Episode 2

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Published on:

8th Jul 2025

Teacher Leaders Unite: What I Learned on Day One at the National Teacher Leadership Conference (National Teacher Leadership Conference Day 1)

The essence of this podcast centers around the inspiring figure known as Mr. Funky Teacher, who exemplifies the transformative power of creativity and passion within the educational landscape. In our discourse, we delve into his unique approach, which is characterized by an unwavering commitment to fostering greatness among both students and educators alike. Through his innovative methodologies, he cultivates an environment that not only makes learning enjoyable but also empowers individuals to embrace their potential. We reflect on the recent National Teacher Leadership Conference, where we encountered a multitude of esteemed educators who share a fervent dedication to impacting the lives of their students positively. Our dialogue emphasizes the critical importance of nurturing supportive relationships within educational settings, as these connections are paramount in facilitating student success and instilling a love for learning.

The essence of this podcast episode revolves around the invigorating experiences of Nicholas Kleve, also known as Mr. Funky Teacher, as he recounts his inaugural day at the prestigious National Teacher Leadership Conference (NTLC) in Orlando, Florida. He vividly narrates the seamless arrival and check-in process, the exhilarating connections established within the Exhibitor Rotunda, and the contemplative moments spent in the Teacher Workroom, all of which contribute to a palpable sense of energy and enthusiasm. Notably, he highlights the impactful addresses delivered by two distinguished keynote speakers who championed the principles of authentic leadership and the profound influence educators can wield, emphasizing the necessity of leading with compassion and purpose in contemporary educational landscapes.


Nicholas also shares the excitement of stepping into the role of presenter at NTLC, delivering his signature breakout session, “How to Be a Funky Teacher,” which encouraged educators to embrace creativity, connection, and their authentic selves in the classroom. In addition, he collaborated with fellow National Civics Catalyst Fellows as part of a team Catalyst presentation, demonstrating the collective power of educator-leaders working together to shape the future of teaching and learning. These opportunities not only amplified his voice but also allowed him to learn alongside a passionate community of teacher-leaders.


As we immerse ourselves in the vibrancy of the NTLC2025, this episode serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of presenting our authentic selves in the educational realm. I invite you to listen, reflect, and engage with purpose as we navigate the dynamic world of educational leadership together.


The inaugural day of the National Teacher Leadership Conference (NTLC) proved to be an exhilarating experience, meticulously captured by Nicholas Kleve, who is affectionately recognized as Mr. Funky Teacher. Nestled within the enchanting confines of the Disney Yacht Club Resort in Orlando, Florida, the day commenced with an effortless check-in process, allowing attendees to transition smoothly into the vibrant atmosphere of the conference. Nicholas expressed his delight in the opportunity to connect with fellow educators in the Exhibitor Rotunda, where the exchange of innovative ideas and collaborative discussions flourished.


Central to the day's events were the keynote presentations by Dr. Natasha Murray and John King, which inspired attendees to reflect upon the essence of authentic leadership in education. Dr. Murray's insights into the challenges faced in underprivileged schools were both illuminating and thought-provoking. Meanwhile, John King's personal journey, marked by resilience in the face of adversity, resonated profoundly with the audience. His emphasis on the significance of educators in shaping the lives of students, particularly those who encounter systemic barriers, served as a poignant reminder of the vital role teachers play in fostering hope and opportunity. Nicholas enthusiastically noted the interactive nature of the session, where audience engagement was encouraged, further enriching the experience.


As the day concluded, Nicholas's reflections encapsulated the essence of the NTLC: a commitment to professional growth, a celebration of individuality as educators, and an unwavering dedication to the mission of transforming lives through education. This episode serves as both a recap and a rallying cry for educators to embrace their unique selves, to lead with heart, and to inspire greatness in every student.


Takeaways

  • The National Teacher Leadership Conference serves as a vital platform for educators to connect and exchange innovative ideas.
  • Nicholas Kleve emphasizes the significance of authentic leadership and educator impact in modern educational settings.
  • Keynote speakers Dr. Natasha Murray and John King inspire attendees with their powerful messages about leading with heart.
  • Reflecting on personal experiences, King illustrates the transformative role teachers play in the lives of their students.
  • Nicholas presented “How to Be a Funky Teacher,” a breakout session encouraging educators to lead with creativity, joy, and authenticity.
  • As part of the Catalyst group team presentation, Nicholas joined other Civics Catalyst Fellows to share collective strategies for empowering students and strengthening democracy.
  • The conference highlights the importance of building strong relationships among educators to foster a collaborative learning environment.
  • Nicholas encourages educators to embrace their unique identities and show up as their full, funky selves in their teaching practices.

