Episodes

What does it take to lead, particularly, lead a school? Josh Tovar has some ideas. On this episode, Josh talks about what it takes to be a leader of a school, how leading by example and focusing on what's best for kids (not always what's easiest for adults) can have a tremendous impact on a school. Listen here! . . . Josh Tovar is the proud son of Virginia and Jesus Tovar who immigrated from Cd. Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico in the late 70's. Raised in El Paso, Texas, he faced adversity as an emergen...

My guest today, Kim Strobel, has a mission: empower teachers to take control of their joy and happiness. Her new book has those two words in the title, Teach Happy: Small Steps to Big Joy. She says that happiness and joy are not the same, and they aren't always present at the same time. On this episode, Kim shared what it truly means to take control of your joy, both in and out of the classroom. . . . Kim Strobel is an internationally-known motivational speaker for educators, school leaders, a...

Dr. Dave Schmittou is one incredible individual. He's worked in just about every area of education, but, as you'll hear, the movement of career was never as important as his continuous evolution as a human and an educator. Even his definition of success, for someone with all the accolades and experience, will surprise you. Listen here! . . . Dave has earned a reputation for being a disruptor of the status quo, an innovator, and a change agent. Having served as a classroom teacher, school-based...

My guest today is Pablo Muñoz. Pablo has over 30 years of educational experience, 16 of which include his work as a district superintendent. Since then, Pablo has written a book, The Leader's Algorithm, and launched a educational consulting company, Muñoz & Company. Through his work, Pablo continues to stay focused on his mission: improve the lives of students. Thanks for listening! . . . Pablo Muñoz is the managing director of Muñoz & Company, an educational and leadership consulting organiz...

The IntegratED Framework, created by educators Megan Diede and Kara Rigsby, is empowering educators to reach their full potential. Their work as educational leaders and professional development experts is part of their mission to confront, challenge, and change the norms of traditional education. This episode highlights the expertise and passion of two educators on a mission to redefine the teaching experience and inspire educators to unlock their potential. . . . Megan and Kara are educationa...

My guest today is teacher, wife, mom, and author, Annick Rauch. A mom of four boys, Annick is also a dedicated 1st grade French Immersion teacher. She knows what it means to chase and accomplish dreams, and it's what her recently released book, PheMOMenal Teacher: Pursue Your Dreams and Still be Your Best at Work and at Home, is all about. Our discussion centered around lessons from her book, what ALL readers (not just moms) can expect from the book, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind. Thi...

Have you sat in a professional development session only to think, "How is this even relevant to what I need to teach my students?" Or have you received professional development that you found great, only to forget what was said a month or so later? Erik Francis thinks this is because educators might have the wrong approach to professional development. He has an idea for how to change this. He also knows a thing or two about teaching through depth of knowledge (DOK). He is passionate about helpin...

On this episode, I spoke with Desmond Hasty. Desmond is a middle school technology teacher in Maryland. With over 15 years of teaching experience, Desmond has a passion for reaching the next generation and inspiring them to overcome their obstacles. On this episode, Desmond talks about what he loves most about teaching technology to middle school students, what's most important to teach students about technology as they prepare for the future, and, as a fellow lover of hip-hop, some of our favor...

School culture is a topic I am passionate about. So is my guest, Cori Fraser. On this episode, Cori discusses first steps that teachers and educators can take when trying to impact school culture. She also shared some pitfalls to avoid when trying to impact the culture of your school. This and more on this episode! . . . Cori Fraser is in her eighth year as a principal and she is currently the principal of a Jr High School in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In all aspects of her life, whether as a ...

On this episode, educator, author, and presenter Connie Hamilton joined me to discuss the idea of invisible teachers. What does it look like when a teacher is invisible? How does being an invisible teacher benefit our students? Connie explains this and more on today's episode! . . . Connie Hamilton Ed.S is a dedicated educator and mother of three grown children. She has served the field of education as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, and district curriculum leader. Referred to as th...

Dieumerci Christel has been working hard in the world of education and for a long time. On this episode, Dieum describes his educational journey, of growing up in a Tanzanian refugee camp, eventually finding his way to the U.S. He goes on to tell about how his experiences in education led him to create EnlightApp. EnlightApp is having a big impact on the students and teachers using it. Through this app, teachers get to know their students even better and with greater clarity. I'm sure you will e...

On this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with a man who has had a tremendous impact on my teaching philosophies and practices: Dave Burgess. Dave Burgess has been making a huge impact in the world of education for over 10 years. His book Teach Like a Pirate (a New York Times Best Seller) has influenced educators all around the world, myself included. On this episode, Dave and I talked about what it means to be an excellent teacher, the dangers of sticking to one style, and how to find us...

It's hard to believe that this will be my 10th year of teaching! I have learned a lot during these last ten years. On this episode I share some of the things I've learned. Thanks for joining me, as I reflect on 10 years of teaching! . . . Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Pod...