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The Educator's Room Presents: The Teacher Self-Care Podcast

The Educator's Room Presents: The Teacher Self-Care Podcast

By Teacher Self-Care Podcast

The real conversation teachers need to her about teacher self-care. Join us as Franchesca interviews teachers from around the globe to discuss teacher mental health and how we can change schools and policies. In addition to the podcast, please attend one of our Teacher Self-Care Conferences.
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106: When Your Self-Care is in the Pages of a Book

The Educator's Room Presents: The Teacher Self-Care PodcastDec 09, 2018

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27:30
Episode 142: Wellness as Liberation

Episode 142: Wellness as Liberation

In this episode, Franchesca Warren interviews Jamilah Pitts and discusses why wellness can essentially be liberation. To find out more about Jamilah's quest for self-care visit www.jamilahpitts.com. 

My name is Jamilah Pitts, the Founder, and CEO of Jamilah Pitts Consulting, a firm designed to support the liberation, intergenerational healing and holistic development of students and communities of color through an emphasis on education and wellness.

Jan 23, 202245:16
Episode 141: Teacher Empowerment and Self-Care

Episode 141: Teacher Empowerment and Self-Care

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Chandra Joseph-Lacet and Gorgette Green-Hodnett from Real Talk, Real-Time Educators Forum and discusses the bi-product of self-care, teacher advocacy. 

Chandra Joseph-Lacet has spent the last 27 years working in the field of education. She began her career in Higher Education working in various Student Affairs Departments. After 5 years in Higher Ed, Chandra decided to transition to K-12 education and began her teaching career as an Elementary School Teacher with the Boston Public Schools. In addition to working as an Elementary School Teacher, Chandra has also served as a Special Education Teacher, Literacy Coach, Special Education Coordinator and Assistant Principal. Currently, Chandra serves as a coach for teachers across the district of Boston.  In this capacity, Chandra works with teachers and teacher mentors across the district to elevate instructional practices and create highly engaging, student-centered environments focused on strengthening student learning outcomes. This summer, Chandra had the pleasure of joining the faculty of Brandeis University as a Lecturer in Education in their Teacher Leadership Program.

Gorgette Green-Hodnett after completing a non-traditional program towards teacher certification, Gorgette joined Charles County Public Schools in 1998.   She spent 13 years as a math teacher and served as a math department chairperson and as a full release Mentor Teacher for 3 years.  Currently, Gorgette is an Instructional Resource Teacher at General Smallwood MS. As the school-based instructional leader in math, Gorgette leads professional development of  best practices in math instruction and the integration of instructional technologies along with coordinating math interventions. Gorgette is also responsible for county-wide course content and professional development for the CCPS 7th Compacted Math Course.

Dec 31, 202146:51
Episode 140: Is Teacher Burnout Real?

Episode 140: Is Teacher Burnout Real?

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Dr. Renee Heiberger and Vanessa Hardaway as they discuss the realities of teacher burnout and dispel the many myths around this topic. Prior to Covid-19, the statistics of teachers leaving the profession within five years was around fifty percent. However, since the nation entered a pandemic this year, the amount of stress and burnout is on the rise. Teachers are now being asked to take on two roles (face-to-face and online) at the same time every day and it is taking a toll on educators across the nation. Based on these statistics, retention is clearly a serious concern. The educational system must continue to develop ways to appeal and draw in new teachers, but it is just as important for the system to retain the high-quality teachers who are still in the profession. When leaders and teachers can identify and address compassion fatigue and burnout, then powerful conversations can help to improve staff retention and reduce anxiety and stress.

In a dynamic and entertaining way, Dr. Renee Heiberger and Ms. Vanessa Hardaway will discuss the symptoms and causes of burnout as well as give solutions they believe will help leaders and teachers deal with stress and beat burnout. Dr. Heiberger’s research from her doctoral dissertation on teacher burnout lays the foundation for describing the consequences of burnout teachers face and Vanessa’s sense of humor, numerous stories, and real-life examples make her ideas clear and accessible to her audiences. As experienced and esteemed public speakers, Renee and Vanessa aim to deliver education, inspiration, and entertainment to a variety of audiences. They inspire educators in an authentic way that leaves them revived and rejuvenated.

Dec 31, 202153:04
Episode 138: How Therapy and Being a Virtual Audience Member Saved My Mental Well-Being

Episode 138: How Therapy and Being a Virtual Audience Member Saved My Mental Well-Being

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Tanya Boucicaut- a college professor as she discusses how the 18 months in solitude forced her to go to therapy and address her mental well-being. 

