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

Vanessa Jackson
  • 4.9 (18)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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. 52M AGO

    Beyond Pizza & Puns: What Teachers Really Need This Appreciation Week

    Send us Fan Mail Teacher Appreciation Week is here… but what do teachers actually need? In this episode of Teachers in Transition, we go beyond pizza parties, jeans passes, and “heroes work here” posters to have a real conversation about appreciation vs. value. If you’ve ever felt seen for a week but stretched thin the rest of the year, this one is for you. We break down: Why “Teachers are heroes” can be both true and problematic The difference between appreciation, compensation, and real support How the Guilt Economy keeps teachers overextended The truth about teacher workload vs. the 2,080-hour “full-time” benchmark Why salary ≠ unlimited access to your time A hilarious (and useful) teacher duty hack that could save your sanity  Plus, Vanessa introduces a new tongue-in-cheek “Superhero Toolkit” for teachers—including the now-iconic Bracelets of Deflection, the Lasso of Constructive Honesty, and the Utility Belt of Prepared Responses.   If Teacher Appreciation Week feels a little bittersweet… this episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it. 🔑 Key Takeaways Appreciation is meaningful—but appreciation without support is incomplete Teachers are often expected to perform multiple roles beyond their job description The Guilt Economy uses emotion to extract unpaid labor “Salaried” does NOT mean unlimited work Many teachers exceed a traditional 2,080-hour workload in a compressed calendar Your skills absolutely transfer beyond the classroom  🚀 Career Transition Insight If you’ve ever thought: “I can’t afford to leave teaching” “My skills don’t transfer” “This is just how it is”  This episode challenges that thinking.  Teachers bring high-value skills like: leadership training & development project coordination operations management communication crisis response You are not “just a teacher.” You are highly skilled.   🔗 Resources & Mentions 🧠 Career research tool: https://www.onetonline.org 🎙️ Check out the back catalog of podcasts: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/277608/episodes❤️ Support the Podcast If this episode resonated with you: Follow the show Leave a rating & review (especially on Apple Podcasts!) Share this episode with a fellow educator You can even  support the show financially for as little as $3/month to help keep this independent podcast going.   👉 Support link is: https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/support 🌟 Final Thought Appreciation is nice.  Support is nicer.Top of Form Bottom 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

    24 min

  2. APR 29

    The Testing Tax: Why Teachers Are So Tired Right Now

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Vanessa talks about a tax no one warns teachers about: the hidden toll of testing season. If you are extra tired right now, emotionally thin, strangely drained, or wondering why you still feel exhausted after a weekend, this episode is for you. She also shares a practical Teacher Hack for tired humans and explains why many educators who find this show are already in the Decide stage of career transition long before they realize it. In This Episode  The Testing Tax Standardized testing season often costs more than anyone admits. Teachers are asked to hold everything together while schedules shift, technology misbehaves, students feel pressure, and everyone pretends this is normal. Vanessa explores why that kind of hyper-vigilance creates a very real toll on your body, brain, and nervous system. Sometimes you are not lazy. You are taxed.  Teacher Hack: Fajita Surprise When you are bone-deep tired and cannot make one more decision, dinner needs to get simpler. Because simplification is not failure. It is strategy.  Career Transition: The Decide Stage Most people assume career change starts with resumes and job boards. Vanessa explains why many educators actually begin in the Decide stage first — the moment when you start noticing the cost of staying more clearly than you used to. Questions like: Why am I this tired every year?Why does every break feel like recovery instead of rest?Why do I keep saying “one more year”?Those are Decide-stage questions.  A Powerful Reminder You may be at the fork in the road called Decide. Good news: that is not a dead end. That is where you stop settling and start choosing the bigger life. Mentioned in This Episode Teachers in Transition — https://teachersintransition.comPodcast Home — https://teachersintransition.buzzsprout.comJim Gaffigan on “same ingredients, different meal” energy: Jim Gaffigan - Mexican Food (1996)Support the podcast directly through the Buzzsprout support link in the episode player. (youtube.com) Support the Show If this episode helped you, made you laugh, or made you feel a little less alone: Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyLeave a rating or reviewShare this episode with a fellow teacherKeep listeningWant to support this scrappy little indie podcast financially? You can do that for as little as $3/month through the support link in the show notes  Work With Vanessa If you know something needs to change but you are not sure what, Vanessa helps educators navigate that fork in the road. Visit Teachers in Transition at https://teachersintransition.com to learn more and book a conversation.  Share This Episode Know a teacher who is exhausted right now and wondering why? Send them this episode. Sometimes the kindest thing we can offer another educator is language for what they’re carrying.  The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

