The Present Teacher Podcast

#176: Why You Are Being Judged For Setting Boundaries As a Teacher

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever: • Declined summer school • Stopped staying late • Refused to work weekends • Asked to meet during contract hours instead of ...

#175: You Were Trained to Feel Guilty for Leaving on Time

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You Were Trained to Feel Guilty for Leaving on Time If you’ve ever walked to your car at contract time and felt that tightness in your chest… Like...

#174: The Biggest Lie Teachers Are Taught About Hard Work

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Teachers are told from the very beginning: “If you really care, you’ll sacrifice.” Stay late. Take work home. Be a team player. Do more. Give mo...

#173: Burnout Isn’t a Time-Management Problem (It’s a Nervous System Problem)

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Burnout Isn’t a Time-Management Problem (It’s a Nervous System Problem) You don’t need another planner. You don’t need more discipline. You do...

#172: What “That Teacher Next Door” Actually Does Differently

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You know the one. She leaves at contract time. Her classroom runs smoothly. She doesn’t look stressed. She’s planned ahead. She doesn’t bring wo...

#171: Teacher Work-Life Balance Isn’t a Myth — It’s a Mindset

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is it really impossible to have work-life balance as a teacher… or were we just taught to believe that? In this episode, I’m unpacking one of the ...

#169: The 3 Systems Every Teacher Needs to Leave on Time This Year

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Want to leave school at contract time without falling behind? Learn the three essential systems every teacher needs—planning, prepping, and communic...

#168: 3 Things to Stop Doing If You're Feeling Burnt Out Before Break

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling burnt out before break? Learn the top three habits contributing to teacher burnout—and what to do instead to protect your energy, work smart...

#167: What I Wish I Knew Before My First Winter Break as a Teacher

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over winter break, it can be so hard to balance rest and productivity. During my first year of teaching, I made a lot of mistakes when it came to work...

#166: How to Prep for January Now — So You Actually Rest Over Break

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s be honest, December is peak season for many new teachers to reach teacher burnout. It’s easy to feel like, in order to finally break the cyc...

#165: What No One Tells You About Teacher Burnout (And How I Got Out of It)

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First-year teacher burnout is common—but it doesn’t have to be normal. In today’s content, we cover the silent signs of burnout no one talks abo...

#164: The Secret to Seamless Center Transitions (Without Saying a Word)

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if I told you I have my students switch centers or stations everyday without me saying anything? Freeing me up to work one-on-one with students o...

#163: How to Get Students to Run Centers Without You

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest reasons most teachers don't implement centers or stations in their classrooms is because they think it will take a lot of work and ...

#162: How to Set Up Centers So They Practically Run Themselves

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Setting up centers for the first time can be hard. Especially when you're not sure where to even start. Today, we'll be diving into my top strategies ...

#161: When You’re Questioning If You’re a “Good Enough” Teacher

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It might feel like you are the only teacher questioning if they are cut out for the profession. But the truth is, we've all been there. Even the teach...

#160: How to Handle Halloween Energy Without Losing Your Mind

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but it can be really hard to navigate as a teacher. So how can you handle the chaotic holiday energy without...

#159: What to Do If You Accidentally Became ‘Friends’ With Your Students Instead of the Teacher

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a new or first-year teacher, it's easy to do everything you can to avoid being the mean teacher in class. But sometimes the opposite can happen. So...

#158: The Honeymoon Phase is Over—Now What?

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Around this time of year, it seems like disruptive behavior is on the rise, and the honeymoon period is over. So what can teachers do about it?  ...

#157: The #1 Transition Trick That Transformed My Classroom

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wonder why your students seem to struggle with classroom transitions? When it comes to lining up, unpacking in the morning, packing up at the end...

#156: Which Classroom Management Style Are You

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like you’ve tried a million classroom management strategies but none of them are working? Over the course of my teaching career, I have di...

#155: How to Get Your Students to Run the Classroom While You Sip Your Coffee

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When I was a first year teacher, I struggled with classroom management. My students were constantly out of their seats, they were a chatty class, and ...

#154: How I Finally Got My Students to Listen Without Yelling

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A couple weeks ago, I recieved a comment on a social media post I had made that said 'all good teachers yell.' The heated debate that followed was int...

#153: Quiz: Is Your Classroom Management Ready for Back To School?

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you worried about how you're going to manage your classroom this school year? Are you wondering if you have everything prepared to have amazing cl...

#152: How I Found My Classroom Management Style (And How You Can Too)

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been told that you need to work on your classroom management and you're not sure to start? Or are you wanting to get ahead start on your clas...

#151: The #1 Classroom Management Mistake New Teachers Make During Back to School (And How to Avoid It)

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let's be honest, classroom management can be something a lot of teachers struggle with. Especially as a new or a first year teacher. Which is why toda...

