The Resilient Teacher Podcast

Think back to your time in school. Is there a teacher you still remember? Someone who made you feel seen, believed in you, or completely changed the way you thought about yourself? Now think about this: What if you're that teacher for someone else, and you don't even know it? As teachers, we spend so much time focusing on everything we haven't done, the students we haven't reached, and the never-e...

When you think about your school's PTO or PTA, what comes to mind? Fundraisers? Teacher appreciation lunches? The same handful of parents volunteering for everything? What if we're overlooking one of the biggest opportunities to make teaching a little easier? In this episode of The Resilient Teacher Podcast , I'm joined by Christina Hidek, founder of PTO Answers, to talk about how parent-teacher o...

What if the reason your students shut down at "I can't" isn't a motivation problem — it's that nobody ever gave them a map? Jewellyn Forrest, co-founder of AutonoMY Learning and instructor at the University of Texas at Austin, joins me with over 33 years in education to introduce a visual framework that's changing how teachers and students think about struggle, effort, and what learning actually l...

Every August, teachers make the same promise to themselves: this year, I'm going to leave work on time. This year, I'm going to protect my time for myself and my family. And every year, that promise starts slipping the moment the calendar fills back up. In this episode, I'm getting into why "just set better boundaries" isn't the full answer — and what it actually takes to build a life that doesn't...

Have you ever had a student who suddenly seemed defiant, checked out, or unmotivated — and you couldn't quite figure out why? What if it wasn't a behavior problem at all? Kera Sanchez, certified grief and resilience expert, founder of Get Griefy Magazine, and TalkDeath's 2025 Grief Educator of the Year, joins me to challenge everything most of us think grief actually looks like. We get into what's...

What happens when you finally reach the top... and you're still not satisfied? In this episode, I'm getting personal about the year I won Teacher of the Year and the surprising question that followed: okay, now what? If you're a high-achieving teacher who's always pushing for the next level, this episode is going to name something you've probably felt but never had the words for. I'm breaking down...

Ever feel like you're doing the same thing, in the same building, with the same people — year after year — and you're starting to lose the spark? This episode might be the reset you didn't know you needed. Recorded live at ISTE, this episode flips the mic: I'm joined by David Berner and Jeremy Mikla, hosts of the Integrate This podcast, for a conversation about what actually reignited their passio...

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "I'll do it after this school year" or "We'll take that trip next summer" ? Teacher burnout doesn't just leave us exhausted. It quietly convinces us that our lives can wait. We postpone the vacations, the hobbies, the dinners with friends, and the moments with the people we love because we're waiting for the perfect time. But what if that time never comes? In...

We talk a lot about surviving the school year on this podcast but today we're talking about something that impacts every single one of your students: reading. And I brought in someone who's been fighting this fight for two decades. Dr. Gene Kerns is a third-generation educator and a 20-year veteran of Renaissance , the company behind Accelerated Reader. We got into why kids are reading less than e...

Have you ever walked into the copy room, stood there for a full ten seconds, and genuinely couldn't remember why you came in — and it wasn't even noon? That's not forgetfulness. That's your brain after hours of nonstop, emotionally loaded decisions. And if you're carrying teacher guilt every night on top of that — the voice that says you should be doing more — those two things are quietly feeding...

If you have ever felt like you spend more time managing compliance than actually teaching, this conversation is going to hit home. In this episode, I sit down with former educator Joel Smith to unpack what is really driving teacher burnout right now. We dig into fear based compliance, evaluation pressure, stacked cognitive load, and what happens when teachers lose agency in their own classrooms. J...

After six months away from the microphone, I knew this episode couldn’t be about catching up. It had to be about telling the truth. Because sometimes life changes us before we fully realize it… and the pace that once felt natural no longer fits. In this return, I’m sharing what I learned when my own capacity shifted, why I chose to get quiet, and how that decision reshaped the way I think about bu...

