Laura C. Chávez-Moreno is an award-winning researcher, qualitative social scientist, and assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the Departments of Chicana/o and Central American Studies and Education. She is the author of “How Schools Make Race: Teaching Latinx Racialization in America"(Harvard Education Press, 2024).In this episode Chávez-Moreno discusses her journey from becoming a Spanish teacher in Philadelphia to pursuing a PhD in Los Angeles due to a hiring freeze. She delves into why she wrote her book, "How Schools Make Race," which explores how schools contribute to racialization, focusing on bilingual education and Latinx. Moreno also advocates for incorporating ethnic studies into bilingual programs to combat racist ideas and emphasizes the need for a progression in teaching about race, similar to how math is taught. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode107.

Setbacks are inevitable, but they don’t have to be as bad as they feel. They don’t have to be negative. They can be so many things, including growth opportunities. When we start new career journeys, we can be so focused on success. But the road to success is not often linear. As we find our way forward, the path can be filled with setbacks. It can be “make it or break it” when you start to experience obstacles. So it’s important to learn how to turn career setbacks into success.In this episode I give you four tips on turning your stumbles into success. If setbacks are inevitable, it’s good to know how to make the best of them!For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode106.

For this episode I talk to Matt McGee, founder of MRM Education, a tutoring and college admissions consultancy that promotes academic curiosity, mental health, and confidence in students. With over a decade of experience as an admissions specialist, consultant and tutor, his intensive mentorship method has helped hundreds of students raise their grades and gain admission to Ivy Plus schools.Matt’s method focuses on managing student expectations, mental health support, and advocating for neurodivergent students. In our talk he shares insights on building a business, the challenges of burnout, and the importance of staying connected to the core mission of supporting students' long-term success.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode105.

In this episode, I share my journey of going from kindergarten teacher to entrepreneur, detailing five stages of my career. It's a story that starts with the birth of my daughter and ends with me having to hire employees for my growing business. While Educator Forever is still growing, it was fun to look back at the beginning of it all.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode104.

Georgia O’Keefe and Christine Zuppa are co-founders of Making the Grade Project, an organization with a mission to empower educators starting with the very beginning of their careers. While they specialize in helping teachers in their home state of Massachusetts to pass the MTEL, they support teachers everywhere in setting up their classrooms and careers for success. Christine and Georgia each spent over a decade in the K-12 classroom setting before deciding it was time to make a change and support education in a different way. In this episode, Christine and Georgia discuss their educator journeys, how to best support new teachers and how their business has evolved over the years. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode103.

Renes Lophanor, a language teacher with over 23 years of experience, discusses his journey in education, emphasizing the importance of building strong relationships with students and treating them with respect. Renes advocates for a teaching approach that values creativity, flexibility, and genuine care for students. Renes's book, "I Still Love Teaching," aims to share his insights and methods to help other teachers. He advises teachers to prioritize their well-being and encourages those leaving the classroom to leverage their skills in other educational roles.In this episode, he shares his experiences as a substitute teacher, highlighting the challenges and benefits of this role. He also criticizes the education system while acknowledging its potential benefits.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode102.

In this episode I talk about how fun curriculum writing can be, and how it's such a creative outlet. One of my favorite things about curriculum development is that you get to think about things that are interesting in the world and bring it into the curriculum that you create.I want you to think about when developing curriculum, you get to create what you find interesting and what you want to see out there in the world. As teachers, we can feel really boxed in by what we're told we have to teach or how we have to teach it. So working in curriculum design for me has been really an exploration and freedom. It’s why I think more teachers should try it! For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode101.

We’ve reached 100 episodes, so we’re celebrating. On this episode I've invited the wonderful Educator Forever team to join me in celebrating not just completing 100 episodes but all of the amazing work that they've done beyond the classroom. Besides discussing our favorite episodes were, the team let’s me know what they love most about working with Educator Forever and how it’s empowered them. It gets a little emotional! But it’s a wonderful time and made me so happy to work with such fantastic people.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode100.