Links referenced in this episode:


Companies mentioned in this episode:

  • Be a Funky Teacher
  • National Teacher Leadership Conference
  • Disney Yacht Club Resort
  • John King
  • Dr. Natasha Murray
  • Barack Obama
  • NNSTOY (National Network of State Teachers Of The Year)
Transcript
Speaker A:

Yeah, he's Mr. Funky.

Speaker A:

He's Mr. Funky Teacher.

Speaker A:

Mr. Funky Teacher inspires greatness.

Speaker A:

Makes you feel good.

Speaker A:

Like your favorite playlist.

Speaker A:

Keeping that fresh and funky.

Speaker A:

Yes, he does.

Speaker A:

He got some funky cool ideas to share for all you teachers.

Speaker A:

He can empower others, students and teachers.

Speaker A:

It's all about hard work and creativity.

Speaker A:

He brings out the kindness in everyone.

Speaker A:

He's got the passion to teach.

Speaker A:

You hear it when he speaks.

Speaker A:

He knows how to build strong relationships.

Speaker A:

If you're seeking the best bunkiest, he is it.

Speaker A:

He will empower you to improve.

Speaker A:

You'll be helping others and loving it too.

Speaker A:

He's Mr. Funky Teacher.

Speaker A:

Yeah, he's Mr. Funky Teacher.

Speaker A:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker B:

This is Mr. Funky Teacher with Be a Funky Teacher dot com.

Speaker B:

I'm coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast.

Speaker B:

That's right.

Speaker B:

I am so excited to be here with you.

Speaker B:

It is the the second podcast of this podcast show.

Speaker B:

I'm so excited.

Speaker B:

I am just wrapping up the first day of the National Teacher Leadership Conference here in Orlando, Florida for enstoy.

Speaker B:

What a day.

Speaker B:

I just have to tell you that right now.

Speaker B:

What an amazing day.

Speaker B:

It was an early morning.

Speaker B:

My first podcast talked about I was on my way from driving to Omaha, two hands on the road but recording, talking about how excited I was for the day and today did not disappoint here at nstoy this leadership conference.

Speaker B:

What a brilliant day.

Speaker B:

I got here.

Speaker B:

Oh my plane landed about:

Speaker B:

We're at the Disney.

Speaker B:

Let me see here.

Speaker B:

We're at the Disney Yacht Club Resort here in Orlando, Florida.

Speaker B:

What a cool place.

Speaker B:

Beautiful.

Speaker B:

Boy, do they know how to do conferences.

Speaker B:

They have a beautiful space for a nice large space.

Speaker B:

It's just very updated, very clean.

Speaker B:

They're very helpful here.

Speaker B:

Just really enjoyed my time here.

Speaker B:

So I got here once I did get here at the.

Speaker B:

It was late morning around lunchtime I guess by the time I did get here to the Disney Yacht Club.

Speaker B:

Just kind of wanted to explore the ground.

Speaker B:

So I was able to get checked in an early check in.

Speaker B:

Couldn't go to my room yet but that's all right.

Speaker B:

And went to the bell hop station.

Speaker B:

I think it's.

Speaker B:

Is it called Bell Hop?

Speaker B:

I think that's what it's called, the bell station.

Speaker B:

And checked my bags just for a little bit and started walking around, just kind of looking at the grounds, kind of doing some exploring and then I after that my room still wasn't Quite done yet.

Speaker B:

So.

Speaker B:

And I was on my, you know, I was in my airplane clothes still kind of sweaty and kind of gross from the airplane.

Speaker B:

So I, it was funny, I swapped it up and put some more professional clothes on in the bathroom here because my room wasn't quite ready yet.

Speaker B:

But you know, you got to do what you got to do.

Speaker B:

And then I was able to, let's see here.

Speaker B:

I was able to officially check in because I don't want to check in and like I said, my raggedy clothes just kind of smelling from being on an airplane.

