If Teachers Ruled the World

Winter break is here, but many teachers feel pressured to be productive instead of resting. In this episode of If Teachers Ruled the World, host Leah Cleary shares her honest experience of winter break and gives teachers permission to actually rest. Learn why teacher self-care during break is essential, not selfish. Discover how to manage the pressure to "catch up" on everything you'...

Sometimes you don't have a choice about lecturing before winter break. The content requires direct instruction, and there's no time for elaborate activities. So how do you keep students awake when everyone's brain is already checked out? In this episode, educator Leah Cleary shares two student engagement during lectures strategies she's using exam week: the think pair share strateg...

In this episode of If Teachers Ruled the World , host Leah Cleary tackles every teacher's nightmare: waking up sick and having to create substitute teacher plans at 5 AM. She shares a practical system for how to prepare for a substitute teacher that works for both random sick days and extended emergencies. Leah breaks down two approaches—quick last minute sub plans using templates, and a compl...

Survival mode teaching isn't about being perfect—it's about making it to winter break with learning intact. In this episode, educator Leah Cleary shares the gallery walk teaching strategy she's using to keep her 60 AP World History students engaged during the most exhausting week of December. Leah walks through her Revolutions Gallery Walk, explaining how it serves double duty as both...

Why do your students have a right to education but not healthcare? It started with a WWII wage freeze in 1942 that accidentally created employer-based healthcare—while education became a public right way back in 1785. In this Teacher Reality Check, we explore the historical divergence between these two systems: how the 1915 health insurance proposal failed when doctors feared losing income and aut...

Veteran teacher Leah Cleary shares 5 practical EdTech conference takeaways that save time and support students. Learn about AI tutors that give every student one-on-one help (Magic School AI, School AI, Brisk), Canva's upgraded forms for real-time feedback, and a game-changing clipboard shortcut. Includes Benjamin Bloom's research on why AI tutoring matters for growing class sizes. Free to...

Feeling inadequate when another teacher reaches your student in a way you couldn't? Veteran educator Leah Cleary gets real about teacher collaboration, burnout, and why trying to be everything to every student is hurting us. Learn practical collaborative teaching strategies, how to reframe asking for help as strategic teaching, and why the isolated classroom model needs to end. Perfect for tea...

Middle school teacher Kevin Romero shares why universal health care matters for student learning. From his classroom perspective, he explores how health care access impacts middle schoolers' ability to thrive academically. We discuss the history of employer-based insurance, why education became a right but health care didn't, and what teachers see when students can't access medical car...

Why do I have 30 students in my AP classes when Georgia law says I should have 21? In this Teacher Reality Check, I break down why class size legislation looks perfect on paper but falls apart in real schools. From Georgia's Strategic Waiver system (130 out of 132 districts ignore the caps) to NYC's struggle with 70,000+ overcrowded classrooms, this episode explores why money alone can&#39...

Drowning in essays? Discover practical AI teaching assistant tools that give you back your nights and weekends. In this episode, veteran teacher Leah Cleary shares how she grades 76+ AP student essays with timely, specific feedback using AI - without sacrificing quality. Learn about Custom GPTs for automated grading, free ChatGPT alternatives, and student-facing AI coaches like Magic School AI. Wh...

Ever look out at your classroom and wonder if anything you're doing actually matters? In this episode, I get real about why teaching hurts so much when we can't feel our impact , and what the research says about mission-driven teachers , burnout , and the emotional toll of caring deeply. We’ll explore: Why teachers are intrinsically motivated —and how that’s both our strength and our strug...

Should high school start later? In this episode of If Teachers Ruled the World , Leah interviews U.S. History, Economics, and Government teacher Joey Cleary, who teaches like he’s on stage, complete with set design, AI-generated daily images, and storytelling that brings history to life. Joey shares real classroom data showing why later school start times matter: In his first-block class, 9 out of...

