What to Worry About Before School Starts

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If Teachers Ruled the World

Leah Cleary

22 episodes

2 days ago

The podcast where real teachers get real. No Pinterest perfection. No out-of-touch theory. Just honest talk about what teaching actually looks like—failures, wins, and everything in between. Hosted by Leah Cleary, a 25-year classroom veteran who says what we’re all thinking. If you're burned out, doubting yourself, or sick of impossible expectations, you're not alone—and you're not broken. Let’s give teachers a voice. New episodes weekly. Finally, someone’s saying what teachers are thinking.

Education

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Education

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What to Worry About Before School Starts

If Teachers Ruled the World

12 minutes 11 seconds

4 months ago

What to Worry About Before School Starts

Feeling overwhelmed as the school year approaches? You’re not alone — and you don’t have to do it all.

In this episode, veteran educator Leah Cleary shares what really matters during back-to-school prep — and what you can stop stressing about. After 25 years in the classroom, Leah breaks down a no-fluff “worry about this, not that” list to help you start the year strong.

You'll learn:

What to actually prepare before Day 1 (hint: it’s not your bulletin board)
How to connect with students fast using simple systems
Why you can ditch elaborate procedures and just set a few clear expectations
How to build relationships that make learning possible

Leah also opens up about her first-year mistakes (like obsessing over classroom decor) and offers permission to be real instead of perfect. If you're a teacher who's feeling the pressure, this episode is your deep breath and your roadmap.

Your students don’t need the ideal version of you — they just need you.