Speaker B:

So I got checked in here a little around 2 o' clock, I guess.

Speaker B:

Hung out then.

Speaker B:

And then I was able to, before I knew it, I was able to get in my room and get unpacked, just kind of get myself sorted out here because we had the welcoming session and keynote address starting at 4 o'.

Speaker B:

Clock.

Speaker B:

It's so neat to be here seeing people walking around wearing their, you know, their lanyards where it talks about the National Teacher Leadership Conference and it says their name on it, says where they're from.

Speaker B:

So exciting.

Speaker B:

I love a conference like this because every teacher I've met is just a high caliber, top notch, phenomenal educator.

Speaker B:

And I'm very lucky.

Speaker B:

Back in Nebraska and Iowa, there's so many great educators there too.

Speaker B:

So I'm spoiled and a lot of not spoiled.

Speaker B:

I think that's actually a great thing that there's so many great teachers and it's no different being here.

Speaker B:

And these teachers here at this conference are award winning educators, decorated teachers in their state, well respected and very well spoken and are very passionate about the world of education and impacting education by helping kids.

Speaker B:

They know that that's what it's all about.

Speaker B:

And they're really great about not getting bogged down by the negative stuff.

Speaker B:

I mean they still do and it's still, you know, there's a lot things in education that's kind of defeating, but they're very upbeat, very encouraging, very positive and I'm just loving being around them.

Speaker B:

And each new person I talk to, I just get more and more excited.

Speaker B:

So that's pretty exciting.

Speaker B:

In fact, I came in, I was looking around, I was able to talk to.

Speaker B:

I'm here because I'm presenting with a fellowship tomorrow.

Speaker B:

And so I was able to talk to the leader of the fellowship and a few other people from the group from the fellowship.

Speaker B:

And then I came in to the grand session room, I guess it is, and didn't really know anyone.

Speaker B:

So I sat down at a Table because my fellowship fellow fellowship presenters were not in here yet.

Speaker B:

So I sat down at a table and then I got up and was kind of walking around and before I knew it, the whole table had filled in.

Speaker B:

And I went back to that table and introduced myself because I thought it would be weird to walk up and grab my bag and walk away from the table.

Speaker B:

Those teachers were as nice and friendly as can be and so welcoming and got to hang with them later on in a day too.

Speaker B:

Just phenomenal human.

Speaker B:

Not just phenomenal educators, phenomenal human beings, I'll tell you that much.

Speaker B:

Each one of them, I. I haven't met one yet that I just shake my head because they're all just salt of the earth, phenomenal.

Speaker B:

Just, just love being here.

Speaker B:

And we, boy, we are our welcome session and keynote address.

Speaker B:

We had two speakers here.

Speaker B:

Dr. Natasha Murray was speaking.

Speaker B:

She's a chair of the board of directors for nstoy.

Speaker B:

And then we had John King here.

Speaker B:

And he actually is a former US Secretary of education for Barack Obama.

Speaker B:

And he was so.

Speaker B:

He was on the cabinet, President Barack Obama.

Speaker B:

And just hearing both of them speak, just very inspirational.

Speaker B:

It was super cool because I got to hear each of them kind of speak separately.

Speaker B:

But they did a thing during the presentation that I thought was really fascinating where Dr. Murray was asking John King different questions and kind of guiding him through it.

Speaker B:

It was kind of like almost like an interactive discussion up there.

Speaker B:

They had comfy chairs sitting up there on the stage and he was having a conversation and teachers from the audience could ask questions.

Speaker B:

And I couldn't stop taking notes because I wanted to reflect on everything that I was learning.

Speaker B:

And I was learning so much.

Speaker B:

It was great.

Speaker B:

It's interesting actually.

Speaker B:

It's so cool because the head of Enstoy actually gave me a gift bag, a presenter gift bag.

Speaker B:

And it actually had John King Jr. S book in it.

Speaker B:

Teacher the People who Change Our Lives.

Speaker B:

Teacher by Teacher is the name of the book.

Speaker B:

It is once again that former U.S. secretary of Education.

Speaker B:

And so getting that book and then getting to hear John King speak in person, what a treat.

Speaker B:

Phenomenal.

