Teachers on Fire

JEFFERY FRIEDEN is a teacher, blogger, presenter, and podcaster. He enjoys connecting teachers and building professional relationships in order to intensify impact on learning. He is also the author of Make Them Process It: Uncovering New Value in the Writer's Notebook, published in 2017. In our conversation, Jeffery shares how and why he was bluntly called out by a neighboring teacher and explains how that incident contributed to his personal and professional growth. He discusses what overzealous educators can do when colleagues have heard enough, and talks about the powerful impact of finding your tribe in a professional learning network. He goes on to describe a personal passion outside of education, identifies the productivity hack that allows him to create content as a husband and father of four, and lists some of the resources that shape his thinking and inspire his practice today. Connect with Jeffery: On Twitter at https://twitter.com/MakeThemMastrIt On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/makethemmasterit/ On his blog at https://makethemmasterit.com/ At his podcast: https://makethemmasterit.com/podcast/ Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org) 

JUSTIN BELT is a husband, father of five, and teacher of thousands! He’s an aspiring leader, innovator, musician, and he’s part of our great writing team over at the Teachers on Fire Magazine on Medium. Last but not least, Justin is the host and producer of The WHYcast, a podcast about finding and clarifying your WHY. In our conversation, Justin shares candidly about the challenges and importance of connecting with hard-to-reach students. He talks about the mission and vision of The WhyCast, and describes what is setting him on fire about education today. Justin also describes the personal passions that bring him alive as a human being outside of the classroom, and shares some of the resources that shape his thinking and inspire his practice today. Connect with Justin: On Twitter @Class_ClassMr_B On Instagram @IAm.MisterB On Medium at @TheWhySeeker At his podcast @TWhyCast Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org) 

JANELLE McLAUGHLIN is a keynote speaker, education consultant and strategist, and educational leadership coach. She is a former classroom teacher, district administrator, and high ability coordinator. She loves to learn, laugh, connect, and make completos! In our conversation, Janelle recalls the most difficult period in her education career. She describes her passion and vision for what professional development can and should look like, and unpacks a professional goal for 2019. Finally, she shares some of the voices and resources that inspire her professional growth today. Connect with Janelle: On Twitter @Ms_Mac4  On Instagram @Janelle_McL On LinkedIn at Janelle McLaughlin At her site at Innovative Education Solutions Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

JORGE VALENZUELA is both a graduate teaching assistant and doctoral student at Old Dominion University and the lead coach at Lifelong Learning Defined. He is a national faculty member of the Buck Institute for Education and a national teacher effectiveness coach for the Engineering by Design curriculum. His work is aimed at helping educators understand and implement computational thinking, computer science, STEM/STEAM, and project-based learning. Jorge is a national presenter, ISTE author, and frequent contributor to books, academic journals, how-to blogs, and webinars. He is also the 2018 awardee of ISTE’s Computer Science Excellence Award and recipient of the Lynn Barrier Engineering Leadership Award for his contributions to STEM education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In our conversation, Jorge talks about how a lack of confidence held him back from sharing his learning with his PLN. He offers some sage advice about how to get started with project-based learning, and describes what excites him about computational thinking in the classroom. He also shares a productivity habit, a professional goal, and the voices that shape his thinking and inspire his practice today. Connect with Jorge: On Twitter @JorgeDoesPBL  On Instagram @JorgeDoesPBL On his blog at https://www.lifelonglearningdefined.com/. Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

SHANE LAWRENCE is a high school educator in Alberta, Canada who specializes in film studies but also teaches digital media and art courses at the 7th and 8th grade levels. Shane is the host and producer of The Ed Podcast. In our conversation, Shane shares candidly about how the extraordinary demands of a musical production once stretched him to a breaking point. He tells the origin story of The Ed Podcast and describes his mission as a podcaster today. Shane talks about what is exciting him in education, the new course that will teach him the most in the coming school year, and the key to overcoming imposter syndrome. As we conclude, he also shares the voices and resources that are shaping his thinking and inspiring his practice today. Connect with Shane: On Twitter @TheEdPodcast On Instagram @TheEdPodcast On his podcast: The Ed Podcast Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org) 

