That "CTE" Guy - CHAT-CTE: Finally—PD That’s Personal

Career and Technical Education teachers are some of the most creative, capable educators in the building—but they’re often handed the most chaotic starting point: a task list, a program of study, and the expectation that they somehow turn that into a full curriculum. In this episode, I talk about the real problems CTE teachers face—especially new ones—and how those challenges pushed me to build so...

This week I said something out loud that caught me off guard: “I think we lost a generation.” As creative educators, many of us remember when students would disappear into projects — obsess, iterate, compete to be the strongest piece on the board. Lately, the energy feels different. More completion-focused. More cautious. Less hunger. In this episode, I unpack what that statement was really about....

In this episode of CHAT-CTE, we dig into something that sits underneath every successful classroom — trust. Not the soft, feel-good version. The real version. The kind of trust that: reduces behavior issues allows you to hold high expectations makes feedback land and prepares students for life beyond your program In CTE classrooms, trust isn’t optional — it’s foundational. When students understand...

What if the final ten years of a teaching career aren’t about coasting — but about legacy? In this episode of CHAT-CTE , we explore how experienced teachers can rethink their “golden years” as the most intentional and meaningful phase of their career. Not by doing more, but by finishing what matters. Using the metaphor of fort → castle → kingdom , this episode reframes: the early years as survival...

How a class ends matters more than most teachers realize. In this episode of CHAT-CTE , we complete the Opening–Middle–Close framework by breaking down the close — the final minutes of class where learning is either reinforced or quietly lost. Too often, the end of class turns into rushed cleanup, early packing up, or letting the bell decide when learning stops. This episode reframes the close as...

What does teaching in Career and Technical Education actually feel like when you’re new to the classroom? In this CHAT-CTE roundtable episode , we bring together teachers from different CTE programs to share new teacher perspectives on the realities of teaching — especially for educators coming from industry or post-secondary backgrounds. This conversation includes: A construction trades teacher n...

The middle of a CTE class is rarely quiet — and it shouldn’t be. In this episode of CHAT-CTE , we break down the most challenging part of teaching for many CTE educators: the middle of the class period. This is where students are moving, working at different paces, using tools, and asking questions — and where teachers often feel overwhelmed. This episode reframes the middle of class as organized...

How a CTE class starts determines how the rest of the period — and often the rest of the year — unfolds. In this episode of CHAT-CTE , we begin a three-part breakdown of every successful CTE class: the opening, the middle, and the close. This episode focuses on the opening — the routines, expectations, and systems that establish control, clarity, and calm from the moment students walk in. You’ll h...

What if finishing the school year strong wasn’t about working harder — but about building better systems? In this episode of CHAT-CTE , we shift from reflection into execution. This is the “go time” moment for CTE teachers — especially those who came from industry and feel like teaching is still heavier than it should be. We break down: Why struggle in the classroom isn’t failure — it’s data How l...

Winter break has a way of messing with our heads. It starts with good intentions — reflecting, planning, getting ready to “fix” everything for the second half of the year. But rebuilding takes energy… and most CTE teachers hit winter break already running low. In this episode, we talk about why winter break works better as a reset , not a rebuild. We dig into: Why solid programs still stall mid-ye...

A student once told me they’d “worry about their future in 12 years.” This episode is about why that mindset is exactly why CTE teachers do what we do — and why the lessons that matter most often get ignored until it’s almost too late. We talk about teaching beyond projects and grades, preparing students for real clients, real bosses, real pressure, and real crossroads. It’s about protecting stude...

After 23 years of teaching art and design, I faced the most disengaged, unbothered, creativity-resistant group of students I’ve ever had. Basic figure drawing? Nope. Participation? Hard pass. Failing? Totally fine by them. In this episode, I’m telling the full story — the frustration, the accountability pressure, the moment halfway through the second marking period when I realized I wasn’t just fa...

Steven shares the story of how ChatGPT and Base44 became essential tools for teaching intuitive cooking. This episode explores how AI prompts, structured learning, and conversational guidance can turn complex techniques into simple, approachable steps. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how modern tools can elevate the way we teach, learn, and practice culinary skills at home. Checkout the app - www...

