Craft Education Part II

Gracy Obuchowicz, Author of Selfcarefully

In this episode we hear from Gracy Obuchowicz whose background in self-care and wellness extends to teachers and school leaders through her work at Empower Ed. She discusses how burnout can be a demoralization or moral injury and suggests making small changes, or kaizens, to help counteract that feeling. Simple things like getting enough sleep, giving yourself five extra minutes in the morning, enjoying a cup of tea, or listening to your favorite music are ways you can focus on yourself. In the workplace, finding a mentor or other form of peer support that you can talk with provides a sense of not being alone in whatever challenges you're facing. While her book, Selfcarefully is currently out of print, you can still purchase a PDF version through her publisher thickpress.com. Gracy also recommends the book Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski.

Dr. Tina H. Boogren

In this episode of NACCTEP Now, Julie Ferin sits down with the incredible Dr. Tina Boogren for a conversation that every educator and leader needs right now. Drawing from her work as an award-winning educator, bestselling author, and national speaker, Dr. Boogren brings both research and real-life experience to the forefront. She shares powerful insights on educator burnout, the difference between stress and burnout, and why sustainable teaching starts with taking care of the adult in the room. What makes this conversation stand out is how practical it is. From “micro choices” to redefining wellness as something achievable, not overwhelming, listeners will walk away with simple, actionable steps they can apply immediately in their own lives and programs. Dr. Boogren’s voice is both honest and hopeful. She reminds us that this work is hard, but it can also be joyful and sustainable with the right approach. Her perspective on supporting educators across different career phases, along with her emphasis on leadership responsibility in shaping a culture of wellness, makes this episode especially impactful for those in educator preparation and leadership roles. To learn more about Dr. Boogren’s work, including her books such as 180 Days of Self-Care for Busy Educators and 180 Days of Physical Wellness for Busy Educators, and her workshops and coaching, visit www.tinaboogren.com and connect with her on social media. This conversation will leave you thinking differently about wellness, leadership, and what it truly takes to support educators for the long haul.

Dr. Mary Olvera, NC Community College System

Dr. Mary Olvera is the State Director of Teacher Education, Public Services, and Perkins Special Populations for the North Carolina Community College System. In this episode she shares the unique structure of community colleges in NC, that there are 58 that all use a singular curriculum and none are more than 30 miles from their students across 100 counties. They operate in service areas, and if the community college in a student's service area isn't one of the 29 with an EPP program, the student can attend the next nearest college that does. Through various programs such as College Promise, students can begin their journeys to becoming teachers as early as high school and continue on through the community college before transferring to a university that may charge as little as $500 a semester on their way to a degree. Programs may include a one-year apprenticeship or a three-year residency for teacher candidates that hold different licensure levels.

Community College Bachelor's Degree Collaboration

In this episode we hear from Dr. Jennifer Gresko of Rio Salado College and Heather Merrill of Glendale Community College discuss the joint bachelor of elementary education and special education program they share with Paradise Valley Community College in the Maricopa County Community College District, MCCCD. When state legislation passed to allow community colleges to offer bachelor degrees in 2021, Jennifer and Heather joined forces to create a dual certification bachelor degree. Born from existing associates and post-baccalaureate programs, the knowledge that all teachers need special education training, and requests from students and districts, the BAEE/SpEd program set out to lessen the teacher shortage in Arizona. Their collaboration doesn't stop with the accredited program, it continues as the students, the teacher candidates, who may face unique needs are able to take courses at any of the three colleges because of their shared curriculum and the flexibility of the in-person and online modalities. At a price under $13,000, and the opportunity for state backed scholarships specifically for future teachers, the degree is among the most affordable paths to becoming a teacher. For more information, please visit https://www.maricopa.edu/degrees-certificates/bachelors-degrees/elementary-education-special-education-baee-sped

Craft Education Part II

As we continue the conversation with Kim Eckert, Craft Education's head of Instructional Innovation and Apprenticeship Design and former Louisiana Teacher of the Year in this second half of our two-part series, we learn about how to start small while aiming for larger scale implementation. By gathering all the constituents a program will need, such as higher education faculty, district leadership, as well as legislative and funding personnel, building a sustainable teacher apprenticeship program becomes a realistic possibility. Ms. Eckert can be reached at kim.eckert@crafteducation.com