Episode 42 — Culture First Classrooms with Dr. Darrin Peppard

Happy New Year and welcome back to No Name Paper! To kick off the year, Meghan and Candice revisit and re-release one of the most powerful conversations from early in the podcast—an inspiring, wisdom-packed interview with Dr. Darrin Peppard, leadership expert, bestselling author, consultant, and host of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast.

Dr. Peppard dives deep into what it truly means to build culture-first classrooms and schools—places where students and staff feel seen, valued, trusted, and empowered to thrive. From practical shifts teachers can make tomorrow, to transformational leadership lessons learned the hard way, this episode is rich with reflection, hope, and actionable strategies.

• Why classroom management isn’t about control—it’s about intentional culture-building

• How relationships, visibility, and curiosity change school communities

• Culture over compliance: moving beyond punishment to support and growth

• Serving multilingual and marginalized students with belonging and dignity

• Leadership truths: how administrators support culture instead of stifling it

• The real impact of culture on attendance, achievement, and discipline data

• How teachers build legacy through micro-moments students remember forever

• Encouragement for teachers who feel alone in the work of positive culture

• “We’re in the people business.”

• “Put culture first—and everything else follows.”

• “Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

• “Titles don’t make leaders. Actions do.”

• “Belonging drives achievement.”

✔️ Teachers focusing on classroom climate
✔️ School leaders navigating change
✔️ Educators feeling burned out or isolated
✔️ Anyone who believes culture shapes everything

A few rapid-fire highlights? Relationships matter most. Self-reflection changes practice. Leadership isn’t firefighting—it’s intentionally guiding people and culture.

Author of:

• Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader

• Culture First Classrooms

Host of:

• Leaning Into Leadership podcast

Culture isn’t accidental. It is built—moment by moment, choice by choice, relationship by relationship. This episode is your reminder that your presence, your intention, and your heart matter.

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:

• ⭐ Subscribe

• 💬 Leave a review

• 📣 Share with a teacher friend

• 📚 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!

No Name Paper — Relax & Rejuvenate: A Midyear Reset for Educators

Episode Type: Curated Clips + Solo Reflection
Host: Meghan Wells
Length: ~25 minutes

This episode of No Name Paper is a pause button.

As the school year winds down and life speeds up, Meghan brings together some of the most meaningful moments from our most-listened-to episodes — featuring Elizabeth Lainez, Todd Nesloney, Dr. Darren Pepperd, and a bonus game with Cheryl Graff — to offer one clear message:

👉 Hang in there. Recover. You’re doing better than you think.

This is not a strategy episode.
It’s not a productivity push.
It’s a reminder that educators are people first — and rest is not something you have to earn.

A powerful reminder that culture isn’t a program — it’s the small, human choices educators make every day, especially when things are hard. Darren shares how prioritizing culture transformed attendance, behavior, and outcomes on his campus.

When you’re intentional about culture, it really does float all boats.

Our most-listened-to guest reframes game-based learning as low-stakes, low-lift strategies that make classrooms more livable — from cleanup challenges to classroom community building.

You don’t have to start big. Small, everyday things make a huge difference.

This is the moment where teachers stop scrolling and think:
“Okay… this is worth my energy.”

Todd speaks candidly about burnout, guilt, therapy, and why educators must stop martyring themselves for the job.

You cannot take care of your students if you are not taking care of you.

A grounding reminder that rest, boundaries, and personal days are not selfish — they’re essential.

Because it wouldn’t be No Name Paper without a little joy. Cheryl Graff shares stories from an international student exchange and plays a rapid-fire culture swap game — a reminder that laughter and connection still matter.

After this episode, No Name Paper will be taking a two-week break — not because we’re done, but because we believe in modeling recovery.

During the break, you’ll hear:

• A combined episode of tech-focused tips and ideas

• A re-edited version of our Dr. Darren Pepperd interview, revisited with fresh perspective

We’ll be back in the new year with intention, balance, and episodes ready to support you through the rest of the school year .

We’re starting the year focused on:

• Social-Emotional Learning

• Burnout prevention

• Sustainability for educators

Not because it’s trendy.
Not because it’s required.
But because it feels right.

Before systems, strategies, and outcomes — people need to feel okay again.

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👉 speakpipe.com/nonamepaper
(Short, real, unpolished — we’ll take it from there.)

📚 Browse our Bookshop:
👉 bookshop.org/store/nonamepaper
A curated collection of books by authors featured on the show — focused on culture, leadership, and staying human in education.

If this episode helped you feel less alone, a meaningful way to support No Name Paper is to:

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Your feedback helps us:

• Shape future episodes

• Invite aligned guests

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No donations. No pressure. Just connection.

