Shows
Teachers Ed with Edward DeShazerEducator Wellness: Five Lessons Every Educator NeedsWe share five hard lessons on self-care that keep educators from burning out and help us show up with energy for students and family. The conversation is honest, practical, and direct, with clear steps to set boundaries, ask for help, and make rest non-negotiable.Please do me a huge favor, leave a review and please send this to someone who needs it.www.EdwardDeShazer.org
2025-12-0725 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerYour School Team Isn’t Broken, It’s Just On Airplane ModeWe redefine collaboration as a choice built on trust, healthy conflict, and accountability, not simple proximity. We map five levels of team trust and share concrete steps to repair culture so schools can pull together with purpose.• collaboration as unity, trust, connection and accountability • why trust is the oxygen of teamwork • five levels of team trust from surface to purpose • healthy conflict versus gossip and avoidance • four moves to rebuild a broken team • accountability reframed as support and commitment • signals your culture is healing and aligning • urgency for educator wellness and sustainable culture...
2025-11-3019 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerFrom Silos To Strong School TeamsEver feel like your team works in the same building but on different islands? We unpack how schools move from silos to strong, connected teams that share the load and multiply results. If you care about culture, teacher wellness, and student success, this conversation gives you clear next steps without the fluff.We start by naming why collaboration feels so hard: relentless workloads, unclear roles, and a lack of psychological safety. Proximity isn’t partnership. We explore how fear shuts down creativity, why celebrating solo stars can erode trust, and how connection before correction unlocks honest feedback an...
2025-11-2320 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerLeadership That Lands: Communicating Across Four Styles In SchoolsWe break down why leadership communication fails when it assumes everyone listens the same way and show how adapting to four distinct styles turns messages into momentum. The goal is simple: connect clearly, build trust, and strengthen culture through everyday moments.• Building Bridges Blueprint pillar one: leadership and communication• Why delivery outranks intent in leadership• Four styles overview: driver, enthusiast, supporter, analyst• Practical adjustments for meetings, emails, and feedback• Self awareness and reading your team• Emotional intelligence as the lever for culture• Culture built in hallway moments, not handbooks• Weekly challenge to tai...
2025-11-1619 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerFixing School Culture Through Leadership And CommunicationWe lay the foundation for the Building Bridges Blueprint by showing why most problems are communication problems, not performance problems. We share concrete steps to lead with clarity, consistency, and care so trust grows and culture thrives.• framing leadership as influence and presence, not titles• why unclear expectations create resentment and burnout• clarity builds confidence and consistency builds trust• four habits: be clear, be consistent, be visible, be human• how to align words and actions for credibility• a simple self‑audit for communication and trust• the role of data: send the staff survey and...
2025-11-0217 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerGossip Isn’t PD, But It Trains Your CultureCulture isn’t a mystery; it’s a mirror that shows what leaders allow and what leaders do. We unpack a practical path to stop guessing about your school’s culture and start measuring it with the same rigor you bring to test scores and attendance. Using our Building Bridges Blueprint, we walk through four connected pillars—leadership and communication, collaboration and teamwork, staff wellness and morale, and growth and recognition—and show how each one can strengthen (or shake) the entire school.You’ll hear why relying on vibes undermines retention, performance, and student success, and how a short...
2025-10-2618 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerProtecting School Culture When Energy FadesThe first cold snap hits, the room isn’t spotless anymore, and that August buzz has faded. That’s when the real work shows up—and so does the truth about culture. We talk candidly about beating the fall slump and why October, not August, shapes the educators and leaders our students need.We start with the human side: shorter days, less sunlight, and the silent drag on mood and motivation. Then we get practical. From Walking Wednesdays—a simple 15‑minute, no‑email, no‑grading movement break—to four anchor habits that actually stick: early morning sunlight, scheduled moveme...
