Joe LaTorre
@joelatorre.bsky.social
I build buy in, create community, and make kids and teachers love coming to school.
Two-time New York State teaching award winner and multiple fantasy football titleholder.
JosephLaTorre.net
https://linktr.ee/TheJoeLaTorre
Two-time New York State teaching award winner and multiple fantasy football titleholder.
JosephLaTorre.net
https://linktr.ee/TheJoeLaTorre
If you believe in people, believe in them publicly. Mrs. Francesca Wasserman was just named NYSEC Director of Excellence 2025. She advocates with conviction for kids, empowers us to think boldly, and creates genuine belonging for all.
Congrats!
Congrats!
November 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
If you believe in people, believe in them publicly. Mrs. Francesca Wasserman was just named NYSEC Director of Excellence 2025. She advocates with conviction for kids, empowers us to think boldly, and creates genuine belonging for all.
Congrats!
Congrats!
Had a great convo with Logan Taylor on Class in Session—belonging isn’t theory, it’s the game. It’s how you build classrooms where kids don’t just show up—they show out.
Wanna lead cultures that transform schools? Hit play.
Link below:
youtu.be/OPmGg4f2lZg
#edusky
#studentengagement
Wanna lead cultures that transform schools? Hit play.
Link below:
youtu.be/OPmGg4f2lZg
#edusky
#studentengagement
Logan Taylor | Y.B.Normal? | International Speaker | Author | Educational Consultant
YouTube video by Y.B.Normal?
youtu.be
November 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Had a great convo with Logan Taylor on Class in Session—belonging isn’t theory, it’s the game. It’s how you build classrooms where kids don’t just show up—they show out.
Wanna lead cultures that transform schools? Hit play.
Link below:
youtu.be/OPmGg4f2lZg
#edusky
#studentengagement
Wanna lead cultures that transform schools? Hit play.
Link below:
youtu.be/OPmGg4f2lZg
#edusky
#studentengagement
When I started teaching, I promised I’d do it differently. This year we went full Mighty Ducks.
The best part? Even when it’s rough—hurricanes, Covid, life chaos—this team stays resilient.
Halloween scaries, always.
Sunday Scaries? Never.
#edusky
#keynotespeaker
The best part? Even when it’s rough—hurricanes, Covid, life chaos—this team stays resilient.
Halloween scaries, always.
Sunday Scaries? Never.
#edusky
#keynotespeaker
October 31, 2025 at 3:57 PM
When I started teaching, I promised I’d do it differently. This year we went full Mighty Ducks.
The best part? Even when it’s rough—hurricanes, Covid, life chaos—this team stays resilient.
Halloween scaries, always.
Sunday Scaries? Never.
#edusky
#keynotespeaker
The best part? Even when it’s rough—hurricanes, Covid, life chaos—this team stays resilient.
Halloween scaries, always.
Sunday Scaries? Never.
#edusky
#keynotespeaker
A lot of what Marcus shares is timeless, but I felt this column and podcast are particularly valid in this moment we are grappling with.
One of the ongoing challenges as a teacher has been navigating "two classrooms" at once: one for students who are there regularly/moving forward confidently; the other for students who are frequently absent and very much disconnected from what we're doing.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Empty Desks
Podcast Episode · The Broken Copier · 10/29/2025 · 16m
podcasts.apple.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:11 PM
A lot of what Marcus shares is timeless, but I felt this column and podcast are particularly valid in this moment we are grappling with.
Just dropped a 🔥 convo with Logan Taylor from y.b.normal2016 - this guy gets belonging at the grassroots level, moving thousands of kids nationwide, the same way I’m doing with educators.
He broke down our Bridges program like no one ever has.
Full episode’s live.
#edusky
youtu.be/OPmGg4f2lZg
He broke down our Bridges program like no one ever has.
Full episode’s live.
