Super Teachers Unite

Teachers think that by doing an honours, Master's or even PhD in education that they will open more doors and increase their chances of being promoted. This simply isn't the case. In today's episode I share my thoughts on whether I think teachers should study further.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Not all teachers are as efficient and effective as other's. It is our mission to discover what are the traits and habits that make good teachers great and during our recent episodes we have asked our guests to describe the traits and habits of the teacher that made the most impact on their lives.During this episode we compiled the answers of our guests in one, easy to listen to, compilation episode.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Finding a job as a teacher is becoming increasingly difficult and we've found that employers are looking for more than just the basic job competency when they hire candidates. In all our recent episodes we asked our guests what it is that they deem to be the traits that make certain candidates stand out from the rest.In this episode we compiled the answers of our guests to this question in one, easy to listen to, compilation episode.Be sure to go to www.goteach.co.za to find more helpful job hunting tips. Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

What does professional big wave surfing and teaching have in common? Turns out there are lessons to be learnt from chasing the storms out on the ocean. Matt Bromley is a professional Big Wave Surfer who chases storms for a living, surfing some of the largest big waves on the planet. Matt is an eight etmes cover boy of various local and international surf magazines, South African Surfing Captain and enthusiastic story teller. His passion is to empower people and their businesses to ride their big waves.During this episode we explore the lessons from surfing the biggest waves on the ocean and how teachers can implement these lessons in their lives and in their teaching.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

You can go work in any industry of your choosing. That’s the message that Kim Craig shared with us during this episode.The legal industry has the same challenges that education has. Both can be extremely conservative and reluctant to change. Many traditional approaches are now obsolete and we need to rethink our processes. Teachers already possess so much of the skills needed in the workforce. Why not broaden your horizons.Kim Craig is the co-founder of Bold Duck Studios and she has great success in assisting law firms with adapting to change.  Kim has been driving change for the past 20 years on how lawyers and business professionals deliver legal services to their clients.  She broke down barriers and the stigma of “nonlawyers” playing a critical role in the efficient and effective delivery of legal services. She took an entrepreneurial leap three years ago to co-found the first business design agency in the legal arena where Kim and her partner combine their expertise and discipline in business design, process optimization, and change management to build new businesses and service models for their clients.In this episode she shares:Why she employs teachers in her firm.How principals and teachers can adapt their processes.Why curiosity is such an important trait for teachers to have.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Learning requires some discomfort and little progress is made when we are in our comfort zone. One entrepreneur that isn’t afraid of discomfort is Kirsty Bisset.Kirsty Bisset is a serial entrepreneur with 8 businesses under her belt - 1 of which she still owns, 3 of which have been successfully sold or merged, 1 which has failed, and 3 in which she holds shares. Kirsty shares with us how schools can move out of their comfort zones to improve their brand and shares how digital technologies can be used to improve the learning experience.She has recognition from the likes of Fast Company, Destiny Magazine and Fairlady magazine. Kirsty thrives to build brands and businesses in the fintech, FMCG and retail space through holistic digital strategies and rollouts. She is currently the MD of the Durban arm of HaveYouHeard - a strategic communications agency servicing clients globally.When not doing that, she’s a prolific writer, a snowboarder, and advocate for gender equality.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

50% of parents aren’t in good standing with their school fee accounts. This has a severe impact on a school’s cash flow and its ability to operate optimally. So how do we get parents to pay their school fees?Michelle Dickens is the Chief Executive Officer of TPN Credit Bureau and she shares the trends in school fee payment as well as strategies of getting parents to pay their fees, in full and on time.We further discuss whether teachers should be buying or renting property and how schools need to take note of the POPI act and the implications of the act for schools.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

