Advertise on podcast: THE RCA MIX

“I’m just a teacher.” It breaks my heart every time I hear those words. Every person who works in a school is a leader. But how do we sustain that leadership when the work becomes challenging? How do we keep our sense of purpose alive year after year? In this episode of The RCA Mix, Kim Bearden sits down with former Elementary Principal of the Year Dr. Aleli Vazquez to explore the six vital pillars of a thriving educator culture. They tackle the difficult topics: the true cost of avoiding accountability, the importance of stepping outside comfortable routines, and why courageous conversations can strengthen trust rather than undermine it. But they also celebrate the joy of teaching, the importance of staff morale, the power of recognizing colleagues, and the students entrusted to educators’ care each day. You don’t need a title to be a leader. You simply need to be willing to invest in the people around you. 🎙️ Watch The RCA MiX on YouTube. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you want to protect your passion for teaching and help your school culture thrive, this conversation is for you. What is one courageous conversation you have had that completely changed your perspective as an educator? ——— 🎥: @davidrspearman & Sisipho Mehlo

When opportunity knocks, will your students be ready? They have talent. They have ideas. But can they introduce themselves with confidence, navigate conflict, ask for help, and contribute effectively to a team? These are the skills that open doors, and they can be taught. In this episode of The RCA MiX, Kim Bearden sits down with Kirk Brown, RCA’s chief development and communications officer, to discuss workforce readiness and how educators can prepare students for opportunities beyond the classroom. Soft skills, durable skills, workforce competencies—different names for the same essential abilities. Kim and Kirk may joke about what to call them, but they are serious about the opportunities these skills can create. From the lessons behind the Amazing Shake to practical strategies for schools and families, they explore how to help students build confidence, communicate effectively, navigate relationships, and develop the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace and beyond. 🎙️ Watch The RCA MiX on YouTube. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. What is one skill you wish someone had taught you before you entered the workforce?

Overwhelmed. Overworked. Underappreciated. Educator burnout is real, but reaching the breaking point does not have to be inevitable. In the very first episode of the RCA MiX, I sit down with RCA counselor Yolanda Boyd to talk about the stress educators are carrying and what we can actually do about it. Yolanda shares practical strategies to help you manage stress, protect your energy, recognize the warning signs of burnout, and keep doing the work you love without losing yourself in the process. Too many great educators are walking away from the profession. We want to help you stay. If you are pouring into everyone else and running on empty yourself, this episode is for you. ❤️

Want stronger student engagement, better behavior, improved attendance, and a school culture where people actually feel like they belong? In this episode of The RCA Mix, I sit down with RCA house system expert Dr. Junior Bernadin to talk about how schools can intentionally create a culture of belonging through the RCA House System. We dig into what the research says about belonging and its connection to academic achievement, student engagement, attendance, behavior, and teacher morale. And yes, house systems can be fun. There may be tutus, cheers, competitions, and plenty of woohoos. But the real power of a house system goes far beyond those things. Junior shares what schools need to put in place so that the house system becomes more than an event or a theme. It becomes part of the culture. Because when students and staff feel known, connected, valued, and part of something bigger than themselves, school can feel very different. If you want to build a stronger culture of belonging at your school, this conversation is for you. If you want to see Junior and the RCA team build belonging through the house system in person, learn more about RCA EXP below.

Teaching kids how to read is only part of the job. How do we get them to actually WANT to read? In this episode of The RCA Mix, I sit down with reading expert and father of six Korey Collins to talk about his own reading journey, the science of reading, and what happens after students have the skills. Because decoding matters. Fluency matters. Comprehension matters. But if students rarely pick up a book once they can read, we still have work to do. Korey shares practical ideas for helping students build strong reading skills, read more often, discover books they enjoy, and develop a genuine love of reading. We have to teach them how to read. Then we have to help them discover why they would want to. If you want your students to become readers, not just kids who can read, this conversation is for you. If you want to observe literacy instruction and talk with practicing RCA educators, explore the RCA Experience below.

One guest. One topic. One honest conversation. Join RCA cofounder Kim Bearden as she talks with educators and changemakers about the issues that matter most in schools. Each conversation brings you candid stories, fresh perspectives, and practical ideas you can use tomorrow. New episodes are released every other Wednesday.