Tag Archives: teacher

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Excellent Advice For Teaching 002: Smart Ways to Make Your Money Work Harder

Things I Wish I Knew Earlier in My Career in Education

Smart Ways to Make Your Money Work Harder as an Educator

Lesson: Take Action Early in Your Teaching Career to Put Your Money to Good Work. You can get big results over time with just a little bit of money.

Image created by description from Kelly Croy put into Chat GPT4

Even though teachers might not make as much money as some other jobs, being a teacher is really rewarding and important. But, there are smart things teachers can do with their money right from the start.

When I first started teaching, I used to run out of money all the time. By my third year, when Christmas came around, I didn’t have much money for gifts. That’s when my teacher friends told me about starting a Christmas savings account at our local credit union.

I started putting a little bit of my paycheck into this account every time I got paid, without even seeing the money first. My friends told me to just forget about it and let it grow. And it really worked! Every year, I had money saved up for Christmas and vacations. And when I got a raise, I would save a bit more.

I’ve also learned that teachers have some really good benefits, like retirement plans, that a lot of other jobs don’t have. This is because a little bit of our paycheck goes into retirement savings automatically, which is actually a pretty cool thing. I’ve met people who make three or four times my salary and have nothing saved for retirement. It was sadly ‘something they were always going to get to doing’ but didn’t it. Most people lack the discipline needed to have money.

Even though I wish teachers got paid more, I’ve decided to focus on making the most of what I earn. I was lucky to have friends who gave me great advice.

Here are some smart money tips I’ve learned and you should think about too:

1. Start a Vacation Fund: Put a bit of your paycheck into a savings account that you can’t easily take money out of. Only use this money for special things like Christmas or vacations.
2. Save in a Tax-Free Account: Even starting with a small amount can add up over time. I started an annuity early in my career.
3. Join an Investment Club: It’s a fun way to save money with friends and learn about investing. It inspired me to invest on my own. I had fun. I earned money too, that has really helped my family.
4. Side Hustle: If you can get paid for extra jobs like coaching, use that money for fun activities or to save. Every human should have a side hustle, or two. I chose fun ones for myself like: speaking, writing, artwork and education consulting. Find a fun hobby that can make you some extra money, but remember to save some of it. It’s easier to out-earn financial challenges than out-budget or out-save them. FYI.
5. No Credit Card Debt: Always pay off your credit card every month. Always! No exceptions. So many people get crushed with this one and can’t dig out.
6. Budget: Use a budget to make sure you’re saving money. Know where your money is going. Adjust and adapt. I use Rocket and YNAB.
7. Learn About Money: Read a book or take a class to get smarter about money.
8. Live Within Your Means: Be careful with spending too much on things you don’t need. I see so many people with incredibly high car and home loans! Wowzers! Don’t live like the pretenders on Instagram. This is hard for a lot of people. They want to eat out all the time. Pack your lunch. It pays off.
9. Plan Your Spending: Decide what each part of your paycheck will go towards before you get it. Prepare for upcoming events as best you can. Don’t get alarmed when a surprise expense hits, have some money hidden away for a rainy day.
10. Enjoy Teaching: Remember, being a happy teacher is more important than how much money you make. I know this might tick a lot of teachers off, and I get it. Teachers deserve more money. I agree. My point is that you can’t put a price tag on happiness. If you enjoy teaching, that is priceless. So many people hate their jobs. I don’t.

Remember, saving a little bit at a time can really add up and make your life better.

The following is from Yahoo Finance: 

“However, popular personal finance expert Dave Ramsey recently shared that teachers are becoming millionaires despite having low salaries. According to a study conducted by Ramsey Solutions of over 10,000 millionaires, the top five careers for millionaires were engineer, accountant, teacher, management, and attorney. Feb 18, 2024”

Challenge: Talk to the payroll department at your school to automatically save a small part of your paycheck. Also, start with $20 to $40 each month for an investment in some stock or start a club. At the end of your career, like my 33 years, you’ll be thankful you did. It’s a good start!

Take Action Early in Your Teaching Career to Put Your Money to Good Work. It’s about making good decisions. The more most people make, the more they spend. Use your money smarter!

