Teachers in Transition: Career Change and Real Talk for Burned-Out Teachers

Holiday Chaos, Career Clarity, and the Gift of Grace for Burned-Out Teachers

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/277608/open_sms] Feeling maxed out this December? You’re not alone. In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa Jackson dives into the real root of burnout — capacity overload — and offers three powerful tools to help you begin rebuilding your life and identity beyond the classroom. Discover how the seasonal pressure of “doing it all” ties into long-term exhaustion, and learn how to shift from survival mode into intentional recovery with the Three C’s: Grace, Clarity, and Connection. Vanessa shares personal reflections (including how her Christmas tree is decorated for easy post-surgery takedown), explains why networking isn’t gross or gimmicky, and guides you toward tools that can truly support your career transition — without toxic positivity or hustle-culture nonsense. Whether you're a teacher on the edge or already exploring what's next, this episode is your permission slip to slow down, think deeply, and take one brave step forward.   🎁 Download This Week’s Free Gifts: * Gift #4 – The Clarity Mini-Inventory: Reflect on what lights you up and what you're no longer willing to compromise. Download Gift #4 [https://drive.google.com/file/d/19SH6q6qTjPQgzglTqFTZzL3AP2o2KVDq/view?usp=drive_link] * Gift #5 – The Networking Tracker: A simple tool to help you track connections, conversations, and career possibilities. Download Gift #5 [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_r7lhoHySL0u1bP209Wz08ryFyZ9N9gx/view?usp=drive_link] * Gift #6 – Grace in Progress Worksheet: Give yourself the same compassion you offer everyone else. Download Gift #6 [https://drive.google.com/file/d/19dkahh8FxmS-ZBBLFTqS5ZlIv_Xz5gd7/view?usp=drive_link] 🔍 Keywords: teacher burnout, holiday stress for teachers, career change for teachers, clarity and identity, teacher career transition, networking for educators, resume alternatives for teachers, overcoming burnout, second careers for teachers, Vanessa Jackson podcast, Teachers in Transition   👋 CONNECT WITH VANESSA * 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com * 📱 Call or Text: 512-640-9099 * 📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: teachersintransition.com/calendar [https://teachersintransition.com/calendar] * 🔗 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social * 📸 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition * 👍 Facebook: Teachers in Transition [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565671792885] * 🐦 X (Twitter): @EduExitStrategy    The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/episodes/14223802-teachers-in-transition-episode-183-planners-gonna-plan]

Three Gifts Every Burned-Out Teacher Needs Right Now: Not a Wishlist. A Survival Kit

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/277608/open_sms] Episode Summary: December isn’t just tinsel and teacher mugs. It’s also the season when most educators crash - emotionally, physically, and financially. In this powerful kickoff to her “12 Gifts of Christmas” series, this episode delivers the first three transformative gifts every burned-out teacher needs: 🎁 Gift #1: Permission to Rest Why your body’s exhaustion isn’t laziness. It’s the result of systemic design. Vanessa hands you a literal and metaphorical permission slip to stop apologizing for rest. 🎁 Gift #2: A Guided Gratitude Reflection Gratitude isn’t toxic positivity. It’s a secret weapon in career transition. Learn how to reframe your teaching experience as proof of your strength, skill, and value as a headstart on resumes and an updated LinkedIn Page. 🎁 Gift #3: The Courage to Dream Again Dreaming is an act of resistance. Vanessa offers a compassionate path back to your future, with baby steps, brave moments, and a gentle reminder that your courage doesn’t need to roar. Along the way, Vanessa also tackles: * The real math behind “paid vacations” (spoiler: you’re not) * How loan reclassifications are gatekeeping leadership roles * The student loan trap that targets teachers, nurses, and social workers * Why burnout is not your fault—and what to do with the wisdom it left behind 💌 GRAB YOUR FREE DECEMBER GIFTS: These three resources are yours to download — no strings attached. 🎁 Gift #1: Permission to Rest [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PKUg9y9icnHrL2wl-e4mFbBSE1LLZ3Cz/view?usp=drive_link] 🎁 Gift #2: Gratitude Reflection Guide [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Je_gPDxA5pL1xMUdEINtX8FULZNPB-Xo/view?usp=sharing] 🎁 Gift #3: Courage to Dream Worksheet [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yn_GTnzSEciUwHTTW5f6fke_dB_fFozy/view?usp=sharing] Need help getting them? Email Vanessa directly at Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com and she’ll send them your way. 👋 CONNECT WITH VANESSA You are not alone—and you were never the problem. Stay connected for weekly wisdom and resources: * 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com * 📱 Call or Text: 512-640-9099 * 📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: teachersintransition.com/calendar [https://teachersintransition.com/calendar] * 🔗 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social * 📸 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition * 👍 Facebook: Teachers in Transition [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565671792885] * 🐦 X (Twitter): @EduExitStrategy 🎧 Listen & Subscribe! Available on Apple, Spotify, Buzzsprout & everywhere you get your podcasts.       The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/episodes/14223802-teachers-in-transition-episode-183-planners-gonna-plan]

