Why Play Matters More Than Ever for Educators

How the 2026 California Teacher of the Year Builds Belonging - and Beats Burnout

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with California 2026 Teacher of the Year Chrizia Dela Rosa to explore a journey of belonging, resilience, and the transformative power of education. After immigrating to the United States from the Philippines at age six without speaking English, Chrizia struggled to find her place in school. Everything changed when a teacher helped her feel valued, understood, and capable of thriving.Years later, those experiences would shape the educator she would become.In this conversation, Chrizia reflects on her path from English learner to award-winning educator, the importance of relationships in the classroom, and the practices she uses to help students feel safe, connected, and ready to learn. She also shares how mindfulness, social-emotional learning, and human intelligence transformed both her teaching and her life.At the heart of her story is a powerful reminder: one caring educator can change the trajectory of a student's life.Chapter Markers00:00:00 - Episode Introduction00:00:58 - Meet Chrizia Dela Rosa: California Teacher of the Year00:02:45 - The Immigrant Experience: Struggling to Assimilate00:03:52 - Basketball as a Second Language00:05:10 - How Miss Tran Created Real Classroom Belonging00:08:20 - Facing the Pivot: Moving to a New Community00:11:50 - Discovering the Addictive Magic of Teaching00:16:05 - Teach for America, Miami, & First-Year Burnout00:19:55 - Why Teacher Prep Programs Set Educators Up to Fail00:22:00 - Leaning into Personal Strengths over Rigid Discipline00:24:25 - The Catalyst: Discovering Breathe for Change00:30:40 - Bringing Brain Science into the Math Classroom00:34:20 - The Power of Equitable Sharing & Mindful Listening00:42:45 - Proactive vs. Responsive Classroom Strategies00:45:00 - Positive Greetings at the Door & Daily Check-Ins00:48:00 - Using Somatic Games & Movement to Shift Low Energy00:55:50 - Deep Dive: The Five Layers of Human Intelligence01:00:10 - Drop the Puck: Celebrating a Once-In-A-Lifetime Journey01:06:00 - "Find Your People": Final Words of Wisdom for Educators Best Moments in This Episode * Chrizia's experience immigrating to the United States at age six * The teacher who helped her feel seen and supported * How basketball became her second language * Why relationships are foundational to learning * Practical classroom strategies that build belonging and connection * How mindfulness transformed her teaching * What it means to teach the whole human being * Her journey to becoming California Teacher of the Year What You'll Learn * Why belonging is essential for learning * How educators can build stronger classroom communities * Practical strategies for emotional check-ins and student connection * The role of mindfulness and self-awareness in education * How relationships shape student success * Why representation and identity matter in schools #TeacherWellness #Education #Belonging #SocialEmotionalLearning #HumanIntelligence #breatheforchange About Breathe for Change Breathe for Change empowers educators, school leaders, and community changemakers with research-backed practices that cultivate well-being, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, human connection, and purpose.Through our Master of Education in Human Intelligence, educators develop the skills needed to help students thrive in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.Connect With Us Website: breatheforchange.comInstagram: @breathe4change

