Educator Forever

There comes a moment for many teachers in their careers when the classroom no longer feels like the right fit.
It can show up as burnout or exhaustion. Or it might be a curiosity or feeling that there’s something else out there for you.
If you’re a teacher considering a career change, you’re likely wondering what’s next. The great news is you don’t have to leave your passion for education behind.
In this podcast, I break down how to make a successful career change for teachers (or former teachers), so you can navigate your next step with clarity and confidence.
For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode196.

Monica Rollins is the founder and CEO of Rooted, a wellness collective. She partners with preschool programs to give teachers what traditional SEL training misses: practical nervous system literacy, trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness practices, and the co-regulation skills needed to lead calm, connected classrooms. Her approach is grounded in brain science, honors cultural responsiveness and centers the belief that regulation, not behavior management, is the foundation of social emotional learning.
In this episode, Monica tells me about how her work in early childhood education, emphasizing the importance of nervous system literacy. We dive deep into the importance of regulation and of course we get into starting a new business!
For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode195.

Luba Patlakh is a speech and language pathologist, myofunctional therapist, and founder of Kidology. She's also an entrepreneur, podcast host, and children's book author. Luba has expanded her mission beyond one-on-one services through education, content creation, and community building. She is the host of the Growth Lab podcast, author of the children's book Bobo Wears a bow tie and creator of the Confident IEP Parent, an ebook to help parents navigate the IEP process with greater confidence and clarity.
In our discussion, Luba and I talk about her busy life, going from broadcast journalism to entrepreneurship and founding Kidology. She gets into the importance of one’s communication skills when working with children and the difficulties of being an entrepreneur. If you’re thinking about starting your own brand, you need to tune into this episode.
For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode194.

Chinon Maria is an artist, educator, and founder of Art World Explorer Kids. For the past 15 years, she has dedicated her work to empowering and teaching children across the globe about the power of art.
In this episode, Chinon tells Lily how became such a major part of her life and educator journey. She also discusses how she balances her successful art career while being an educator.
For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode193.

Rob Heller is a successful entrepreneur, youth development innovator, and founder of the Boost Program, a comprehensive personal development curriculum designed to equip teens and young adults with the essential life, social, and mental health skills that traditional education overlooks. Drawing from a century of personal development wisdom—distilling the teachings of Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill, and other thought leaders into accessible, actionable lessons—Rob developed Boost as the "missing course" for today's youth.
In this episode, Lily and Rob dive into the creation of the Boost Program and why he thought children needed it. We also get into what makes Boost work and his plans for expansion.
For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode192.