2025-10-1917 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerGratitude, Growth, and the Next Step for EducatorsStart where you are, even if it’s a $30 mic at a kitchen table. That simple choice to move without seeing the whole staircase sparked a journey across classrooms, auditoriums, and continents—connecting with educators who are tired, hopeful, and ready to lead with purpose. We open the door on how a pandemic project evolved into a structured, sustainable speaking and consulting practice, born from an MBA challenge and shaped by hundreds of conversations with teachers and leaders searching for clarity.We go deep on the unglamorous side of growth: sobriety as a practice of presence, endurance over...
2025-10-1214 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerFresh Starts, Real Talk in EducationHit pause on the urge to copy last year’s playbook. We open the year by making a clear promise to ourselves and our students: fresh slate, flexible mindset, and real relationships first. With educator and speaker Simone Walden, we dig into character education as more than a curriculum—it’s how we show up daily, how trust forms, and why students work harder for adults who keep their word and protect their dignity.We get practical fast. Simone breaks down Monday share routines that humanize the room, the art of modeling honesty without shaming, and the quiet...
2025-10-0530 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerDo It Scared: How One Teacher Transformed Students' LivesNorberto Troncoso takes us on a powerful journey from the Bronx to national recognition as he shares how he transforms "closeted introverts" into championship-level speakers. With raw authenticity and practical wisdom, Norberto reveals the strategies that have helped students from America's poorest congressional district win national speech competitions and secure millions in scholarships.The conversation dives deep into the transformative power of communication skills. Norberto explains his innovative approach to helping students find their voices through games and storytelling exercises that meet them where they are. Rather than making communication seem intimidating, he disarms students by connecting...
2025-09-2829 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerAuthentic Leadership: Creating Safe Spaces in SchoolsWhat happens when educators bring their authentic selves to work? Carlos Malavé, Director of Culture and Community at Bloom Academy in Houston, reveals how vulnerability transforms school environments and why being genuine as a leader creates spaces where everyone can thrive.Carlos shares the story of finding his perfect professional fit—a position created to match his expertise in implementing curriculum, supporting teachers, and building restorative practices. His approach to building genuine connections among staff through exercises like "Need to Know" demonstrates how powerful it can be when leaders show their humanity first. By opening up about his...
2025-09-2132 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerSchool Culture: What Leaders Allow and DoHave you ever wondered why some schools feel vibrant and positive while others seem stuck in negativity? The answer lies not in catchy slogans or mission statements, but in something far more fundamental.School culture—that invisible force shaping everything from staff morale to student achievement—boils down to a surprisingly simple formula: what leaders consistently allow and what leaders consistently do. This isn't about perfect leadership or elaborate initiatives. It's about the power of everyday decisions that either strengthen or undermine your educational community.When you allow gossip to spread unchecked, when negativity goes unad...
2025-09-1415 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerHow One PE Teacher's DJ Skills Created a Safe Haven for StudentsDustin Thomas shares his journey from UPS worker to PE teacher and DJ, demonstrating how to create an inclusive school culture through music and movement in a diverse elementary school setting.• Overcoming personal dislike of school to become an educator in his 15th year• Using culturally responsive approaches to connect with 300+ ELL students • Learning key phrases in Haitian Creole to communicate with immigrant students• Replacing traditional whistle-based PE instruction with music as a universal language• Creating "Rhythm and Roots" program after three students lost their drummer father• Evolving from bucket drumming to a full record...
2025-09-0737 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerFirst Week Foundations: Building School Culture That LastsThe first week of school sets the foundation for the entire year, making it essential to establish clear expectations that build trust and create safety for everyone involved. Educational success hinges on setting the right tone from day one, practicing procedures until they become second nature, and creating environments where both students and staff can thrive rather than merely survive.• Pre-school anxiety is normal and indicates you care about your work• Clear expectations create safety and trust for students and staff• Consistency is critical – correct behaviors every time, not sporadically• Teachers should model desired behaviors...