Rob Owen is the founder of Move2Focus. With over 21 years as a school principal, author, and classroom educator, Rob deeply observed and personally felt the significant stress and burnout that plague the education world. After using both mindfulness and Tai Chi, Rob started to introduce these practices to students.  Now he runs Move2Focus, which supports educators to use Tai Chi and Qi Gong in their classrooms.Rob gets deep into the details of what Tai Chi and Qi Gong are, why he started teaching them to students and why it’s so helpful for teachers.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode99.

Dr. Maggie Broderick is an associate professor at National University, where she serves as a dissertation chair and as a faculty lead for Social Emotional Learning and Curriculum and Instruction. She is also the director of NU’s Advanced Research Center and the editor of the International Journal of Online Graduate Education.In this interview, Maggie and I talk about online education, going from teaching in K-12 to college, and how curriculum development is different for higher education.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode98.

Lisa Vodala is the founder of Preschool Readers, she works with her team of preschool reading specialists to provide children ages three to five with an academic Head Start through their proprietary award winning accelerated reading instruction, which they deliver in person and virtually, enhanced by their exclusive framework, the Clear Approach, a framework for differentiated instruction.I talk to Lisa about her business, how she was able to develop her framework while still teaching, and how COVID forced her to adapt. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode97.

Dr. Shelby Kretz is the creator of Little Justice Leaders, an organization that provides social justice education resources for families, educators, and schools. Shelby earned her Ph.D. in Education from UCLA, and her research explores social justice education at the elementary school level. Over the past decade, Shelby has worked with thousands of parents, teachers, and school leaders to bring social justice education to elementary aged kids.In this episode, we discuss the importance of addressing biases at an early age and some tips for running a small education business.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode96.

Dr. Meghan Waldron is an educator, advisor, learner, writer, thinker and doer. When she is not advising or teaching in the university setting, Meghan is working with students on their personal writing via Smart Solutions Tutoring. Meghan is passionate about helping students find their voices, and she works tirelessly to provide opportunities for them while building their confidence. She is equally passionate about equal access to education, and she works closely with other educators on current issues in our schools and communities. In this episode we discuss how and why she started her tutoring business, how she balances it with her teaching job and what she's learned from the two.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode95.

Mimosa Jones Tunney, founder & president of the American Emergent Curriculum (AEC) and The School House, is a former political speech and Hollywood television writer who wrote scripts for Oprah and HBO. It was a collaboration with Aaron Sorkin that eventually led her down the path of researching American education, which made her realize she needed to improve our system.Drawing from her background in policy, Jones Tunney set out to fix the education system by starting the American Emergent Curriculum (AEC), which is curriculum that leverages the science of human learning through proven pedagogical research. The curriculum has been implemented through a NY-based brick-and-mortar school called The School House and an online program called, TSH Anywhere, which has shown to successfully resolve all the current education system’s issues.In this episode, Jones Tunney tells how one goes from Hollywood script-writing to starting her own school, and we get deep into how to modernize education. Again, why are we still using textbooks?For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode94.

Olivia Odileke is the dynamic CEO of Kampus Insights and a passionate advocate for innovative education. As the author of "Beginner's Guide to Nearpod" and "Spark Curiosity: A Guide to Quick Inquiry Tasks," Olivia has established herself as a leading voice in educational technology and student engagement strategies. With a track record of training over 15,000 teachers, Olivia is on a mission to revolutionize the student learning experience. Olivia and her team at Kampus Insights live by the mantra: "Sparking curiosity is the holy grail of teaching." In this episode she expands on her mantra, and we go on to discuss strategies for engaging students in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of personalized, teacher-centered approaches, and sparking curiosity in teachers and students.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode93.

When you want to meet a goal, sometimes you want to do it now. You might be thinking about leaving the classroom and you want to find a new flexible job right now. But the process is where the magic happens. We learn and grow throughout the process. So while it’s understandable to want to skip right to the end, it’s better if you stick through the long haul.In this episode I talk about embracing the process to reach your goals, highlighting three aspects of going on such a journey. Now these aren’t tips to make your journey easier, but they will help you support yourself while putting in the hard work.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode92.

