Once you’ve decided that you want to leave the classroom, the next big question on your mind is, “What career am I going to pursue?” Well, there are two different ways you can go…the employee route or the entrepreneur route. The entrepreneur route means that you go into business for yourself. Maybe you start a website , a boutique , a virtual assistant business , an online tutoring business, a photography business , or a TpT shop . The career is irrelevant; the important thing to note is that as...
Feb 24, 2022•17 min•Ep. 25
Leaving the classroom seems like it should be easy! You just hand in your teacher resignation letter and that’s that…but unfortunately, it isn’t quite that simple. The truth is, finding the right words to say in your letter of resignation and figuring out how you want to actually tell your administrator that you’re quitting your teaching job is complex at best. So in today’s podcast episode, I’m going to help you prepare the perfect teacher resignation letter to your principal (following my “BE”...
Feb 17, 2022•16 min•Ep. 24
The teaching profession has lost more amazing teachers over the past 2 years than ever in the history of the profession. But it’s no wonder when you look at what we deal with on a daily basis from the constant upheaval of accelerated learning, virtual classes, in-person classes, and hybrid classes to sub shortages, lack of support from administration, and backlash from parents. So many teachers are ready to walk away from the classroom for good, but is it the right decision for you to quit teach...
Feb 10, 2022•12 min•Ep. 23
So many teachers desire to do something outside the classroom. Some want to pursue a side hustle, while others are looking for a more permanent. Yet, few teachers ever take the leap. Fear is a strong emotion that guides MANY of our decisions. But that anxiety can be shifted into productivity to help you become a teacher business owner who flourishes if you know what to do. In today's episode my friend, Lindsay Flood, joins me to discuss how she has become a successful teacher business owner (to ...
Feb 03, 2022•46 min•Ep. 22
Fear manifests itself in many different ways, but ultimately, the reason MOST teachers will never leave the classroom even if they say, "I want to quit teaching" is because they would rather stay stuck doing something familiar (even though it makes them unhappy and causes them unending stress) than step out of their comfort zone. Obviously, we all like to be comfortable. To quote the infamous Sheldon Cooper, “It’s called the comfort zone for a reason.” We all desire comfort. There is familiarity...
Jan 27, 2022•14 min•Ep. 21
As a teacher, one of the hardest things about growing an online business is making investments in your teacher business. You want to be a good steward (not frivolous) with the money you have, but you also want to make sound business decisions. While making your money stretch as far as possible is a good choice, there are going to be some non-negotiable expenditures. These investments will be well worth your time and money because they will set your business up for success. So in this podcast epi...
Jan 20, 2022•13 min•Ep. 20
Working from home or pursuing a career outside of the classroom is a dream for many current teachers, but the fear of not making enough money keeps them stuck in their current position. They want the flexibility and freedom a different job would present, but they’re worried they can’t afford to quit teaching because doing something else might mean a tremendous pay cut. Is this you? Do you desperately want to leave the classroom, but you’re afraid of walking away from the security of your paychec...
Jan 13, 2022•14 min•Ep. 19
Understanding how having a teacher side hustle is an important part of your overall classroom exit strategy is something we spend a lot of time discussing. However, have you ever wondered about the dark side of side hustles? Ok, so maybe it isn't quite as suspenseful as all of that, but knowing that there are some pitfalls you will encounter while growing your teacher side hustle is important. In today's episode we’re talking about the five things you need to avoid (like the plague) when growing...
Jan 06, 2022•13 min•Ep. 18
Have you considered leaving the classroom in order to grow your teacher business, but you are afraid to take the leap? Well, you are in good company! The idea of leaving the classroom to pursue your own business as an entrepreneur is becoming more and more common. There are so many options for you to pursue. But what if you are a single parent who provides the sole income for your household? My special guest on the podcast today is Tanya G. Marshall, The Butterfly Teacher . She shares her story ...
Dec 30, 2021•32 min•Ep. 17
Have you ever considered becoming a virtual assistant for teachers, TpT sellers , or former teachers turned entrepreneurs? As a current (or former) classroom teacher, you possess so many skills that would make you perfect for this! My friend Melanie Ramos, from Melanie Ramos Creative , is chatting with me today about how she successfully transitioned from burned out classroom teacher to thriving teacher entrepreneur thanks to her career as a VA. She shares how this option is ideal for teachers w...
Dec 23, 2021•22 min•Ep. 16
Setting boundaries in our lives is absolutely crucial, but it’s typically not something we think about until we’re totally exhausted and overwhelmed. And contrary to the belief that setting boundaries is restricting, knowing how to set boundaries as a teacher before you leave the classroom is actually one of the most important steps for you. The truth is, you need to make sure you are setting appropriate boundaries around your classroom teaching in order to make space for working on your side hu...
Dec 16, 2021•14 min•Ep. 15
Transitioning from classroom teacher to work at home mom is tough! You need to make sure you have a solid understanding of exactly what your new position is and what you need to accomplish each day. This will help you set realistic goals and better define your role to your spouse or significant other so that you are both on the same page. To help you do this, I want to warn you of 6 of the pitfalls you will inevitably encounter and what you can do to avoid them to make this transition from teach...
Dec 09, 2021•15 min•Ep. 14
As teachers, we're all familiar with the current buzzword “growth mindset” and many of us have used the term to teach our students about effort and the power of the word “yet.” But do you apply the same logic to your own life? If not, are you willing to learn how to shift your mindset in order to be successful? I hope you answered yes to that last question because in this episode, we’re going to talk about what mindset is, the two different mindsets, and how to shift your mindset, regardless of ...
