Dustin and Ghazali talk with Shuayb Abdi, an educator-turned-founder working with international schools across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, to discuss the growing gap between AI policy and what’s actually happening in classrooms—especially in contexts where class sizes are large, resources are limited, and traditional assessment models are strained. Together, they explore why many schools stay stuck in fear-based, reactive approaches (like bans and “catching cheating”), and what it looks ...
May 25, 2026•41 min•Season 3Ep. 55
In this short episode of Teachers Talkin’, Dustin Tatroe explains why the end of testing can’t become the end of learning, especially in early May when students and teachers feel summer approaching and routines start to slip. He argues that tight, consistent systems—do nows, transitions, attention signals, work-time expectations, and follow-through on missing work—matter most at the end of the year because predictability prevents chaos. Dustin also warns against “filler” activities (like showing...
May 11, 2026•18 min•Season 3Ep. 54
Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali Abdul Wahab welcome Jake Bersin, a health and physical education teacher in Worcester Public Schools and host of MAHPERD’s Voices from the Field, to discuss “practice with a partner” and how colleagues can make growth visible and sustainable. Jake contrasts side-by-side practice with casual advice by emphasizing SMART goals, agendas, accountability, and mentoring aligned to Massachusetts teaching standards while staying non-evaluative. He shares concrete classroom moves...
Apr 27, 2026•54 min•Season 3Ep. 53
Dustin and Ghazali welcome returning guest Ryan Nicolas Leong to explore how educators can make learning fun through GenAI-powered world building. Ryan explains that as AI becomes an equalizer, the key question shifts from whether teachers use AI to how they create immersive, trust-building experiences that spark curiosity and make “dry” topics engaging. He outlines a practical workflow using GenAI to generate images, music, scripts, voices, and characters, then layering human values and clear s...
Apr 13, 2026•42 min•Season 3Ep. 52
In this episode, Dustin and Ghazali welcome Marlene Tapia Garcia to talk about what it really takes to move growth mindset beyond classroom posters and into daily practice that creates more equitable learning opportunities. Marlene shares how students’ confidence is shaped by past experiences and why “I can’t” often reflects learned beliefs—not ability. She explains how teachers can build systems that make growth visible and attainable, including self-paced and mastery-based structures, consiste...
Mar 30, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 51
Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali Abdul Wahab celebrate the 50th episode of Teachers Talkin’ with a Podcasthon bonus episode spotlighting the Les Turner ALS Foundation. They reflect on five standout moments: Joe Dale on AI for language learning (and improving podcast sound quality), their boundaries-and-balance episode on avoiding burnout, Connie Rasmussen on outdoor learning, Kip Morales on building classroom relationships through environment, energy, positivity, and student-led structures, and Ryan Ni...
Mar 16, 2026•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 50
In this Teachers Talkin’ episode, hosts Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali Abdul Wahab continue their US–Singapore grading conversation by focusing on sustainable grading practices that reduce teacher burnout. Ghazali explains how grading load varies by subject, how large class sizes and detailed rubrics create feedback delays, and how Singapore’s system relies on frequent formative tracking (often numeric, in systems like SLS or spreadsheets) with seasonal spikes during weighted assessments. Dustin cont...
Mar 09, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 49
Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali Abdul Wahab launch a two-part conversation on “grades that tell the truth,” focusing in Part 1 on accuracy—what grades should measure, why they often don’t, and how grading practices shape teacher workload and student motivation. They compare contexts in Singapore and the United States: Ghazali outlines Singapore’s high-stakes structure (PSLE with banded scoring, O/N Level exams, removal of midyear exams, and three weighted assessments plus a year-end exam that make up ...
Feb 23, 2026•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 48
In this episode, Dustin and Ghazali welcome Jennifer Hartman, an associate principal at Memorial Junior High in Lansing, Illinois, to discuss the critical importance of structured mentoring programs in education. Jennifer shares her unique journey from aspiring dentist to educational leader and her passion for supporting new educators. They dive into the development of effective mentoring strategies that not only improve teacher retention but also create lasting pipelines of leadership in school...
