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. 3d ago

    Accountability: More Work, Less Authority

    Send us Fan Mail Do you ever feel like teachers are the only ones held accountable for things in education? So does Vanessa. In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa continues the Four Horsemen of Education series with Horseman #3: Accountability. Teachers are increasingly held responsible not only for their own work, but for student behavior, parent communication, missing assignments, interventions, testing outcomes, and systemic failures far beyond their control. And when consequences are repeatedly removed from students, they don’t actually disappear. Someone else ends up carrying them. Vanessa explores how education created an increasingly standardized system while simultaneously expecting teachers to individualize everything inside it. She also looks at what happens when students get fewer opportunities to struggle, fail, recover, and learn to carry responsibility for their own choices. Along the way, we talk about online gradebooks, impossible parent communication expectations, standardized testing, A Wrinkle in Time, Scantrons, AI, and one of Vanessa’s favorite sayings: If we don’t have a consequence, we don’t have a rule. Career Transition and Job Search: Track What Matters If you’re applying for jobs and feel like nothing is working, simply counting applications won’t tell you what needs to change. Vanessa explains how an application tracker and a networking tracker can help you diagnose where your job search is breaking down. Are you struggling to find appropriate jobs? Getting no interviews? Getting interviews but no advancement? Reaching out to people but getting no responses? Different problems require different solutions. Trackers help you figure that out. Want copies of the trackers? Email Vanessa at Vanessa@teachersintransition.com. Teacher Hack: Drop-Down Menus This week’s Teacher Hack is a tiny spreadsheet skill that can save time and make your trackers much easier to use. Learn how to create drop-down menus in both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel so you can stop typing the same categories over and over again. Use them for job-search trackers, interventions, inventory, student progress, accommodations, forms, and any other spreadsheet where you repeatedly enter the same information. Ready to Think About What Comes Next? If you’re considering leaving education but aren’t sure what your experience translates to—or even what you want to do next—Vanessa can help you identify your transferable skills, explore where you might fit outside education, and build a strategy for your transition. Schedule a discovery call at: https://teachersintransition.com/calendar You can also send questions by email or leave a text or voice message using the contact information. And if this episode made you think of another teacher, please share it. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to help the podcast reach teachers who need it. Until next time, remember:  The person you need to be most accountable to is you.   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

  2. Sep 2

    Resources: The Hidden Cost of Pencils

    Send us Fan Mail Teachers have been told to “do more with less” for decades. But eventually, less produces less—and teachers have quietly been making up the difference with their own money, time, creativity, and stress. In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa continues the Four Horsemen of Education miniseries with the Second Horseman: Resources. She examines how teacher generosity became an unofficial funding stream for education, why a single pencil is not really just a single pencil, and how teachers became institutional shock absorbers for poorly prioritized spending. Then, in the Career Transition and Job Search segment, Vanessa turns to ghost jobs: postings for positions employers may not be actively trying to fill. Every application consumes finite resources—including time, attention, energy, and hope. Understanding the dysfunction behind ghost jobs can help transitioning teachers build rejection resilience and stop interpreting every unanswered application as a verdict on their value. IN THIS EPISODE: • Why “doing more with less” is no longer sustainable  • How teachers personally subsidize classroom operations  • The difference between teacher generosity and institutional responsibility  • Why school spending is often a prioritization problem  • What ghost jobs are and why employers post them  • How ghost jobs consume applicants’ unpaid labor  • Why networking can reveal information a job posting cannot  • How to protect your confidence and build rejection resilience Read More about GHOST JOBS: Inc.: The End of Ghost Jobs: Why Companies Could Soon Face Huge Fines for Fake Listings  https://www.inc.com/chloe-rosenberg/can-state-lawmakers-exorcise-the-hiring-market-of-ghost-jobs/91395784 Forbes: 1 in 7 Job Postings Are Ghost Jobs  https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2026/04/09/1-in-7-job-postings-are-ghost-jobs-new-study-reveals-here-are-3-steps-to-avoid-fake-job-ads/ Job Application Insights: Ghost Jobs on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/job-app-insights_the-job-search-by-the-numbers-what-the-data-activity-7427084888153145344-2ZTy/ WORK WITH VANESSA: If your job search is consuming your time, energy, and hope without producing results, you may not need to work harder. You may need a stronger strategy and help separating what you can improve from the dysfunction you cannot control. Schedule your free discovery call:  https://TeachersinTransition.com/calendar SUPPORT INVISIBLE EXCELLENCE: The crowdfunding campaign for Invisible Excellence: The Hidden Value of Teachers Beyond Teaching is nearing its halfway point. The book only goes to press if it receives enough support to cross the finish line. Find the campaign link at: https://books.manuscripts.com/product/invisible-excellence-the-hidden-value-of-teachers-beyond-teaching/ Campaign ends September 19, 2026! Share this episode with a teacher who needs to hear that the system’s lack of resources - and the hiring market’s dysfunction - are not evidence that something is wrong with them. 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. Aug 26

