The Unteachables Podcast #142: My English teacher saved my life (and she will never know it). The episode you need to hear if you've ever doubted your impact.
This episode is personal. Raw. Vulnerable. And honestly… one of the most important stories I’ve ever shared.
So if you’re a teacher who’s ever doubted the impact you’re having, especially with those students who seem like they couldn’t care less? This one’s for you.
Today, I’m taking you back to my own high school days. Not the shiny, well-behaved student success story, but the version of me who was skipping class, stinking like cigarettes, and seriously thinking about dropping out altogether.
And then… there was Miss Povey. My English teacher.
The one who saw me. Who actually saw me.
I’ve shared little bits of this before, but never like this.
Inside the episode, I’ll walk you through:
- What was really going on for me during those high school years
- The moment I nearly dropped out and the one thing she said that changed everything
- The ripple effect of her belief in me (spoiler alert: it’s why this whole Unteachables thing even exists)
This is for every teacher who's ever wondered if that one sentence you wrote on a kid’s paper, or that 30-second conversation you had, really mattered.
I’m here to tell you, it freaking does.
What you’ll learn:
- Why one teacher’s belief can be enough to change a life
- The impact of seeing a student beyond their behaviour
- How academic disengagement is often masking something deeper
- A powerful reminder that your presence, your consistent, persistent presence, is more impactful than any program or policy
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:
- Shop all resources
- Join The Behaviour Club
- My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management
- The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp
- Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change'
Connect with me:
- Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
- Check out my website