Why I'm Leaving the Classroom This Year (After 25 Years)

Choosing to leave the classroom and go all-in as an administrator wasn't an easy decision. Here were some of the factors I considered.

→ What is Universal Design for Learning?→ How does UDL look different in the early grades?→ What is a first step that any educator can take tomorrow to make their lessons more accessible for all learners?ABOUT THIS GUEST, Jeff HorwitzJeff is a veteran educator and school leader who's spent over two decades in early childhood education, from classroom teaching to school administration in St. Louis. He specializes in bringing Universal Design for Learning into early childhood classrooms, helping teachers turn big frameworks into practical, joyful strategies for their youngest students. He's worked with schools and educators across North America, and he's currently putting the finishing touches on his first book, UDL for Little Learners, coming out this December.CONNECT with JEFF HORWITZon LinkedIn,on X @mrteachersir,on Instagram @edtech_jeff, andat udlforlittlelearners.com. TIMESTAMPS0:00:00 - Jeff Horwitz has spent two decades in primary classrooms1:28 - Define Universal Design for Learning2:04 - Misunderstandings about UDL3:37 - UDL in primary classrooms5:48 - Practical first steps into UDL15:00 - UDL and neurodivergence19:04 - Technology's place in the classroom24:00 - The future of elementary education26:05 - Book preview - UDL for Little Learners28:24 - How and where to connect with Jeff onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ How can we learn to recognize our body’s stress signals as data?→ What is a daily micro-move educators can practice to regulate themselves?→ How can prioritizing our own wellness directly impact our students and create generational change?TIMESTAMPS0:00:00 - Dr. Jen Rafferty is an educator, author, and speaker2:14 - A turning point from burnout to wellbeing3:20 - Writing The Empowered Educator5:45 - The body's stress signals as data7:29 - Other stress signals12:47 - Emotional intelligence15:26 - Increasing our self-awareness19:11 - Categorizing repetitive tasks23:07 - Generational change27:42 - A path to sustainability30:38 - Recovering personal identity35:13 - How and where to connect with Dr. RaffertyABOUT THIS GUEST, Dr. JEN RAFFERTYDr. Rafferty is an educator, author, TEDx speaker, and the founder of Empowered Educator, an organization transforming the culture of education by placing educator well-being at the center of school success. She holds a PhD in educational psychology, degrees in music education, and certifications in Emotional Intelligence and Neuro-Identity Evolution. As a former middle school music teacher, Jen knows firsthand the challenges and joys of life in the classroom, and the toll it can take when personal well-being comes last. Her own journey from burnout to balance ignited her mission to help educators reconnect with their purpose, restore their energy, and feel empowered as leaders both in and out of the classroom.Dr. Rafferty is the author of a brand new book, The Empowered Educator: 10 Lessons to Prevent Burnout, Reclaim Your Joy, and Unlock Your Teaching Potential.CONNECT with Dr. RAFFERTYon Facebook and LinkedIn,on Instagram @jenrafferty_,and on her website, empowerededucator.com.Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ How can we make this school year the best of our professional careers?→ What is a Resilience Bank Account, and how can it support busy educators on the hard days?→ What is the Scribble and Scrap technique, and how can it help us against negative self-talk?Welcome back to the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.About This Guest, Dr. Naomi HallDr. Hall is a speaker, educator, and stress management coach dedicated to helping high-achieving professionals reclaim their well-being and reignite their passion for their work through building resilience. With 22 years of experience spanning classroom teaching, district leadership, and consulting, she brings a deep understanding of the challenges today’s professionals face—because she has lived them herself.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Dr. Naomi Hall is an experienced educator, speaker, and coach2:11 - Dr. Hall's personal journey with burnout5:31 - Resilience bank accounts7:08 - The 5 foundations of wellness10:40 - Intermittent fasting12:57 - Building wellness habits16:10 - Managing anxiety with Zones of Control22:31 - Scribble and Scrap26:59 - Managing boundaries30:33 - Professional development33:58 - Receive support from Dr. Naomi Hall37:36 - How and where to connect with Dr. Hall onlineYou can connect with Dr. Naomi Hallon Facebook and LinkedIn,on Instagram @drnaomirhall,and at her website, nrhdynamic.com.Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ How did today’s guest go from high school dropout to PhD, and what can we learn from his story?→ How can we shift our focus from merely managing behavior to truly captivating our students?→ What is the first step educators must take to reverse the burnout cycle?Welcome back to the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Dr. Anthony Richiez. Dr. Richiez is a recognized expert in the area of Dynamic Teaching. He revolutionizes teaching by guiding educators to elevate their methods, resulting in more dynamic classrooms and improved student learning. For 15 years, Anthony has offered seminars and workshops for schools and educators, helping them increase student engagement and maximizing comprehension in their classrooms.You can connect with Dr. Richiezon LinkedIn,on X and Instagram @AnthonyRichiez, andAt his website, myteachcraft.com.

