231: The Quiet Work of Changing Lives: How One Small-Town Teacher Serves New Families in Big Ways with Sarah Palmer

This week’s episode of The Found Podcast isn’t about a flashy brand or a viral business story. It’s about a woman you’ll probably never see on a billboard, but whose work is changing lives quietly, consistently, and deeply in rural Eastern Iowa.

In this episode, Molly sits down with Sarah Palmer, an English Language Learning (ELL) teacher in the Western Dubuque Community School District. For the past 18 years, Sarah has been teaching language, yes—but also welcoming refugee and immigrant families, connecting them to food, furniture, transportation, and community support, and modeling what everyday service can look like in a small town.

You’ll hear about students arriving with only what they could carry, the growing diversity in rural Iowa schools, and how public educators often become the “first point of contact” for families navigating a brand-new system and culture.

This conversation is an invitation: to see the hidden work being done around you, to recognize the power of simple acts of service, and to ask how you might bring your own gifts to the needs in your community.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How Sarah “fell into” English language teaching and discovered it was absolutely her calling

• The shift from a handful of ELL students to 40+ on a roster—and a rural school district filled with global diversity

• What it means to be the first trusted connection for families arriving with almost nothing

• The unseen ways public schools support families: food, clothing, furniture, rides, and more

• Stories of partnering with local organizations like Resources Unite, food pantries, and community foundations

• The cascade effect of one gift—a car, a bike, a bed—and how it can change an entire family’s trajectory

• How growing up in a family of service shaped Sarah’s worldview and the way she’s raising her boys

• Why acting as “the connector” matters just as much as being the direct giver

• Practical ideas for how you can serve in your own community (even without a big budget or a lot of time)

Resources & Links

• Resources Unite (Dubuque-area support + connections)

• Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque

• Connect with Molly: @mollyknuth