The Pixel Classroom Podcast

I review the book, Becoming the Bison by Kim Gameroz. Kim Gameroz, M.Ed., is a change agent, published author, and founder of Teaching Inside Out, where she is revolutionizing classrooms through a systematic approach to teaching social and emotional skills. With over 15 years of experience coaching, training, and mentoring educators, students, and families globally, Kim has spoken at conferences nationwide, consults for school districts, serves on SEL panels, and contributes to publications and podcasts focused on transforming education from the inside out.

​

She is the author of Becoming the BISON, a bold call for educators to face challenges head-on and lead with intentional action. Through Teaching Inside Out and her second company, SELebrate Good Times, Kim has built a thriving community of heart-centered educators across the country. She is committed to ensuring teachers feel seen, valued, and SELebrated through her events, professional development, and retreats.

I am joined all the way from New Zealand by Penelope Barton. Penelope Barton is the CEO of Crimson Global Academy and Co-founder of Crimson Academies, where she leads a portfolio of innovative schools redefining what education can look like in a digital-first world. This includes Crimson Global Academy (CGA), the world’s leading premium global online private school, serving 3000+ students across more than 70 countries. Beyond building schools, Penelope has been a driving force in education reform. She led advocacy efforts that resulted in legislative change to open New Zealand’s first-ever online charter school. Following the law’s passage, she secured accreditation to launch AIA, that opened in 2026 with 400 enrolments on day one.

John Meehan returns from episode 30. John Meehan is an instructional coach, professional development specialist, and English teacher from just outside Washington, D.C. He is the author of EDrenaline Rush (2019) and co-author of Fully Engaged (2021) and Playing With Purpose (2026). A nationally recognized speaker on student engagement and gamified instruction, John was named an ASCD Emerging Leader, served on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Teacher Advisory Council, and currently sits on the Pulitzer Center’s 2025 Information & AI Teacher Advisory Council. His book EDrenaline Rush was ranked among Book Authority’s “Top 10 Teaching Books of All Time.” Alongside Michael Matera in 2021, John co-founded EMC² Learning, a global platform providing hundreds of gamified classroom resources to educators worldwide. EMC² Learning was named the 2023 FETC Pitchfest winner for Best Online Classes and honored in HundrED’s 2024 Spotlight on Gamified Curricula. Outside the classroom, he’s a CrossFitter and proud new dad.

You can connect with John at [email protected] and www.emc2learning.com

In this month’s music history spotlight, Ryan explores the 1937 jazz standard “My Funny Valentine,” written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. From its Broadway origins in Babes in Arms to iconic interpretations by Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, and Miles Davis, this episode reflects on why a song about imperfect love has endured for nearly a century.

In episode 222, I look at the history of the 1984 classic movie, The Neverending Story. The history of the movie/book, the song and of course it's pop culture references in Stranger Things. A fun little episode on why stories don’t survive because they’re old. They survive because we still need them.

Leah Ellis is a mother of four and the founder of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs (SoCE), a nonprofit dedicated to helping children ages 6–17 build confidence, leadership, and real-world business skills through hands-on learning. Inspired by watching her own children turn everyday ideas into action, Leah created SoCE to prove that children are capable of meaningful leadership right now. Through business fairs, curriculum, and coaching, she helps children launch real ventures, learn financial literacy, and develop resilience through experience, not theory. At the heart of her work is the belief that when kids are trusted with responsibility and supported by community, they rise. Leah’s leadership is rooted in motherhood, creativity, and a commitment to building spaces where children and families can thrive.

You can connect with Leah at:

www.facebook.com/SocietyofChildEntrepreneurshttps://www.instagram.com/societyofchildentrepreneurs/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahkellis/

https://societyofchildentrepreneurs.org/https://leahkellis.com/ 

https://bit.ly/m/SoCEHub

Like every year, I reflect on 2025. What the year brought me, and where I'm looking to go next. From leaving Harvard to returning to CTE teaching at DeKalb to my plans for my book, The Pixel Teacher and my old creative series, Campus Square.

I review Tisha Richmond's new book, The Magical CTE Classroom. A book everyone should read in the next year. Doesn't matter if you are at CTE teacher, ELA, Math, SpEd. This book has something for everyone to really bring play, innovation and joy into career and technical education.

In end of the year, musical history episode. Happy Holiday wasn’t created as a Christmas song. It debuted in 1942 in the film Holiday Inn, starring BingCrosby and Fred Astaire. It’s the same movie that launched “White Christmas.” The film’s concept: a country inn that opens only on holidays, each with its own Irving Berlin song. Among them was “Happy Holiday.” Bing sang it as a general greeting — wishing joy for all the holidays throughoutthe year. Irving Berlin’s songwriting was timeless: simple, warm, and instantly memorable. “Happy Holiday” fits thatperfectly. The lyrics are welcoming, and the message is essentially: enjoy every celebration ahead.

I am joined by Paul Buckley who is the Founder and Managing Owner of Ratio Staffing, a groundbreaking platform reshaping how preschools connect with substitute teachers, enrichment educators, and speech pathologists. A former preschool teacher with nearly 20 years of hands-on experience, Paul’s mission is deeply personal: to help children thrive by supporting the educators who shape their early years.

Before founding Ratio Staffing, Paul spent nearly a decade in biotech manufacturing leadership, where he trained global teams, revised over 300 SOPs, and earned a Six Sigma Green Belt. Today, he fuses that systems expertise with his passion for education to create a platform that offers true flexibility, transparency, and community impact.

Ratio Staffing removes the predatory norms of traditional staffing agencies, allowing schools to choose their teachers and educators to negotiate fair rates. Paul’s vision is simple yet powerful: better classrooms, better care, and a better future—for everyone involved. You can reach out to Paul at [email protected]

ratiostaffing.com