The Edu20/20 Podcast

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast… and yes, we’re ending the season with state testing. Because what better way to wrap things up than revisiting one of the most stressful and chaotic times of the school year?In this episode, we’re sharing real stories from state testing--the kind that sound made up until you’ve actually lived through it.We’re talking:• The rules, the pressure, and the “did I sign in blood?” meetings• What classrooms actually look like during testing week• The moments where everything goes sideways (and you can’t do anything about it)• And how teachers somehow survive it every single yearIf you’ve ever made it through testing season, you already know. And if you haven’t… buckle up. Source moments pulled straight from real classroom experiences.Chapters:0:00 Why state testing deserves its own episode2:22 The rules, the pressure, and the setup4:20 What testing week actually feels like6:38 When things go wrong (and you’re stuck)9:32 The story we will never forget12:01 How teachers survive testing days14:00 The moments you can’t control15:34 Ending the year (and season) with perspectivehttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast… and yes, this is the season finale.We’re talking about that very specific time of year. Testing? Done. Kids? Done.Teachers? Definitely DONE.And somehow, you still have weeks left. This episode is all about what to do with that time-- keeping things meaningful without making it harder on yourself. We’re sharing what we’ve tried, what worked, what didn’t, and how to use this stretch of the year in a way that still feels worth it.There’s a mix of ideas in here:• Trying new strategies without the pressure• Giving students more ownership and voice• Creative ways to revisit content without it feeling repetitive• Projects, reflection, and actually building humans (not just finishing standards)Chapters:0:00 Last episode energy (and why this time of year is weird)2:23 What to do after testing ends3:42 Using this time to try new strategies5:42 Creative projects that still connect to content7:30 Letting students give feedback (and actually listening)10:34 Making review meaningful instead of busywork13:46 Prioritizing what actually matters15:07 Ending the year on a high notehttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast… where we’re nearing the end of the season by going all the way back to the beginning.In this episode, we’re talking about who we were before education-- the random jobs, weird experiences, and moments that somehow shaped how we show up in classrooms today.From running errands for executives (yes, including private jets) to Walmart snack bars, call centers, and first-year teaching chaos, this one is a mix of “how did that happen?” and “okay wait, that actually tracks.”It’s not deep or structured, but it does explain a lot.Chapters:0:00 Why we’re going back before teaching1:24 Favorite teaching years (and why they mattered)5:37 The jobs that came before the classroom9:22 The most random job stories (private jets included)12:46 First-year teaching chaos (and quick exits 😅)16:44 Jobs we would never do again#TeacherLife #Education #TeacherOriginStorieshttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast… where we take the things we’ve all done in classrooms and actually look at whether they’re working.This episode is all about study guides. We’ve all used them. We’ve all handed them out before a test. We’re talking through what’s actually happening when students “study” and why a lot of it doesn’t last.This conversation gets into:• What we’ve done (and seen) with study guides over time• Why some approaches feel helpful in the moment but don’t stick• What retrieval and repetition actually look like in real classrooms• Simple ways to build stronger memory without adding more to your plateChapters:0:00 Why we keep coming back to study guides2:06 What we’ve seen (and done) in classrooms4:32 What the research says about studying6:29 A different way to approach review9:27 Why students forget so quickly11:25 Practical ways to build memory over time13:12 What to watch for during review15:31 A simple shift you can tryhttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast, where we’re not solving education today, we’re just trying to survive it. This episode is all about teacher life hacks.We’re talking about:• The tiny changes that save your sanity during the week• How to create routines that work for your brain• Why your people at work matter more than anything• Systems, boundaries, and protecting your time• And the things you do outside of school that keep you goingChapters:0:00 Why we’re talking survival, not strategy1:41 The small habits that set your week up right3:13 Managing stress (without losing your mind)5:25 Finding your people (your real support system)10:03 Systems that actually save you time13:24 Boundaries, routines, and protecting your energy15:03 Why perspective (and getting out) mattershttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast. This episode is all about success criteria and why it’s become one of the most misunderstood (and overcomplicated) things happening in classrooms right now.After hundreds of classroom observations, we’ve seen it all:• Success criteria turned into an agenda• Success criteria that literally gives away the answer• Success criteria used as a compliance checkbox• And about five different definitions in the same buildingSo…what is it actually supposed to be?We break down what works, what doesn’t, and how to use success criteria in a way that actually helps students instead of overwhelming teachers.Chapters:0:00 Why this topic is making us a little spicy2:18 The biggest problem: no clear definition5:08 Why success criteria can’t be one-size-fits-all7:12 When it turns into compliance instead of support10:02 What success criteria should actually be tied to11:45 Using student work to build real clarity14:20 What it looks like when it’s done well15:44 The takeaway: don’t throw it out… fix ithttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast. This is your official warning to not listen to this one with your kids in the car.In this episode, we’re sharing some of the wildest, most unhinged things we’ve heard in the classroom, from students, parents, and situations that no teacher prep program could ever prepare you for.We’re talking:• Parent notes that should’ve never been written• Classroom activities that took a turn real fast• Things students casually say that stop you in your tracks• Parent conference moments you cannot make upIf you’re a teacher, you’ve got your own version of these stories. If you’re not, just know we’re out here experiencing things daily.Chapters:0:00 Why this episode comes with a warning1:05 The wild parent notes (yes… those notes)3:56 Classroom activities gone wrong6:20 The things students learn at home… and repeat8:24 Kindergarten stories that should never exist10:41 The note that got sent to the WRONG person13:00 The parent conference that went completely off the rails15:06 Why teachers have stories for days#edu2020 #podcast #teachingcommunity #theedu2020podcast #teachingopportunities #education #onlineeducatorhttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 Podcast, where we take the things everyone says we “have to do” in education and talk about whether they actually make sense.This episode is all about goals and why they so often feel like a moving target. We break down why goals feel overwhelming (or unclear), what teachers actually need, and how simplifying your focus will lead to real results.Chapters:0:00 Why goals feel like a moving target4:14 The real problem with unclear goals7:20 What happens when you actually focus11:42 Goals during new curriculum implementation15:25 What leaders should do differently#edu2020 #podcast #teachingcommunity #theedu2020podcast #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #education #onlineeducatorhttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

