Ever feel like you live at school? If you are used to being the last car in the parking lot, this episode is for you. Being a teacher shouldn't mean you forfeit your right to take care of your needs and have a life outside of school. It's one of the quickest ways to end up in teacher burnout. Leaving school on time gives you the chance to reboot and recoup for the next school day. In this episode, you'll learn why going home on time is so important to your health and effectiveness in the clas...
Sep 20
17 min
Are you tired from making decisions all day as a teacher? It can often feel like you're on a hamster wheel, dealing with things that require your input during the school day, only to come home...and have to make more decisions! Decision fatigue is real, and it can contribute to teacher burnout. In this episode, you'll learn an "idea" for how to approach decision-making in and out of the classroom. It's a process you can apply to all the demands you've been thrown at throughout the y...
Sep 13
15 min
How do you write a book as a teacher? What do you need to do to become an author? A little more than ten years ago, I was asking myself these questions and desperately trying to find the answers. I felt pulled to put a children's book into the world, and then a book for teachers. If you are a teacher who has ever wanted more than just teaching in the traditional classroom to be a part of your legacy, you don't want to miss this episode. Learn how I got into writing books when I knew absolutel...
Jul 27
25 min
What's it like to be the teacher of the year? This week, I'm looking back on my experience as a state Teacher of the Year and what it taught me about self-worth and making an impact in education. If you are someone who is going through the interview process for a teaching job or for an award, you'll want to listen to this episode on how the unexpected twists in life can lead you to discover new ways to have an impact. You can listen to my interview on teacher burnout last week with Rainboad S...
Jul 20
19 min
What do you think of when you hear "school leadership?" Being an effective school leader goes beyond test scores and the management of behavior and staff. Although those are important elements, how you impact those around you in your words and actions accounts for the most important parts of school leadership - and you don't have to be an administrator to have an impact. In this brief summer series episode, I share the leadership interaction that impacted my teaching career the most and ...
Jul 6
19 min
My first two years of teaching were rough. While I was a great student in college, navigating being a new teacher and a young adult with an anxiety disorder left me in turmoil and wondering if I was meant to be a teacher. I look back on this time in my life and wish I had someone I could have confided in who would have told me I could turn things around. If you are a new teacher wondering if things will get better personally and professionally, this episode is for you. Too often, we discount ...
Jun 29
18 min
Why did you become a teacher? If you ever wanted to know more about how I got where I'm at in education, this summer is your chance to learn about me! In this "Walk with Me" summer series, I'm sharing all the (well, almost all :-) the things that have brought me to this point in my life, starting with how I chose to become a teacher in college. While I didn't come across as your ideal teacher education candidate, it was an idea I couldn't get out of my head and chose to pursue, regardles...
Jun 22
18 min
If the end of the school year has you feeling exhausted and unable to function, you aren't alone. The demands of the school year and the stress of closing out the year in your classroom can leave you feeling like you've been sucked of all your energy. I have five things I focus on as soon as the school year ends to help me recover and enjoy all that the break from going to school each day for a few months can offer. Listen to this episode if you want more from your summer break than zoning ou...
May 31
25 min
As the school year comes to an end in the United States, many of us are already thinking about what the next school year will bring. At some point, even if it's in August, you will be gearing up for back-to-school and the extra energy it will require of you. What if we took this summer to think about how we could approach the many tasks and asks of the school year so we could focus on what matters most? In this interview with Ashleigh Smith of Rainbow Sky Creations, you will get a refre...
May 24
52 min
When most teachers hear the word ‘observation,’ it doesn’t exactly bring a sense of excitement or growth. It brings pressure and performance, and for many teachers, the feeling of being judged rather than supported. But what if observations could actually do what they were originally intended to do: help teachers grow, reflect, and feel more confident in their practice? In this conversation, I’m joined by Craig Randall, who specializes in trust-based observation models that aim to shift ...
May 17
48 min
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