#edusky
youtu.be/OPmGg4f2lZg
October 30, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Just dropped a 🔥 convo with Logan Taylor from y.b.normal2016 - this guy gets belonging at the grassroots level, moving thousands of kids nationwide, the same way I’m doing with educators.
He broke down our Bridges program like no one ever has.
Full episode’s live.
#edusky
youtu.be/OPmGg4f2lZg
He broke down our Bridges program like no one ever has.
Full episode’s live.
#edusky
youtu.be/OPmGg4f2lZg
Everyone wants a team of rock stars. I’ve been working with them for yearsselling out venues and dropping hits daily in the Red Wing of our middle school.
Trust. Resilience. Community. I’m lucky, and your dream team might be right in front of you too. Link below.
#edusky
#middleschools
Trust. Resilience. Community. I’m lucky, and your dream team might be right in front of you too. Link below.
#edusky
#middleschools
October 30, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Everyone wants a team of rock stars. I’ve been working with them for yearsselling out venues and dropping hits daily in the Red Wing of our middle school.
Trust. Resilience. Community. I’m lucky, and your dream team might be right in front of you too. Link below.
#edusky
#middleschools
Trust. Resilience. Community. I’m lucky, and your dream team might be right in front of you too. Link below.
#edusky
#middleschools
Halloween Throwback: We went all in as the Friends cast—wigs, props, even Ross’s spray tan (which I completely overdid). But it mattered. Every 13-year-old loved Friends, so we stepped into their world. Connection isn’t accidental. Sometimes it takes too much bronzer.
#Edusky
#studentengagement
#Edusky
#studentengagement
October 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Halloween Throwback: We went all in as the Friends cast—wigs, props, even Ross’s spray tan (which I completely overdid). But it mattered. Every 13-year-old loved Friends, so we stepped into their world. Connection isn’t accidental. Sometimes it takes too much bronzer.
#Edusky
#studentengagement
#Edusky
#studentengagement
It’s Halloween Week. Year two. Day one, I told them, “We’re all calling each other Chef. Like The Bear.”
It stuck. Every kid. Every teacher. “Yes, Chef.”Now someone yells “Chef?” and we all know who they mean.
That’s community. Not a secret. Just intentionality. Go cook 🔥
#edusky #middleschool
It stuck. Every kid. Every teacher. “Yes, Chef.”Now someone yells “Chef?” and we all know who they mean.
That’s community. Not a secret. Just intentionality. Go cook 🔥
#edusky #middleschool
October 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
It’s Halloween Week. Year two. Day one, I told them, “We’re all calling each other Chef. Like The Bear.”
It stuck. Every kid. Every teacher. “Yes, Chef.”Now someone yells “Chef?” and we all know who they mean.
That’s community. Not a secret. Just intentionality. Go cook 🔥
#edusky #middleschool
It stuck. Every kid. Every teacher. “Yes, Chef.”Now someone yells “Chef?” and we all know who they mean.
That’s community. Not a secret. Just intentionality. Go cook 🔥
#edusky #middleschool
Student teaching is hard. Having a student teacher? Harder. But this guy leaned in, took bold stands for our students, and made middle school English look like a Marvel movie. Doctor Strange would be jealous.
Grateful for mentors, moments, and this work. 🎃
#edchat
#middleschool
#edusky
Grateful for mentors, moments, and this work. 🎃
#edchat
#middleschool
#edusky
October 27, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Student teaching is hard. Having a student teacher? Harder. But this guy leaned in, took bold stands for our students, and made middle school English look like a Marvel movie. Doctor Strange would be jealous.
Grateful for mentors, moments, and this work. 🎃
#edchat
#middleschool
#edusky
Grateful for mentors, moments, and this work. 🎃
#edchat
#middleschool
#edusky
Belonging isn’t a buzzword. It’s the foundation of every great classroom.
Had an incredible time with educators at Molloy University digging into how we build it.
When teachers lead with reflection and intention, we become unstoppable.
#edusky
Had an incredible time with educators at Molloy University digging into how we build it.
