Is Santa Claus a Zombie? And Other Questions That Made Me a Teacher

What happens when a retired Army Staff Sergeant swaps a squad bay for a high school classroom? He asks the only question that matters on day one: Is Santa Claus a Zombie?

When P. Alber retired from the military after more than a decade of service, he thought he knew a thing or two about leadership, structure, and chain of command. Then he stood in front of a room full of teenagers and realized his standard military playbook wasn't going to save him. In the modern classroom, rank doesn't guarantee respect you have to build rapport from scratch.

Is Santa Claus a Zombie? is a funny, honest, and deeply authentic look at the chaotic front lines of modern education. Part military-to-civilian memoir and part practical guide for educators, this book strips away the academic buzzwords to show what it actually takes to engage a room full of high schoolers.

Through trial, error, and small wins, Alber details how throwing out standard lesson plans and leaning into ridiculous, high-concept questions became his ultimate tactical advantage. By creating a unique "Contract of Respect" and treating students like adults, he unlocked a way to navigate everything from lighthearted debates to intense, real-world discussions on politics, history, and community crises.