    22 min

  3. APR 22

    You’re Not Starting Over: How Teachers Actually Transition Careers

    Send us Fan Mail If you’re a teacher thinking about leaving the classroom but feeling stuck because you “don’t know what you would do,” this episode is for you.     In this episode, Vanessa breaks down one of the biggest myths in career transition—that teachers don’t have transferable skills—and explains why the real issue isn’t a lack of skills… it’s a lack of visibility.   You’ll also get a simple, practical way to reconnect with your own story (and your strengths), plus a very real conversation about why networking—not just applying—is what actually gets you hired.   And yes… there’s even a little The West Wing reference in there for those of you who are fans.   What You’ll Learn Why teachers do have highly transferable skills (even if it doesn’t feel like it)The difference between a skills problem and a visibility problemHow your everyday classroom experience translates into corporate languageA simple “story-based” hack to uncover your strengthsWhy networking drives most job opportunitiesHow to start networking in a way that feels natural—not awkward  Teacher Hack of the Week  Reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while—no agenda, no job ask. Reconnect. Share stories. Laugh a little.  Reconnection is good for mental health.    Career Transition Insight: Networking, Networking, Networking If you take one thing from this episode, let it be this: Most jobs are not coming from online applications.  They’re coming from conversations. Networking isn’t about using people. It’s about: staying connectedhaving real conversationsand letting people know where you are and where you want to go  You already have a network. The shift is learning how to activate it. Start simple:  “Hey, I’m exploring something new—can I ask you a few questions?” That one sentence can open more doors than dozens of applications.   Ready to Take the Next Step? If you’re ready to start connecting the dots between your teaching experience and your next career:   👉 Book a free discovery call:  https://teachersintransition.com/calendar 👉 Learn more about SCOUT (the story-based skills tool):  https://teachersintransition.com 💛 Support the podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/support   CONNECT WITH TEACHERS IN TRANSITION     Website: https://teachersintransition.com Email: Vanessa@Teachersintransition.com Leave a voicemail message! (512) 640-9099 Follow on Facebook: Teachers in Transition   Final Thought You’re not starting over. You’re translating. Top of Form   Bottom of Form  The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

    22 min

  4. APR 15

    Should You Leave Teaching This Year? What to Know First

    Send us Fan Mail Teachers are more valuable than you’ve been told, and if you feel like you’ve lost your sparkle, it might not be you… it might just be the lighting.  This week, Vanessa shares a story about Llanite, one of the rarest rocks on Earth (found only near Llano, Texas), and why it’s the perfect metaphor for teachers whose skills have been overlooked for so long they’ve started to overlook themselves. You’ll also get a ridiculously simple grounding reset (no “wellness routine” required): step outside for 2–5 minutes and look up. When “Small Human meets Big Sky,” your nervous system settles and your perspective widens. Then we get practical about the big question that shows up during testing season/end-of-year chaos: “Is this the year I leave?” Vanessa explains why this is often the worst time to make the final decision and the best time to start preparing, because the rest of the working world does not run on a school calendar. In this episode: The Llanite lesson: rare value is easy to miss when it’s “always been there” Why teachers underestimate their own skills (and others do too) The fast grounding hack: change your environment, change your state Why constant evaluation can disconnect you from your own worth The guilt economy (“stay for the kids”) and why guilt is a terrible career strategy Vanessa’s transition framework: Decide → Clarify → Build → Refine → Attract Job search reality: it often takes 6–12 months, so planning matters Teacher Hack of the Week Go outside. Two minutes is enough to shift your breathing, your vision, and your brain. Change the lighting—then see what you notice.   Links to Resources Your one-stop link for the calendar, the podcast, and anything else: https://teachersintransition.com Ep. 290 (Fear, Burnout, and a Smarter Job Strategy): https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/episodes/18785109     Support the podcast (optional, but always appreciated to offset production costs!): https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/support Until next time… take a moment, look up at the sky, and remember: you are amazing.  CONNECT WITH TEACHERS IN TRANSITION  Website: https://teachersintransition.com Email: Vanessa@Teachersintransition.com Leave a voicemail message! (512) 640-9099 Follow on Facebook: Teachers in Transition  The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