When teachers lead with reflection and intention, we become unstoppable.
#edusky
October 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Belonging isn’t a buzzword. It’s the foundation of every great classroom.
Had an incredible time with educators at Molloy University digging into how we build it.
When teachers lead with reflection and intention, we become unstoppable.
#edusky
Had an incredible time with educators at Molloy University digging into how we build it.
When teachers lead with reflection and intention, we become unstoppable.
#edusky
Want project-based learning that builds real community?
In The Branding Project, students work with local businesses—pitching, editing, and designing for authentic audiences while building resilience, leadership, and real-world skills.
#edusky
#studentengagement
In The Branding Project, students work with local businesses—pitching, editing, and designing for authentic audiences while building resilience, leadership, and real-world skills.
#edusky
#studentengagement
October 23, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Want project-based learning that builds real community?
In The Branding Project, students work with local businesses—pitching, editing, and designing for authentic audiences while building resilience, leadership, and real-world skills.
#edusky
#studentengagement
In The Branding Project, students work with local businesses—pitching, editing, and designing for authentic audiences while building resilience, leadership, and real-world skills.
#edusky
#studentengagement
Hear me out: if we want authentic writing, we have to give authentic feedback.
Stop outsourcing that to AI.
#studentengagement
#belonginginschools
#englishteacher
#edchat
Stop outsourcing that to AI.
#studentengagement
#belonginginschools
#englishteacher
#edchat
October 23, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Hear me out: if we want authentic writing, we have to give authentic feedback.
Stop outsourcing that to AI.
#studentengagement
#belonginginschools
#englishteacher
#edchat
Stop outsourcing that to AI.
#studentengagement
#belonginginschools
#englishteacher
#edchat
Want to show them that you trust them? Don't lean on on the same handful of responders. Cold call.
Want to create resilient students?
Then refuse to accept "I don't know,"
Cold call.
Want to build belonging in your school?
Now accepting cold calls. 😆
#classroomculture
#edusky
Want to create resilient students?
Then refuse to accept "I don't know,"
Cold call.
Want to build belonging in your school?
Now accepting cold calls. 😆
#classroomculture
#edusky
October 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Want to show them that you trust them? Don't lean on on the same handful of responders. Cold call.
Want to create resilient students?
Then refuse to accept "I don't know,"
Cold call.
Want to build belonging in your school?
Now accepting cold calls. 😆
#classroomculture
#edusky
Want to create resilient students?
Then refuse to accept "I don't know,"
Cold call.
Want to build belonging in your school?
Now accepting cold calls. 😆
#classroomculture
#edusky
Confession - I've never had the Sunday Scaries. I know. I'm nuts.
The reason I speak to educators is to share what renews and refreshes me. A big part of that is people like @mrneibauer.bsky.social Here he discusses "why" we get it and how to solve it:
adrianneibauer.substack.com/p/sunday-sca...
The reason I speak to educators is to share what renews and refreshes me. A big part of that is people like @mrneibauer.bsky.social Here he discusses "why" we get it and how to solve it:
adrianneibauer.substack.com/p/sunday-sca...
Sunday Scaries
I know of no other profession where there is such persistent and consistent dread for the start of each week.
adrianneibauer.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Confession - I've never had the Sunday Scaries. I know. I'm nuts.
The reason I speak to educators is to share what renews and refreshes me. A big part of that is people like @mrneibauer.bsky.social Here he discusses "why" we get it and how to solve it:
adrianneibauer.substack.com/p/sunday-sca...
The reason I speak to educators is to share what renews and refreshes me. A big part of that is people like @mrneibauer.bsky.social Here he discusses "why" we get it and how to solve it:
adrianneibauer.substack.com/p/sunday-sca...
Reposted by Joe LaTorre
oh you’re a nihilist? name zero things that matter
October 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
oh you’re a nihilist? name zero things that matter
Belonging isn’t online.
It’s built in the rain outside Anfield.