Tanya Boucicaut, M.F.A., M.Div. (she/hers), is Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and a licensed Baptist clergywoman. Prior to her appointment at VCU, she founded a faith-based non-profit youth theatre education organization called Perfect Love Community Youth Theatre. Boucicaut co-founded the Graduate Writing Center for Theological Studies at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union (STVU). At STVU, she has also served as project director of STREAM, a high school youth theology institute, a member of the editorial team for the school’s 2017 accreditation process, and a database consultant. She is currently a Writing and Rhetoric Ph.D. student at George Mason University focusing on the intersection of Black Church Studies, Hip Hop Pedagogy, and Community Building.  Boucicaut is a lover and student of hip hop with rose gold bottoms, rapped her first rhyme in Mr. Magee's 6th health case for a presentation to the beat of Puff Daddy and Mase's "Been Around the World", and she was a playwright at 17.

Sep 05, 202129:31
Episode 137:How to Self-Advocate for yourself within a Toxic School Culture

Episode 137:How to Self-Advocate for yourself within a Toxic School Culture

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Kwame Sarfo-Mensah from Identity Talk for Educators to discuss how toxic school cultures weigh on the mental health of educators.

Kwame Sarfo-Mensah is a 14-year veteran urban educator and the founder of Identity Talk Consulting, an independent educational consulting firm that provides professional development and consulting services to K-12 school districts, educators, colleges & universities and educational non-profit organizations. He is also the author of two books: "Shaping the Teacher Identity: 8 Lessons That Will Help Define the Teacher in You" and "From Inaction to 'In Action': Creating a New Normal for Urban Educators".    As a staunch ambassador and advocate for teacher empowerment, Kwame has spoken at numerous national education conferences and worked diligently to support the recruitment and retention of teachers of color in the education system. In January 2019, he was selected to be in the inaugural cohort of the InSPIRED (In-Service Professionals Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity) Fellowship, an initiative organized by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education for veteran teachers of color to recruit students of color to teach in Massachusetts.   As an InSPIRED Teaching Fellow, Kwame facilitated professional development workshops for aspiring teachers at universities such as Boston College, UMass Boston, and Worcester State University and has served as a guest speaker for non-profit teacher pipeline programs such as Generation Teach and Worcester Public Schools’ Future Teachers Academy.  A proud graduate of Temple University, Kwame holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education.  He was honored as the 2019 National Member of the Year by Black Educators Rock, Inc. for his unwavering commitment to the advancement of the teacher profession.  Kwame's work has also been featured in Teaching Channel, Edutopia, Education Post, WGBH News, The Educators' Room, and Medium.

Aug 29, 202138:10
Episode 136: Building Self-Compassion When Battling for Your Health

Episode 136: Building Self-Compassion When Battling for Your Health

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Lisa Baylis and discusses self-compassion, autoimmune disease, and self-care for educators. Lisa is a high school teacher and counselor in British Columbia in Canada with a passion to support the well-being of educators through self-compassion. She has seen first hand, for myself, with my colleagues, and when presenting across the country, how powerful the mindset of compassion can be in growing resilience. 

See more of her work at https://lisabaylis.com/

Aug 22, 202129:54
Episode 135: The Essence of Anxiety

Episode 135: The Essence of Anxiety

In this episode, Franchesca interviews D'Essence Grant and discusses the crippling effects of anxiety and how teachers can move forward. 

D’Essence is a young woman aspiring to make a difference in the education system. This podcast would be great for networking with like-minded people and bringing awareness to this topic in a major way. Coming from “The Delta”, rural Arkansas wasn’t the best place for education. Her grandmother and mother, who were both educators, helped instill all of the qualities that make her the teacher she is today. D’Essence has been a single mother for 11 years and has battled the education system since she first got pregnant at 16. Taking care of her son when she could barely take care of herself, now makes self-care a necessity.

Aug 15, 202125:19
Episode 134: The Misconceptions and Myths of Self-Care

Episode 134: The Misconceptions and Myths of Self-Care

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Nicole Quintana-Wolf around the misconceptions and myths when it comes to self-care. Teachers are constantly being told “take care of yourself” by the administration yet frequently they’re not given the structures or supports in which to do that. That’s why they need to take self-care into their own hands! We debunk some of these myths (such as “just take a bubble bath if you’re stressed out”) and share with listeners the key to creating a shift when it comes to implementing self-care techniques that work: mindset. Specifically, how to cultivate a positive mindset through setting intentions, affirmations, and having a gratitude practice; also honing in on the most powerful self-care techniques, such as morning routine, movement, and mood-boosting foods.

Nicole is a  teacher with teaching experience, including in Florida, London UK, southside Chicago, and most recently in the Bronx, NYC.  

