It's AP season, and I'm hitting pause on new episodes for two weeks to record ahead, build content, and finally finish a writing program I started ten years ago. But before I go, I'm leaving you with something worth sitting with: sustainable teachers are better teachers, and giving yourself permission to step back is not a weakness. It's a strategy. If you're heading into spring running on fumes, this short episode is your permission slip.

Follow along with what I'm building over on Substack: https://substack.com/@leahcleary

Read my latest post about the writing program I'm finally finishing after a decade: https://open.substack.com/pub/leahcleary/p/im-finally-finishing-something-i?r=232lm2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Want to cut your essay grading time dramatically? Grab my free Custom GPT for Grading: https://leahcleary.com/gpt-for-grading-landing-page/

It's time for your mid-year Teacher Reality Check. Back in the summer and fall, I broke down three major education policy trends: cell phone bans, teacher evaluations, and the executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Since then? A lot has happened.

Cell phone bans jumped from 26 to 35 states. States like Illinois and Virginia are pulling back from tying teacher evaluations to test scores. And the Department of Education has lost half its staff, with programs being transferred to other federal agencies while congress fights to protect funding. In this episode, I revisit clips from those original episodes and give you the real-time update on what's changed, what hasn't, and what it all means for your classroom. No spin, no panic, just the information you need from someone who's living it right alongside you.

Traditional vocabulary instruction strategies don't work. And research proves it. When students define words and use them in sentences, they're doing "pedagogically useless" busy work that won't help them retain academic vocabulary. But there's a better way to teach vocabulary effectively.

In this episode, I'm sharing research-backed vocabulary instruction strategies using John Hattie's three-stage framework from Visible Learning: surface level, deep learning, and transfer. You'll learn exactly how to move students beyond copying definitions to actually understanding how words fit into the world.

Teaching vocabulary effectively includes:- Surface-level strategies: SEE-IT cards, Quiz-Quiz-Trade, Quizlet previews, and appositive sentences from The Writing Revolution- Deep learning techniques: Student-created graphic organizers, close reading with primary sources, subordinating conjunction sentences- Transfer activities: Socratic seminars applying historical concepts to modern contexts

Featured example: I use mercantilism as a through-line to show you exactly what surface-deep-transfer looks like in practice, from basic definition to analyzing modern trade policy.

The reality check: Sometimes surface-level mastery in three weeks is all we can do. And that's okay. This episode gives you permission to meet students where they are while working smarter, not harder.

Resources mentioned:

• Visible Learning by John Hattie
• Visible Learning for Social Studies by Hattie, Stern, Fisher & Frey
• The Writing Revolution by Hochman & Wexler
• Free Socratic seminar template (sign up for my Free Resource Library)
• Templates from Complete Unit Planning Course (check it out here)

Stop the busy work. Start with vocabulary instruction strategies that actually stick.

Struggling with Sunday teacher anxiety? In this episode, Leah gets vulnerable about waking up Sunday morning with that familiar dread, even after doing everything the wellness experts recommend. She shares what happened when she chose to read a book all day Sunday instead of grading, the guilt that followed, and why "adequate" teaching isn't the same as phoning it in. If you're managing multiple preps, feeling spread impossibly thin, and tired of feeling like adequate equals failure, this episode is for you.

Leah talks about teacher burnout prevention that goes beyond boundaries, why teacher perfectionism keeps us trapped, and what students actually need from their teachers (hint: not perfection). You'll walk away feeling less alone and with permission to give yourself the same compassion you'd give another teacher in your position. Because sometimes the problem isn't that we need better self-care. Sometimes the job just asks too much.

Resources mentioned: Custom GPT for Grading (cuts grading time in half): https://leahcleary.com/gpt-for-grading-landing-page/

Not every student is college-bound—and that's okay. In this episode of "If Teachers Ruled the World," veteran high school teacher Leah Cleary shares a powerful story about a brilliant AP student whose senior picture wasn't displayed because she chose military service over college. Discover why celebrating alternative paths after high school matters and explore viable career options including trade schools, military service, gap years, skilled trades careers, and direct workforce entry. Learn about earning potential in HVAC, welding, electrical work, and other non-college careers. If you're a teacher, parent, or student questioning whether college is the only path to success, this episode offers a fresh perspective on career pathways and student recognition. Leah advocates for celebrating ALL students—including special education students, those entering apprenticeships, and students choosing entrepreneurship or family businesses. Perfect for educators looking to support non-college bound students and families exploring alternatives to four-year universities.

Topics covered: alternative paths after high school, trade school benefits, military career opportunities, gap year advantages, skilled trades earning potential, celebrating diverse student success, career options without college degree, high school to workforce transition, student recognition practices

🎓 Subscribe to "If Teachers Ruled the World" for honest conversations about education, teaching, and what schools would look like if educators made the decisions.

AI policy in schools has teachers navigating federal chaos with zero training. In this episode, veteran AP teacher Leah Cleary breaks down the Biden vs Trump AI education executive orders, reveals why only 2 states require district AI policies, and translates what state guidance actually means for classroom teachers. She shares how she uses AI tools like her custom GPT for grading (https://leahcleary.com/gpt-for-grading-landing-page/) while addressing the reality that 70% of teachers have received no AI professional development. Learn what's coming in 2026, which states have mandatory requirements, and how to make professional decisions about AI when policy offers zero practical answers. Essential listening for teachers trying to navigate artificial intelligence in education without clear guidelines.

In this episode of If Teachers Ruled the World, host Leah Cleary tackles every teacher's nightmare: waking up sick and having to create substitute teacher plans at 5 AM. She shares a practical system for how to prepare for a substitute teacher that works for both random sick days and extended emergencies. Leah breaks down two approaches—quick last minute sub plans using templates, and a complete emergency sub plans system you set up once at the beginning of the year. Whether you need sub plans for teachers during flu season or for unexpected life events, this episode offers substitute lesson plans template strategies that prioritize your wellbeing while keeping students learning. Stop sacrificing your health to avoid sub prep, and start using a system that actually works.

What happens when life gets hard outside of school, but you still have to show up for 150+ students with zero time to breathe? In this episode, I'm getting real about the unique demands of teaching - the performative nature of our job, the myth of the "free period," and what it costs to be "on" all day with no breaks when you're also dealing with personal struggles.

If you've ever felt exhausted from flipping the switch between your real life and your teacher life, this one's for you. We're talking about teacher burnout, the reality of teacher work-life balance (or lack thereof), why teaching is so exhausting, and why our 20-minute lunch and "planning period" aren't what people think they are.

No perfect solutions here - just honest conversation about teacher mental health, the cost of compartmentalizing, and permission to acknowledge that this job hits different when life gets hard.