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Teach, Lead, and Inspire: Teaching to Students Who Have Given Up On Learning

Teach, Lead, and Inspire: Teaching to Students Who Have Given Up On Learning

Auteur(s): Jordan B. Smith Jr. Ed.D.
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 Get ready to tantalize your teaching senses and ignite the spark of inspiration in your classroom! In the debut episode of "Teach, Lead, and Inspire: Empowering Educators for Transformative Change," host Dr. Jordan B Smith Jr. takes you on a mouth-watering journey through the art of rekindling the love for learning, even in the most challenging students. Ever wondered how to breathe life into mathematics or any subject for students who seem to have lost interest? Dr. Smith Jr., renowned educator and author of "11 Effective Strategies for Teaching Math to Students Who Have Given Up on Learning" and "Annapolis Creed: Why Teacher Leaders Like Me Matter," invites you to join him as he unveils the secrets to reigniting that educational flame. Prepare to be captivated as Dr. Smith Jr. sets the stage for transformative teaching, leadership, and inspiration in education. Drawing from his groundbreaking books, he shares invaluable insights that serve as guiding beacons for educators ready to make a meaningful impact in their classrooms and communities. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting your teaching journey, this podcast promises to leave your taste buds craving for more. Tune in, and let's embark on this deliciously empowering adventure together. Get ready to Teach, Lead, and Inspire!2024 Gestion et leadership Économie
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  • S2:Episode 11 - Teaching & Student Loan Crisis

    S2:Episode 11 - Teaching & Student Loan Crisis
    Sep 9 2025
    This transcript features Dr. Jordan Smith discussing his personal journey into teaching, which unexpectedly led him to confront the complexities and predatory nature of the student loan system. He argues that student loans are a significant asset for the U.S. government and a "racket" that traps individuals in long-term debt. Here's a breakdown of the key points: I. Dr. Smith's Unexpected Path to Teaching Family Circumstances: Dr. Smith and his wife, originally empty-nesters, found themselves raising multiple children and grandchildren due to various family issues, necessitating a career change for stability and benefits. Career Transition: He decided to pursue teaching after working in nightclubs. Despite having a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the Naval Academy, California's "No Child Left Behind Act" (2001) required a master's for him to be considered a "highly qualified" teacher. Educational Pursuit & Debt: He enrolled in a master's program while working as a substitute teacher. As he did not qualify for VA benefits for this degree, he took out a student loan. The master's degree cost $37,000, which he financed through student loans. He increased his teaching salary by obtaining higher degrees, which allowed him to "column jump" on the pay scale, adding significant annual income. Classroom Experience: He found elementary and middle school challenging as a substitute but enjoyed teaching high school math. He successfully managed a notoriously difficult freshman class (which had already gone through three teachers) by applying a "Marine Corps attitude" and unconventional incentives (like pizza and movies for good performance), which earned him a permanent teaching position. Income Potential in Teaching: Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Smith highlights that teaching can be a well-paying profession. He earned over six figures annually in his last five years, increasing his income through advanced degrees, selling his "prep" periods (taking on extra duties instead of a free period), and teaching summer school. He regrets not having entered the profession earlier, believing he could have avoided student loan debt if he had used his VA benefits for his master's. II. Critique of the Student Loan System The "Forbearance/Deferment" Trap: Student loans are easy to obtain, with little emphasis on amortization tables or long-term repayment. Options like "forbearance" and "deferment" allow borrowers to pause payments but, crucially, interest continues to accrue and is "capitalized" (added to the principal), significantly increasing the total debt. Dr. Smith inadvertently fell into this trap by continually enrolling in higher education (even pursuing a doctorate) to avoid payments, only to see his debt grow. Student Loans as a Government Asset: Dr. Smith reveals shocking data: in 2018, student loans were the United States government's number one asset, accounting for 43% of its income (totaling $1.3 trillion in debt). By 2025, while the percentage of income from student loans slightly decreased to 34.5%, the total student loan debt escalated to $1.8 trillion. He argues this demonstrates the government's vested interest in the system, likening it to a "trap" or "racket." Mandatory FAFSA Completion: California now requires high school seniors to complete the FAFSA (or DREAM Act application for undocumented students) as a graduation requirement, even if they don't plan to attend college or take out loans. This is viewed as a tactic to funnel more individuals, especially from low-income areas, into the student loan system, as completing the application correlates with a higher likelihood of attending college. Undischargeable Debt: Unlike most other forms of debt, student loans generally cannot be discharged through bankruptcy, making them a lifelong burden. Systemic Comparison: Dr. Smith draws a parallel between the student loan system and the Vietnam War, suggesting that powerful entities (the government and financial institutions) benefit financially from the prolonged indebtedness of the populace. III. Avoiding Student Loan Debt (Lessons Learned) Strategies for the Wealthy: Wealthy individuals often avoid student debt by establishing businesses, hiring their children, and funding 529 educational trusts with tax-free income. They can also secure business loans with more favorable terms than typical student loans. Advice for Borrowers: Scrutinize student loan account histories to understand how payments are allocated (often disproportionately to interest). Accelerate payments whenever possible (e.g., using money saved from other paid-off expenses) to combat capitalized interest and actually reduce the principal. Consider alternative learning methods, such as self-education through reading or utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT, to acquire knowledge without incurring debt. The discussion briefly shifts to college football rankings and game predictions before circling back to ...
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    48 min
  • S2:Episode 10 - College Football & Student Loans - Father, Son , Purpose