We often excuse minor transgressions and compromise on certain aspects of our classroom management. Captain Allan Edmunds is on a mission to conquer compromise.In this episode I speak to Allan Edmunds who is an international Boeing 777 captain and former air traffic controller about the parallels in piloting a plane and running a school.We speak about getting colleagues to collaborate, leaders to listen to those they lead and why not compromising on your values are so essential.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Workplace conflict can rapidly destroy a school’s positive culture and lead to a workplace environment that few people can thrive in. Nobody wants to dread going to work but this is sadly the case for many teachers and learners.In this episode I speak to Helene Smuts who is a high performance team facilitator and founder of the people development consultancy, Credo Growth. She has more than 15 years’ experience developing people and high-performance teams ranging from start-ups to blue-chip companies and today she shares how schools and teachers can create a workplace that is conducive to learning.We discuss creating classroom spaces where failing is a safe and meaningful endeavour and we learn how to deal with workplace conflict.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

We often focus too much on our weaknesses instead of our strengths. We see the weaknesses of others quicker than we see their strengths and this often true in the classroom as well.Brittany McCormick suffers from cerebral palsy but believes that we should see the ability and not the disability.In this episode she shares what teachers can do to create a more inclusive classroom and value the abilities of all the learners in their classroom.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Teachers are massive influencers in the decision making process. Many learners consult their teachers before making career choices or subject choices. In this week’s episode I chat to Mitch Bowker, an expert on decision making.Mitch Bowker worked for Samsung and Nokia and is now building businesses across Africa and the Middle East. He is the COO of Iconic Collective. During this episode Mitch helps identify a framework we can use that will help us make better decisions.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Every teacher should have a way of supplementing their income.Nic is an accomplished startup entrepreneur, global keynote speaker and bestselling author. He has sold three businesses in the past decade and has a lifetime of startup lessons learned through failure and success over an intense and exciting twenty-year career as an entrepreneur. His work focuses on helping people build incredible lives and businesses.In this episode we discuss how every teacher can start their own side hustle.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Jeff Large is a podcast producer and strategist. He leads his team at Come Alive Creative in producing results driven podcasts for marketing professionals. During this episode we talk about:Jeff’s favourite teacher and his own favourite moments from his teaching career;Creating value driven schools and companies; Why we think every school should have their own podcast.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Jacqueline and Gershom Aitchison are the owners of Education Incorporated Boutique school where their select educators provide attentive and personalised teaching to very small groups of children with potential.During this episode we talk about:How their school breaks away from the restrictive legacy thinking of traditional schooling.Why smaller schools are better than mega schools;What traits teachers should have that make them Super Teachers.

Now that lockdown has moved to Level 1 we find ourselves in teaching limbo. Some learners have returned to class while others still attend classes online.Matthew Hains and I discuss how he uses apps and software to teach face-to-face and online. Matthew is an expert Computer Applications Technology teacher who has assisted many teachers with tips and tricks for including tech in their lessons through his videos on social media.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Innovation is a buzzword that has lost its meaning. What does it really mean to be an innovative school? In today’s episode I interview Robert Faltermeier.Robert is the director of innovation at Jeppe High School for Boys in Johannesburg, where he oversees the Ed-Tech needs of his school, however, his main role is to prepare the school, students and educators for the 21st century through innovativepedagogy and professional development strategies, while balancing the holistic educational philosophy of his school. He recently oversaw the school's transition to online learning during the recent Covid-19 lockdown that not only affected his school but many schools around the globe.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Bullying is a scourge that can have devastating effects. In this episode I interview Jo Black, well-known singer, public speaker and Everyday Hero! We chat about what teachers and schools can do about bullying.Jo and his family started the BTG: Everyday Hero initiative to uplift communities and fight against the effects of social ills such as bullying. Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

We are all forced to spend much more time in front of a screen connected to the internet and for some this could lead to online addictions. The boundaries between work and play isn’t clear anymore and many children struggle to remain on task when distractions are just a click away.I was asked to speak on a panel about online addiction and how the move to remote teaching could contribute to our screen time and the effects of spending more time connected to the internet.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Many teachers and learners want to know how to start their own business. Whether it’s just a side hustle or the next tech start up, everyone has to start somewhere.I was invited to be part of a webinar for the ATKV where Albert van Wyk and I discussed the basics of starting your own business.Enter the ATKV Entrepreneurship competition here: https://atkv.org.za/neem-deel/jeugprojekte/entrepreneurs/

