What if professional development didn't have to happen in a conference room but rather in Athens while at a museum? For Frances Rivera, her newest endeavor started through a fellowship in Europe. 

Rivera, an Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) special projects coordinator, is the creator and host of The Traveling Teacher Podcast, a new podcast focused on helping educators discover professional learning opportunities beyond what their school districts typically provide.

The podcast's first episode dropped June 23, 2026, establishing the foundation for Rivera's vision. She recorded the inaugural episode from a temporary mobile studio inside the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece.

The location was more than a backdrop. Rivera wanted to demonstrate that professional learning can happen anywhere and that educators can find opportunities to grow beyond the traditional classroom or district professional development calendar.

"I think teachers often don't realize how many professional development opportunities exist outside of what their school districts provide and how those experiences can benefit both their own growth and their students," Rivera said. “There are so many opportunities available through organizations, universities, conferences, fellowships, and other professional networks.”

The Traveling Teacher is designed to pull back the curtain on those opportunities, helping educators learn about fellowships, grants, conferences, international travel and other professional networks that can expand their skills and perspectives.

Rivera knows firsthand how powerful those experiences can be. She is a Fund for Teachers fellow, using her fellowship to study at the EuroPass Teacher Academy and explore evidence-based strategies for supporting neurodivergent students, including students with autism and ADHD.

Episodes feature educators, education organizations and cultural leaders discussing global learning, culturally responsive teaching, professional growth, teacher wellness and ways educators can avoid burnout while continuing to learn.

Rivera spent more than 15 years in education, beginning as a bilingual assistant and eventually becoming a school principal. Most recently, she led Thomas Carr Howe Middle School through its transition to an International Baccalaureate middle school as part of IPS' Rebuilding Stronger initiative.

Now, through The Traveling Teacher, she is encouraging educators to take their own next step. And Rivera believes educators have an important responsibility to model that mindset.

"If we want our students to become lifelong learners, we need to model that ourselves."

The podcast is available across major audio and video platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music and Audible. Rivera's website also features show notes, blog posts and resources for educators interested in fellowships and other opportunities. Teachers can follow her travels and behind-the-scenes updates on Instagram at @thetravlinteacher.

The next episode of The Traveling Teacher Podcast will feature local librarian Glory Perez, who took a chance and applied for a library tour of Scotland through the Information School at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The episode will be released Aug. 25. 

The following episode, scheduled for Sept. 22, will feature Jill Cross, director of curriculum and instruction at Bornblum Jewish Community School in Memphis, Tennessee. Cross is a Founding Forward Ambassador and Colonial Williamsburg Master Teacher. She will discuss Founding Forward, Colonial Williamsburg and the Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP) Fellowship, which provides teachers with an opportunity to travel to Germany each summer.