In Episode 149 of PodcastPD, host Chris Nesi flies solo to help educators wrap up the school year with intention and head into summer feeling empowered and inspired. From meaningful end-of-year classroom strategies to practical and rejuvenating summer professional development ideas, this episode is packed with actionable advice for teachers at any …

Becoming a school administrator is both a rewarding and challenging journey. It requires resilience, leadership, and an ability to foster a strong school culture. Todd Bloomer, an experienced educator with over 29 years in the field and more than a decade as a principal, has shared his insights on how administrators can navigate this demanding role…

AJ and Chris kick off the first episode of 2025 by diving into some important education topics, including inspiring students and addressing hate symbols in schools. They also tackle the challenge of dealing with students who refuse to do their work and share some of their own experiences and thoughts on the matter. Episode Highlights: Inspiring Stu…

In this episode of PodcastPD, we welcome Walter McKenzie, a veteran educator with over 40 years of experience and the founder of The Worthy Educator. Walter shares his journey and discusses how his initiative supports mid- and late-career educators by building community, offering tailored professional development, and fostering legacy-building. Joi…

In this episode, Chris and Dr. Tani Farran dive into the innovative ways Rubi AI can support teachers with lesson planning, student engagement, and personalized learning. They discuss the importance of guiding students to use AI tools responsibly, encouraging them to be the primary creators of their work while leveraging AI for feedback and enhance…

In this episode of PodcastPD, Chris Nesi and AJ Bianco dive into a mix of professional development topics, from school community participation to the challenges of dealing with verbally abusive parents. The hosts share personal experiences, offer insights into the complexities of the teaching profession, and discuss how to maintain professionalism …

Chris Nesi and AJ Bianco catch up after a hectic summer. AJ reveals his exciting career move from Vice Principal to Principal in a new school district. The duo discusses the challenges and emotions involved in making such a significant decision, the interview process, and AJ's vision for his new role. They also explore how AJ’s family and mentors i…

PodcastPD founder Stacey Lindes joins Chris while AJ is away. We dive into educational topics pulled from Reddit, offering practical advice for educators. Complete show notes: https://podcastpd.com/142 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this lively episode of PodcastPD, Chris Nesi and AJ Bianco wrap up the end of June with reflections on the past school year, discuss the emotional graduation of a key student, delve into the ongoing debate about assigning zeros in education, and ponder the benefits and drawbacks of homework for primary school children. Complete show notes: https…

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Tom Pesce, a unique educator who blends his passion for teaching with the art of magic. Tom shares his journey and insights on how educators can engage students by incorporating elements of surprise and personal interests into teaching. Complete show notes: https://podcastpd.com/140 Hosted on Acast. …

In this episode of PodcastPD, hosts Chris Nesi and AJ Bianco dive into a range of questions sourced from the internet to offer invaluable insights for educators. Episode 139 explores themes such as salary negotiation for new teachers, the logistics and emotions of changing classrooms, supporting partners who are teachers, and coping with a challeng…

In this episode of PodcastPD, AJ and Chris explore a range of educational topics sourced from across the internet. They debate the effectiveness of professional development, particularly when it feels disconnected from classroom realities, and share insights on how long is reasonable to decide on a job offer. The duo also addresses technology failu…

In the latest episode of Podcast PD, AJ and Chris engage in a compelling conversation with guests Kevin and Jason from the 2Principals Podcast. The episode delves into the unique challenges educators face in achieving mental well-being and a healthy work-life balance. Complete show notes: https://podcastpd.com/137 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri…

In this episode of PodcastPD, Chris and AJ are joined by Glenn Robbins and Danny Bauer to explore the application of stoic philosophy in educational leadership. The discussion delves into how stoic virtues like wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance can help school leaders navigate everyday challenges. Daniel and Glenn share their personal experi…

In this final episode of 2023, Chris Nesi and AJ Bianco engage in a lively discussion around the critical question: Is professional development (PD) broken? As they navigate through various aspects of PD, from its current state in education to personal experiences, they offer insightful perspectives and pose thought-provoking questions about the fu…

In episode 134 of PodcastPD, Dr. Adam Schoenbart joins Chris and AJ for an insightful discussion on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, particularly from an administrative perspective. Key topics include AI’s potential to enhance learning, streamline administrative tasks, and improve communication. They explore Chappaqua Central …

In this episode of PodcastPD, Chris and AJ tackle the complexities of using artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models in K-12 classrooms. They discuss critical topics such as data privacy, addressing bias and ensuring fairness in AI, and the evolving role of teachers as AI becomes more integrated into education. Additionally, they expl…

