Have a Life Teaching

Why do so many school change initiatives disappear after a year or two? In this episode of Have a Life Teaching , John Schembari talks with Shane Leaning, leadership consultant, author of Change Starts Here , and host of Education Leaders with Shane Leaning , about why traditional approaches to change often fail and how schools can build change that lasts. Shane challenges the idea that leaders sh...

This week I'm joined by Dr. Cinde Lock , Head of School at Pickering College and author of Connections, Academics & Purpose , to explore why traditional testing isn't enough and what schools can do instead. We discuss: Why students often forget what they memorize for tests The difference between authentic assessment and "doing a fun project" How community partnerships create...

What does effective explicit instruction actually look like—and when should teachers move beyond it? In this episode, Dr. John Schembari sits down with Australian instructional coach Brendan Lee, founder of Knowledge for Teachers, to explore how cognitive science, explicit instruction, and the instructional hierarchy can help educators improve student learning and instructional decision-making. Br...

Why are boys disciplined more frequently than girls beginning as early as preschool? Why are boys of color disproportionately affected by school discipline? And how can educators support boys in developing healthy, positive masculinity while improving behavior, communication, and leadership skills? In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, host John Schembari sits down with Robert Coope...

Rural schools educate nearly one-third of America's public school students, yet they are often underrepresented in national conversations about education policy, innovation, and school improvement. In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, Dr. John Schembari is joined by Dr. Melissa Sadorf, Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association and author of The Resilient Rural Leader, alon...

In this episode, John Schembari speaks with Becca Silver about the real causes of resistance in schools and how leaders can respond more effectively. Becca shares her Catalyst Mindsets framework, explains why resistance is often rooted in unmet needs, and discusses the difference between compliance, buy-in, and ownership. The conversation explores practical strategies for coaches, principals, and...

In this episode of Have a Life Teaching , I sit down with Starr Sackstein, Michael McDowell, and Alexandra Laing, co-creators of Actionable Assessment , to unpack one of the most pressing instructional questions teachers face every day: When some students get it, some don’t, and some are already ahead… what do you do next? We explore how formative assessment should be less about collecting data an...

In this episode of Have a Life Teaching , I sit down with Charlotte Dungan, Chief Learning Officer at the Mark Cuban Foundation, to explore what meaningful AI education actually looks like in K-12. We unpack: • What effective AI professional learning for teachers should include • Why AI literacy must go beyond prompts and productivity • How the Mark Cuban Foundation’s free teacher and student AI b...

In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, John Schembari speaks with Musical IQ leaders Philip Gillette and James Soler about how music can become a bridge to culture, identity, collaboration, and deeper learning. The conversation explores how schools can move beyond treating music and the arts as “extras” and instead use them as powerful tools for engagement, systems thinking, interdisciplinary le...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. William DeJean, CEO of Unleash Learning, to unpack a reality many school leaders are feeling but struggling to name: we’re in an era of overwhelm . We explore why traditional approaches to leadership—compliance, checklists, and even strategy overload—are no longer enough. Instead, William makes the case for systems thinking: grounding schools in a clear teachin...

In this episode, we explore one of the most debated questions in literacy instruction: 👉 Should students read grade-level texts or texts matched to their ability? Joined by Dr. Noreen Bunt, we unpack: Why grade-level text access matters for all students The risks of over-relying on leveled grouping How to support struggling readers without lowering expectations Practical strategies for: The evolv...

International Schools: What Educators Need to Know Summary: What is it really like to teach in an international school? This episode explores the realities—opportunities, challenges, and misconceptions—of working abroad as an educator. Key Points: • There is no single definition of an international school • Leadership and school quality matter more than location • Compensation often includes housi...

In this episode, I’m joined by Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, authors of Lead It Like Lasso , to explore what school leaders can learn from Ted Lasso . We discuss leadership archetypes, building authentic school culture, and why leaders don’t need all the answers to be effective. We also dig into developing reluctant leaders, surrounding yourself with the right team, and the difference between...

