Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa interviews Rebecca Branstetter PhD, creator of the Thriving Students Collective, the Thrive-o-gram, and author of several books, including her new one: Small Habits, Big Change. Vanessa and Rebecca talk about using the Thriveogram quiz to determine your archetype and how to use that as a springboard to effectively use the habits in the book, tailored to your personality, to manage and lessen your stress. Check out the Thriving Students Collective online Ta...
Dec 15, 2024•35 min•Ep. 231
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa shares a personal milestone as her son earns his welding certificate, highlighting the rewarding opportunities available in skilled trades. She challenges the traditional “college equals success” mindset, emphasizing the value of career-focused paths that lead to stability and immediate employability in high-demand fields like welding, electrical work, and auto repair. Vanessa draws inspiration from a Remington Steele story, using a Greek smuggler’s tale t...
Dec 08, 2024•21 min
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa Jackson explores the parallels between teaching and acting, inspired by John Lovitz’s "master thespian" character on Saturday Night Live . Vanessa delves into how educators often put on a performance—acting like everything is fine when it’s not, faking enthusiasm, and carrying the weight of stress alone. She emphasizes the toll this constant performance takes on mental health and offers strategies to process stress authentically....
Dec 01, 2024•19 min•Ep. 229
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa explores the challenges introverted teachers face in extroverted environments and provides actionable advice for achieving personal and professional goals in the new year. Vanessa begins by celebrating the strengths of both introverts and extroverts, emphasizing the value each brings to education. She highlights the unique struggles introverted teachers face, from professional development sessions that cater to extroverted behaviors to classroom observatio...
Nov 24, 2024•23 min•Ep. 228
Send us a text The holiday season is a whirlwind of activity, especially for teachers juggling classroom responsibilities, family obligations, and festive preparations. In this episode, we dive into the unique challenges of this time of year, offering insights on managing stress, preventing burnout, and embracing imperfection. Discover practical self-care tips to protect your well-being, like scheduling micro-breaks, setting boundaries with grace, and finding joy in unexpected moments. Learn how...
Nov 18, 2024•25 min•Ep. 227
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa interviews her daughter, Michaela Riggs, about life growing up as a teacher. Got questions for Michaela? Send those to TeachersinTransitionCoaching@gmail.com Save the Date! The next resume workshop will be on November 24th at 2:00 Central time. In this resume, you’ll learn the important pieces of a resume, how to write a resume that will get noticed, and how to put it in a format that is friendly to both the eyes of an ATS system and the eyes of a human. A...
Nov 10, 2024•18 min
Send us a text However, the rapid rise came with challenges. Away faced scrutiny when reports surfaced about a challenging internal culture, revealing issues in leadership style, communication, and employee well-being. Some of this was rooted in apparent disconnect between stated core values and the actual practice of those values. This mismatch in values and mission added to a hostile atmosphere which led to multiple articles and exposes. After an unpleasant CEO shak-up it will ultimately be up...
Nov 03, 2024•19 min•Ep. 225
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa explores the growing gap between teachers’ expectations and the realities of today’s education system. She addresses the frustrations many teachers feel working in an environment that can sometimes feel like “child storage” rather than a place for true learning, where policies like social promotion often outweigh actual educational goals. Today’s mental health tip emphasizes accepting the realities of the teaching profession while finding ways to create me...
Oct 28, 2024•18 min•Ep. 224
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , host Vanessa Jackson explores how to spend the "in-between times" in a way that reflects and supports your mental health. Drawing inspiration from a memoir by the bass player of her favorite band, Vanessa shares insights on how intentional activities during downtime can either enhance or drain our well-being. Vanessa also shares a useful organizational hack for teachers, involving adhesive rails that help keep bins neat and accessible. T...
Oct 20, 2024•17 min•Ep. 223
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa explores the calming power of art therapy—focusing on personal, creative outlets that bring peace and balance. From quilting to painting, art offers a way to soothe the mind and combat stress. We also touch on the importance of reducing social media distractions, particularly in the face of online toxicity. Plus, we discuss five key skills (super skills!) that teachers already possess, which can open doors in various industries—s...
Oct 14, 2024•23 min•Ep. 222
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa Jackson discusses the often overwhelming feelings teachers experience, especially during tough times of the year. Vanessa reflects on the importance of recognizing these feelings as signals for change and personal growth, using the metaphor of crustaceans shedding their shells and the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which highlights imperfections as a source of strength. The episode also features a practical life hack involving ice cub...
