From Teacher of the Year to Education Policy Leader

From Former Administrator to Sales Manager

I sat down and spoke with Mark Picardo, who has over 11-years of education experience both as a teacher and administrator. Passionate about science education and student growth, he transitioned into educational leadership and professional development to support teachers across North Carolina. Today, he serves as a Science Education Leader for Stile Education and recently stepped into a new role as a Sales Manager for Curriculum Associates, where he continues helping schools, educators, and students succeed on a larger scale. In this episode, we discuss transferable leadership skills, educational impact beyond the classroom, and how former educators can thrive in education-focused corporate roles.

When Admin Disconnect becomes the Decision

Sarah Blank grew up surrounded by education. With a mother who was an educator, teaching always felt like her calling. She was even offered a second-grade position during student teaching, stepping into the classroom before graduating college. Sarah spent 10 years in education; four years in second grade and nearly six years teaching fourth-grade math. Over time, she began to see how leadership and administrative decisions directly impacted teacher growth, morale, and classroom effectiveness. The disconnect between district expectations and the realities of teaching, especially balancing in-person Special Education students with asynchronous learners, ultimately led her to reconsider her path. Taking a leap of faith, Sarah left the classroom and moved to a new state in search of new opportunities. Today, she works as a Training Specialist for Deutsche Windtechnik, a global wind turbine manufacturing company. In this episode, Sarah shares honest insights about leadership, burnout, risk-taking, and advice for teachers still deciding whether to stay or leave the classroom.

From Classroom to Corporate Growth

After six years as an elementary school teacher, Erin knew she was ready to explore new opportunities outside the classroom. As a former Lane Switch Consulting client, she leveraged focused resume updates, targeted job alignment, and consistent networking to successfully translate her teaching experience into the corporate world. Erin landed a role as an Executive Administrator at a government contract staffing company, giving her exposure to multiple career paths within the organization. Her discipline and persistence quickly paid off, leading to a recent promotion as a Proposal Coordinator. In this episode, Erin shares how networking, consistency, and positioning transferable skills helped her successfully transition into a growing career outside education.

From Teacher of the Year to Education Policy Leader

After serving 20 years in the Air Force, Maureen stepped away from military life to focus on her family. While helping in her son’s kindergarten classroom, she discovered a passion for literacy and student learning that led her back to school and into education. Maureen went on to teach for 15 years across K–12 schools in multiple states, primarily in high school science and AVID. She was named North Carolina Teacher of the Year in 2020 and a Teacher of the Year finalist in 2021, giving her a rare inside view into education policy and direct access to decision-makers. Today, she serves as the Vice President of Policy and Programs at BEST NC (Business for Educational Success and Transformation in North Carolina), where she works to create meaningful, statewide change for students. In this episode, Maureen shares how policy is shaped, why teacher voices matter, and how her impact now reaches far beyond a single classroom.

How this Teacher Built a Family-First Career

After more than a decade in the classroom, Kristen knew it was time for a change. She began teaching in 2008, spending six years in middle school and four years teaching high school English. As her family grew and her husband’s schedule became more demanding, the traditional classroom no longer supported the life she wanted for her children. Kristen chose flexibility by leaving the classroom to homeschool her kids and create a career that allowed her to stay present for her family while still doing meaningful work. Today, she works part-time as a tutor with Smart Solutions VA, supporting students of all ages through flexible private and small-group sessions. The company connects her with clients so she can focus on teaching and tutoring on her own schedule. You can book a session with Kristen here: https://www.smartsolutionsva.com/ She also serves as a Client Success Manager for Integrative Health Courses, an online program created by medical doctors that provides education and support for children and adults with eczema and food allergies. In this episode, Kristen shares how she built a flexible career outside the classroom and redefined success on her own terms.