David K. Richards is an intuitive and visionary leader who helps change makers usher in new paradigms for learning and leadership. He is the current Founder & CEO of Changemaker Schools, a network of microschools, and Pathfinder, a program to help others open schools. David is also a speaker and leadership coach and leads a mastermind program, the Wise Warrior and a podcast, Changemaker ED “U”. He has worked in education reform for over 25 years as a teacher, principal, and founder of several innovative charter schools with nationally recognized Summit Public Schools and the school he started, Growth Public School. David has dedicated his life to helping people of all ages connect with the powerful intuitive leader within themselves. In this episode, David and I discussed his education journey from teacher to banker to educator again, what he’s learned about himself and why he dove into the world of micro schools.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode91.

In this episode, I speak to Dr. Taryn Gauvin. Taryn is in her 23rd year as an educator and has served 19 years in the Pre-K through 12 setting as a teacher, assistant principal and turnaround principal. Currently, she is the founder and CEO of Divergent Educational Consulting, LLC, and contractor operations manager at Better Lesson. We talked about her journey, her new book “Centering Our Voices: The Brilliance, Persistence, and Significance of Black Women Educators,” and what she’s learned over the years as an educator who broke off on her own. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode90.

In this short episode, I share five takeaways that I've learned from helping thousands of educators who find work beyond the classroom. This episode is for everyone, such as the teacher who wants to stay a teacher and expand their impact beyond the classroom, or transition out of the classroom. Having helped thousands of teachers, I found that all teachers are unique and different in their own ways. We all have different experiences and areas of expertise and dreams. But there are some similarities. So in my five takeaways, I want you to think about what resonates with you. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode89.

As teachers, we are education experts. But sometimes it can be really hard to realize this. And I can't tell you how many times I get to talking with teachers who have recently retired, and they have taught for 20-30 years, sometimes even more. And despite those teachers doing it for so long, they still feel like they don't have enough experience. And that is absolutely not true. If you have been teaching for even a couple years, you have way more education experience than most people. If you have been teaching for your entire career, I guarantee you, you are an education expert. And honestly, all teachers are education experts, we have studied education, we have spent time with children, we know so much about what it's like to teach students. So let's own that expertise. In this episode, I provide a few tips on how to leverage your education expertise to achieve your goals.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode88.

Lisa Hutchinson is a former preschool center director with over 30 years of experience in the early education field. She has also been a prekindergarten teacher, kindergarten teacher, preschool assistant director, education and training specialist, and a program specialist. She directed a preschool center for over 20 years.Over the past two years, Lisa has started a virtual preschool called Smart Steps Virtual School for children ages 2-5 to help parents prepare their children for kindergarten. She now works full time from home running Smart Steps and writing curriculum. In this episode, we talk about how she came to start a virtual preschool, how she continues to expand her business by developing curriculum, and overcoming her imposter syndrome. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode87.

Kathleen Brigham has been in the educational field for over 30 years. With a Bachelor's degree from Middlebury College and a Master's in Educational Administration from Columbia Teachers College, she started Brigham Learning, an education consulting and tutoring company. Her primary goal is to help students discover self-awareness and confidence through academic success. With three children and four stepchildren, she combines her personal experience with her educational background to work with children of all ages and learning abilities.In this episode, Kathleen dives into her journey from educator to business owner, giving lots of great advice along the way. She also details how she scaled her business, giving such helpful tips you’ll want to take notes. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode86.

Jasmine Rollins is a mom of four, a passionate K through 12 educator, a forever learner and storyteller. She creates learning opportunities and resources that empower teachers to celebrate their students' identities and foster a sense of belonging in the classroom. As a teacher, she's always used storytelling as a way to build connections and trust, through sharing her own stories and empowering students to do the same.In this episode, we discuss Rollins’s journey as an educator and how she moved beyond the classroom. We also get into how she came to focus on fostering a culture of belonging within and outside of school.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode85.

Deveren Fogle is a former lawyer, tech entrepreneur (2012 ‘Trep of the Month in Entrepreneur Magazine for the MyGeniusTrainer iPhone app), teacher, executive function coach, and now a tech entrepreneur again. He is launching Uluru, the first executive function platform to empower students and families to navigate the difficulties neurodiverse learners may face in their academic journeys.Fogle tells why he left teaching and explains how his days teaching led to him finding success in the world of tutoring executive function. We also share a lot of thoughts about how teachers are so under-appreciated! It’s a good long talk and I laughed through a lot of it. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode84.

