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PODCAST · education

My BAD

by BAM Radio Network - The Twitterati Channel

Where extraordinary educators talk about how and what they learn from sharing their own mistakes. Hosted by Jon Harper

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Apr 12, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. How Far Are You Willing to Go to Be a ‘Good Teacher’ and How Far Is Too Far?

    “I really wanted to be a ‘good teacher’ so I said yes to almost every request just to get approval.” At the heart of it all was the feeling that “I wasn’t enough,” says Meredith Newlin. Our guest now knows she went too far and believes she’s not alone. As we head into another exceptionally...

  2. Pandemic Lesson 3: The Single Best Response When Virtual School Isn’t Working

    I’ve made many mistakes while overseeing pandemic learning in my district. Among them, I’ve found that too often I jump to hasty conclusions when teaching and learning are not happening as expected. Over the last year, I’ve learned the single most important thing I can do when virtual school…

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  3. Pandemic Lesson #2: I Pushed My Teachers Too Hard; In Fact, I Pushed Some Over the Edge

    I was eager to catch up and move our teachers and school forward despite the ongoing pandemic. Regretfully, I was out of touch with what my teachers were going through and I pushed too hard. Follow on Twitter: @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork @Ben_Educating Benjamin Kitslaar is the principal of…

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  4. What I Learned From the Mistake I Made During Pandemic Teaching and Learning

    I had been teaching for over 30 years and thought I had seen it all. Then the pandemic hit and I discovered that I was uniquely ill-prepared. @Frankstep1 @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork Frank Stepnowski is a 25-year English teacher and three (soon to be four) time published author. He’s taught...

  5. I Learned That Communication Is Better Than Control

    Keeping control of the classroom is essential. Join us as Paul shares how he learned firsthand that communication is superior to control in his classroom. Follow on Twitter: @Harper70bd @PaulONeill1972 @bamradionetwork Paul O'Neill is an educational game-changer from New Jersey who uses the power...

  6. My Teacher Found a Way to Reach Me...

    Sharing your story helps your students connect with you; however, our guest held back and as a result, damaged the relationship with a student. In this episode, we find how sharing your personal story can help students know that you care. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @basil_marin @bamradionetwork Basil...

  7. What Could Classroom Teachers Possibly Learn From Non-Teachers?

    So I tweeted, 'There are a lot of people who have never been a classroom teacher telling teachers what to do." I expected a lot of agreement. I was surprised by the response. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @kylehamstra @bamradionetwork Kyle Hamstra teachs fifth grade math and science at Davis Drive...

  8. I Had a Fixed Mindset about Grading and It Hurt My Student

    I brought so many assumptions about teaching into my classroom and one day I saw how one of those assumptions hurt one of my students. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @Catlin_Tucker @bamradionetwork Catlin Tucker is a Google Certified Innovator, bestselling author, international trainer, and keynote...

  9. My Student Warned Me, I Did Not Listen

    I was so focused on my lesson and my agenda that I failed to heed a student's need for help. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @baldRoberts @bamradionetwork Mike Roberts has taught middle school English for the past twenty years. In that time, he has received numerous awards for his outstanding teaching,...

  10. I Assumed Fathers Were Not Interested In Their Kids Schooling

    I was ignorant and I assumed that dads didn't want to come to school to support their kid's education. Then I met Jason. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @Joe Smith @bamradionetwork In 2009 Linebacker Dad (Joe Smith) was awarded Father of The Year, recognized by an agency in Sacramento, CA and the state of...

  11. I Thought I Was Only There to Support Students

    I learned the hard way that my job extended beyond providing support for students. I eventually realized that I'm part of a team. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @froehlichm @bamradionetwork Hans Appel has worked as a counselor in the Richland School District for the past 18 years and at Enterprise Middle...

  12. I Was Afraid of A Student, So I Did Not Give Him My Best

    When a new student changed the social dynamic in my class, took the easy way out. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @froehlichmandy @bamradionetwork Mandy Froehlich is the Director of Innovation and Technology in Ripon, WI. She also consults, presents and keynotes nationally on teacher engagement, edtech,...

