From Math Teacher to Sr. Manager at EdTech Company

From Math Teacher to Sr. Manager at EdTech Company

I sat down with Erin Smilkstein who discusses her unique journey from classroom educator to business-owner, to now, a Sr. Manager for an EdTech company. We discuss reasons why she left the classroom and how her current company has provided for her both personally and professionally. She even highlights some of the transferrable skills teachers dominate in new industries. She is currently a Sr. Manager at PowerSchool.

Head of HR and Recruitment Insights

I sat down and spoke with Cassandra Barreda who has over 8-years of experience within Talent Acquisition, hiring, and recruitment across various industries. Cassandra highlights what makes a good candidate, how to standout in a competitive market, and other ways for transitioning teachers to find new roles outside of teaching.

From Teaching In Canada to Australia now to Director of Talent Acquisition

In this episode, I sat down with Carly Cant, who discusses her journey teaching in Canada and then Australia. We dive into the qualified skillsets that teachers possess, why she always looks to interview teachers, and how she got into what she's doing now. Carly currently is a Director of Talent Acquisition of Palm Paradise Realty Group.

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.