In this After Hours episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast, Shannon flips the script and puts Courtney in the hot seat.We talk about her journey into foster care and adoption--how she went from zero kids to two in 48 hours (and eventually three) while also running a company and teaching full-time.We get into:• What actually led to the decision to foster• What those first 48 hours were really like• The reality of trauma, transitions, and daily life• The moment they said yes to a newborn• What educators need to understand about foster/adopted studentsThis one’s a little more personal, but also one every educator probably needs to hear.Chapters:0:00 Why we’re putting Courtney in the hot seat1:24 How the foster/adoption journey started5:13 The call and becoming parents in 48 hours7:39 The reality check (what no one tells you)10:38 The call for a baby that changed everything11:47 Bringing home a newborn with zero prep15:29 What educators need to understand about foster kids16:18 The timeline story that changed everything19:08 Why this perspective mattershttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

In this episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast, we’re continuing the conversation on lesson planning and zooming in on one of the most overlooked (but critical) parts: checks for understanding.The reality is kids can be doing all the things and still not learning anything.We get into what it actually looks like to monitor learning in real time, how to check for comprehension (not just completion), and how to do it without spending your entire life grading papers.You'll hear us talk about lap logs, sticky notes, turn-and-talks, tech struggles, and how to make everything doable in an actual classroom with actual kids.Chapters:0:00 Why we’re talking about lesson checks (and why it matters)3:10 The problem with monitoring for completion instead of learning5:28 Simple systems that actually save you time (lap logs + quick checks)8:27 Feedback, trends, and why you don’t need to check everything12:06 What this looks like in K–2 (yes, even without writing)13:28 The reality of tech in the classroom (and where it falls short)17:07 The biggest mistake we see in classrooms#Edu2020 #LessonPlanning #InstructionalCoaching #TeachingStrategies #Educationhttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast, AKA the version of us that probably shouldn’t be mic’d up, but here we are.This episode is fully dedicated to Shannon because she casually dropped one of the most unhinged life stories we’ve ever heard and then just moved on like it was normal.We’re talking about her first marriage inside a highly controlled religious organization, what that process actually looked like, and how she eventually got out.It’s wild, uncomfortable, and also weirdly funny at times because…Shannon.Chapters:0:00 How this episode turned into “all things Shannon”5:30 The “organized” marriage situation10:04 What life actually looked like inside it14:28 The escape (yes, an actual escape)19:16 The moment everything started to click21:00 Why this story still sticksThere’s a lot more where this came from. And yes, we will absolutely be circling back to this.#Edu2020 #Edu2020AfterHours #TheEdu2020Podcast #EducatorPodcast #PersonalStory #WomenInEducationhttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