  13. I Am a Teacher, I Expected to Do Much Better

    I thought I was ready for my first presentation. I expected to do well, but I didn't. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @TaraMartinEDU @bamradionetwork Tara Martin is an enthusiastic educator, speaker, and author of Be REAL: Educate From the Heart. Her ambition is to lead a culture of innovative change and…

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  14. I Was Overzealous: This Tough Lesson Taught Me to Meet People Where They Are

    I was so excited about what I had just learned and couldn't wait to share the ideas with my peers and staff. However, I discovered that there is a right way to do it and a wrong way. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @Jennifer_Hogan @bamradionetwork Jennifer Hogan has been a high school teacher, coach,...

  15. I Left My Compassion at the Classroom Door and Discouraged a Student

    I was inflexible, detached, and demanded compliance from my students until crushed a student's vision for her future. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @bbray27 @bamradionetwork Barbara Bray is a Creative Learning Strategist at Rethinking Learning and is founder/owner of My eCoach that are both divisions of...

  16. I Didn't Want to Show Weakness, So I Ignored My Internal Cues

    I was feeling deep dissonance, but I wasn't acknowledging that I needed to make a change. I eventually hit a tipping point. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @sarahsajohnson @bamradionetwork Sarah Johnson is passionate about leadership and helping educators thrive in their work. She has been an English...

  17. I Failed to Recognize That Every Family Matters

    I was trying to do the right thing, but in the process, I mishandled a parent Follow: @jonHarper70bd @ProvenPrincipal @bamradionetwork Nathaniel Provencio is the principal of Minnieville Elementary in Prince William County, VA. He is the 2017 Washington Post Principal of the Year and a featured...

  18. I Mishandled a Conflict with My Colleague

    Instead of confronting the conflict with my colleague, I essentially withdrew my support and stopped collaborating. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @mmnixon73 @bamradionetwork Dennis Griffin serves as the principal of Prairie Elementary School and is pursuing his doctoral studies in Educational Leadership...

  19. I Did the Right Things, but I Felt Guilty

    I'm constantly feeling guilty about not having the perfectly balanced life. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @mmnixon73@bamradionetwork Dr. Melissa Nixon has been dedicated to her work in education for over 20 years. She has served schools in central North Carolina as a teacher, assistant principal,...

  20. I Was Unsupportive of My School Leadership

    I'm in leadership now and I understand more clearly how unsupportive I was when I was not. Follow: @jonHarper70bd fastcrayon @bamradionetwork Amy Fast is an assistant principal at McMinnville High School in McMinnville, Oregon and author of It's the Mission, Not the Mandates. Amy is a committed...

  21. I Shamed a Student in Front of the Entire Class

    Sometimes when we feel drained, our worst reactions surface. On this day, I felt disrespected and I mishandled my student. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @edifiedlistener @bamradionetwork Sherri Spelic teaches Elementary Physical Education at an international school in Vienna, Austria. She blogs at...

  22. I Thought I Knew What Was Happening: I Was Clueless

    I punished a veteran teacher for missing a professional development session. I thought I understood what was happening. I didn't. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @mrsmeganmorgan @bamradionetwork Megan Morgan is a Lead Support Teacher for Davenport Community School District, which means she supports…

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  23. I Judged, Labeled, and Gave Up On a Student: I Was Wrong

    When one of my students refused to take an advanced course, I lost faith in him and expressed it. I realized later how my response impacted his life. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @jonbergmann @bamradionetwork Jon Bergmann is a globally respected active learning thought leader. His twelve books are...

  24. Wrestling with Me, My Feelings, and Self Doubt

    I struggle with self-doubt, worry, and fear. I haven't been able to overcome these, but here's what I've learned about how to manage them. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @tsschmidty @bamradionetwork Kara Knollmeyer is a school administrator in St. Louis, MO and the author of Unleash Talent: Bringing Out...

  25. I Mastered Starting Things, But Too Often Failed to Finish

    I was trying to do so many things at once that I became known as the guy who often didn't deliver what he promised. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @tsschmidty @bamradionetwork Dr. Todd Schmidt is the grateful principal at Harbor View Elementary in Corona del Mar, CA. A proud husband and father, in his...

