ViBE EDU Podcast

You have found ways to plan faster, grade quicker, and get more done. But is doing more actually helping your students, or is it just wearing you out? In the first episode of a series on teacher and leader capacity, Josh, Kim, and TJ unpack the difference between efficiency, productivity, and the deeper knowledge that helps teachers make better decisions about their practice. Through examples invo...

A beverage cart is a nice gesture. But what happens when teachers need more than a midday Diet Coke? With all four hosts back together, the VIBE EDU crew takes on the difference between feel-good gestures and the deeper work of building a school where teachers feel supported and students learn. Celebrations have their place but they cannot replace meaningful professional learning and strong teache...

What do you do when the hardest part of your school day is dealing with your principal? With Kim back and Mitch away, Josh, Kim, and TJ take on a topic teachers have been asking about: navigating tricky leaders. They talk through the difference between a boss who holds high expectations and one whose communication, favoritism, or need for control makes the work harder than it should be. The crew s...

You finish the school day, head home, take care of your family, and then open the laptop again. Sound familiar? In this special “dudes” edition of the VIBE EDU Mailbag, Josh, Mitch, and TJ talk honestly about the habits that keep educators working long after the workday ends and why caring deeply about your job should not mean giving it every part of your life. The conversation picks up on Josh’s...

Every school has them: the colleague who sees the worst in every situation, the teacher who wants a referral before trying something new, the student who seems to push every button, or the leader who makes the work feel heavier than it needs to be. In this episode, the VIBE EDU crew talks honestly about what to do when the people around you are making school feel a little more complicated. The con...

“Buy in” gets tossed around constantly in schools, but what does it actually mean? In this episode, the VIBE EDU crew unpacks why waiting for everyone to agree before moving forward can stall real progress. Instead, they explore how leaders and teachers can shape culture through clear expectations, consistent routines, shared language, and a strong understanding of why the work matters. The conver...

How much autonomy should teachers have when a new program, curriculum, or schoolwide initiative rolls out? In this episode, the VIBE EDU crew takes on that question and gets real about the tension between teacher freedom and the need for consistency across classrooms. They discuss why autonomy does not mean the absence of expectations, how leaders can get clear about what is nonnegotiable, and whe...

A new curriculum can bring a lot of pressure, especially when it comes with scripted lessons, packed binders, or a 70 slide deck for one elementary lesson. In this episode, the VIBE EDU crew talks honestly about what happens when teachers feel caught between using new materials with fidelity and doing what they know works for the students in front of them. They explore the difference between a cur...

What do you do when your principal is open to ideas but hesitant to make decisions? In this VIBE EDU Mailbag episode, the crew tackles a listener’s real scenario about a well intentioned leader who wants staff input but can leave meetings without clear direction. The conversation explores how teachers can step into shared leadership without overstepping, how to have honest one on one conversations...

A school cannot build a strong reputation on its own. In the final episode of the Creating Your School Reputation series, the VIBE EDU crew talks about what it really takes to connect with families, local businesses, and the wider community. They share practical ideas that go beyond sending home another flyer. Think meeting families where they already feel comfortable, hosting events that welcome...

Your school’s reputation is built long before anyone looks at a website, a test score, or a social media post. It starts with how the adults in the building treat each other. In this episode, the VIBE EDU crew talks about the power of noticing the good work happening around you, celebrating colleagues, and creating real opportunities for teachers to learn from one another. They also share simple w...

Fresh from an unforgettable two-day VIBE EDU experience in California, the crew reflects on the moments that made this year’s event so powerful: a community willing to give up a Friday night and Saturday to grow, honest conversations that made room for vulnerability, and educators who came ready to ask meaningful questions and take action. From moving beyond a culture of “why” to building a cultur...

Recorded live in Anaheim during the second day of the VIBE EDU event, this special episode captures the kind of energy, connection, and honest conversation that simply cannot be replicated through a screen. From executive functioning and classroom strategies to leadership and building a culture of “try,” this live audience episode showcases the powerful moments, real questions, and practical takea...

In this special informational episode, Joshua Stamper and Kim Gameroz walk listeners through everything they need to know before attending the VIBE EDU Event. They cover parking, airport and hotel recommendations, ticket differences, food and drink details, what to bring, what to leave at home, and how to prepare for the unique energy of this two-day event. The episode also gives attendees a previ...

In this summer series of the VIBE Edu Podcast, hosts Kim Gameroz, Joshua Stamper, TJ Vari, and Mitch Weathers dive into the impact of two-way formative feedback on campus culture and teacher growth. Discover how quality feedback loops not only help educators improve their practice but also give school leaders valuable insights into their teams. The hosts draw parallels between teacher feedback sys...

In this episode of VIBE EDU, the crew kicks off a new series on creating your school reputation by focusing on what it means to control your narrative as a school. They talk about why schools need to tell their own story, how positive communication helps shape public perception, and why the words you use about your school matter just as much as the actions behind them. The conversation also explor...

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...