The Shut Up and Teach Podcast

Dr. Dave Schmittou is one incredible individual. He's worked in just about every area of education, but, as you'll hear, the movement of career was never as important as his continuous evolution as a human and an educator. Even his definition of success, for someone with all the accolades and experience, will surprise you. Listen here!

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Dave has earned a reputation for being a disruptor of the status quo, an innovator, and a change agent. Having served as a classroom teacher, school-based administrator, central office director, and professor of Educational Leadership, he often uses real-life stories and examples of his own life and career to describe why and how we need to confront “the way we have always done it.” He serves as a leadership coach, a time management consultant, and can also be found helping schools as they navigate assessment data and the madness that is student grading.

He is the author of five books, has earned his doctorate and attended law school. He is the 2014 Michigan Administrator of the Year and the 2018 College Educator of the Year, but his greatest accomplishment is playing the role of dad to four incredible kids while living life as a Beach Billy on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Connect with Dave

My guest today is Pablo Muñoz. Pablo has over 30 years of educational experience, 16 of which include his work as a district superintendent. Since then, Pablo has written a book, The Leader's Algorithm, and launched a educational consulting company, Muñoz & Company. Through his work, Pablo continues to stay focused on his mission: improve the lives of students.

Thanks for listening!

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Pablo Muñoz is the managing director of Muñoz & Company, an educational and leadership consulting organization. A first-generation high school graduate, Muñoz earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Yale University and a master’s in educational administration from Columbia University. He has thirty years of experience as a teacher and administrator and was a superintendent for sixteen years. Muñoz was named one of the George Lucas Educational Foundation’s Daring Dozen—a prestigious group working to reshape the future of education. He is the son of Luz and Pablo Muñoz, both from Aguada, Puerto Rico, and the proud father of two daughters, Cecilia and Sadie.

The IntegratED Framework, created by educators Megan Diede and Kara Rigsby, is empowering educators to reach their full potential. Their work as educational leaders and professional development experts is part of their mission to confront, challenge, and change the norms of traditional education. This episode highlights the expertise and passion of two educators on a mission to redefine the teaching experience and inspire educators to unlock their potential.

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Megan and Kara are educational leaders, professional development experts, and current educators who have a passion for creating positive change in education, transforming schools into empowering spaces and students into confident, lifelong learners equipped for success in an ever-evolving world.

With over two decades of collective expertise in the classroom, this dynamic team has dedicated the past seven years to crafting the IntegratED Framework. This innovative framework empowers educators to elevate their instruction and amplify their impact by seamlessly integrating purposeful content into their teaching approach. The framework focuses on fostering student engagement, enhancing teacher effectiveness, nurturing creativity, and facilitating robust student growth. This transformative approach guides educators in reimagining their instructional methods, planning strategies, and interactions with students, enabling them to evolve into the best versions of themselves.  

Megan and Kara want to push teachers outside of their comfort zone, outside of the script, and show them the power of multi-subject instruction. If you are looking for new, effective, and powerful change in your instructional practices, Megan and Kara are the team you want to lead you in that dynamic transformation.

Connect with Megan and Kara

Have you sat in a professional development session only to think, "How is this even relevant to what I need to teach my students?" Or have you received professional development that you found great, only to forget what was said a month or so later? Erik Francis thinks this is because educators might have the wrong approach to professional development. He has an idea for how to change this. He also knows a thing or two about teaching through depth of knowledge (DOK). He is passionate about helping teachers and educator leaders make their instruction deeper to get the best learning from students. All this and more on this episode!

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On this episode, I spoke with Desmond Hasty. Desmond is a middle school technology teacher in Maryland. With over 15 years of teaching experience, Desmond has a passion for reaching the next generation and inspiring them to overcome their obstacles. On this episode, Desmond talks about what he loves most about teaching technology to middle school students, what's most important to teach students about technology as they prepare for the future, and, as a fellow lover of hip-hop, some of our favorite rappers.

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Desmond Hasty is an experienced computer technology educator with an enthusiasm for helping students acquire knowledge and skills. With over 15 years of teaching experience, he takes pride in building strong connections with his students, and motivating them to overcome any learning adversities they may face. He holds a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems (MIS), a master's degree in Instructional Technology, and a post-graduate certificate as an Instructional Technology Specialist PK-12 in Pennsylvania. He is currently finishing coursework for an Instructional certificate in Technology Education 7-12 for the state of Maryland.