    S2:Episode 10 - College Football & Student Loans - Father, Son , Purpose
    Sep 9 2025
    This podcast episode, titled "College Football & Student Loans - Father, Son, Purpose," begins with a brief discussion on college football before diving into the main topic: the hosts' personal experiences with student loans and the broader issues within the higher education financing system. Main Topic: The predatory nature of student loans, the lack of financial literacy surrounding them, and the need for systemic reform in education financing. Key Themes and Ideas: Introduction to the Podcast & College Football: The podcast features a Marine Corps dad (Dr. Jordan Smith) and his Army veteran son (Jordan III) discussing life, legacy, and leadership. They briefly cover recent college football games, including Army's loss, Navy's improved passing offense, and critical commentary on quarterback Archer Manning's performance. Dr. Jordan Smith's Student Loan Journey: Early Education & Discipline: Attended schools that emphasized education for upward mobility, even using corporal punishment for academic deficiencies (e.g., missing spelling words). First College Experience (CBC): Received a partial scholarship; parents paid tuition. This led to a Naval Academy nomination. Naval Academy (1972-1976): Education valued at ~$270,000, fully funded by the government, with a 6-year active duty service obligation (chose Marines). This eliminated his bachelor's debt. GI Bill & Missed Opportunities: Did not fully understand or utilize his GI Bill benefits while in the Marines, focusing solely on his performance. Observed Caucasian counterparts using GI Bill and Tuition Assistance (TA) for master's degrees, leading to faster promotions. Only learned about TA nine years into his service, realizing it covered most tuition costs ($270 of $300). The GI Bill was later given an expiration date (Dec 31, 1987), rendering his ~$37,000 in benefits unusable. Later Education & Debt: At age 50, to become a "highly qualified" teacher, he incurred $37,000-$40,000 in student loan debt for his master's, then pursued a doctorate. Initially believed in loan forgiveness for public service but found "loopholes" prevented it. Currently, financially comfortable in retirement but still paying off student loans, regretting the lost GI Bill benefits and feeling the system is unjust. He questions why taxpayers should pay his loans, but also feels his 40 years of military and teaching service should count for something. Jordan III's Student Loan Experience: GI Bill Utilization: Used GI Bill and TA for various courses (theology, video game creation, personal training) before pursuing a business degree. Student Loans: His GI Bill funds ran out, necessitating student loans, though his current debt is less than $10,000. Grants: Successfully used grants, which significantly reduced his overall debt. Shared Frustrations: Also experienced unfulfilled promises of loan forgiveness. Systemic Critique: Agrees that while individuals should pay their debts, the education system needs reform. He notes other countries offer free secondary education and sees the US system as "another arm of capitalism," questioning the allocation of local school funds. The Predatory Nature of Student Loans and Financial Illiteracy: Loan Structure: Dr. Smith illustrates how most borrowers only focus on the monthly payment, not the interest or amortization schedule. Hidden Costs: His own loan breakdown showed that for a $708 monthly payment, $480 was going to interest, with many payments going entirely to interest. Comparison to Mortgages: While mortgages front-load interest, student loans maintain disproportionately high interest payments throughout the loan's life, unlike typical loans where principal payments eventually increase. "Predatory Lending": Both hosts agree the structure constitutes predatory lending, making it difficult for borrowers to ever pay down principal. Dr. Smith states he would not have taken the loan if he'd understood its true structure. Long Repayment Periods: At his current payment, Dr. Smith calculates it would take 27 years to pay off his loan. Power of Compound Interest: Emphasizes that increasing monthly payments significantly reduces total interest paid and repayment time (e.g., an extra $500/month could pay off his loan in 7.5 years instead of 27). Lack of Financial Education: Recounts personal mistakes with car loans due to a lack of understanding about principal and interest, highlighting a widespread educational gap. Warnings and Advice: Examine Account History: Advise listeners to pull up their student loan account history to understand where their payments are going (principal vs. interest). Generational Wealth: Student loan debt impacts the ability to create and pass on generational wealth. Wealthy families avoid this through trusts and business structures. Avoid Forbearance: Warn against using forbearance to avoid payments, as federal loans aggressively pursue collection (e.g., wage garnishment). ...
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    57 min
  • S2:Episode 9 - Building a Legacy Using Social Media