Delayed paychecks? Pink slips? The ESSER funding cliff may be to blame. In this Teacher Reality Check, Leah breaks down what happened when $190 billion in federal COVID relief for schools started drying up. And how sudden policy reversals in 2025 left states, districts, and teachers scrambling. Hear how reimbursement freezes triggered budget crises, why Maryland and Illinois were hit hardest, and...

Two months into the school year and your desk already looks like a disaster zone? You’re not alone. In this honest and slightly chaotic episode, Leah shares her real-time journey of digging out from under a mountain of paper. With many teachers shifting back to analog assignments due to AI concerns, digital organization systems are falling short. Even veteran educators are struggling to keep up. L...

Feeling like you're constantly under fire as a teacher? In this episode, Leah gets real about the scrutiny educators face, from social media trolls to classroom self-censorship. We’re talking about the real influence in kids’ lives (hint: it's not their teachers), why educators become easy scapegoats, and how to stay grounded when it feels like you can’t win. 🎙 Topics: Why teachers are bla...

Former flight attendant turned paraprofessional Tracy Dixon shares what most won’t say out loud: Not every student is meant to do everything . And that’s okay. From the cafeteria to the classroom, Tracy’s seen how student success looks different for everyone. She and Leah talk about failure, expectations, and why forcing kids into the same mold helps no one. Perfect for teachers, parents, and anyo...

What does the Department of Education actually do. And can an executive order really eliminate it? In this Teacher Reality Check, Leah breaks down what the Trump administration’s executive order means for your classroom. Learn the truth about Title I and IDEA funding , DEI changes , and how much federal policy really affects your day-to-day as a teacher. Perfect for educators who want clear, pract...

About a month into the school year, routines can feel smooth and students may seem responsible, but that’s often when problems begin. In this episode of If Teachers Ruled the World , Leah Cleary shares common classroom management mistakes teachers make early in the year, why loosening structure too soon backfires, and practical strategies for maintaining classroom routines, preventing burnout, and...

It’s the night before grades are due, and a flood of late work hits your inbox. You’re exhausted, but policy says you have to take it. Sound familiar? In this episode, Leah shares how to protect your time without sacrificing professionalism. Or your sanity. You’ll hear real stories about saying no to administrators, turning down student requests (even good ones), and drawing the line so you can fo...

English teacher Laura French joins Leah to share a powerful story about a student passed through the system without mastering basic skills. And the impossible position it put her in as his high school teacher. Together, they unpack the pressures of graduation rates, CCRPI scores, and the emotional toll of policies that clash with classroom reality, while imagining what accountability could look li...

This month, Leah pulls back the curtain on teacher evaluations. And what she uncovers might surprise you. Whether you’re labeled “effective” may have less to do with your teaching and more to do with your state’s politics. In this episode: How Michigan’s evaluation rules just changed—and why Alabama’s haven’t. The research showing teachers control only 1–14% of test scores. How union strength shap...

We’ve all been there—you design what feels like a brilliant classroom procedure, get excited about how innovative it is, and then… it completely falls apart with real students. In this month’s tips episode of If Teachers Ruled the World , Leah shares her biggest procedure fails, including an overly complicated digital task card system she was so proud of she started selling it (spoiler: nobody cou...

What does it really mean to be “on” for eight hours straight with no break? In this episode of If Teachers Ruled the World , Leah pulls back the curtain on the emotional and invisible labor that makes teaching one of the most misunderstood and demanding professions. From being a mini-administrator without support staff to carrying student trauma home, she breaks down what most people don’t see: Wh...

Sometimes we know better—but it still hurts. In this vulnerable first episode, Leah shares the story of getting AP scores the day before her birthday and being unexpectedly crushed by results she saw coming. After 25 years in the classroom, why did it still feel like failure? Leah explores where teacher perfectionism comes from, what the research says, and why even 1s and 2s on AP exams predict be...

Feeling overwhelmed as the school year approaches? You’re not alone — and you don’t have to do it all. In this episode, veteran educator Leah Cleary shares what really matters during back-to-school prep — and what you can stop stressing about. After 25 years in the classroom, Leah breaks down a no-fluff “worry about this, not that” list to help you start the year strong. You'll learn: What to...