Every great teacher has something students can’t find in a textbook: themselves.
In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, Jacob sits down with educator and author Jay Wamsted to discuss how teaching becomes transformational when we stop trying to fit a mold and start embracing our own originality. While Jay’s latest novel, The Lockdown Artist, serves as the backdrop for the conversation, the heart of this episode is about the people behind the lesson plans.
Jay shares why he chose fiction as a way to wrestle with the questions that have followed him throughout his years in the classroom—questions about belonging, curiosity, relationships, and the kind of schools we’re creating for students.
Together, Jacob and Jay explore an idea that every educator needs to hear: your personality isn’t separate from your teaching—it is your teaching. The stories you tell, the passions you share, the music you love, the way you laugh, and the way you see the world become the “hook” students attach to. Long before they remember your content, they remember you.
The conversation is a reminder that students don’t need another perfect teacher. They need authentic adults who are willing to bring their whole selves into the classroom. Because when teachers embrace what makes them unique, they create spaces where students feel permission to do the same.
If you’ve ever wondered what truly makes a classroom unforgettable, this episode offers a simple answer: it starts with the courage to be yourself.