Speaker B:

And hearing Dr. Murray share also her experience of working in lower socioeconomic schools and school districts.

Speaker B:

And as her experience too was very powerful.

Speaker B:

And just having them on stage together, it got me really fired up, I'll tell you that.

Speaker B:

Now a couple some things that really caught my attention about John King and what he said here.

Speaker B:

He was actually talking about his.

Speaker B:

His mom died when he was in the fourth grade.

Speaker B:

And he talked about.

Speaker B:

There was a three years where he had this teacher that kind of looped with him and it really gave him a structure and made it a safe space for him to be successful when he was kind of falling apart with, because of his mom's death.

Speaker B:

And it was interesting hearing him talk about that.

Speaker B:

There was a age gap between him and his mom and his dad and his dad was dealing with Alzheimer's and his health issues.

Speaker B:

He ended up living with his older brother that was in his 20s and that wasn't a good fit.

Speaker B:

They had a thing where a lot of the pets they were collecting and it just, it just wasn't a good fit for a 20 year old raising a 12 year old, if you will.

Speaker B:

He just wanted a normal life and it ended up his uncle and aunt adopted him and he was able to live with them and kind of gave him the structure he needed.

Speaker B:

Now when he got to college, he felt kind of like imposter syndrome where he almost, it almost had trouble justifying or like feeling worthy of being in college almost because of his days of getting in trouble when he was younger.

Speaker B:

And he talked about struggling with that and he talked about how important it is for teachers to not give up on kids because, you know, he went from being a student who had behavior challenges and not.

Speaker B:

And just with the trauma of losing his mom and the lack of structure to once again being Secretary of Education for the US how powerful is that?

Speaker B:

He talked about what got him in education was he was doing some conflict resolution teaching and working at a summer camp and an after school program.

Speaker B:

It got him into really being excited about teaching.

Speaker B:

He, he loved helping others and doing for others.

Speaker B:

And boy, isn't that true?

Speaker B:

Isn't that what we do here?

Speaker B:

We give to others.

Speaker B:

We're all, I mean, that's what we're about here.

Speaker B:

We, we, we, we, we pour ourselves into our work not for the work sake, but because we know it's gonna, as teachers, we know it's gonna plant those seeds and it's gonna give students a better start in life.

Speaker B:

And that's what this is all about, right?

Speaker B:

And so he actually talked about starting a middle school in Boston.

Speaker B:

And it was really interesting.

Speaker B:

It made me think about where I'm going next year to teach because he was talking about those middle grades or at the middle school that he started about the importance of.

Speaker B:

So he talked about getting kids ready for college and career ready.

Speaker B:

It's, and bringing in being very positive for kids and trying to plant those seeds in students, getting them to think about, you know, their future.

Speaker B:

And that's I know that's one where I'm teaching next year.

Speaker B:

You know, that's one of the things I'm going to be really focusing on is planting those seeds and getting students to think about their future careers and what that.

Speaker B:

That might look like.

Speaker B:

Future careers, whether it's a trade school, whether it's whatever it is, but looking to a future that that is involves helping others and impacting others and.

Speaker B:

And those middle ranges, fifth grade up, you know, eighth grade, are perfect grade levels to do that.

Speaker B:

And so him talking about that, John talking about that got me really excited and let me know that I'm going in the right direction for what I'm thinking.

Speaker B:

It's, you know, and he actually talked about too, in the middle school.

Speaker B:

He talked about actually they did things like summer programs and Saturday programs and longer days and really spent time looking at the culture of professional learning and spending time preparing and planning for teaching kids because they wanted.

Speaker B:

He's really big into talking about the importance of rigor and joy in a classroom we want.

Speaker B:

And I talk talk about that too.

Speaker B:

In fact, tomorrow I'm going to talk about it in my presentation about being a funky teacher is the importance of having discipline and making students work hard, but also having joy and excitement in the classroom.

Speaker B:

So he talked about rigor and joy.

Speaker B:

He talked about a science teacher he had that transformed a classroom into a cell and the students walked in and the whole classroom was a cel.

Speaker B:

How.

Speaker B:

What an impact that made on him.

Speaker B:

I think that's what I think he was a student in that classroom.

Speaker B:

I don't think it was a student in the middle school.

Speaker B:

I'm trying to think.

