Happy holidays, teacher friends! Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, winter break, or simply breathing for the first time in weeks, this episode is our gift to you. We’re revisiting powerful, joyful, meaningful moments from some of our favorite conversations this year—with incredible educators who bring creativity, courage, purpose, and fun into classrooms every day.

You’ll hear:

• 🎙️ Debbie Tannenbaum on authentic, student-centered EdTech and reflection

• 🌮 Gabriel Carrillo on food as connection + AI literacy + real talk PD

• 🎭 Kiki (Keke) Powell on joy, costumes, innovation, and believing BIG for kids

• 🎮 John Meehan playing a lightning-round classroom strategy game that is pure teacher joy

Light, warmth, laughter, growth, and seriously good thinking—this one feels like gathering around a holiday table with the best people in education.

00:00 – 01:55
Holiday welcome + episode intro + setting the tone for warmth, joy, and reflection

01:56 – 10:14

• Co-teaching with empathy and pacing for teacher comfort

• Building culture, not one-off tech moments

• Student reflection beyond pencil & paper

• Creating problem-finders, not just problem-solvers

• Shifting from consumption → creation

10:44 – 16:45

• Food as a universal engagement tool

• Classroom + PD lessons = meals we craft with intention

• AI literacy, ethics, modeling, and district responsibility

16:45 – 19:56

• “Click-click-click” PD isn’t learning

• Implementation matters

• Coaching + co-teaching + real classroom transfer

• Evidence from student artifacts + classroom practice

20:20 – 21:56

• Why she dresses up

• Family support

• Costumes as engagement & memory anchors

• Learning that feels magical

21:56 – 25:15

• Choosing brand partnerships with integrity

• Using influence to help teachers

• Awards, impact, gratitude, and growth

25:34 – 28:20

• Grant writing courage

• Student-led innovation

• Listening to kids

• Thinking WAY beyond flexible seating

28:20 – 33:40
Fast-paced fun deciding whether to:

• Keep it 🔥

• Rethink it 🤔
  Topics include:
  Bell ringers • Homework • Classroom jobs • Digital badges • Extra credit • Assigned seats • Lectures • Escape rooms

Teacher PD disguised as joy? Absolutely.

✔️ Holiday encouragement
✔️ Fresh EdTech mindset
✔️ A spark of joy + creativity
✔️ Leadership thinking without overwhelm
✔️ A laugh (or three)

Debbie Tannenbaum
Gabriel Carrillo
Kiki “Keke” Powell
John Meehan

If you enjoyed today’s episode:

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• 📚 Support our guests’ books on Bookshop.org

Wishing you peace, joy, and a season full of rest and inspiration!

⏱️ Episode Breakdown⭐ Debbie Tannenbaum (Meaningful EdTech & Reflection)⭐ Gabriel Carrillo (Food, Connection & AI Literacy)⭐ Gabriel Carrillo (PD That Actually Works)⭐ Kiki / Keke Powell (Joy, Costumes & Classroom Magic)⭐ Keke Powell (Purpose, Partnerships & Recognition)⭐ Keke Powell (Innovation & Pop-Up Learning Pods)⭐ John Meehan Game Segment — “Rush or Rethink It”🎧 Listen If You Need:🙌 Featuring❤️ Thanks for Listening!