Teachers in Transition: Career Change and Real Talk for Burned-Out Teachers

Vanessa Jackson
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Burned out in the classroom? You’re not alone—and you’re not stuck. Teachers in Transition: Career Change and Real Talk for Burned-Out Teachers is the podcast for educators who’ve given everything to their students—and now need to give something back to themselves. Hosted by Vanessa Jackson, a former teacher who transitioned into the staffing and hiring industry, this show blends honest conversations, practical strategy, and deep emotional support. Vanessa knows exactly how burned-out educators can reposition themselves and stand out to recruiters because she’s been on both sides of the hiring table. Each episode offers real talk and real tools to help you explore what’s next—whether that’s a new job, a new identity, or a new sense of peace. 💼 Career advice for teachers leaving education 💡 Practical job search tips, resume help, and mindset shifts 🧠 Real talk about burnout, grief, and rebuilding You’ve given enough. It’s time to build a life that gives back. 👉 Learn more at https://teachersintransition.com

  1. vor 22 Std.

    The Hidden Risks Behind the Perfect Classroom

    Send us Fan Mail Your Classroom Is Beautiful. Please Get Off the Desk. Back-to-school classroom setup videos are full of creativity, care, and an astonishing amount of teachers’ personal money. But what happens if you are injured while decorating before your contract begins—or if the things you purchased are damaged, destroyed, or carried off during summer cleanup? In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa examines some risks hidden behind those beautiful classroom transformations. She discusses workers’ compensation, a viral video showing a teacher’s belongings covered in mold, and the important difference between documenting a workplace problem and publishing it online. Teacher Hack: Create a Classroom Purchase File Learn how to: • Save and organize classroom receipts  • Document furniture, electronics, books, and other personal property  • Keep records outside district-controlled systems  • Photograph valuable items without exposing student information  • Understand the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit For eligible educators, the federal educator-expense deduction rises to $350 for expenses paid during tax year 2026. Tax laws and individual circumstances vary, so verify the current rules and consult a qualified tax professional. Career Transition and Job Search Every public post contributes to your personal brand. Vanessa explains how to audit your digital footprint, preserve important workplace evidence, remove content that no longer represents you, and intentionally build the professional identity you want employers to find. Ask yourself: • Is this accurate?  • Is this an impression I am willing to own?  • Would I be comfortable explaining it during an interview? Coming Next Week: Join the Movement: Invisible Excellence is available for pre-sell Support the show

  2. 5. Aug.

    Quicksand: It Was Never About the Sand

    Send us Fan Mail This week on Teachers in Transition, I share a deeply personal story about a medical event that forced me to confront a difficult truth: sometimes our greatest strengths - resilience, endurance, and the ability to adapt - can become our greatest blind spots.  It’s so personal that even the show notes are in first person! Using the GenX childhood metaphor of quicksand, I explore how teachers gradually normalize exhaustion, chronic stress, and declining health until they no longer recognize what's happening. I also share the frightening experience of a vasovagal syncope episode after a "perfect storm" of circumstances and the lessons it taught me about paying attention before our bodies demand it. In this episode you'll discover: • Why "Teacher Tired" isn't always just teacher tired.  • How resilience can accidentally hide a growing problem.  • Why the best career decisions aren't made from survival mode.  • A practical Teacher Hack to help you recognize when you're slowly sinking.  • How a Battle Buddy can help you notice what you've adapted to.  • Why asking better questions can be more important than finding one perfect answer. If you've been wondering whether you're burned out, exhausted, or simply running on empty, this episode is for you. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Psoriatic Arthritis Learn more about psoriatic arthritis, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and living well with the condition.  https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriatic-arthritis/ Vasovagal Syncope Wondering what happened during the fainting episode I described? This Cleveland Clinic article explains vasovagal syncope, common triggers, warning signs, and prevention strategies. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23325-vasovagal-syncope Ted Lasso – "Be Curious, Not Judgmental" One of my favorite scenes from Ted Lasso and the inspiration behind this week's reminder to respond with curiosity instead of defensiveness. https://bouldercrest.org/resources/ted-lasso-be-curious-not-judgemental/ 🎵 Rush – "Sweet Miracle" If you've ever wondered why Rush lyrics occasionally sneak into my vocabulary, this song has quietly lived in my head for years and it applies beautifully to this episode. Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/song/710036902 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/track/0YKb38t83LD65mQps699y9 A Personal Note Please don't let my story discourage you from donating blood. My experience was unusual because a whole bunch of factors lined up at exactly the wrong time. That's really the point of this episode. If you're healthy and eligible, donating blood is still one of the simplest and most meaningful ways to help another human being. Find your local blood bank and consider making an appointment. A great place to start is:  https://americasblood.org/ Sometimes one dramatic story can overshadow a thousand quiet successes. I don't want that to happen here.   Support the Podcast! If you enjoy this scrappy little indie podcast, please consider: sharing this episode (or any of them!) with a teacher friendleaving a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotifysupporting the show financially starting at just $3/month Support Teachers in Transition.  It helps with production costs to keep this show on the air.     Connect with Vanessa Jackson 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com📱 Call or Text: 512-640-9099📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: teachersintransition.com/calendar🧭 LinkedIn: 🔗 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social📸 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition👍 Facebook: Teachers in Transition🐦 X (Twitter): @EduExitStrategyThe transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout   Support the show

