Teaching in 2026: What No One Prepared Us For

What Students Wish Teachers & Parents Knew | Real Talk with Graduating Seniors

For the Season 1 finale of Lessons Unplanned, Craig Stage and Jake Lezak sit down with graduating seniors Brooke Geiger and Owen Wilkinson for an honest conversation about school, careers, stress, motivation, and life after graduation. From balancing jobs and Career Center programs to discussing what adults misunderstand about today's students, Brooke and Owen provide insights that every educator and parent should hear. Their stories highlight the power of career and technical education, the importance of relationships, and why listening to students may be one of the most important things schools can do.

Lessons Unplanned Ep. 9 | A Parent’s Honest Take on Schools

What happens when you bring a parent into the conversation about modern education? In Episode 9 of Lessons Unplanned, Katie Behm joins Craig Stage &Tressa Heffron for a candid discussion about what schools are doing right, where students are struggling, and how phones, behavior, parenting, and classroom culture are changing education. From screen time and student attention spans to disruptive classroom behavior and parent involvement, this episode tackles the realities teachers and families are facing every day. A real conversation about kids, schools, and the future of education.

Schools Are Changing… But Are These New Rules Helping Kids? | Lessons Unplanned Ep. 8

From cursive writing mandates to recess requirements and cell phone bans… schools are changing fast. But are these changes actually helping students? In Episode 8 of Lessons Unplanned: Realities of Teaching, Superintendent Craig Stage and veteran educators Tressa and Jake break down several major shifts happening in education right now—and what they mean for students, teachers, and families. This episode dives into real conversations around: * The return of cursive writing and what it actually develops in students * Mandatory recess and why movement, boredom, and creativity matter * Later school start times and their impact on learning and student health * The push for cell phone bans in schools—and why it’s more controversial than it seems * How technology is shaping attention spans, behavior, and mental health * The growing gap between policy decisions and classroom realities This isn’t about politics—it’s about perspective. 👉 Are these changes preparing kids for the future… or reacting to problems we don’t fully understand? 👉 And are we giving students what they truly need to succeed—not just academically, but as people? If you’re a teacher, parent, or anyone curious about the direction of education today, this episode will give you a real, unfiltered look at what’s happening inside schools.

Support or Rescue? Where’s the Line for Our Kids? | Lessons Unplanned Ep. 7

Are we truly supporting kids—or are we rescuing them too much? In Episode 7 of Lessons Unplanned: Realities of Teaching, Superintendent Craig Stage and veteran educators Tressa and Jake tackle one of the toughest questions in education today: where is the line between helping students succeed and removing the struggle they actually need to grow? This honest conversation explores how expectations for students have shifted over the past 20 years—and what that means for learning, motivation, and long-term success. In this episode, they discuss: * How student expectations and work ethic have changed * The growing pressure from parents and society * Why struggle and failure are essential for growth * Whether schools are lowering standards—or adapting to reality * The impact of grade inflation and accountability challenges * The role of mental health in supporting (not rescuing) students * Why kids need support systems that guide—not do the work for them This isn’t about blaming parents, teachers, or students. It’s about asking a bigger question: 👉 Are we preparing kids for life—or protecting them from it? If you care about education, parenting, or the future of the next generation, this episode will challenge how you think about support, struggle, and success. 🎙️ New episodes monthly — real conversations about the work behind the work.

Teaching in 2026: What No One Prepared Us For

College prepared us to write lesson plans. It didn’t prepare us for loaded parent meetings, student trauma, shrinking attention spans, and the emotional weight of modern classrooms. In Episode 6, we talk honestly about the gap between teacher prep and classroom reality — and what future educators really need to know.