Feb 09, 2026•49 min•Season 3Ep. 47
Dustin and Ghazali dive into the crucial topic of teacher retention in this episode titled "Why Teachers Stay and Why They Leave." They address the guiding question: What keeps teachers in the classroom, and how do we make teaching sustainable without lowering expectations for students or educators? They discuss common misconceptions about teacher attrition, emphasizing issues beyond pay, such as professional autonomy and administrative support. Dustin and Gali also explore signs of teacher burn...
Jan 26, 2026•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 46
Dustin and Ghazali dive deep into the topic of cultural awareness and internationalization in education on this episode of Teachers Talking. Their guiding question: How can educators create meaningful connections across cultures locally, nationally, and globally, so students grow in empathy, understanding, and real-world readiness? They start by defining culture in a school context, discussing both visible and invisible layers, and the importance of students understanding that culture is somethi...
Jan 12, 2026•45 min•Season 3Ep. 45
Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Aditya Prakash, founder & CEO of SKIDOS Labs, to explore how playful design can turn “screen time” into learning time for our youngest learners. Their guiding question: How can beloved characters, adaptive game design, and thoughtful UX turn practice into joyful mastery for every child—without overstimulation? With SKIDOS focused on ages 3–7, Aditya shares why open-ended pretend play is the engine of engagement, how the team aligns early numeracy/literacy/SEL...
Dec 29, 2025•41 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Dustin and Ghazali get real about parent communication in Hard Conversations, Strong Partnerships —a practical episode on preventing most tense meetings before they ever happen. Their guiding question: How can teachers head off 80% of “hard” parent conferences—and turn the rest into collaborative problem-solving? They share concrete moves for the first weeks of school (positive check-ins, asking families’ contact preferences, and steady transparency around grades/expectations), plus systems that...
Dec 15, 2025•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 43
Dustin and Ghazali flip roles in this episode as Ghazali joins as the guest to talk about a question he’s been helping educators tackle around the world: How can we harness AI to enhance instruction while protecting the human connection that makes great teaching possible? Drawing on two years of classroom work in Singapore, Ghazali shares concrete examples of AI’s real impact on students—from custom chatbots that helped his class prepare for high-stakes interviews and resumes, to a writing proce...
Dec 01, 2025•46 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Mirriam Chintu to explore how something as simple as “try again” can transform how students see themselves as learners. Their guiding question: How can positive reinforcement reshape the way students experience learning and behavior in school? Drawing on more than 20 years of teaching experience from grades 3–7 and now junior secondary English in Zambia, Mirriam shares how students’ home lives, histories, and daily struggles show up in the classroom—and why that ...
Nov 16, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Theresa McSweeney to unpack what blended and hybrid learning really look like when they work—beyond the buzzwords. Their guiding question: How can schools move from tools-first thinking to student-centered, teacher-powered models of learning? With experience across K–6 and a current role as a digital support specialist, Theresa shares how teaching kindergarten online during the pandemic reshaped her practice and why she champions teacher autonomy, clear definitio...
Nov 03, 2025•41 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Priya Aavla to unpack what truly supporting at-risk students looks like—beyond the buzzwords. Their guiding question: How can higher education shift from reacting to student struggles to creating proactive systems of support? With over 16 years of experience working with students, faculty, and administrators, Priya brings a clear-eyed view of where gaps exist—and how institutions can close them. She shares what she’s learned from her work in student success, and ...
Oct 20, 2025•50 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Judy Raphalalane to dig into the essential—but often overlooked—role of mentorship in schools. Their guiding question: How can mentorship programs strengthen both new and experienced teachers, and help build healthier school cultures? After 11 years in the private sector, Judy entered public education and was immediately struck by the culture shift. From the absence of formal orientation to a lack of defined roles and clear communication, she shares the challenge...
Oct 06, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Dustin and Ghazali sit down with Dr. Kevin Jennings to rethink what rigor actually looks like in classrooms—and why the old definitions no longer serve students or teachers. Their guiding question: How can we reimagine rigor in ways that deepen learning—without crushing students or teachers? Drawing from 15 years of classroom experience across the U.S., South Korea, and Switzerland, Kevin brings a global lens to this conversation. He shares how game-based learning, authentic assessments, and cur...
Sep 22, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 37
In the Season 3 premiere, Dustin and Ghazali dig into what it really takes to start the school year strong—beyond bulletin boards and icebreakers. They surface the real pressures of Week 1 and why mindset matters, then ground the conversation in practical moves teachers can use tomorrow. Their guiding question: How can educators begin the year in ways that build lasting routines, relationships, and resilience—for students and for ourselves? Through personal stories and classroom-tested strategie...