  3. 29. Juli

    The Missing Rung: Why Teachers Are the Answer to the Workforce's Experience Problem

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Vanessa explores what happens when companies eliminate entry-level positions while still expecting experienced employees to magically appear. As AI continues taking over more beginner-level work, who will develop the next generation of experts? You'll discover why teachers may be uniquely positioned to solve a workforce problem that employers don't even realize they have yet, and how to position your experience as the solution. In this episode: Why the traditional career ladder is disappearingHow AI may unintentionally widen the experience gapWhy teachers are experts at developing people—not just delivering contentA new way to think about résumé bullet points: Task → Problem SolvedHow to connect your classroom experience to the business problems employers are trying to solveThis week's Teacher Hack: a simple Google Doc that keeps all of your beginning-of-year ideas, shopping lists, and PD notes in one searchable placeVanessa's recommendation: Ride or Die on Amazon PrimeReady to start your own transition? Schedule a complimentary Discovery Session at https://TeachersinTransition.com/calendar. Resources: 🎙 Happier in Hollywood Podcast The conversation that inspired this episode came from Happier in Hollywood, Episode 478, hosted by television writers and producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain. 📺 Ride or Die (Amazon Prime Video)  Vanessa's recommendation this week is Ride or Die, starring Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham—a smart, funny series about friendship, competence, and the often invisible excellence of women in their fifties. 🍎 Teachers in Transition Ready to explore what's next after the classroom? Learn more, schedule a complimentary Discovery Session, and find additional resources at TeachersInTransition.com.     Support the Podcast! If you enjoy this scrappy little indie podcast, please consider: sharing this episode (or any of them!) with a teacher friendleaving a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotifysupporting the show financially starting at just $3/month Support Teachers in Transition.  It helps with production costs to keep this show on the air.     Connect with Vanessa Jackson 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com📱 Call or Text: 512-640-9099📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: teachersintransition.com/calendar🧭 LinkedIn: 🔗 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social📸 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition👍 Facebook: Teachers in Transition🐦 X (Twitter): @EduExitStrategyBottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