Laughter, resilience, strangers turned family.
Back in New York, I’m ready to build that same community in classrooms, conference halls, anywhere.
Let’s go.
#YNWA #Liverpool #Community
#belonginginschools #edusky
It’s built in the rain outside Anfield.
Laughter, resilience, strangers turned family.
Back in New York, I’m ready to build that same community in classrooms, conference halls, anywhere.
Let’s go.
#YNWA #Liverpool #Community
#belonginginschools #edusky
October 17, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Belonging isn’t online.
It’s built in the rain outside Anfield.
Laughter, resilience, strangers turned family.
Back in New York, I’m ready to build that same community in classrooms, conference halls, anywhere.
Let’s go.
#YNWA #Liverpool #Community
#belonginginschools #edusky
It’s built in the rain outside Anfield.
Laughter, resilience, strangers turned family.
Back in New York, I’m ready to build that same community in classrooms, conference halls, anywhere.
Let’s go.
#YNWA #Liverpool #Community
#belonginginschools #edusky
you hate what your students love, don't be shocked when they tune you out.
The moments they let you know what they rock with are a chance to build lasting relationships, and this is a relationship business.
What's something your students or teacher put you on to?
#edusky
#studentengagement
The moments they let you know what they rock with are a chance to build lasting relationships, and this is a relationship business.
What's something your students or teacher put you on to?
#edusky
#studentengagement
October 15, 2025 at 8:38 PM
you hate what your students love, don't be shocked when they tune you out.
The moments they let you know what they rock with are a chance to build lasting relationships, and this is a relationship business.
What's something your students or teacher put you on to?
#edusky
#studentengagement
The moments they let you know what they rock with are a chance to build lasting relationships, and this is a relationship business.
What's something your students or teacher put you on to?
#edusky
#studentengagement
Pumped to get in front of these Long Island educators at Molloy on Friday! We’re gonna talk about belonging, we’re gonna talk about buy-in, and most importantly, we’re gonna talk about how we connect with each other.
This is the stuff that matters. This is where the real work happens!
This is the stuff that matters. This is where the real work happens!
October 14, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Pumped to get in front of these Long Island educators at Molloy on Friday! We’re gonna talk about belonging, we’re gonna talk about buy-in, and most importantly, we’re gonna talk about how we connect with each other.
This is the stuff that matters. This is where the real work happens!
This is the stuff that matters. This is where the real work happens!
Community isn’t convenient. It’s showing up when your couch is calling and leaning into the awkward with new faces. That’s what Bridges is about: kids from different districts learning to lead, serve, and grow through discomfort.
This is how you build bridges: with intention. DM for more
#edusky
This is how you build bridges: with intention. DM for more
#edusky
October 13, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Community isn’t convenient. It’s showing up when your couch is calling and leaning into the awkward with new faces. That’s what Bridges is about: kids from different districts learning to lead, serve, and grow through discomfort.
This is how you build bridges: with intention. DM for more
#edusky
This is how you build bridges: with intention. DM for more
#edusky
Intentionality isn’t just a plan. It’s a roadmap that turns every interruption into a chance to show up, have fun, and build real community.
Grit N Wit gave us that today. It wasn’t just a day of resilience. It was a day of belonging.
#edusky
#middleschool
#resilience
#belonginginschools
Grit N Wit gave us that today. It wasn’t just a day of resilience. It was a day of belonging.
#edusky
#middleschool
#resilience
#belonginginschools
October 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Intentionality isn’t just a plan. It’s a roadmap that turns every interruption into a chance to show up, have fun, and build real community.
Grit N Wit gave us that today. It wasn’t just a day of resilience. It was a day of belonging.
#edusky
#middleschool
#resilience
#belonginginschools
Grit N Wit gave us that today. It wasn’t just a day of resilience. It was a day of belonging.
#edusky
#middleschool
#resilience
#belonginginschools
Stop trying to be the “funny teacher.”
Funny doesn’t scale.