✨ Episode Description🧠 What You’ll Hear in This Episode🟡 Culture Before Compliance — Dr. Darren Pepperd (3:39–6:26)🟡 Small Wins That Restore Energy — Elizabeth Lainez (7:56–11:23)🟡 Burnout, Boundaries & Being Human — Todd Nesloney (12:27–16:07)🟡 A Little Fun to End — Culture Swap Game with Cheryl Graf (17:12–21:17)🛑 Important Podcast Update🌱 Looking Ahead: What’s Coming in the New Year💬 Stay Connected🎁 A Simple Way to Support the Podcast

This week on the No Name Paper Podcast, we sit down with George Couros — speaker, consultant, former principal, and author of The Innovator’s Mindset, Innovate Inside the Box, and his upcoming book Forward Together. George is one of the most influential voices in education today, known for his blend of practical innovation, storytelling, humor, and deep belief in what schools can become when we center people, relationships, and possibility.

In this episode, George gets real about change, leadership, student-centered learning, teacher well-being, technology, and the joy of creating new opportunities. He shares personal stories from his time as an educator, insights from his writing, and why sometimes the biggest innovations start with simply rethinking how we show up each day.

We also play a rapid-fire game called “Innovate It!”, where George reimagines classic classroom routines in creative and thoughtful ways. Spoiler: You're going to want to steal at least five of these ideas.

This is a funny, heartfelt, energizing episode filled with wisdom every educator will appreciate.

• George’s unexpected path into education (yes, Billy Madison is involved)

• How innovation is really about people — not tools

• Why it’s essential for educators to rethink their own habits and environments

• Creating student-led, community-centered schools

• The difference a strong leader can make in a teacher’s life

• Why teachers should not stay in places that make them miserable

• The importance of guiding students in digital literacy, social media, and AI

• How portfolios and public-facing work help students grow

• What inspired George’s new book Forward Together

• Using humor and storytelling to talk about heavy topics

• His best advice for teachers navigating change

• A rapid-fire round of “Innovate It!” rethinking:

  • Parent-teacher conferences

  • Seating charts

  • Substitute plans

  • School assemblies

  • Book reports

  • Classroom job charts
    …and more!

George Couros is a leading educator, speaker, and author who challenges schools to foster meaningful innovation rooted in relationships. His work centers on empowering students, honoring teacher expertise, and helping communities navigate change with curiosity and courage. You can learn more about George’s work and writing at:

👉 https://georgecouros.com

Follow the No Name Paper Podcast for more conversations with inspiring educators, leaders, and creators shaping the future of teaching and learning.

🧠 What We Talk About📚 About Our Guest — George Couros🔗 Connect With Us

Welcome back to The No Name Paper! In this episode, Meghan and Candice sit down with Tisha Richmond, a high school culinary arts teacher, former tech integration specialist, and author who specializes in infusing joy and creativity into the classroom.

Tisha shares her journey from feeling teacher burnout to rediscovering her spark through technology and gamification. She discusses her brand new book, The Magical CTE Classroom, which focuses on strategies specifically designed for lab-based and Career and Technical Education environments. We also dive into her heartwarming collaboration with her son on their children's book, Dragon Smart.

Whether you teach Culinary Arts, Science, or any subject where students need to collaborate and create, this episode is packed with "ingredients" to spice up your instruction!

In this episode, we discuss:

• 
  

  Overcoming Burnout: How taking risks and being vulnerable with students helped Tisha fall in love with teaching again.

  
  

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  Gamifying the Lab: Using inspiration from reality TV shows like The Great Food Truck Race, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Crime Scene Kitchen to create engaging student challenges.

  
  

• 
  

  AI as a Creative Partner: How Tisha uses tools like Canva, Brisk, and Magic School to save time and generate creative clues for escape rooms and games.

  
  

• 
  

  The Magical CTE Classroom: Why CTE and lab-based classes needed a book of their own to address their unique learning environments.

  
  

• 
  

  Dragon Smart: The story behind the children’s book Tisha wrote with her son, Tommy, to celebrate the hidden brilliance in students who might not fit the traditional school mold.

  
  

• 
  

  Rapid Fire Strategies: Using "Plinko" boards for ingredient selection, "Mystery Badges" for classroom management, and letting students choose the classroom playlist.

  
  

Resources Mentioned:

• 
  

  Book: The Magical CTE Classroom by Tisha Richmond

  
  

• 
  

  Book: Make Learning Magical by Tisha Richmond

  
  

• 
  

  Book: Dragon Smart by Tisha Richmond and Tommy Richmond

  
  

• 
  

  EdTech Tools: Canva, Brisk, Magic School AI

  
  

Connect with Tisha:

• 
  

  Instagram: @tishrichmond

  
  

• 
  

  X (Twitter): @tishrich

  
  

Connect with Us:

• 
  

  Podcast: The No Name Paper

  
  

• 
  

  Hosts: Meghan Wells & Candice Miller

This week, we’re serving up a post-Thanksgiving slice of joy: a dynamic, big-energy conversation with Melissa Summerford — Teaching & Learning Coordinator with Kami, Google Innovator, Google Trainer, fashion icon, wig influencer, and proud Gen X educator who brings eighties mixtape magic into every room she enters. Get ready for humor, heart, real talk about classroom life, and a whole lot of sparkle.

