The Art of Teaching

Schools are full of worthwhile ideas. The hard part is deciding which ones deserve our time and attention, and what we need to let go of to do them well.

My guest today is Michael Rosenbrock. Michael has spent more than 15 years working in and with schools as a teacher, leader and education consultant. His work focuses on helping schools put good ideas into practice. He’s also the author of The Pruning Principle, a book about strategic subtraction in education.

In this conversation, we explore what it takes to make change stick, how leaders decide what to stop doing, and how schools make space for the work that matters most.

What helps students feel that their learning matters? And what happens when an educator steps away from work to ask the same question of her own life?

In this episode, I speak with Loni Bergqvist, an educator and school development consultant who has supported more than 50 schools to rethink how young people experience learning. We explore what high-quality project-based learning looks like, how teachers build the conditions for student agency and belonging, and why lasting change depends on working together.

Loni also shares the story behind The Sabbatical Diaries. We talk about stepping back, reconsidering the place of work in our lives and making room for the parts of ourselves we’ve put aside.

It’s a conversation about meaningful learning, thoughtful change and finding your way back to yourself.

What if one of the most important things we give young people at school is the opportunity to struggle?

My guest today, Nicole Dyson, believes classrooms should help young people build the confidence and agility to navigate uncertainty, challenge and change.

This is the second time Nicole and I have spoken on The Art of Teaching, and I’m thrilled to welcome her back.

Nicole is a multi-award-winning educator, entrepreneur and founder of Future Anything. Across two decades in education, she has worked with more than 130,000 students and teachers, helping schools design learning that builds agency, adaptability and confidence.

Her recent TEDx talk explores why the classroom might be one of the safest places for students to struggle, stretch and learn how to respond when the answer is not obvious.

Alan Rogers is Director of Education for a multi-academy trust serving nine schools across the West Midlands and the founder of Kilter Leadership.
Having worked as a teacher, headteacher, executive headteacher and trust leader, Alan has extensive experience of leading school improvement, developing people and creating the conditions in which teams can perform successfully.
 
Through Kilter Leadership, Alan explores how leadership can be made teachable at every level. His work brings together people, performance and wellbeing, helping leaders balance high expectations with strong relationships, clear systems and a healthy organisational culture.
Alan is particularly interested in responsibility, leadership behaviour and the daily deliberate actions that shape how people experience an organisation. His approach is grounded in a simple belief: high performance and positive culture are not competing priorities- effective leadership enables us to make them both sustainable.
 
You can follow Alan on Instagram at @kilterlead. Readers in the UK can find his book, Kilter Leadership: A Balanced and Skilled Approach to Make Leadership Teachable at Every Level, at kilterleadership.com. Readers elsewhere in the world can order it through Amazon.
 
You can also listen to his conversations about leadership on the Spotify podcast Creating Leadership Futures Together. His guests and conversations span a wide range of high-performance environments, from elite Olympic cycling to Michelin-starred kitchens.

Today, I’m joined by Janine Stratford, recipient of the 2024 Most Influential Educator Award.

Janine’s work brings together evidence-informed practice, personalised coaching and a deep understanding of professional growth. Through her thoughtful approach, she has supported educators and leaders to strengthen their capabilities, navigate career development and achieve meaningful goals.

Janine is committed to creating inclusive learning environments where people feel supported, challenged and equipped to grow. Her influence reaches beyond individual coaching. She continues to develop leadership capacity, strengthen professional communities and contribute to better outcomes for educators and students.

It is a pleasure to welcome Janine Stratford to The Art of Teaching podcast