The 10 AM Revolution

What if one simple policy change could transform education overnight? In this solo episode, veteran teacher Leah Cleary crowns herself Education Secretary of her dream administration and takes on one of the most exhausting realities in education: early school start times.

Picture it — 7:45 AM, first period. Your students look like extras from a zombie movie, surviving on energy drinks and pure willpower. Sound familiar?

In “The 10 AM Revolution,” Leah shares all too real classroom moments (like her infamous alien pyramid test), eye-opening student contrasts between morning and afternoon, and the science behind it all — including why teenage circadian rhythms make 7:30 AM learning nearly impossible.

This isn’t just venting. Leah tackles the real-world pushback — sports, schedules, logistics — and reframes the conversation: What if we stopped teaching kids that exhaustion equals dedication?

🎧 In this episode:

• The science of teenage sleep cycles and circadian rhythms

• The lived reality of teaching half-awake teens

• Common objections (and why they’re worth rethinking)

• Practical solutions for shifting school start times

• How you can be a guest on future episodes

This episode kicks off Leah’s monthly series, If Teachers Ruled the World — bold ideas, real talk, and a little imagination about what schools could be if teachers were in charge.

Whether you're a teacher nodding along, a parent puzzled by your teen’s sleep habits, or an admin ready to rethink the system — this episode might just spark a revolution.

Join the movement. Your circadian rhythm will thank you.