    20 min

  5. APR 8

    Designed for a World That Doesn’t Exist: Why Education Is Breaking Teachers

    Send us Fan Mail An AI robot named Plato got pitched as the future of classrooms… and Vanessa is not buying it. In this episode, she breaks down why teaching can’t be automated, why things like Plato keep showing up, shares a junk-mail hack that saves your sanity, and walks you through the resume tactic that helps employers understand your better. What You’ll Hear in This Episode Why “AI works when everything goes according to plan… and teaching is what happens when it doesn’t” The real problem isn’t the robot — it’s the thinking behind it Why classrooms are closer to Houston freeways than controlled environments A quick teacher hack to stop junk mail from invading your home Resume top section tips: objective vs. summary vs. branding statement How to translate your educator skills into language hiring managers understand  Links & Next Steps Free Discovery Session: TeachersinTransition.com/calendar Find Your Bearings: If you’re in the “I can’t stay, but I don’t know where I’m going” phase, contact Vanessa directly to learn more at Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.comSupport page: buzzsprout.com/277608/support   Connect with Vanessa Email: Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com Voicemail/Text: 512-640-9099 LinkedIn: Vanessa Jackson (Teachers in Transition)Support the Podcast  https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/support Even a small contribution—starting at $3/month—helps keep the show going. And if supporting financially isn’t right for you, sharing the podcast with another teacher who might need it is another way to help the podcast and is always appreciated. CONNECT WITH TEACHERS IN TRANSITION Website: https://teachersintransition.com Email: Vanessa@Teachersintransition.com Leave a voicemail message! (512) 640-9099 Follow on Facebook: Teachers in Transition  The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

    17 min

  6. APR 1

    Get Taken Seriously Outside the Classroom (Working Girl)

    Send us Fan Mail Ever been told, “You’re just a teacher”… and felt your stomach drop? This episode is your reminder that “just a teacher” is not a truth — it’s a label that makes your skills invisible. In today’s Moviesode, Vanessa uses the 1988 film Working Girl to unpack what happens when someone is wildly capable… but kept out of the room because they don’t have the right title, credentials, or connections. If you’re a burned-out teacher thinking about leaving the classroom, this one will feel personal — in the best way. What we cover: Why teachers get underestimated in career transitions (and how to push back) The capability vs. credentials trap that keeps educators stuck How to translate teacher skills so employers actually “get it” Why documentation = protection (and how it becomes your job-search proof) The role of gumption: applying before you feel 100% ready A bigger truth about “support roles” (teacher/secretary/nurse) and reclaiming ownership of your work Quick movie note:  (because… the 80s were the 80s): There’s some nudity, objectification, and moments that hit differently in 2026. Also: the hair and the shoulder pads are truly a jump scare. You’ve been warned.  Next Step (if you’re ready to stop spiraling and start mapping) If you’re recognizing yourself in Tess — capable, underestimated, and ready for something more — Vanessa’s new program Find Your Bearings was built for this moment. It’s three sessions where you break down your experience, translate your skills, and build a clear path forward using SCOUT. Support the Podcast  Teachers in Transition is independently produced by Vanessa Jackson. If this podcast has helped you feel less alone or gain clarity, you now have the option to support the show financially for as little as $3. Support is completely optional and helps cover production costs so this resource can remain accessible. Whether you choose to support or simply keep listening, thank you for being here.  https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/support to sign up and support the podcast! Share This Episode With a Teacher Who… ✅ feels stuck and undervalued  ✅ keeps hearing “next year will be better”  ✅ knows they have more to offer than the classroom can hold And remember: you’re not “just” a teacher — you’re a whole skill set. CONNECT WITH TEACHERS IN TRANSITION   Website: https://teachersintransition.com Email: Vanessa@Teachersintransition.com Leave a voicemail message! (512) 640-9099 Follow on Facebook: Teachers in Transition  The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout Support the show

    16 min

  7. MAR 24

    Career Quizzes Won’t Save You (Here’s What Will)