Fair does.
You want kids to trust you? Be consistent. Keep your word. Build systems. Hold them accountable and love them through the tough days.
Play the long game.
#studentengagement
#newteacher
#middleschool
#classroommanagement
#edusky
Funny doesn’t scale.
Fair does.
You want kids to trust you? Be consistent. Keep your word. Build systems. Hold them accountable and love them through the tough days.
Play the long game.
#studentengagement
#newteacher
#middleschool
#classroommanagement
#edusky
October 1, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Stop trying to be the “funny teacher.”
Funny doesn’t scale.
Fair does.
You want kids to trust you? Be consistent. Keep your word. Build systems. Hold them accountable and love them through the tough days.
Play the long game.
#studentengagement
#newteacher
#middleschool
#classroommanagement
#edusky
Funny doesn’t scale.
Fair does.
You want kids to trust you? Be consistent. Keep your word. Build systems. Hold them accountable and love them through the tough days.
Play the long game.
#studentengagement
#newteacher
#middleschool
#classroommanagement
#edusky
Male teachers are down to 23%. That’s crazy.
Shout out to my mentors and the student teachers already schooling me.
Get a mentor. Be a mentor. Stop waiting for someone else to fix it.
#studentengagement
#edusky
#classroomculture
#schoolleadership
#belonginginschools
#menwhoteach
Shout out to my mentors and the student teachers already schooling me.
Get a mentor. Be a mentor. Stop waiting for someone else to fix it.
#studentengagement
#edusky
#classroomculture
#schoolleadership
#belonginginschools
#menwhoteach
September 30, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Male teachers are down to 23%. That’s crazy.
Shout out to my mentors and the student teachers already schooling me.
Get a mentor. Be a mentor. Stop waiting for someone else to fix it.
#studentengagement
#edusky
#classroomculture
#schoolleadership
#belonginginschools
#menwhoteach
Shout out to my mentors and the student teachers already schooling me.
Get a mentor. Be a mentor. Stop waiting for someone else to fix it.
#studentengagement
#edusky
#classroomculture
#schoolleadership
#belonginginschools
#menwhoteach
If you believe in people, believe in them publicly. A journalist called me about our principal last week, and I couldn’t wait to brag. She’s building real community, embracing tech, and proving middle school can be about values, not just skills. Big congrats to her!
#edusky
#middleschool
#edusky
#middleschool
September 29, 2025 at 3:43 PM
If you believe in people, believe in them publicly. A journalist called me about our principal last week, and I couldn’t wait to brag. She’s building real community, embracing tech, and proving middle school can be about values, not just skills. Big congrats to her!
#edusky
#middleschool
#edusky
#middleschool
Whenever Marcus and Adrian chop it up you know good things are going to happen. Even when discussing the intersection of issues we all are feeling, the conversations are about solutions.
"But at the same time the stakes feel higher, I feel like the solutions feel smaller."
One of the places @mrneibauer.bsky.social and I arrived in our conversation: we don't think adults are meeting the moment with their "solutions" right now.
One of the places @mrneibauer.bsky.social and I arrived in our conversation: we don't think adults are meeting the moment with their "solutions" right now.
September 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Whenever Marcus and Adrian chop it up you know good things are going to happen. Even when discussing the intersection of issues we all are feeling, the conversations are about solutions.
Reposted by Joe LaTorre
How you spend your time is an expression of value.
If you're trying to save time/be efficient, you're signaling it doesn't have as much value as something else.
And people notice.
(Especially students.)
If you're trying to save time/be efficient, you're signaling it doesn't have as much value as something else.
And people notice.
(Especially students.)
September 25, 2025 at 3:08 AM
How you spend your time is an expression of value.
If you're trying to save time/be efficient, you're signaling it doesn't have as much value as something else.
And people notice.
(Especially students.)
If you're trying to save time/be efficient, you're signaling it doesn't have as much value as something else.
And people notice.
(Especially students.)