Teach Like a Pirate: Engagement, Creativity, and Courage with Dave Burgess

In this high-energy episode of The No Name Paper Podcast, Meghan Wells is joined by veteran educator Heather Sanders to interview the one and only Dave Burgess — author of Teach Like a Pirate, keynote speaker, and founder of Dave Burgess Consulting. Together, they dive into the power of engagement, teacher creativity, and the courage it takes to innovate in today’s classrooms.

Dave shares the origin story behind the Pirate movement, from walking conference halls dressed as a pirate to publishing a global bestseller from his kitchen table. The conversation explores how risk-taking, human-centered engagement strategies, and passion-driven teaching can transform classrooms and reignite educator purpose.

You’ll also hear an honest discussion about teacher burnout, observation pressures, and how administrators can build cultures that encourage innovation rather than compliance. Plus, the trio tackles the evolving role of AI in education—highlighting how it can amplify teacher creativity when used as a thoughtful brainstorming partner instead of a shortcut.

The episode wraps up with a fun “Would You Rather: Pirate Edition” game and a look ahead at Dave’s upcoming projects, new books, and speaking engagements.

If you’re an educator who wants to reconnect with the joy, creativity, and purpose behind your teaching, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical mindset shifts you can implement immediately.

• The origin story of Teach Like a Pirate and the engagement movement

• Why student engagement is the foundation of effective instruction

• Creativity, courage, and risk-taking in observed classrooms

• Supporting innovation through leadership and school culture

• Using AI as a brainstorming partner to enhance lesson design

• Personal development, growth mindset, and overcoming teacher self-doubt

• Publishing educator voices and writing your own professional “manifesto”

• Pirate-themed rapid-fire “Would You Rather” game with Dave Burgess

Dave Burgess – Author of Teach Like a Pirate, keynote speaker, and founder of Dave Burgess Consulting
Heather Sanders – Veteran educator and guest host focused on Visible Learning, adolescent brain research, and literacy-driven instruction

What does it actually take to make technology work for students—not just sound good in a strategic plan? In this episode of The No Name Paper Podcast, Meghan and Candace sit down with Sephali Thakkar, a National Board Certified educator and STEM leader with nearly three decades of experience supporting schools, districts, and connected learning communities.

Together, they unpack how digital equity goes far beyond devices, why mentorship should be reciprocal, and how educators can thoughtfully integrate AI without losing the human element of teaching. Sephali shares practical insights on coaching teachers through innovation, building collaborative networks across schools, and reframing failure as part of the learning process.

This conversation dives into the realities of implementation, the importance of intentional tech adoption, and how strong relationships and reflective practices shape both student success and teacher growth.

If you’ve ever wondered how to move from buzzwords to meaningful change in your school or district, this episode is for you.

• Moving from “equity” as a buzzword to real, actionable practices

• Why connectivity—not just devices—is the missing piece in digital equity

• The power of reciprocal mentorship between veteran and new teachers

• Teaching students metacognition, reflection, and ethical AI use

• Common mistakes districts make when adopting new edtech tools

• Why implementation and teacher support matter more than the tool itself

• How intentional collaboration and community partnerships expand learning opportunities

• Technology should remove barriers, not create new ones.

• Adult learning and student learning share more similarities than we think.

• Strong relationships and reflection cycles are essential for meaningful growth.

• Schools must align purpose, implementation, and capacity before adopting new tools.

• Equity means giving learners what they need—not giving everyone the same thing.

Sephali Thakkar is a National Board Certified educator and STEM advocate with over 26 years of experience in national and international education leadership. She works directly with schools and districts to support digital equity initiatives, connected communities, and one-to-one device implementation while championing high-quality instructional materials and inclusive innovation.

If this conversation resonated with you, reflect on your own journey as an educator and how you’re leveraging technology, equity, and innovation in your context.

Share your thoughts, reflections, or takeaways with us:
🎙️ speakpipe.org/NoNamePaper

And don’t forget to share this episode with an educator who’s navigating the evolving world of edtech and instructional leadership.

In This Episode, We Discuss:Key TakeawaysAbout Our GuestConnect with the Podcast

How do we help students face challenges with courage, clarity, and joy — instead of shutdown, avoidance, or “I’m cooked”?

In this episode of The No Name Paper Podcast, Meghan Wells is joined by co-host Candice to talk with Jay Jackson, a longtime educator in Fremont Unified School District, former Stanford wrestling coach, and author of Up to the Challenge. Jay blends sports psychology, classroom practice, and deep reflection to help students build what he calls performance character — the habits of mind and heart that allow people to take on challenges well.

Jay shares the powerful, life-altering experience that led him from advertising into teaching, and why he is passionate about helping young people expand their comfort zones rather than become victims of difficulty. He explains how wrestling, coaching, and psychology shaped his approach to teaching, and why he believes schools must be more intentional about teaching students how to take on challenges — not just giving them more of them.

Together, they explore:

• The difference between moral character and performance character

• Why ego, self-awareness, and integrity form the foundation of growth

• The pillars of passion and perseverance (purpose, emotion, positive thought, courage, commitment)

• What flow state really is — and how it connects to joy rather than distraction

• Why “pleasure flow” (doomscrolling, instant dopamine) is different from “joyful flow” (hard, meaningful work)

• How teachers can use simple diagrams and tools to spark deep reflection in just 10 minutes

• Why “tough and smart” beats “tough but not thoughtful” — and how to help students live in that quadrant

• How to reframe fear as excitement rather than anxiety

The episode also features a game of Pressure or Perspective, where Jay weighs in on real classroom scenarios — from burned-out teams to unmotivated classes, anxious high-achievers, and overwhelmed teachers.

Throughout the conversation, Jay returns to one central belief: students can be both successful and happy — but only if we teach them how to meet challenges with intention, reflection, and grit.

🎙️ Join the conversation:
Have thoughts, questions, or reflections after listening? Leave us a message at speakpipe.org/NoNamePaper — we’d love to hear from you.

📌 Connect with Jay:
Learn more about his work and access his tools at uptothechallengejayjackson.com. His book, Up to the Challenge, is available through Solution Tree and Amazon.

Link to Jay's Diagrams and resources: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Di_-YmmajgraqBMQNUceExJETCVIKqa3/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109446659318321466077&rtpof=true&sd=true