Beyond Standards: The Reality of Teaching

No learning targets, no success criteria, and absolutely no Schoology lesson planning—the first official day of summer is finally here! In this quick, reflective episode, Joe and Jeff look back at the highs and lows of the school year. With over 20 years of teaching experience each, they dive into an honest conversation about what actually worked in the classroom this year and what completely cras...

Are you feeling bone-deep educator exhaustion as the school year winds down? In this episode, Joe and Jeff sit down with Phil Januszewski, a 20-year veteran high school chemistry and physics teacher turned national motivational speaker. Phil breaks down the scientific reality behind teacher burnout and shares why standard advice like "take a bubble bath" completely misses the mark when you're deal...

What is the actual structural limit of a modern classroom? Today, Joe and Jeff are sitting down with Southern California high school chemistry and AVID teacher Christopher Mukiibi to strip away the fluff of traditional professional development and look at the raw mechanics of modern education. Christopher, the author of The Learning Compass , pulls back the curtain on behavioral neuroscience to ex...

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! While some of us are getting coffee trucks and Ziploc baggies with a single pen, districts are cutting massive checks for "prestige" programs. In this episode, Joe and Jeff play a high-stakes game of The Education Over/Under , breaking down the staggering costs of programs like IB and i-Ready. In this episode: Teacher Appreciation Reality Check: From spec...

In this episode, Joe and Jeff tackle the most polarizing topic in the teacher’s lounge today: Artificial Intelligence . Are we building a generation that can't think their way out of a paper bag, or are we finally getting the tools we need to survive the "grading mountain"? To help cut through the BS, the guys are joined by Jen Lawson , an ITEC (Instructional Technology Integration C...

In this episode, Joe and Jeff explore the controversial Texas law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in schools, discuss its implications, and play a fun fact or fiction game about teaching myths and realities. Key Topics Texas law on posting the Ten Commandments in schools The separation of church and state in education Teachers' perspectives on religious symbols in classrooms Keyw...

The standards didn't change, but the reality did. Welcome to the season reboot and the official launch of our new name: Reality of Teaching . After a hiatus that included major surgery, life shifts, and a lot of reflection, Joe and Jeff are back in the trenches. We’re dropping the "Beyond Standards" title to give you the unfiltered truth about being an educator in 2026. In this episo...

In this episode of the Beyond Standards podcast, hosts Joe and Jeff discuss the realities of teaching, sharing personal updates and insights into classroom challenges. They explore strategies for handling disruptive students, managing group work dynamics, and dealing with helicopter parents. The conversation emphasizes the importance of building rapport with students, setting boundaries with paren...

In this episode of the Beyond Standards podcast, hosts Joe and Jeff discuss various aspects of how they would improve Trump's education plan. They focus on the role of the Department of Education, and the need for changes in how schools are evaluated. They explore the controversial topic of school choice and vouchers, advocate for more life skills classes, and emphasize the importance of flexi...

In this episode of the Beyond Standards podcast, hosts Joe and Jeff discuss the current state of education amidst political changes, particularly focusing on Trump's education agenda. They explore the role of the Department of Education, the importance of parental rights, the need for great teachers and principals, and the controversial topics of critical race theory and patriotism in educatio...

Summary In this episode of the Beyond Standards podcast, hosts Joe and Jeff discuss the realities of teaching and personal challenges faced by educators. Joe shares his recent health scare involving a brain tumor, detailing his journey from diagnosis to seeking support from colleagues and communicating with students. The conversation emphasizes the importance of a strong support system, self-care,...

In this episode of the Beyond Standards podcast, hosts Joe and Jeff return after a brief hiatus to discuss a pressing issue in education: student disrespect. They share personal stories, including a memorable incident where Jeff received a series of disrespectful emails from a student. The hosts explore the causes of disrespect, emphasizing the role of parental influence and societal changes. They...

In this episode of “Beyond Standards: The Reality of Teaching,” hosts Joe and Jeff sit down with Jimmy O’Brien, a first-year third-grade teacher, to discuss his journey into education and the challenges he’s faced so far. Jimmy shares his unconventional path to teaching, which included stints in various industries before he found his calling in education. Despite significant personal challenges, i...

