Let's Talk, Teacher to Teacher With Dr. Gina Pepin
Welcome to the Let’s Talk, Teacher to Teacher podcast. My name is Dr. Gina Pepin - and I am so happy to meet you. I am a mom, teacher, professor, supervisor for teacher candidates, a reading specialist and a whole lot more! I am the 2023-2024 Region 1 Michigan Teacher of the Year and State Finalist - and also served in this role as part of the very first group of Regional Teachers/State Finalists of the Year in 2018-2019. But what I want you to know the most about me is… I have a great passion for early literacy and teacher preparation and the thing I am most proud of is of course our children… but my once in a lifetime chance to become a co-author, along with the extremely talented children’s author - Eric Litwin ! Together… we wrote: The Power of Joyful Reading: Help Your Young Readers Soar to Success. You can learn more about me - my experiences, how to hire me to speak at your workshops, schools, teacher programs etc… at www.ginapepin.com
I offer you practical make and takes - easy tips along with real life shared stories - so that you can easily create joyful shared reading experiences and other amazing strategies and approaches in your classroom, daycare centers, and homes right away.
I am here to help you make powerful changes - Let’s do this together.
Check out the Ride and Read program I designed along with 100s of FREE resources at www.ginapepin.com
Let's Talk, Teacher to Teacher With Dr. Gina Pepin
The Truth Be Told: Calm Is Contagious: Powered by Hutch’s Paw-sitive Energy
In this laugh-out-loud (and tear-a-little) episode, Dr. Gina Pepin shares the unforgettable tale of Hutch—a golden doodle turned honorary assistant principal—and the surprisingly profound lessons he teaches about emotional regulation, trauma-informed practice, and the power of a well-timed head tilt.
Join Gina as she reflects on a high-stress parent meeting that took an unexpected turn thanks to a dog with impeccable timing and better counseling instincts than most humans. Spoiler alert: Hutch doesn’t say a word, but he speaks volumes.
This episode reminds educators that calm is contagious, relationships are the real safe spaces, and sometimes, the best interventions have wagging tails. Whether your "Hutch" is a dog, a donut cart, or a dance party in the hallway, this one’s for you.
🐾 Listen in for:
- A golden doodle who crashes meetings and hearts
- Why humor and humanity matter more than ever in education
- How to create emotionally safe spaces—even in the chaos
- A fresh take on self-regulation (and the power of floppy ears)
💬 Got a Hutch in your building? Email Dr. Gina with your story—we'd love to feature it!