    Capacity: Why Teachers Can't Keep Doing More With Less

    Send us Fan Mail Teacher burnout isn't a failure of resilience. What happens when teacher workload simply exceeds the time, energy, and capacity available to do the job? This week on Teachers in Transition, Vanessa kicks off a new four-part series on the Four Horsemen of Education with the first Horseman: Capacity, also known as Realistic Expectations. We look at how decades of "it'll only take five minutes" have steadily expanded teacher workload—and why continually asking teachers to do more with less eventually means getting less with less. We also get practical about reclaiming some of that capacity. In the Teacher Hack, learn how to create a simple response bank for the emails, explanations, policies, and other messages you find yourself writing repeatedly. The rule is simple: if you're typing it for the second time, put it in the bank. Using reusable chunks, headings in Google Docs or Word, voice-to-text, and AI for basic cleanup can save both time and mental energy. Then, in our Career Transition and Job Search segment, we're talking networking and informational interviews. Networking doesn't have to mean awkwardly asking strangers for jobs. Instead, borrow a lesson from Ted Lasso: Be curious. A 10–15 minute conversation with someone doing work you're interested in can help you explore careers beyond teaching, learn how people entered their fields, identify skills or certifications you may need, and grow your professional network before you ever submit an application. Also in this episode Why teacher capacity is about the total workload, not whether each individual request seems reasonableHow EdTech can save administrative time while quietly consuming teacher timeWhy "just five minutes" becomes a serious problem when nothing ever comes off the plateHow to build a mix-and-match response bank without creating another giant project for yourselfQuestions to ask during an informational interviewWhy teachers already have many of the relationship-building skills needed for effective networkingThe one rule to remember when someone gives you 15 minutes of their timeHelp Publish a book that can help all teachers recognize their excellence! Invisible Excellence: The Hidden Value of Teachers Beyond Teachingis about bringing the extraordinary skills, expertise, and value of teachers into the light—and helping teachers recognize what they bring to the table. The Visibility Project is currently crowdfunding publication of Invisible Excellence, with several ways to participate beginning at $50. The campaign closes September 18 at midnight Eastern. Support Invisible Excellence and explore The Visibility Project: https://books.manuscripts.com/product/invisible-excellence-the-hidden-value-of-teachers-beyond-teaching/ Teachers in Transition Resources Whether you're wondering if it's time to leave teaching, exploring careers beyond teaching, translating your teacher skills, building a resume, networking, job searching, or preparing for interviews, Teachers in Transition has resources designed to meet you where you are in the process. Explore Teachers in Transition:  https://teachersintransition.com Vanessa is also accepting a limited number of new coaching clients for fall. If you'd like to talk about where you are in your career transition and whether working together would be a good fit, schedule a conversation here: https://teachersintransition.com/calendar Ted Lasso Dartboard Scene – Be Curious, Not Judgmental! Keywords: teacher burnout, teacher workload, leaving teaching, teacher career change, careers beyond teaching, teacher career transition, teacher transferable skills, networking for teachers, informational interviews, teacher job search, teacher time management, EdTech, AI for teachers 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. Aug 19

    AI, Authentic Applications and the Human Advantage

    Send us Fan Mail AI is everywhere, but should we embrace it, fear it, or approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism?   In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa talks with bestselling author, former educator, and AI expert Jeremy Schifeling about the strange contradictions surrounding artificial intelligence. AI can help teachers recognize their transferable skills, translate their experience into corporate language, and strengthen their job-search materials, but when it becomes an easy button, the results can quickly turn into generic, fabricated word salad. Vanessa and Jeremy explore the difference between work that is generated by AI and work that is developed with AI. They also discuss the emerging AI arms race between job seekers, recruiters, and employers, and why the best way to stand out may be to lean harder into the qualities AI cannot replicate: personality, curiosity, empathy, relationships, and real-world problem solving. In This Episode Why AI works best as a thought partner rather than a replacement for human thinkingHow teachers can use AI to identify and translate their transferable skillsWhy generic AI-generated resumes and cover letters can hurt a candidateHow to write for both applicant tracking systems and the humans behind themWhy understanding the hiring manager’s actual problem matters more than simply matching keywordsHow teachers can use a master resume to make tailoring applications easierWhy relationships and networking remain essential in an AI-driven job marketHow AI may affect entry-level jobs and the future talent pipelineWhy teachers’ relationship-building and emotional-intelligence skills may become even more valuableHow to ask AI to critique your resume instead of writing it for youA simple, low-pressure way for AI beginners to start experimentingJeremy’s Teacher Hack for surviving those final ten minutes before the bell  A Few Important Takeaways ·         AI is especially good at translation, pattern recognition, brainstorming, and review. Give it your real experiences, accomplishments, feedback, and stories, and it can help you see connections you may have missed. ·         AI should not replace your voice, your curiosity, or your relationships. Use it to support your thinking, but keep yourself in the process. ·         And remember: Your teaching experience has prepared you to solve real problems, communicate with different audiences, manage competing priorities, and build relationships quickly. Those abilities are valuable far beyond the classroom.   Connect with Jeremy Schifeling Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/schifeling/  Connect with Vanessa Jackson Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessajackson78132/  Learn more about Teachers in Transition:  https://teachersintransition.com   Support Invisible Excellence Vanessa’s upcoming book, Invisible Excellence: The Hidden Value of Teachers Beyond Teaching, is currently in its presale and crowdfunding phase. The goal is to bring this book into the hands of teachers everywhere and help them recognize how much value they carry beyond the classroom.  Watch the campaign video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6-SUmRVND0 Visit the book launch page: https://books.manuscripts.com/product/invisible-excellence-the-hidden-value-of-teachers-beyond-teaching/   You are amazing! 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.  Bottom of FormThe transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

  5. Aug 12

    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

  6. Aug 5

    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

  7. Jul 29

    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

  8. Jul 22

    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

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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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