Room212

You Don’t Just Read Room 212—You Feel the Connection.

The first EduFable™. The people are real. The moments are familiar. The impact is lasting.

Based on his experiences in the classroom and administration, Dr. Brad Johnson weaves an uplifting tale about what it truly takes to change students’ lives.

This story follows Mitchell Karns as he navigates an abrupt career shift and the daily chaos of a middle school classroom. With guidance from Tammy, the veteran teacher across the hall, he learns that sometimes a single, one-degree shift is enough to transform a classroom and lives.

Every school has a number of people like Mitchell. Those who may be new to their role or are struggling with making solid connections. 

But every school also has several like Tammy, quietly shaping culture and impacting students far beyond her own classroom walls.

Find out if Mitchell has what it takes to create that one-degree of difference that changes everything… Room 212: Available in paperback and ebook.

sitephoto-min
Bulk Orders
Room 212 Merchandise

What the early readers have to say...

Click the quote to read the full testimonial

   “In an era where education reform focuses heavily on test scores, data points, and standardized metrics, Brad Johnson’s “Room 212: One Teacher. One Room. One Degree That Changed Everything” serves as a powerful reminder of what truly matters in education: human connection. This book is not just another teaching memoir, it’s a raw, honest exploration of the transformative power that exists within the four walls of a single classroom.
   Johnson’s narrative cuts through the idealistic rhetoric often found in education literature and delivers something far more valuable: truth. The “one degree” referenced in the title isn’t about temperature or academic credentials—it’s about the subtle but profound shifts that occur when a teacher chooses to prioritize authentic relationships over curriculum mandates, when they see students as whole human beings rather than data points to be moved along an assembly line.
The heart of Johnson’s message is deceptively simple yet revolutionary: teaching is fundamentally about connection. Every academic standard, every lesson plan, every assessment should serve the greater purpose of building bridges between teacher and student, student and learning, student and their own potential. Johnson demonstrates how this philosophy transforms not just student outcomes, but the very soul of teaching itself.
   Room 212 becomes more than a physical space in Johnson’s telling it becomes a metaphor for the sacred trust between educator and student. Within these pages, readers will find themselves confronting uncomfortable truths about educational systems that prioritize compliance over creativity, standardization over individualization. Yet Johnson’s voice never turns cynical; instead, he offers hope grounded in the daily reality of choosing connection over convenience.”

Holly Ferguson |  Superintendent | Prosper ISD 

   “Room 212 delivers a powerful reminder of what lies at the heart of effective teaching: seeing students as whole people first, learners second. This heartwarming story follows a new teacher’s epiphany that connection must precede instruction. The book’s fitness center analogy strikes home—just as gyms use TVs to make cardio enjoyable, shouldn’t we make learning engaging? The author argues that when we expect students to embrace difficult work, we must first give them reasons to care. The most compelling insight: “When we look for brilliance, we find it. When we believe it’s there, students start to believe it too.” This shift from deficit-based to asset-based thinking could transform our classrooms. Bottom Line: A must-read that reconnects us to why relationship-building remains the foundation of educational excellence.”

 
Melissa Roehm | School Associate Superintendent | Nevada, USA
   “Room 212: One Teacher. One Room. One Degree That Changed Everything” is a profoundly moving and inspiring read for anyone in education. This isn’t a story about programs or initiatives—it’s about a teacher named Tammy in Room 212 who shows how one extra degree of presence, patience, and consistency can change everything. Her approach makes teaching feel more human, hopeful, and alive.

   Through the eyes of Mitchell Karns, a first-year teacher in Room 211, we see that teaching isn’t about control—it’s about trust, and about drawing out what already exists within our students. The book powerfully reminds us that connection, intentionality, and putting people before policies—and purpose before performance—are what truly drive transformation in the classroom.

   If you’ve ever questioned whether your presence matters or whether you’re really reaching your students, this story will resonate deeply. It’s a reminder that every educator has the power to be that one extra degree—the small difference that can change a life forever.