Always forward,

Kelly

I would like to speak at your event!

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

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Excellent Advice For Teaching 001: Record The Journey

Things I Wish I Knew Earlier in My Career in Education

Record the Journey

Lesson: Everyone you meet has something they can teach you. Yes, everyone! It doesn’t matter how old they are, or if some people think they are super successful or not. Everyone knows something you don’t. But here’s the trick: you have to really listen and be open to learning new things.

Image created by text description written by Kelly Croy in Chat GPT 4

Sometimes, we think we know a lot about something, but there’s always more to learn. So many teachers, young and old, just do things their way. Teaching is about collaboration, an eagerness to learn and apply it.  It’s important to listen and keep our minds open to new ideas.

Everything good I’ve accomplished as a teacher I learned from someone else. Sometimes they were teachers in my school, or people I met at conferences, or even someone I learned from online. I saw the awesome things they did, and I wanted to learn how to do them too. So, I asked a lot of questions and tried my best to learn, put my spin on it, and try them out. Sometimes it took many attempts, and a few times it worked great the first time.

Sometimes, people teach us exactly what to do. Other times, they show us what not to do. Both are really helpful.

Don’t be shy to ask others when you need help or have a question. And if you find something that works well, share it with others! That’s how you can be a leader.

Watch what other teachers do and learn from them. Try out what you learn in your own way.

Challenge:  No matter where you are in school or what you’re learning, try to keep track of your adventures in learning. You could write it down in a journal, make a video, or even keep notes on your phone. When you learn something new, write it down and think about how you can use it.

I’ve been keeping track of my teaching journey by making podcasts, writing blogs, and speaking at educational events and conferences. I’ve even written a couple of books. It’s been really fun! I’ve met so many awesome teachers and learned so much. It has even helped my students meet experts in areas they are interest in and learn about places all around the world. It’s provided me with opportunities to travel the world and even helped my family with additional income streams. Most importantly, it made me better and my district better. When we listen to learn and share to help, we level-up and make a difference in the lives of others.

I’m going to write some short posts here about what I’ve learned about teaching in a series titled: Excellent Advice for Teaching. I hope you enjoy them, and maybe even comment and share.

Every single person has something to teach you if you’ll listen and have an open mind, but the thing is most people don’t ask, don’t listen, and don’t apply. An eagerness to learn is better than saying, I’m a life-long learner. Let’s practice learning and model it.

Record the Journey.

Always forward,

Kelly

I would like to speak at your event!

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

I had this idea over the weekend to  take a few minutes each day to jot down a short piece of advice I believe I have learned about teaching and post it on @wirededucator to pass it along to the next generation of teachers. That’s how I learned. So, here is my first. (This will be a good practice in consistency too.) #LeadEveryDay #WiredEducator

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WEP 240: Building a Community for Educational Technology Integration, an Interview with Chris Nesi

My Interview with Chris Nesi, the Host of The House of EdTech Podcast and All-Around Good Human and Educator

Welcome to the Wired Educator Podcast, Episode 240 my interview with the exceptional Chris Nesi.

Chris is not only an outstanding educator but also the brilliant host of the House of EdTech podcast. Chris is someone I respect and admire.  I’m absolutely delighted to share our enlightening conversation about education podcasting and a plethora of other fascinating topics. You’re going to love this episode.

Click here to listen to my interview with Chris.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2KTX20EYnDJcL2eZG28DDu?si=DqFIoIayQ-SroQRGmBTWsw

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wired-educator-podcast/id974270220?i=1000651251961

Christopher J. Nesi, is a passionate educator, podcast host, and influential thought leader. With over 15 years of classroom experience, Chris has dedicated his professional journey to assisting educators in effectively and meaningfully integrating technology into their teaching practices. His engaging presentations at both local and national conferences are widely acclaimed for their practical strategies in technology implementation and their emphasis on creating student-centered learning experiences.

As the host and producer of the immensely popular “House of #EdTech” podcast, Chris explores emerging trends and conducts insightful interviews with influential figures in education and technology from around the world. His authenticity and genuine leadership shine through in every episode, making him an invaluable resource for educators seeking inspiration and guidance.

