Teachers on Fire

→ How can an education podcast impact personal growth and professional practice?→ Is there still room for more education content creators today?→ How do two veteran educators view today’s educational landscape?About These GuestsToday’s Teachers on Fire are Martin Stuible and Roy Hunt, hosts of the After the Bell podcast. Martin Stuible is deep into his third chapter of life with his creative company, Creative Moments on 11th. Roy Hunt is a geologist, world traveller, master teacher, and podcaster.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Martin Stuible and Roy Hunt are the hosts of the After the Bell podcast1:28 - How Martin and Roy connected4:45 - How the After the Bell podcast was born9:24 - How the podcast has impacted personal growth13:46 - Is there still room for more education podcasts20:21 - Practical habits of self-compassion for overwhelmed educators24:26 - Thoughts on AI in education today31:08 - Thoughts on the thesis of the Digital Delusion40:20 - How to connect with the After the Bell podcastVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ How can educators model healthy skepticism while also being brokers of hope regarding AI tools?→ What practical boundaries can we set so our students don't outsource their critical thinking to algorithms?→ With all that is going on in education and politics, how can we preserve cultures of joy in today's classrooms?About This GuestDean Shareski is a Senior Partnership Consultant with Advanced Learning Partnerships, bringing decades of experience at the intersection of education, leadership, and innovation. He works closely with school systems to translate big ideas—especially around learning design, leadership development, and emerging technologies—into practical, scalable strategies. Known for his clear thinking and candid approach, Dean helps leaders move from aspiration to action.Connect with Dean ShareskiOn X @shareski,On Instagram @dshareski, On his podcast at The Canadian_Ed Leadership Show, andOn his blog at http://ideasandthoughts.org or http://shareski.ca.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Dean Shareski is an author, speaker, writer, and K-12 education consultant1:50 - Educators as "brokers of hope"4:53 - How to model healthy skepticism with AI tools7:38 - Losing students' productive struggle to AI13:38 - Leverage digital tools to amplify and transform student learning17:26 - How to protect the wonder and joy of our classrooms20:59 - Building school teams like the Blue Jays of 202524:42 - Sports gambling creeping into schools28:31 - What gives Dean hope for the future31:48 - What keeps Dean's fire for learning burning bright34:33 - How and where to connect with Dean Shareski onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

→ What does recess look like if it is as safe as necessary but not as safe as possible?→ What are the links between the decline of independent, risky play and the rise in student anxiety?→ How do we distinguish between healthy 'rough-and-tumble’ play and actual aggression?Today’s Teachers on Fire are Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni, the authors of the recently published Embracing Risky Play at School: Getting Kids Outdoors to Explore, Learn, and Grow. Dr. Mariana Brussoni is a Professor within the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine and a scientist with British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, where she leads the Outside Play Lab. Her research reimagines how outdoor and risky play can be integrated into everyday life to help children thrive.Dr. Megan Zeni is a teacher consultant and researcher in the province of British Columbia. She has 3 decades of professional K-7 teaching experience in classrooms, outdoor classrooms, and school gardens. Megan supports just about anyone interested in building capacity for effective and sustainable implementation of risky play, school gardens, and outdoor classrooms in elementary schools. Learn more and follow her work at meganzeni.com.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Welcoming Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni 2:00 - Distinguishing between RISKS and HAZARDS in the school environment5:24 - As safe as necessary but not as safe as possible7:14 - Surplus safety as a barrier to development10:06 - The 17-second pause before intervening12:42 - Links between the decline of risky play and the rise in student anxiety18:35 - Creating 'Yes spaces' in our schools27:02 - Healthy rough-and-tumble play vs actual aggression30:19 - Items to add to a playground35:22 - Going outdoors consistently beats occasional trips38:16 - How and where to connect with the authors onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

→ Is it still possible to engage productively as a teacher on social media?→ What do our students risk losing when they lean into AI tools and strategies?→ What can be gained by bringing student writing to authentic audiences?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.About This Guest, David CutlerDavid is a dad, husband, and writer. He’s also a veteran US history, government, and journalism teacher who is exploring AI in education with caution.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - David Cutler is a high school history and journalism teacher in Massachusetts1:30 - "ChatGPT has no place in my classoom!"2:41 - Don't let AI climb the hill for our kids6:01 - Too much help from AI tools7:49 - Is there a contradiction in belief when teachers use AI tools?12:01 - How teachers can use social media productively17:38 - Teaching students to identify fake news20:53 - Using comic books in the social studies classroom22:40 - The value of frequent, low-stakes assessments24:49 - Sharing student writing with authentic audiences27:31 - Why David writes about education on Medium30:10 - How and where to connect with David Cutler onlineConnect with David Cutleron LinkedIn,on X @spinedu,on Instagram @teachercutler,on Medium at medium.com/@spincutler, and on his website, dcutler.pressfolios.com.Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

