Mr. Clarke After Dark

Martin Malone is a former educator and is best known for his work as a Personal Trainer for Teachers. In this conversation, Martin and I discuss how to create a structured routine as a teacher, people pleasing, why negative thoughts are important, why teachers should be the most successful in fitness, the peer pressure to let yourself go, food guilt, creatine, and, much more. Thank you for tuning in and hope you enjoy the show! 

If ...

Mandy Grass is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and hosts the popular social media parenting page @thefamilybehaviorist on Instagram. On this episode, Mandy and I discuss wholeheartedly supporting rewards for kids, the symptoms of ADHD, ADHD inattentive, visual schedules, rewards and reward negotiation, shaping adolescent behaviour, marrying the therapeutic and behavioural approach, replacement behaviours, the function of crying...

Cabrina (@cabrinascreativeclassroom) is a special education teacher in Virginia and is currently entering her seventh year in the profession. On this episode, Cabrina and I discuss Multi-Sensory Reading Instruction, gamifying her classroom, teaching in the ‘armpit’ of her school, the recent uptick in people hiring Educational Advocates and their presence in schools, the training (or lack thereof) for inclusive Education for handlin...

George Couros is currently an Educational Consultant, author of several books including What Makes a Great Principal and has worked as both a Teacher and Administrator in Alberta, Canada for more than a decade. On this episode, we discuss why teachers only notice poor administrators, interviews gone wrong, how he handled being confronted by a new colleague, why people often say certain positions are not needed even if they have nev...

In this episode, I sit down with Lily Donald, a Grade 12 student who also plans on pursuing education once she finishes high school. Our conversation dives into her transition into her final year of high school, me crying at a painting of Napoleon when we travelled together on an EF Tour, why sometimes it does matter what teacher you get, the importance she places on getting involved in school activities, thoughtful reflections on ...

In this episode, I discuss my embarrassing attempts at being present with my friend groups, how neuroscience PD has stalled and what is routinely available is not working and why this does not have to be a bad thing, why teachers lie about how busy they are, why new teachers want to be told what to do and how this helps everyone long-term, why self-interest in education should not be frowned upon, what makes collaboration cool, the...

Teachers need to put themselves out there more. Teachers hide their expertise behind their classroom door because we have constantly been told nobody knows what they are doing and everyone feels too scared to share what they know. 

Baptism by fire leaves everyone even more vulnerable to imposter syndrome and about imposter syndrome that actually holds you back. 

New Teachers should actually be involved in everything even though this ...

Kyle Harquail is currently a Teacher in Saint John, NB and is, most importantly, a dear friend. On the episode, Kyle and I discuss instances where students have defecated themselves in our classes, ways we used to kill time at boring jobs, times we got caught falling asleep at work, how Kyle almost went to culinary school and my physiotherapy plan, how I got rejected from university, Covid hit, and my dad died all in a three month ...

In this episode, I sit down with Hailey Chisholm—educator, tutor, and fellow Westwood survivor. Hailey and I talk mentorship, what the most common academic concerns parents have for their children and how we assess for them, how building student confidence can make or break a learning experience, why teachers never feel like they have their sh*t together, how to stop being a perfectionist within teaching, the pros and cons of vario...

In this episode, I share some personal stories about how family losses have shaped my perspective on life and the long game of this career. I talk about the hilarious and unique challenges of teaching middle school in the month of May—especially when it comes to classroom management and student behavior—my hate for reading fiction, and why understanding different educational systems can make us better at what we do. Looking ahead, ...

In this episode, I sit down with Craig Randall, author of Trust-Based Observations: Maximizing Teaching and Learning Growth, to dive deep into the future of teacher evaluations and educational leadership. We explore why traditional teacher evaluation systems often fall short—and how building trust, fostering psychological safety, and focusing on strengths-based feedback can completely transform school culture.

Craig shares what he h...

Dr. Selena Fisk is a keynote speaker, author, and data storytelling expert who frequently consults both school districts and businesses on their data collection practices. In this episode, Selena and I dive deep into how schools can use data more meaningfully and humanely. Throughout our conversation, we discuss data-informed instruction, the dangers of misusing performance metrics, using data to to assess teachers, and why so many...

Dr. Tyler Tarver is the Founder of Tarver Academy and is currently a Director of Learning and Development based out of Little Rock, Arkansas. In this episode, Dr. Tyler Tarver and I explore how feedback from students can refine your methods, why teachers need identities outside of school, what students really need to understand about what teachers want for them,  his research on if Youtube is an effective tool for education and wha...

In this episode, I sit down with Bernii Godwin and dive deep into the heart of what truly shapes student behavior, classroom management, and overall school culture: relationships. Bernii and I explore why understanding human behavior and emotional triggers is essential for creating a connected, well-regulated classroom, and how teachers can balance responsibility with support without burning out. We talk about everything from stude...

In this episode of Clarke Notes, I dive into the ongoing debate around teacher pay, with a particular focus on Alberta and New Brunswick. While teachers often ask for blanket salary increases, I explore some alternative strategies that could better support educators without sparking public outrage. I talk about how important it is to acknowledge teachers' contributions to boost morale, and how improved insurance benefits could...

Dr. Mark Williams is a Professor of Neuroscience and is the author of The Connected Species: How Understanding The Evolution of the Brain Can Help You Reconnect With The World. In this episode, Mark and I dive deep into the science of human connection and its profound impact on education. Drawing from his personal journey and groundbreaking research, Dr. Williams explores why connection—not just engagement—is the key to effective t...

Dr. Christopher Bronke is a Senior Education Consultant for Novak Education. Bronke has held numerous teacher-leadership positions at the national level including a seat on both the Carnegie Foundation Teacher Advisory Panel and the Teacher Advisory Council for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bronke designs and delivers presentations on assessment theory and design, standards-based instruction, Universal Design for Learning,...

In this conversation, Andrea Avery and I delve into the complexities of sexual education, exploring its evolution, the impact of cultural norms, and the challenges faced by educators. We discuss the importance of addressing taboos, the influence of technology on sexual awareness, and the differences in how boys and girls are educated about sex. The conversation also touches on personal experiences, societal expectations regarding b...

Robert Barnett is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of the Modern Classrooms Project and a graduate of Harvard Law School. In this conversation, Rob and I explore the challenges teachers face in addressing the diverse needs of students, with a focus on the benefits of self-paced learning, as well as being a holder of a very random world record! We also discuss the need for a paradigm shift in educator evaluation, highlightin...