School culture is a topic I am passionate about. So is my guest, Cori Fraser. On this episode, Cori discusses first steps that teachers and educators can take when trying to impact school culture. She also shared some pitfalls to avoid when trying to impact the culture of your school. This and more on this episode!

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Cori Fraser is in her eighth year as a principal and she is currently the principal of a Jr High School in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In all aspects of her life, whether as a mom, teacher, or principal, She is dedicated to making a positive impact and helping individuals flourish in an environment that celebrates diversity, fosters equity, and promotes a culture of belonging. You’ll often find her at the hockey rink, cheering on her two boys - one is usually on the ice and the other can often be found announcing and DJ’ing his brother’s games!

On this episode, educator, author, and presenter Connie Hamilton joined me to discuss the idea of invisible teachers. What does it look like when a teacher is invisible? How does being an invisible teacher benefit our students? Connie explains this and more on today's episode!

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Connie Hamilton Ed.S is a dedicated educator and mother of three grown children. She has served the field of education as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, and district curriculum leader. Referred to as the “Questioning Guru”, Connie is the author of several books for teachers and school leaders, including the much anticipated, Hacking Group Work. Connie is known for engaging and interactive workshops that model best practices and provide practical approaches to solving instructional snafus. Educators love how she offers specific strategies that actually work and can be used immediately. Most of the school year you will find Connie working side-by-side with teachers in schools and classrooms across the country and internationally. She strives to support educators everywhere in the challenging but critical role of preparing students for success.

Dieumerci Christel has been working hard in the world of education and for a long time. On this episode, Dieum describes his educational journey, of growing up in a Tanzanian refugee camp, eventually finding his way to the U.S. He goes on to tell about how his experiences in education led him to create EnlightApp. EnlightApp is having a big impact on the students and teachers using it. Through this app, teachers get to know their students even better and with greater clarity. I'm sure you will enjoy this episode!

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On this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with a man who has had a tremendous impact on my teaching philosophies and practices: Dave Burgess. Dave Burgess has been making a huge impact in the world of education for over 10 years. His book Teach Like a Pirate (a New York Times Best Seller) has influenced educators all around the world, myself included. On this episode, Dave and I talked about what it means to be an excellent teacher, the dangers of sticking to one style, and how to find use in ordinary things that can enrich the learning in our classrooms. This and more on my conversation with Dave Burgess.

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Dave Burgess is the co-author of P is for Pirate and the New York Times Bestselling author of Teach Like a Pirate. He is a highly sought after keynote speaker, well-known for his outrageously energetic performance style. As president of Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc., he has disrupted the publishing industry by releasing over 180 groundbreaking books from innovative educators from all over the world.

Sarah Thomas, PhD is my guest today. Our conversation centered around what Sarah is focused on currently in her career, tips from her book, Sarahdateechur's Guide to Podcasting, and book recommendations for teachers. And of course, she shared what she's watching, listening to, and reading. Thank you for joining us!

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Sarah-Jane Thomas, PhD is a Regional Technology Coordinator in a large district in Maryland.  She is the founder of the EduMatch organization, which promotes connection and collaboration among educators around the world.  Through EduMatch, Sarah has published several collaborative and individual books.  EduMatch is also a recognized Google for Education professional development partner.  

Sarah serves as President on the Board of Directors for EduMatch Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit that supports grassroots work of students and educators.  In addition, she is a co-author of the ISTE publication series, Closing the Gap, focusing on digital equity, as well as a Google Certified Innovator and trainer.

Sarah graduated from George Mason University with a doctoral degree in Education, and a concentration in International Education.  She also holds a Master’s degree from Howard University in the field of Curriculum and Instruction.   

Sarah was designated an ASCD Emerging Leader in 2016, and was recognized in EdTech Magazine’s 30 K-12 IT Influencers Worth a Follow in 2020.  She was named by the National School Board Association as one of the “20 to Watch” in 2015.  She was part of the Technical Working Group that refreshed the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Educators in 2016-2017, and in 2017, she received the ISTE “Making IT Happen” Award.  

It's hard to believe that this will be my 10th year of teaching! I have learned a lot during these last ten years. On this episode I share some of the things I've learned. Thanks for joining me, as I reflect on 10 years of teaching!

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast, he is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

In this last episode of the A Place They Love Podcast Study, I explain three mindset shifts that we as educators need to make. I explain why these are important to make and what it means for us, moving forward.

Thank you for joining me for the A Place They Love Podcast Study!

