Resilience, Renewal, and Reclaiming My Purpose: A Journey of Teacher Wellness
I’m coming to my 50th birthday soon, and I find myself reflecting on last year and ALL that it brought into my life. It was transformative to say the least. Over the past month, I have reflected on just how crappy last year was—my job became an anxiety-ridden daily roller coaster of stressful highs and lows, leading me to question my desire to be an educator; a cancer diagnosis that came out of nowhere; the death of both my in-laws in less than 5 months; helping a husband who lost both of his parents and who has a struggling restaurant business in this rough economy; and dealing with a son who feels left out and alone at the age of 11. It was rough to say the least, but in all of that crap, there was good—I quit my job at my alma mater because I realized that they didn’t value me; I started 2 businesses, which is something that I never thought I would do; I helped my husband see his strength and turn things around; I helped my son see how valuable and talented he was; and I found inner peace through journaling and reflection. Last year really reshaped my understanding of personal and professional wellness. After 29 years in education, 2024 became my year of radical self-care and reinvention.
Facing the Impossible, Finding Strength
In December 2024, I celebrated becoming cancer-free—a milestone that taught me more about resilience than any professional challenge I've faced in nearly three decades of being an education. This journey wasn't just about medical recovery; it was about understanding the profound connection between personal health and professional effectiveness. It was about finding what I needed mentally to face any challenge that came my way. Funny, I decided to leave my job before I even found out about the cancer, but God knew what he was doing. I don’t think that I would have been as strong if I kept working in that stressful environment. Honestly, I don’t think that I would be cancer-free right now if I had stayed in that toxic situation. I had to put myself first before everything to beat this, which is something that I have never done in my life.
I’ve always been a server; as a mom, a wife, an educator, I felt like my job was to serve others, and I never took time for myself or put myself first. After being diagnosed with cancer, that changed. Life is too short to not do the things that you want. Sure, there are things that you need to do as a mom and a wife, but for work…work shouldn’t be your life. I found the strength to start doing the things that I wanted to do—to go on quick weekend getaways, to spend more time with my son and husband, to take the time to visit friends, to find out who I am and what I really wanted in this life. Don’t wait until an illness drives you to find your inner peace and desires for your life!
Leaving Education to Serve Educators
My decision to leave traditional classroom teaching and launch U-Ed Collaborative wasn't an ending, but a powerful new beginning. I realized that to truly support teachers, I needed to step outside the system and create resources that address the holistic wellness educators desperately need. In my job as an administrator, I was so bogged down with menial tasks that no one else wanted to do that I lost sight of what I loved—helping teachers to be the best that they can be for their students. I didn’t have enough time to work with them, at least not like I wanted to. Plus, I knew what they needed professionally; they needed personalized professional development. One-type-fits-all just didn’t work for over 80 teachers. It wasn’t effective. I wanted to be able to work with them and have them reflective on their practices. I wanted to be able to provide the specific professional development that they needed to grow. Between crunching data numbers, dealing with educational software, buying textbooks, and writing curriculum, I lost that connection. Observations became something to check off my to-do list, rather than an opportunity where I could really help teachers to reflect and grow. Professional development became whatever the principal said I had to do. This was not what I wanted for me or my teachers. I wanted to help them shine; instead, I was stuck in my office working at my desk all day. I couldn’t do it anymore. I was Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, and I felt like I wasn’t really dealing with much instruction at all. I didn’t want that.
So, I left the school-setting to venture off on this journey of providing professional development and educational resources to teachers to make their instruction more effective and their life easier. One thing that I recognized that other administrators didn’t was the fact that teachers will always be overworked because what they do in the classroom is so demanding. My goal in creating U-Ed Collaborative was to provide teachers with the tools to make them successful in and out of the classroom.
The Silent Struggle of Teachers
Educators are champions of others' growth, often at the expense of their own well-being. We pour our hearts into our students, frequently neglecting our mental, emotional, and physical health. My cancer journey became a stark reminder that we cannot pour from an empty cup.
My life changed in a single second and will forever be changed. However, I didn’t let that bring me down. Instead, I found ways to take care of myself mentally and emotionally through journaling. It truly was a life saver for me.
Recently, I stepped back into the classroom as a part-time middle school Social Studies teacher at a school that has been dear to my heart for years. One thing that I notice that I am doing more is reflecting on my day, and it has been extremely helpful in keeping my stress level down and focusing on being the best teacher that I can be for my students. In fact, when I forget to do that reflection, the next day feels off, like I’m unprepared for the day that awaits me. We never want that as teachers and educators! I try to make it a priority, having my journal on my nightstand and reflecting before going to bed, but sometimes, just like you, I am tired and worn out after a long day. Still, when I can do it, it is so rewarding.
Wellness: More Than Just Self-Care
Teacher wellness isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. It's about:
- Setting boundaries
- Practicing mindful self-reflection
- Developing resilience strategies
- Prioritizing personal growth
- Understanding that your worth isn't defined by your productivity
During this past year, working so closely with teachers through U-Ed Collaborative, I recognized how important teacher wellness is. I’ve worked with teachers who are burnout, who are ready to quit, who are tired, who are struggling to find the right tools for their students…all of whom want to do better for their students, but they need to work on themselves first. It is extremely important for you as an educator to take care of yourself. Take the time to practice wellness each day and see what a difference it can make in your life and your teaching.
A Personal Invitation to Transformation
This is why I created the 30-Day Teacher Wellness Journal—a carefully crafted tool designed to guide educators through a transformative journey of personal and professional development.
What Makes This Journal Unique:
- Daily prompts for self-reflection
- Strategies for mental health management
- Professional growth exercises
- Space for goal setting and tracking
- Insights from my own journey of resilience
Your Invitation to Change
Your students deserve a whole, healthy educator. YOU deserve to feel empowered, inspired, and balanced. This journal can make that happen for you!
If you want a taste of what this journal is like, click here for our FREE 7-day teacher wellness journal.
Get Your 30-Day Teacher Wellness Journal Now…click here!
Transform your teaching. Transform your life.
