Be A Funky Teacher
Teach with energy. Lead with heart. Stay in the work.
Be A Funky Teacher is my home for honest conversations, practical ideas, and encouragement for educators who want to make a difference without losing themselves in the process.
Teach Them to Make a Rough First Move
Today’s Thought
Some students delay because they want the first sentence, sketch, solution, or idea to already be good. Teach them that a first move can be temporary. A rough start gives them something concrete to revise, test, or improve.
Today’s Challenge
Ask students to create a deliberately rough first version of one small part before worrying about quality.
Take It With You
Give yourself something imperfect to improve.
Teaching can be hard. It can still be meaningful.
I have spent more than two decades in education, and I still believe great teaching is built on relationships, reflection, creativity, and the courage to keep growing. This site is where I share what I am learning along the way.
Classroom Practice
Practical ideas for engagement, relationships, student voice, and creating learning experiences students remember.
Teacher Well-Being
Honest conversations about burnout, moral injury, pressure, resilience, and what it takes to stay healthy enough to keep doing meaningful work.
Leadership & Growth
Reflections on school culture, professional growth, leadership, and the small decisions that shape the way we serve students and one another.
The Be A Funky Teacher Podcast
Stories, ideas, encouragement, and real conversations for educators who care deeply about the work and want to keep growing without pretending teaching is easy.
What does “funky” mean here? It means bringing your real personality, creativity, relationships, and purpose into the work. It is not about putting on a show. It is about being the kind of educator who is willing to be yourself, keep learning, treat people right, and make the work matter.
Speaking & professional learning
I work with educators around classroom culture, engagement, teacher well-being, leadership, and the realities of staying in the profession.