#150: Quiz: Will Your First Day of School Be Smooth — or Stressful?

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There is so much to do before school starts as a teacher and it's easy to wonder if you are forgetting something or if you are focusing on the right t...

#149: How to Design a Distraction-Free Classroom That Sets the Tone for the Entire Year

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You're a first-year teacher who is looking for strategies to setting up the perfect classroom. Or maybe you're a second-year teacher who spent their e...

#148: What Most First Year Teachers Prepare Over Summer (And What Successful Ones Actually Do)

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You just started your first-year of teaching and you're wondering how to setup your classroom over the summer. You finally get the keys to your classr...

#147: Quiz: Are you ready to WOW Families During Back to School Night?

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Back-to-School Night is just around the corner and you're wondering if you have everything ready or not. You have no idea what the format should be an...

#146: The Real Reason Your First Day of School Feels Chaotic (And How to Fix It Beforehand)

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You've scrolled social media and seen the horror stories on how the first day or first week of school can be chaotic. Or maybe you've taught before an...

#145: 5 Classroom Organization Hacks that Save You HOURS During Back-to-School Seasons

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Its your first or second year of teaching and you're wondering how to organize and setup your classroom strategically. You don't want to make any sill...

#144: How to Nail Meet the Teacher Night (Even if You Have No Idea What You Are Doing)

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Meet the Teacher Night is just around the corner, and you're starting to feel nervous. You're wondering how you're going to get parents to like you, w...

#143: How to Choose the Right School District to Apply to as a First-Year Teacher

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You just graduated and you're ready to start off your first year as a teacher. But as you're scrolling social media you see a lot of teachers leave th...

#142: How to Answer ‘What is Your Greatest Weakness?’ in a Teacher Interview

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

So you just started your first teacher interview and you get the dreaded question 'What is your greatest weakness as a teacher?' You freeze because yo...

#141: How to Answer Tough Teacher Interview Questions Without Freezing Up

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The other day I was talking to a First-Year Teacher who asked me what do you do during a teacher interview when you don't know how to answer their que...

#140: Quiz: Are You Ready for Your First Or Next Teacher Interview

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You're a first-year teacher or new teacher who's getting ready for you're upcoming interview and you're wondering if you have everything ready. Over t...

#139: What to Do If You’re Non-Renewed as a New Teacher

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You're a first-year teacher or new teacher who just got told you are being non-renewed for next year. I know that right now can be extremely high with...

#138: How I Landed My First Teaching Position: My Interview Story

20 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When I applied for my first teaching position, I was TERRIFIED districts wouldn't take me seriously because I was only 21 years old. I had just gradua...

#137: What NOT to Do During a Teacher Demo Lesson

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You just a call for your first or next teacher interview, and they let you know that they want you to teach a demo lesson. You're wondering what on ea...

#135: How to Stop Feeling Like a 'Mean Teacher' When Holding Students Accountable

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a first-year teacher or student teacher who's wondering how to have good classroom management without being a mean teacher?   This week I...

#134: The 3 Biggest Mindset Shifts That Transformed My Classroom Management

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been struggling with disruptive behaviors lately and you're wondering how you can finally transform the way you manage your classroom?  ...

#133: Why Leaving at Contract Time Makes You A Better Teacher

02 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When I first came up with the desire to leave at contract time as a new teacher I felt incredibly guilty. I thought that in order to be a good teacher...

#132: Your First 15 Minutes & Last 15 Minutes: How to Structure Your Day to Leave at Contract Time

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

  Have you ever came in for the day having a bad morning and your students were completely off the charts? Or have you ever came in with the perf...

#131: The Secret to Leaving at Contract Time: Setting Up Classroom Routines

16 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 One of the top questions I get asked is 'how do I automate my classroom?' Well today I'm talking about one of the MAIN strategies I myself and t...

#130: Why Overworking Won't Make You a Better Teacher

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to believe that as a new or first-year teacher you have to work hours and hours after contract time to be a good teacher. But the truth is, ...

#129: How to Write the Perfect Thank You Email After Your Teacher Interview

26 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

So you just completed your first or next teacher interview and you're wondering what you should do next.  This week we are diving into the d...

#128: How to Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter For Specific Teaching Jobs

19 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a first-year or new teacher looking to create your resume and cover letter?  This week we are diving into why you should customize y...

#127: How to Research a School District Before Your Teacher Interview

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a new or first-year teacher preparing for your next interview and you've been told to research the district you are applying for but you're no...

#126: The Secret to Getting Hired Mid-Year as a Teacher

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a new or first-year teacher who is ready to get their first or next teaching position? As a mi-year hire you might be wondering how to conduct...