I’ve recently been invited to talk at the Education Conversations event hosted by the Kagiso Trust, Bridge Foundation and the University of Johannesburg. The aim of the event was to discuss the new challenges that online teaching adds to education and then share ideas on how we can adapt to the new education environment.I’m only sharing the parts of the event where I was involved. Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

Schools are underfunded and struggling to pay teacher salaries. They also need funds to support online teaching. The extra financial pressure as well as the lockdown constraints are forcing schools to direct their fundraising initiative toward simpler but more efficient projects. During this interview I talk to Albert van Wyk, who was a millionaire at the age of 22 and who is a successful entrepreneur, about the mindset schools need to adopt to raise extra funds. We also share some examples of possible fundraising ideas that schools can use in 2020.Join other Super Teachers online:Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

We need to change the way we communicate science. Teaching STEM subjects during lockdown is difficult especially in the foundation phase. In this episode I am interviewed by Dr Yanasivan Kisten on the Geekoscopy 101 show.Join other Super Teachers online: Facebook - @SuperTeachersUnite Instagram - @super_teacher_fTwitter - @Super_Teacher_FWebsite - www.phoenixed.co.za

‘40 days’ is a tradition that many Grade 12 learners look forward to, but many teachers dread this day. I was kidnapped as a prank but it quickly escalated. During this interview I share this story with Tim Cavey and the ‘Teachers On Fire’ audience.

Coding and Robotics is a new and challenging field in education. Mauritz Kotze and his team have been assisting schools with coding and robotics but had to move their entire operation online during lockdown. During this interview we will find out how to teach coding and robotics remotely.

What happens when there is a murderer in your classroom? Teachers often boast when they have taught a prominent public figure. It’s great when one of your learners becomes a celebrity, a doctor, a sport star, an astronaut, or the president. Yet, we forget that the opposite is also true. In our classrooms we have the future criminals, fraudsters, abusers, and rapists. However, what is true is that teachers can make a major impact on the lives of the children we teach. In this interview, I talk to Ivor Swartz, a convicted criminal who has served his sentence and who now dedicates his life to help the youth. He made this major change thanks to a teacher that believed in him. He writes about this transformation in his new book: “Verlore Seun Van Die Gaatjie.”

Some teachers strive to become school principals or at least want to take some leadership responsibilities in their school. The challenge is that there are few exceptional leaders that we can model. Creating a community of like-minded teachers that can learn from each other and share each other’s challenges gives you the opportunity to grow your leadership capacity.In this episode I interview Daniel Bauer, who is the chief ruckus maker at Better Leaders, Better Schools. He assists out-of-the-box school leaders make change happen in education. He does this through his category-defining podcasts, book, and leadership community, “The Mastermind.”

Knowing what to wear to school and building a practical, professional and affordable wardrobe is a difficult task. In this episode I interview Elissa Kaplan who is a fashion designer and teacher who started her own clothing store specifically for teachers. I asked her to share some tips on how to build your teacher’s wardrobe that makes you feel like the super teacher you are whilst also not breaking the bank.

It is unlikely that extra-mural activities at schools will continue this year as most schools will be focussing on completing academic work. eSports is a great alternative to in-person events as it automatically adheres to social distancing conventions and allows learners to still engage socially on platforms that they are already comfortable with. During this episode I talk to a board member of the International Esports Federation (IESF), and general secretary of Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), Colin Webster about how you can start an eSports club at your school

A teacher changed his life and Darren August wrote a best-selling book about it. During this interview Darren shared his tips on how you can also write your own book, share your legacy and also earn some money from the book sales.

Dr Naude was invited to appear on the ‘Gift Of The Gab’ show hosted by Murray Walton. Francois and Dr Jannie Pretorius discuss the current education environment and touch on topics such as remote teaching during the lockdown; the role of teachers post COVID; the training of student teachers; and the pressures that teachers are under. This episode is proudly sponsored by: www.PhoenixEd.co.za

Dr Naude was asked by a national radio program to comment on the minister of basic education’s address on 1 June 2020. It is clear that the DBE isn’t competent in dealing with the logistics of opening schools on their self-imposed due date. Schools seem ready to open but the question remains whether quality education will be given to all.

