950 - Valuing Students and Teachers: Become a Hope Agent

950 - Valuing Students and Teachers: Become a Hope Agent

July 20, 2026 · 18 min · Season 17 · Episode 950

About this episode

Debbie Simões discusses the importance of valuing students and teachers to transform classrooms and combat burnout.

What students achieve is tied to whether they feel valued — and the same is true for the teachers who serve them. In this Motivational Monday conversation, coach and author Debbie Simões (founder of Best Questers, co-author of High Five to Thrive ) shows teachers how valuing students transforms a classroom, even on the hardest days. Drawing on years in inner-city classrooms, Debbie shares how to see past a child's behavior to the person of value underneath, how to communicate to connect instead of to correct, and how to be a "hope agent" for yourself and your colleagues in a season of burnout and teacher shortages. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "communicate to connect" changes how kids respond to correction The difference between behavior-based praise and identity-based praise How to respond when a student is at their worst What it means to be a "hope agent" when your own tank is low The mantra that can transform a school: people of value who value people and add value to them Full show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e950 If this episode encouraged you, share it with a teacher friend and rate the show wherever you're listening.

More episodes of 10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher podcast page.