ViBE EDU Podcast

In this special Mailbag episode, the VIBE Edu crew dives into the upcoming two-day VIBE EDU event on July 31 and August 1 and explains what makes it different from a traditional conference. Instead of a big ballroom, disconnected sessions, and one-way presentations, this event is built around real conversation, connection, and voices from teachers, administrators, parents, and students. The episod...

In this week's episode of the VIBE Edu Staff Wellness series, the crew closes out the conversation by focusing on teacher retention and what schools can do to keep great educators in the building. They talk about why retention is about more than “support,” how leaders can be more specific with resources and follow-through, and why teachers need to feel valued, empowered, and equipped to do the...

In this episode of the VIBE Edu Staff Wellness series, the crew shifts the focus to hiring practices and why they matter for the health of a school team. They talk about hiring for both the person and the position, filling gaps in a team, avoiding the trap of hiring only for cultural comfort, and using more intentional steps like mock lessons and student feedback to make better decisions. The conv...

In episode 2 of the VIBE Edu summer staff wellness series, the crew focuses on team culture and why shared responsibility matters for preventing burnout. They dig into the danger of relying on the same few people for everything, the importance of capacity, and why leaders need to spread the work in ways that feel sustainable and fair. The conversation also explores how reflection, compensation, ad...

In the first episode of the VIBE Edu summer series, the crew kicks off a conversation about staff wellness by focusing on end-of-year burnout. They explore the difference between fatigue and burnout, why organization matters, and how reflection, routines, and a strong sense of belonging can help educators finish the year without feeling completely drained. The episode also gets practical with idea...

In this VIBE Edu Mailbag episode, the crew dives into one of the biggest questions around PBIS, how do we make it work for all kids? They talk about why PBIS cannot just be a token system, why it has to be taught explicitly in real spaces, and why consistency, shared language, and common routines matter just as much as the reward system itself. The conversation also gets into the bigger picture of...

In the final episode of the Getting the Most Out of Professional Learning series, the VIBE Edu crew shifts from attending PD to presenting at it. They talk about why educators have a responsibility to share what is working, how to start small with informal conversations before moving into staff meetings or conferences, and why co-presenting or joining a panel can be a smart way to build confidence...

National conferences can be one of the best ways to find new ideas, get inspired, and connect with leaders in your field. In this episode of the VIBE Edu PD series, the crew breaks down how to prepare before you arrive, why the conference app matters, and how to choose sessions that actually fit your goals instead of wandering the schedule at the last minute. They also share practical strategies f...

In episode 2 of the "Getting the Most Out of PD" series, the VIBE Edu crew tackles district and state-level professional learning. They break down why PD is your personal responsibility (not just your employer's), how to find free virtual/live sessions, and why going beyond school-site PD gives you early access to trends like AI literacy and licensure hours. From building a culture o...

What makes professional learning actually worth your time? In this episode, the VIBE Edu crew kicks off a brand-new series focused on getting the most out of PD at the school, district, state, and national levels. They unpack the mindset educators need to bring into any learning experience, why the real value comes from doing something with what you learn, and how leaders can design PD that leads...

In this VIBE Edu Mailbag episode, the crew tackles two big questions from educators: how to make peer-to-peer classroom visits a regular part of school culture, and how to better engage families in meaningful ways. The conversation focuses on building systems that make teacher observation feel collaborative instead of evaluative, while also creating time, structures, and intentionality so educator...

In this final episode of the executive functioning series, the crew shifts the conversation from school success to life success. TJ Vari breaks down why organization, planning, goal setting, self-regulation, and flexibility are not just “school skills,” but durable skills that matter in college, career, and beyond. The discussion explores why schools should start building these habits early, how e...

Why do some students seem perfectly capable but still fall apart on long-term projects, multi-step assignments, and choice boards? In this third episode of VIBE Edu's executive functioning series, Mitch Weathers walks the crew through higher order executive functions — the skills of reasoning, planning, and problem solving that begin to emerge around grades 3–5 — and what it looks like when te...

What if the student who keeps eloping, zoning out, or shutting down is not being defiant but is simply running out of cognitive bandwidth? In this second episode of VIBE Edu's executive functioning series, Mitch Weathers breaks down the three core executive functions: working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility. And the crew unpacks what it actually looks like when these processes ar...

Do your students seem to know what to do but just cannot seem to do it? In this first episode of VIBE Edu's new series on executive functioning, Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers lay the foundation for one of the most important and undertaught topics in education. For example, the cognitive processes that drive a student's ability to learn, self-regulate, stay focuse...

What do you do when you are hungry to lead but there are zero formal leadership roles on your campus and your “leadership team” meeting is just a place to pass along information? In this VIBE Edu mailbag episode, Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers field listener questions about creating real leadership opportunities, even when no positions exist and the structures around you...

Why do principals and superintendents need coaches just like their teachers do? In the final episode of VIBE Edu’s mentorship and coaching series, Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers bring it home to school leaders at every level principals, APs, superintendents, and district directors and explain why the “law of the lid” means your capacity as a leader sets the ceiling for yo...

What happens when teachers start to think, “I love the classroom, but I do not want to die in this room”? In this VIBE Edu episode, Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers wrap up their mentorship and coaching series by focusing on the next layer of impact developing teacher leaders and future coaches inside your school. The crew shares stories from Kim’s in person California meet...

What if veteran teachers need coaching more than novices do?​This episode of VIBE Edu continues the mentorship and coaching series by shifting the focus from novices to veteran teachers and busting the myth that experience cancels the need for coaching. Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers unpack why feedback for many teachers drops off after the induction years, how that fuels...

This VIBE Edu episode kicks off a new series on mentorship and coaching by zeroing in on the experience of brand new teachers and the systems that are supposed to support them but often fall short. Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers share candid stories of induction done well and poorly, from mentors who leave Friday “happy mail” and walk alongside first year teachers to asse...

This VIBE Edu mailbag episode dives into one teacher’s brave question how do you pitch a book study to your principal without sounding like you are telling them what to do? Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers unpack practical language, framing, and logistics so book studies align with campus goals, budgets, and culture instead of feeling like “one more thing”. They also explor...

What if your school culture is not accidental but something leaders must intentionally curate at every level from classrooms to buses to front offices? In this episode of the VIBE Edu Teaching and Learning Myths series, Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers tackle the myth that school culture and environment “just happen” and are primarily the principal’s job alone. They explore...

This episode of VIBE Edu continues the Teaching and Learning Myths series by zooming in on one of the most overlooked variables in student success the learning environment itself. Mitch Weathers, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Joshua Stamper unpack common assumptions about “good” classrooms, including the idea that more posters, more color, and more stuff automatically create a better space for kids.​...

In this episode of the VIBE Edu Teaching and Learning Myths series, Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers take on the myth that great teaching is mostly about delivering content while students sit still and listen. They explore why developing the learner through relationships, predictable routines, movement, and executive function supports is not extra but essential if content i...

In this bonus crossover episode of VIBE Edu and Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, and Mitch Weathers share everything you need to know about the Thriving Educators Summit 2026 and how it was born from a desire to help teachers move from surviving to truly thriving after years of running hard and lean in schools. Listeners will hear the story behind the free virtual summit, what makes it...