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast, he is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

On part four of A Place They Love Podcast Study, I reflect on an experience from last year and my emotions of having to go through it. I share how an email reminded me that we may never know the full impact that we have as teachers, or at least not right away. I encourage you to keep doing what you are doing by making school fun through memorable experiences and engaging and exciting lessons. What you are doing is right for the students, so keep on making school a place they love.

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast, he is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

Melisa Hayes, a teacher in Ohio, told me recently that she starts her planning by thinking about the kids first, She couldn't be more spot on! Positive student/teacher relationships are important and make a huge difference in the lives of students. In this episode, we look at the ways we can build healthy relationships with our students. 

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast, he is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

Welcome to part two of A Place They Love Podcast Study! In this episode, I focus the discussion around teacher and student engagement. I share what it means to be an engaged teacher, encourage you to engage your students through experiences, and invite you to start thinking of fresh ways to deliver content to our students.

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast, he is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

Welcome to the A Place They Love Podcast Study. These will be short reflections on topics from my book, A Place They Love. Want to hear from the author himself (me) about my in depth thoughts about certain topics related to education? Then this series will be for you!

In part one of this series, I discuss the idea that nothing changes if no one changes. Before changing policies about grading, discipline, testing, and more, we must change our mindsets about how education should look. We must change our habits to become better for our students, and sometimes we need to tell ourselves to shut up and teach. Listen in as I share my thoughts with you about having a better mindset.

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast, he is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

Harmonee McCrea had no intention of having a career in education. As a runner, Harmonee went to college on an athletic scholarship, and it was there that she found her calling: to teach. Once the right doors opened, Harmonee found herself as the principal of a K-2 school, which is also her current role. Harmonee is full of encouragement, and once you listen to this episode, you'll understand why.

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Harmonee McCrea grew up in northeast Indiana in a small town called Orland. After high school graduation she moved on to Bethel College for four years, majoring in elementary education. She gained 11 years of classroom experience before moving on to administration. Harmonee has now been a principal for the last 11 years at the K-2 level. She is married to Patrick McCrea, and together they have 3 children (almost grown up), Molly, Wade, and Emily. She loves running, lifting and reading in her free time, as well as taking care of the home front!

There's a lot of great things about education. And then there's the stuff we can't stand. Dr. Rick Jetter calls it the complete and utter bullshit. He's had enough of it, and through his work with his company Pushing Boundaries and the 100 Stop Book series, he is making a call to action: stop the bullshit. On this episode he encourages listeners to stop certain practices and behaviors. We also talked honestly about how sometimes it's okay when our lives look a little messy.

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Dr. Rick Jetter is the CEO of Pushing Boundaries Consulting, LLC; author of 10 books for educators, including the popular 100 STOP Series; and is currently the Asst. Head of Schools at Maritime Charter School in Buffalo, NY.

Today I spoke with Holly Stuart, a former teacher and a current Education Specialist working for Foldscopes. Holly is all about providing equity and access to all teachers and students. This is one reason why she is so passionate about working for Foldscopes! You might also get some horror film suggestions...just saying,

Thank you for tuning in!

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Holly Stuart is passionate about encouraging scientific exploration, discovery, and curiosity in the classroom. She believes that the more science tools we can get into the hands of students, the more fun students can have DOING (and learning!!) science)! Her mission is to remove the barriers to access scientific knowledge one microscope at a time.

Connect with Holly

On this episode of the Shut Up And Teach Podcast, I spoke with Larry Carey. Larry has a background in teaching Pre-School and early childhood development. He shared how he developed a passion for literacy. Larry's book, Alliteration Boosts Communication: The ABCs of Vocabulary, is highly differentiated and a lot of fun while exposing students to literacy components including letter/sound correspondence and vocabulary. He is also a PBIS Coordinator, and he shared some wisdom and insights into how PBIS can be implemented effectively.

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Mr. Larry Carey is an educational consultant and owner of Larry Carey LTD. He is also in his first year as a Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports Coordinator in Columbus City Schools. Prior to this role, he was acting as a teacher on special assignment for the NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy. This exclusive fellowship selected only twelve educators across the country to learn the role of organizing and how to engage, assist, and support educators throughout the United States.

Mr. Carey’s journey began as a student in the Columbus City Schools, where he attended Indianola Elementary, Johnson Park Middle, and graduated from Eastmoor Academy in 2003. Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree in Communication, it only took him a few years to realize that he was not walking in his purpose. In 2014, after working as a Pre-Kindergarten instructional assistant and library aide, Mr. Carey enrolled back in college to obtain his teaching license to pursue his goal as an Early Childhood Educator.