    Send us Fan Mail If you’re a burned-out teacher wondering how to leave teaching but you don’t have clarity yet, this episode is your nervous system’s permission slip to slow down and get oriented—before you start “fixing your resume” for a job you don’t even want. Vanessa connects Brendan Fraser’s comeback story to something teachers know in their bones: you can’t self-care your way out of an unsafe, unsustainable system. Healing starts with safety—then the energy returns, the fog lifts, and the next step becomes visible. In This Episode, We Cover Brendan Fraser’s return and what it looks like when a person starts to feel safe againThe real problem with “just practice self-care” advice (hint: your nervous system has to be able to receive it)Clutter as stress—and how teachers carry “clutter” mentally and emotionally, not just physicallyThe EBB + FLOW framework for career transition momentum:EBB = Evaluate, Breathe, Build FLOW = Focus, Leverage, Own, Win Why “fix your resume” is the wrong first step when you don’t have direction yetVanessa’s driverless car analogy for career-quiz sites and AI tools: helpful assistants, terrible driversIntroducing SCOUT: an AI-supported tool that helps translate your teacher stories into real-world skills and languageKey Takeaways for Burned-Out Teachers If rest doesn’t feel like rest, it’s not because you’re “bad at self-care.” It’s because your system has been bracing for too long.Clarity comes before the resume. Otherwise, you’re packing for a trip without a destination.AI can help you organize and spot patterns—but you still have to choose the direction (and the life) those patterns serve.Mentioned in the Episode (Links & Resources) SF neighbors dealing with Waymo cars honking at night (ABC7 / KGO). (ABC7 San Francisco)Austin incident where a Waymo vehicle blocked an ambulance response (Texas Tribune; additional local coverage also exists). (The Texas Tribune)Happier in Hollywood — Episode about “ebb and flow.” (Happier in Hollywood)Peter Walsh — Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? (Oprah)Support the Podcast! Teachers in Transition is independently produced. If the show helps you feel less alone or more clear, you can support the podcast by sharing with a friend, continuing to listen, and you can even help support it financially via the Buzzsprout support page. Thank you for being here in whatever way you can.   Connect with Vanessa Email: Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.comVoicemail/Text: 512-640-9099Discovery Session: teachersintransition.com/calendarLinkedIn: Vanessa Jackson (Teachers in Transition)Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.socialInstagram/Threads: @teachers.in.transitionFacebook: Teachers in Transition (official page)Support the show

    27 min

  8. MAR 18

    Why Leaving Teaching Makes Career Change Feel So Hard

    Send us Fan Mail Why do capable teachers often feel anxious about leaving the classroom?  It may have less to do with confidence and more to do with cognitive overload.   In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa explores the connection between confidence, anxiety, and cognitive overload, and why teachers often carry an impossible amount of mental tracking in their daily work. You’ll also learn a simple weekly framework that can reduce anxiety, build trust with your future self, and make your week run more smoothly. In the career transition segment, Vanessa shares three practical ways teachers can begin exploring careers outside education today — without needing to have their entire career plan figured out first.  Key takeaway: Career transitions become manageable when you stop trying to solve everything at once and start running small, intentional experiments. In This Episode Confidence vs. Anxiety Why confidence often depends on trusting past-youHow cognitive overload impacts teachersWhy capable professionals can start doubting themselvesTeacher Hack: Create a Weekly Framework How simple routines reduce anxiety and decision fatigueWhy keeping small agreements with yourself builds confidenceExamples of weekly systems that make life easierCareer Transition & Job Search Why trying to solve your entire career keeps people stuckHow to run small career experiments insteadPractical ways teachers can start exploring new careers todayCareer Exploration Tools Mentioned O*NET Online: A career research database from the U.S. Department of Labor that breaks down occupations by skills, tasks, and work activities. Explore careers here: https://www.onetonline.org Teachers often find this tool especially useful because it reveals the transferable skills that connect teaching to many other professions. Thinking About Leaving Teaching? If you're a teacher experiencing burnout or wondering what comes next, Vanessa offers free Discovery Sessions to help you explore your options and get your bearings. 📧 Email: Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com  📱 Text or voicemail: 512-640-9099  📅 Schedule a conversation: https://teachersintransition.com/calendar  Support the Podcast  😊  Teachers in Transition is an independently produced podcast created to support educators navigating burnout and career change. If this podcast has helped you feel less alone or given you clarity about your next step, you now have the option to support the show directly. Support starts at $3 per month and helps cover production costs so this resource can remain available to teachers who need it. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/support Keywords  teacher burnout, leaving teaching, career change for teachers, teacher career transition, careers outside education, teacher transferable skills, teacher job search, career exploration for teachers The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout  Support the show

    19 min
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4.9
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About

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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