Episode Summary

In this episode, I pause to reflect on how far Be a Funky Teacher has come and where this journey is headed next. What began a little over a year ago on my way to the National Teacher Leadership Conference has grown into nearly 300 episodes centered on teaching, leadership, relationships, humanity, student voice, and hope.

I share why I’ve decided to slow the podcast down for a few weeks and move from daily episodes to weekly summer check-ins. I’m not stopping or disappearing. I’m simply giving myself space to rest, spend time with my family, reflect, and prepare for the next season of this work.

I also share updates about my upcoming books. I’m now working toward releasing the first Be a Funky Teacher book in late October, followed by Teaching in an Age of AI in the spring. These projects are another way for me to encourage educators and remind them that their humanity and influence still matter.

As I look ahead, my mission remains the same. I want to help educators feel encouraged, supported, and hopeful while continuing to make a difference in my classroom, my school, and the larger education community. The conversation isn’t ending. It’s continuing in a new way.

Show Notes

• Reflecting on nearly 300 podcast episodes
• Moving to weekly summer check-ins
• Choosing rest without abandoning the mission
• Updates on two upcoming books
• Continuing to encourage educators
• Looking ahead to the next season

Key Takeaways

• Slowing down can support long-term growth.
• Rest is not the same as giving up.
• The mission of serving educators remains unchanged.
• Teachers still need encouragement, hope, and community.
• The next chapter can look different without ending the journey.

This is Mr. Funky Teacher with BeAFunkyTeacher.com. I’m coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast.

Welcome back, everyone.

Today’s episode is called What’s Next for Be a Funky Teacher?

Over the past several months, we’ve been on quite a journey together.

We’ve talked about teaching, leadership, relationships, culture, student voice, artificial intelligence, humanity, hope, and what it means to continue making a difference in the lives of young people.

Today, I want to spend a little time looking ahead.

Not because we’re finished, but because sometimes it’s important to pause, reflect, and think about where we’re headed next.

Before we get into it, I want to ground myself in gratitude.

Here are three things that I’m thankful for.

The first thing that I’m thankful for is listeners.

Whether you’ve listened to one episode or hundreds of episodes, thank you.

There are a lot of podcasts people could choose from.

The fact that you’ve spent time listening to mine means a great deal to me.

The second thing that I’m thankful for is summer.

Summer gives us a chance to recharge, spend time with family, explore, read, learn, and reflect.

Sometimes that’s exactly what educators need.

The third thing that I’m thankful for is possibilities.

One of my favorite things about education is that every year brings new possibilities.

New students.

New opportunities.

New challenges.

New moments that can change lives.

And that still excites me.

So the topic, once again, is What’s Next for Be a Funky Teacher?

As I record this episode, I’m reflecting on just how much has happened.

I completed my first year at Winnebago Public Schools.

I’ve continued growing this podcast.

I’ve worked on multiple book projects.

I’ve attended conferences.

I’ve learned from educators all over the country.

This journey started a little over a year ago when I launched this podcast at the National Teacher Leadership Conference in Florida.

Actually, I recorded my first episode on my way there.

Boy, have I come a long way since then.

As I think about this whole journey, one thing keeps becoming clearer to me.

This work still matters.

The work of teaching.

The work of building relationships.

The work of helping young people believe in themselves.

That mission hasn’t changed, and it isn’t changing anytime soon.

So let’s focus on what’s next for Be a Funky Teacher.

The mission remains the same.

Technology changes.

Schools change.

Programs change.

But helping young people grow into capable, caring human beings remains the mission.

That’s what this podcast has always been about.

Nearly 300 episodes later, I still believe in this work.

When I started this podcast, I wasn’t sure where it would go.

I wasn’t quite sure what it would look like.

I had no clue where we were going.

But now, nearly 300 episodes later, I’m more convinced than ever that educators need encouragement.

They need hope.

They need reminders that what they do matters.

And sometimes slowing down is healthy.

One of the things I’ll be doing over the next few weeks is slowing down.

Not stopping.

Not disappearing.

Just slowing down.

Instead of daily episodes, I’ll be checking in weekly for a little while.