Dr Naude was invited as guest on Radio Islam International to discuss whether online schooling is a viable option to address the challenges we face due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Tim Cavey is an 8th Grade teacher in BC, Canada and the host of the ‘Teachers on Fire’ podcast. During this interview we discuss the positive impact that the Coronavirus pandemic will have on education. Proudly brought to you by: Phoenix Education Engineers (phoenixed.co.za)

On Wednesday 13 May I invited my community of teachers on WhatsApp to join me for a hangout session where we discuss the latest issues in education. Join our community on WhatsApp by sending your name to: +27 63 681 6410

Shari Joseph is the founder of The Eduvation Network and co-founder of WIL Tracker. During this episode we discuss what teacher professional development and student teacher training looks like in 2020.

Ashley Lawrence is the regional sales senior manager for SonicWall. He shares with us the necessities of protecting your learners, staff, and data from cyber-attacks. He assists us in understanding the dangers that a school network could face and shares some ideas on how we can protect our networks.

Wesley Lynch is the CEO of Snapplify. He shared with us the importance of using online and digital resources when we teach. He also shares his journey to becoming the CEO of this prolific company.

Francois was invited as a guest on the 'Classroom Success 101' podcast hosted by Josh Ruse. Francois shares his thoughts on how social media can be leveraged to bring relevant topics into the classroom.

Dr. Darren Green, a medical doctor, professional speaker, media personality, recording artist and neuro-wellness consultant shared with us the necessity of mental health and how to improve the quality of our life. Teacher wellness is often an overlooked part of our profession, yet we need to look after ourselves before we can assist others.

Teaching pre-COVID-19 feels like ages ago, yet we’ll need to build on our experience if we are to teach successfully in a post-Corona world. Dr. Reetta Niemi is a teacher and researcher in Finland. In this episode, we discuss the differences between teaching in Finland and teaching in South Africa.

Directly after the president announced the nationwide school closure a week before announcing the national lockdown, I was invited as a guest on Radio Islam Internation to talk about how we can remain positive and continue learning whilst being under lockdown.

Heinrich Gabler isn’t just a teacher. He is the epitome of what a Super Teacher is. From orphan to teacher to Mr. South Africa. He shares his journey to becoming Mr. South Africa and how being a teacher prepared him for all the challenges he faced.His passion for teaching is inspiring and shows that every teacher can play a pivotal role in the lives of children.

Joel Kaplan is the founder of Thought Africa, a company that encourages 21st Century Thinking Skills, through fun interactive environments and activities. They provide modern 21st Century Spaces to explore the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Sustainable Living Practices. In this episode, we talk about maker-spaces and approaching teaching in innovative ways.

Jean Vermeulen is an entrepreneur and teacher. In this episode, he shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities that teachers face when trying to earn extra money whilst teaching full time.

Herman Matthee is a curriculum manager for the Curro group of schools. In this episode, he shares some tips on how to create a stimulating classroom environment for all learners. He also explains what Project-Based Learning (PBL) is and gives us some examples of how we can use PBL to integrate content from different subject areas and increase engagement.

Teachers often wonder what is it that principals look for when they recruit teachers. In this interview, Cedric Poleman, principal of Wynberg boys' junior school, shares his list of character traits that teachers should have.

Desiree van der Merwe started a teacher appreciation week at her school and shares with us how so went about obtaining sponsors for the initiative. She shares her ideas on how schools and the greater community can contribute to teacher appreciation initiatives.

Florance Vermeulen is a Super Teacher that uses dance to engage, inspire and motivate the children he teaches. A video of him dancing with his class during a creative arts lesson went viral on Facebook and I had the opportunity to sit down with him and get to know what drives his passion for teaching.

We interview Peter Morgan, who is the founder of SchoolAdvisor. He shares valuable tips on how teachers and principals can work with suppliers to procure products and services to best serve your school.

During this episode Lindsay shares her thoughts on how teachers should relabel themselves. We often use derogatory language to refer to ourselves and this limits us. We aren’t JUST teachers, we are so much more. Guest: Lindsay Wesner