Bad Teacher Tales: Real talk stories and advice for teachers and those who love them.

Scara brought a very special book to the table: The B Word by Joe Lampe. And before you clutch your pearls, the actual B word has been cleverly swapped out for “bench”… because nothing softens the blow of hard truths quite like playground furniture. Instead of just handing the book to Sly, Scara decided to read it out loud, letting each “bench” land exactly where it was meant to. What followed was...

What happens when an 8th grader brings a handwritten list of pickup lines to school… and a teacher confiscates it?  Scara and Sly read through a real list of middle school pickup lines that absolutely should not exist in the wild. They are awkward. They are hilarious. They are mildly horrifying. And yes, they were actually passed around by an 8th grader. This episode is a front-row seat to the thi...

Teachers, parents, and school staff. This one’s for you. In an upcoming episode of Bad Teacher Tales , I’ll be sitting down with a former principal and an area superintendent , and I want your questions leading the conversation. What have you always wanted to ask administration but never felt safe asking?  What policies don’t make sense from the classroom?  What decisions leave you scratching your...

People think librarians sit quietly and read all day. Jess is here to gently… and accurately… destroy that myth. From managing chaos to supporting students in ways no one sees, this clip breaks down what librarians actually do during a school day. Spoiler: it’s not silent, slow, or simple. If you’ve ever underestimated a school librarian, or if you are one and feel wildly unseen, this episode will...

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Bad Teacher Tales where things get a little… chillier than usual. 🧊 Today, I’m putting my son in the hot seat — or frozen tent — and asking him questions about one very serious topic: if he could plan a field trip, what would it be? He chose Antarctica. 🧊❄️ I asked him to explain how they’d get there and his answers had me laughing way harder than I should h...

In this episode of Bad Teacher Tales, Scara shares a teacher's experience with a lockdown “drill” that wasn’t. Teachers and students panicked, and the chaos was 100% real — even if the danger wasn’t. Scara breaks down the fallout, the frantic texts, and the moments that made everyone question the outcome. ✨ Welcome to Bad Teacher Tales The storytelling podcast where teachers finally get to s...

Are teacher's leaving due to burnout or disillusionment?  We are now on YouTube!!! CLICK HERE to watch! IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this link: BTT Submissions Email us: badteachertales@gmail.com Follow us! @BadTeacherTales (TikTok) @BadTeacherTales (Instagram) Bad Teacher Tales - Podcast (Facebook) To support financially, visit our Patreon, Buzzfeed, or ma...

What must you do to be paid your worth? We are now on YouTube!!! CLICK HERE to watch! IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this link: BTT Submissions Email us: badteachertales@gmail.com Follow us! @BadTeacherTales (TikTok) @BadTeacherTales (Instagram) Bad Teacher Tales - Podcast (Facebook) To support financially, visit our Patreon, Buzzfeed, or make a 1-time donation to...

What do you do when the tapping Just. Won't. Stop. IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this link: BTT Submissions Email us: badteachertales@gmail.com Follow us: Bad Teacher Tales - Podcast (Facebook) To support financially, visit our Patreon, Buzzfeed, or make a 1-time donation to PayPal! Patreon Buzzfeed PayPal Support the show

W hat happens when a parent thinks their child can do no wrong? IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this link: BTT Submissions Email us: badteachertales@gmail.com Follow us: Bad Teacher Tales - Podcast (Facebook) To support financially, visit our Patreon, Buzzfeed, or make a 1-time donation to PayPal! Patreon Buzzfeed PayPal Support the show

What do you do when a student brings a baggie full of change for a class party but an unwanted bonus is included? IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this link: BTT Submissions Email us: badteachertales@gmail.com Follow us: Bad Teacher Tales - Podcast (Facebook) To support financially, visit our Patreon, Buzzfeed, or make a 1-time donation to PayPal! Patreon Buzzfeed P...

What do you do when you're asked to prepare a performance for the school board in four days, then asked to include a special guest on the day of performance? IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this link: BTT Submissions Email us: badteachertales@gmail.com Follow us: Bad Teacher Tales - Podcast (Facebook) To support financially, visit our Patreon, Buzzfeed, or mak...