In this episode, we’re breaking down a game-changing practice: lesson framing.If your students constantly ask:“Is this for a grade?”“Why I gotta do this?”…it might not be defiance. It might be that the lesson wasn’t framed clearly.We talk about:- What “lesson framing” actually means (beyond writing standards on the board for compliance)- How framing creates clarity, predictability, and smoother lessons- Why your third-period lesson always hits harder than first period (and how to fix that)- Quick ways to frame lessons without adding a ton of planning time- How leaders can use the same framing moves to improve PD and PLC buy-in- A real example of how clear learning targets helped students actually remember what they learnedWant more on lesson framing? Check out Courtney's blog post on Lesson Framing: edutwentytwenty.com/setting-the-stage/Like, subscribe, and drop a comment: What’s the #1 question your students ask that makes you question your life choices?#education #podcast #teachingcommunity #teachercertification #edu2020 #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #teachereducation #onlineeducator #educationjobshttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

In this episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast After Hours, Courtney Dumas and Shannon Street take you behind the scenes of life on the road as co-owners of Edu20/20. When you travel across states supporting teachers and leaders, you collect stories… and we’ve collected a lot.In this episode:- The infamous Office Depot bathroom injury (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like)- The gas station with the “Please don’t wipe your boogers on the wall” sign- A steak knife mysteriously embedded three floors up in a hotel wall- The unsettling third-floor window waver- Courtney's sole criterium for choosing a hotel (it's not stars)- The Airbnb snake incident (and attic extension cord situation 😳)Make sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss future After Hours episodes. You truly never know what we’re going to talk about next. Neither do we, honestly.#edu2020 #podcast #teachingcommunity #teachercertification #education #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #teachereducation #onlineeducatorhttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

In this episode, we’re breaking down a game-changing practice: lesson framing.If your students constantly ask:“Is this for a grade?”“Why I gotta do this?”…it might not be defiance. It might be that the lesson wasn’t framed clearly.We talk about:- What “lesson framing” actually means (beyond writing standards on the board for compliance)- How framing creates clarity, predictability, and smoother lessons- Why your third-period lesson always hits harder than first period (and how to fix that)- Quick ways to frame lessons without adding a ton of planning time- How leaders can use the same framing moves to improve PD and PLC buy-in- A real example of how clear learning targets helped students actually remember what they learnedWant more on lesson framing? Check out Courtney's blog post on Lesson Framing: edutwentytwenty.com/setting-the-stage/Like, subscribe, and drop a comment: What’s the #1 question your students ask that makes you question your life choices?#education #podcast #teachingcommunity #teachercertification #edu2020 #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #teachereducation #onlineeducator #educationjobshttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast: After Hours where the vibes are relaxed, and the stories are unfiltered.In this episode, Shannon Street and Courtney Dumas swap teacher-and-student prank stories.You’ll hear:- The remote-control fart machine prank that had an entire class convinced Shannon was guilty- Courtney’s “good kid gone rogue” moment involving stolen transparencies… and an April Fools expulsion prank that nearly ended her emotionally- A classroom “fire” prank that turned into full-on Lord of the Flies in the woods- The coordinated chaos of middle school students (pencils dropping, fake fainting, mystery kitten noises)- The time a science “anatomy body” was used as a bathroom prank… and why Shannon immediately retired from pranking forever 😬Got a prank story that’s family-friendly (or at least technically legal)? Drop it in the comments. We want to hear your best ones.Like, subscribe, and come back for more After Hours episodes!https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast! Courtney Dumas and Shannon Street are back (with a new studio setup, look at us movin' on up in the world 👀).This episode tackles moving toward instructional goals and why so many goals don’t go anywhere: because we don’t break them into the knowledge and skills teachers (and students) actually need.You’ll hear:- Why “busy” isn’t the same as progress- How to reverse-engineer a goal into clear action steps- The 3 pathways that must align to move goals: PD, collaboration, and coaching- How focus and alignment can drive real growth (without the scattershot chaos)Like, subscribe, and follow for more episodes that simplify education (because it’s way too complicated in these teaching streets).#education #podcast #teachingcommunity #teachercertification #teaching #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #teachereducation #onlineeducator #educationjobshttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Student engagement sounds great in theory—until you’re standing in front of 37 students wondering how to let go without losing control or running out of time.In Part 2 of our student engagement series, Courtney and Shannon get practical. They talk about the real fears teachers have around engagement and how to build engagement for learning step by step without chaos.In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ Why fear (not style) keeps teachers stuck in lecture mode✅ How classroom management is the foundation of engagement✅ Simple ways to structure turn-and-talk so students don’t opt out✅ Why segmenting and timers change everything✅ How to move from checking for completion to checking for comprehension✅ Why leaders need to model engagement in PD (yes, really)This episode is for teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders who want engagement that actually leads to learning and not just movement or clever themes.👉 Be sure to listen to Part 1 before this episode for the full framework on the 3 levels of student engagement.👉 Resources, blogs, and tools mentioned are linked in the show notes.https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

