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Erin Pruckno, a preschool teacher in Washington, D.C. (clockwise from top left); Mei-Ling Uliasz, a second-grade teacher in Danbury, Conn.; Elizabeth Metzger, right, an educator in south Florida, with a friend at a football game; and Mathias "Spider" Schergen, who teaches at Jenner Elementary Academy of the Arts in Chicago.

Erin Pruckno, a preschool teacher in Washington, D.C. (clockwise from top left); Mei-Ling Uliasz, a second-grade teacher in Danbury, Conn.; Elizabeth Metzger, right, an educator in south Florida, with a friend at a football game; and Mathias "Spider" Schergen, who teaches at Jenner Elementary Academy of the Arts in Chicago. Elissa Nadworny/NPR (left column) and Courtesy of Mei-Ling Uliasz and Elizabeth "Biz" Metzger hide caption

itoggle caption Elissa Nadworny/NPR (left column) and Courtesy of Mei-Ling Uliasz and Elizabeth "Biz" Metzger

K-12

The Many, Many Secret Lives Of Teachers

by Lindsay Sandoval

What do teachers do outside the classroom? We've gotten hundreds of responses to that question. To list a few: They officiate at weddings, run nonprofits and Jazzercise.

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Five-year-old Kyle Romain sits on the lap of his grandmother, Barbara Romain, at a football game. Kyle lost his sight when he was hit by a stray bullet two months ago.

Five-year-old Kyle Romain sits on the lap of his grandmother, Barbara Romain, at a football game. Kyle lost his sight when he was hit by a stray bullet two months ago. Eric Westervelt/NPR hide caption

itoggle caption Eric Westervelt/NPR

K-12

A New Orleans Family's Lives Changed In An Instant

by Eric Westervelt

A stray bullet took 5-year-old Kyle Romain's sight. His mother fears the violence in her neighborhood will continue: "There's no hope. These little boys are just trigger-happy and gun-crazy."

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Art projects like these anatomy murals are woven into the curriculum at the Homer Plessy Community Charter school in New Orleans.

Art projects like these anatomy murals are woven into the curriculum at the Homer Plessy Community Charter school in New Orleans. Eric Westervelt/NPR hide caption

itoggle caption Eric Westervelt/NPR

K-12

A New Orleans Charter School Marches To Its Own Tune

As part of our series on the education revolution underway in the Crescent City, we profile a new, independent arts-centered charter that's struggling to put down roots.

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Students at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., attend a debt management workshop. Broward is one of 29 colleges that no longer accepts unsubsidized student loans. The effort is part of an experiment to cut down on student loan debt and defaults.

Students at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., attend a debt management workshop. Broward is one of 29 colleges that no longer accepts unsubsidized student loans. The effort is part of an experiment to cut down on student loan debt and defaults. John O'Connor/WLRN hide caption

itoggle caption John O'Connor/WLRN

To Cut Student Debt, Florida College Cuts Off Some Student Borrowing WLRN

by John O'Connor

One of Florida's largest community colleges is trying to reduce the amount of debt its students take on. As part of a federal experiment, it has barred them from taking out any unsubsidized loans.

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