I've been thinking a lot about how writing has furthered my career beyond the classroom. It really was something that I didn't get super clear on as being such a key factor until recently. I think part of that has come through working with so many teachers and seeing them go beyond the classroom, and some people really being successful, and other people having it take a little bit more time. Some of that working online boils down to writing. If you're able to write a compelling cover letter, you're more likely to land jobs. If you're starting an education business, and you can write really exciting and inviting copy, then you're more likely to get customers. So much of what's done online is done through writing. And so as teachers transitioning to a flexible workplace working online, this requires really taking our writing skills to the next level.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode83.

Today I'm so excited that we have our amazing director of learning and development April Brown here with me to talk about the various stages that educators may go through when moving beyond the classroom. April that I have been working together for five years and maybe even more at this point, and together we have worked with 1000s of teachers, expanding their impact beyond the classroom, whether they're staying as classroom teachers or moving completely beyond.Though everybody's journey is unique, we found that people go through some similar phases along the way. So in the last few months, April, and I have really been doing a lot of thinking about what these phases are, and what are some things that we see people experiencing again, and again and again. So today we want to talk you through these stages, and really have you think about where you might fit where you're at right now where you might want to go, knowing that not everybody's gonna go through exactly these common stages. But hopefully, this gives you some sense of what we've seen other people experience. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode82.

When I left the classroom, it all felt scary. It felt scary because I needed to make up my teaching income. It felt scary because I had only really been a classroom teacher before. Straight out of college, I went and got my teaching credential, and then I started teaching. So when I left the classroom, everything felt unknown. And that unknown part made it feel scary. When I left the classroom, I needed to really bolster my confidence, and take this leap intentionally. And I had this post-it on my computer forever, that said, “bet on you.” And it was so powerful to me, just really betting on myself, you know, rather than working so hard in my classroom, together with my colleagues that to help my students in school, which was all great in some ways, I really was taking this leap to bet on me bet on what I wanted to do in the world of education, bet on what I wanted to do for my family. So today, I want to encourage you to bet on you, whatever way that might mean to you.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode81.

When I became a teacher, I really thought I would be a teacher forever. And my whole identity was really tied up in this idea of being a teacher. So when I started to look for different options beyond the classroom and explore those options, it really came with shifting my identity; I was still a teacher, but I had to redefine my teacher identity. And you might find yourself in the same boat, whether you're deciding to just look and see what's out there beyond the classroom, or you really want to claim your expertise as the education expert that you are, or you're ready to move entirely beyond the classroom and expand your impact. All of this comes with really redefining your teacher identity. When I became a teacher, I really thought I would be a teacher forever. And my whole identity was really tied up in this idea of being a teacher. So when I started to look for different options beyond the classroom and explore those options, it really came with shifting my identity; I was still a teacher, but I had to redefine my teacher identity. And you might find yourself in the same boat, whether you're deciding to just look and see what's out there beyond the classroom, or you really want to claim your expertise as the education expert that you are, or you're ready to move entirely beyond the classroom and expand your impact. All of this comes with really redefining your teacher identity. In this episode, I talk about how to really redefine your teacher identity, so that you can confidently go forward into whatever career path you want, whether to stay in the classroom or move beyond. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode80.

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of what it's like to work at and run a curriculum development agency. I started the Educator Forever agency a couple years ago, after being asked to take on very large projects that one person couldn't take on on their own. For example, I was asked to create a whole year long curriculum for all grades pre K to five in all the subject areas. That's not a project that one person should be doing. So I realized a few years ago, oh, I could bring on other curriculum writers to help me with these projects and create our own curriculum development agency.So listen in as I walk you through what it’s like starting this agency and working with lots of different educators turned curriculum writers. I realized that there were some key skills that educators need to learn in order to be successful in curriculum design. We are always learning new things when we work in curriculum and when we do anything else.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode79.