Oct 06, 2024•19 min•Ep. 221
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa talks about the effects of leadership on our mental health, a hack that might be both a hack and a job hunting tip about your email account, and finally we’ll talk about why your frustrations with the application process might not be about you at all. And remember to send your comments, stories, and random thoughts to me at TeachersinTransitionCoaching@gmail.com ! I can’t wait to read them. I’d love for you to come and join us on our Facebook Discussion Pa...
Sep 29, 2024•15 min•Ep. 220
Send us a text Today on the podcast Vanessa talks using a To-Don’t list as a way to ward off stress and improve resilience, a quick hack with magnets that creates beauty and safety and a continuation of potential interview question. In part4 of that mini-series this week, Vanessa touches on some unusually questions that might get thrown at you. Here are the questions from today’s Part IV: 1. What animal symbolizes who you are? 2. Why is a manhole cover round? 3. Describe your closet. 4. If you w...
Sep 22, 2024•19 min•Ep. 219
Send us a text Today on the podcast Vanessa talks about the cyclical nature of life and of job searches, she shares a recommendation from another podcast where they talk about interviewing and interviewing skills. Finally she goes through part three of her series on interview questions and things to think about when answering them. Another song video from my favorite band about the cyclical nature of life: Far Cry Onetonline.org Interest Profiler is a place to learn about your preferred style of...
Sep 16, 2024•15 min•Ep. 218
Send us a text My apologies on the late drop and the delay with the transcript. The internet in my area was not functioning as it should have been. Today on the podcast Vanessa talks a little about scorpions and how they can teach us how important it is to take are of ourselves, she shares a hack on increasing happiness while letting others around us know how much they mean to us, and we got over a few more interview questions in what has turned into a short series on interviewing! Predator vs. ...
Sep 09, 2024•17 min•Ep. 217
Send us a text Today on the podcast Vanessa revisits the topic of Imposter Syndrome in a little more detail and shares some strategies to reframe those negative thoughts and feelings. She shares a couple of hacks unrelated to each other, but one of them has applications with frozen meat AND laptops. And Vanessa goes over some trickier, but common interview questions with some suggestions on how to approach your answer to them. Link to the Scene in Captain Marvel where Carol gets the full measure...
Sep 01, 2024•24 min•Ep. 216
Send us a text Today on the podcast we talk about Carrie Fisher – and why we should be more like Carrie! In our Teacher Hack segment I talk about how to clear some brain, and I have a bonus segment this week about drawing a boundary. Finally in our job hunting segment I talk about how to determine what skills you need when you have decided on which Here’s a link to Carrie Fisher’s first memoir, Wishful Drinking. Here’s a link to the podcast episode with Tamara McLemore . You can visit her site a...
Aug 26, 2024•22 min•Ep. 215
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa sits down with author, Starr Sackstein to talk about her new book, “Making an Impact Outside the Classroom” which is a book that explores when teachers may have lost their joy in the classroom and who might want to look at different options. Vanessa shares a little hack to help you up that book count! Links: Starr’s TED Talk and YouTube channel Her new book, Making an Impact Outside of Education in Kindle and Paperback! Find Amazon Links to the rest of Sta...
Aug 18, 2024•27 min•Ep. 214
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa talks about how to go about creating a bedtime routine to improve! In our tips and hacks section, I’ll introduce you to a quiz and a book to help you better gauge the people you work with – of any age – and how to increase their productivity! And finally in our job hunting segment, I’m going to explore how your internal and external expectations are helping or hurting your job hunt (and probably other areas of your life too!) Create Your Own Bedtime Routin...
Aug 11, 2024•18 min•Ep. 213
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa talks about how to accept a compliment, a recommendation for some fun and comfortable and totally appropriate teacher-wear, and we’ll wrap up by talking about why you need a strategic vision process when making your career transition. Find fun teacher clothes with POCKETS at https://svahausa.com The Recipe (from Memory!) from the Nancy Drew Cookbook: The Case of the Smothered Pork Chops: Ingredients: 4 pork chops 1 cup uncooked rice 1 can Beef Consomme 1 l...
Aug 04, 2024•19 min
Send us a text Episode 211: Learning about Project Management: with Tamara McLemore In this episode, Vanessa welcomes a guest to the pod! Tamara McLemore talks about project management and why teachers are such a natural fit for the position. Check out her webpage ! And connect with Tamara on LinkedIn Here’s the written steps for the Transcription Hack 1. Record whatever you want to your voice app (give it a name) 2. Email that recording to yourself. 3. You’ll download your recording to your lap...
