Q: Can you share your journey of becoming a coach and expert in supporting personal well-being for teachers, and how it led you to host The Rooted Teacher Podcast?
A: I always say I took the scenic route to mental health. I started college studying psychology right out of high school but left after one year. After spending time in cosmetology and healthcare, I eventually found my way back to school counseling, which connected me with education. Hosting The Rooted Teacher Podcast has been such a blessing, allowing me to speak about quality of life in practical ways that perfectly match my coaching style.
Q: As someone who works closely with teachers, what do you see as the biggest challenges teachers face when it comes to personal well-being and work-life balance?
A: The biggest challenge I see across education is the myth that a passion for students can substitute for well-being. So many teachers ignore their own needs in an effort to prioritize their students. You can’t improve what you don’t acknowledge, so one of my goals is to help people recognize the possibility of feeling better so they can make the changes they need.
Q: For teachers who are listening to the podcast, what’s one actionable step they can take today to begin focusing on their own well-being?
A: The most important step is to decide what you want and believe that you deserve to have it. Write the vision and make it plain—this allows you to identify what changes need to be made. Writing it down makes it real and easier to monitor and track. There’s so much hope that comes from taking a tangible action in the direction of your dreams.
Q: You mentioned that a-ha moments are what you live for—can you share a story?
A: I can’t recall exactly what I said, but I remember the person on the other side of the conversation saying, “I never thought of it that way.” It reminded me that perspective is everything—and it can change at any moment.
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