  26. I Thought I Was Okay Until I Blew Up with Our New Principal

    I was always the youngest teacher in my school and the other teachers seemed to have it all together. I wanted my peers to think that I was a great teacher. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @SaneeBell @bamradionetwork Daniel Jones is a middle school social studies and reading/language arts teacher. He is a...

  27. I Was Too Focused on "Appearing" to Be a Great Teacher

    I was always the youngest teacher in my school and the other teachers seemed to have it all together. I wanted my peers to think that I was a great teacher. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @SaneeBell @bamradionetwork Daniel Jones is a middle school social studies and reading/language arts teacher. He is a...

  28. I Failed to Make My Expectations Clear, and It Got Ugly

    I didn't take the time to build relationships and set expectations which led to a big disconnect with my team. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @SaneeBell @bamradionetwork Sanée Bell is a middle school principal and an adjunct professor in Houston, TX. Sanée is passionate about authentic, purposeful…

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  29. I Thought My Job Was To Support Students, Not Teachers

    It's all about the kiddos, right? I was devastated when I didn't get promoted because I put students first. Eventually, I saw the light. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @SteeleThoughts @bamradionetwork Danny Steele has been in public education for 25 years, the last 7 as a principal. He is currently...

  30. Defiant Student: I Won the Power Struggle, But Lost the Relationship

    When my student became defiant, I decided to put him in his place. I thought I won the power struggle. I didn't. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @MrHabegger @bamradionetwork Jake Habegger is an 8th Grade Flipped Mastery History Teacher whose goal is to invigorate student learning by meeting them where…

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  31. I Made a Big Thing Out of a Small Thing

    I'm a pretty easy going guy who typically doesn't sweat the small stuff, but on this day I did. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @bkulak11 @bamradionetwork Brian Kulak is the Chief Academic Officer of a K-12 district in NJ. Before that, he taught high school English and journalism for 15 years. He is the...

  32. I Was Hearing, But I Wasn't Listening to the Voices That Mattered

    I was a superintendent elected to lead. I considered my election a mandate and chose not to listen to those who didn't vote for me. This was one of the biggest mistakes I've made in my career. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @Jay_Eitner @bamradionetwork Jay Eitner is the 2015 Educators Choice National...

  33. Listening to Understand Instead of Listening to Respond

    The conflict with my colleague spun out of control because I was more focused on making my point than hearing what she had experienced. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @RACzyz @bamradionetwork Rich Czyz is author of The Four O’Clock Faculty: A ROGUE Guide to Revolutionizing Professional Development and...

  34. I Took Disciplinary Action with a Student that Was Too Extreme

    I may have profoundly changed a student's life, but not for the better. I believe I was overly punitive. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @Joshua__Stamper @bamradionetwork Joshua Stamper is an assistant principal at Renner Middle School in Plano, TX and I have been an administrator for 5 years and in...

  35. I Was Trying to Prove Myself, But I Came Off As Insecure

    I was so focused on trying to prove myself that I didn't see how I was impacting how my peers and administrators perceived my actions. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @stringer_andrea @bamradionetwork Andrea Stringer is a professional learning coach, who believes that an educator's professional learning...

  36. I Loved Teaching, But I Let Others Define Success for Me

    I gave up doing what I loved to chase success on other people's terms. Finally, I realized that I needed to pursue what I am meant to do. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @robyn_mindsteps @bamradionetwork Robyn Jackson is the CEO of Mindsteps Inc. a professional development firm for k12 Educators. She's…

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  37. I Made a Flip Comment to a Veteran Teacher, Bad Move

    I was a new teacher, a young teacher, and new to the school when I made a comment that changed everything. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @AndrewSharosAP @bamradionetwork Andrew Sharos is the Assitant Principal at West Leyden near Chicago. He is the author of All 4s and 5s, Amazon's #1 selling book in...

  38. I Failed to Bring Others to the Table When It Mattered Most

    We often talk about the importance of getting buy-in on school programs and projects. I didn't get that memo. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @derekrhodenizer @bamradionetwork Derek Rhodenizer, Academic Director of Westoboro Academy in Ottawa. Derek runs the "beyond the Staffroom" podcast on a variety of...