Join us in this insightful episode as we delve into "The Future of Teacher PD." In the ever-evolving education landscape, it's crucial to reevaluate how educators receive professional development (PD). Are traditional workshops and seminars still effective? We explore emerging trends like micro-credentials, blended and flipped PD, and the importanc…

In this episode, Chris and AJ discuss their goals and plans for the upcoming school year. Chris shares his experiences with having student teachers and emphasizes the importance of guiding them through the complexities of classroom management, technology integration, and adapting their teaching style to high school students' needs. AJ shares his go…

The new school year is almost here for Chris and AJ so in this episode, they discuss what they are preparing for in the new school year and share some of their goals and plans. Topics include: Summer Learning Goals for new year Thing we want to improve on Building relationships The first few weeks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf…

In Episode 129 of Podcast PD, AJ Bianco, and Chris Nesi introduce their guest, Jared Lamb. They discuss innovative approaches to education and the essential qualities of effective leadership. Jared Lamb, the guest, is introduced as the Associate VP for BASIS Ed in Louisiana and the Head of School for BASIS in Baton Rouge. He shares his background i…

In this podcast episode, we delve into the importance of relationships in education and provide a comprehensive overview of the episode's content. We explore various dimensions of relationships, starting with the teacher-student relationship. Building trust and rapport, recognizing individual student needs, and creating a positive classroom environ…

Today, we are thrilled to have with us Gary Arndt, the host of Everything Everywhere Daily, one of the most popular daily education podcasts in the world. Since its launch in July 2020, Everything Everywhere Daily has been downloaded over 13 million times, averaging over a million downloads per month. This impressive feat is due to Gary's extensive…

In this episode, we explore the concept of self-care and why it is essential for educators. We discuss personal definitions of self-care and share practical tips for incorporating self-care practices into busy schedules. We also examine how practicing self-care affects work as a teacher, benefits students, and can combat the notion that self-care i…

Today, we are excited to have Dr. Melissa Groff with us as our guest. Melissa is a highly experienced educator with a passion for creating proactive school cultures through the implementation of restorative practices, leadership coaching and mentorship, and job-embedded coaching. Additionally, Melissa's efforts showcase her strong commitment to men…

PodcastPD Updates During 2023 we will be releasing one episode per month and we will be live streaming our episode recordings on the last Sunday night of the month. Join our new PodcastPD Discord Community! We want to connect and chat with you in between our episodes. Featured Content In this episode, we share valuable tips for new educators enteri…

We're over COVID and schools and education are 'normal.' But what is this new normal? Chris and AJ discuss. Discussion Points: What is the new normal? What is AJ experiencing as an administrator? What is Chris doing to blend pre-pandemic and post-pandemic teaching strategies? What Are We Listening To? Chris Pod Meets World - Boy Meets World Rewatch…

Educators across the world are working to design individualized instruction that empowers every student to become experts at learning. Technology and instructional interventions designed to support students with disabilities often eventually become mainstream and used by the masses. These practices provide a pathway for designing inclusive, equitab…

Living and teaching in a post-pandemic (almost) world has presented some obstacles and new approaches to education. Returning to school full-time in September of 2021 was undoubtedly welcome for many educators and now that we've gone through the school year it is time to reflect on the year. Chris and AJ discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of t…

Non-educators typically look at summer vacation as a free time where teachers aren't working and just sitting around. While part of any educator's Summer is undoubtedly used for rest and relaxation time is also used to learn and grow and plan for the next school year. In the episode, Chris and AJ discuss Summer professional development, some opport…

Teacher Appreciation Week is always a welcome time of year for teachers across the country and this year is no different. Classroom teachers have worked in challenging conditions for more than two years and a little appreciation goes a long way. Our conversation in this episode revolves around what we will be experiencing this week. AJ shares the p…

Featured Content Jake Thompson is the founder of Compete Every Day and your Chief Encouragement Officer! A show designed to help driven people build a winning mindset, so they can build their winning life. Jake’s goal is to help you be GREAT! Join the Compete Everyday Podcast to help you re-discover a strong mindset as well as find the skills you n…

Featured Content Toby Price is a VP from Mississippi who was recently fired from his position for reading the acclaimed children's book "I Need A New Butt." Topics Discussed: Toby's story and where's he's at in the process with his former district Taking risks in education as leaders and teachers New opportunities The unplanned paths that life pres…

Featured Content Rich Czyz has written a new book and he joins Chris and AJ to discuss professional development and how educators can and should take more control over their growth in this profession. Topics Discussed: Pushing the Pessimist - How do we reach those who are not engaged in their own professional learning? The Professional Development …