LATEZEON BALENTINE is a mom of three boys, teacher, and founder of September Chances, Inc. - a nonprofit organization created to show the joy in reading and increase reading fluency and literacy. Latezeon is also a Donors Choose Teacher Ambassador, dog lover, an advocate for mental health awareness, and blogger. And she’s got a book on the way, stay tuned! In our conversation, Latezeon discusses the adversity that she and other educators face in her state and district. She’s definitely “in it for the outcome - NOT the income,” she laughs. Thankfully, things have improved from her first year, when she was hired and compensated as a substitute teacher - but expected to do the work of a full-time teacher. Latezeon shares her commitment to growing the joy of reading for learners, her passion for supporting other educators through Donors Choose, and her dedication to removing the stigmas around mental illness.  Connect with Latezeon: On Twitter @LHBLovesEdu On Instagram @LHBlovesEDU On her blog: https://lhblovesedu.home.blog/. Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org) 

SCOTT NUNES is a dad, teacher, coach, Schoology ambassador, and CCCUE board member. He’s also Nearpod certified, MIE certified, a site leader, rapper, and co-host of the TNT EdTech podcast! In our conversation, Scott describes the challenging experience that led him from a career in design to education. He talks about the culture of celebration, music, and freestyle rap that inhabits his classroom, and explains the vision behind the TNT EdTech podcast. He also describes why he plans to do more blogging, shares his favourite beach activity, and credits the voices that shape his thinking and inspire his professional practice today. Connect with Scott: On Twitter @MrNunesteach On Instagram @IAmMrEdtech On the TNT Edtech podcast: https://sites.google.com/view/tntedtech Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org) 

LYNMARA COLON is a dynamic leader committed to student learning and growth. She is passionate about technology, access, and equity for all students, and was named in the NSBA 20 to Watch for Innovative Practices. As a former teacher, assistant principal, and principal, Lynmara is focused on building healthy cultures by leading with a Disney mentality where all stakeholders are welcomed.  Lynn holds two master’s degrees: a degree in curriculum and instruction, and the other in educational leadership. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in education through Old Dominion University. She is also the co-author of the recently published Empower Our Girls: Opening the Door for Girls to Achieve More. In our conversation, Lynn describes the importance of building rapport and relationship on school teams before introducing new policies and practices. She talks about the heart and message of Empower Our Girls, and also shares her passion for changing mindsets around English Language Learners in our schools. You’ll also hear about Lynn’s professional goals, productivity habits, personal interests, and the voices that inspire her practice today. Lynmara brings full value in this conversation - I loved it! Follow Lynn on Twitter @TheColon_S and on her blog at https://www.leadwithmagic.com/. Connect with Lynmara: On her blog: https://www.leadwithmagic.com/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheColon_s Empower Our Girls on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2xjf56L Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org) 

ALICIA RAY is the Lead Digital Learning & Media Innovation Facilitator at Surry County Schools, NC. Possibly THE most committed reader and reviewer of the education books from Dave Burgess Consulting, Alicia is also the author of the soon-to-be-released Educational Eye Exam! Follow Alicia on Twitter @ILuvEducating and on her blog at https://aliciaray.com/. In our conversation, Alicia shares candidly about the challenge of confronting professional insecurities in the presence of peers who seem to have it altogether. She explains the why, what, and how of her incredible book review habit, and previews her own upcoming book, Educational Eye Exam. She points to the personal passions and productivity habits that work for her, and shouts out the voices and resources that shape her thinking and inspire her practice today. Finally, we end the conversation with a good laugh about what The Office would look like in a school context!  Connect with Alicia: On her blog: https://aliciaray.com/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/iluveducating On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iluveducating/ Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Stand Up (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org) 

KRISTEN NAN is a 3rd Grade teacher who serves near Pittsburgh, PA. She's a blogger, presenter, and award winning educator for innovative practices. Kristen describes herself as a believer in goodness, idea generator, risk taker, and disruptor in education!  Follow Kristen on Twitter @nankr1120 and on her blog at https://kristennan.com/. In our conversation, Kristen discusses the challenge of always having a tsunami of creative ideas: the people around us won’t always share our enthusiasm! She defines GRIT (goal setting, responsibility, imagining excellence, and a tough mindset) and explains why it’s so critical for educators to model grit for our learners. She also talks about her upcoming book, shares some of her personal passions and productivity habits, and lists a few of the education voices and resources that inspire her practice today. Connect with Kristen: On her blog: https://kristennan.com/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nankr1120 On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nankr1120/ Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Stand Up (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)