In this episode of Have a Life Teaching , we explore what it really means to prepare students for a future shaped by rapidly evolving technology. While tools like flight simulation may seem niche, the deeper conversation is about something much bigger: how we design learning experiences that build decision-making, problem-solving, and real-world application . We discuss how immersive environments...

In this episode, I’m joined by Mariya Gluzman to explore how educators can use Notebook LM to support—not replace—student thinking . We discuss how AI is shifting instruction from product to process, and how tools like Notebook LM can help structure deeper learning, safer AI use, and more intentional instructional design. AI should supplement thinking, not replace it Traditional plagiarism detecti...

Leadership Isn’t About the Idea as much as It’s About the Decision Most leaders have great ideas. The difference? Execution lives in the shadow between idea and reality. In this podcast episode, we speak with Norman Hunter - author of the book "Between the Idea and the Reality: Decision-Making for the Thinking Educational Leader". We dive into: Why decision-making defines leadership How...

What can crossword puzzles teach us about learning? In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast , I speak with crossword constructor and social scientist Natan Last, author of Across the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of the Crossword Puzzle . We explore how crossword puzzles bring together language, mathematics, history, and creative thinking —and why they can be powerful tools f...

In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, John speaks with Dr. Danita Grissom and Dr. Vicki Kelner, co-authors of High Five to Thrive: Five Proven Practices to Unleash Your Passion for Teaching . The conversation explores why so many teachers are overwhelmed, why burnout is often created by the system rather than the individual, and what educators and leaders can do to restore hope, reg...

In this episode of Have a Life Teaching Podcast , John sits down with Jeff Riley , former Commissioner of Education for Massachusetts and current Executive Director of Day of AI , a nonprofit initiative launched out of MIT. Together, they explore what AI truly means for K–12 education beyond the fear, beyond the cheating headlines, and beyond the hype. Jeff shares: Why AI literacy may become the “...

Anyone who has stepped into a K–5 classroom knows this truth: kids need to move. But they also need strong math foundations. So how do we do both—without sacrificing rigor? In this episode, I sit down with Suzy Koontz, CEO and Founder of Math & Movement, to explore how movement-based learning can dramatically increase math fluency, engagement, and student confidence. A former actuary turned ed...

What can the costume designer behind Raiders of the Lost Ark and Michael Jackson’s Thriller teach educators? A lot. In this episode, Dr. Deborah Landis, UCLA professor and legendary Hollywood costume designer (also behind The Blues Brothers , Animal House , and Oscar-nominated for Coming to America ), breaks down how costume design is actually about: Reading deeply Interpreting text Understanding...

Why do people keep doing the opposite of what we’ve clearly explained over and over again? Or do nothing at all? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Judy Newman , researcher, former principal, and author of Influence , for a practical, eye-opening conversation on applied neuroscience, psychology, and learning. We unpack: Why thinking is not the same as learning (neurons fire vs. wire) How trust, re...

In this wide-ranging conversation, Carol Ann Tomlinson reflects on her unconventional path into teaching and the classroom realities that led her to redefine differentiation—not as a set of tactics, but as an ethical stance toward learners. Key Themes & Takeaways: Differentiation ≠ multiple lesson plans: It’s about common goals with multiple pathways, supports, and timelines. Choice builds age...

What if schools taught longevity—not just aging? On the latest episode of the podcast, I spoke with Karol Schwartzlander (California Commission on Aging) and Judith Hemphill about why aging belongs in our K–12 conversations. We’ve added nearly 30 years to life expectancy, yet schools rarely prepare students for long, multigenerational lives. Aging doesn’t start at retirement—it starts at birth. Ke...

Grammar doesn’t fail because students can’t learn it. It fails because of how it’s taught . In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast , I’m joined by literacy expert Patty McGee , co-author of Not Your Granny’s Grammar , to rethink grammar instruction from the ground up. We explore how grammar can be: taught through sentences, play, and inquiry embedded across ELA, science, and social st...