→ How did a Virginia school principal help to merge two rival schools into one?→ How can we build positive school culture during times of change and transition?→ How can we translate our school mission and values into meaningful daily practices?Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Derek Cantrell was named the 2026 Outstanding Principal of Virginia1:45 - The story of the merger in Better Together5:08 - Honoring the traditions of both schools8:33 - Including student voice during the transition12:48 - Biggest lessons learned from the merger14:47 - Retaining teachers, logistical challenges16:57 - Improving attendance and engagement post-merger22:36 - Reinforcing school values on a daily basis24:00 - Using AI tools to improve lessons28:00 - Using AI to improve efficiency as a school administrator31:59 - One hope for the coming school year33:14 - How and where to connect with Derek onlineAbout This Guest, Derek CantrellDerek is the principal of Alleghany High School and was named 2026 Outstanding High School Principal of Virginia. He is the author of Better Together: Building One School, One Culture, and One Community from Two Rivals, sharing lessons learned from leading a successful school consolidation while building a unified culture focused on relationships, student success, and community. Derek is a frequent presenter on school culture, leadership, and practical applications of AI in education, helping school leaders create systems that put people first while improving outcomes for students and staff.Connect with Derek Cantrell on LinkedIn and on X @derekcatch19.Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ How do needs, values, goals, and strengths reframe how we motivate and engage learners?→ What are the things that actually drain motivation for students in the classroom and at home?→ How can teachers build better Regulation, Resources, and Relationships for students in their classrooms?Welcome back to the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Stephen De Groot. Stephen has spent his career focused on one central idea: helping people get to better. As president and co-founder of Brivia, he has worked with more than 300 organizations across 12 countries and presented to more than 50,000 people worldwide. His experience spans an unusually wide range of environments, from working with at-risk youth, gang members, and correctional institutions to coaching CEOs, military leaders, and professionals in sectors such as mining, healthcare, law, and business.A former adjunct professor of human behaviour theory, de Groot is the author of Getting to Better: A New Model for Elevating Human Potential at Work and in Life,  which reached the Top 3 on Amazon Canada’s Hot New Releases in Business Leadership, as well as the Top 100 in Interpersonal Relations, Leadership, and Management.You can connect with Stephen De Grooton LinkedIn, on Instagram @StephendeGrootOfficial, andat his website, gettingtobetter.com.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Stephen de Groot is an author, speaker, and consultant1:47 - How Getting to Better connects with the classroom2:51 - How the Core 4 Dimensions motivate learners4:52 - Universal truths about human motivation8:01 - Educators need to feel safe, significant, and situated10:06 - What drains student motivation13:01 - How to build greater resilience in students15:37 - How to manage stress as an educator17:21 - A helpful daily practice for principals18:48 - How and where to connect with Stephen onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ Why is curiosity foundational to everything that happens in the classroom?→ How can simple micro-inquiry tasks at the beginning of a lesson set up direct instruction to follow?→ How can teachers use AI as a collaborative thought partner to amplify student thinking?Welcome back to the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Olivia Odileke. Olivia is an educator, author, instructional technology leader, and founder of Kampus Insights CC, where she helps schools design engaging, curiosity-driven learning experiences. With over 15 years of experience in Title I schools, she has trained thousands of educators and is passionate about helping teachers spark student thinking before delivering content. Olivia is also the creator of the Spark Curiosity EDU experience, a movement designed to help educators rediscover wonder, joy, and purpose in teaching and learning.You can connect with Olivia Odilekeon LinkedIn, on X @KampusCoach,on Instagram @fearless.educator, andat her website, sparkcuriosityedu.com.