Speaker B:

I'm not 100% sure in my notes here now, it was either a student in the middle school or a teacher in the middle school that he ran or it was when he was growing up.

Speaker B:

I can't remember which one, but it was.

Speaker B:

The point is he was sharing a story about this teacher who transformed his classroom into a cell to make it learning exciting for students and trying.

Speaker B:

And then that was tried.

Speaker B:

It was important to try to replicate that type of energy and that type of, you know, creativity that other teachers could try doing that.

Speaker B:

So, and I.

Speaker B:

And I talk and tomorrow I'm going to talk about creativity too, and the importance of creativity where I've transformed my classroom into a medical er and other things and many other things too.

Speaker B:

So.

Speaker B:

And you know, John talked about the importance of teacher prep and like teacher prep programs, one of the things that's missing is teachers not Getting enough guidance on classroom management and dealing with families.

Speaker B:

And I think I would agree with that.

Speaker B:

Now, when I work with adjunct, as an adjunct instructor, I talk about classroom management because I know how important it is, and I talk about interacting with families and building those connections and those relationships with families.

Speaker B:

But, you know, King talked about the importance of being purposeful in teacher prep programs and addressing those two areas because teachers don't know what they don't know when they're starting off, and if they assume, it can turn into a big mess.

Speaker B:

So, you know, and you know what?

Speaker B:

I think I would definitely agree with that in so many ways.

Speaker B:

He talked about parent programs, even the possibility of like, hey, what skills do parents need to know that they don't have?

Speaker B:

Can we teach that to them in some way?

Speaker B:

Or can, you know, society teach that in some way?

Speaker B:

You know, and how might that look?

Speaker B:

So he's kind of getting us thinking there of the possibilities.

Speaker B:

And, you know, King talked about the importance of making it easier for parents to partner with schools and teachers and how true we want to build those relationships.

Speaker B:

We know if we have stronger relationships with parents and families, that we're going to be more likely to have success with their children.

Speaker B:

I mean, that's just, you know, the bottom line there.

Speaker B:

You know, if that relationship isn't there, it's going to make our job harder.

Speaker B:

And so it's really important to lean into that.

Speaker B:

You know, King talked also about graduations and the importance of graduations, different graduations at different levels, you know, from preschool graduations all the way to high school graduations and college.

Speaker B:

He said his most favorite one, though, is prison graduations.

Speaker B:

Prisoners who actually go through and, you know, get some education.

Speaker B:

And he talked about the second chance Pell, like a Pell grant that was blocked for prisoners.

Speaker B:

And he talked about his efforts to try to undo that so prisoners would be more likely could get some education because they.

Speaker B:

He talked about when prisoners get an education, the likeliness of returning goes down by 40%, he said, and it completely changes the trajectory of their life.

Speaker B:

And I would agree with that.

Speaker B:

That makes complete sense to me.

Speaker B:

When he was talking about that.

Speaker B:

And, you know, and he talked about, you know, even.

Speaker B:

And so he.

Speaker B:

I just was, you know, I had never thought about that, but when he talked about it, it makes complete sense.

Speaker B:

And so I appreciate it.

Speaker B:

Here I'm talking about prison graduations and how meaningful those are to him.

Speaker B:

He also, you know, King talked about the relationships with teachers, you know, Dr. Murray did as well, and how important those relationships are you know, Dr. Or John King also talked about, you know, the importance of education and how public education is so important for our democracy to survive.

Speaker B:

It starts with education and you know, and when public schools are rejected, rejection of public schools, schools, a rejection of public education is not good because it puts our democracy at risk.

Speaker B:

And, you know, that makes a lot of sense as well.

Speaker B:

It's just, you know, I didn't know this either as King talked about disabilities and how the United States of America is unique compared to other countries where we focus so much on trying to help students with disabilities and trying to meet needs of students who have disabilities.

Speaker B:

But he also talked about, you know, that could be at risk depending on if what changes could possibly be made.

Speaker B:

And so it just got you thinking, you know, it wasn't, you know, John King wasn't trying to turn it political.

Speaker B:

But, you know, it definitely, you know, different decisions that are made definitely do have ramifications on society.

Speaker B:

King talked about career and technical schools, how important that is.

Speaker B:

And even if students can get education at the high school level and even leave high school with an associate's degree, how powerful that is.

