377: Being in the Presence of Teaching with Doug Fisher

Teaching is about more than delivering content—it’s about being present with students, noticing their needs, and working alongside colleagues to create meaningful learning experiences. In this episode, Doug Fisher shares insights into what it means to be truly present in teaching and how educators can be more intentional about the way they connect, collaborate, and respond to the people around them. From building strong relationships with students to working as a team with colleagues, this conversation highlights how teaching becomes more powerful when educators learn and grow together.

Quotables

• “When a team feels efficient and effective, and we feel like we’re making a difference together, that brings us joy.”
• “Putting good systems in place, I think is really important.”
• “The more time teachers spend in each others classroom, the more benefit it has academically for the outcome of students.”

About Doug Fisher

Doug Fisher went from working at KFC and riding ambulances to pay his way through college to becoming a Professor of Education at San Diego State and writing a whole shelf of books on how learning actually happens. But here’s the part that makes him different: he never left the classroom. He co-founded a school in 2007 and still teaches there today. Over the past 20 years, he has helped more than 100,000 educators improve how they teach. Through these experiences, he realized something that drives him CRAZY: education has never had more experts—and less advice that actually survives a real classroom. Because of this, teachers sit through endless PD sessions, nod along… and NOTHING changes for their students on Monday morning. So he decided to start helping educators the RIGHT way—with evidence-based practices like teacher clarity, gradual release of responsibility, and PLC+ that actually survive contact with real students.

Connect with Doug Fisher

• Website
• Email: [email protected]
• Connect on X
• Linkedin

Student Engagement Resources from Doug Fisher

• PLTogether Student Engagement

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About the author, Gretchen

I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.

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