From Burned Out Teacher to Union President

What happens when an educator discovers that their voice matters? In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with longtime kindergarten teacher, educator leader, and newly elected teachers union president Kristy Herrera to explore a remarkable journey of growth, leadership, and advocacy. In this conversation, she shares how daily practices like emotional check-ins, morning circles, and kindness rituals transformed her classroom, strengthened her confidence as an educator, and ultimately helped her find her voice as an advocate for students and teachers alike. Whether you're a classroom teacher, school leader, or simply passionate about the future of education, Kristy's story is a powerful reminder that meaningful change often begins with a single educator willing to speak up. Chapter Markers 00:00:00 - Episode Teaser: The Kindergarten Classroom as an ER 00:01:03 - Reconnecting: From Burnout to Cohort Mentorship 00:03:01 - Career Pivot: Leaving Commercial Interior Design for Teaching 00:05:53 - The Reality Check: What Credential Programs Fail to Teach You 00:08:18 - Discovering Breathe for Change & The Power of Practice 00:10:58 - Inside the Kindergarten Morning Circle & Sentence Frames 00:13:51 - "Buying Back Time": The Quantifiable ROI of Mindfulness 00:15:58 - Expanding Emotional Vocabulary & The Classroom Calm-Down Spot 00:19:22 - Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone: Sharing Practices with Adults 00:22:14 - Smashed Assumptions: Cultivating Lifelong Tribes Online 00:25:58 - Shifting School Site Culture via Morning Announcements 00:27:55 - Entering Higher Ed: Overcoming Pay-Scale Constraints 00:31:21 - Smashing Baselines: Action Research on Language Acquisition 00:33:56 - Becoming an Action Researcher vs. Academic Imposter Syndrome 00:35:58 - Ilana's Story: Writing a Dissertation in 48 Hours 00:40:19 - System Innovation: The Kindness Ambassador & Peace Tickets 00:44:06 - Evolving the Initiative: Out-of-the-Box Classroom Brainstorming 00:45:31 - The Toughest Year: Special Needs & Pandemic Mask Rebound Reality 00:48:05 - Advocating for Children Within a Broken, Rules-First Bureaucracy 00:51:59 - Stepping Into the Fire: Fighting for Smaller Class Sizes 00:54:09 - Re-Enacting the Emergency Room Triage Metaphor Speech 00:56:06 - Finding Her Loud Voice: Becoming Union President 00:58:54 - Owning Leadership: Stepping Fully Into Community Trust 01:00:06 - A New Strategy: Moving from Union Savvy to "Human Savvy" 01:03:04 - Aligning District Inequities (West Side Wealth vs. East Side Trauma) 01:05:04 - Postponing Retirement: Committing to the Next Chapter Best Moments in This Episode * Why Kristy left a successful career to become a teacher * What teacher preparation programs often fail to teach * How social-emotional learning transformed her classroom * The impact of daily morning circles and emotional check-ins * Research findings from her work with multilingual kindergarten students * How she found the confidence to become a union leader Why advocacy begins with caring deeply about students What You'll Learn * How educator well-being impacts student success * Why belonging and emotional safety matter in classrooms * Practical ways to build connection and community with students * How educators can grow into leadership roles * The power of advocacy, purpose, and human-centered leadership About Breathe for Change Breathe for Change empowers educators, school leaders, and community changemakers with research-backed practices that cultivate well-being, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, human connection, and purpose. Through our Master of Education in Human Intelligence, educators develop the skills needed to help students thrive in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world. Connect With Us Website: breatheforchange.com Instagram: @breathe4change #TeacherWellness #Education #TeacherLeadership #SocialEmotionalLearning #HumanIntelligence #BreatheforChange