Are you constantly exhausted, stuck in survival mode, and wondering why burnout feels impossible to overcome? What if your constant fatigue and lack of motivation have less to do with willpower and more to do with your blood sugar? In this episode, I’m joined by Laura Banks , a former teacher turned health coach, who completely transformed her life by healing her relationship with food and ditchin...

Teachers are being asked to do more than ever—with less time, support, and capacity. And when it comes to implementing research-backed approaches like the Science of Reading, the last thing they need is another thing on their plate. In this episode, recorded live at ISTE, I'm joined by Aaron Ingold from Learning A-Z to talk about how they're helping teachers implement foundational literacy practic...

Ever wonder how the chronic stress from teaching is impacting your summer lifestyle? While summer break is the ultimate goal of resting and recharging; stress knows no rest. Its impact on our bodies lingers, even in the moments of supposed tranquility, silently eroding our well-being. The weird period of transition from heavy stress-induced overwork in teaching to summer break can be a shock to yo...

Ready to finally get out of teacher burnout cycle this summer once and for all? Stop right now and give this one a listen! Teachers often think that summer break is the ideal time to kick burnout to the curb, but the sad truth is that summer is not THE SOLUTION, but it is one of the essential ingredients needed. (And spoiler alert, leaving the classroom isn't either) There is h...

If you are a veteran teacher, maybe you’re used this song and dance.  You’ve finally made it, you can breathe.  Maybe you are already anticipating school returning in the fall - only 48 days until school starts back.  Maybe you’re a brand new teacher and you feel like you can rest again and you’ll return back to school in the fall ready to conquer.  Either way, there’s a huge m...

Have you ever wondered if that student’s outburst is really just misbehavior—or a sign of something deeper? If you're a teacher facing challenging classroom behaviors and are feeling unsure about how to support students who seem to be struggling as well, this episode is a must listen. I am so excited to have Polina Shkadron to share some key insights that will help you not only understand what’s g...

How many times have you found yourself repeating yourself in your classroom? The truth is, students - and even adults- struggle to truly listen. If you’re an educator or parent feeling the daily frustration of repeating yourself and wondering why it’s so hard for your students to listen, this episode is for you! Christine Miles, creator of the Listening Path, joins us to shed light on the “crisis...

Have you found yourself staring at a stack of ungraded papers and wondering if you care as much as you used to? Teaching is a heart-centered profession, but we all know that the pressures and emotional toll of being in the classroom can leave even the most dedicated educators feeling frustrated, exhausted, or emotionally detached. If you’ve noticed yourself counting down the years to retirement or...

If you're a teacher feeling burned out and longing to reconnect with your passion, this episode is for you. Balancing the demands of personal life while staying energized in the classroom can be challenging for many educators. That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to Stephanie Clinise, a passionate and inspiring ninth grade English teacher who has rekindled her love for teaching by embracing her...

Have you ever experienced that internal tug, wondering if it's time to move on from the classroom? If you have, it doesn't mean you're a bad teacher or that you are giving up. In fact, many educators find themselves wrestling with these thoughts. In this episode, we provide a space to explore this decision free of guilt, helping you reflect, gain clarity, and discover what opportunities are availa...

Teaching in today's world feels more challenging than ever. The stress and anxiety in our classrooms is higher than ever before and it's not just affecting our students but educators as well. In this episode, we dive into the root causes of this rising anxiety, particularly focusing on insights from Jonathan Haidt's book, "The Anxious Generation." These insights could completely change how you man...

Let’s be honest, meeting the diverse needs of 25+ students every day is exhausting. But what if I told you that there’s a practical way that teachers are reclaiming their time, reducing stress, and actually enjoying teaching again? In this episode, I am joined by Robert Barnett from the The Modern Classrooms Project, to chat about how The Modern Classrooms Project has empowered countless teachers...

Classroom management challenges can leave teachers feeling overwhelmed and frustrated—but what if the key to better behavior isn’t stricter rules, but sensory regulation? In this episode, Dr. Bethany Bilodeau, an expert in human behavior with a Doctorate of Arts in Leadership, shares groundbreaking strategies that help both students and teachers feel safe, stay engaged, and reduce stress in the cl...