2025-08-3111 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerYour School Leadership Style Is Killing You w/ Principal MoPrincipal Mo takes us behind the curtain of educational leadership to reveal the moment everything fell apart—and how it transformed her approach to leading a school. "This job can ruin you mentally, emotionally, physically," she confesses, sharing the raw truth about her 2022 breaking point when overwork led to depression, anxiety, and professional failure.The conversation dives deep into what authentic leadership really means in education today. Principal Mo reveals how removing her work email from her phone, refusing to send messages after 5 PM, and being vulnerable with her staff about her struggles completely revolutionized her effectiveness as...
2025-08-2433 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerJoy in Learning w/ Alexia Pendleton aka The Dancer TeacherWhat if the key to academic success isn't found in rigid classroom structures, but in creating spaces where students feel safe enough to be their authentic selves? Alexia, known professionally as "The Dancer Teacher," brings her infectious energy and profound insights to this episode as we explore how joy, authenticity, and emotional intelligence create the foundation for effective learning environments.Drawing from her dual expertise as a kindergarten teacher in Atlantic City and a hip-hop dance instructor, Alexia challenges the widespread misconception that learning must be devoid of fun to be effective. "We often link this 'no...
2025-08-1736 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerTeaching Beyond BurnoutComing back strong with renewed purpose, this relaunch episode delivers exactly what tired educators need to hear before starting another school year. Edward DeShazer speaks directly to the heart of education's biggest challenge: the unsustainable expectation that teachers and leaders should sacrifice their wellbeing for their students.Drawing from over two decades in education and his experience transforming a one-star school into a four-star institution, DeShazer shares what really makes the difference in schools – not fancy technology or perfect lesson plans, but the people who show up every day. "The people are our greatest asset," he emphasizes, ch...
2025-08-1015 min
The Balancing ActBelieve’ment is Achievement with Ed DeShazerDirector Edward DeShazer joins us to discuss teacher well being, how to maintain boundaries and his latest book, Closing the Believe’ment Gap. His powerful belief in positive behaviors, teacher support and pouring it back into the teachers of America will inspire even the most critical cynic. —We want to hear from you! Shoot over an email and say hi: podthebalancingact@gmail.comDon’t forget to subscribe! Leave us a comment! Follow Facebook - podbalact...
2025-03-1847 min
Refuge Official PodcastEdward Deshazer - The Power of Believing | Mar 9th, 2025Welcome to Refuge! Today we'll be hearing from a Guest Speaker, Edward Deshazer on “The Power of Believing”! We believe this message will encourage and challenge you! At Refuge we believe all people matter to God, to find out more about us and who we are, visit our website at WeAreRefuge.net
2025-03-1058 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerTeachers Must RechargeRecharge your teaching spirit and prevent burnout with our latest episode, where we explore the transformative power of intentional self-care routines for educators. Have you ever considered that your weekend rest might not be enough to sustain your energy for the week ahead? Join me as I uncover the vital role of recharging routines, and how even micro breaks during your day can have a profound impact on your well-being. Understanding what drains your energy—be it after-school meetings or additional responsibilities—is the first step towards managing them effectively. Let’s talk about how simple acts like journaling or enj...
2025-02-0211 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerTransforming Seasonal Depression: Strategies for EducatorsThis podcast episode delves into practical strategies for educators to combat winter blues and maintain mental wellness. The discussion emphasizes self-awareness, the importance of light and movement, staying hydrated, and fostering community connections while encouraging listeners to prioritize their own well-being.• Recognizing seasonal changes and their mental effects • Utilizing light therapy and movement for energy • Prioritizing hydration and nutritious meals • Building supportive connections with colleagues • Empowering teachers to ask for help when neededRESOURCES:www.988lifeline.orgText or call 988.www.EdwardDeShazer.org
2025-01-2612 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerMastering Boundaries: Empowering Educators to Reclaim Time and Well-beingEver felt like the demands of the classroom are pulling you in too many directions, leaving no room for personal time? Discover how to reclaim your schedule and mental well-being with practical boundary-setting strategies in our latest episode of the Teachers Ed Podcast. Host Edward DeShazer sheds light on the necessity of defining work hours and the art of saying no to non-essential commitments. By setting clear expectations with colleagues, students, administrators, and parents, educators can transform their work-life balance, fostering a healthier and more productive environment both professionally and personally.Prepare to be empowered with actionable...