Aug 02, 202129:14
Episode 133: The Matrix of Stress-Causing Factors That Lead to Teacher Stress and Moral Distress

Episode 133: The Matrix of Stress-Causing Factors That Lead to Teacher Stress and Moral Distress

In this episode, Franchesca interviews educational psychologist, Dr. Tish Jennings as she presents a matrix of stress-causing factors that lead to burnout, and shows how teachers can tackle the sources of stress at each pressure point. From the development of social and emotional competencies—so important to teachers and students alike—to the achievement of systemic change through collective efficacy, she offers hope and practical remedies for overcoming a toxic trend in education.

Dr. Jennings is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning and mindfulness in education and a Professor of Education at the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia. Her research places a specific emphasis on teacher stress and how it impacts the social and emotional context of the classroom, as articulated in her highly cited theoretical article "The Prosocial Classroom." Jennings led the team that developed CARE, a mindfulness-based professional development program shown to significantly improve teacher well-being, classroom interactions, and student engagement in the largest randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based intervention designed specifically to address teacher occupational stress. She was awarded the Cathy Kerr Award for Courageous and Compassionate Science by the Mind & Life Institute in 2018 and recently recognized by Mindful Magazine as one of the "Ten Mindfulness Researchers You Should Know." Earlier in her career, Jennings spent more than 22 years as a teacher, school director, and teacher educator. She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters and several books: Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom, The Trauma-Sensitive School: Building Resilience with Compassionate Teaching, Mindfulness in the Pre-K-5 Classroom: Helping Students Stress Less and Learn More, part of Social and Emotional Learning Solutions, a book series by WW Norton of which she is the editor. Her latest book, Teacher Burnout Turnaround: Strategies for Empowered Teachers, is forthcoming next week.

Jul 25, 202136:05
Episode 132: Traps of Comparison: Being the educator YOU were meant to be.
Jul 13, 202132:12
Episodes 131: Administrators Need Love Too: With Systems, Work Smarter, Not Harder!

Episodes 131: Administrators Need Love Too: With Systems, Work Smarter, Not Harder!

"Find systems for everything!"- Haj Womack from Teachers in Touch. In this episode, Franchesca interviews former administrator, Hajj Womack as he discusses the mental stress they're under and how admins can work to save themselves. 

Jul 30, 202024:26
Episode 130: The Anti-Fragile Teacher Movement... An Interview with Nick Esposito

Episode 130: The Anti-Fragile Teacher Movement... An Interview with Nick Esposito

How can we reimagine how we think of teaching and handling mental stress? In this conversation with Nick Esposito we discuss how to take your thoughts and make them so that you can thrive while teaching despite the chaos. 

Jul 28, 202018:45
Episode 129: Teaching with Turbulence...An Interview with Meredith Newlin

Episode 129: Teaching with Turbulence...An Interview with Meredith Newlin

Are you struggling with finding your footing as the 2020-2021 school year gets started? Is virtual learning threatening your mental health? If so, join us as Meredith Newlin discusses how to find your mental balance and survive the turbulence that we KNOW is coming! 

Jul 28, 202018:42
Episode 128: Using Your Passion to Fuel Your Self-Care

Episode 128: Using Your Passion to Fuel Your Self-Care

In today's episode, we interview teacher, Yoga extraordinaire, Monica Monfre from Brooklyn, NY about teachers finding their passion.
Jan 26, 202021:53
Episode 127: Teacher Demoralization or Teacher Burnout

Episode 127: Teacher Demoralization or Teacher Burnout

In this episode, Franchesca Warren interviews Diana Z. about why she quit her job and focused on her.
Jan 19, 202031:36
Episode 125: When Teachers Tell The Truth and Live Their Best Lives

Episode 125: When Teachers Tell The Truth and Live Their Best Lives

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Tunja Smith teacher/author of, From Secretly Frustrated to Openly Fulfilled.
Dec 29, 201934:37
Episode 124: Why Mindfulness Can Help With Teacher Self-Care

Episode 124: Why Mindfulness Can Help With Teacher Self-Care

Why mindfulness in the classroom matters.
Dec 15, 201927:60
Episode 123: Finding Your Why

Episode 123: Finding Your Why

In this episode, Franchesca Warren interviews Nancy Ynchaustegui from the Deviant Teacher about her WHY.
Dec 08, 201929:48
Episode 122: Today is Going to AwesomeSAUCE