In this episode of Beyond Standards , Joe and Jeff take a deep dive into one of the most frustrating aspects of teaching: professional development (PD). With humor and honesty, they explore the top reasons why PD often falls flat for teachers, from irrelevant content to endless PowerPoint presentations. Drawing from their own experiences, they discuss the ways in which PD misses the mark, and offe...

In this episode of "Beyond Standards," hosts Joe and Jeff welcome back Jason Brooks, a seasoned teacher with over 25 years of experience who has also ventured into the world of comic book creation. Jason shares his unique journey from being a lifelong comic enthusiast to becoming a published comic book author. He discusses the balance between his teaching career and his creative pursuits...

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Emerich France, a distinguished educator, consultant, and author of the thought-provoking book "Make Teaching Sustainable: Six Shifts That Teachers Want and Students Need." Paul shares his unique journey from being a classroom teacher to becoming a prominent advocate for sustainable teaching practices. He offers a fresh perspective on the challenges...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of gamifying the classroom with Michele Haiken, author of Gamify Literacy: Boost Comprehension, Collaboration, and Learning . Michele, a seasoned English teacher from Westchester, New York, and adjunct professor at Manhattanville College, shares her extensive experience and innovative strategies for integrating game-based learning into the classr...

In this episode, we're diving into the world of teacher side hustles with three inspiring guests who share their unique stories and experiences. Join us as Kim Chenoweth, a Disney Travel Agent, Jason Brooks, a guitar teacher, and Marcus Hartnett, a tutor, reveal the secrets and details of how other teachers can successfully get into a similar line of work. Kim Chenoweth talks about her passion...

In this episode, Tyler Troyer reflects on his first year as a teacher and shares his experiences and insights. He discusses the challenges he faced, such as classroom management and motivating students, and how he plans to improve in the future. Tyler emphasizes the importance of being yourself as a teacher and building relationships with students. He also highlights the support he received from h...

In this episode of the Beyond Standards podcast, Joe and Jeff reflect on the end of the school year and discuss their routines for winding down. They share their biggest highlights and challenges of the year, including the joy of recording the podcast and the excitement of the annual Washington DC trip. They also talk about their personal reflections on their teaching practice and their goals for...

In this episode of our podcast, Joe and Jeff are joined by special guest Sarah Debien to talk about two hot topics in education right now: team teaching and the use of AI for grading essays. We dive deep into the pros, cons, and our own experiences with these approaches. Here’s a sneak peek at what we covered: We kick things off by discussing team teaching, where multiple teachers collaborate to i...

In our latest episode, we sit down with Todd Gudith to dive into a decade's worth of hilarious and wild stories from our 8th-grade Washington DC field trips. These trips are meant to be educational, but as any seasoned teacher knows, when you mix middle schoolers with travel, chaos is bound to ensue. From a student falling into the Reflecting Pond to security mishaps, sneaky night escapes, and...

In our latest episode of "Beyond Standards," we hear from Will Clauson, a high school senior about to graduate, as he shares his heartfelt appreciation for his favorite teacher, Mr. Malley, who taught AP World History and coached baseball. Will reminisces about how Mr. Malley made seemingly dull topics come alive by weaving in relatable stories from baseball, making ancient history relev...

In our latest episode, we embark on an eye-opening exploration of teacher observations and evaluations, delving into the often frustrating and contentious landscape surrounding these processes. With candid discussions led by Joe and Jeff, we shine a light on the myriad challenges and shortcomings inherent in current evaluation systems. From the burdensome nature of filling out convoluted rubrics t...

In this episode, hosts Joe and Jeff delve into the world of teacher preparation programs alongside guests Ellie and Amielia, two juniors from the University of Michigan's education program. They explore the journey of becoming educators, sharing insights, experiences, and advice for prospective teachers. The discussion kicks off with Ellie and Amielia sharing their academic journeys and motiva...