During the pandemic, Mr. Carey, an admitted perfectionist, began trying to find other ways to make sure his scholars were learning. He created a YouTube channel for those students who may not have had access to a computer but had access to a tablet or phone. He also began completing the final touches to his book Alliteration Boosts Communication: The ABCs of Vocabulary.

After publishing his book, Mr. Carey created companion activities that align to the National Standards for fellow educators that range from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade. A vast number of the activities focus on letter recognition, sounds, colors, identifying what is occurring in the illustrations, and of course, vocabulary! For the higher grade levels, vocabulary and creating their own alliteration is key to mastery.

Hal Bowman has been a teacher/educator for more than 20 years. He talked about his professional development opportunities, his Facebook group, Men In Education, and more. Hal has a deep passion to inspire and encourage men in education. While reaching all students, he has a passion to reach boys who need a male mentor in their life. It's all discussed on this episode!

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Connect with Hal Bowman

After spending over 2 decades in the classroom, Hal Bowman has been crisscrossing the United States, helping tens of thousands of teachers and school leaders understand and shift classroom and campus culture. His work around school culture and its importance in creating the most effective environment for student success and teacher retention is unmatched.  Hal’s programs include Teach Like A Rock Star, Be The One, Change a Kid’s Life, and Culture Shock. Due in part to Hal’s masterful delivery and the programs’ next-generation, envelope-pushing content, these research-based events for educators, administrators, and students have remained highly sought after by schools and districts across the country for over 15 years. Hal is also the founder of Men in Education - a private Facebook group that empowers men in education with support, personal growth, professional development, and community. Additionally, his books, Dear Teacher: 100 Days of Inspirational Quotes and Anecdotes and Thank You, Teacher are #1 best sellers and available everywhere books are sold. 

Today I spoke with Andrea Bitner, a teacher for over 20 years! She is an EL (English Learner) teacher. She shared her knowledge and wisdom, including three important things that should be practiced by teachers: respect, acceptance, and admiration. Andrea also discussed lessons that all teachers can learn from the EL teacher down the hall.

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Andrea Bitner is an educator, author, and speaker. She lives in Philadelphia, PA. She has worked with students in grades K-12 throughout her twenty-two years in public education from all around the world. Her first book, Take Me Home, was published by Austin Macauley in July of 2021. Take Me Home is the true story of 11 of Andrea's former EL students who give a first-hand account of what it's really like to become bilingual in America. She is also a co-author of Chip Baker’s The Impact of Influence-Volume 3 and Dr. Rick Jetter’s 100 No-Nonsense Things ALL School Leaders Shout STOP Doing. She teaches daily, and travels the country speaking and teaching educators how to teach and reach EL students, and effectively communicate with EL families!

Connect with Andrea Bitner:

On today's episode, Brian Miller stopped by to chat. Brian, an elementary school principal (at the time of this recording), didn't actually plan to be an educator. Yet, he's still making a difference as an educator of 15 years. Hear what he has to say on this episode!

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Brian is a current elementary but soon to be middle school principal. He is a writer, speaker, and podcaster who is dedicated to building and maintaining healthy school cultures through purposeful, personal, and practical strategies.

On today's episode, I spoke with Alfonso Mendoza, an educator, husband, and host of the My Ed Tech Life Podcast! Fonz shared his podcasting journey and wisdom he's learned along the way. He discussed how podcasting, both creating and consuming, is personal development. 

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Connect with Alfonso Mendoza

Alfonso Mendoza Jr., a passionate educator with over a decade of experience, holds a Master’s in Educational Technology and is in his third year of doctoral studies. With the aim of providing engaging and effective learning experiences, Mr. Mendoza has served as the district Instructional Technologist for six years now, equipping teachers with tech tools to enhance student learning. His commitment to education does not end there; for the last six years, he actively participates on many social media platforms sharing his expertise through podcasts, blogs, and other education-related posts.

Jeff Kubiak is a father, husband, educator, and author of three children's books. Today he stopped by to chat about his work, especially his latest book, Monsters Have Manners, which was illustrated by his son, Braden. We had a great discussion about passion, reaching students through read alouds, and more. Check it out, connect with Jeff, and get his books, One Drop of Kindness, It's Me, and Monsters Have Manners! . . .