Episode 122: Today is Going to AwesomeSAUCE

In episode 122, Franchesca Warren interviews Athea Davis from Mindful Living about mindfulness and her book, Today is Going to Be Awesomesauce.   Athea Davis is a mindfulness educator at KIPP Texas Public Schools. She’s the author of Today’s Gonna Be Awesomesauce: Daily Meditations for Youth, Parents & Families, and the creator of the powerfully positive weekly classroom + home resource, the affirmation + art card deck, also called, Today’s Gonna Be Awesomesauce!   Athea owns Sol Sense Yoga, a mindfully-infused education and leadership company, where she leads live mindfulness training + digital courses for leaders, educators, and parents. She is the host of the rising education podcast, Mindful Living with Athea Davis. Athea lives with her superhero love family in Houston, Texas and is dedicated to spreading the awesomesauce sparkle here, there, and everywhere!
Dec 01, 201927:59
Episode 121: The Power of Mentorship

Episode 121: The Power of Mentorship

In this episode, Franchesca Warren discusses how teacher,Marchele Tucker, used the power of mentorship to change her road to burnout.
Nov 24, 201920:30
Episode 120: The Pedagogy of Purpose

Episode 120: The Pedagogy of Purpose

During this episode, Franchesca Warren interviews Nick Esposito and discusses the pedagogy of purpose along with how we can pull men into the Teacher Self-Care movement.
Nov 17, 201925:39
Episode 119: Philadelphia Self-Care Conference Recap

Episode 119: Philadelphia Self-Care Conference Recap

In this episode, Franchesca Warren discusses the Philadelphia Self-Care Conference and what she's learned for the 2019-2020 tour.
Nov 10, 201918:43
Episode 118: Four Steps to Establishing Self-Care Routine

Episode 118: Four Steps to Establishing Self-Care Routine

In episode 118, we interview Danielle Nuhfer from Teaching Well around the time she took tw sabbaticals, her two bouts with teacher burnout and what steps teachers need to take to establish a self-care routine!
Sep 16, 201926:21
Episode 117: Being an Advocate For Yourself as a Teacher..A Conversation with Angela Watson
Sep 02, 201929:19
Episode 116: Why I Quit My Job...

Episode 116: Why I Quit My Job...

Have you ever had that moment where you had to focus on yourself? Listen and share our podcast. To be featured on our podcast for our season 2, click here.
Jun 04, 201913:18
Episode 115: 5 Ways School Leaders Can Help Flourishing Teachers

Episode 115: 5 Ways School Leaders Can Help Flourishing Teachers

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Abby Weiland, an Instructional Coach from the mid-west around her session for the 2019 Teacher Self-Care Annual Conference on June 21-22, 2019. Check out this fun session and register for our conference here.
Feb 25, 201921:54
Episode 114: Turn In Or Burn Out to Avoid Teacher Burnout

Episode 114: Turn In Or Burn Out to Avoid Teacher Burnout

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Mike from The Credible Teacher as we discuss his upcoming TED Talk for the Teacher Self-Care Annual Conference on June 21-22, 2019. To register, please click here.
Feb 24, 201917:12
113: Why I Left My Job in October- PTSD and Teaching
Jan 14, 201933:52
112: Trauma Informed Practices for Teachers

112: Trauma Informed Practices for Teachers

Teachers understand how to help students with trauma-informed practices, but what about the effects this has on teachers. Join Franchesca as she interviews California teacher, Addison Duane and discusses how teachers can recognize trauma and how to get treatment for themselves. Please like, subscribe and comment on this episode.
Jan 07, 201928:54
111: My Self-Care Story

111: My Self-Care Story

In this episode, Franchesca Warren takes a break and discusses her journey to self-care. Visit The Educator's Room for more about the work of self-care.
Dec 29, 201821:53
110: Practicing Principal Self-Care

110: Practicing Principal Self-Care

In this episode, Franchesca interviews Lucy Fischman, a former administrator who left her job in favor of self-care from the stressful demands of the job. Through this interview, we discuss why being an administrator is the loneliest job in the building, the "exit plan" ALL administrators should have and the immediate plans for administrators to preserve their self-care. You can find Lucy on Instagram as teachers on a mission and we hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips! Please subscribe, share and rate!
Dec 27, 201830:55
109: Using Religion to Help With Teacher Self-Care

109: Using Religion to Help With Teacher Self-Care

In episode 109, Franchesca interviews Andrienne Boler, the creator of Teachers on a Mission, as she discusses how her faith helps her manage her self-care as a teacher. In this episode, Adrienne discusses her journey to self-care and how taking a year off from the classroom has allowed her to center her needs.You can find Adrienne on Instagram as teachers on a mission and we hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips! Please subscribe, share and rate!
Dec 23, 201822:25
108: How Leaders Can Address Teacher Self-Care