Goodbye? This might be our final regular episode. We want to thank all our supporters for three fun seasons! Stories include: WWDT: Sometimes, what we do saves lives. Elementary Art: 1. "Fighting Over Nationalities'," 2. "He may not have washed "it" very well..." and 3. "Flipping Off 4th Graders" Kinder: "One Fish, Two Fish..." IT'S YOUR...

What do you do when your favorite teacher assigns a research assignment? Make a podcast about it! This is the first of three student written, recorded and edited episodes based on a research assignment. Hope you listen to these hardworking students! ***Released with written parent permission.*** You know, just in case my admin are listening. :) This episode: "10 Theatre Histories in 10 Minute...

What do you do when you're a school board trustee? Join me, Scara, and School Board Trustee Rick Garcia for all things board member! HUGE thank you to Rick for taking to time to do this interview. Highlights include: 1:20 - 1:1 devices 5:25 - Artificial Intelligence  9:28 - teacher burnout 12:59 - equity across all SES 16:50 - teacher pay! (DO IT!) 21:45 - Rick's own "Bad Teacher&qu...

What do you do when you're a school board trustee? Join me, Scara, and School Board Trustee Rick Garcia for all things board member! HUGE thank you to Rick for taking to time to do this interview. Highlights include: 13:05 - what do trustees do between public meetings? 14:47 - how do you handle "that" member? 17:54 - banned books 25:30 - vouchers, "they're coming" 31:...

What do you do when you're a teacher and the technology changes? Highlights include: What "raw dogging" means to the current generation. It's not what you think. Reference to the beloved "Oregan Trail".  The thrill of the teacher rolling in the movie cart. "Homework Hotlines" - a concept new to Scara, or maybe she just chose not to acknowledge it?   IT'...

What do you do when you're a teacher and the technology changes? Highlights include: What "raw dogging" means to the current generation. It's not what you think. Reference to the beloved "Oregan Trail".  The thrill of the teacher rolling in the movie cart. "Homework Hotlines" - a concept new to Scara, or maybe she just chose not to acknowledge it?   IT'...

What do you do when a student is not motivated by anything except...pickles? We begin with a story from a teacher in Spring, TX. She shares with us how she solved the age-old teacher problem of motivating THAT student with a unique and, dare I say, genius method. Sly and Scara each share a Why We Do This from their week. Sly shares how she turned around a tough day for one student while Scara shar...

What would you do if you were asked to sign a NDA for your own sexual assault? In this episode, we hear from three educators starting with a high school librarian from East Texas. She shares a time she was asked to sign a NDA when being questioned about her principal touching her inappropriately. Next an 8th grade middle school teacher shares his experience with a girl "quick-changing" i...

What would you do if you passed young students discussing condoms? IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own main story, “Why We Do This,” “Things That Work,” "Educator Gifts," or "Educator Shout Out!" complete this form: BTT Submissions Suggestions? Want to know more about something? Need advice? Suggestion Form! Email us: badteachertales@gmail.com Follow us: Bad Teacher Tales -...

What do you do when the principal calls you into the office for a meeting, but you're a teacher not a student. IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own main story, “Why We Do This,” “Things That Work,” "Educator Gifts," or "Educator Shout Out!" complete this form: BTT Submissions Suggestions? Want to know more about something? Need advice? Suggestion Form! Email us: badteac...

What do you do when a student mocks your lesson, undermining its value and your authority? Find out what this teach did to move forward after experiencing something every educator faces more than you would like to know! IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own main story, “Why We Do This,” “Things That Work,” "Educator Gifts," or "Educator Shout Out!" complete this form: BTT Sub...

What do you do when you see a former student "in the wild" at your side gig? This episode also includes educator shout-outs! Special thanks to the teachers and admin who made a difference in our lives: Ted Levy (Levy minutes!) Deidra Lyons-Lewis Grant Richardson and Mr. Hood IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own main story, “Why We Do This,” “Things That Work,” "Educator Gifts,&qu...

What do you do when you know students need more support than they are receiving but no one is listening to you? IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own main story, “Why We Do This,” “Things That Work,” or "Educator Gifts" complete this form: BTT Submissions Suggestions? Want to know more about something? Need advice? Suggestion Form! Email us: badteachertales@gmail.com Follow us: Bad Tea...