Speaker B:

And that, you know, the one thing that really stuck out, a lot of things stuck out.

Speaker B:

But King talked about absenteeism and chronic absenteeism.

Speaker B:

He would argue, like at the high school level, especially chronic absenteeism, is because those students don't see the usefulness of what they're learning and that we have to make it useful to them and relevant to them and to their lives.

Speaker B:

King talks so much stuff, talked about cell phone bans and that cell phones and social media that we don't.

Speaker B:

We haven't begun to realize how bad cell phones and social media is on kids development.

Speaker B:

And it is kind of scary to think about.

Speaker B:

I think about this often as a teacher, I think about this as a parent.

Speaker B:

I worry about it for my own children even.

Speaker B:

And there needs to be more as a society, as a country, we need to be more aggressive on addressing this.

Speaker B:

And King really stressed that we can't just kind of be dismissive about cell phones and social media.

Speaker B:

And so we're moving in the right direction.

Speaker B:

The more and more cell phone bans that we're seeing, even though there' sometimes hard to.

Speaker B:

To be enforced.

Speaker B:

He did talk about being worried about AI and how AI might impact young people.

Speaker B:

And.

Speaker B:

And you know that he made some very good points here too, I think.

Speaker B:

So AI can serve a very valuable place, but it can also, when it's used responsibly and it can work in a classroom.

Speaker B:

But it can also kind of dis, distort or eliminate some of that higher level processing and thinking that writing can do for students.

Speaker B:

And so we just have to be careful of that as teachers and be a part of that conversation.

Speaker B:

King talked about we're not keeping up fast enough with AI growth and the changes.

Speaker B:

And because AI is changing so fast and we're not keeping up with it, he fears we're gonna have problems with that.

Speaker B:

So, you know, and these are all things, he's just given us things to think about.

Speaker B:

Now there was someone from the audience who asked a really great question.

Speaker B:

I think it was a teacher of the year from Illinois.

Speaker B:

And she asked a really great question about teachers feeling discouraged.

Speaker B:

And like future teachers, how would you.

Speaker B:

How do you begin to help new teachers who are feeling discouraged by the state of education or might be at fear of being burnt out?

Speaker B:

And King talked about, his response was the importance of high expectations for these new educators.

Speaker B:

But also he talked about teaching these teachers about how they're saving lives and maybe don't even realize it and trying to instill in these new educators how impactful they are and they might not even realize it.

Speaker B:

Sometimes as veteran teachers, I've taught 22 years and sometimes I thought I didn't get through to a certain student and years later he shows up to my classroom and says what a difference I made in his life.

Speaker B:

And it blows me over, it blows my mind.

Speaker B:

Or I get a letter from a student who says how meaningful I was.

Speaker B:

My I was to helping her be successful.

Speaker B:

And you know, you encounter some of those.

Speaker B:

But, but new teachers, you know, trying to, trying to reframe that thinking for new teachers is pretty important.

Speaker B:

And you know, King talked about also how we've been through worse periods of history and that we can't lose hope if there's bad things that are happening in society.

Speaker B:

You know, he talked about.

Speaker B:

About his, his.

Speaker B:

His own fam.

Speaker B:

Family's history with.

Speaker B:

In a matter of, you know, around slavery in the institution of the.

Speaker B:

The horrible cruelty of institution of slavery.

Speaker B:

And in just three generations, his family went from slavery to being a cabinet in for a part of the cabinet for a president of the United states as a U.S. secretary of education.

Speaker B:

And that's just in three generations.

Speaker B:

And how powerful is that?

Speaker B:

Right?

Speaker B:

So what.

Speaker B:

And King challenged us to think about what types of ancestors do we want to be, you know, for our children and our children's children.

Speaker B:

And that's great.

Speaker B:

Another teacher also asked about protecting new teachers too.

Speaker B:

And you know, King Just really kind of doubled down on focusing on students and focusing on the gifts that the new teachers have and their transformative power and that help them to believe that they can make a difference and that in how impactful it is on society.

Speaker B:

And then let me see here.

Speaker B:

You know, I'm going through my notes here because I wrote down so many notes.

Speaker B:

I so enjoyed listening to King and Dr. Murray kind of go back and forth.