“No. You Move.” What Captain America’s Moral Stand Means for Burned-Out Educators

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/277608/open_sms] What happens when doing the right thing costs you everything? In this final chapter of the Captain America trilogy, Vanessa unpacks Civil War as a reflection of the teacher’s moral stand—when institutions fail, trust fractures, and standing your ground feels lonely. A powerful Thanksgiving episode on grief, gratitude, and the courage to say: “No. You move.” In this final episode of our Captain America trilogy, we step into the heartbreak and hard choices of Civil War — a film that isn’t about heroes versus villains, but about conviction versus compromise. Through Steve Rogers’ grief, Tony Stark’s guilt, and the quiet devastation of moral division, we explore what it means to stand your ground when the world wants you to move. This isn’t just a Marvel movie breakdown. It’s a mirror for every teacher who's ever been caught in the crossfire of politics and purpose. For those who’ve felt the system shift beneath their feet. For those wondering if their compass still points north.   We talk about the weight of standing alone. The danger of division. The cost of holding onto your values when everyone else is asking you to bend. And, ultimately, we offer a Thanksgiving reflection not rooted in toxic positivity — but in sacred, hard-earned gratitude for the fact that you still care enough to stand.   This episode is for the teachers who feel like they're living through their own version if Civil War — and need a reminder that integrity is resistance, and that they're not standing alone.   Captain America: Civil is currently streaming on Disney+  If you're a teacher navigating your own Civil War, let this episode be a balm and a blueprint.   👉 Schedule a free Discovery Call with Vanessa [https://teachersintransition.com/calendar]       👋 Connect with Vanessa: * 📩 Email: Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com * 📞 Voicemail/Text: 512-640-9099 * 🌐 Website: TeachersInTransition.com [https://teachersintransition.com] * 🔵 Facebook: Follow here [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565671792885] * 📸 Instagram + Threads: @teachers.in.transition [https://www.instagram.com/teachers.in.transition] * 🐦 Twitter (X): @EduExitStrategy [https://twitter.com/EduExitStrategy] * 💬 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social [https://beyondteaching.bsky.social]   The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/episodes/14223802-teachers-in-transition-episode-183-planners-gonna-plan]