Jul 28, 2024•23 min
Send us a text Today on the podcast we are going to make our Resolutions for our new year. In July. These are Resolutions for the new school year and for those still teaching. Then, I have a recommendation for a book that will give you a blueprint to say “NO” more often and stick to it! Finally, in our job-hunting segment, we are going to revisit a Ta-Da list and so you can take a moment to remember how awesome you really are. Here are some suggestions for Meal Prep Ideas to help you fuel your b...
Jul 22, 2024•20 min•Ep. 210
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa addresses different ways that stress affects us and gives some suggestions on dealing with that stress. While it is still summer, take advantage of the time to take a nap! A link to our Facebook Page ! Join us! Vanessa has regained access to all things Facebook! Two Guys and a Girl (and a Pizza Place) – link to Amazon where you can buy it, and a ilnk to the IMDB page to learn more! And remember to send your comments, stories, and random thoughts to me at T...
Jul 15, 2024•14 min•Ep. 209
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa goes through several careers that teachers are a natural fit for, and has a recommendation to help Leverage your TV binge time! A link to our Facebook Page ! Join us! Vanessa has regained the access to all things Facebook! “What Else Can I Do ” from Encanto (Streams on Disney+) Leverage – the TV Show And remember to send your comments, stories, and random thoughts to me at TeachersinTransitionCoaching@gmail.com ! I look forward to reading them. Would you l...
Jul 08, 2024•17 min•Ep. 208
Send us a text In this episode, in a nod to the Alzheimer’s Association, Vanessa goes over some tips to maintain brain health, as we have just gone past the summer solstice, AKA The Longest Day. Our teacher hack becomes our summer recommendation so we’re starting with a movie, and we are going to wrap up with the importance of organizing that job hunt as well as how to set that up! Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day Read more about The Nun Study Teachers in Transition Ep. 178 – How Stress...
Jun 23, 2024•21 min•Ep. 207
Send us a text Today on the podcast Vanessa talks about the healing power of laughter, a hack to make use games to learn more about each other (or to next year’s teacher inservice more lively) and finally, we talk at least about the cost of teaching. What does it cost to leave? What does it cost to stay? Our website is ! https://www.teachersintransition.com Vanessa is still locked out Facebook. Expect a joyous comment in the podcast if that ever changes. National Institute of Health Article: Hum...
Jun 17, 2024•25 min•Ep. 206
Send us a text Today on the podcast, Vanessa tells a story that explains why it’s all good, - it’s just that we don’t know that in the moment. We’ll learn how to save ourselves massive amounts of grief and regret with just a cellphone, and finally we’ll talk a bit about whether you need to hire someone to write your resume. Come book a time to chat with me about your plan at www.teachersintransition.com Finding Your Element by Sir Ken Robinson And remember to send your comments, stories, and ran...
Jun 10, 2024•17 min•Ep. 205
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa talks several short games and the lessons we can take from them and even answer some of our questions about ourselves. She shares a hack to help with decision making in our day-today lives when everything seems overwhelming and it’s hard to figure out what to do next, and we’ll talk more in depth in about fear and job hunting. It can be very scary to consider hunting for a job in this market. Our links today: The Random Decision Spinning Wheel Hawkeye and ...
Jun 03, 2024•22 min•Ep. 204
Send us a text Teachers in Transition – Episode 203: Cold Hard Math and Pool Noodles Vanessa talks about the importance of slowing down and caring for yourself as school lets out. She breaks down the cold hard math on just how much teachers work. She talks about how fear can hold us back from stepping out of our comfort zones, and we’ll wrap up with some fun hacks with POOL NOODLES. And yes, she manages to get some chatter in here about Captain America and a brief Deadpool mention. Link to the C...
May 27, 2024•20 min•Ep. 203
Send us a text Today on the podcast Vanessa talks about the importance of sleep. You’re not getting enough because it’s May, but everyone should still try. Vanessa shares a story that illustrates prioritizing the important things in life using rocks. In today’s teacher hack, Vanessa talks about revisiting tough topics because it makes everyone feel better even thought that makes no sense when you read it. And finally, we all start our journey in the book, Finding Your Element by Sir Ken Robinson...
May 19, 2024•21 min