Ethan Pierce, a serial entrepreneur and Co-Founder and CEO of Adaptive Reader, has transformed his early struggles with reading into a catalyst for innovation in education. A Harvard graduate and Mitchell Scholar, Ethan's journey from confronting his own reading challenges to spearheading Adaptive Reader underscores his commitment to making educational content accessible and engaging for all students. Through his work, Ethan leverages cutting-edge AI and thoughtful design to help students overcome reading difficulties and embrace learning in their native languages. His leadership at Adaptive Reader is driven by a vision to ensure no student is left behind because of language barriers or learning differences, making him a pioneer in creating a more equitable educational landscape.In this episode, we discussed Ethan’s path that lead to the creation of Adaptive Reader. We also dive into the world of AI and how his business is helping those struggling with reading. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode78.

Julie Packett is a former K through 12 teacher who navigated the journey from the classroom to a flourishing career in data science. Recognising the hurdles educators face when transitioning out of teaching, Julie was inspired to pave a smoother path for others by leveraging her expertise in data science. She is the visionary behind Goldendelicious, an innovative platform designed to connect teachers directly with employers eager to harness the unique skill sets of former educators. Through Goldendelicious Julie seeks to empower teachers exploring new career horizons, bridging the gap between traditional education and diverse professional opportunities. We talked about her career journey and the hurdles she had to overcome transitioning out of teaching. We also discuss what she passes onto teachers who want to enter the field of data science.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode77.

When you're looking for jobs beyond the classroom, it is super exciting when you get your first interview, or really any interview. An interview gives you a chance to really explain your expertise and explain your experience and connect with the people at the organization where you're hoping to work. I know that interviews can also be slightly terrifying though, especially if you haven't been on an interview in many years or if you've only been on interviews for district teaching jobs or school jobs. In those cases, interviews for flexible work beyond the classroom are probably going to look differently. And that's okay. We just need to think through how we're going to prepare before, during and after the interview to set you up for success. And so in this podcast, I'm going to walk you through exactly how to prepare for an interview when going for work beyond the classroom.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode76.

When you're thinking about starting an education business, you likely have lots of amazing ideas. And sometimes having so many amazing ideas can be completely overwhelming. Trust me, I have been there. So really thinking about how we take all these ideas and turn them into an actionable business that really helps other people, I find it really helpful to think about design thinking. Design thinking as a framework that really centers the problem that you're going to be solving in your business. Because all businesses that solve a problem are all good businesses. And it really centers your users, your clients, the people that you're going to help. It helps you to think through how you're going to help them while also taking action. So in today's podcast, I thought I'd walk you through how to use design thinking when starting or building an education business. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode75.

When you're thinking about doing something new in education, or really anything else new fear can come up and get in the way. And this week, I've been having a lot of conversations with educators really feeling scared: scared to take the leap, scared to apply for jobs, even what's been coming up for many people is feeling scared that even if they get this job that they're really excited about, they won't know what to do, or they won't be able to cut it, or that it'll feel overwhelming.So how do we move past it? In this episode, I'm going to give some tips for really trying to move past your fear, so that you can try new things out and get closer to what you want to achieve. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode74.

Anthony Weinkopff acts as the director and co-founder of Embrace Tutoring and Educational Services. Embrace specializes in creating customized college and career readiness plans for students, and connects them with experienced tutors in core academic subjects and test prep areas.Since an early age, he has always been drawn to empowering youth and helping them to create opportunities. Growing up, he was the first male in his immediate family to go to college and he remembers how overwhelming the process could be without clear guidance. Throughout his educational career, Anthony has worked as a college liaison, biochemistry and mathematics teacher in high school, and academic dean. Along with his two co-founders, Andy Lee and Suzanne Park, Anthony has grown Embrace Tutoring to what it is today. For this episode, we talked about how he went from teaching to starting Embrace, and what he's learned through the process.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode73.

When you're applying for jobs beyond the classroom, it's really important that your application materials stand out. And by that I mean your resume and your cover letter. It is so hard sometimes to write resumes and cover letters. But putting in the cognitive work is worth it. Reflecting on how your unique experience connects to the jobs that you hope to land goes a long way. I have applied for so many jobs beyond the classroom. And I've also hired for a lot of jobs beyond the classroom. So I've seen all sorts of resumes and cover letters, and I've learned what makes them stand out. So in this episode, I want to share with you some tips for writing resumes and cover letters that will get you those jobs you hope to land. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode72.