“Just make it more engaging” is among the most common feedback teachers get...and the least helpful. You're basically asking the instructional equivalent of “have you tried being better?”😅In this episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast, Courtney and Shannon unpack what “engagement” actually means, break down the 3 levels of student engagement, and explain why fun doesn’t always equal learning.You’ll hear the real story behind Shannon’s student engagement trauma (including a full-on grammar triage situation with a doctor coat and a cow syringe… yes, really), and why fun doesn’t automatically equal learning.In this episode, we break down the 3 levels of student engagement:✅ Management (because if kids are on the ceiling, learning isn’t happening)✅ Participation & compliance (they’re doing the thing, but can still opt out)✅ Engagement for learning (deep thinking, real accountability, no hiding)We also talk about how to collect real classroom engagement data (not test scores), why “hogs and logs” happen during turn-and-talk, and simple ways to level up engagement so every student owns the thinking.🎓 Want more support? Check out our blogs, free courses, and resources on student engagement and monitoring student understanding.Drop a comment: What’s one engagement strategy you use that actually leads to learning (not just chaos with glitter)?https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to another After Hours episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast. Courtney and Shannon share their real origin stories: from trauma bonding over a confusing group project to small‑town classrooms, alternative school, religious detours, and even Middle Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Basketball camps, a sister with dyslexia, and one dramatic shattered windshield all made an appearance on the road to Edu2020.We also talk about how COVID pushed us out of all‑day online PD and into starting our own company—why we took risks, refinanced cars, and built the kind of PD we wished we’d had: simple, practical, relevant, and actually fun for teachers and leaders.#education #podcast #teachingcommunity #teachercertification #effectiveteaching #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #teachereducation #teaching #onlineeducatorhttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast. In this episode, we dig into one of our favorite Priority Skills: classroom management. We talk through the routines and systems that make classrooms run smoothly, from how students enter to how they get materials, transition, partner, and exit. If kids touch it or use it, it probably needs a routine.Good management takes the cognitive load off students so they can actually learn. It also makes teaching easier and makes engagement moves possible. We share simple ideas, real examples, and a few teacher pain points (including bathroom and pencil data) that can be solved with quick routines.Next up: student engagement. It’s a big one!#education #podcast #teachingcommunity #teachercertification #effectiveteaching #news #teachingopportunities #teachereducation #teaching #podcastclipshttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the After Hours edition of the Edu20/20 Podcast. Think of this as the space where we tell the stories that don’t usually make it into our trainings but absolutely shaped who we are as educators.In today’s episode, it’s all things Courtney. Specifically, the era we now lovingly call Avocado Gate. Yes, she really got written up for a dancing Snapchat avocado during a leadership meeting. Yes, it was as ridiculous as it sounds. But it also raised a real question about how often schools focus on the wrong things.Shannon jumps in with two stories of her own. One involves alternative school and the other involves a spider at recess that led to a very unexpected PG-13 vocabulary lesson for an entire playground. Both are peak educator humor and peak educator resilience.If you’ve ever worked in a school, you probably have a few stories like these. This episode is for teachers, mentors, coaches, and anyone who survived school culture with a sense of humor still intact.We’re just getting started with these. Both in the hours and after hours.https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the first-ever episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast, your go-to space for simple, effective teaching and coaching strategies. Today, we’re unpacking a big question in education: What actually makes teaching “good”?Courtney and Shannon break down the five Priority Skills every effective teacher and instructional coach should know: Classroom Management, Student Engagement, Behavior Management, Lesson Planning, and Lesson Delivery.These high-leverage teaching skills are clear, visible, and will improve student learning fast.Teachers and coaches will learn how to collect simple instructional data. Coaches will learn how to give actionable feedback and identify what’s getting in the way of learning the most so teachers can improve their instruction by the very next lesson.Next up: Episode 2 — Classroom Management!Hit Like and Subscribe for more teacher support, coaching tips, and practical strategies you can use tomorrow.#WhatIsGoodTeaching #EffectiveTeaching #EvidenceBasedTeaching #InstructionalCoaching #CurriculumImplementation #TeacherSupport #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducationLeadershiphttps://www.edutwentytwenty.com