In this episode, we dig into one of the most exhausting and misunderstood parts of teaching: modifying lessons for 504 and IEP students. Instead of pretending it’s a “quick” task, we get real about the pressure, the paperwork, and the way new CTE teachers often get blindsided by their first big meeting. I share the moment everything changed for me — the near-disaster that pushed me toward Universa...

In this special episode, I’m bringing you behind the scenes of a presentation I gave to graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania — a room full of future teachers wrestling with the fear, excitement, and chaos of AI in education. If you don’t know my story, here’s the short version: I’m a dyslexic CTE teacher who can barely spell “accommodations,” yet somehow AI became the most powerful...

This episode walks CTE teachers through how to take a single project idea — starting with the prompt “I want to create a…” — and build it into a complete one-week, eight-hour lesson plan. Listeners learn how to structure each day, create admin-ready documentation, and build student-friendly materials like vocabulary lists, quizzes, and rubrics. The episode ties back to the previous one (“Using the...

Planning your CTE year doesn’t have to start with a blank calendar. In this episode, host Steven Bross breaks down how to turn your program task list into a full-year plan that actually works — from estimating time per task to creating a natural flow from beginner to advanced. You’ll learn how to: Organize your task list into teachable chunks Estimate how long it really takes to cover each skill B...

Restorative practices don’t have to mean circles, scripts, or forced conversations that don’t fit your class culture. In this episode, I share how using AI chat reshaped my approach to community, accountability, and trust — not by replacing relationships, but by helping me build them better. From co-writing class expectations to running critiques, organizing student leadership, and even producing...

AI is coming for jobs—or so the headlines say. But if you're a CTE teacher? You're built different. In this episode, we cut through the panic and get real about what AI can do—and what it can't. Spoiler: it’s not teaching kids how to weld, cook, cut hair, or fix engines. But it can be the assistant you’ve always needed—handling the paperwork, planning, and prep while you run the shop and lead with...

What if your PD actually understood your shop? In this episode of CHAT-CTE, we explore how CTE teachers can use ChatGPT’s Custom GPT feature to build their very own AI co-teacher—one that talks like them, works like them, and supports the real day-to-day needs of a trade-based classroom. You’ll learn how to kick off the process with one simple move: a self-interview. ChatGPT asks the questions. Yo...

What happens when an overworked art educator meets a curious AI? This episode dives deep into how ChatGPT flipped my entire teaching experience—from burnout to boldness. I’ll walk you through the real impact it had on my planning, creativity, and classroom energy. But this isn’t just my story—it’s an invitation. I’ll show you exactly how to start using ChatGPT as a teacher (even if you’re tech-shy...

What if your first classroom rule wasn’t “stay seated” or “raise your hand”—but make a mess on purpose ? In this episode of Chat-CTE , I break down how I used ChatGPT to design a bold, creative launch to the school year. But this isn’t just about art class—it’s about rethinking how we set the tone for any subject, starting with trust, curiosity, and student voice. You’ll hear how I flipped traditi...

In the first full episode of Season 2, I share the story of wiping the slate clean—twenty-three years of curriculum, archived on a drive—and how I rebuilt from scratch with the help of a custom GPT assistant and restorative practice training. From faster planning to deeper connections with students, this is what it looks like when a teacher steps out of the comfort zone and into something new.

After 23 years of playing it safe, I pulled the plug on my old curriculum and started fresh. Why? Because CTE students—and the world they’re stepping into—are changing faster than ever. In this new season of Chat-CTE , I’m diving into what happens when you reset, rethink, and let AI + creativity help us build classrooms that actually meet students where they are. Ten minutes, one teacher’s brain d...

In this raw and reflective episode of CHAT-CTE , I get honest about what burnout really looks like after 22 years in the classroom. When I realized I was just going through the motions—and my students were too—I did something drastic: I threw out my entire curriculum. What followed was a complete reset of how I teach, how I connect, and how I take care of myself as an art and design educator.