Creating the Most Magical Schools on Earth

Imagine a classroom where students are so captivated by their lessons that they don’t just absorb information—they experience it as the assume the role of a spy during the American Revolution in a high-stakes mission that has them decoding secret messages and making split-second decisions that could change the course of history forever. What if the content you teach could spark curiosity, ignite creativity, and leave your students with memories they’ll carry with them for years to come?

That’s the vision behind my new book, Imagineering Education: A Guide to Creating the Most Magical Schools on Earth, hitting shelves in June 2025—and I’m thrilled to announce that presale is just around the corner!

The book is a culmination of my journey in education, leadership, and my passion for blending creativity with learning. Drawing from over thirty years of experience and inspired by the principles and practices of Disney’s Imagineers, Imagineering Education offers a fresh approach to transforming classrooms into dynamic, engaging environments that captivate students and spark their imagination. Part manifesto, part playbook—it’s a blueprint that provides practical, creative strategies any educator can use to turn “meh” into “wow!”

Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on this labor of love, sharing a few highlights that’ll spark your curiosity and inviting you to join me on this exciting journey.

What’s Inside the Book?

Imagineering Education is packed with actionable strategies, real-world examples, and key principles that you can apply to your own classroom. It’s designed to help you think outside the box and create experiences that captivate and inspire. Here’s a sneak peek at a few of the chapters:

Chapter 3 – Imagineering and Immersive Design

In this chapter, we explore how Imagineers craft immersive, story-driven experiences that go beyond simple entertainment—they transport guests into worlds that feel real, alive, and emotionally compelling. The design of a Disney park isn’t just about rides and attractions; it’s about creating a seamless, theatrical experience where every detail, from sightlines to soundscapes, reinforces the story being told. You'll discover how Imagineers use the principles of showmanship, theming, and environmental storytelling to create unforgettable moments using practices that can be transferred to your classroom. Whether it’s the forced perspective of Cinderella Castle, the layered storytelling of Galaxy’s Edge, or the way a queue line builds anticipation, Imagineers design experiences with precision and intentionality, and you can too!

For educators, the lesson is clear: our classrooms and schools are our stages, and we are the show designers. By applying these same principles, we can transform learning environments into dynamic, immersive spaces where students feel engaged, inspired, and part of something larger than themselves.

Chapter 4 – The Magic is More than the Space

A beautifully designed classroom can spark curiosity, but true learning magic happens through the relationships and experiences within it. In Chapter 4, we explore how student success is driven not just by immersive spaces but by the people who bring them to life—teachers, administrators, and staff. Drawing from educational research and Disney Imagineering principles, this chapter highlights six key factors that shape learning beyond the physical environment: strong relationships, prior knowledge, student characteristics, motivation, quality instruction, and timely feedback. At the heart of it all is the teacher—the ultimate Imagineer of the classroom.

As Walt Disney famously said, “The people are the magic.” The same holds true for schools. Thoughtful spaces set the stage, but it’s the teachers who make the magic—through their passion, adaptability, and commitment to shaping meaningful experiences for students every day.

Chapter 20 –Transforming Space into a Story Place

Explore the ways in which Imagineers craft immersive, story-driven experiences and discover how to transform your classroom into a dynamic stage where students become active participants in their own learning adventure. Drawing from theatrical set design, I’ll show you practical ways to create immersive learning environments—think thematic decor like a rainforest canopy or colonial marketplace, flexible furniture arrangements, and interactive stations that spark hands-on exploration. You’ll learn how multi-sensory elements like ambient sounds (e.g., jungle noises or historical soundscapes), strategic lighting (e.g., warm hues for storytelling or cool tones for focus), and props (e.g., replica artifacts or math manipulatives) can deepen engagement, boost memory retention, and foster skills like problem-solving and collaboration. Backed by research, these techniques promise to enhance motivation, provide practical learning experiences, and make abstract concepts vivid and memorable. You don’t need a big budget to bring these ideas to life but you will need a healthy dose of creativity and imagination, and I’ll help you with that, too.

Why This Book Matters Now

Education is at a tipping point. We all feel it. Students are increasingly disengaged, teachers are overwhelmed, there are distractions everywhere and the traditional methods of sit-and-get instruction within a “bell-to-cell” framework just aren’t cutting it. But here’s the good news—change doesn’t require endless resources or a massive budget. It starts with a shift in how we think about teaching and learning.

If you’ve spent any time in the classroom, you understand the power of engagement. When students are emotionally connected to the content, they thrive.

This book, then, is for YOU—the educator who’s ready to step away from the traditional lecture-and-test cycle and build a classroom that is alive with creativity, exploration, and deep learning. It’s for the teacher who wants to craft experiences that make students not just learn—but feel—and in doing so, truly understand.

Join the Magic Early—Presale Starts Soon!

I’m beyond excited to get Imagineering Education into your hands, and presale is your chance to be first in line. Sign up now at www.imagineeringedu.com/thebook for exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and a shot at special bonuses. Pre-orders kick off soon (stay tuned for the exact date!), with availability beginning in June 2025. Want a taste right away?  When you sign up I’ll send you my free Immersive Learning Space Guide—it’s a little magic to tide you over and get you dreaming.

Let’s Make Schools Magical Together

This book is more than pages—it’s a movement. I’ve poured years of teaching, dreaming, and tinkering into it, inspired by countless educators who’ve dared to think differently. Now, I’d love to hear from you: What’s one way you’d like to bring magic to your classroom? Drop it in the comments below or tag me on X @ImagineeringEd with #ImagineeringEd—I’ll be cheering you on.

Here’s to creating schools where every day feels like a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. See you in June—or sooner, if you jump on the presale train!