Difficult Student Podcast
1) Fixing Special Education
Karen Mayer Cunningham (Special Education Boss), shares her journey into the field of education, driven by personal experiences with her child's disability. She discusses the complexities of the IEP p...Show More
2) Representation In Classrooms Changes Everything
Edgar Palacios (Education advocate & nonprofit founder) shares how Latino representation in schools, identity, vulnerability, and storytelling can inspire educators, empower youth, and drive lasting c...Show More
3) Are We Setting New Teachers Up to Burn Out?
Dr. Michael Vallejo (Professor of Teacher Education) shares his journey into education, highlighting the transformative power of teaching and the importance of mentorship. He discusses the challenges ...Show More
4) How to Keep Your Passion Alive as an Educator
Joey Sims shares his journey as a special education teacher, balancing family life, and the importance of building relationships with students. He discusses his experiences with ADHD, his teaching phi...Show More
5) How Do We Deliver Real Inclusion While Supporting Teachers in Strained Schools?
SPED teacher and board trustee James Forsythe shares challenges and solutions for sustaining inclusion, building trust, and keeping teachers thriving amid shrinking resources and growing student needs...Show More
6) Is Community Schooling the Missing Link?
In this episode, Dean of Students Kamilah Todd shares powerful insights on community schooling, teacher authority, and supporting students’ basic needs. From rural Louisiana to urban classrooms, we ex...Show More
7) Can Smart Grouping Build Classroom Community?
I sit down with Rob Stauffer, an international educator, to unpack why challenging behavior is communication, how to build belonging through smart grouping, and what vulnerability looks like in real c...Show More
8) 3 Tips to Build Positive Student Relationships
Learn classroom management strategies to build positive student relationships, improve behavior, and create a safe, supportive learning environment.
9) Why Do So Many Teachers Struggle With Fitness?
In this solo episode, I open up about my real journey with health as an educator, father, and now grandfather. From growing up without strong examples of fitness, to juggling family and teaching in my...Show More
10) Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Educators
A roundtable of educator-creators with guests Eric Glenn (MS math), Mash Makhlyagina (SPED advocate/coach), and Laura Vazquez (dual-immersion 6th grade) swap real-world stories about how social media ...Show More