[You’ll also find helpful resources from Olivia related to this conversation at ai.sparkcuriosityedu.com, app.leadsparkteam.com, and fearlesseducator.com.]Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Olivia Odileke is an education author, speaker, and teacher trainer1:51 - Curiosity is NOT just an extra, it's everything4:55 - Micro-inquiry tasks at the beginning of the lesson9:26 - The Spark Curiosity EDU "anti-conference" in Austin19:24 - The Spark Curiosity GPT Coach26:25 - What's killing curiosity in our classrooms today29:29 - Olivia's AI-generated music for educators34:20 - The AI tools she uses for her music37:11 - Unleashing Curiosity, Olivia's most recent book41:39 - How and where to connect with Olivia onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ How can relational leadership transform your school community?→ How can we encourage colleagues overwhelmed by fatigue, culture wars, or literacy battles?→ As technology debates rage, where is the conversation going in K-12 education?Today’s Teacher on Fire is Dr. Brad Johnson. Dr. Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker, bestselling author, and one of the leading voices in relational leadership and educator wellness. A former teacher, principal, and professor, Brad has authored multiple books and works with schools around the world to help leaders build trust, strengthen culture, and create environments where both students and educators thrive.You can connect with Dr. Brad Johnsonon Facebook and LinkedIn,on X and Instagram @DrBradJohnson, andat his website, doctorbradjohnson.com.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Dr. Brad Johnson is a renowned education author and speaker1:38 - The story in Coffee with the Custodian5:32 - Leadership principles that administrators struggle with7:38 - Relational leadership11:25 - A mistake that new administrators make sometimes14:13 - How to recognize character traits in students16:45 - Encouraging tired teachers20:39 - How to best leverage strengths of teachers22:40 - The technology debate raging in K-12 education27:22 - One thing that keeps Dr. Johnson's fire burning29:51 - How and where to connect with Dr. Brad JohnsonVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ What are the seven steps to school success?→ What are the most common distractions school leaders face?→ How can we build schools that give our graduates the kinds of skills that actually have career-ready value in tomorrow’s marketplace?Welcome back to the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is James Lane, Ed. D. James is Managing Director of K–16 at ETS, where he leads initiatives to strengthen connections between K–12, higher education, and the workforce. Previously, he served as CEO of PDK International and Educators Rising, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education, and Superintendent of Public Instruction in Virginia, where he was named 2017 Virginia Superintendent of the Year. A lifelong educator and musician, Dr. Lane is also a trumpet player and member of the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame.You can connect with Dr. James Laneon X and Instagram @DrJamesLane, on LinkedIn, at universityinstructors.com, and at leadingwithlaserfocus.com.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Dr. James Lane is a former Superintendent of the Year1:52 - The 7 steps to school success4:48 - Distractions for school leaders6:34 - Advice for future leaders8:47 - Grow your own - from students to district leaders11:53 - How to build trust in a new school community14:47 - Standardized testing and deeper learning17:47 - From worksheets to competencies20:34 - Career readiness for our graduates23:37 - Inclusive practices and potential for all learners27:14 - How and where to connect with Dr. James Lane onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.