Why The Winter Soldier is a Blueprint for Burned-Out Teachers

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/277608/open_sms] This week on Teachers in Transition, Vanessa Jackson uses Captain America: The Winter Soldier to unpack what it means to serve a mission—even when the system behind it is broken. From heli-carriers to hall passes, this episode is a powerful metaphor for the disillusionment teachers feel when the institutions they trusted start to crumble. Steve Rogers may be a super-soldier, but his real strength is moral clarity. In this breakdown, Vanessa explores how Cap’s battle isn’t just with Hydra—it’s with the realization that even noble systems can rot from the inside. And how, like so many educators, he has to decide: do I stay silent for stability, or speak up for integrity? You’ll learn: * Why systems fail by degrees, not disasters * How to recognize the “elevator moment” in your career * What Steve’s code of honor can teach burned-out educators * The difference between rebelling against and rebuilding for * Practical steps to define your own moral compass — and use it to guide your next chapter 🛑 This is not just a Marvel movie recap. It’s a discussion about moral courage, institutional disillusionment, and rebuilding your purpose from the ashes.   🔗 Episode Resources: 🎥 Stream Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Disney+ 💻 Join the community and find career transition tools at TeachersInTransition.com [https://teachersintransition.com]   👩‍🏫 For Burned-Out Teachers Ready to Rebuild: Feeling the shift? If your school no longer aligns with your soul, you're not broken—you’re awake. Get free resources, community, and coaching at TeachersInTransition.com [https://teachersintransition.com].     📅 Book a free discovery call: teachersintransition.com/calendar [https://teachersintransition.com/calendar] 📨 Email Vanessa directly: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com [Vanessa@teachersintransition.com]       👋 Connect with Vanessa: * 📩 Email: Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com * 📞 Voicemail/Text: 512-640-9099 * 🌐 Website: TeachersInTransition.com [https://teachersintransition.com] * 🔵 Facebook: Follow here [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565671792885] * 📸 Instagram + Threads: @teachers.in.transition [https://www.instagram.com/teachers.in.transition] * 🐦 Twitter (X): @EduExitStrategy [https://twitter.com/EduExitStrategy] * 💬 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social [https://beyondteaching.bsky.social]   The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/episodes/14223802-teachers-in-transition-episode-183-planners-gonna-plan]

You Didn’t Become a Teacher to Be a Babysitter: Reclaiming Purpose in the Classroom — and Beyond

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/277608/open_sms] In this powerful kickoff to a 3-part Captain America series, Vanessa Jackson unpacks what makes Steve Rogers more than just a superhero — and how his journey mirrors that of so many teachers today. From being paraded as a symbol to reclaiming his purpose, Cap’s story is one of values, conviction, and courageous action. Vanessa explores how educators, like Cap, often feel reduced to performance — test scores, politics, or being treated like glorified babysitters — instead of being honored as the impact-makers they truly are. If you're feeling lost in the system or questioning your next move, this episode will help you find your compass again. 🛡️ Discover the power of choosing purpose over permission  🧭 Learn why your values are your real “super soldier serum”  🎯 And explore the moment when it’s time to jump — even without a parachute ✅ Episode Tags  Career Transition, Teacher Burnout, Captain America, Teacher Identity, Purpose, Leadership, Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter, Values, Courage, Burnout Recovery, Women in Education, Teacher to Coach, Education Podcast, Veteran’s Day, Marvel Metaphors, Personal Growth   🔗 Recommended Links for This Episode’s Show Notes: The DECIDE Course (Self-paced)  Explore the self-paced DECIDE course to see if you are ready to leave the classroom or if you just need a small change. 👉 Learn more here. [•%09https:/teachersintransition.coachesconsole.com/products/?action=addToCart&pid=685ccdd93b4f5c456b31ed7e&plan=0🎙️]    Discovery Call Calendar  Book a free Discovery Session with Vanessa: 👉 https://teachersintransition.com/calendar [https://teachersintransition.com/calendar]   Email: Vanessa@TeachersInTransition.com Leave a Voicemail/Text: 512-640-9099   🌐 Social Links * Instagram + Threads @teachers.in.transition * Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565671792885] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessajackson78132/] * Bluesky @beyondteaching.bsky.social * X (Twitter) @EduExitStrategy 🎬 Pop Culture Context * Captain America: The First Avenger – available to stream on Disney+       The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/277608/episodes/14223802-teachers-in-transition-episode-183-planners-gonna-plan]