→ How can education leaders help staff move from AI anxiety to AI optimism and fluency?→ How can we make sure that pedagogy always trumps technology in our classrooms?→ How can we promote the kind of disruptive thinking necessary to future-proof our learners for an unpredictable world?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.About This Guest, Eric SheningerEric works with schools throughout the world, helping educators meet and exceed their potential to improve outcomes for learners. He is the founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy designed to provide personalized support to all educational systems. Prior to this, he was a teacher and an award-winning Principal at New Milford High School.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Eric Sheninger is an award-winning principal, author, and speaker.2:01 - About his book, Personalize: Meeting the Needs of All Learners 3:47 - Leveraging technology and personalized learning frameworks7:56 - How to use AI as a force multiplier as education leaders12:57 - Which AI tools Eric uses for which purposes16:22 - How to move from AI anxiety to AI optimism and fluency21:16 - Pedagogy trumps technology - and that includes AI24:59 - The disruptive thinking necessary to future-proof our learners28:02 - Words for the innovative educator who feels alone34:06 - How and where to connect with Eric online34:54 - Eric's current work on a next bookConnect with Ericon LinkedIn,on X @E_Sheninger,on Instagram @esheninger, on YouTube @EricSheninger, andon his website at https://ericsheninger.com/.Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

→ What does it look like to put student connections before content?→ How can we help every student in our communities feel a sense of belonging?→ How can we leverage social media to tell stronger stories as building leaders?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.About This Guest, Josh TovarJosh is the proud principal at Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland ISD, just outside of Dallas, Texas. Josh has been in education for over thirty years and has supported at all levels from elementary to university. Josh is the proud son of Virginia and Jesus Tovar, a proud immigrant to the USA and former US Marine.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Josh Tovar is the principal of Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland, TX1:43 - How Josh's wife empowers his leadership7:29 - "No More Orange Jumpsuits" at MPA15:47 - How Josh uses social media to tell stories and build culture21:40 - How Josh makes every MPA student feel that they belong27:02 - Combining the discipline of the Marines with love and joy30:59 - How Josh relates with students who have made big mistakes34:30 - Josh's contributions on two recent ed leadership books39:33 - How and where to connect with Josh onlineConnect with Joshon LinkedIn,on LinkedInand on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @JTspotlights.Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

I'm trying something NEW!In this first walking journal entry, I reflect on three recent guests on the Teachers on Fire Podcast who inspired changes to my personal and professional life. They are: Edmond Chin, Rich Czyz, and Becky Keene.

→ How can AI tools and technologies support learning in the classroom?→ How can students leverage AI tools for greater creativity and judgment?→ How can we make sure our AI policies align with mission and core pedagogical beliefs?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.About This Guest, Becky KeeneBecky is an educator, author, and speaker who helps schools integrate AI to empower students as creators and support innovative teaching and learning. She designs professional learning for teachers and leaders on practical, responsible AI use—blending instructional coaching and game-based learning to make AI meaningful in the classroom.Connect with Beckyon LinkedIn,on X @beckykeene, on Instagram and TikTok @BeckyKeeneEdu, and at her website, beckykeene.com.Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

→ How can principals do better than superficial gestures of teacher appreciation?→ How can we address teaching colleagues who seem caught in a martyr mindset?→ How can school leaders work efficiently without building a toxic culture of rushing?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.About This Guest, Ruth PoulsenRuth is an international school leader who has spent her career building cultures of care—from China to Colorado, and next up, Jordan. She’s currently on sabbatical and writing Regenerative Schools, a newsletter exploring the mindset shifts and systems changes needed to prevent the crisis of educator burnout and ultimately, to support student wellbeing.Connect with Ruthon LinkedIn, on Substack at regenerativeschools.substack.comIn This Conversation0:00:00 - Ruth Poulsen is a school principal and education writer.1:31 - Stepping from an industrial paradigm to a regenerative mindset4:56 - Distinguishing between efficiency and frantic rushing9:19 - The "fertilizer" in our schools: toxic element or asset?11:48 - How can teachers show appreciation beyond superficial efforts?14:52 - Surveys: How to take the pulse of teachers effectively20:13 - How to set up tree lines in our schools: boundaries that preserve and protect29:04 - Managing parent complaints30:25 - How to coach colleagues caught in a martyr mindset35:01 - Creating intentional moments in schools that connect with mission36:53 - Ruth talks about Regenerative Schools, her Substack38:58 - How and where to connect With Ruth Poulsen onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

→ What does it mean to lead with curiosity over expertise?→ How can we make our schools places where the adults like to come to work?→ How can school leaders build a presence that feels more supportive, less policing?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.About This Guest, Dr. Danny SteeleDanny is a former award winning principal who speaks to educators around the country about the difference they make for kids. He’s also the author of several best-selling books for educators, including The Instructional Leader in You: 10 Strategies for Every School Leader, Essential Truths for Principals, and The Total Teacher: Understanding the Three Dimensions that Define Effective Educators.Connect with Dannyon LinkedIn, on X @SteeleThoughts,on Instagram @SteeleThoughts,on his blog at https://www.steelethoughts.com/In This Conversation1:50 - Passion drift for school leaders4:09 - Leading with curiosity over expertise6:48 - Creating cultural conditions to overcome stagnancy7:53 - Staff come first, students second8:57 - Admitting vulnerability as a building leader10:31 - Observing the student experience instead of teacher performance12:09 - When an expert teacher struggles to integrate into the community13:15 - Being a supportive resource instead of a policing presence15:11 - Shouting out teachers for their great work16:49 - Building fun and meaningful traditions in your school19:14 - Danny raps about the power of good choices21:06 - Danny Steele's six education books22:19 - Danny Steele's speaking services and other resources on his websiteVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.