Throughout our conversation, I was reminded of why Chris has earned my admiration. His unwavering dedication to empowering educators and utilizing technology to shape the future of education is truly inspiring. I strongly encourage listeners to tune in to his podcast and engage with him on social media, as his insights are truly invaluable. It’s a true honor and privilege to introduce you to the remarkable Chris Nesi.

Chris’s Links:

Thanks for taking time out of your busy week to listen to The Wired Educator Podcast.

You are awesome!

Kelly

I would like to speak at your event!

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

 

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WEP 239: Publishing Students Through Creative Collaborations an Interview with Donnie Sorah

This is the Wired Educator podcast Episode 239, my interview with Donnie, Sorah titled “Publishing Students Through Creative Collaborations.”

Donnie is a  musician, educator, composer, and an associate professor of music at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He’s amazing and he’s going to share his story as well as inspire us all to publish students’ work in powerful and unique ways to enhance their voice, build connection and provide the best learning experience possible. This episode is perfect for teachers in any content are, teaching any age, educational leaders and YOU!

Click here to listen to Kelly’s interview with Donnie.

Dr. Donald Sorah, Associate Professor of Music at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, boasts a diverse teaching portfolio encompassing applied high brass, conducting, music technology, composition, orchestration, and various other courses. As an Apple Distinguished Educator and recipient of the Outstanding Use of Technology in the Classroom Award (May 2022), Dr. Sorah actively supports students and colleagues as an Apple Learning Coach at UVA Wise, an Apple Distinguished School.

Under his guidance, the college achieved initial accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music in 2019. Beyond UVA Wise, Dr. Sorah has served as Associate Adjunct Instructor at Mountain Empire Community College since 1999 and previously taught at J.J. Kelly High School and L.F. Addington Middle School in Wise, Virginia.

As the Associate Director of the Spirit of America National Honor Band, he conducted and performed as a trumpet soloist across Europe. He co-founded the Guayaquil Summer Music Academy in Ecuador, where he engaged in performances, lectures, and trumpet instruction. Recent teaching and research ventures have taken him to Chile and Spain.

Sorah is a member of the Symphony of the Mountains and the Johnson City Symphony. In 2006, he founded the Winds of the Mountain Empire, a regional wind ensemble comprised mainly of music educators and is a champion for new works, presenting numerous premieres and commissions.

As a prolific composer, Dr. Sorah has crafted works for various ensembles, including piano, organ, chamber groups, wind ensemble, and orchestra. His compositions have been performed by The University of Louisville Symphonic Band, University of Florida Symphonic Band, Nicholls State University Symphonic Band, and Madison Concert Band. Most recently, his orchestral work Rhapsody on In the Bleak Midwinter was featured at the 2023 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.

As an advocate for proving free high-quality educational resources for his students he has published four books on Apple Books including Composing with Found Sounds in GarageBand, Everyone Can Create Music With iPad Curriculum Guide, Book of Rhythms and Melodies Vol. 1, and Book of Rhythms and Melodies Vol. 2. Under his leadership, students in his music appreciation course published five introductory books covering eras of classical music.

Dr. Sorah earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Music Education from The Florida State University and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Morehead State University (KY). He resides in Wise, Virginia, with his wife Kelly, son Brennan, and dog Roamer.

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Mentioned in this Episode: 

Book Kelly to Speak at Your School!

Kelly

I would like to speak at your event!

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

 

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WEP 237: Teach Like a Pirate, Again! My interview with Dave Burgess

Dave Burgess is the author of the New York Times Best Seller, Teach Like a Pirate and President of Dave Burgess Consulting

This is the Wired Educator Podcast Episode 237, Teach Like a Pirate Revisited, my interview with Dave Burgess.

I had the good fortune of interviewing Dave on episode 10, 227 episodes ago! Dave is the author of Teach Like a Pirate and the president and found of DBC with over 200 EDU speakers and authors. Amazing!  I worked for Dave for 4 years doing website design, maintenance, marketing, narration of a couple books, designing author pages and more. So cool to have Dave back and talk about how relevant and important his Teach Like a Pirate book still is, the impact he has had on education and more! Beautiful episode, with a beautiful human. Love Dave’s positive influence on all things EDU and how he keeps the narrative on EDU super positive and awesome. You’re going to love our interview. 

