In this powerful, raw, and deeply honest episode of Sunday Night Teacher Talk, I sit down with one of my teacher heroes—Rafe Esquith, legendary educator and founder of The Hobart Shakespeareans. Rafe opens up about how he went from struggling in the classroom to building one of the most extraordinary programs in public education history.

We talk about:

• The power of slow growth in teaching

• Why student buy-in takes time—and patience

• How to build classroom culture that changes lives

• Why some of the best teaching comes from anger at injustice

• The importance of empathy, joy, and real-world purpose in education

• And why “there are no shortcuts” is more than a classroom rule—it’s a way of life

You’ll also hear about Rafe’s personal relationship with Sir Ian McKellen, how he avoided burnout for over 35 years, and why “being the person you want your students to become” is the most essential rule of all.

Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator, this episode is a masterclass in heart, honesty, and what it really takes to transform students' lives—especially when the world underestimates them.

The Odyssey Home-End-Of-Year Classroom Experience: https://www.shopteachyourclassoff.com/products/the-odyssey-home-end-of-year-classroom-experience

🗣️ Interested in having me speak at your school or organization? Click here for more information: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BZPBCplYTcvO8-MHm-GcCXjRcMPcGhrI?usp=drive_link

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Sunday Night Teacher Talk is a live Q&A show that happens every Sunday at 4:00 pm Eastern Time. Use this link to join us live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRGA_FqyigEPmh5U37Yn7fA/join

Our purpose is to help all educators become the teachers they are called to be. We recognize that Sundays can be the most stressful day of the week in the education world, so we gather as a community to prepare together for the upcoming week.

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