Featured Content Krystle Pearson currently serves as the Director of Technology for Brunswick County Public Schools in Lawrenceville, Virginia. Krystle has more than 15 years in education, she has served in the capacity of a classroom teacher, grade level team leader, school technology coach, instructional technology resource teacher (ITRT), and ce…

Featured Content More than ever our relationship with education is strained. Teachers are leaving the profession. Prospective teachers are choosing other majors and career paths in our colleges and universities. Our relationship with education is rocky right now. But now is not the time to break up with or divorce education. In our conversation, we…

Featured Content Stacey Roshan is a Math teacher and Director of Innovation and Educational Technology from Maryland, and a well-respected #EdTech consultant. Stacey is also the author of “Tech with Heart: Leveraging Technology to Empower Student Voice, Ease Anxiety, & Create Compassionate Classrooms.” Discussion: Tech with Heart - overview Perfect…

Featured Content Amber Harper is an educator, author, speaker, and Teacher Burnout Coach whose mission is to activate teacher self-empowerment to help teachers beat burnout and live a happy, fulfilled life. Amber is the author of Hacking Teacher Burnout and she is the host of the Burned-In Teacher Podcast where she provides actionable steps, inspir…

We're always experimenting with new ways to bring you value. We've previously released 12 short episodes to recommend some great podcasts and podcast episodes for you to check out at the end of the year as the calendar flips but our careers go on. This year we're trying something different and we've prepared one episode with 12 recommendations for …

Featured Content We wonder through a conversation about the holiday season. We reminisce about our holidays of the past and we also discussed what holiday celebrations look like in our school and classrooms. We spoke with: Alfonso Mendoza, host of the My EdTech Life Podcast Mel Aveling, avid Twitter user and friend of the podcast! What We're Listen…

Featured Content The COVID-19 Pandemic taught educators many valuable lessons. Teachers all over the world were forced to change how they taught students almost overnight. For months educators implemented new strategies and refined old ones to maximize our time with students in a variety of situations. But now, as the world and education begin to r…

Featured Content Quinlan Van Es is pursuing a career in education as a social studies teacher. He is earning his teaching credentials through the Rutgers Graduate School of Education and his completing is student teaching with Chris as his cooperating teacher during the Fall 2021 semester. At the time of the recording, Quinn is a new teacher on Twi…

Shout Out AJ and former guest Dave Frangiosa co-authored an article, "Supporting ALL Learners with Collaborative Classrooms", on schoolrubric.com. Featured Content After catching up Stacey, AJ, and Chris talk about doing innovative things in the classroom as teachers and administrators. Stacey shares a great story of how she's working with her co-t…

Featured Content Daniel Bauer helps school leaders fight isolation and frustration via a leadership community in order to gain clarity and find solutions to their greatest challenges. He is the founder and host of the Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast and the author of The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap: Small Ideas That Lead to Big Impa…

Featured Content In this episode, Chris, AJ, and Stacey talk about teachers' desire to still perform some job functions from home vs having to return completely to the way things were. Other topics included: More lunch protocols Chris has another students teacher Kevin Carroll called in to weigh in on the topic as well. What We're Listening To Chri…

Featured Content In this episode, we candidly discuss some of our routines and AJ gets into the weeds about school lunch which leads us down a path of COVID protocols and procedures. We were also joined on-air by Alfonso Mendoza, host of the My EdTech Life Podcast. What We're Listening To Chris - Zack to the Future - Mark-Paul Gosselaar (aka Zack M…

Featured Content In this episode, we candidly discuss and reflect on our first days of school for the 2021-2022 school year. Stacey is entering 3rd year as a 5th-grade teacher after spending many years as an instructional technology coach. Chris is entering his 14th year as a Social Studies teacher. AJ is entering his 2nd year as a middle school As…

Featured Content We continue the conversation to help the new, first-year, teacher. We’re going to share more tips and tricks. Also check out episode 102 Topics Discussed: Relationships with Colleagues with Admin with Students with Parents Relationships with KEY building personnel Custodians Secretaries/Administrative Assistants Site or district te…

Featured Content Teaching is not an easy job. You will hear this from most teachers no matter how much experience they have. For many who enter this profession the first year is the toughest and most challenging. Think about it. You're fresh out of school perhaps your only meaningful teaching experience was during your student teaching experience w…

Featured Content In episode 14 we spoke with Don Wettrick about Genius Hour and we’ve known for years how amazing this experience can be for students. But planning it and implementing it can be a daunting task. In this episode, we’re speaking with a friend of the show Dani Kennis about how she created and implemented Mini Genius Hour with her stude…