meet teachers where they are, supporting them so they can be the best they can be.

The second focus is on professional development courses. Teachers need to renew licenses and complete training hours, and we offer over 300 courses developed by teachers for teachers. Around 80 percent of our employee base has classroom experience, which sets us apart. These courses help teachers grow in their teaching practice and allow them to immediately apply what they’ve learned in the classroom.

As a father of two young girls, I’m mission-driven, and it’s rewarding to know we impact nearly 300,000 to 400,000 educators annually across all 50 states, with international customers as well. Education is a global game, and we’re excited to be a key partner in the field.

Our third focus is on coaching and collaboration tools. Just like Real Madrid players review videos to improve their performance, our tools allow teachers to record their teaching practice, share it with mentors or instructional coaches and receive feedback on how to improve.

The spirit of Teaching Channel is about being an education ally—helping good teachers become great teachers and supporting those who may be struggling. With a teacher shortage crisis in the U.S., where some schools can’t even fill classrooms with teachers, our mission is to provide accessible, real-time resources and solutions that teachers can use, digest and apply the next day to positively impact students and increase student achievement.

You’ve mentioned the video library, accessibility and coaching collaboration tools. Would you say these are the keys to the organization’s success?

Yes, I think the keys to success lie in the teamwork required to deliver these types of tools. We have an incredibly talented curriculum and instruction team made up of former and current teachers. They design courses specifically for teachers to support their needs. A big part of our success is ensuring we never forget what it’s like to be in the classroom and understanding what teachers need to be successful.

In the U.S., the education system is quite different from Europe. Here, there are many invested parties, including school boards, superintendents and their cabinets, state departments of education, local communities and parents who want input on what their children are being taught. Understanding the teacher’s perspective and addressing those unique challenges are critical to our success.

It’s also about identifying where the greatest need is and delivering timely solutions. Right now, there’s a major focus on reading and math. Coming out of the pandemic, scores across the country in these areas are below where they need to be. We’ve been focusing our content on lesson plans and courses that address the science of reading, math curriculum and ways to support educators in these critical areas.

Lastly, having a team that believes in our mission is essential. Our team wakes up every day motivated and passionate about supporting teachers, ensuring they feel respected and valued, so they remain in the classroom. That’s the secret sauce of Teaching Channel—being rooted in our mission of being the educator ally.

What role does innovation play in your organization?

Innovation plays a pivotal role, and it’s also a key to success right now. Whether it’s creating a new course or video content, going to a school to capture film of new topics or showcasing principal and staff meetings as well as coaching sessions, we focus on sharing what’s happening in schools across the country. This provides transparency into what’s working and what other schools might consider.

On the technology side, innovation is about leveraging accessibility. We’ve spent significant time working on integrations with technology platforms used by our schools. While we primarily serve the Pre-K through 12 education industry in the United States, we also collaborate with more than 100 colleges and universities.

Teaching Channel engages with high school students aspiring to become teachers, university students studying and preparing for the profession and teachers at every stage of their careers—from their first to their last year in the classroom. Innovation here is tied to accessibility: the more people interact with our products and solutions, the more feedback we gather to understand what teachers truly need.

This feedback drives us to identify gaps. For instance, if we don’t have a Teaching Channel video on a specific subject or topic, we must capture it. Teachers may need courses on blood-borne pathogens for school safety or specialized training for school nurses to help them feel prepared and valued.

Innovation is about constant engagement and interaction with school-based communities across the country. By listening to their needs, we can adapt, create and deliver the resources educators require to thrive.

It seems like you’re dedicated to making your tools accessible and useful for teachers.

Everything we do is for the teacher, and we’re entirely online. We’re an SaaS-based platform, and all our courses are delivered through the Canvas LMS (Learning Management System). You can access our videos and resources online 24/7, 365 days a year.

Flexibility makes all the difference. Teachers no longer have to wake up at 5 a.m., drive to school by 6, and watch videos on a school computer or TV. Instead, you can put your kids to bed—or, if you don’t have kids, wait until your evening is free and focus on improving your practice.

Everything we do is rooted in professional development, brought to life through our integrated professional learning platform. This platform combines courses, videos and coaching collaboration tools. Logging into one website gives you integrated access to all these resources.

For example, if I’m struggling with classroom management strategies, I can watch videos on the topic, take a course to deepen my understanding and then apply what I’ve learned in my classroom. I can record myself trying these strategies, share the recording with a mentor or instructional coach and get feedback.

This process helps identify improvements and provides support from your network. I think everyone wants to be the best they can be, and sometimes, you need feedback and guidance to achieve that. That’s exactly what we hope our tools do for teachers—helping them grow and succeed.

What would be your message to potential partners and institutions that want to work with you?

The spirit of Teaching Channel is rooted in putting educators and students first. We’re always open to collaborations with the hope of achieving more together—putting one plus one and getting three.

It’s not a matter of if we’re going to win the teacher retention battle; it’s a question of when. If we can overcome teacher turnover—understanding that there will always be a normal rate of it—and ensure that teachers feel respected and valued, we can make significant progress.

If we can collaborate with other partners to create a bigger and accelerated impact, we’re always open to those discussions. We’re looking for partners who are aligned with our mission of putting educators and students first.

What is your vision for the next 3 to 5 years?

While we’re already known nationally, I would like Teaching Channel to be in every public school district in the next 3 to 5 years. I want Teaching Channel solutions to be in every charter school, and I’d like us to become a household name.

When you say “Real Madrid,” everyone knows who Real Madrid is, whether you’re in Virginia, the U.S., England or anywhere else. Similarly, we want to be that premier, trusted and valued partner every school feels they must have in their building.

Our goal is to support every community and deliver solutions that make a real difference for teachers while driving impact and achievement for students. We have big goals, but we’re committed to making them a reality.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

One thing I want to make sure comes across is that Teaching Channel is deeply invested in strategic partnerships right now. We work with several nonprofits, including an organization called PDK Rising Educators. We have a multiyear sponsorship with them. This program is for high school students who aspire to become future teachers.

We provide the Teaching Channel Video Library and content to these students for free, giving them a chance to see what teaching looks like and helping them envision it as a career. Alongside this, we offer great training to develop the next generation of teachers starting in high school.

In the university space, we work with over 100 institutions, including the nonprofit organization called KDP. Both PDK and KDP are nonprofit organizations.

Teaching Channel is a certified B Corp, and for us, it’s not just about the bottom line—it’s about making an impact and creating meaningful change. We’re very community-based and committed to being with educators every step of the way, from their first day of teaching to their last.

We strive to be the must-have partner, resource and solution-based organization educators rely on throughout their careers. Additionally, Teaching Channel is all about growing lifelong educators, keeping in mind that everybody is a lifelong learner.