Setting Your Teaching and Teacher Business Goals in 2025

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the world of education, we are told that things have to be hard. -In order to be a good teacher you have to work hard and give up your personal lif...

#124: How to Show Up Confidently in Your Teacher Business

22 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you just started your teacher business and you're not sure what to say online?   This week we are diving into how to confidently show up onl...

#123: Gaining Clarity On Which Products to Make in Your New Teacher Business

15 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been thinking about starting your own teacher business and you're not sure where to start?   This week we are diving into how to start y...

#122: Part 1: How to Start Your Teacher Business

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been thinking about starting your own teacher business and you're not sure where to start?   This week we are diving into how to start y...

#121: How to Get Caught Up This Winter Break So You Can Start Getting Ahead

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling behind as a teacher and looking for a way to get caught up or ahead over winter break?   This week I am going back to the early d...

#120: Why I Don't Use Clip Charts Anymore and What I Use Instead

17 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wondering what clip charts are and if you should use them as part of your classroom management plan? This week I am diving into what clip charts are a...

#119: When to Know It's Time to Review a Classroom Procedure

10 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have your students been extra chatty lately and your not quite sure what to do? This week we are diving into when I know it's time to start reviewing ...

#118: 5 Things to Do After Your Teacher Interview

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you just have your first teacher interview and you're wondering what to do next? This week I am diving into 5 steps you should take after completi...

#117: 5 Lesson Planning Mistakes I Made that Cost Me My Weekends

27 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you tired of spending your weekends and weeknights trying to get caught up? This week we are diving into my teaching lesson planning mistakes I m...

#116: The 3 Classroom Management Tools That Automated My Classroom

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

  Does it feel like you are constantly having to handle behaviors and no matter what you do you consistently have to stop teaching to address the...

#115: What are Natural Consequences in the Classroom and How to Use Them

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Not sure how to respond to disruptive behaviors in class? This week we are breaking down what natural consequences (also known as logical consequences...

#114: Why I Don't Use Student Recommendation Letters Anymore and What I Do Instead

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you stumble across student recommendation letters online and you're wondering whether or not you should use them? This week we are breaking down w...

#113: 5 Lessons in Becoming the Present Teacher

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever caught yourself spacing out after work? Are you looking for a way to get ontop of your teacher to-do list so you can finally come home w...

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Teachers

22 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever caught yourself comparing yourself to another teacher? And you noticed that whenever you do it makes you feel bad and second guess your ...

How to Get Your Students to Respect You During the Beginning of the School Year

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you starting off the school year and you're worried your students may not respect you?Here's a breakdown of the exact steps I take to get my stude...

7 Things I Focus on During the First Month of School

08 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you going into your first year of teaching and you're wondering what you should be focusing on? This week I share everything I do in order to prep...

5 Things You Need to Hear Before Your Next Teacher Interview

01 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling nervous for your next teacher interview and looking for a pep talk or teacher mindset tips?Here we break down 5 things you need to hear before...

A Guided Meditation to Start Your Teaching Day Calm and Prepared

25 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Start your morning off with flow and ease with this 14-minute guided meditation for teachers on letting the school day be easy. In this meditation, we...

My Secrets Revealed: Make Teaching Easier with Classroom Running Activities

18 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wondering how to get everything done as a first-year or new teacher? In this video, I share which classroom running activities I focus on in my class ...

How to Automate Your Classroom for a Stress-Free Teaching Experience

11 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Looking for a way to automate your classroom without spending your weekends and evenings working after contract hours? In this video I share what my a...

5 Things I Needed to Hear as Someone Who Struggled with Teacher Work-Life Balance

04 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you struggle with teacher work-life balance and looking for a way to make things different this year? In this video, I share 5 things I needed to ...

5 Pieces of Classroom Management Motivation I Needed to Hear as a New Teacher

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDid you really struggle with classroom management last year and you’re starting to wonder if it will ever get better?This week I get r...

Back-to-School Classroom Management: Four Key Strategies for Success

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textGoing back to school soon and looking for some strong classroom management strategies that will make you feel confident in your classroo...

How to Revamp Your Classroom Management Over the Summer

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDid classroom management not go the way you wanted it to last year and now you’re looking for a way to revamp your classroom managemen...

Steal the 7 Step Process I Use to Teach My Classroom Procedures

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSeeing everyone mention how important it is to teach classroom procedures during back-to-school season but not sure where to start?Here'...

10 Lessons From My First 6 Years of Teaching

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAre you a new or first-year teacher wondering what lessons you can learn from experienced teachers?In this podcast episode, I share my t...

How to Set Up Your Classroom the RIGHT WAY For First Year Teachers

23 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a first year teacher wondering how to set up your classroom the right way? In today’s podcast episode I share everything I do in order to pr...

