This is Mr. Funky Teacher with BeAFunkyTeacher.com. I’m coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast. Well, Day 2 is in the books. It is the end of the second day at the National Teacher Leadership Conference here in Orlando, Florida—the Ignite the Magic Teacher Leadership Conference for the National Network of State Teachers of the Year. What a day. I want to take a little time to reflect on all the powerful and positive experiences I had. I woke up early because I finally got a good night’s sleep. I had two presentations, so I got my suit on and went downstairs to meet with the sound and video crew to do a sound check. I’m so glad I did. I walked in, told them I had a 10 a.m. presentation in that room, and they looked at the list and didn’t see my name. That put a jolt of fear in me. Thankfully, the organizer of the whole conference was right there and confirmed I was absolutely presenting. The crew was friendly, professional, and extremely helpful. They tested my computer, videos, slides, and microphones. That sound check gave me peace of mind for the rest of the morning and helped me start my presentation feeling confident. After that, I went to breakfast—so much delicious food. I didn’t want a heavy meal sitting on my stomach, so I kept it light, but the food here at the Disney Yacht Club Resort is incredible. Then we had welcoming remarks from the Florida Education Association. Clinton McCracken spoke about rights, advocacy, taking action together, fighting discrimination, and standing up when things aren’t right. I appreciated his message about raising our voices and being decision makers. Then came one of the most meaningful presentations of the day: “The Realms of Advocacy: Igniting the Magic of Teacher Influence Across School, Community, and State,” presented by Leah Carper and Ashton Barry. They were outstanding—powerful speakers who blended humor, vulnerability, and deep insight. One of them shared a hilarious but memorable story about accidentally peeing on herself because she wasn’t paying attention. The lesson? Pay attention. In education, we can't go through our days assuming everything is fine—we have to be aware, look carefully, and not move blindly. That story cracked me up. You can tell I work with ten- and eleven-year-olds because a good pee story still gets me. They talked about the importance of advocacy, especially culturally responsive pedagogy. They shared how they had conversations with politicians to explain what culturally responsive pedagogy really means, moving past misconceptions and helping decision makers understand the truth. That’s advocacy. They reminded us that big ships turn slow—change takes time. Knowing which battles to fight and how to approach people matters. Sometimes a private conversation is more effective than a public confrontation. They also talked about sending handwritten thank-you notes to politicians after meeting with them—simple gestures that build credibility and positive relationships. They discussed preparing gifts made by students when policymakers visit schools. It helps humanize the work we do and reminds visitors why education matters so deeply. They talked about presenting at conferences, writing op-eds, making phone calls, building partnerships, and becoming thought leaders. They shared that teachers have authority, but politicians have agency—and because of that, relationships matter. They showed a “web of influence,” comparing it to a spiderweb—strong when intact, fragile when broken. Advocacy requires maintaining those connections across every level: classroom, building, district, state, and national. Then it was time for my presentation: “Every Educator Can Be a Funky Teacher: Ignite Magic to Be a Funky Teacher.” I focused on five core areas: energy and excitement, mind–body connection, creativity, leadership traits, and building connections through resilience, relationships, and reflection. I talked about total physical response, creativity as a pathway to long-term memory, my leadership kit with thirteen leadership traits, and my three R’s. I shared how these components define what it means to be a funky teacher. The room was full—around 30 to 35 educators. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, though a few mentioned feeling a little rushed in parts. That matches feedback my wife gave me while practicing, and it’s something I’m committed to improving. Even with time constraints, the message landed, and the energy in the room felt incredible. After my session came a fascinating presentation by Raya Nathrani from the Northern Mariana Islands. She talked about instructional technology and AI—programs like Brisk, Suno, Magic School, Gemini, Canva, and Google Labs. She showed how Suno could create songs in seconds, how AI can help craft stories, rubrics, and lesson plans, and how we must teach students to use AI responsibly. She emphasized the importance of clarity in prompts and not being naïve about student use of AI. She balanced excitement about AI’s potential with caution about misuse and its impact on deep thinking. Then it was time for lunch—another great meal—and afterward, I met with my Civics Catalyst Fellowship team to prepare for our afternoon presentation. The next session I attended was a panel on strengthening the K–12 teacher pipeline. The speakers—Dr. DeShawn Washington, Kendrick Claxton, Jessica Shaum, and Mariam Tidsdale—talked about teacher shortages, retaining teacher leaders, supporting new teachers, and the need for better mentorship and financial incentives. They talked about the value of teacher narratives, teachers telling their stories, and being strong role models. They also addressed the challenges Black male educators face and the importance of building community among educators of color. They discussed how teaching is hard work, often undervalued, and why strong mentorship matters for helping new teachers survive the early years. They talked about burnout, toxic environments, and the heartbreak of losing great teachers. They also shared how much the profession has given them and how powerful it can be when we help new educators stay in the game. Then it was time for the Civics Catalyst Fellowship presentation—our 45-minute session. We introduced the civics hub we developed with support from the Collaborative for Student Success and NSTOY. We emphasized that every teacher—regardless of subject—teaches civics. We ran a speed-dating style session with three rotating stations. I partnered with Teresa to discuss the professional learning pathway. She shared an interview she conducted with a Teacher of the Year about inspiring students in social studies. I shared my resource guide on tough conversations—how to respond when sensitive topics come up, how to connect civics content with social-emotional needs, and how to help teachers know not just what they shouldn’t say, but what they can say. We gathered great feedback from participants, which I’ll bring back to the team. Afterward, I walked through the exhibit hall—NEA, St. Jude, internet safety, investment planning, and more. I had meaningful conversations about financial literacy, retirement planning, safety online, and global education opportunities. Then I went to a powerful session called “Igniting the Magic Through Lasting Networks,” with speaker Sean Nank, who focused on seven P’s: purpose, personality, people, pedagogy, practice, perseverance, and peace. He shared stories about finding your people, navigating difficult relationships, storytelling, mindset, and how we constantly reinvent ourselves as educators. I realized I skipped one session earlier—the Wellness Lab. It was one of my favorites. It focused on body, mind, and connection. The presenters shared movement routines, mental resets, and strategies for building authentic community. They emphasized that you can’t pour into others if you don’t take care of yourself. They taught mini-circuits, mobility work, and exercises to maintain strength and joint health. They talked about mental fog, stress, being rooted in community, and zooming in on what we can control. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of wellness in sustaining our work. After dinner, we had the Ignite the Magic party—karaoke, dancing, laughter, joy. A math group gave out shirts promoting a growth mindset (“I’m not a math person” crossed out to say “I’m a math person”). I loved that. I had meaningful conversations with educators about the work we do and the lives we impact. The brilliance, passion, and heart in this community amaze me. By the end of the night, I was exhausted. I went to my room, changed into my swimsuit, took one run down the waterslide, floated in the lazy river, and then came back to this presentation room to record this reflection. Day 2 was incredible. Tomorrow is the final day, and I’m excited to wrap up the learning and reflect on the entire experience. I’m tired, but grateful. And I want to remind you to inspire greatness in young people. Remember—you can be a funky teacher. Bye now.