  4. 22. Juli

    That’s a Feature, Not a Bug: The Hidden Value of Adaptability

    Send us Fan Mail What looks like “fine” may actually be a carefully engineered workaround. In this episode, Vanessa explores the hidden value of adaptability through a misbehaving knee, a broken keyboard, and one spectacularly orange 1974 Lincoln Continental. Teachers are experts at adapting. They anticipate problems, build missing systems, create backup plans, translate confusing information, and keep people moving—even when the systems around them are not working. When those adaptations succeed, however, they can conceal both the original problem and the cost of compensating for it. You’ll hear: • Why functioning is not the same as being fine  • How teacher workarounds can hide institutional problems  • The Adaptation Audit: Rebuild, Revise, or Refuse  • How adaptability translates into marketable career skills  • Two paths to explore: finding a job or creating one  • Why teacher adaptability may also be entrepreneurship Before rebuilding an old workaround for the new school year, ask what it was doing—and what it was doing to you. Vanessa also shares some big news: she is writing a book! The working title is Invisible Excellence: The Hidden Value of Teachers Beyond the Classroom, with publication planned for spring 2027. The book will explore how teachers’ leadership, communication, strategic thinking, training, relationship-building, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities become hidden - and how educators can make that value visible beyond the classroom. Vanessa is looking to speak with former educators who have transitioned into new careers and teachers who are beginning to wonder what else might be possible. If that describes you- or someone you know - reach out using the contact information below. Links and resources: • See the spectacular orange Lincoln:  • Contact Vanessa about the book: Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com (You can contact Vanessa about anything related to Teachers in Transition also at that email.  Support the Podcast! If you enjoy this scrappy little indie podcast, please consider helping me keep this resource going so that it can help other teachers. You can: sharing the episode with a teacher friendleaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotifysupporting the show financially starting at just $3/month Support Teachers in Transition    Connect with Vanessa Jackson 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com📱 Call or Text: 512-640-9099📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: teachersintransition.com/calendar🧭 LinkedIn: 🔗 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social📸 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition👍 Facebook: Teachers in Transition🐦 X (Twitter): @EduExitStrategyThe transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

  5. 15. Juli

    What Teachers Can Learn About Leadership and Career Change from The Beastmaster

    Send us Fan Mail What does a 1982 fantasy movie filled with ferrets, bat-people, blue fire, and questionable leather wardrobe choices have to do with leaving teaching? Quite a lot, actually. In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa uses The Beastmaster as a surprisingly useful map for teacher career transition. Dar begins the movie believing he is on a revenge mission. His home is gone. His identity has been shattered. The people in power have caused real harm, and he has every reason to be angry. That emotional starting point may feel familiar to teachers preparing to leave the classroom. The hero’s greatest strength is the very thing others see as strange. That same pattern shows up for teachers, who often minimize skills like communication, adaptability, leadership, relationship-building, and crisis management because they were treated as “just part of the job.” This episode explores: • Why your “weird” strengths may be your most valuable transferable skills  • How networking is really built through trust and reputation  • Why leaving teaching can feel like losing part of your identity  • The difference between escaping a harmful system and building a better future  • Why you are not starting over. You are learning to name what you already know how to do Your transition does not have to stay focused on what education took from you. It can become a rescue mission for your health, confidence, voice, family, and future. Links The Beastmaster on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083630/ Schedule a free Discovery Session:  https://teachersintransition.com/calendar Listen to Teachers in Transition: https://teachersintransition.buzzsprout.com Questions or movie suggestions:  Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com Optional support for the podcast:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/support Support the Podcast! If you enjoy this scrappy little indie podcast, please consider: sharing the episode with a teacher friendleaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotifysupporting the show financially starting at just $3/month Support Teachers in Transition    Connect with Vanessa Jackson 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com📱 Call or Text: 512-640-9099📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: teachersintransition.com/calendar🧭 LinkedIn: 🔗 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social📸 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition👍 Facebook: Teachers in Transition🐦 X (Twitter): @EduExitStrategyBottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