Click here to listen to my interview with Dave or from anywhere quality podcasts are available.

I am excited to share “The” Dave Burgess‘s journey with you! We are going to talk about deeply about how some of the core components of his book, Teach Like a Pirate, are not only still relevant in classrooms today, but how they are saving teacher’s careers from exhaustion, burnout and engagement. Dave is one of the most wonderful humans and educators I have had the pleasure to meet. He came into my life at such a great time and really helped me and my family! I’m excited to reconnect with him and share his important work with you today, Teach Like a Pirate!

Thank you for all you do in education. I am so proud of you. Thank you for taking time out of your busy week, your busy day to listen to The Wired Educator Podcast. You’re awesome. 

Dave Burgess is the New York Times Best-Selling author of Teach Like a PIRATE, co-author of P is for PIRATE, and the president of Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. which delivers powerful, inspirational, and innovative books, keynotes, and professional development.

He specializes in teaching hard-to-reach, hard-to-motivate students with techniques that incorporate showmanship and creativity.  At a recent ceremony in Washington, D.C., he was awarded the BAMMY for Secondary School Teacher of the Year by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences.

Dave delivers the ultimate professional development experience for your teachers that is perfect for all circumstances from truly inspirational opening keynotes to full-day hands-on workshops.  It is a high-energy, interactive, and entertaining experience that will leave your staff unbelievably inspired, motivated, and with the practical skills to dramatically increase student engagement.

His presentations are a unique blend of outrageously energetic performance art and magic, mixed with an inspirational message of how and why to become more passionate in the classroom. All techniques and methods are modeled and fully explained so as to leave no doubt about how to apply the methods in the real-world. Participants will leave with a tool-box full of dynamic presentational ideas that they can immediately use to improve their lessons.

As a teacher in San Diego, California, he was a 2001 and 2012 Golden Apple winner in the Grossmont Union High School District and the 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year at West Hills High School. He was voted a faculty standout for 17 consecutive years in categories such as Most Entertaining, Most Energetic, and Most Dramatic.

Mentioned in this Episode: 

Dave’s Book, Teach Like a Pirate! Grab your copy of Dave’s book here. (This is the book I have gifted in EDU more than any other book.)

Dave’s website: www.daveburgess.com

Dave’s other website: www.daveburgessconsulting.com

Dave’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dave-burgess-show/id1550396352

Follow Dave on Twitter: @burgessdave

Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness & Anxiety: Grab a copy of my children’s book, Unthink Before Bed: Click here to order!

Grow Your Own Leaders: Free Course: Join our FREE leadership class, Grow Your Own Leaders. Closing Wednesday, January 31 at noon. Small number of participant. Closing VERY soon. Click this link to join: wirededucator.com/growleaders

Grow Your Own Leaders: Free Course: Seriously, if you think at any point in your career you might want to be an educational leader at any level, director of something, principal, assistant, superintendent, whatever, hit paus on this podcast, pull over and go to wirededucator.com/growleaders and sign up. It’s 100% free. Six weeks. You have everything to gain. The door to this opportunity is closing.

Looking for someone who is expert in VR with Pico headset to help me find content for other content areas. Good in math and science. Reach out to me.

Storytelling with Purpose by Michael Hernandez. I recently interviewed Michael Hernandez and Apple Distinguished Educator and author of a brand new amazing book, titled Storytelling with Purpose. This is an amazing book that’s going to help educators in any grade level in any Contant area anywhere in the world tackle their biggest challenges in teaching. It’s a bold statement, but a big promise for me. I love this book. Stay tuned for this interview coming at you next week.

Lego Set Update! Wow! This is the Lego Set of Darth Vader’s Helmet I received as a gift from a listener. I will post progress in an upcoming newsletter. I will pay this forward. Tracy in Coppell, Texas… you are a legend. Two of my books are headed your way!  I am hoping Legos settle my active brain in a good way… and they’re fun. I am saving up for this beauty! Whoa! I never knew Lego kits like this existed. Seriously! Not sure how to explain this one to Lori when I make it. Ha! 

