Teaching Tales w/ Brent Coley

Aubrey Patterson, CEO and Chief Headache Remover of Warm Demanders, Inc., is back for another episode to share more tips and tools to help educators save time, be more effective, and encourage those they serve. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out Ep.122 for Part 1 of the conversation.For more information about Aubrey and his work, visit ⁠warmdemanders.com⁠.

Brent shares how a recent visit to McDonald’s can serve as a great reminder of what we want our schools to be like…and what we DON’T want to emulate.

In this episode, Brent shares an effective yet often-overlooked leadership strategy. In education (and life), circumstances are often less than ideal, and acknowledging that fact can have a positive effect on how those around us move forward, despite the challenges.

In this episode, Brent shares three short stories illustrating the power contained in even the briefest of our interactions with others, and how those moments can be life-changing for others…and ourselves.

Ever encountered someone who just exudes joy, who brightens your day when you’re in his or her presence? What if we were able to be that kind of person for those around us? In this episode, Brent shares a recent experience and how it can remind us that every one of us, regardless of position, has the opportunity to share contagious joy.

This episode will put a smile on your face as six amazing educators share heartwarming stories that remind us not to focus on the challenges of the job, but rather on the best parts of being a teacher.

Tisha is an innovative district Student Engagement & Professional Development Specialist, international speaker, Canva Learning Consultant, and Canva Education Creator from Southern Oregon. Previously, she served as a district Tech Integration Specialist and taught Family & Consumer Science for 25 years. Tisha is also a podcast host and author of Make Learning Magical. In this episode, Tisha and Brent talk about the importance of looking for the joy in what we do, as that joy can be contagious.

Allyson has been an educator for 24 years, an award-winning school leader for 19 of those years. She is passionate about students and staff and leads others through their strengths. Allyson is also the author of multiple books, most recently publishing Leading the Whole Teacher with Dave Burgess Consulting. In this episode, Allyson discusses the importance of knowing more than just content and the need to make those we serve feel safe, seen, and valued.

Kevin has been an award-winning teacher in Southern California for over 20 years, currently teaching classes in history and economics at the high school level. Having a strong desire to share with other educators, Kevin shares a multitude of lessons and digital resources on his website at mrroughton.com. Another of his passions is Disney, and in 2021 he published Teach With Magic, a book that teaches educators how to use the leadership techniques of Disney Imagineers to create incredible learning experiences for students. In this episode, Kevin shares some of the many ways we can make our classrooms magical and engaging places for students.

Lisa is a 5th grade teacher in Southern California who is passionate about providing her students with engaging, outside-of-the-box learning experiences. She loves sharing resources at conferences, on social media, and through her website, and in this episode, Lisa shares how she draws on her own experience with game shows to make her classroom a “winning” environment for students.

Erika is a veteran educator, serving in the field for 24 years. She spent 16 years as an elementary and middle school teacher, became a math specialist and instructional coordinator, and is now a second-year elementary principal in St. Louis, Missouri. Erika has a passion for supporting teachers so they can better support their teachers. Becoming an administrator is frequently referred to as “going to the Dark Side,” and in this episode, Erika and Brent discuss how it doesn’t have to be this way.

Carly has 15 years of experience in Multilingual Education, including her service as an EL teacher, a third-grade bilingual classroom teacher, and a district-wide Multilingual Instructional Coach. She is currently a multilingual education specialist at the Illinois Resource Center and the author of Moving Beyond for Multilingual Learners. When talking about students and their progress, the words we use matter. A lot. In this episode, Carly and Brent chat about the importance of reflecting on the words we use to describe our students and their progress.