  6. 8. Juli

    Teacher Burnout: Why You Can't Operate at 110% Forever

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt like teaching has become one long marathon...where everyone expects you to sprint? In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa shares an unexpected lesson from a 3,000-mile solo road trip. She planned to write, record podcasts, and make progress on her business. Instead, she spent most of the trip managing recovery, sleep, hydration, and a very opinionated knee. That experience led to a realization that many educators desperately need to hear: You can't always be at your best. Otherwise, it wouldn't be your best—it would be your normal. This episode explores why experienced teachers are sometimes unfairly labeled "bitter” and why learning to adapt is more sustainable than simply enduring. Whether you're planning to remain in education or considering a career transition, this episode offers practical strategies for protecting your energy, building career capacity, and preparing for your future one step at a time. In This Episode Why sprinting is a terrible strategy for a marathonThe hidden cost of expecting teachers to operate at 110% every dayWhy experienced teachers aren't "bitter"—they've become efficientHow schools unintentionally prevent veteran teachers from benefiting from experienceThe difference between activity and impactWhy experience is supposed to pay dividendsThe importance of recovery as part of professional excellenceThe Teacher Hack: Budget Bumper TimeCareer Transition Strategy: Build capacity before you need itWhy you shouldn't "buy new running shoes on marathon day"Practical ways to prepare for a career transition without overwhelming yourselfHow strategic upskilling can help you prepare for your next career before you need itResources Mentioned • Teachers in Transition: https://teachersintransition.com • Schedule a free Discovery Call: https://teachersintransition.com/calendar • Find Your Bearings (career direction program): https://teachersintransition.com • LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/ • Coursera: https://www.coursera.org • Udemy: https://www.udemy.com Have a question or an idea for a future episode? Email Vanessa: Vanessa@TeachersInTransition.com If this episode encouraged you... Please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a teacher who needs the reminder that sustainable excellence isn't about sprinting every day. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do isn't push harder. Sometimes it's learning to pace ourselves wisely.   Support the Podcast! If you enjoy this scrappy little indie podcast, please consider: sharing the episode with a teacher friendleaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotifysupporting the show financially starting at just $3/month Support Teachers in Transition   Connect with Vanessa Jackson 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com📱 Call or Text: 512-640-9099📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: teachersintransition.com/calendar🧭 LinkedIn: 🔗 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social📸 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition👍 Facebook: Teachers in Transition🐦 X (Twitter): @EduExitStrategy The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout   Support the show

  7. 1. Juli

    Discovering Authentic Value Everywhere | Teacher Career Transition Lessons from Dave

    Send us Fan Mail What if one of the best career lessons for teachers came from a 1993 comedy? In this Moviesode, we're looking at Dave, starring Kevin Kline—not as a political movie, but as a modern fairy tale about leadership, service, and remembering that every job is temporary. As Dave unexpectedly steps into one of the most powerful roles in the world, he doesn't rely on political experience. He succeeds because he listens, notices people, asks good questions, and surrounds himself with people whose expertise complements his own. Sound familiar? Those are many of the same invisible skills teachers use every single day. In this episode, we'll explore: Why Dave is really a fairy tale about leadershipThe difference between noticing people and simply looking at themWhy teachers are "professional noticers"What Murray the accountant teaches us about asking simple questionsHow labels can hide our true abilitiesWhy your greatest professional strengths may already exist—you just haven't seen them in a new environment yetThe connection to my upcoming book, Invisible Excellence: The Hidden Value of Teachers Beyond TeachingWhy every job—including teaching—is ultimately a temporary assignmentWhether you're actively considering a career transition or simply thinking differently about your current role, this conversation is a reminder that your value is much bigger than your job title. Resources 🌐 Teachers in Transition:  https://TeachersinTransition.com 📘 Follow for Updates on:  Invisible Excellence: The Hidden Value of Teachers Beyond Teaching 🎬 Movie Discussed:  Dave (1993), starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver Thanks for listening, and remember: Your title is not your identity.  Your skills belong to you.  And every job is a temp job—so make it count.   Support the Podcast! If you enjoy this scrappy little indie podcast, please consider: sharing the episode with a teacher friendleaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotifysupporting the show financially starting at just $3/month Support Teachers in Transition    Connect with Vanessa Jackson 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com📱 Call or Text: 512-640-9099📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: teachersintransition.com/calendar🧭 LinkedIn: 🔗 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social📸 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition👍 Facebook: Teachers in Transition🐦 X (Twitter): @EduExitStrategyBottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