I shared this image on Instagram about how we talk about our year’s in education:

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day and week to listen to the Wired Educator podcast to level up and make a difference in the lives of others.

Always forward,

Kelly

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Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

 

 

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WEP 233: Rocking an iPad in Any Classroom, an Interview with Kristen Brooks

How to Bring Creation over Consumption with Devices to All Grades and Content Areas

This is the Wired Educator Podcast episode 233, my interview with Kristen Brooks. Kristin is an Apple Distinguished Educator and an education leader that’s making a difference in the lives of others. She helps me and my district with adding creation to our learning, especially with iPads. I’m excited to share her story and message with you and the impact that she’s making around the world. You’re going to love this interview. It is all about rocking iPads in any classroom and putting creation over consumption with devices.

Kristen is so, very, very kind. She is the type of educator, leader and friend. She is the type of person who checks in on others and she did that with me recently and it really helped. What a genuine, compassionate educator and difference maker!

(Click here to play from your email.)

Kristen Brooks is an amazing force for all things good in education. She is an innovator. She is a leader. She is an inspiration to all. Kristen is an Apple Distingued educator of whom I have traveled the world with at global ADE Institutes, and I follow her on social media making an impact everywhere with her amazing knowledge and resources. (She sent me some amazing resources of hers to include in the show notes, so check the out. )

She has held numerous positions in the Cherokee County School District from Elementary Tech Lab & iPad Lab Creator to Instructional Technology Specialist & Tech Coach. She is a veteran teacher of 28 years with the last 18 years exclusively in Educational Technology. She keeps herself busy as a Technology Teacher encouraging students to regularly create more than they consume with their devices and as an Educational Technology Consultant supporting learners of all ages by helping them effectively use technology for learning and creating. This can include training teachers on how to integrate technology into their curriculum, designing and implementing technology-based learning programs, and providing support and resources for students and educators.

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Edu X-Chats (Twitter Chats): #WiredWednesday chats are every other Wednesday and #EDULeaderChat every other Thursdays. Both are only 30 minutes long, starting at 9PM EST.

• Follow Kelly’s  30 Day Challenge on X app (Twitter): #AppleEducationCommunity30DayChallenge.

• Congratulations on retiring to my best friend, Richard Baird, superintendent of North Union Schools in Richwood, Ohio. He made such a tremendous difference there and in all of education. Can’t wait to see what is next for him. Here’s our interview together: https://wirededucator.com/wep99/

• Check out the Apple Education Community and all they have to offer you at: http://education.apple.com

• Grow Leaders Opportunity to learn about becoming an Edu Administrator: Here is the chance for your golden ticket: Grow Leaders Course. We will select five (5) winners from these applications by end of September: www.wirededucator.com/growleaders Pat Adkins was a guest on my 166th episode. You can listen here: https://wirededucator.com/wep166/

• Follow Kristen on X or Twitter and LinkedIn at @KristenBrooks77

From Kristen: New friends- Thank you for listening today. I would love to continue this conversation so please reach out to me with questions or to invite me to consult with your school or district. 

Kristen Brooks link tree -link

Twitter: @KristenBrooks77

Kristen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenbrooks77

Clips Tutorial for all learners created in clips app by Kristen Brooks. Feel free to use and share. https://youtu.be/PU6lsiXcFsE

What’s next for Kristen Brooks? 

I will be retiring from my district in 1 year with 30 years in education; but I am not retiring from Education or Edtech! I am excited to announce I have started my own LLC which is called 

Kristen Brooks #forEDU and I will be available to consult and present around the globe at schools and districts. I am excited to help encourage more students and educators the importance & value of creating more than they consume.

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Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

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WEP 227: Make Your Class Relevant and Engaging an Interview with Dominic Helmstetter

In this episode of the Wired Educator Podcast I interview Dominic Helmstetter. He shares how he connects with students, makes his class relevant and engaging, and how EduProtocols helps him to make a difference as educator.

This is a fun episode. You can hear and feel Dominic’s passion for teaching. You will also leave with actionable takeaways you could put to use immediately in your classroom.

