#105: From Teacher to Prison Educator with Samantha Laca

#106: You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out Yet

Do you feel stuck because you still don’t know exactly what career you want after teaching?  In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m talking about one of the biggest things keeping teachers stuck during a career transition: the belief that you need complete clarity and confidence before you can move forward.  We’ll talk about:  * Why uncertainty is a normal part of career transitions   * The pressure teachers put on themselves to “figure it all out”   * How perfectionism creates paralysis   * Why confidence often comes after action—not before   * The difference between needing certainty vs. needing direction   * How to build momentum even when you don’t have all the answers yet   If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by too many options, afraid of making the “wrong” choice, or frustrated that you still don’t have your future perfectly mapped out… this episode is for you.  Links from Episode: » Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey. [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/masterclass-registration] » Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/home3] » Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources. [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learnworld/?mibextid=oMANbw] » Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers. [http://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/directory] » “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553], scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”. » Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553]!

#105: From Teacher to Prison Educator with Samantha Laca

After 10 years teaching elementary school, Samantha Laca reached a breaking point. Like many educators, she loved teaching—but she no longer felt safe, supported, or able to focus on what she entered the profession to do. Increasing behavioral challenges, safety concerns, and growing frustration with the traditional school environment led her to explore an unexpected alternative. Today, Samantha works as an Adult Education Teacher inside a California correctional facility, helping incarcerated adults improve their literacy skills, prepare for the GED, and build opportunities for a different future. In this fascinating conversation, Teacher Career Transition Academy team member Meagan Johnson sits down with Samantha to discuss what prison education actually looks like and why she says she's safer, happier, and healthier than she was teaching elementary school. Together, they discuss: * Why Samantha decided it was time to leave the traditional classroom * How she discovered prison education as a career option * What a typical day looks like teaching incarcerated adults * Safety, work-life balance, and salary expectations * How her teaching skills transferred to this unique setting * The hiring process and requirements for prison education jobs * Why this role helped her rediscover her love of teaching Whether prison education is a path you'd consider for yourself or not, this episode is a powerful reminder that there are teaching opportunities beyond the traditional classroom—and sometimes the most fulfilling careers are the ones we never expected. Links from Episode: » Join our FREE Virtual Summit June 13th: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-transition-career-event [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-transition-career-event] » Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey. [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/masterclass-registration] » Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/home3] » Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources. [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learnworld/?mibextid=oMANbw] » Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers. [http://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/directory] » “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553], scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”. » Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553]!

#104: The 5 Things I’d Focus On If I Were Transitioning This Summer

Feeling overwhelmed by everything you could be doing this summer for your career transition?  In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m breaking down the 5 things I would focus on if I were transitioning out of teaching this summer—without trying to do everything at once or burning out in the process.  We’ll talk about:  * Why career clarity should come before mass applying   * How to start positioning your teaching experience differently   * The biggest mistake teachers make with resumes and LinkedIn   * Why networking matters more than most teachers realize   * How to make progress without turning summer into another full-time job   * Practical ways to avoid overwhelm and stay focused   If you’ve been feeling pressure to “figure everything out” before the next school year starts, this episode will help you slow down, refocus, and move forward more strategically.  Links from Episode: » Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey. [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/masterclass-registration] » Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/home3] » Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources. [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learnworld/?mibextid=oMANbw] » Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers. [http://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/directory] » “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553], scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”. » Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553]!

#103: Your Summer Career Transition Plan (Without Burning Yourself Out)

Summer can feel like your one chance to finally “figure out” your career transition…but what if putting that much pressure on yourself is actually making the process harder?  In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Lisa Harding talks about how to create a summer transition plan that helps you move forward without turning your summer into another season of burnout. She shares practical advice for balancing career momentum with intentional rest, recovery, and clarity—especially for teachers who are feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck.  You’ll learn:  * Why summer can be a powerful season for career transition   * The biggest mistakes teachers make during summer break   * What actually moves the needle in a transition   * Why clarity matters more than frantic job applications   * How to balance progress with rest and recovery   * A simple framework to help you focus your summer intentionally   If you’ve been feeling pressure to “fix your whole life” before August, this episode will help you take a deep breath, reset your expectations, and create a more realistic path forward.  Links from Episode: » Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey. [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/masterclass-registration] » Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/home3] » Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources. [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learnworld/?mibextid=oMANbw] » Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers. [http://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/directory] » “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553], scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”. » Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553]!

#102: The Messy Middle: How Christa Is Redefining Who She Is After Teaching

After 28 years of teaching, Christa Kaainoa hit what she describes as a “code red” moment where burnout wasn’t just emotional… it became physical. She couldn’t even picture herself walking back into the classroom. In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, Christa shares what it actually looks like to walk away from a long career without a clear plan and how she’s navigating the “messy middle” in real time.  We talk about:  ✨ What happens when your body forces you to listen  ✨ The identity crisis no one prepares you for  ✨ Why you don’t need a perfect plan to move forward  ✨ How small, imperfect steps are creating real momentum  ✨ And what it looks like to reconnect with yourself after years of putting others first  If you’ve ever thought: “I know I can’t keep doing this… but I have no idea what comes next”. This episode will remind you that you’re not alone and more importantly, you’re not stuck.   Links from Episode: » Connect with Christa:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christa-kaainoa-1152348/  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christa-kaainoa-1152348/] » Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey. [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/masterclass-registration] » Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy [https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/home3] » Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources. [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learnworld/?mibextid=oMANbw] » Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers. [http://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/directory] » “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553], scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”. » Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-classroom/id1741667553]!