31 Years in the Classroom · 99 Countries · 4 Books
— Mark Borden, M.S. —
A thirty-one year veteran science teacher, licensed real estate broker, traveler to ninety-nine countries, and founder of his school's Black Student Union. He filed over a hundred abuse reports, talked students off real ledges, and was written up for teaching suicide prevention. He retired in 2024. He did not retire quietly.
The Complete Series

Book One
A New Model for American Education
Thirty-one years of evidence that the American public school system is failing — not by accident, but by design.
▶ Listen Free — Andrew Narration

Book Two
Building It From Scratch
The blueprint for a school built around one question: what do students actually need? From the ground up.
▶ Listen Free — Part 1 of 2
▶ Listen Free — Part 2 of 2

Book Four — NEW
How California Fraudsters Fleeced a Generation
Nearly one billion dollars in documented fraud. Narrated by the author in his own voice.
▶ Listen Free — Author's Own Voice
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. I did both."
— Mark Borden, M.S.
From the Students
Train of Life
At birth, we boarded the train of life and met our parents, and we believed they would always travel by our side. As time goes by, some significant people board the train — siblings, friends, teachers, and even the love of our life. Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. This train ride has been a mixture of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.
When the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty — we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who continue to travel on the train of life.
— Posted on Facebook, Mark Borden's last day of teaching, 2024
86 comments followed.
Listen Free
Blow It Up!
A New Model for American Education — 78 min
The School Students Deserve
Building It From Scratch — Part 1 of 2
Part 2 of 2
Ripping Off the Future
Narrated by Mark Borden — Author's Own Voice — 73 min
About the Author
Mark Borden spent thirty-one years as a high school science teacher in the Coachella Valley, California. He founded and ran the Black Student Union for nine years, filed over one hundred abuse reports, and was formally disciplined for teaching suicide prevention during health education week.
He proposed a ten-dollar door lock to protect students from a school shooter and was laughed at. He solved a gate problem in two days that the administration had been unable to close for eight years. He stayed through all of it because the students deserved someone who would.
He is also a licensed real estate broker, a business owner, a former semi-professional baseball player, and a traveler to ninety-nine countries on all seven continents — regularly broadcasting live to his students from the Amazon, Antarctica, Thailand, and beyond.
He retired in 2024. He wrote four books. He did not retire quietly.
Get in Touch
Mark Borden is available for speaking engagements, educational consulting, and media inquiries.
Send a Message
"You definitely changed lives. Enjoy your retirement, it's well deserved."
— Dee
"You taught us more than science. You taught us how to be better humans — and that's something many of us have taken into adulthood."
— Liliana
RMHS & CCHS
"Congratulations to my favorite teacher of all time! Thank you for having the patience with me when no one else did."
— Cameron
"You were there during a crucial part of my character development. I myself have recently decided I want to pursue teaching as a life-long love. Thank you for having an influence on me."
— Zelaya
RMHS & CCHS
"You've been the greatest educator and friend to many students. I still recall all the times you've helped me — from being one of my only confidants to walking me to every class I was failing."
— Paula
"Congratulations to the goat and legend Mr. Borden. Best teacher hands down — no one will ever understand how much of a legend you are."
— Zachariah
"Anyone who was ever in your class is beyond lucky. Your class ended up being exactly what I needed. Someone was definitely watching out for me."
— Gracie
"You were always one of my favorite teachers at CCHS even though I was always giving you trouble! Couldn't have asked for a more caring teacher who got me interested in science even as an adult."
— Martha
Class of 2013
"To this day, I credit me graduating to the support you gave and the care you showed. You definitely changed lives."
— Dee