How can reflection, self-knowledge, and meaningful relationships transform education and help students discover who they truly are?

Today’s guest is John Creger, an acclaimed high school English teacher and the visionary behind the Personal Creed Project, a transformative curriculum that helps students reflect deeply on their identities, values, and life experiences. Over his decades-long career, John has championed teaching philosophies that emphasize self-discovery, community engagement, and the power of storytelling to create lasting connections between students, teachers, and learning itself.

In this episode, we explore the evolution of John Creger’s teaching philosophy and the profound impact of the Personal Creed Project. John shares how this innovative approach helps students connect with their inner selves and uncover their purpose, fostering deepened learning that goes beyond traditional academic achievement. We discuss the challenges of modern education, including the shift from progressive teaching to standardized testing, and how this change has affected creativity, engagement, and joy in the classroom.

The conversation delves into the importance of building relationships in education, the unique experiences of teaching immigrant students, and the role of qualitative data in measuring self-knowledge and growth. John also reflects on the role of wisdom, culture, and spirituality in learning, advocating for a holistic curriculum that integrates emotional intelligence, personal narratives, and community service into the fabric of education.

This episode offers a thought-provoking vision of what education could look like when students are empowered to explore themselves, their communities, and the world. It’s a powerful reminder that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge but about fostering wisdom, joy, and connection—transforming classrooms into spaces where meaningful, lifelong growth begins.