When you're thinking about using your skills as an educator in a new way, it's completely normal to feel overwhelmed and struggle with self doubt. After years of working with so many teachers as part of Educator Forever, I've realized that teachers go through some predictable stages when they begin to look for work outside of teaching. Being a classroom teacher is so entwined with our identity. So much so that we can simply think of ourselves as just being teachers. But there's no such thing as just a teacher, we do so many things, our skills are so valuable, impressive, and applicable in other areas, you truly are an education expert. So when you're dealing with self doubt, or really any other obstacle, the most important thing to do is to move through it, recognize it, feel it and even appreciate your doubtful feelings, then don't let it stop you keep taking action to make your dreams a reality. And you can use these five tips to overcome self doubt when you're stuck. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode71.

When my daughter was born, I was teaching kindergarten and first grade — by then I had been teaching for seven years. But after she came into my life, everything changed. I had been trying some things on the side curriculum development and consulting mainly, and I had this idea that I could maybe leave the classroom. But I wasn't convinced; there were many things that I loved about teaching, and I wasn't quite sure if I was ready to give it up. But after my daughter was born, I didn’t want to leave her. I wanted to spend all my time with this tiny baby. The thought of leaving her to go to the classroom and teach a bunch of other kids was heartbreaking to me. So I found a way to replace my teaching income with a new job, but it was hard. I was so excited to have the chance to stay home with my daughter, but I was also really sad about leaving my school community. Still, doing so was the best thing I could’ve done for my future.This week my daughter turns 12, which is CRAZY, but her birthday made me reflect on my journey outside of the classroom. Looking back, I realized I had five tips I wanted to share, so I focus on those in this episode.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode70.

Want to keep making a positive impact in the world outside of teaching? Melissa Bloom is here to help. Bloom is the founder and CEO of Expanse Strategists, where she partners with purpose led CEOs. She's all about transforming businesses so they can positively impact society. Melissa began her career as a high school English teacher and progressed through the administrative ranks. After four years as an assistant superintendent, she decided to step into the corporate world. She saw similar successes there, a feat she credits her "superpower," AKA her background in education. In this episode we discuss her journey and what she's learned along the way. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode69.

In this episode I talk about building a support system as you move beyond the classroom. When I first started thinking about leaving the classroom, I felt really alone. I didn't feel like I had a support system, or really any examples of educators who had moved beyond the classroom in a way that I wanted to. I wanted to stay working in education, I wanted to make a difference in education. But I also wanted to have more flexibility, and not seeing models made it feel like I was uncertain about whether it was possible or not.This episode is for those who want to take that next step and I might think you can just look everything up on the Internet. There is so much to gain from networking, especially those who model what you want to do beyond the classroom, and I go through it all.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode68.

For this episode I had Allison Williams, founder of Tutor Tots online, back on the podcast. Allison's business focuses on creating engaging online classes for kids and it has really grown in the past few years since we started working together. Allison is also an Educator Forever team member. She helps me run our Education Business Foundations program, and our Grow Your Education Business accelerator for graduates of the Foundations program. We discussed marketing our education businesses and the winning strategies we’ve found over the years. We also get into the importance of having the right mind set when growing your business.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode67.

For this episode I invited April Brown, our amazing director of learning and development here at Educator Forever, onto the podcast to talk with me about one of our very favorite subjects, which is how to support teachers to truly thrive.The idea for this episode came after I had a discussion with the head of an Edtech company who thought that teachers should be happy now that things are back to normal after COVID. That's so far from the reality that we're seeing within our Educator Forever community. So April and I talked about what's not being seen outside of the world of teaching and what would really help.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode66

When people ask me about leaving the classroom and how to build their experience I advise them to do something on the side while still they're still teaching. Sometimes that's not possible. Maybe you just need to leave or you've already left, and that's totally fine. But if you do have a little bit of time to some work on the side while teaching, it allows you try out things before completely flipping your world upside down.In this episode I talk about my own exit from teaching and how trying things out on the side helped me find a new career. But it comes with the caveat that while I use the word "side hustle" to describe the work, it's not about hustling to the point where you sacrifice your happiness.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode65

We've all likely experienced moments when we feel trapped, stagnant, or unsure of how to move forward in life. It's a frustrating and disheartening feeling, whether it’s related to your personal or career journey. But if you’re feeling stuck in teaching, you’re definitely not alone.At Educator Forever, we’ve worked with thousands of education professionals who felt trapped in their classroom careers. As an educator, you might find yourself yearning for more in your career, but perhaps you’re uncertain about how to move beyond those feelings of being stuck. In this episode, I explore four key steps for educators to stop feeling stuck in their careers and pursue alternative jobs beyond the classroom.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode64Watch our free on-demand workshop to learn more about flexible work opportunities beyond the classroom: https://www.educatorforever.com/workshopTake our free quiz to discover your next career step: https://www.educatorforever.com/quizFollow us on Instagram @educatorforever.

