Lessons Unplanned: Realities of Teaching

What happens when you bring a parent into the conversation about modern education?In Episode 9 of Lessons Unplanned, Katie Behm joins Craig Stage &Tressa Heffron for a candid discussion about what schools are doing right, where students are struggling, and how phones, behavior, parenting, and classroom culture are changing education.From screen time and student attention spans to disruptive classroom behavior and parent involvement, this episode tackles the realities teachers and families are facing every day.A real conversation about kids, schools, and the future of education.

From cursive writing mandates to recess requirements and cell phone bans… schools are changing fast. But are these changes actually helping students?In Episode 8 of Lessons Unplanned: Realities of Teaching, Superintendent Craig Stage and veteran educators Tressa and Jake break down several major shifts happening in education right now—and what they mean for students, teachers, and families.This episode dives into real conversations around:The return of cursive writing and what it actually develops in studentsMandatory recess and why movement, boredom, and creativity matterLater school start times and their impact on learning and student healthThe push for cell phone bans in schools—and why it’s more controversial than it seemsHow technology is shaping attention spans, behavior, and mental healthThe growing gap between policy decisions and classroom realitiesThis isn’t about politics—it’s about perspective.👉 Are these changes preparing kids for the future… or reacting to problems we don’t fully understand?👉 And are we giving students what they truly need to succeed—not just academically, but as people?If you’re a teacher, parent, or anyone curious about the direction of education today, this episode will give you a real, unfiltered look at what’s happening inside schools.

Are we truly supporting kids—or are we rescuing them too much?In Episode 7 of Lessons Unplanned: Realities of Teaching, Superintendent Craig Stage and veteran educators Tressa and Jake tackle one of the toughest questions in education today: where is the line between helping students succeed and removing the struggle they actually need to grow?This honest conversation explores how expectations for students have shifted over the past 20 years—and what that means for learning, motivation, and long-term success.In this episode, they discuss:How student expectations and work ethic have changedThe growing pressure from parents and societyWhy struggle and failure are essential for growthWhether schools are lowering standards—or adapting to realityThe impact of grade inflation and accountability challengesThe role of mental health in supporting (not rescuing) studentsWhy kids need support systems that guide—not do the work for themThis isn’t about blaming parents, teachers, or students. It’s about asking a bigger question:👉 Are we preparing kids for life—or protecting them from it?If you care about education, parenting, or the future of the next generation, this episode will challenge how you think about support, struggle, and success.🎙️ New episodes monthly — real conversations about the work behind the work.

College prepared us to write lesson plans. It didn’t prepare us for loaded parent meetings, student trauma, shrinking attention spans, and the emotional weight of modern classrooms. In Episode 6, we talk honestly about the gap between teacher prep and classroom reality — and what future educators really need to know.

What happens when your two most demanding roles—parent and teacher—collide?In this episode of Lessons Unplanned: Realities of Teaching, Superintendent Craig Stage sits down with veteran educators (and parents) Tressa and Jake for a brutally honest conversation about the double life so many educators live.They reflect on the unique pressures, blurred boundaries, and unexpected blessings of raising their own kids while also raising 100+ others in classrooms each year.Together, they unpack:The emotional tug-of-war between their parent brain and teacher brainWhat happens when your child struggles in the very system you work inThe challenge of advocating for your own kid without oversteppingHow COVID-era schooling intensified the teacher/parent tensionNavigating relationships with colleagues when your kid is in their classThe reality of being the “teacher’s kid” in a small communityHow parenting has changed the way they teach—and vice versaWith humor, humility, and hard truths, this episode speaks directly to educators who are raising families of their own—and to parents who wonder what it’s like behind the scenes. If you’ve ever juggled two identities and felt the collision, this one’s for you.🎙️ Subscribe to hear weekly, or so, episodes that get real about the work behind the work.

What does it really mean to be a teacher in 2025?In this episode of Lessons Unplanned: Realities of Teaching, Superintendent Craig Stage joins longtime educators Tressa and Jake to unpack how the profession has shifted over the past two decades—and what it means for teachers, students, and schools today.Together, they explore:The rise in student behavior challenges and classroom disruptionsWhy managing motivation often comes before delivering instructionHow technology has reshaped learning—for better and worseThe growing emotional demands on teachersThe fading respect for educators and how that’s changed school cultureFears for the future: teacher burnout, student disengagement, and moreFrom real stories to unfiltered reflections, this episode offers an inside look at the emotional, professional, and societal shifts shaping public education right now.If you’re a teacher, parent, future educator, or someone who cares about schools, this conversation will resonate—and challenge you to think deeper about what’s really happening in classrooms today.🟣 New episodes every week or so🎙️ Subscribe and share to support real conversations about the work behind the work.

In Episode 3 of Lessons Unplanned, Craig Stage, Tressa Heffron, and Jake Lezak dive into one of the biggest questions in education: What does our system actually get right, and where is it failing?This conversation is real, blunt, and packed with moments every educator, parent, and community member will recognize. They dig into:• Politics in education and how it derails real progress• The impact of tech companies and post-COVID digital habits• Why kids are struggling with basic resilience and advocacy• What happens when schools are expected to be everything to everyone• The financial reality of cyber charters and underfunded mandates• What educators would change tomorrow if they were in chargeIt’s honest. It’s funny. It’s uncomfortable in the right ways. And it shines a light on what teachers and leaders are navigating every day in 2025.🎧 If you want the unfiltered truth about modern education, this is the episode to start with.

In Episode 2 of Lessons Unplanned, host Craig Stage sits down again with Tressa Heffron and Jake Lezak to talk about the joy and the grind of teaching. From small moments that remind educators why they love their work, to the daily frustrations that test their patience, this conversation is an honest look at the highs and lows of the classroom.They share stories of connection, resilience, and laughter—like helping a student rediscover her confidence, celebrating growth in the gym, and confronting the realities of burnout, respect, and limited resources. It’s real talk about the emotional rollercoaster educators ride every day and the pride that keeps them going.🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations about the real side of education—honest, human, and unplanned.

In this first episode of Lessons Unplanned, host Craig Stage sits down with teachers Tressa Heffron and Jake Lezak to talk about what really happens behind the scenes in education. From teaching kids how to grocery shop to helping families through tough times, they share honest, funny, and heartfelt stories that show just how much goes into the work teachers do every day. This conversation kicks off a new series that celebrates the real, unfiltered side of public education—the joys, the challenges, and the purpose that keeps educators coming back.