  39. I Walked in with My Clipboard: I Forgot What It Was like to...

    I've been on the other side of teacher evaluations, but I found myself doing the very things I detested when I became an instructional technology coach. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @EdTechMason @bamradionetwork Mason Mason is an educator in Dallas, TX. He works as an Education Technology National...

  40. I Allowed Unresolved Issues to Accumulate, Then Boom...

    I discovered that unresolved issues can have, and explosive impact if left to fester. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @French@bamradionetwork Mark French is a 36-year educator with 21 years as an elementary school principal. He serves as past president of the Minnesota Elementary School Principals'...

  41. I Prejudged a Parent and Assumed the Worst, I Was Wrong

    Because I had prior experience with a parent I was sure that I understood her motivations. I learned an important lesson when I discovered I was wrong. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @DevonBeck365 @bamradionetwork Devon Beck is a hip hop artist, motivational speaker and a Family & Student Liaison at…

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  42. I Failed to Gracefully Accept Failure As a Learning Experience

    My project failed to turn out as expected. I knew the proper way to respond but I failed to do what I knew I should do. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @EricEwald_Iowa @bamradionetwork Eric Ewald is Amy's husband; Ryne and Olivia’s Dad; a co-founder of the #DadsAsPrincipals movement. Lead learner and…

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  43. I Continue to Say Yes, When I Should Say No

    I feel an unrelenting pressure to please people. The result is that I too often say yes to the requests I receive when I should simply say no. But I continue to struggle with this. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @AngelaMaiers @bamradionetwork Angela Maiers has been creating and leading change in…

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  44. I Underestimated and Misjudged My Student

    I was at the end of my emotional rope. My student wasn't responding the way I wanted and I mentally wrote him off. Then I discovered something about him that I never expected. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @lmstump@bamradionetwork Lindsy Stumpenhorst is a 3-5 grade Principal in Sterling, Illinois at...

  45. I Tried to Change Everything Immediately, It Was My Way Or...

    I was young, I was new to leadership and I was rigid. I demanded performance overnight without offering support and ran into a wall. Here's how I turned my leadership, my school and my career around. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @josuefalaise @bamradionetwork Over his 19 years in education, Dr. Josue...

  46. My Student Embarrassed Me, So I Embarrassed Him, Big Mistake

    My student called me a racist. At least, that's what I heard. So I tossed him out of the class. As it turned out I was wrong. Now what? Follow: @jonHarper70bd @LaVonnaRoth @bamradionetwork LaVonna Roth is an internationally known learning specialist, author, keynote speaker and consultant.…

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  47. I Expected Everyone On My Staff to Agree with Me

    I was a new principal with years of experience in the classroom and great ideas share. Why didn't all of my staff agree with me? Follow: @jonHarper70bd @jeff_zoul @bamradionetwork Dr. Jeff Zoul currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning with Deerfield Public Schools in...

  48. I Called Out an Education Leader Publicly, Bad Move...

    To this day, I still feel remorse about the way I handled one of my first leadership decisions. Later I learned, where I went wrong and how to avoid the mistake in the future. Winston Sakurai was recently recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as a 2016 National...

  49. I Made Students Cry and Parents Mad, I Was Sooooo Misguided

    I threw desks and forgot about a student. If you are looking for a powerful example of learning and growing from reflecting on our biggest mistakes this is it. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @jeffreykubiak @bamradionetwork Jeffrey Kubiak is a #Kidsfirst Educational Disrupter, mindful leader, visionary,...

  50. I Was So Proud of How I Handled a Challenging Student, Then I Discovered...

    Managing student behavior can be a challenge. So when I handled a difficult student problem, I was proud. Later I found that my pride was premature. Follow: @jonHarper70bd @ShannaPeeples @bamradionetwork Shanna Peeples is 2015 National Teacher of the Year, 2016 NEA Global Fellow, and 14-year...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Where extraordinary educators talk about how and what they learn from sharing their own mistakes. Hosted by Jon Harper

HOSTED BY

BAM Radio Network - The Twitterati Channel

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My BAD currently has 125 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

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Where extraordinary educators talk about how and what they learn from sharing their own mistakes. Hosted by Jon Harper

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My BAD publishes regularly with 125 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

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