108: How Leaders Can Address Teacher Self-Care

Welcome to episode 108 of the Teacher Self-Care podcast! This week on the podcast, Fran interviews Cassandra Washington, a retired principal from Chicago Public Schools who's near stroke made her take a hard look at her self-care. In this episode, Cassandra drops nuggets of truth that will help any leader examine how to build a culture that focuses on self-care for their teacher. You can find Cassandra on Instagram and you can get her book, Teach and Take Time For You, by clicking here. We hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips! Please subscribe, share and rate!
Dec 10, 201831:06
107: The Journey of Self-Care and Teacher Wellness

107: The Journey of Self-Care and Teacher Wellness

Welcome to episode 107 of the Teacher Self-Care podcast! This week on the podcast, Fran interviews Amanda Hope.., a teacher and creator, about the components of her journey from stressed out special education teacher to a wellness-focused professional. In this episode, Amanda drops nuggets of truth that will help any teacher learn how to not survive but to develop a plan for teacher wellness. You can find Amanda H. on Instagram and we hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips!Please subscribe, share and rate!
Dec 09, 201828:08
106: When Your Self-Care is in the Pages of a Book

106: When Your Self-Care is in the Pages of a Book

In this episode, we interview Meredith Newlin, as she discusses her journey in self-care and how she published a book to help other teachers. Her book, Captured Fireflies: Truths, Mistakes, and Other Gifts of Being an English Teacher is a great testimony of how she's used her experience of a teacher to help others.You can find Meredith on Instagram and you can get her book, Teach and Take Time For You, by clicking here. We hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips! Please subscribe, share and rate! Please subscribe, share and rate!
Dec 09, 201827:30
105: The Happy Teacher Revolution: Why Every Teacher Needs It

105: The Happy Teacher Revolution: Why Every Teacher Needs It

Welcome to episode 105 of the Teacher Self-Care podcast! This week on the podcast, Fran interviews Danna T.., a teacher and creator of The Happy Teacher Revolution, about the components of a "happy" teacher and how school districts can cultivate happiness in their buildings. In this episode, Danna drops nuggets of truth that will help any teacher learn how to not only survive in their teacher wellness. You can find Danna on Instagram and we hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips!
Dec 02, 201831:11
104: Teacher Credibility and Self-Care

104: Teacher Credibility and Self-Care

Welcome to episode 105 of the Teacher Self-Care podcast! This week on the podcast, Fran interviews Mike.., a teacher and creator of The Credible Teacher, about how teacher credibility and self-care go "hand in hand". In this episode, Mike talks about his journey to self-care as a male educator and how it's helped him cultivate his vulnerability with his students. You can find Mike on Instagram and we hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips!
Dec 02, 201829:05
103: The Truth Behind the Decline of Mental Health of Teachers in Graduate School Programs

103: The Truth Behind the Decline of Mental Health of Teachers in Graduate School Programs

Welcome to episode 103 of the Teacher Self-Care podcast! This week on the podcast, Fran interviews Dailene H., an RTI Specialist and PhD student in Texas about the need for self-care for teachers who are graduate school. In this episode, Dailene drops nuggets of truth that will help any teacher learn how to not only survive but thrive in graduate school. You can find Dailene on Instagram and we hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips!
Harvard Study: Graduate Student Mental Health: Lessons from American Economics Departments
Dec 02, 201831:40
102: Familial Ties and Teacher Self-Care

102: Familial Ties and Teacher Self-Care

Welcome to episode 102 of the Teacher Self-Care podcast! This week on the podcast, Fran interviews Melodee Barnes, an Early Education teacher from Chicago about the need for teachers to make sense of parental relationships. In this episode, Melodee drops nuggets of truth that will help any teacher learn how to take control of parent-teacher relationships in order to have self-care. You can find Melodee on Instagram and we hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips!
Nov 26, 201831:21
101: Practicing Teacher Self-Care Through a Divorce

101: Practicing Teacher Self-Care Through a Divorce

Welcome to episode 101 of the Teacher Self-Care podcast! This week on the podcast, Fran interviews Lori Rice, a 4th-grade teacher in the Midwest, about the devastating moment she found out her (ex) husband wanted a divorce. With no other option, Lori had to figure out a way to make it until the end of the year and still teach. In this episode, Lori discusses how running, yoga, and therapy helped her find herself and practice true self-care.
You can find Lori on Twitter or on The Educator's Room as a writer and we hope you’ll find this episode inspirational, motivational, and full of helpful tips!
Nov 26, 201825:06