That "CTE" Guy - CHAT-CTE: Finally—PD That’s Personal

After 23 years of teaching art and design, I faced the most disengaged, unbothered, creativity-resistant group of students I’ve ever had. Basic figure drawing? Nope. Participation? Hard pass. Failing? Totally fine by them. In this episode, I’m telling the full story — the frustration, the accountability pressure, the moment halfway through the second marking period when I realized I wasn’t just fa...

Steven shares the story of how ChatGPT and Base44 became essential tools for teaching intuitive cooking. This episode explores how AI prompts, structured learning, and conversational guidance can turn complex techniques into simple, approachable steps. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how modern tools can elevate the way we teach, learn, and practice culinary skills at home. Checkout the app - www...

In this episode, we dig into one of the most exhausting and misunderstood parts of teaching: modifying lessons for 504 and IEP students. Instead of pretending it’s a “quick” task, we get real about the pressure, the paperwork, and the way new CTE teachers often get blindsided by their first big meeting. I share the moment everything changed for me — the near-disaster that pushed me toward Universa...

In this special episode, I’m bringing you behind the scenes of a presentation I gave to graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania — a room full of future teachers wrestling with the fear, excitement, and chaos of AI in education. If you don’t know my story, here’s the short version: I’m a dyslexic CTE teacher who can barely spell “accommodations,” yet somehow AI became the most powerful...

This episode walks CTE teachers through how to take a single project idea — starting with the prompt “I want to create a…” — and build it into a complete one-week, eight-hour lesson plan. Listeners learn how to structure each day, create admin-ready documentation, and build student-friendly materials like vocabulary lists, quizzes, and rubrics. The episode ties back to the previous one (“Using the...

Planning your CTE year doesn’t have to start with a blank calendar. In this episode, host Steven Bross breaks down how to turn your program task list into a full-year plan that actually works — from estimating time per task to creating a natural flow from beginner to advanced. You’ll learn how to: Organize your task list into teachable chunks Estimate how long it really takes to cover each skill B...

Restorative practices don’t have to mean circles, scripts, or forced conversations that don’t fit your class culture. In this episode, I share how using AI chat reshaped my approach to community, accountability, and trust — not by replacing relationships, but by helping me build them better. From co-writing class expectations to running critiques, organizing student leadership, and even producing...

AI is coming for jobs—or so the headlines say. But if you're a CTE teacher? You're built different. In this episode, we cut through the panic and get real about what AI can do—and what it can't. Spoiler: it’s not teaching kids how to weld, cook, cut hair, or fix engines. But it can be the assistant you’ve always needed—handling the paperwork, planning, and prep while you run the shop and lead with...

What if your PD actually understood your shop? In this episode of CHAT-CTE, we explore how CTE teachers can use ChatGPT’s Custom GPT feature to build their very own AI co-teacher—one that talks like them, works like them, and supports the real day-to-day needs of a trade-based classroom. You’ll learn how to kick off the process with one simple move: a self-interview. ChatGPT asks the questions. Yo...

What happens when an overworked art educator meets a curious AI? This episode dives deep into how ChatGPT flipped my entire teaching experience—from burnout to boldness. I’ll walk you through the real impact it had on my planning, creativity, and classroom energy. But this isn’t just my story—it’s an invitation. I’ll show you exactly how to start using ChatGPT as a teacher (even if you’re tech-shy...

What if your first classroom rule wasn’t “stay seated” or “raise your hand”—but make a mess on purpose ? In this episode of Chat-CTE , I break down how I used ChatGPT to design a bold, creative launch to the school year. But this isn’t just about art class—it’s about rethinking how we set the tone for any subject, starting with trust, curiosity, and student voice. You’ll hear how I flipped traditi...

In the first full episode of Season 2, I share the story of wiping the slate clean—twenty-three years of curriculum, archived on a drive—and how I rebuilt from scratch with the help of a custom GPT assistant and restorative practice training. From faster planning to deeper connections with students, this is what it looks like when a teacher steps out of the comfort zone and into something new.

After 23 years of playing it safe, I pulled the plug on my old curriculum and started fresh. Why? Because CTE students—and the world they’re stepping into—are changing faster than ever. In this new season of Chat-CTE , I’m diving into what happens when you reset, rethink, and let AI + creativity help us build classrooms that actually meet students where they are. Ten minutes, one teacher’s brain d...

In this raw and reflective episode of CHAT-CTE , I get honest about what burnout really looks like after 22 years in the classroom. When I realized I was just going through the motions—and my students were too—I did something drastic: I threw out my entire curriculum. What followed was a complete reset of how I teach, how I connect, and how I take care of myself as an art and design educator.

What happens when you’re the only shop teacher in the building? No team meetings. No pacing guides. Just you, 30 kids, and a buzzing classroom full of projects and potential. In this heartfelt episode, we unpack the emotional weight and everyday hustle of teaching solo—whether you're in art, auto, culinary, or cosmetology. From daily chaos to creative wins, this one’s for every trade teacher runni...

So, you’ve got 30 students, no curriculum, and a pile of state standards staring at you. Sound familiar? Welcome to the first week of teaching a trade. But what if you had a planning assistant that never sleeps and actually listens? That’s where AI comes in—and today, we’re gonna show you how to use it without losing your shop vibe.

In this debut episode of CHAT-CTE—Finally, PD That’s Personal—we explore the emotional and professional journey every trade teacher walks: the 5-Year Arc. From white-knuckling your first lessons to reinventing your program a decade in, this episode unpacks the real stages of CTE teaching: Survival, Emerging Confidence, Burnout Risk, and Reinvention. Whether you're new to the classroom or deep into...

"Finally—PD that’s personal. In this trailer episode, we’re setting the stage for what’s coming: real talk, real tools, real survival strategies for CTE teachers who are building futures (and occasionally birdhouses out of duct tape and good intentions). Meet your host, hear why AI is now a trusted sidekick, and get ready for professional development that actually fits your shop floor life. Subscr...