The Present Teacher Podcast

#194: Setting Up Your Classroom Intentionally Prevents 90% of Teacher Problems

Most classroom problems don't begin in October. They begin before students ever walk through the door. When I was a first-year teacher, I spent my entire summer decorat

#193: Good Teachers Don’t Wait Until Their Classroom Is Completely Set Up to Enjoy Their Summer

What if spending your entire summer in your classroom isn't what makes you a great teacher? For years, I believed that the best teachers sacrificed their summers to prep

#192: You Are NOT The Same Teacher As Last Year

Last year does not define the teacher you are becoming. Maybe you were non-renewed. Maybe you received a difficult observation. Maybe you were placed on an improvement p

#191: You Don’t Need More Time in Your Classroom This Summer: You Need a Plan

With back to school fast approaching, it's easy to feel like you're behind. You look at your classroom. You look at your to-do list. You look at the calendar. And suddenl

#190: How to Tell If a School Will Burn You Out Before You Accept the Job

So many teachers leave the profession… Not because they weren’t good teachers. But because they were in the wrong environment. In this episode, we’re talking about how

#189: Not Every School Deserves You (Let's Talk About It)

Not every school deserves you. And once you understand that… Your entire job search changes. In this episode, we’re talking about:   Why teachers feel pressure to fi

#188: You're Not Underqualified, You're Underselling Yourself

“I didn’t get hired because I’m not experienced enough.” If that thought has ever crossed your mind… This episode is for you. Because the truth is: You’re probably no

#187: You Should Be Interviewing the School Too (Not Just the Other Way Around)

Most teachers walk into interviews thinking: “I just need them to pick me.” But what if that mindset is exactly what’s holding you back? In this episode, we’re flippin

#186: If You're Saying This is Interviews You're Blending In

If you’ve ever Googled “teacher interview buzzwords”… This episode is for you. Because the phrases you think are helping you stand out… Might actually be the reason yo

#185: Desperation is Costing You Job Offers (Here's What to Do Instead)

You can say all the “right” answers in an interview… And still not get the job. Why? Because it’s not just about what you say. It’s about how you show up. In this ep

#184: The REAL Reason You're Not Getting Hired (No One Talks About This)

“I’ve applied to 30+ schools and nobody has hired me… what am I doing wrong?” If you’ve ever asked that question, this episode is for you. Because the truth is… You mi

#183: You Don't Need More Applications: You Need More Alignment

If you’ve been told to apply to as many teaching jobs as possible… This episode is going to challenge everything you’ve been taught. Because the teachers getting multip

#182: Why 'Just Get Your Foot In The Door' Is Terrible Advice for New Teachers

Everyone says the same thing to new teachers: “Just get your foot in the door.” But what if that advice is the exact reason so many teachers burn out in their first few

#181: Stop Applying to 30 Teacher Jobs: You're Doing it Wrong

If you’ve been applying to 20+ districts and hearing crickets, this episode is for you. Every year, I get messages from new teachers saying they’ve applied everywhere an

#176: Why You Are Being Judged For Setting Boundaries As a Teacher

If you’ve ever: • Declined summer school • Stopped staying late • Refused to work weekends • Asked to meet during contract hours instead of after And been told you’r

#175: You Were Trained to Feel Guilty for Leaving on Time

You Were Trained to Feel Guilty for Leaving on Time If you’ve ever walked to your car at contract time and felt that tightness in your chest… Like someone is watching.

#174: The Biggest Lie Teachers Are Taught About Hard Work

Teachers are told from the very beginning: “If you really care, you’ll sacrifice.” Stay late. Take work home. Be a team player. Do more. Give more. Sacrifice more.

#173: Burnout Isn’t a Time-Management Problem (It’s a Nervous System Problem)

Burnout Isn’t a Time-Management Problem (It’s a Nervous System Problem) You don’t need another planner. You don’t need more discipline. You don’t need to “try harder.”

#172: What “That Teacher Next Door” Actually Does Differently

You know the one. She leaves at contract time. Her classroom runs smoothly. She doesn’t look stressed. She’s planned ahead. She doesn’t bring work home. And you can

#171: Teacher Work-Life Balance Isn’t a Myth — It’s a Mindset

Is it really impossible to have work-life balance as a teacher… or were we just taught to believe that? In this episode, I’m unpacking one of the biggest lies in educati