Dec 02, 2021•14 min•Ep. 13
Growing a strong TpT business is hard work, and in truth, it can feel really overwhelming at times. But in this podcast episode, I spent time with Nicki Dingraudo, of The Sprinkle Topped Teacher, talking about everything from building positive relationships with customers to how your mental health impacts EVERYTHING you do. Nicki has such a gift for cultivating real relationships on social media, in her classroom, and in her business. So we discussed how having a healthy attitude toward social m...
Nov 25, 2021•29 min•Ep. 12
Teacher decision fatigue is a very real epidemic. According to findings from Philip W. Jackson , elementary teachers have between 200 and 300 exchanges with students every hour which equates to approximately 1200-1500 interactions per day! And most of these cannot be anticipated ahead of time, thereby resulting in extreme teacher decision fatigue. But how is this affecting your ability to leave the classroom & quit teaching? Well, that's exactly what we're going to cover in this podcast epis...
Nov 18, 2021•15 min•Ep. 11
We’re going to address one of the biggest questions teachers who are thinking about leaving the classroom currently face and that is “Should I quit teaching or will leaving the classroom make me a quitter?” I hear from teachers constantly who feel stuck in their current teaching job, but are too fearful to step into another career because of what others will think about that decision. Maybe that’s you. Maybe you’ve seen the heated arguments on social media or listened to the hushed whispers in t...
Nov 11, 2021•14 min•Ep. 10
How do we determine whether we have a business or hobby for tax purposes? Well, if you’re anything like me, you figured if you made any money...it was a business. While that is sort of true, there is more to it than just deciding you have a business. In today’s episode, Janet Stelly, CPA, joins me and unpacks the nine critical factors the IRS considers when determining whether you’re running a business or a hobby before sharing the essential action steps you need to take NOW to ensure you’re lev...
Nov 04, 2021•33 min•Ep. 9
Whether you’re a work at home mom building your teacher empire or you’re still teaching and want some tips for productivity, today I’m sharing some of my best scheduling hacks. The truth is, we all need to have routines in place to maximize our productivity, but the daily routines makeover ideas I’m sharing with you will give you a glimpse into how I manage my work at home mom schedule. While I’m not perfect, I've figured out a few things that make my day go much more smoothly including how to b...
Oct 28, 2021•19 min•Ep. 8
If you've ever thought about a teacher career change that would involve potentially creating a blog or a website, then grab a pen and some paper because this episode is full of actionable steps that walk you through how to find success blogging. My friend Rebecca, former elementary school teacher and founder of ProudPoliceWife.com , shares her inspiring story of leaving the classroom and how she has surpassed her teaching income with blogging...even though she had no idea what she was doing when...
Oct 21, 2021•36 min•Ep. 7
When I first started my blog and my Teachers Pay Teachers shop, all I knew for sure was that I wanted to help other teachers by providing tips & resources to help them be more effective classroom teachers. But, I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing as a business owner. So I found others at a similar point in their own businesses and observed what they were doing & the conversations they were having. I noticed a lot of conversations about filing for LLCs. In all honesty, I didn't even...
Oct 14, 2021•30 min•Ep. 6
One of the most difficult things for a teacher, who is thinking about leaving the classroom, is starting a resume that isn't too "teachery." It can be hard to think about the type of skills you possess that aren't related to teaching because you've been in education since graduating college. But you actually have a TON of teacher transferable skills that make you the perfect candidate for your dream job! So today we’re going to look at… The 10 most impressive teacher transferable skills you alre...
Oct 07, 2021•16 min•Ep. 5
Setting big goals has always been a scary undertaking because the same negative thoughts keep circling in your mind. “What if I fail? What if I put everything on the line and the world hates what I have to offer? If I set small goals and things don’t work out, it’s no big deal…but if I set a big goal and things don’t work out, I’m a failure.” Michelle Griffo, from Apples & ABCs is no stranger to goal-setting. As a classroom teacher for 11 years, she learned how to set goals for herself and f...
Sep 30, 2021•40 min•Ep. 4
Most teachers, who are contemplating leaving the classroom, have the same question...What is a good second career for teachers? You went to school to be a teacher and most likely, you planned on retiring as a classroom teacher. So how do you even begin trying to find a different career path? Well, that's exactly what we cover in this episode. I'll give you 6 tips to help you discover the perfect job even if you say..."I hate teaching!" After listening, you'll know what action steps to take to he...
Sep 30, 2021•11 min•Ep. 3
Should I start a teacher side hustle? As teachers, that’s a question we’ve all contemplated because let’s face it, a teacher’s salary isn’t always enough to cover the bills. So we find ourselves weighing the pros & cons of adding a teacher side job to our daily activities because we need to supplement our income. In this short, power-packed podcast episode, we discuss how to know if adding a teacher side hustle is a good choice for you and what you need to consider when making this decision....
Sep 24, 2021•15 min•Ep. 2
Have you ever looked at something you've seen a million times, and suddenly you realize it isn't what you thought? Well that's exactly what happened to me recently. In the education world, there's always been a circle of life...new teachers come, more experienced teachers retire. But in the last year and a half, there have been more teachers resigning & leaving the classroom than ever before. Sure, the pandemic was a huge factor, but the truth is, this has been coming for a long time. So wha...
Sep 24, 2021•12 min•Ep. 1