Jeff is an educator, author and speaker from Northern California. He taught for ten years in grades 4, 5, and 6, and now serves youth as an Elementary School VP. Monsters Have Manners is Jeff’s 3rd book, but his first project that he’s worked on with his son Braden. Braden drew all of the monsters between the ages of 8-12. Jeff lives in Davis with his wife Piper; daughter Keeley, and son Braden. They love to travel as much as possible, especially to areas with beaches, water, and hiking trails. Jeff focuses his book topics on kindness, compassion, inclusion, equity and ways to help other people. He loves to travel to schools and talk about writing, literature, improving mental health, and other areas. Jeff loves to visit schools and speak on various topics.

Melisa Hayes is a passionate educator who serves her students by really working hard to make school fun and memorable. As a second grade teacher, she is focused on giving her second graders the best year ever by providing experiences and memorable lessons. Check out the episode and share it out! . . .

Melisa Hayes is a 2nd grade teacher for Hilliard City Schools. She is also an Ambassador of the following organizations: Microsoft Flip, Night Zookeeper, Wakelet, & recently Teach Better Ambassador.

In this thought-provoking podcast episode, I delve into the recent comments of Meghan Trainor. I explore how her personal attacks on teachers and the education system demonstrate ignorance towards a profession that deserves more appreciation and praise. I analyze and expose Meghan's half-hearted apology and how her comment contributes to the growing teacher shortage and negative attitudes towards public schools. Join me in this enlightening conversation as I discuss the importance of changing public mindsets and appreciating the value of education. Whether you're a teacher, parent, or simply curious about education, this episode on Meghan Trainor's comments will leave you with a new perspective.

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast, he is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

On today's episode I spoke with Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez. An educator for 30 years, Dr. Perez has lots of wisdom that she shared on this episode. Moments of success and moments of failures turned into lessons: this and more can be heard on this episode. Check it out and share with a friend! 

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Texas-born & raised, Dr. Amy Perez is currently in her 30th year of public education where she has served as a General Ed. Teacher, an SLP, a Diagnostician, a SPED Supervisor, Assistant Principal, Principal and a Director of Special Programs. Her passions are communication, laughter and using those things to inspire & empower others. As a learner, she considers herself an "Experience Expert." Life is short but our influence is never ending, so I seek joy and create smiles through connecting, sharing, and highlighting the best in others.

On today's episode I spoke with Mike Szczepnanik, an educator for over 20 years. He's seen a lot and learned a lot, and today, Mike shared some of his wisdom and insights into education. He's a fantastic educator, passionate about what he does. Check it out and share with a friend!

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Mike Szczepanik earned his BS in Biology from SUNY Geneseo and MS in Science Education from SUNY Brockport.  Mike has been teaching Biology at Hilton High School since the spring of 1996 and he is involved in numerous science teaching associations including the NYS Master Teacher Program, Science Teachers Association of New York State, National Association for Biology Teachers, the National Science Teachers Association, and the Cornell Institute for Biology Teachers.  In 2019, Mike was awarded the National Association of Biology Teachers, Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for NY State.  In the fall of 2020, he became his district’s 7-12 Science Program Coordinator.  Over the past two years he has been a Teach Better Ambassador and an instructional coaching at his district.  He has presented numerous times at state and national conferences about Going Gradeless in a grades based school.

Mike Szczepanik enjoys fitness, especially running and was the Girls Track and Cross Country Coach at Hilton High School for 20 years.  Mike spends his free time with his nine year old twin boys Evan and Sebastian and his wife Kelly, exploring, playing and being active.

Today, I am celebrating my 50th episode of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast! I hope you will listen and celebrate with me!

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast, he is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

Jillian DuBois dropped by to chat with me today, and I had such a great conversation. We focused on creativity, reflection, and her work, which includes several children's books! Listen. Follow Jillian. Be on the look out for lots of #impartEDjoy!

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Jillian is a ’redesigned’ educator who has been in the elementary classroom for 20+ years and is a Professional Learning Specialist with Forward Edge/Edge•U. Her distinct passion is to infuse joy in educational leadership by focusing efforts on serving + using her voice to foster hope by celebrating diversity.

She is a published author and illustrator of several children’s books with SEL messages. She is the Chief Optimistic Originator of Imparted Joy LLC, in Clearwater, FL, and provides guidance to help others spark their stories with heart + confidence.

