In this powerful episode, host Jacob Chastain sits down with Dr. John B. King Jr., the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education under President Obama, to discuss his new book Teacher by Teacher.

They explore Dr. King's journey from classroom teacher to national education leader, offering a rare insider’s perspective on the state of American education.

Together, they unpack the challenges educators face today, including the growing politicization of the profession and its impact on schools and communities. A must-listen for anyone passionate about teaching, policy, and the future of education.

John B. King Jr. served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education. Over the course of his extensive and influential career in public education, he has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal, the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner, a college professor, and the president and CEO of the Education Trust, a national education civil rights organization.

King is currently the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. Both of King’s parents were career New York City public school educators.

SPONSOR LINK: The School Me Podcast from NEA

Hello everyone! In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we dive into one of the most vital—and often overlooked—elements of teaching success: building genuine, lasting partnerships with parents. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator, gaining parent support can transform your classroom culture, student outcomes, and your overall teaching experience.

Join us as we explore five actionable steps to connect with parents on a deeper level: Invite, Communicate, Extend, Follow-Up, and Educate. These steps go beyond surface-level interactions and help foster real trust, meaningful collaboration, and shared investment in student success.

Tune in to learn how to move from parent contact to true parent partnership—and why this shift is essential for modern educators.

Are you currently working on building parent relationships or preparing for future connections?

Hello everyone! What a title for a podcast. But, this is a real one. No guest, just me (Jacob Chastain,) the reality of changes in my life, and my continued frustration with the discussions around education.

For followers of the show, you have seen a lot of "Greatest Hits" episodes dropping. This is due for a lot of reasons that I go into, but the short of it is that life has thrown some major curveballs my way and it has been hard to balance everything. I am slowly getting there, but some things take time.

This episode details changes in my life and where I am finding it hard to navigate the changing landscape of discourse in education. Come along and dialogue with me!

So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

In part 1 of the podcast, we dove deep into the increasingly alarming practice of talking about students as if they are data points and not children. We discussed why we need to humanize our classrooms, and how to think about our school culture in a way that fosters equitable practices.

In part 2, we took a look at some practices we are letting happen in our classes and schools that are hurting students, and what to do about them.

And now in part 3, we are wrapping it all together in a discussion about why learning should be joyful—for teachers and students—and should drive us into the beauty and gift that is TEACHING.

Do not miss it!

Enjoy!

So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

In part 1 of the podcast, we dove deep into the increasingly alarming practice of talking about students as if they are data points and not children. We discussed why we need to humanize our classrooms, and how to think about our school culture in a way that fosters equitable practices.

Today, we take a look at some practices we are letting happen in our classes and schools that are hurting students, and what to do about them.

Among other topics, we hit on:

• Why breaking everything into parts makes learning harder for students
• Why “training” is not professional learning
• How modeling can elevate your lessons
• What it takes to begin innovating as a teacher, and as a student

Do not miss it!

Enjoy!

So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

To my delight, Regie is just as honest and passionate in person as she is in her many books. She doesn’t waste time in our talk getting to the heart of the matter, which is that if we want to make an impact on kids in a positive way, we can’t see them as numbers, or data points, or problems. If we want true equity in our schools and classrooms, we have to see them as PEOPLE first.

We have to be energetic if we want them to care about the class.

We have to get them to feel loved and comfortable in our spaces.

We have to allow them to be themselves, in their writing, and in their reading.

We have to humanize school, and use research supported practices to move them in meaningful ways.

Together, we address these topics and many more in this 3 part discussion, so do not miss a minute of it!

Enjoy!

To listen to my talks with other literacy giants, such as Kelly Gallagher, Donalyn Miller, Penny Kittle, Mary Howard and Laura Robb, click here.

About Regie: REGIE ROUTMAN has more than forty-five years of experience working in diverse, under-performing schools across the U.S. and Canada as an educational leader, mentor teacher, literacy coach, classroom teacher, and teacher of students with learning differences. Her current work involves on-site demonstrations of highly effective literacy and leadership practices and side-by-side mentoring and coaching of principals, administrators, and lead teachers in order to improve reading and writing engagement, achievement, and enjoyment—across the curriculum–for all learners. Her many research-based books and resources have supported hundreds of thousands of teachers, principals, and educators at all levels to create and sustain trusting, intellectual school cultures where hearing all the voices and ongoing, professional learning are priorities. Regie’s most recent book is Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence, and Equity for All Learners. (Stenhouse, 2018) For full information on Regie’s publications including her Transforming Our Teaching video-based, online literacy series, her PD offerings, and blogs, see www. regieroutman.org

Hello everyone! Today, I am releasing what I believe is the most important podcast in the history of the show. Not only is it filled with honest and real world talk, it is filled with research based advice and insight from one of the premier thinkers on education today.

In this episode, I sit down with Alfie Kohn and discuss a range of topics, such as why grading hurts more than it helps,
why rewards do more harm than good, and why the testing obsession leads to bad teaching.

I consider these the three pillars of what holds up an outdated educational model, and Alfie Kohn is the main reason for that perspective. Without a doubt, Alfie has influenced my teaching in such fundamental ways, and I know his thinking, research, and expertise will encourage you to question some of the norms of our educational climate.

Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The most recent of his 14 books are SCHOOLING BEYOND MEASURE…And Other Unorthodox Essays About Education (2015) and THE MYTH OF THE SPOILED CHILD: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom About Children and Parenting (2014). Of his earlier titles, the best known are PUNISHED BY REWARDS (1993), NO CONTEST: The Case Against Competition (1986), UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING (2005), and THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE (1999).

In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we’re diving deep into the misconceptions about student behavior and how traditional behavior management approaches are falling short. Part 1 can be heard here.

I had the privilege of interviewing the authors of The Language of Behavior: A Framework to Elevate Student Support, a book that challenges the old paradigms and offers a new way to understand and address student needs.

We discuss how shifting our perspective on behavior can lead to more effective and empathetic support for our students, helping to create a more positive and productive school environment. Tune in to hear how this approach can revolutionize the way we manage behavior and elevate student success!

The authors of the book are Joshua Stamper and Dr. Kayla L. Lannin. Joshua is an educator and behavior specialist with years of experience in shaping school culture and supporting student development. Dr. Lannin is an expert in educational leadership, behavior science, and teacher training, with a focus on creating inclusive learning environments that foster success for all students.