Be A Funky Teacher Podcast
Real conversations for educators who care deeply about the work.
Classroom stories, practical ideas, teacher well-being, leadership, student voice, and honest reflection from Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve.
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31 episodes
Aug 10, 2026
Student Behavior Has Changed
In this episode, I begin week two of the series by talking honestly about something many veteran educators have noticed: student behavior has changed. I’m not saying kids…
Jul 13, 2026
Summer Check-In 2: Celebrating Milestones and Making Memories
In this episode, I reflect on how quickly life moves and why milestones give us an important opportunity to pause. This summer, Kristine and I celebrated our 20th…
Jul 3, 2026
What’s Next for Be a Funky Teacher?
In this episode, I pause to reflect on how far Be a Funky Teacher has come and where this journey is headed next. What began a little over…
Mar 31, 2026
A Funky Teacher Milestone: Episode 200 — This Was Never Just a Podcast
This milestone Episode 200 reflects on a journey that was never just about recording podcast episodes. It reveals the intentional work behind the last 10–11 weeks and how…
Mar 27, 2026
A Letter to a Funky Teacher
In this episode, I step away from strategies and frameworks to share something more personal—a letter to teachers. After weeks of reflection, this moment is about speaking directly…
Mar 26, 2026
What Becoming Funky Actually Means
In this episode, I take a step back to unpack what the phrase “funky teacher” actually means. After weeks of exploring identity, relationships, and purpose, this idea has…
Mar 17, 2026
Staying Funky When Things Get Hard
In this episode, I focus on what it truly means to stay a “funky teacher” when teaching gets difficult. It is easy to show up with energy and…
Mar 16, 2026
Becoming a Funky Teacher Is a Journey
In this episode, I explore what it really means to become a “funky teacher.” It is not about being flashy or having a certain personality. Instead, it is…
Feb 18, 2026
Compliance Is Not Engagement
In this episode, I unpack something that many educators feel but don’t always say out loud: a quiet classroom is not automatically an engaged classroom. Students who are…
Feb 5, 2026
Holding High Expectations with Grace
High expectations and grace are often treated like opposites, but they are meant to work together. In this episode, I unpack the tension teachers feel between holding the…
Jan 15, 2026
Permission to Be Yourself in the Classroom
I talk about how most teachers do not stop being themselves all at once, but slowly edit who they are in order to survive, comply, or avoid standing…
Jan 12, 2026
What It Means to Be a Funky Teacher
This episode reflects on what it truly means to be a funky teacher beyond personality, performance, or style. Being funky is about how we show up on heavy…