5 Mistakes I Made Setting Up My Classroom During Back to School Season

16 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ready to start preparing for back-to-school season without making common mistakes setting up your classroom? In this podcast episode, I share all of t...

What to ACTUALLY Teach During The First Week Of School

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ready to start preparing for back to school season and you're wondering what you should teach during the first week of school?In this video I share ev...

What to ACTUALLY Focus on to Get Ahead Over Summer Break as a Teacher

02 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Starting to work over the summer and wondering what you should ACTUALLY be focusing on in order to get ahead over the summer break as a teacher.Here I...

Should You Be Feeling Guilty For Working Less as a Teacher?

26 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should teachers be feeling guilty for working less as a teacher? Here is my hot take on whether or not working less makes you a bad teacher. PLUS I sh...

How to Spice Up Your End Of Year Classroom Management

19 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDisruptive behavior on the rise and you're wondering how to mix things up with your end of year classroom management?Here's a breakdown ...

The Ultimate Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Teaching 2nd Grade

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you just find out you're teaching 2nd grade and you have no idea where to get started?Today I'm sharing my top guide on everything you need to kno...

Haven’t Heard Back From Your Last Teacher Interview? Here’s What To Do

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 Haven't hear back from your last teacher interview and not sure what to do?Here we break down 5 steps to complete before following up after your...

10 Possible Questions to Ask At the End Of Your Teacher Interview

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 Not sure what to ask at the end of your teacher interview?Here we break down 10 questions to ask the hiring committee at the end of your teacher...

10 Teacher Interview Questions and Answers to Master For Your Next Interview

21 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 Not sure what teacher interview questions and answers you should be practicing for your upcoming interview?Here are the top 10 teacher interview...

How to Teach an AMAZING Demo Lesson in Under 10 Minutes During Your Next Teacher Interview

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Not sure how to teach a demo lesson for your upcoming teacher interview?Here we break down exactly what a demo lesson is, how to prepare for one, and ...

The Ultimate Guide on What to Wear During Your Next Teacher Interview

07 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 Curious about what to wear during your next teacher interview?These teacher interview tips will help you confidently prepare for your upcoming t...

5 Signs of When It’s Time to Apply to a Different Teaching Position

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 Not sure when it's time to apply to a different teaching position?Here are 5 not so obvious signs it might be time to switch districts or teachi...

Unlocking the Magic of Student-Led Classroom Transitions: Master the Art of Time-Saving and Empowerment

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWondering how to create smooth classroom transitions from one activity to another?Here's a breakdown of not only what classroom transiti...

How to Know When To Rest Your Classroom

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHere's a breakdown of not only when to reset your classroom, but also how and why it's effective.Resetting your classroom will help you ...

Classroom Setup Tips I Wish I Knew as a First Year Teacher

10 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

These are the 5 classroom setup tips I wish I would have known as a first year teacher.These classroom setup strategies will help you get clear on how...

How to Stand Out During Your Next Teacher Interview

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 Use these 3 strategies to confidently stand out during your next teacher interview.These teacher interview tips will help you confidently prepar...

5 Mistakes I Made Trying to Tackle My Teacher To-Do List

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how to minimize your teacher to-do list with ease. Here are 5 mistakes I made while trying to complete my teacher to-do list during my first yea...

Revamp Your Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Seamless Management and Joyful Learning

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textLearn how to revamp your classroom management with ease. Use these 3 strategies to confidently manage your elementary classroom to get y...

5 Trending Classroom Management Strategies that Were Complete FLOPS

11 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textEver scrolled Pinterest and social media and found trending classroom management strategies you absolutely LOVE? But when you try them i...

5 Absolute Must-Do's if You Are Starting Teaching Mid-Year

04 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAre you a teacher stepping into a classroom mid-year and wondering how to navigate this unique challenge? Today, we've got you covered w...

What Districts ACTUALLY Want to See on Your Teacher Cover Letter

28 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 So, you’re ready to take the next step in your teaching career, but the question looms: what should your teacher cover letter really say? Afte...

The Secret Strategies on How to Keeping Up With Grading BEFORE Report Cards Are Due

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like you're drowning in a sea of student papers, unsure of what to grade or how to keep up with grading? In this video, I spill the tea on h...

3 Must Have Areas to Set Up in Your Classroom to Have a Smoothly Ran Classroom

14 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wondering which areas to set up in your classroom? Whether you're a seasoned educator looking to revamp your space or a new teacher getting ready to e...

When to Start Applying for a Teacher Job: A Comprehensive Guide for New Teachers

07 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 In this podcast episode, we're talking about when to start applying for a teaching job. Whether you're a recent graduate or considering a change...