Sometimes growth requires reflection.

Sometimes progress requires rest.

Summer is a season for learning too.

Learning doesn’t stop when school ends.

Some of the best learning happens outside the classroom.

Through conversations.

Through books.

Through travel.

Through experiences.

Through reflection.

I’ll be sharing some of those lessons during the weekly summer check-ins I’m going to be doing.

The Be a Funky Teacher book also continues to move forward.

One of the projects I’m excited about is the Be a Funky Teacher book.

The ideas from this podcast have grown into something larger.

My hope is that the book encourages educators just like the podcast has.

Originally, I was hoping to launch the book this summer.

My goal was July 14.

But I realized I needed time to rest.

I wasn’t quite ready, and that was okay.

I needed to slow things down just a little bit.

Now, I’m looking at releasing the first Be a Funky Teacher book in late October.

I think postponing it is the right decision because I want to make sure it’s ready in a way that will be most impactful for educators.

I also don’t want to burn out in the process.

I need time for myself.

Time for my family.

Time to recharge.

Time to reflect.

The AI book will come after the Be a Funky Teacher book.

That book is about teaching in an age of AI.

It has become something bigger than I expected too.

What started as an 11-week podcast series became an important conversation.

Teaching in an Age of AI: Why Human Teachers Matter More Than Ever.

It reminds me of something important.

Technology may change.

Humanity still matters.

Teachers still matter.

And that message deserves a wider audience.

As I think about this next school year, I’m looking at releasing the Be a Funky Teacher book in late October.

Then I’m considering releasing Teaching in an Age of AI in March, if I’m able to have it ready.

I want to impact people.

There have been so many conversations and so much content through these podcasts about being a funky teacher, keeping humanity in education, and providing hope to educators.

I want to take those ideas and put them into the world in a way that can impact even more educators.

I also want to keep creating things that help educators.

Whether it’s podcast episodes, books, presentations, workshops, or simple conversations, my goal remains the same.

To encourage educators and help them remember the impact they have.

That’s what I want to do with the Be a Funky Teacher movement.

Winnebago also continues to shape me.

My first year at Winnebago Public Schools changed me.

My students taught me.

My colleagues taught me.

The community taught me.

And I know there are still many lessons ahead.

The future holds exciting possibilities.

I have ideas I’m still exploring.

Projects I’m still developing.

Books I’m still finishing.

Books I’m still thinking about.

I’ve mentioned the two books I’d like to release this next school year.

The first in late October and the second possibly in March.

I do anticipate those happening.

But there are other ideas for books too.

There are other themes and topics I’d like to explore through the podcast.

I’m excited about where this journey is leading.

I’m excited about the possibilities.

I’m excited about exploring issues that affect real teachers and the real world of education.

Education is not just a career.

It’s a calling.

It’s a passion.

And I want to contribute.

I want to contribute in my classroom.

I want to contribute in the school and district where I teach.

But I also want to contribute beyond that.

I want to put a dent in the world by contributing to education.

The field of education is hurting right now.

We have teachers struggling.

Educators struggling.

Students struggling.

I want to be part of bringing hope.

Providing guidance.

Reminding people that education is still one of the greatest influences in helping set young people up for success.

Ultimately, the conversation isn’t ending.

It’s continuing.

Over the next few weeks, the format will look different.

As I mentioned, I’ll be moving to weekly check-ins.

We’ll reflect.

We’ll learn.

We’ll prepare for another school year.

Before long, we’ll begin another journey together.

Because there are still important conversations worth having.

As I look ahead, I find myself feeling grateful.

I’m grateful for my listeners.

I’m grateful for my students.

I’m grateful for my colleagues.

I’m grateful for opportunities.

I still believe in relationships.

I still believe in hope.

And I still believe that one caring educator can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.

So while daily episodes are going to slow down for a few weeks, the journey isn’t ending.

It’s simply continuing in a different way.

And I can’t wait to see where it takes us next.

If you found value in this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts and leave a five-star review.

Let me know what you think.

It helps more teachers find this space.

As you go into your day, remember to inspire greatness in young people.

And don’t forget to be a funky teacher.

Bye now.