PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!!
How To Survive The Classroom

Hi friend, Andrea Forcum (aka @EducatorAndrea) here! If you’ve ever Googled “how to professionally quit mid-semester” or seriously considered hiding in a supply closet, this show’s for you. With Educator strategies and life advice — teaching may be a noble profession… but nobility doesn’t stop your classroom from catching on fire.

Play Latest Episode

Recent Episodes

View all
March 23, 2026

The Advice Every New Teacher Needs

The Advice Every New Teacher Needs

PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/43BquPd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My kids were sick. My husband was sick. My babysitter got sick. Somehow I was the only one left standing, which honestly felt suspicious.Meanwhile, I was traveling for shows in Washington, DC and Philadelphia, performing for teachers… and accidentally for a group of 40 people who absolutely did not know who we were.So naturally Gerry and I had a lot to discuss. We talk about the chaos of teaching during flu season, the unhinged things students say to teachers’ faces, and the advice every new teacher needs before stepping into a middle school classroom.There’s also a heated debate about movie theater etiquette, a surprisingly philosophical conversation about insults from students, and the passive-aggressive teacher phrases that somehow become second nature after a few years in the classroom.And somewhere in the middle of all of that… we discover that Gerry’s students think he looks like a thumb.

View more
March 16, 2026

Gerry Shot His Shot on the Podcast

Gerry Shot His Shot on the Podcast

PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/43BquPd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gerry came to my house for the Indianapolis show, insulted my daughter’s dental hygiene via the Tooth Fairy, may or may not have been exposed to Flu B, and then drove 11 hours home fueled almost entirely by marshmallows.So yes. We have a lot to unpack.We talk about the Terre Haute experience (including Gerry’s pilgrimage to the Larry Bird statue), the movies Gerry somehow managed to avoid his entire life, and why he believes Monty Python and the Holy Grail might be one of the worst films ever made, which is an absolutely unhinged opinion.There’s also a very important moment where Gerry publicly shoots his shot with one of my friends, a discussion about the truly shocking things parents would hear if they spent one day in a classroom, and multiple interruptions from my children who apparently believe recording a podcast is the perfect time to ask for snacks or show me injuries.

View more
View all Episodes

Reviews

It’s fun even for a non-teacher

"It’s just like I imagine listening in to the teacher’s lounge when I was in school about what a devil or angel I was depending on the teacher. Great laughs. Teachers are humans too… and funny humans…"

mikehaddon | Oct. 13, 2024

Awesome Show

"I love Educator Andrea on Instagram and just discovered her podcast, which I am binging . She is a wealth of knowledge, has great guests and an awesome sense of humor. Her content is helping me survi…"

ranchreader | Oct. 27, 2024

A Must Listen for ALL teachers

"Fantastic pod! She shows the insanity that is the classroom without being an old curmudgeonly bitter teacher (like me 😂).In all seriousness, makes me laugh and gives me hope to keep on keeping on. C…"

me@6593 | Nov. 13, 2024

Relatable

"Always enjoy listening to Andrea and guests during my long commute to and from school. The conversations range from entertaining to inspiring along with some crazy, comical anecdotes that all teacher…"

Jabberwocky412 | Dec. 12, 2024

We survive with laughter!

"I enjoyed the new name and format. Teaching is a joy and also hard. Having a space for laughter and resources is fenomenal!"

Lizy787 | May 5, 2025

Worth the listen

"I’ve followed Andrea for a while on IG and this podcast does not disappoint. I love how real she is about being in education. This extended insight into her classroom as well as other teacher experie…"

emmmtay | July 25, 2024

So Validating

"I’ve just finished my third year teaching fifth grade, and everything I hear on this podcast is A) hilarious and B) incredibly validating. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge, love, and—especially—h…"

Heyrigneys | July 20, 2024

So real and so fun!

"Love listening to this pod because it’s so REAL and funny. Literally laughing out loud and agreeing with so many of the stories and anecdotes. Teaching can be hard and fun and heartbreaking and soul …"

Starteacher1234 | July 8, 2024

One of the Best

"I love this podcast. I'm a secondary English teacher and can relate. The mix of comedy and educational discussion is perfect!"

Rpritts2 | June 21, 2024

Fun!

"I love this podcast, especially since it’s summer and I’m not around my fellow teachers as much. It’s a connection that is getting me through break so far!"

Amanda Fidler | June 13, 2024

Love this lady

"I will listen to anything Andrea does! Her mix of humor with the “realness” and vulnerability of being a teacher is the antidote to teacher burnout!"

KelliDeGuire | April 12, 2024
See all reviews

About the Host

Andrea Forcum (@EducatorAndrea) Profile Photo
Andrea Forcum (@EducatorAndrea)

Educator / Influencer / Speaker / Writer / Consultant / Mom

One fine day in 2021, Andrea noticed an unforgivable gap in the online education influencer space. EVERY POST by teachers, for teachers, was so heavily polished, heavily edited, and obviously scripted that it felt superficial and fake. Inspired to do something about it and fueled by ADHD - Andrea began creating videos with the sharp, satirical lens of a real teacher. One who’d been through the gauntlet with nine years of experience both pre and post COVID (if you know… you know).

In that short amount of time, Andrea’s audience has grown to over a million devoted followers across platforms (and growing fast). But these aren’t just fans, they’re fellow teachers, pouring in to laugh with Andrea about the beautiful chaos of the classroom. Educators from across North America (and the world) took notice of this authentic voice to rally behind. One who saw their struggle and allowed them to both laugh and feel validated for their careers in one of the most profoundly challenging (albeit rebelliously hopeful) professions. From letters to comments to emails aplenty - teachers now see @EducatorAndrea as someone who “gets it” in a way few do. A creative voice who acknowledges their struggle without ever dogging the profession or punching down.

ALSO — Andrea has a doctorate and two master’s degrees which she picked up along the way to her current position as a Professor of Teaching and Learning at Indiana State AND a presenting speaker for the Indiana State Teachers Association Good Teaching Conference.