Speaker B:

And Dr. Murray had asked kind of leading questions, getting Dr. Murray into, getting him to answer certain questions and kind of share different stories and different scenarios.

Speaker B:

This is really an interesting thing dynamic, I don't think any of us will agree, would disagree with this.

Speaker B:

King talked about how do you, you know, what's one thing that education needs to be different in education.

Speaker B:

And he talked about paying teachers more and that we can't just be trying to just move to meeting basic needs where we're just meeting like working conditions where I think of like bricks falling off wall or just fixing a sink that's leaking.

Speaker B:

You got to go beyond that.

Speaker B:

Communities and the public have to do more to meet students needs and to address working conditions of schools and educational environments.

Speaker B:

You know, it's really interesting too.

Speaker B:

He.

Speaker B:

I've been saying interesting.

Speaker B:

This is really interesting because there was so many things that was interesting about what, what was being said during them talking for like new teachers.

Speaker B:

King talked about like a residency based type of model where teachers spend more time in like a teacher preparation program like a year.

Speaker B:

And I know some places do that even around in the Midwest do that like a year preparation program versus like a 30 day or I mean like a half a year.

Speaker B:

And great point was made, like how do you start August if you're a student teaching in the spring?

Speaker B:

So you can definitely do if you're with a really solid classroom teacher or an educator.

Speaker B:

A resilience based model could really do I think a lot of great things for students or really great things for preparing that teacher rather.

Speaker B:

He also talked about veteran teachers observing new teachers and trying to give them feedback.

Speaker B:

Not to like critique and dump on them but to really just kind of give them feedback to help guide them to be the best teachers that they can be.

Speaker B:

And like quality veteran teachers give that feedback and kind of help nurture and guide those, those new teachers into the profession.

Speaker B:

You know, I'm just sitting here thinking, I'm kind of looking at the COVID of the book Teachers by Teachers.

Speaker B:

It's, it's in the COVID it says Teachers by Teachers trace a remarkable journey of the 10th US Secretary of Education as deeply personal love letter to all teachers in our lives.

Speaker B:

King talked about how important it was to do what we can to help encourage teachers to be in the profession, to stay in the profession and not leave the profession because he knows a good teacher, how impactful they are, because he tried to do that with his teaching.

Speaker B:

He experienced it once again when his mom died.

Speaker B:

And so he lived.

Speaker B:

Just was very.

Speaker B:

It was really just a fitting way to kick off our first night, I think, or our first day at the conference.

Speaker B:

Really got us thinking.

Speaker B:

So we wrapped up.

Speaker B:

Oh, we.

Speaker B:

You know what they did too, at this conference, in addition to the Dr. Murray and King speaking, we had a.

Speaker B:

They had several students, some younger girls and some older boys come in and perform with musical instruments and singing and so much fun.

Speaker B:

It was fun.

Speaker B:

We're here for the kids.

Speaker B:

And so it was neat to have kids come in and perform.

Speaker B:

And they did some entertainment too, kind of in between stuff during our welcome session and keynote address.

Speaker B:

You know, we had a little bit of a time off there then, and I actually then was able to.

Speaker B:

I went walking around this resort grounds and was bacon as it's like in.

Speaker B:

In the sandlot, bacon like a toasted cheese, like they say in the sand lot.

Speaker B:

It was so warm and so humid out.

Speaker B:

When I was walking outside.

Speaker B:

I was cooking, but kind of exploring the grounds.

Speaker B:

I walked around.

Speaker B:

I was.

Speaker B:

I hadn't eaten today.

Speaker B:

I think I actually.

Speaker B:

I brought a Rice Krispie bar that my wife made.

Speaker B:

I. I brought that in a little baggie and ate that.

Speaker B:

But that's all I had all day.

Speaker B:

And.

Speaker B:

Oh, and then a couple pieces of licorice I had.

Speaker B:

I didn't eat anything else, so I was super hungry.

Speaker B:

And so I was able to end up by the pool, get a chicken sandwich and eat that.

Speaker B:

And then I went over to.

Speaker B:

They had a really nice welcome reception too, in the evening over at the Yacht Club Marina.

Speaker B:

And that was cool too, because we got to sit there.

Speaker B:

They gave us some drink tickets.

Speaker B:

We got to.

