In this episode of The TechEd Clubhouse, I sit down with Rae Hughart—teacher, speaker, author, and founder of the Teachers Deserve It movement—to get brutally honest about professional development, time-saving hacks, and what teachers really need to thrive in today’s classrooms.

Rae isn’t sugarcoating anything. She’s talking about howeducators are overworked, under-supported, and often stuck with outdated PD models that just don't cut it anymore. Together, we dig into how to flip that script—offering teachers choice, agency, and time back in their day.

We talk about:

• Why PD needs to work like real teaching—differentiated, practical, and personalized
• The power of micro-learning and teacher-driven goal setting
• How Rae and her team support over 21 states (and counting) with hands-on coaching and a fully loaded Learning Hub
• Why paraprofessionals, new teachers, and special areateachers can’t be left out anymore
• Her mission to help 1 million teachers by the end of 2025
• And why it’s OK to ask for help, even if you don’t know the solution yet

Whether you're a new teacher, a seasoned vet, or an admintrying to make PD not suck—you’ll get something out of this.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• “Stop surviving. Start thriving.”
• PD shouldn’t be a 6-hour sit-and-get. It should look likegreat teaching.
• Give teachers TIME. Thirty seconds saved here and fiveminutes there add up fast.
• Let teachers set their own learning goals—and then support the hell out of them.
• It’s not just about student data. It’s about teacherretention and sustainability.
• Rae’s team is basically your on-demand assistant. Got a pain point? They’ll solve it.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

💻 TeachersDeserveIt.com

🔑 The Learning Hub (with Free Trial)

📘 Teachers Deserve It Book by Rae Hughart & Adam Welcome – Get it here

📌 Free Digital Downloads

📣 Join the Facebook Community

📱 Follow Rae on TikTok & Instagram: @RaeHughart

👋 Connect with Rae Hughart:

Website: https://www.teachersdeserveit.com

Twitter/X: @RaeHughart

Instagram: @RaeHughart

Facebook: Teachers Deserve It Group

🧰 Tech Ed Clubhouse Tools of the Week:

🎯 Rae’s top PD tip: Try standing while conferencing with students—boosts efficiency by 33%

🧠 Pro Move: Don’t hoard tools. Share them. Nothing’s behind a paywall that shouldn’t be.

🗣️ Call to Action:

🔥 Want to join a PD movement that doesn’t suck?
➡️Head to teachersdeserveit.com and try out the Learning Hub. Use the free trial, download everything, and cancel if it’s not for you.

🧱 And while you're at it, join the Facebook group—even if you just lurk. Trust me, you’ll find value.

🎧 About the Host:

I’m Dan Thomas—retired after 32 years in the classroom, butnot done disrupting education. I bring conversations that matter straight to teachers who give a damn.

Follow me:

Twitter/X: @coachthomastech

Podcast: TechEd Clubhouse

Blog: coachthomastech.com/blog