Dr. Dave talks about the power of self-compassion for reducing feelings of stress and burnout among teachers, and how learning to be more self-compassionate can increase job satisfaction. He shares a simple self-compassion practice listeners can do while listening to the episode and shares examples from his own student teaching journal about the stress he experienced as a developing teacher and how, years later, he would have reframed his stress with self-compassion. These vignettes are shared in his book, Addressing Stress with Self-Compassion: A Guide for Early Childhood Teachers published by Teachers College Press.

Dave chats with veteran early childhood teacher,Leanne Switzer, who was also his next-door-classroom-neighbor from the Boston Public Schools. Leanne shares her insights from 20 years of being an inclusion teacher and plays Teacher Feature Trivia to help fundraise for the Josiah Quincy Elementary School Library (where we taught together for 10 years).

Dr. Dave shares specific practices teachers can utilize to support children who may be experiencing trauma in general, and specifically as a result of the harmful actions of the current administration. Visit the I Still Believe in School website for additional resources shared in this episode. All opinions expressed are Dr. Dave's.

In the season 2 premiere, Dr. Dave talks with his middle and high school Latin teachers, Mrs. Gayle Hightower and Mrs. Marilyn Archibald. They play Teacher Feature Trivia to get graphic novels of the Aeneid for Mr. Maguire's junior Latin students in Boston, MA.

In the Season 1 Finale of "I Still Believe in School" Dr. Dave shares how his love for music inspired him as a teacher and podcaster - he shares a recording from 2011 of his kindergarteners performing "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out!" by Cat Stevens and teases the season 2 premiere episode which will air on January 27th, 2025.

Dr. Dave chats with long-time friend, veteran first-grade teacher, and former coworker, Beverly Friberg. She plays Teacher Feature Trivia to help support her elementary school's library - the same school where Dave taught kindergarten!

Dr. Dave shares his funniest teaching story from his time as a kindergarten teacher in the Boston Public Schools.

Dave chats with BFF Bridget Joyce, a veteran high school teacher and current elementary school librarian. Bridget plays "Teacher Feature Trivia" to get books centering neurodivergent characters for her school library.

In this mini-episode, Dr. Dave reflects on hopeful lessons learned from hearing actor and children's literacy advocate LeVar Burton speak at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children in Anaheim, CA the day after the election. Dave shares three lessons learned from LeVar that can help families and teachers support children in times of uncertainty. Views expressed are Dr. Dave's interpretations of LeVar's message and do not reflect any other entity.

Dave chats with longtime friend, Kathleen Doyle – an award winning theater arts teacher, Fulbright recipient, costumer, puppeteer, climate and endangered animal activist. The play "Teacher Feature Trivia" to get theater supplies for Mrs. Cullen's Donors Choose project.