Speaker B:

We were dressed up, kind of dressed up and just kind of hung out and talked to people.

Speaker B:

We had met people, just fellow educators here at the conference.

Speaker B:

It was really exciting.

Speaker B:

They had some.

Speaker B:

Some Disney fireworks off in a distance that you could see.

Speaker B:

It was just.

Speaker B:

It was beautiful out.

Speaker B:

Besides being super humid and sticky out, it was still a beautiful night.

Speaker B:

And I cannot, cannot say enough about what a great day it was.

Speaker B:

I came back to the general session room where I'm at right now, recording this, because I wanted to practice my presentation for tomorrow.

Speaker B:

It's, it's.

Speaker B:

I'm super excited.

Speaker B:

Tomorrow is going to be a big day.

Speaker B:

I have my 45 minute solar presentation and then I have my civics Catalyst Fellowship presentation too.

Speaker B:

A 45 minute presentation with the team, the fellows there too.

Speaker B:

So two really meaningful and exciting presentations tomorrow.

Speaker B:

And then I'm going to also try to get to hear some other people too.

Speaker B:

I saw a few people that I know that I didn't get a chance to talk to who I been part of a fellowship a year ago that I want to talk to them and hopefully see them.

Speaker B:

I saw them from afar.

Speaker B:

But what a great day.

Speaker B:

Can't say enough.

Speaker B:

We got two more days here and so tomorrow's going to be a long day.

Speaker B:

It's, it's going to be a long day, but it's going to be a great day.

Speaker B:

So I'm going to go back to the room here and try to get some sleep here and then get up and get going and wake up like my hair is on fire and kick off the day ready to share with some fellow educators here and then learn from fellow educators as well.

Speaker B:

So day one of the National Teacher Leadership Conference is in the books and what a great day it was.

Speaker B:

teacher leadership conference:

Speaker B:

Florid.

Speaker B:

So I want to encourage you to inspire greatness in young people and to be a funky teacher.

Speaker B:

Bye now.

Speaker A:

He's Mr. Funky Teacher yeah, he's Mr. Funky Teacher, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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About the Podcast

Be A Funky Teacher Podcast
Inspiring energy, creativity, and joy in teaching! 🎤🔥
Join Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, for creative learning techniques, joyful teaching tips, and practical classroom ideas! This podcast inspires educators to stay motivated and empowered while building a positive classroom culture. Discover innovative education methods and effective teacher leadership development strategies that make learning exciting for both students and teachers. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or new ways to engage your class, this podcast is packed with resources to help you become a more fun, dynamic educator. Tune in and learn how to bring creativity and leadership into every lesson – because everyone can be a funky teacher!

About your host

Profile picture for Nicholas Kleve

Nicholas Kleve

Nicholas Kleve – Host of Be a Funky Teacher Podcast & Outdoor Funky Podcast

Nicholas Kleve, also known as Mr. Funky Teacher, is an energetic and passionate educator, adventurer, and storyteller with over two decades of experience inspiring students, teachers, and fellow outdoor enthusiasts. A veteran fifth-grade teacher, adjunct college instructor, and leadership mentor, Nicholas believes in bringing joy, creativity, and authenticity to every part of life—whether in the classroom, on the water, or exploring the trails.

As the host of the "Be a Funky Teacher Podcast," Nicholas shares real-world teaching insights, practical strategies, and motivational stories to empower educators. With a focus on creativity, relationships, and resilience, he proves that every teacher has the power to create engaging, unforgettable learning experiences filled with energy and purpose.

Expanding his passion beyond the classroom, Nicholas also hosts the "Outdoor Funky Podcast," where he dives into his love for adventure. From stand-up paddling on lakes and rivers to mountain biking and exploring the outdoors, he shares inspiring stories, reflections, and thoughts on living fully and embracing the wild.

Professionally, Nicholas is dedicated to making a lasting impact on education, fostering student leadership, and mentoring future teachers. Personally, he is a devoted husband, proud father, and faith-driven individual who finds joy in helping others and living life with purpose.

Tune in to "Be a Funky Teacher Podcast" and "Outdoor Funky Podcast" for a perfect mix of inspiration, wisdom, and a whole lot of funk—whether you’re in the classroom or out in the wild. 🌿🎙️🚀