Episode Summary In this Saturday Stories episode, I introduce another story from the Leadership Kit focused on the value of listening to others and the skill of being present and focused. I share why presence is more than just being quiet — it’s about giving full attention to the moment and choosing to return when
Saturday Stories — Leadership Kit: Be Present and Focus — Sofia Looks Up Read More »
Episode Summary In this episode, I slow down and name something many teachers feel but rarely say out loud. Midyear fatigue is real, and being tired, overwhelmed, frustrated, or even numb does not mean you are failing. It means you are human in a profession that asks you to be “on” all day long. I
You’re Allowed to Feel This Read More »
Episode Summary In this episode, I talk honestly about why vulnerability matters with kids and why it is so often misunderstood in schools. I name the tension many educators feel around vulnerability, the fear that it may weaken authority or blur professional boundaries. I explain why healthy, grounded vulnerability is not oversharing or losing control,
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Episode Summary Teaching is emotional work, and I wanted to slow this episode down enough to name that honestly. The weight teachers carry does not show up in pacing guides, standards, or lesson plans, yet it shapes how we experience every day in the classroom. I talk about how that weight builds quietly through small
The Emotional Weight Teachers Carry Read More »
Episode Summary In this episode, I name something that does not get said enough in education. Many teachers are not burned out. They are just tired. I explore the difference between exhaustion that comes from caring deeply and true burnout, and why confusing the two leads to unnecessary guilt. I walk through what tired teaching
When You’re Tired but Still Show Up Read More »
Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on what it truly means to teach while being human instead of pretending I can leave my life at the door. I talk about how we carry stress, joy, exhaustion, and responsibility into the classroom, and why denying that reality drains more energy than it saves. I share
Teaching While Human Read More »
Episode Summary In this Sunday School for Teachers episode, I reflect on the Parable of the Lost Sheep from Luke 15:1–7 and what it means for Christian educators. Jesus tells a story about a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one who wandered. It is not a story about efficiency. It is
Sunday School for Teachers: The Lost Sheep — Every Child Is Worth the Search Read More »
Episode Summary In this Saturday Stories episode, I continue building shared leadership language through story. This week’s focus is listening to others, and the skill students are practicing is getting rid of distractions. Through the story “Jaden Puts It Down,” I explore how leadership sometimes looks like something simple — closing a screen and choosing
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Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on what it truly means to keep becoming as a teacher instead of trying to arrive at some final, polished version of myself. After years in education, I’ve realized that growth doesn’t end. It unfolds in layers. I share how early in my career I chased perfection and
The Teacher I’m Still Becoming Read More »
Episode Summary I talk about how most teachers do not stop being themselves all at once, but slowly edit who they are in order to survive, comply, or avoid standing out. That gradual self-editing often comes from caring deeply and wanting to do the right thing, but it takes a real toll over time. I
Permission to Be Yourself in the Classroom Read More »