Welcome, incredible educators, to a space where feelings aren't just allowed, they're essential. This isn't your average one-sided podcast. We're not just here to expose issues; we're here to ignite solutions. Because the truth is, as educators, we often feel left out of the conversation, when in reality, we are the conversation. We are in need.
My superpower? Helping you discover yours. I specialize in empowering educators to see their incredible potential and chart a course for lasting, impactful change. Why? Because there are far too many one-size-fits-all programs out there that stifle the unique brilliance of teachers.
I'm a disruptor; I've always been. Cookie-cutter approaches don't resonate with me, and I know they don't truly serve you either. To be a better teacher, coach, or advocate, we need differentiation and a deep understanding of ourselves. That understanding often gets overlooked, sacrificed for scripted programs that benefit everyone but the people on the front lines.
Think of it like this: You call a representative for help with a complex issue, but they keep reading from a script, never truly grasping your unique problem. We do this far too often in education, and frankly, who benefits when our students aren't learning? No one.
The Great Educational Disconnect
I'm seeing a significant shift in education, and I know I'm not alone. It seems that countless jobs have been created to address student performance gaps – specifically, the inability to perform on assessments, read, or do basic math. And who's filling these roles? People outside the classroom, telling those inside what's happening. This disconnect is a significant reason for the challenges we face.
While conversations about improving education often circulate, they rarely return to the fundamental reason teachers struggle: their training. I've been a teacher, and now I'm a literacy coach, a behavior coach, and an advocate. When supporting teachers, we must put that teacher's lens back on. Supporting them with our own biases, expecting them to do precisely what we did to land a position outside the classroom, isn't effective.
The problem isn't just the sheer number of outside-the-classroom positions; it's the alarming lack of adequate training that bridges the gap for those entering the classroom. My very position, unapologetically, is a direct result of a failing literacy system. We're trying to correct it with literacy coaching, but we're often neglecting the foundational, good teacher practices that should be instilled in pre-service programs.
Rethinking Our Approach: Beyond Phonics to the Whole Child
Why did it take so long to realize students aren't reading effectively? We have reading workshops, phonics programs galore – phonics, phonics, phonics! Yet, we're often stripping away comprehension and other vital elements, perhaps because students are being "phonics-ed to death." The real issue might not even be phonics itself, but our approach to education with this new generation of students. (But that's a topic for another episode!)
My core question is: Why aren't teachers trained to be the absolute best in the classroom?
I recall a data meeting where we triangulated information and realized our students weren't progressing. It was up to us to devise new plans. We had the opportunity to make a shift and move forward as a community. Yet, in my extensive experience with over a thousand educators, I haven't encountered a program that truly empowers teachers to advocate for their students and develop approaches tailored to the unique individuals in front of them. If you know of one, please share your system – I want to learn!
My approach is different: we have to figure out what works for this school, these students. I've seen schools "zero-based" – forced to reapply for their jobs – and while it shakes things up, ultimately, who truly benefits? When we adopt purely systematic approaches, we risk overlooking the incredible "amazingness" (yes, I'm making it a word!) of each student. Education needs a massive shift, and that's where I come in.
The Energized Educator: Transforming the Energy of Education
I am The Energized Educator. It's not just about being hyped or upbeat, though that's part of my nature. My actual goal is to transform the energy of education. Period.
I want educators to realize there's a spark in every student that can dim when we don't teach them in the ways they truly need. I'm not saying pedagogical practices are inherently bad, or that what we're doing is wrong. The energy we bring into our schools needs to shift.
While "Energized Educator" might suggest my upbeat personality, there's a deeper meaning. As I learned in science (and yes, I passed!), energy is never lost; it's transferred. If I can transfer an energy of abundance, of knowledge, of "I can do this, I have to work with my students" to a teacher, then I'm doing my job.
I don't just show up with a curriculum and expect it to be absorbed. My work explores the quantitative and qualitative aspects of education, as that's what truly drives our students forward. They deserve that extra level of compliance, that deep understanding. Big curriculum companies benefit from global scalability, but what happens when the curriculum becomes a rigid blueprint rather than a flexible guide?
This journey is about unlocking potential, embracing disruption, and truly seeing the individual. Are you ready to ignite your superpower?
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