In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Denarius Frazier—Regional Superintendent of Instruction at Uncommon Schools, co-author of Reconnect: Building School Culture for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging, and perhaps the best teacher ever captured on film.

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Denarius is one of the most thoughtful and influential voices in the Teach Like a Champion community, known for his calm authority, precision, and deep commitment to ensuring every student experiences both belonging and excellence.

We talk about what’s underneath the iceberg of great teaching—what actually goes into building the kind of classrooms where students track the speaker, support one another, and master challenging material with joy and confidence.

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From there, Denarius shares what he most wants teachers to notice when watching his classroom videos—how modeling, clarity, and preparation make expert teaching look effortless.

We also discuss the daily teacher moves that make all the difference, and what habits and lenses help schools scale great teaching across classrooms.

Denarius reflects on his journey from math teacher to principal to regional leader, and how his classroom instincts continue to shape his leadership today.

Finally, we explore how he weaves belonging and rigor together—showing that high expectations and strong relationships aren’t opposites, but partners in helping students thrive.

Looking for great education books?

The podcast you’re listening to is sponsored by John Catt from Hachette Learning and hosted by Dr. Zach Groshell. John Catt publishes some of the best books in education, including my book, Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching.

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Published by Zach Groshell

Zach Groshell, PhD is a highly distinguished teacher, instructional coach, and education consultant. Zach is based in the Seattle area and works with schools around the globe to develop high quality instruction based on the science of how kids learn. Zach hosts the podcast, Progressively Incorrect, and is the author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching.