Be A Funky Teacher Podcast

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on the human side of teaching and why building classroom community by putting relationships before rigor matters more than anything else. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I reflect on how trust, connection, and belonging form the foundation for real learning to take place. I share personal stories from my life, including experiences with grief, struggl...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on not giving up on kids and raising expectations in every classroom. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I explain why low expectations harm students and why every child deserves someone who refuses to write them off. I share gratitude for a few extra minutes of sleep, strong support systems, and my health, then reflect on how communities and schools can...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on building classroom community and why putting relationships before rigor is essential for meaningful learning. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I share why students learn best when they feel trusted, valued, and connected in the classroom. I begin by sharing gratitude for my microphone, new experiences, and my children’s creativity, all of which remi...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on classroom systems and procedures and how structure builds success. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I share why clear systems are essential for creating a learning environment where students and teachers can focus on learning instead of managing chaos. I begin by sharing gratitude for staying hydrated, working alongside supportive colleagues in a ne...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on celebrating small wins as a powerful way to build a positive classroom culture. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I reflect on how teaching can feel like an endless to-do list and how small celebrations shift our mindset from what’s missing to what’s working. I share personal reflections from home, including celebrating my kids’ birthdays, spending f...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on teacher tips for parent phone calls and how to handle ongoing misbehavior constructively. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I reflect on why these conversations matter and how, when done thoughtfully, they can strengthen trust between teachers and families. I begin by sharing gratitude for my kind children, helpful supplemental resources, and working...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on the power of teacher collaboration and how strong teams are built through purposeful collaborative meetings. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I reflect on why teaching can feel isolating and why collaboration is essential for both educators and students. I share personal moments of gratitude, including hugs from my wife, kind words from my paraprofe...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on the importance of classroom routines during the first weeks of school and why consistency matters so much. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I reflect on how routines help students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn while also saving teachers time and energy. I share personal moments of gratitude, including appreciation for colleagues who step...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on classroom management tips for handling disrespectful behavior and students who talk out. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I walk through the reality that every teacher faces challenging behaviors and why how we respond matters more than the behavior itself. I share personal reflections, including gratitude for staying hydrated, my wife’s listening e...

Episode Summary In this episode, I talk about why celebrating small wins matters so much in building a positive classroom culture. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I reflect on how teaching can feel like an endless to-do list and how shifting our focus to what’s working can change everything for both students and teachers. I share personal reflections from home, including celebrating my kids’...

Episode Summary I share how even after 20-plus years in education, the start of a new school year can still feel overwhelming, and I reflect on the difference between being productively busy and truly overwhelmed. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I open up about why these early weeks bring intensity and why that feeling is so common among educators. I talk through personal moments from my own...

Episode Summary On the first day of school, I talk about the excitement, nerves, and anticipation that both teachers and students feel. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I share why the first day is less about perfect lessons and more about human connection. My goal is always to make students feel seen, safe, and welcomed the moment they walk through the door. I reflect on the gratitude I felt...

Episode Summary In this episode, I, Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, reflect on what I am learning about historical trauma and the Winnebago Tribe through the stories and wisdom of elder Sarah Snake. I begin with three things I am thankful for—thrift shops, books, and problem solving—and connect them to my larger journey of noticing, learning, and figuring things out alongside my students and th...

Episode Summary In this episode, I, Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, reflect on mental health tips for teachers inspired by a professional development session with Allison Edwards and her work Growing Up Strong. I share how her ideas about emotions, resilience, soft skills, and short-term discomfort for long-term comfort are shaping the way I think about students’ inner worlds and my own as an e...

Episode Summary In this episode, I talk about how open house can shape the tone for the entire school year. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I share how welcoming families with presence, energy, and sincerity lays the groundwork for trust and belonging. I describe a powerful and unexpected experience at Winnebago’s back-to-school powwow, where I was invited to join a teacher honor dance and l...

Episode Summary On this episode, I reflect on what it means to enter a new school after more than twenty years in my previous district. I share the emotions that come with beginning again—learning a new culture, meeting new teammates, and stepping into a space where no one yet knows my story. I talk about how these early days matter and how they set the tone for who I hope to become in this commun...

Episode Summary In this episode, I share what it feels like to prepare for open house as I get ready to welcome a brand new group of fifth graders into my classroom. I talk about the anticipation, the gratitude, and the importance of showing up with presence as I step into a new school year as Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve. That time before the first hello is powerful, and it sets the emotiona...

Episode Summary On this episode, I share how gratitude, new beginnings, and community connection shaped my first official day in Winnebago Public Schools. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I talk about the small things that grounded me—my old RAV4, laughter with new staff, and even the screws that helped me build classroom tools—and how gratitude sets the tone for meaningful work ahead. I refl...

Episode Summary On this episode, I reflect on the start of a brand new chapter in Winnebago Public Schools and what it means to build relationships from day one. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I share the gratitude, excitement, and purpose that guide me into this new beginning and into a new community I am honored to serve. I talk about the emotions of leaving a district I loved for 22 year...

Episode Summary I recorded this episode from Lincoln, Nebraska, where I spent the week writing state assessment items for the Nebraska writing assessment. This work reminded me how important it is for teachers—real classroom educators—to play an active role in shaping the systems that impact students statewide. As I dug into developing science assessment items, I gained a deeper understanding of h...

Episode Summary In this episode, I, Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, reflect on Day 3 of the National Teacher Leadership Conference 2025: Ignite the Magic in Orlando, Florida. I share how the day began with an early morning wellness walk around the Disney Yacht Club Resort grounds, and how something as simple as walking with fellow educators helped my physical and mental health and set the tone...

Episode Summary On this episode, I, Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, share my reflections from Day 2 of the National Teacher Leadership Conference in Orlando. I talk about waking up rested, preparing for two presentations, and starting the day by checking in with the sound crew to make sure everything was ready to go. I reflect on an advocacy session that deeply resonated with me, especially the...

Episode Summary In this very first episode, I talk about kicking off the Be a Funky Teacher podcast while traveling south to the National Teacher Leadership Conference. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I describe the early-morning drive to Omaha, the anticipation of boarding two flights, and the feeling of starting something new and meaningful on the road to Orlando. I share how grateful I am...

Episode Summary In this first episode, I introduce Unveiling Mr. Funky Teacher: A Journey Towards Educational Excellence (Traveling To The National Teacher Leadership Conference) and share why beginning the podcast on the road feels meaningful. As I drive south before catching flights to Orlando, I talk about how this journey mirrors the energy and purpose behind starting the Be a Funky Teacher po...

Episode Summary In this trailer, I introduce Be a Funky Teacher and the heart behind why I created it. I share who I am as Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, and what drives me as a teacher, speaker, and stand-up paddler who has spent more than twenty years helping young people believe they can change the world. This space is meant to bring passion and purpose together so educators feel supported...