 Ed Cosentino | National Distinguished Principal | Maryland 

  “Room 212 is more than a book; it’s a mirror, a guide, and a love letter to teachers who choose to lead with heart. Through Mitchell’s journey, we’re reminded that students don’t need perfection; they need presence. They need teachers who see beyond the data, who believe out loud, and who reflect their worth, even on the days they can’t see it themselves. Dr. Brad Johnson has written something unforgettable, an honest, powerful tribute to what happens when we teach not just for outcomes, but for impact. This book will stay with me, as it will with every educator who has ever doubted, hoped, and kept showing up.”
 

Berna Bouwer | Inclusion Supervisor | Dubai, UAE

   “You (Dr. Johnson) have masterfully woven so many salient and powerful messages into an accessible and deeply relatable narrative – you have captured what we have all experienced in one form or another as beginning teachers but also what we continually experience as teachers in negotiating the tension between practice and policy Every teacher and indeed school leader should read this – I wish you every success with this Brad and thank you so much for the invitation to read it!”
   “Room 212 is a beautifully crafted story that captures the challenges, triumphs, and growth of Michael, a first-year teacher navigating the realities of the classroom. With the steady guidance of a seasoned mentor named Tammy, Michael learns to find purpose, resilience, and joy in the journey. This heartfelt narrative offers valuable insight, timeless wisdom, and practical advice that will resonate deeply with educators at every stage of their careers. Whether you are just beginning your teaching journey or have years of experience, Room 212 is a must-read that reaffirms the power of mentorship, perseverance, and connection in education.”
   “Through insightful storytelling and imagery, I was immediately transcended back to my first year of teaching complete with all the ‘new teacher feels’. This is an excellent pick for an engaging book club for early-career educators and their mentors, because there is a feeling to explore and a lesson learned or reaffirmed in each chapter.  Room 212 reminds us that the classroom is a pressure point, a launchpad, a proving ground. And often, transformation starts at 212°.” 

Introducing a Literary Genre...

edufable

EduFable™

Where Emotional Resonance Meets Professional Relevance

A new category of storytelling that doesn’t just inform—it transforms.

“What we feel, we remember. What we remember, we live. That’s the power of story. That’s the power of EduFables™.”
—Dr. Brad Johnson

The Next Chapter in Professional Development

EduFable™ is a groundbreaking genre of professional development where fable meets faculty growth. Each title is a fully immersive story—real, raw, and rooted in the classroom—that delivers more than inspiration. It delivers transformation.

We don’t remember slides.
We don’t remember acronyms.
We remember stories.
And when those stories reflect the heart of teaching and leadership, they don’t just teach us something new—they change the way we lead, connect, and grow.

Why I Created the EduFable™

“As a teacher—and later as an administrator—I sat through PD that never spoke to me. It spoke at me.”

Same recycled strategies.
Same one-size-fits-all solutions.
Out-of-touch training from people who never lived the work.
Initiatives that changed every semester.
And no one ever asked what we actually needed.

It didn’t reflect our reality.
It didn’t speak to the heart of this work.

So I stopped waiting.
And built what I wish had existed.

Something real.
Something human.
Not another checklist or compliance task.
But stories that stay with you. That challenge you. That see you.

That’s the EduFable™.
Where professional development finally feels personal.

What Makes an EduFable™ Different?

  • Narrative-Driven
    Emotionally engaging stories that mirror the real lives of educators.

  • PD-Embedded
    Practical strategies, leadership lessons, and classroom tools woven seamlessly into the plot.

  • Deeply Relatable
    Created by educators who understand the challenges, the calling, and the power of one connection.

  • Built for Impact
    Perfect for book studies, PLCs, or personal growth—every title includes reflection questions and leadership takeaways.

Books That Shift Culture. PD That Moves People.

One Degree Press was founded by Dr. Brad Johnson—internationally recognized education expert and #3 Global Guru in Education—to deliver transformational professional development through a new kind of book: the EduFable™. Blending story with strategy, EduFables™ like Room 212 don’t just inform—they inspire, affirm, and ignite real change in classrooms and school culture.

 

 

Bulk Orders Available! (Minimum 25 copies for bulk pricing)

Leave your information and we will contact you with more details

Scroll to Top