2025-01-1912 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerDancing with Chaos: Finding Peace and Resilience in EducationFinding peace amidst chaos isn't about running away from challenges but navigating them with intention. By focusing on what you can control, creating small moments of calm, and reframing chaos as opportunities for growth, educators can maintain their wellbeing and effectiveness. • Focusing on what you can control supports regaining peace amid chaos• Creating micro moments of peace helps maintain balance during the day• Reframing chaos leads to personal growth and learning opportunities• Tips for morning reflection, pauses between tasks, and nighttime gratitude• Investing in self-care is crucial for educators’ wellbeing and community strengthwww.Edwa...
2025-01-1213 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerThree Things Educators Need To Do In 2025Kickstart your 2025 with strategies that will empower you to thrive as an educator! Discover the transformative steps to prioritize your mental and physical health, essential for excelling in both your professional and personal life. Set non-negotiable self-care routines, incorporate movement into your daily schedule, and shield your mental space from negativity. These are more than just resolutions—they're life-changing habits that will allow you to support your students, colleagues, and family like never before.You'll also learn the art of building strong boundaries to fend off burnout and maintain balance. By recognizing your limits and mastering the ab...
2025-01-0516 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerCrafting Your Holiday Self-Care Plan: A Guide for EducatorsUnlock the secret to a truly relaxing holiday break with our latest episode on Teachers Ed Podcast! Discover how to craft a personalized self-care plan that puts your happiness and well-being first, even amidst the chaos of holiday obligations. I’m Edward Eshazer, and I will guide you through identifying energizing activities and scheduling them as must-keep appointments. Learn the art of boundary-setting, so you can prioritize the things that genuinely matter and say no to the ones that drain your energy. It’s time to reconnect with what brings you joy and practice gratitude to enrich your life and...
2024-12-1510 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerReducing Overwhelm for EducatorsFeeling buried under an avalanche of emails and endless lesson plans? You're not alone, and there's a way out. This episode of the Teachers Ed podcast promises to equip you with effective wellness strategies and practical classroom tips to conquer the chaos and reclaim your balance. Join me, Edward DeShazer, as we tackle the universal educator's challenge of feeling overwhelmed. With a new structure placing a stronger focus on wellness, you’ll learn how to transform a mile-long to-do list into manageable tasks that won't leave you stressed and frazzled.Discover my personal techniques for maintaining sanity am...
2024-12-0813 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerFostering a Connected School EnvironmentEver wondered how small gestures can make a big impact in the classroom? Join me, Edward DeShazer, as I promise to reveal the transformative power of being consistently present and practicing active listening with your students. Listen to stories that showcase how simple actions, like greeting students at the door or dedicating five minutes to open conversations, can lay the groundwork for a supportive and trusting classroom community. Additionally, I’ll introduce you to the concept of micro breaks—those short pauses throughout the day that can help educators recharge and bring their best selves to their students....
2024-12-0213 minTeachers Ed with Edward DeShazerCreating a Culture of Growth and OptimismEver wondered how a simple shift in mindset could transform your classroom into a hub of resilience and enthusiasm for learning? Join us on the Teachers Ed podcast as we uncover the secret sauce to cultivating a growth mindset in education. We explore how facing challenges head-on can unlock potential in students, teachers, and school leaders alike. By sharing personal stories, like boosting a hesitant reader's confidence through small victories, we provide actionable strategies to foster an environment of optimism and growth. Discover how educators can set the cultural tone in schools, acting as proactive thermostats rather than reactive...
2024-11-2413 min