Sep 08, 2025•48 min•Season 3Ep. 36
In the season 2 finale, Dustin and Ghazali reflect on the journey of Teachers Talkin’ , what they’ve learned, and how podcasting has become a powerful pedagogical tool. They revisit the podcast’s origin, the connections they’ve built, and the stories that have shaped the show. Their guiding question: What role can storytelling and podcasting play in building community and transforming education? Dustin and Ghazali share candid reflections on building a global educator network, how their own prof...
Jun 16, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 35
In this special podcast swap episode, we're sharing an episode from the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast —a show hosted by Toni Rose and Zach that explores instructional practice, classroom tech, student advocacy, and more through the lens of the Modern Classrooms instructional model: blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning. Guests include classroom teachers, MCP mentors, school leaders, and students who’ve experienced the model firsthand. In this episode, Toni Rose is joined by MCP men...
Jun 02, 2025•59 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Dustin and Ghazali ask the question "what does it take to lead lasting, ethical, and strategic school transformation from any seat in the building?" to Danielle Craig. Danielle is an experienced school leader with a track record of significant and effective school improvement. She is a level 7 qualified coach and now works for herself and in schools as an executive coach and educational consultant. She is passionate about developing people, leadership, and workplace culture and has expertise in ...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Burnout is real—and for educators, it often creeps in quietly until it's too loud to ignore. In this episode, Ghazali and Dustin dive into real talk about how teachers can reclaim their time, protect their peace, and set boundaries that stick. 🎙️ Our guiding question: How can educators create and sustain boundaries that support both their well-being and professional impact? Together, they share lived experiences and practical strategies that teachers and leaders can apply immediately—without gu...
May 04, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 32
In this episode, Dustin and Ghazali sit down with Dr. Aditya Nagrath, founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy, to explore the roots of math anxiety and how a gamified, mindset-shifting approach can help students regain confidence and mastery in math. Our guiding question: How can we reframe math education to overcome anxiety and help all students succeed? Dr. Aditya Nagrath (he/him) is a PhD in Mathematics & Computer Science, seasoned software engineer, and founder of Elephant Learn...
Apr 14, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Dustin and Ghazali sit down with Tom Kaster, founder of The Datafied Classroom, to explore how teachers can unlock the power of classroom data without becoming data scientists. They dive into practical tools, strategies, and mindset shifts that make data more usable and less overwhelming—ultimately helping educators better support student learning. Tom was a secondary mathematics teacher for nearly 20 years, teaching on five continents and in seven countries. His global experience led him to lau...
Mar 31, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali chat with Chelsea Marone, former teacher and principal, now working with Kaiba, an AI-powered edtech tool. They explore how AI can help educators by reducing burnout, streamlining tasks, and improving instruction without replacing teachers. Chelsea highlights Kaiba’s features, ethical AI use, and the future of AI in education. Chelsea Marone loves all things education! As a former teacher and principal, she has spent almost a decade in elementary schools in both rural a...
Mar 17, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Dustin and Ghazali talk with Javier Payano, a Chicago-based educator and co-founder of the Human Values Collective, about integrating universal human values into education. Javier shares his journey from music education to advocating for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and character development. They explore how Love, Truth, Peace, Non-Violence, and Right Action can transform classrooms, helping both students and teachers cultivate emotional awareness and resilience. Javier also discusses th...
Mar 03, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Dustin and Ghazali sit down with Diah Asdini to explore the challenges and strategies behind effective parent-teacher communication. They discuss how teachers can build positive relationships with parents, set clear boundaries, and handle difficult conversations. From cultural perspectives to practical tools, this episode offers valuable insights for educators looking to strengthen their collaboration with families. Diah Asdini is an educator and entrepreneur based in Indonesia. She began as a t...
Feb 17, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Dustin and Ghazali talk with Robert Barnett, co-founder of the Modern Classrooms Project and author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs , to explore how hybrid and blended learning can create more inclusive and effective classrooms. Our guiding question is, How can hybrid and blended learning models transform education to better support every student? About Our Guest Robert Barnett is an educator, author, and advocate for modern, student-centered learning. He co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project (...
Feb 03, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 26