In this lively and laughter-filled episode, Meghan and Candace sit down with Melissa to talk:

• Her incredible journey from paraprofessional → classroom teacher → instructional technologist → PD powerhouse

• How Gen X grit and fashionista confidence fuel her teaching and coaching

• The moment Book Creator + Kami became the “leather jacket” of her edtech toolkit

• Why flexible seating, student ownership, and letting go of control transformed her classroom

• How to build PD that actually feels human, joyful, and responsive

• Why quiet classrooms belong in the past

• The real mic-drop moment she uses to win over “we don’t do tech” teachers

• Why teachers should stop stressing about time — and how digital workflows can save sanity

• Navigating guilt when using tech a lot (and why we shouldn’t feel that way)

• How she blends edtech, fashion, wigs, and confidence into her personal brand

• What’s next for Melissa as she grows community, supports educators, and inspires confidence everywhere she goes

And of course…
🔥 The game: EdTech Tool or 80s Band?
She nails it, laughs through it, and brings full mixtape energy.

• “Go Your Own Way” isn’t just a song — it’s a classroom philosophy.
  Melissa explains how giving students choice, flexible seating, and ownership changed behavior, engagement, and joy.

• PD should feel human.
  Your agenda matters… but the people in the room matter more.

• Tech shouldn’t be punishment — it should be empowerment.
  Using tools like Kami, Canvas, and Book Creator helps teachers save time and kids show deeper thinking.

• Teachers: let go of the guilt.
  Blending digital + hands-on practice is healthy and powerful.

• Everyone has more to them than their job title.
  Melissa shares her alopecia journey, love of wigs, fashion passion, and why showing your whole self is a gift to others.

⭐ Episode Summary💡 Key Takeaways📲 Connect with Melissa Summerford

• X (Twitter): @SummerfordStars

• TikTok: @SummerfordStars

• Instagram: @SummerfordStars

• Facebook: Melissa Gomez Somerford

If you want to learn more about Kami, edtech workflows, or how to save time as a teacher, Melissa is your girl.

In this inspiring episode, Meghan and Candice sit down with the dynamic Vernon Wright — former teacher, campus administrator, central office leader, mentor, speaker, and founder of The Wright Leader Movement. Vernon brings his trademark blend of authenticity, wisdom, and high-energy storytelling as he unpacks what it means to lead with intention and elevate the people around you.

From his unexpected pivot from the financial world into education to becoming a mentor to collegiate athletes, Vernon shares how purpose, consistency, and connection guide everything he does. He opens up about the leaders who shaped him, pivotal “watershed moments,” and why real leadership is always rooted in pouring into others.

This episode delivers powerful insight, heartfelt encouragement, and unforgettable lines that will stay with you long after the conversation ends.

• Vernon's journey from finance → education → leadership mentoring

• The moment he realized others saw leadership in him before he saw it in himself

• Why “pivoting” is not quitting — it’s reinvention

• The priceless power of consistency over talent

• How leadership shows up in the smallest interactions

• Why great leaders always pour into others

• Moving from transactional to transformational leadership

• Working with at-risk youth and believing in students’ future selves

• The “Keep Farming” metaphor every educator needs to hear

• Why gratitude is the biggest flex

• Coaching leaders vs. inspiring students — which has the deepest long-term impact?

• Legacy: how it’s built and how you live it daily
  

• “Leadership is inspiring people to do great things.”

• “The most effective leaders are always training other leaders.”

• “Keep farming. Even when you think nothing’s growing.”

• “People don’t buy in because of data — they buy in because you believe in them.”

• “Your success is my success.”
  

Vernon jumps into our speed game — and it does not disappoint!
Hear his rapid-fire takes on:

• Early mornings vs. late nights

• Speaking on stage or writing in solitude

• Leading with head or heart

• Growth mindset or gratitude

• Coaching leaders or inspiring students
  And yes… his cowboy hat even makes a cameo.
  

You can find Vernon across social platforms at @TheWrightLeader — where he continues his mission to uplift, mentor, and inspire leaders at all levels.

Website: TheWrightLeader.com
Instagram: @TheWrightLeader
LinkedIn: Vernon Wright

If you found value in today’s episode, share it with a friend, colleague, or the leader in your life who needs a spark of inspiration. And don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations that elevate, empower, and energize educators everywhere.

🔥 What We Talk About💡 Notable Quotes🎮 Lightning Round: The Right Choice🌐 Connect with Vernon Wright🙌 Thanks for Listening!