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EPISODE 221: ‘Summer School’ with Eric Stoller

February 26, 2025

It’s 1987. The surf’s up, the sun’s out, and high school teacher Freddy Shoop is about to have the summer of his life… until he’s roped into teaching remedial English to a group of students who would rather be anywhere else.

Overview:

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, Kevin, Eric, and Mark crack open Summer School, the cult classic that blends outrageous 80s comedy with a surprisingly insightful take on teaching, student motivation, and the eternal struggle between fun and responsibility.

We break down what makes Mark Harmon’s Mr. Shoop one of the most unexpectedly relatable teachers in movie history—does his unconventional, rule-breaking approach make him a terrible educator, or the kind of mentor students actually need? We also dive into the misfit classroom of 80s archetypes, from the horror-obsessed duo of Chainsaw and Dave to the overachieving student with test anxiety, and discuss how these characters still reflect real-world education challenges today.

Meet Our Guest:

About Eric Stoller:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esstoller/

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/8hr9wyFtM-0

Takeaways:

  • Connecting with students has a huge impact
  • Sometimes you need respect from students before they like you
  • Have fun and be yourself
  • Take the five seconds to say something individualized to a student

The Host:

Host, Kevin Stoller:
Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Connect with Kevin:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

Connect with co-host, Carla Cummins:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-cummins-01449659/

Our Partners:

For more information on our partners:
Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) – https://www.a4le.org/
Education Leaders’ Organization – https://www.ed-leaders.org/
Second Class Foundation – https://secondclassfoundation.org/
EDmarket – https://www.edmarket.org/
Catapult @ Penn GSE – https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

Be a Guest on the Better Learning Podcast!

Are you rethinking what learning environments can be? We are always looking for thoughtful school leaders, designers, and educators to join the Better Learning Podcast and share real stories from the field.

As a guest, you will take part in meaningful conversations about student centered design, planning, and collaboration and how these ideas show up in real schools. We explore what is working, what is evolving, and what educators can do today to create learning spaces that truly support students and teachers.

If you are passionate about improving learning environments and have insights, experiences, or lessons to share, we would love to have you on the podcast.

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About the podcast

The Better Learning Podcast explores the ideas, strategies, and stories shaping today’s learning environments. Host Kevin Stoller sits down with school leaders, designers, and educators to uncover how thoughtful design, planning, and collaboration can transform schools into spaces that truly put students first.

Through in-depth conversations, the podcast highlights how Radically Student Centered™ approaches can make a tangible difference in schools, inspiring educators, administrators, designers, and anyone passionate about the future of learning.