  8. 24. Juni

    ENCORE: The Cost of Leaving Teaching

    Send us Fan Mail This week’s encore episode covers three very different—but deeply connected—parts of surviving and transitioning out of teaching: finding laughter where you can, helping people understand invisible learning differences, and getting honest about the financial realities of leaving the classroom. First, Vanessa makes the case for laughter as more than a pleasant distraction. A real laugh can ease stress, improve mood, strengthen relationships, relax the body, and help us regain enough perspective to keep going. She shares a few favorite comedians, books, movies, and comic-strip memories—and invites listeners to share what reliably makes them laugh. Then, in this week’s Teacher Hack, Vanessa introduces Hot Words, a fast-paced clue-giving game with increasingly ridiculous communication restrictions. It is fun for game night, but it could also make an excellent professional-development activity. Trying to communicate without certain words, word lengths, or verbal habits offers a small but meaningful window into what it can feel like to navigate dyslexia, dyspraxia, processing differences, or other communication barriers. Finally, Vanessa digs into a question many burned-out teachers wrestle with: What will it really cost to leave teaching? The answer is not as simple as losing a paycheck. Depending on your state, district, contract, benefits, pension, leave balance, and timing in the school year, there may be penalties, payout issues, insurance gaps, or money you are owed. But there are also expenses teachers may finally get to stop carrying: classroom supplies, fundraiser guilt, endless spirit shirts, emergency takeout after a 12-hour day, gas, tires, and the invisible cost of constantly propping up an underfunded system. In This Episode Why laughter can support stress relief, resilience, connection, and physical relaxation Favorite comedy recommendations, including Robin Williams, Iliza Shlesinger, Karen Morgan, Ben Brainerd, Wanda Sykes, Lewis Black, and more The Snoopy Waterbed Fiasco and The Alto Wore Tweed How the game Hot Words can build empathy and enliven teacher in-service The often-overlooked financial details of leaving a teaching contract Why timing, earned leave, summer pay, benefits, and pension rules matter The value of union or professional-organization legal support What teachers may spend less on after leaving the classroom A reminder that “the best time to start working on your transition plan was about six months ago. The next best time is now.”  This episode includes general discussion based on personal experience. Employment contracts, leave, benefits, pension rules, and labor laws vary by state and employer. Check your own contract and consult an appropriate professional before making a decision. LINKS FROM THE SHOW! ·         National Institute of Health Article: Humor and Laughter May Influence Health  ·         The Snoopy Waterbed Fiasco: Start on January 14, 1975 and go to January 29, 1975. ·         IMDB.com links – learn about where you can stream these, check out the trivia, the quotes, and more! ·         Legally BlondeThe Court Jester (1955!)  ·         Free Guy  ·         The Alto Wore Tweed by Mark Schweizer ( the Kindle Edition is $2.99!) If this podcast supports you, encourages you, or helps you feel a little less alone in the transition process, please follow or subscribe, leave a review, or share the episode with a teacher friend who needs perspective, hope, and laughter Learn more about Vanessa’s programs, workshops, and coaching options at https://TeachersinTransition.com     Support the Podcast If you enjoy this scrappy little indie podcast, please consider: sharing the episode with a teacher friendleaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotifysupporting the show financially starting at just $3/month Support Teachers in Transition    Connect with Vanessa Jackson 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com📱 Call or Text: 512-640-9099📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: teachersintransition.com/calendar🧭 LinkedIn: 🔗 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social📸 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition👍 Facebook: Teachers in Transition🐦 X (Twitter): @EduExitStrategyBottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout   Support the show

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Burned out in the classroom? You’re not alone—and you’re not stuck. Teachers in Transition: Career Change and Real Talk for Burned-Out Teachers is the podcast for educators who’ve given everything to their students—and now need to give something back to themselves. Hosted by Vanessa Jackson, a former teacher who transitioned into the staffing and hiring industry, this show blends honest conversations, practical strategy, and deep emotional support. Vanessa knows exactly how burned-out educators can reposition themselves and stand out to recruiters because she’s been on both sides of the hiring table. Each episode offers real talk and real tools to help you explore what’s next—whether that’s a new job, a new identity, or a new sense of peace. 💼 Career advice for teachers leaving education 💡 Practical job search tips, resume help, and mindset shifts 🧠 Real talk about burnout, grief, and rebuilding You’ve given enough. It’s time to build a life that gives back. 👉 Learn more at https://teachersintransition.com

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