In this episode of Teach, Lead, Innovate, host Dave Walker returns with a heartfelt reflection on one of the most essential yet overlooked elements of teaching and leadership: grace.

Education never slows down, but your soul needs you to. Dave explores what it truly means to give yourself grace, weaving personal reflection with insights from leading research on self-compassion, burnout, and teacher well-being.

Listeners will learn:

✅ What “grace” really looks like in a school setting

✅ Practical ways to set boundaries and celebrate micro-wins

✅ How teacher well-being directly impacts student success

✅ Why grace isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom

🎧 Whether you’re a teacher, leader, or lifelong learner, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and remember that presence matters more than perfection.

📚 Referenced Research

Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250.

Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111.

Jennings, P. A., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). The prosocial classroom: Teacher social and emotional competence in relation to student and classroom outcomes. Review of Educational Research, 79(1), 491–525.

Roeser, R. W., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., et al. (2013). Mindfulness training and reductions in teacher stress and burnout. Mindfulness, 4(3), 174–189.

Dreer, B. (2023). On the outcomes of teacher wellbeing: A systematic review of the literature. Frontiers in Education, 8, 1228688.

#TeachLeadInnovate #TeacherWellbeing #EducatorGrace #LeadWithLove #MindfulTeaching #PrincipalPodcast #EducationLeadership

Frozen Funds, Fierce Response

Welcome back to Teach, Lead, Innovate! In this episode, Dave Walker dives headfirst into the chaos caused by the Trump administration’s decision to freeze - and then slowly reinstate - over $6.8 billion in federal education funding.

What happened? Why did it matter? And what are educators, leaders, and innovators doing now to fight back and keep students at the center?

This episode pulls in quotes from major education voices like Randi Weingarten, Michael Roth, and Vassilis Syrmos, alongside powerful research from the Learning Policy Institute, NASFAA, and more.

Dave gets real about his own concerns, shares leadership lessons, and offers a rallying cry for every educator feeling discouraged by politics and policy. Because kids deserve better. And we’re the ones who will make sure they get it.

• The real impact of the 2025 federal funding freeze on K–12 schools and universities
• Direct quotes from national education leaders and researchers
• How teachers and school leaders are adapting and innovating
• Why public education needs champions now more than ever
• What you can do to advocate, innovate, and lead forward

✅ Apple Podcasts

✅ Spotify

✅ iHeartRadio

✅ All major streaming platforms

Carrasco, M. (2025). What cuts in Institute of Education Sciences funding mean for higher education research. NASFAA. https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/35685

Learning Policy Institute. (2025). How education funding matters: Lessons from NAEP, pandemic, and recovery efforts.https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/how-education-funding-matters

Maiers, S. (2025, July 25). Educators react to Trump administration unfreezing remaining federal funds. NEA Today. https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releases

Roth, M. (2025, July). Interview on The Gray Area podcast. Vox. https://www.vox.com/the-gray-area/421054/college-ai-attack-roth-wesleyan-trump

Syrmos, V. (2025, May). University of Hawaiʻi official statement. Civil Beat. https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/05/uh-scrambles-to-address-high-risk-financial-situation-amid-trump-cuts

Weingarten, R. (2025). Quote retrieved from The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jul/25/trump-administration-education-funds-released

In this episode, Dave Burgess shares his insights on transformative education, emphasizing the importance of creativity, risk-taking, and collaboration among educators. He discusses the concept of the "pirate classroom", where innovative teaching strategies are employed to engage students. Burgess also highlights the role of administration in supporting teachers, the necessity of self-care, and the value of embracing failure as a learning opportunity. The discussion culminates in an overview of Dave Burgess Consulting and its mission to amplify the voices of innovative educators.

Takeaways

* Incorporate various modalities in teaching for engagement.

* Taking risks in teaching can lead to unexpected rewards.

* Creating an intentional classroom environment is crucial.

* Support from administration enhances innovative teaching.

* Collaboration among educators fosters a positive culture.

* Embrace failure as a part of the learning process.

* Self-care is essential for educators to thrive.

* Building a community of connected educators is vital.

* Innovative teaching strategies can reduce behavior management issues.

* The journey of teaching is filled with feedback and growth.

Chapters

00:33 Introduction to Transformative Education

01:42 Creating the Ultimate Pirate Classroom

03:17 Taking Risks in Teaching

05:25 Navigating Administrative Support

09:50 Building Collaboration Among Educators

14:18 Weathering Stormy Teaching Days

19:55 Unexpected Moments in Professional Development

21:30 Self-Care for Educators

26:05 Overview of Dave Burgess Consulting

Connect with Dave Burgess:

👉 Visit Dave Burgess’s website: https://daveburgess.com

👉 Follow Dave on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/burgessdave

👉 Follow Dave on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dbc_inc

👉 Get Teach Like a Pirate and other books: https://daveburgess.com/books