Why Play Matters More Than Ever for Educators

What if play isn't just something children need? What if it's one of the most important capacities we have as human beings? As educators transition into summer, many find themselves moving from months of constant activity into a season of unexpected space. And while that space can feel restorative, it can also feel uncomfortable. Without lesson plans, meetings, and endless to-do lists, many educators are left asking: What do I do now? In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and cousin Dr. Michael Jacob to explore the neuroscience of play, creativity, imagination, and possibility. Together, they examine why play is far more than a childhood activity, how it has shaped human evolution, and why creating space for wonder, curiosity, and exploration may be essential for our well-being. They also explore what makes us uniquely human in an age of artificial intelligence and why creativity, compassion, imagination, and purpose remain at the heart of education. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Hook: Play is Possibility 01:06 - Breathe for Change Intro 01:11 - Welcoming Michael: Neuroscience Meets the Classroom 01:41 - The Summer Crash: Why Teachers Collapse After Nine Months 03:36 - Circadian Rhythms & The Cortisol Biological Shift 04:59 - Balancing the Autonomic Nervous System 07:21 - Human Beings vs. Human Doings: Sifting Through Control 09:55 - Deconstructing Play Beyond Child’s Rug Activities 11:25 - Play in the Gears: The Mechanical Metaphor 13:22 - Terrence Deacon & The Evolutionary Biology of Play 17:43 - The Play Deficit & The Student Mental Health Crisis 23:26 - Daydreaming Circuits: Activating the Default Mode Network 26:11 - Moving From Brain Jargon into Vulnerable Artistic Mediums 30:04 - Anthropology of the Heart: Compassion as a Biological Co-Evolution 32:27 - The Five Layers of the Human Intelligence Framework 33:31 - Human Creativity vs. Large Statistical Language Models 45:39 - DeepMind Insights: Why LLMs Can't Make Radical Leaps 47:39 - John Searle's Chinese Room Thought Experiment 49:10 - The Standardized Testing Trap & John Dewey’s Vision 52:44 - The ChatGPT Birthday Lesson: Meaning Requires Human Intention 56:53 - Summer Offerings: Stepping Far Outside Your Comfort Zone 58:39 - From Kung Fu Expeditions to Living in Spain 01:00:18 - Letting Go of Control & Rainbow Heart Earrings Best Moments in This Episode * Why summer can feel surprisingly difficult for educators * The biological importance of rest and recovery * Michael's powerful definition of play as "possibility" * What neuroscience teaches us about creativity and imagination * The connection between play and mental health * Why curiosity and wonder matter for learning What separates human intelligence from artificial intelligence How educators can create more space for play this summer * What You'll Learn * Why play is essential for human development and well-being * How imagination and creativity support learning * The role of rest, recovery, and open space in innovation * Why play isn't just for children * What neuroscience reveals about curiosity and possibility * How to reconnect with joy, wonder, and creativity * Why the most human skills may become even more important in the future #TeacherWellness #Play #Education #HumanIntelligence #Creativity #Mindfulness #BreatheforChange

How Teachers Can Actually Recover This Summer

In this restorative conversation, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with longtime educator and Breathe for Change faculty member Beth Schrieber to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of educator well-being: the intelligence of the body.As the school year comes to a close, many educators find themselves carrying exhaustion, stress, compassion fatigue, and the emotional weight of supporting students for months on end. Yet few have been taught how to listen to their bodies, understand what they need, or intentionally restore their energy.Together, Ilana and Beth unpack the foundations of Somatic Intelligence and share practical tools for helping educators reconnect with themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and move from depletion to vitality.Through guided body scans, grounding practices, breathwork, and reflection, this episode offers simple yet powerful ways to create a more restorative, joyful, and sustainable summer.Whether you're feeling energized, overwhelmed, exhausted, or somewhere in between, these practices can help you reconnect with what your body has been trying to tell you all along. CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 - The Reality of Summer Fatigue for Educators01:10 - Welcome & Taking a Collective Breath Together04:44 - Acknowledging the Daunting Transition to Summer06:59 - Shifting from Total Collapse to Integration12:42 - Introduction to the Human Intelligence Framework16:19 - Competency 1: Interoception (Noticing Your Body)19:15 - How to Practice a Quick Turn-In Body Scan22:20 - Competency 2: Attunement (Decoding Your Body's Signals)25:20 - Guided Practice: The Full Body Scan Experience30:15 - Guided Practice: Tuning In to What You Need Right Now35:38 - Competency 3: Regulation (Adapting dynamically to Your Body)38:00 - Guided Practice: Feeling Your Roots (Grounding with Mother Earth)44:00 - Guided Practice: The 4-to-6 Breath (Calming the Nervous System)50:45 - Guided Practice: The 6-to-4 Breath (Activating Energy)54:00 - Guided Practice: Sun Breaths (Invigorating Joy & Spinal Expansion)56:45 - Guided Practice: Tension Release & Shaking It Out59:00 - Competency 4: Co-Regulation (Your Regulatory Impact on Others)1:04:20 - Competency 5: Vitality (Reconnecting to Aliveness)1:05:32 - Blueprint: Beginning, Middle, and End of Day Practices1:09:05 - Closing Practice: Setting & Embodying Your Daily Intention1:11:05 - Final Thoughts & Wishing You a Restorative SummerBest Moments in This Episode - Why so many educators feel depleted when summer begins - Understanding compassion fatigue and nervous system exhaustion - The power of body awareness and attunement - Guided somatic practices for stress relief and restoration - Grounding techniques educators can use anywhere - Breathwork for calming and energizing the nervous system - How Somatic Intelligence supports long-term educator well-beingWhat You'll Learn - What Somatic Intelligence is and why it matters - How to recognize the signals your body is sending - The difference between awareness, attunement, and regulation - Practical tools for restoring your energy this summer - How to support your nervous system during times of stress - Why vitality begins with listening to your body

