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.

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Jan. 5, 2026

Why Class Sizes Are the Real Crisis No One Is Fixing

Why Class Sizes Are the Real Crisis No One Is Fixing

PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd Teacher besties… this episode I’m talking about hosting nearly 30 people for Thanksgiving (including a self-appointed “Director of Thanksgiving”), discovering my husband’s family may have some intense World War II memorabilia, and the moment I suddenly had to ask, “Was he… on the right side?” And then, because the universe wasn’t done with me, we dive into a student who shotgunned a seltzer in the middle of a lesson like he was training for a frat he cannot legally join yet… and another student who thought it would be hilarious to make his teacher’s mom his Chromebook wallpaper. Plus, I’m climbing onto a hill that I know is going to get me fired up, because if we don’t fix class sizes in education, nothing else even matters.

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Dec. 29, 2025

The Teacher With a Degree in Vibes with Gerry Potoka

The Teacher With a Degree in Vibes with Gerry Potoka

PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! - https://bit.ly/43BquPd Teacher besties… this week I brought on one of my favorite chaotic humans: the hilarious Gerry Potoka, comedian, teacher, and man of mysteriously undefined licensure. In this episode, Gerry and I try to pinpoint what he actually teaches, debate whether PE tests are secretly impossible, unpack his “desk art collection,” and discover that his lowercase k is actually a cursive crime. We also react to a voice memo that had both of us questioning the ethics of having “favorite students,” accidentally stumble into a conversation about charcuterie boards and disease vectors, and play a game of Would You Rather: Teacher Edition that reveals way too much about our tolerance for cafeteria behavior. Takeaways: The shocking subject Jerry may, or may not, actually be licensed to teach. Why his lowercase k started an existential crisis in the teacher’s lounge. The voice memo that made us both rethink “favorite students” forever. Kinder field trips vs. middle school dances: the battle of true horrors. A charcuterie board, a stomach bug, and a chain reaction that absolutely nobody survived.

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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
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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.