ClassCast Podcast Episode 042 features Joe Pizzo, the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) 2020 National Educator of the Year, sharing his thoughts about education, progress, project-based learning, classroom dynamics, and much, much more as he begins his remarkable 47th year teaching middle school English in Chester, New Jersey.  Joe talks with host Ryan Tibbens about adjusting to pandemic conditions, supporting young teachers, creating "real world" and project-based opportunities for students, publishing, and more -- including why he hasn't retire yet! Joe is one of the busiest people we've met on the ClassCast Podcast, from winning multiple state and national level awards to serving on professional organizations' boards, from teaching middle school and college to volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America and at his local church. In this wide-ranging, intimate conversation, Joe shares what keeps him motivated, how to connect with students, and even why a comfort note or sincere consolation can help someone through personal tragedy and loss. Given that 50% of teachers leave the profession within five years and that the national average career length is currently around 14 years (and dropping steadily in recent decades), Joe Pizzo offers a refreshing look at what makes teaching great and why great teachers stick around. 

Check out some of his students' published writings: Project Moirai and Entre Dos Mundos.

You can contact Joe on Twitter at @ProfJPizzo and via his LinkedIn. 

Table of Contents

1. 0:00 - 7:40 -- Intro/Why Not Retire?
2. 7:46 - 17:39 -- Changes during 47 Year Career?
3. 17:40 - 24:15 -- Pandemics & Tough Discussions in School
4. 24:30 - 32:25 -- Joseph Pizzo: the Student & Young Teacher
5. 32:26 - 36:15 -- Advice for Young Teachers (continued below)
6. 36:16 - 43:57 -- A Case Study in Patient, Persistent Education
7. 44:07 - 53:44 -- Pizzo's Ideal School (plus Standardized Testing & Accountability)
8. 53:45 - 1:01:12 -- 9/11 Ceremony & Project-Based Learning
9. 1:01:13 - 1:02:33 -- Advice for Young Teachers (continued)
10. 1:02:33 - 1:04:06 -- PBL & Real World Opportunities
11. 1:04:15 - 1:07:23 -- AMLE 2020 Educator of the Year
12. 1:07:24 - 1:11:54 -- Power Skills, Soft Skills, & Personal Development
13. 1:11:54 - 1:25:00 -- Book & Movie Recommendations
14. 1:25:00 - 1:32:18 -- Writing Can Change Everything & Comfort Notes
15. 1:32:18 - 1:39:40 -- Final Thoughts

​Be sure to like, share, follow, subscribe, and leave a positive review wherever you get your podcasts.  The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major services and aims to improve education by hosting thoughtful, critical discussions about how we can do school (and life) better -- an education podcast for everyone, not just teachers.  Be sure to leave a comment or review and let us know what you think. 

​ClassCast Podcast Ep.041 features host Ryan Tibbens discussing racism, antiracism, acts of protest (particularly in professional sports), reactions to those protests, as well as why and how teachers can facilitate these discussions in the classroom. If you have ever paid attention to debates about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, or if you heard about players' moment of silence (and the crowd booing) during the first game of the season, this episode provides perspectives that might help people better understand both sides of the discussion. And for teachers and parents, the examination of those perspectives should serve as starting point for deep, honest discussions with our students and peers. 

For additional ideas on the subject, here's an article I wrote in 2016 about Colin Kaepernick's demonstrations. You can access the full, correct text of Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" here; his speech to the APA, including discussion of "Urban Riots" is available here. 

Be sure to like, follow, share, subscribe, and leave a positive review to help spread the word about the ClassCast Podcast. If you want to share your own views on these protests or how to facilitate discussions about racism in school, join the discussions via www.facebook.com/ClassCastPodcast and www.twitter.com/ClassCastPod. 

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)!

ClassCast Podcast Ep.040 features Garrett Pierce, a recent online college graduate AND face-to-face college graduate, sharing insights into distance learning, the rigidity of high school, students' mental health struggles, improving schools, school choice, and learning by doing. Garrett, a former student of host Ryan Tibbens, also shares his passions for music, movies, brewing beer, baking bread and pizzas, and the finer things in life. If you're interested in a student and young professional's perspective on education and worthy reforms, look no further. 

Check out Garrett's cooking-related social media accounts he mentions late in the episode:  newbridge_eats and ursamajorbaking.

Check out the Table of Contents below to identify clips and sections that fit your interests, or enjoy the whole conversation.  Don't forget to like, follow, share, retweet, subscribe, and leave a positive review wherever you get your podcasts.

Table of Contents

1. Intro/ Garrett as a Student/ Student Mental Health -- 0:00-11:41
2. Hands-On Learning & VoTech -- 11:42-17:21
3. Breweing Beer -- 17:25-22:15
4. 2nd Degree Software Programmer -- 22:16-29:51
5. Religion & Education -- 29:53-35:03
6. School as Vocational Training -- 35:04-41:25
7. The Ideal School, Learning Styles, & Choice -- 45:26-57:20
8. Class Choice, Mental Health, & Student Loans -- 57:12-105:30
9. Distance Learning -- 1:05:30-1:18:18
10. Movie/Book Recs. -- 1:18:14-1:32:09
11. The War on Normal People -- 1:25:39-1:30:17
12. Cooking, Baking, & Brewing -- 1:32:10-1:37:53

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)!