Click here to listen to episode 227.

Dominic Helmstetter has taught Middle and High School for 16 years.  He holds a BA in Integrated Social Studies, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction as well as an MED in Education Leadership.  He began his teaching career in a diverse high needs community before later serving as Dean of Students and Principal.  He later returned to the classroom to teach Junior High before being hired to teach at Perrysburg High School, where he is part of a teaching team that regularly helps students earn among the highest passing rates in Ohio state testing.  His instruction focuses on providing hands-on learning experiences centered around promoting engaging and active learning opportunities for students.  In addition to teaching, Dominic enjoys serving on various district wide leadership teams and speaking at educational conferences designed to help boost student engagement and build classroom culture.

You can follow Dominic on Twitter at @DHelmEDU

He is a leading expert on 

  1. Building Story / Theme into your classroom
  2. Knowing what motivates your students.
  3. EduProtocols
  4. Game Based Learning
  5. He just presented at MassCUE and will be presenting at  NorthPoint ESC soon

Mentioned in this episode:

The EduProtocol Field Guide: 16 Student-Centered Lesson Frames for Infinite Learning Possibilities

The EduProtocol Field Guide Social Studies Edition: 13 Student-Centered Lesson Frames for AP and College Prep

Deploying EduProtocols: A Guide for Educational Change Leaders

Kelly

Two things to share: I just finished reading this book by one of my favorite authors; don’t let the title shock you, and I just added this to about everything of value to me, including my dog. Add to cart!

(We’re proud affiliates for some of these tools, meaning if you click a link for a tool and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are based on deep experience with and knowledge of these companies and their products, and we recommend them because they are genuinely helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we may receive. Please don’t spend any money on
these products unless you believe they will help you achieve your goals.) Have a great week.

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Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Join our #WiredWednesday 30-Minute Twitter chats on Wednesdays at 9PM Eastern. They are awesome and fun.

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

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WEP 219: Survival Guide to The Classroom Apocalypse an Interview with Amanda Fox

An Interview with Amanda Fox

This is the wired educator podcast episode 219. My interview with Amanda Fox and her books Teachingland: A Teachers Survival Guide to the Classroom Apocalypse and MarkerTown, an awesome children’s book. We talk about Canva, virtual reality, augmented reality,  book publishing, creation in the classroom and her amazing story of becoming an educator and more. Get ready to be inspired and learn in this awesome interview.

Click here to listen to my interview with Amanda Fox. 

Amanda is the author of several books including: Teachingland: A Teachers Survival Guide to the Classroom Apocalypse and MarkerTown.

Amanda Fox, is an educator, author, and technology enthusiast currently living in Louisville, Kentucky. She is the Director of Education for QuiverVision, and the founder of Metainkbooks, a publishing company that leverages augmented reality to improve literacy. She has taught English Language Arts, Social Studies, Film, Journalism, and enjoys writing, illustrating, and cooking in her free time. Recipient of the 2016 ISTE Emerging Leader Award, recognized as a PBS Digital innovator for her initiatives in enhancing student learning with technology, Fox has also served as President of the Young Educator Network for ISTE, and received the President’s Volunteer Award in 2018. She is the author of Teachingland: A Teacher’s Survival Guide to the Classroom Apocalypse, Zom-Be A Design Thinker,  Markertown, and The Canva Classroom. She is currently working on a followup book to Markertown. Learn more or connect with Amanda on Twitter @AmandaFoxSTEM

For more information on booking Amanda for keynotes, workshops, design thinking led sessions, or video conferencing/virtual book readings with your class or school go to the contact page.