    S2:Episode 9 - Building a Legacy Using Social Media
    Aug 25 2025
    Summary of TLI-S2-E9 - Building a Legacy Using Social Media The discussion covers a range of personal updates, health achievements, professional engagements, and insights into building generational wealth and leveraging social media for business. Personal & Family Updates Video Game Challenge: Dr. Jordan Smith recounts a past football video game loss to his grandson, Jonathan, and his subsequent year-long secret training. He eventually beat Jonathan and other family members at Thanksgiving by playing legitimately, demonstrating that focus and practice can overcome initial defeats. Grandchildren's Gaming: The grandsons primarily play Roblox and other games on Nintendo Switch (regular and OLED models) and a shared PS5. Pet Stories: Jordan III discusses burying Felix, their 17-year-old dog, after having him since his children were young. Dr. Jordan Smith shares the story of his dog, Tommy, who died at 16, and then Freckles, a new puppy who broke her leg twice, leading to the difficult decision to put her down due to the repeated injury and the owners' advanced age. His current dog is very attached to his wife, Carolyn, and requires special conditions (Channel 33 for dog cartoons and a blanket) when Carolyn leaves, highlighting the emotional attachment. A cat is mentioned that enjoys watching action movies and then gets "Zoomies." Health and Wellness Journey Professional Engagements: Dr. Jordan Smith is an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador, conducts inspections for model schools and accreditations, and presents at conferences. Cholesterol Medication: He successfully got off his cholesterol medicine, attributing his improved health to a consistent peak performance regimen including exercise, weights, and a disciplined diet. Statin Side Effects & Research: His research into statins revealed potential side effects, including nightmares and sleep disturbances, which he experienced. Moving his statin intake from night to morning significantly improved his sleep and reduced "episodes." He emphasizes the importance of evidence-based research (peer-reviewed articles) over social media claims. Blood Pressure Management: He is now working towards getting off his high blood pressure medicine. He monitors his blood pressure at home using an app-connected device, noting the "lab coat syndrome" where blood pressure naturally rises at a doctor's office. His readings show he might be over-medicated, as his blood pressure is often low in the afternoon while on medication. Lifeline Scan: He and Carolyn have scheduled a "lifeline scan" in September, which includes virtual ultrasounds of main arteries and prostate PSA testing for men. He plans to document and share the experience. Building Generational Wealth & Social Media Marketing Book Writing for Purpose vs. Profit: Writing a book for documentation or personal reasons (like a journal) is different from writing for income generation. For income, market research is crucial before writing to identify an existing market, its location, and its needs. Business Examples: Legal Dispensaries: Discussion on the importance of location and zoning laws for cannabis dispensaries, using examples of dispensaries too close to daycares or schools. Consumable Products: Highlights that businesses selling consumable products (e.g., cannabis, gas) generate recurring income, unlike books which are typically one-time purchases (unless part of a series). Social Media Influence and Audience: Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter is cited as an example of buying influence and an audience. The Gamestop stock surge is used to illustrate how an influencer can generate wealth by mobilizing a following. Mind Valley Insights: Dr. Jordan Smith references a Mind Valley course, emphasizing that "you don't need a million followers to make a million dollars." The key is the quality and trust of the followers. The Power of Stories: Sharing personal daily life "stories" on platforms like Instagram generates significant engagement because people connect with and trust individuals they "know" personally. He experienced a surge in engagement by sharing unscripted daily routines. Consistency and Persistence: He advocates for continuous effort in business ventures, even through failures, highlighting the "2 inches from payday" analogy, where many give up just before success. Marketing Strategy for Monetization: He created a webinar using AI, structured for monetization. The strategy involves identifying the right target market and placing advertisements where that market is present. An industry response rate of 1-2% for mass communication is noted. Posting relevant content to specific groups on platforms like Facebook leads to maximum engagement, while off-topic posts attract negative "vultures." Building a loyal following of around 10,000 engaged individuals can lead to substantial monthly income, as demonstrated by figures like Donald Trump leveraging his audience to sell ...
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    1 h et 4 min
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