Mickey Smith Jr. is my guest today. He is a many things, but as he shares, it's not what we DO, but what we BE that makes us who we are, which in turn can help us see our sound. We had a great conversation about passion, music, and authenticity. Check it out and share this episode with a friend!

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Welcome back to The Shut Up and Teach Podcast!  Today it's my turn to discuss my theme song for this school year, Cinderella Man by Eminem. Tracey and I have a pretty deep conversation about what the song means to me. Please join us! 

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Connect with Tracey Taylor on Twitter: @traceyLtaylor 

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. He is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

No dis or offense to those who pick #OneWord at the beginning of the year. As Tracey and I explain, that is a process that doesn't work for us as individuals. At the beginning of this current school year, we decided to try something different: pick theme songs to help keep us on track and focused. Today, Tracey talks about her theme song, Evolution by Joyner Lucas. 

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Connect with Tracey on Twitter: @traceyLtaylor 

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. He is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

Jed Dearbury is my next guest. Jed is an educator, artists, author, and an advocate. Our conversation was deep and centered around balance, intentionality, and more. I hope you will check it out. 

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Jed Dearybury (he, him, his) began his education career in 2001. He was featured in GQ Magazine as Male Leader of the Year, met President Obama as the South Carolina honoree of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and was named top 5 finalist for SC Teacher of the Year. Since leaving 2nd grade in 2015 he has been leading professional development across the country, and training the next generation of educators through teaching in Higher Ed. He published his first book,The Playful Classroom in June 2020. His second book, The Courageous Classroom, released in July 2021. Book number three, The Playful Life, was released in October 2022. 

Jon Konen is my guest for this episode. Jon is currently a high school principal, although he has served in multiple roles in educations, including a fifth grade teacher and a district superintendent. He shared a lot of wisdom and lessons he has learned over the course of his 25 year career as an educator. 

Check it out! 

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Connect with Jon on Twitter: @JonKonen Connect with Jon on Instagram: @jon_konen

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Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. He is the author of the book A Place They Love. Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala.

Erin Hoffman Austin stopped by to chat with me today. We discussed her role as an educator who is making art history and learning a second language relevant to her students. She is a music enthusiast, so we also discussed music's place in the classroom.

Connect with Erin.

Erin E.H. Austin is a National Board Certified French teacher in Colorado and the 2023 Teacher of the Year for the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers. She holds a B.A. in both French and Art Education, a M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction, and graduate certificates in French Studies and Gifted, Creative, & Talented Education. She was a NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow in 2018 and now presents nationally on global education-related topics. In addition to doing contract writing work, Ms. Austin is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Original World Language Resources: How to Open, Fill, and Grow a Successful Online Curriculum Store (Routledge, 2021), and her next book, Going Global in the World Language Classroom: Ideas, Strategies, and Resources for Teaching and Learning With the World is due out late 2023. She has been a featured guest on many education podcasts and leads advocacy work for National Board Certified Teachers in Colorado. Ms. Austin is the immediate past chair of the associate board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, an organization she has been involved in since 2005, and she sits on the board of the Abundant Yoga Community, a young non-profit in western Wisconsin whose mission is to bring yoga to those with financial or geographic barriers.

Today I spoke with Mark Henry, a special education paraprofessional. Mark and I had a great conversation about inclusion, special education, and building healthy relationships with students. Check it out!

Hey everyone. I realize it's been a hot minute since I've shared anything, so here I am. Today I talk about the backstory, message, and process of writing my book, A Place They Love. This book will challenge you, motivate you, encourage you, and validate you as a teacher, so pick up a copy today!

Here is how you can purchase my book.

On this episode, I spoke with Dr. Shelley Blackwell. She is an MTSS Literacy Support Specialist~SLP.D. MTSS/MLSS stands for Multi-Tiered/Layered Systems of Support, but what exactly is its purpose and intent? Dr. Blackwell says that its purpose is student learning. Listen to learn more, including misconceptions surrounding MTSS/MLSS.

On this episode of the Shut Up and Teach Podcast, I talked with Debbie Tannenbaum, an educator for more than 20 years, currently working as Tech Coach at an elementary school. Debbie is beyond tech savvy. She is a valuable resource - her book, her blogs, her speaking engagements, and her presence on social media is having a solid impact on educators around the world. 

I am excited to sit down and record a conversation with my colleague and college friend, Deanna Barela. She is a Transformational Coach at our school, Kirtland ES. She highlighted what it means to be a TOPS School, and some of the lessons she's learned in her teaching career. Thank you for listening!

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