The start of a new year is the perfect time to think about all that you hope to accomplish throughout the year. I like to call this having a clear vision. One of the best ways to follow through with your vision is to participate in goal setting. So, in today’s episode, I’m going to share steps towards achieving your new year goal setting.With so many possibilities, new year goal setting can be overwhelming. However, my simple three steps allow you to reflect on your previous year, how you want to feel, and the final action of setting goals. I break down each step with examples and provide easy ways to achieve not only the process but also the result of achieving your New Year goals. Happy New Year, everybody!For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode63Watch our free on-demand workshop to learn more about flexible work opportunities beyond the classroom: https://www.educatorforever.com/workshopTake our free quiz to discover your next career step: https://www.educatorforever.com/quizFollow us on Instagram @educatorforever.

The end of a year and the beginning of another is the perfect time to reflect on how far you’ve come and where you want to go next. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the classroom, are working beyond the classroom, or just started your own business, there are things you learned and grew from. So, just as I want you to reflect on your year, I wanted to share five things that made a difference this year in my 2023 reflections. Even though Educator Forever has been around for many years, it’s still evolving and adapting every year. I made several changes and additions that have continued to make this company successful and make an impact on so many people’s lives and careers. You may not notice the difference you’re making day to day, so during your 2023 reflections, be proud of all you’ve accomplished and learned this year to motivate you going into 2024! For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode62Watch our free on-demand workshop to learn more about flexible work opportunities beyond the classroom: https://www.educatorforever.com/workshopTake our free quiz to discover your next career step: https://www.educatorforever.com/quizFollow us on Instagram @educatorforever.

We talk frequently on this podcast about the emotional well-being of teachers and the overwhelming amount of stress that they endure on a daily basis. Teachers are expected to do so much with often very little support, which ultimately leads to teacher burnout. But my guest on today’s episode, Jen Rafferty, shares how her company, Empowered Educator, focuses on the social and emotional aspects of supporting teachers. Jen always wanted to be an educator, but when her circumstances changed, she realized her reason for teaching, to inspire people to discover their voice, could be utilized in another way. Her company, Empowered Educator, does just that. She shares how it got started and gives advice for dealing with fear and disassociating with the idea of pleasing people. Jen’s idea of success will help you redefine success and deal with teacher burnout. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode61Watch our free on-demand workshop to learn more about flexible work opportunities beyond the classroom: https://www.educatorforever.com/workshopTake our free quiz to discover your next career step: https://www.educatorforever.com/quizFollow us on Instagram @educatorforever.

In a world where things feel uncertain or out of your control and in an educational career where exploitation and burnout are so prevalent, it’s even more crucial to check in with yourself emotionally. After being forced to find a different way to live, my guest, Nataly Kogan, discovered emotional fitness and the skills needed to practice this in your life. In today’s episode, Nataly shares how teachers can benefit from emotional fitness and how to truly feel joy without guilt. Nataly describes emotional fitness as your ability to handle life’s challenges with less struggle. But we know as teachers, sometimes it’s difficult to manage what’s being asked of us every day. Nataly views this as surface acting and shares specific practices teachers can use that develop their emotional fitness. Additionally, she goes in-depth on the five emotional fitness skills and shares the importance of refueling your energy with consistent, intentional, and daily tasks. After listening to this episode, you will have a toolset of strategies to best support yourself emotionally. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode60Watch our free on-demand workshop to learn more about flexible work opportunities beyond the classroom: https://www.educatorforever.com/workshopTake our free quiz to discover your next career step: https://www.educatorforever.com/quizFollow us on Instagram @educatorforever.