When Teachers Talk
We Listen
Teacher Talks is an annual event that uplifts and celebrates the voices of educators in our community. Each year, CMS educators take the stage in front of a live audience to deliver powerful and inspiring talks based on their ideas and experiences in the classroom.
The Teacher Talks event is open to the public, providing a unique learning experience for the entire community. We invite you to explore previous talks below and subscribe to our email newsletter, so you can make plans to join us next year as we celebrate the voices of educators whose courage, insight, and resilience remind us that fractures can be transformed into something whole.
teacher talks 2026
fracture
We proudly presented our eighth Teacher Talks event, Fracture, on March 26, 2026 at the Dale F. Halton Theater at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). We gathered to learn from the experiences our teachers carry—the breaks and shatterings, the moments that split life into a before and an after, and the visible and invisible divides we learn to navigate. These experiences highlight the cracks that shape us, but also the beauty that emerges when broken pieces are gathered, held, and reimagined as something new.
Watch the talks below to relive and share this evening of illumination.
Presented By
meet the presenters
Glue Yourself
Justin Ashley
Community House Middle School
Justin Ashley was a rising star—engaged students, major awards, even viral recognition. But while his professional life soared, his personal life unraveled under the weight of burnout, strained relationships & addiction. Justin shares how he rebuilt a shattered life, transforming his lowest moments into a story of renewal, purpose & hope.
The Lambs Among Us
LTC James Clark (Ret.)
Harding University High School
LTC James Clark retired from a distinguished Army career. But he discovered his true purpose when he became a high school teacher & formed a special bond with students facing exceptional learning challenges. Through a program that unites traditional JROTC cadets with exceptional children, he’s seen the power of building communities where every person belongs.
Laughter, a Universal Language
Nuria Tamayo
Charlotte East Language Academy
Nuria Tamayo has spent her entire teaching career working with students whose first language isn’t her own & she’s discovered a powerful truth: when words fall short, laughter connects. Nuria shares how she uses laughter as a universal language—one that builds trust, sparks curiosity, & creates the safety students need to learn.
Not a Statistic
JoCelyn Williams Roundtree
Olympic High School
JoCelyn Williams Roundtree is many things—a mother, a wife, a teacher, a proud “nerd.” But as a young girl, she was often overlooked & felt reduced to a statistic. Thanks to adults who saw her potential, she learned to never let others’ perception limit her own vision. JoCelyn now uses those lessons to remind her students they are more than just a number.
© CMS Foundation Teacher Talks, 2026
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