What Educators Need to Teach in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is transforming education faster than most schools can adapt. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, educators are faced with an important question: What skills will students need to thrive in a world where information, answers, and expertise are more accessible than ever before? In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with her husband, longtime collaborator, and early-stage investor Danh Trang at South Park Commons to explore the future of education in an AI-powered world. Together, they examine both the promise and the challenges of emerging technologies and what they mean for students, teachers, and schools. From personalized learning and critical thinking to creativity, resilience, communication, and purpose, this conversation highlights why human skills may become even more valuable as technology continues to evolve. Rather than asking whether AI belongs in education, Ilana and Danh explore how educators can thoughtfully integrate these tools while continuing to cultivate the uniquely human qualities that help students thrive. Best Moments in This Episode * Why optimism and curiosity matter in times of rapid change * The skills that will remain essential in an AI-driven future * How AI can support teachers by reducing workload and increasing personalization * Why critical thinking may become more important than ever * The opportunities and risks of integrating AI into schools * What students are telling us about their relationship with AI * How human intelligence complements artificial intelligence * Why purpose, creativity, and connection remain at the heart of education What You'll Learn * How AI is changing the future of teaching and learning * Why resilience, communication, empathy, and critical thinking are still essential * Ways educators can thoughtfully integrate AI into the classroom * How AI can support differentiated and personalized instruction * The role of educators in helping students navigate emerging technologies * Why human-centered skills may become even more valuable in the years ahead * How curiosity can help us navigate uncertainty and change Episode Highlights 00:00 Rethinking the Future of Work & Education 00:01:46 Intro 00:01:52 Meeting at 14: Our Origin Story 00:04:18 Is Modern Education Keeping Up with AI? 00:06:46 Core Human Skills vs. Cognitive Automation 00:10:32 The Story of the AI Walkie-Talkie 00:13:12 Holding Two Truths: AI Safety vs. Great Potential 00:14:54 Teacher Burnout & Saving 6 Hours a Week with AI 00:17:07 The Gap: Student AI Use vs. Explicit Teacher Guidance 00:21:10 Why Reading & Writing Matter More Than Ever 00:24:20 The Mental Model of the Always-On Personalized Tutor 00:30:00 The Screen Time Debate & The Encyclopedia Analogy 00:33:31 Democratizing Education & Supporting All Learners 00:37:47 Workflow Efficiency: Brisk Teaching & Core AI Platforms 00:41:41 Beyond Cognitive Learning: The 4 Layers of Intelligence 00:45:24 Giving Kids Creative Agency to Build and Innovate 00:46:27 Navigating Student Anxiety & Classroom Dissonance 00:50:11 What an Early-Stage Investor Looks For in Founders 00:54:13 Designing the Ideal Future School for Our Kids 00:56:45 Finding Your "Founding Story" in Everyday Moments 00:59:22 Outro: Splicing Home Conversations onto the Mic About Breathe for Change Breathe for Change empowers educators, school leaders, and changemakers with research-backed tools to enhance well-being, strengthen relationships, and transform teaching and learning. Through the accredited Master’s of Education in Human Intelligence, educators cultivate the skills needed to help students thrive while reconnecting with their own purpose and well-being. Learn More Learn more about the William Jewell College Master’s of Education in partnership with Breathe for Change and discover how to bring these practices into your classroom, career, and life. Connect With Us Website: breatheforchange.com [breatheforchange.com] Instagram: @breathe4change