The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast with Daniel Bauer Build Trust First, Curriculum Second with Joe LaTorre
Quick take: What if the key to student achievement wasn't curriculum coverage or test prep, but trust? Joe LaTorre's classroom proves that when you lead with relationships, kids show up, lean in, and thrive.
🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus MakerJoe LaTorre is a nationally recognized middle school teacher from Oceanside, NY. Known for building powerful classroom culture and eliminating discipline referrals, Joe helps students read 10–15 books a year, double the average. He's also the co-creator of the Bridges program, uniting students across racially and socioeconomically segregated communities. Joe is an award-winning educator, speaker, and proud Ruckus Maker.
🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧠 Key Insight #1: The Trust Shortcut- What's broken: Prioritizing procedures and curriculum in week one.
- The shift: Start with community, vulnerability, and visible trust.
- Impact: Students buy in early, behavior issues drop to nearly zero, and academic outcomes skyrocket.
- What's broken: Teachers as compliance officers.
- The shift: Teachers act as coaches, tailoring experiences to student needs.
- Impact: More student ownership, deeper engagement, and drastically reduced AI misuse.
- What's broken: Racial and economic isolation between school communities.
- The shift: The Bridges program partners students across districts for shared learning and leadership.
- Impact: Authentic friendships, empathy, and real-world leadership skills built over years.
"Start with the stretching. Trust is the classroom version of that. If you build it first, you go farther." – Joe LaTorre
📈 Your Do School Different ChallengeReady to implement these ideas? Start here:
- Tomorrow: Begin your class by explaining why today's learning matters — in their terms.
- This Month: Run a trust-building circle with authentic, scaffolded questions.
- This Semester: Pilot a cross-classroom or cross-campus exchange to build bridges.
🌟 Get the full episode transcript: Read it here
👩🏻💻 Follow Joe LaTorre:
- Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X7LDuBcPMw,
- Website: www.JosephLaTorre.com
- Instagram: @thejoelatorre
- Linktree: linktr.ee/TheJoeLaTorre
If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning?
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🎧 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership With:- ODP Business Solutions®
Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments.
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- IXL
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- PLAY PIPER
Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum.
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