Amanda Fox, is an educator, author, and technology enthusiast currently living in Louisville, Kentucky. She is the Director of Education for QuiverVision, and the founder of Metainkbooks, a publishing company that leverages augmented reality to improve literacy. She has taught English Language Arts, Social Studies, Film, Journalism, and enjoys writing, illustrating, and cooking in her free time. Recipient of the 2016 ISTE Emerging Leader Award, recognized as a PBS Digital innovator for her initiatives in enhancing student learning with technology, Fox has also served as President of the Young Educator Network for ISTE, and received the President’s Volunteer Award in 2018. She is the author of Teachingland: A Teacher’s Survival Guide to the Classroom Apocalypse, Zom-Be A Design Thinker,  Markertown, and The Canva Classroom. She is currently working on a followup book to Markertown. Learn more or connect with Amanda on Twitter @AmandaFoxSTEM

For more information on booking Amanda for keynotes, workshops, design thinking led sessions, or video conferencing/virtual book readings with your class or school go to the contact page.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Amanda’s book Teachingland: A Survival Guide to the Classroom Apocalypse

Amanda’s book: MakerTown

Amanda’s book: Zom-Be a Design Thinker

Canva Youtube Playlist

TWITTER
Canva Template Links
Wordle Template
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Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email.  Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with 218 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leaderand Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

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WEP 218 Safe, Seen and Stretched in the Classroom an Interview with Julie Schmidt Hasson

WEP 218 Safe, Seen and Stretched in the Classroom an Interview with Julie Schmidt Hasson

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast I interview Julie Schmidt Hasson about her new book Safe, Seen and Stretched in the Classroom. It is all about her research on the impact of teachers. I first interviewed Julie a few years ago for episode 98, and now she is back. What a fun interview. You are going to love her book.

Click here to listen to my interview with Julie. 

Julie Schmidt Hasson, Ed.D. is a professor in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University. Julie’s research on the impact of a teacher is the topic of a TEDx talk and is the focus of her engaging professional development programs. She founded the Chalk and Chances project, a vehicle for elevating and celebrating teachers, in 2017. Julie’s latest book, Safe, Seen, and Stretched in the Classroom was released in November 2021.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Julie’s book: Safe, Seen and Stretched in the Classroom

Julie’s website: https://www.julieschmidthasson.com

Julie’s blog: https://www.chalkandchances.com/about

Julie’s TedX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmwy6r26vQY

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Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email.  Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with 218 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leaderand Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

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WEP 205: Personal Leadership an Interview with Jim Tressel

An Interview with Jim Tressel

Personal Leadership an interview with President Jim Tressel.

This is the Wired Educator Podcast, Episode 205 “Personal Leadership” an Interview with President Jim Tressel. Jim Tressel is one of my all-time heroes. I admire him for his faith, his character, his success on the football field as a coach, and as an academic leader as President of Youngstown State University. In this episode we focus primarily on academics. (I snuck in a couple football questions. They’re good ones.) I really want to focus on what is it what it takes to be a great educational leader, especially a college president, how can we help students better prepare for college, his advice to teachers, students and administrators as we head back to school, and of course how we can each become better leaders. Jim’s character and Integrity shines through as always. I love this interview. You will too.

Click here to listen to Episode 205 “Personal Leadership” an Interview with President Jim Tressel on The Wired Educator Podcast.

James P. Tressel became the ninth president of Youngstown State University in 2014 and has been busy moving the campus forward on many fronts ever since.

Under President Tressel’s leadership, enrollment increased for the first time in five years, the academic quality of freshmen classes has continued upward, student retention is up and the university has solidly focused on student success – graduating on time, with little or no debt and with a job.  In addition, the university is hitting record fund-raising levels, keeping the lid on tuition costs, expanding scholarship opportunities and increasing both university and private housing options across campus.

Prior to becoming YSU president, Tressel was executive vice president for Student Success at the University of Akron, head football coach at Ohio State University (winning the national championship in 2002) and head football coach and executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics at YSU (winning four national championships).

Mentioned in this Episode: 

Youngstown State University

Order a copy of Jim’s book The Winner’s Manual: For The Game of Life

A Big Thank-You to our sponsor www.Planbook.com – Enter code “Wired” at sign-up

Planbook has been the established leader in online lesson planning since 2010, offering collaborative lesson sharing, flexible administrator access, and even student view tools for just $15 a year. Using Planbook, educators can build customized school years, classes, and lessons 100% online, directly inputting class materials and up-to-date standards from all over the world. Enter code “Wired” at sign-up to join over 800,000 Planbook teachers today and get your first year for only $5!

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Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email.  Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with 202 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leaderand Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram