Authentic Educators

Cody and Dave sit down and reflect on season 2 and 2 years of making Authentic Educators.

There’s something exciting about opening an invitation and looking ahead to an experience that matters. In education, that same feeling can shape the way students enter a classroom each day. In this episode of Authentic Educators, we sit down with educator and author Cornelius Minor to explore the power of invitations and expectations in learning. Together, we discuss how teachers can spark curios...

Tragedy can bring some of the most painful moments in a person’s life.  Some people know this all too well.  In this week’s episode of Authentic Educators, we are joined by Mark O’Brien, founder of growthandgoodness.com as well as the author of the book Crashing. I love you.  Forgive me to discuss how he was able to find incredible purpose in his life after facing incredible trauma.  Our conversat...

On this episode of Authentic Educators , Cody and Dave sit down with Anthony Scornaienchi, a Health and Physical Education teacher who brings a powerful mindset shift to both the classroom and everyday life. Anthony shares how the ideas from The Gap and The Gain have transformed the way he approaches teaching, goal setting, and personal growth. Instead of constantly comparing yourself to an ever-m...

Are students struggling to engage or manage their emotions in class? In this episode of Authentic Educators, Cody and Dave sit down with Anthony Benvenuto, who brings 14 years of experience teaching special education in New Jersey and Tennessee, across both public and private schools. They explore behavioral manifestations in the classroom and the critical role of social-emotional learning. Anthon...

We’re wired for connection—belonging isn’t just a nice idea; it’s a fundamental human need. When people feel seen and heard, every part of life improves.. In this episode, Cody and Dave are joined by Dr. Maggie Broderick of National University ( https://www.nu.edu ) to explore what it really means to create a sense of belonging in the classroom—and why it matters more than ever. Together, they unp...

Many children learn to read, play instruments, or study a second language at a young age—but what about chemistry? In this episode, Cody and Dave speak with Dr. Colleen Kelley, an educator whose life’s work is introducing chemistry to students far earlier than most schools do. With teaching experience that ranges from young children to college students studying organic chemistry, Dr. Kelley has se...

Teaching skills to students is relevant from kindergarten through medical school. In this episode, Dave and Cody were joined by Dr. Erin Guidice, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland and Director of the University’s Medical Education Leadership Academy.  We discussed how she leverages Peyton’s Four-Step Approach to better outcomes for her students and how the same techni...

Dave and Cody break down two ridiculously simple classroom activities that somehow work incredibly well. One blends Simon Says with Spoons to keep students alert, competitive, and laughing, while reinforcing focus and listening skills. The second is a clever twist on rock-paper-scissors-shoot that gets students moving and thinking fast.  These strategies prove that effective engagement doesn’t nee...

In this episode, Cody shares how he opened the door for students to show their learning in meaningful, multidimensional ways. By encouraging students to make connections, create drawings tied to course content and key terms, and apply their learning in real time, Cody highlights practical strategies teachers can use today. Grounded in the ideas from Dr. Jo Boaler’s Limitless Mind: Learn, Lead, and...

All it takes is one pivotal moment in a student’s life to inspire a lifetime of learning or a future vocation.   In this episode of Authentic Educators, our guest is Dr. Ben Finio, the Lead Staff Scientist for Science Buddies, a nonprofit that designs STEM exercises for students K-12.  Our conversation focuses on an incredible project he works on which challenges students to design various structu...

What happens when service-learning stops being an “extra” and becomes the classroom? In this episode of Authentic Educators, we’re joined by Rory Pruess, an educator whose work bridges urban and suburban schools through long-term, student-driven service partnerships.  Much of our conversation centers on Broad Street Love in Philadelphia (formerly Broad Street Ministry), a radical hospitality organ...

Classrooms are clearly not comedy shows - but what happens when teachers intentionally bring humor into the learning environment? Jeff Dubin has nearly 30 years of teaching experience. One of the many reasons his classroom is special is his unique personality and ability to use humor in his lessons. This episode celebrates how teachers can leverage laughter in their classrooms and make learning fu...

What happens when teachers put students in charge? Success? Chaos?  In this episode, Cody shares a two-day lesson he uses with his 7th grade ELA class. He challenges each class period to function as a team to storyboard a short play. Each class period “competes” against the others to create a sense of friendly competition and urgency.  The feature of the lesson is to provide very little answers on...

Much of what happens inside a classroom is the result of the opinions and demands of many stakeholders: governments, school boards, administration, and parents.  Too often, the most important voices have little to no say—the students.  Hannah Knecht has worked with people of all ages: elementary, middle, and adult learners.  Her straightforward system for eliciting student feedback creates a power...

Culture is where you’re from; it’s also what you create. Kayla Angstadt lives both of these truths—embracing her Pennsylvania Dutch roots while immersing herself in the vibrant culture of Costa Rica, where she founded Cross Cultural Connect, an organization transforming the way students experience global learning In this episode of Authentic Educators , Cody and Dave talk with Kayla Angstadt about...

Artificial intelligence is a topic that’s rapidly changing the world of education. In this episode of Authentic Educators , Dave and Cody are joined by Melissa Zonin and take a thoughtful look at the rise of artificial intelligence in education. They discuss the opportunities and challenges AI presents for teachers, students, and schools—from saving time and sparking creativity to maintaining auth...

Most of the guests we have interviewed for Authentic Educators are decades into their professional careers.  In this episode, Hannah Huddleson, an aspiring teacher shares with us the moments that made the biggest impacts in her experiences as a student.   This fresh perspective is essential for veteran teachers to hear.  Hannah’s experiences are fresh and powerful and provide a target for educator...

Trauma impacts not only how students learn but also how educators teach. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brooke Burgy , an instructional coach whose doctoral research focused on trauma-informed care and trauma-informed pedagogy. Drawing from both her professional expertise and personal experiences, Dr. Burgy shares powerful insights into building classrooms that prioritize connection and wel...

Students learn best when they feel connected. In our season two premiere, team-building expert Ben Browand shares two quick, fun strategies that help every student know each other’s name and strengthen the classroom community. Perfect for the first week of school or anytime your class needs a boost!

Cody and Dave reflect on season one of the podcast and the school year coming to a close and reflect on the importance of reflection as a practice.

What if your classroom didn’t have a traditional seating chart? In this episode, veteran middle school math teacher Jo Ann Cawley shares how she differentiates instruction by randomizing student seating daily. Her unique approach gives students a fresh perspective, new partners, and a different role each day. Jo Ann also incorporates vertical whiteboards and student-created playlists to spark mean...

Deregulation can affect anyone—students and adults alike—disrupting focus and derailing the learning process. In this episode, Cody and Dave are joined by Katie McLaughlin de Vries, an educational consultant with Thom Stecher and Associates, to explore practical, compassionate strategies educators can use to support students of all ages when they become dysregulated. Centered around the powerful f...

April is National Poetry month, but teacher and author Brett Vogelsinger thinks poetry should be read, enjoyed, and utilized as an instructional tool year round. Join Cody and Dave to learn about Brett’s use of poetry in the classroom, including insights from his book, Poetry Pauses . Brett advocates for using poems weekly, if not daily, to help connect with course content, teach mini-lessons, and...

Society is full of disagreement, and students of all ages need opportunities to practice meaningful debate. In this episode, Cody shares a strategy called Hot Seat Debate , which he learned from a colleague. This engaging activity taps into students’ natural love of argument and competition, guiding them through three rounds of lively, structured debate. One key element: students don’t get to choo...