Leaving the Classroom: A Teacher Transition Podcast

In this episode of Leaving the Classroom, host Kristi Oliva interviews Pamela Wynter about her experience transitioning from teaching to becoming an instructional designer at a nonprofit organization. Pamela discusses her background as a teacher and how she discovered IDOL Academy, deciding to make the transition out of the classroom. She describes her journey through the IDOL program and landing...

In this episode of Day in the Life of a Corporate ID with Samiya Hai, Kristi Oliva interviews her friend Samiya about her career transition from teaching to becoming an instructional designer.  Tune in to hear: How Samiya decided to make the change from her 15-year teaching career after feeling unsafe returning to the classroom during the pandemic That through the IDOL courses Academy program, Sam...

In this episode host Kristi Oliva discusses three steps for teachers who want to leave the classroom for a new career. She talks about picking a new career path through research and networking, discusses rewriting your resume to focus on results and skills instead of just tasks, and addresses practicing interviewing skills since interviews are important for getting jobs outside of teaching.   Tune...

In this episode, Kristi Oliva interviews Amanda Kulik about her experience transitioning from teaching to becoming a corporate instructional designer. Amanda details her journey from getting her master's degree to finding IDOL courses Academy to landing her first instructional design job.   Tune in to find out: Her journey from getting her master's degree and teaching for 15 years to discovering I...

In this episode, Kristi Oliva discusses three ways she has learned to adapt to working in a male-dominated corporate environment after transitioning from the female-dominated field of teaching. She talks about managing her emotions, participating in meetings, and stopping unnecessary apologizing. The goal of the podcast is to help other teachers gain confidence and skills to make a career change....

In this episode, we discuss how to overcome self-sabotage and embrace your potential.    Tune in to find out…   1) Identifying patterns of self-sabotage and finding where you dismiss yourself before others get a chance.   2) Embracing challenges like getting 100 rejections as a way to take opportunities without fear of rejection.   3) Keeping a record or journal of rejections to track progress and...

In this episode, the host Kristi Oliva discusses the importance of cultivating an abundance mindset and how it can lead to happiness, success and fulfillment. She shares three ways to develop an abundance mindset: awareness, challenging scarcity thoughts, and surrounding yourself with abundance-minded people.

In this episode, I talk to Gretchen Johanson. Gretchen is a former teacher, guest faculty, and member of IDOL courses Academy. She now works as an instructional designer for Zillow. She discusses how she transitioned from teaching to her current role. Gretchen discussed her journey from being a teacher for 9 years to transitioning to various instructional design roles, including freelancing, contr...

Quitting a job, especially teaching, is a major life change that usually comes with a mix of emotions. Whether you're leaving the classroom because you're worn out or just craving something different, the emotional ride that follows can be intense. Today I am talking about how to cope with the emotions that come with leaving the classroom. I give you 10 tips to stay focused on your goal but mainta...

Today I am talking about the unexpected perks of being an instructional designer after being a teacher. If you've ever wondered what awaits you on this path, this episode is for you.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocational school and implementation program of its kind that not only shows you exactly how to create your jo...

Have you ever been in a meeting just nodding along, listening to what everyone is saying and all of a sudden, someone says a word that you have never heard before? Yet everyone else seems to know exactly what is going on? Today, I’m diving into a fun topic that many of us can relate to – translating teacher terms into the corporate world.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is spons...

In this episode, I talk to Lee Carlson. Lee is a former high school teacher in New York City and member of IDOL courses Academy. She now works as an instructional designer as a contractor for a large tech company. She discusses how she transitioned from teaching to her current role.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocationa...

Imposterism, or feeling like a fraud, is real and present in the business world. It is not a disease or an abnormality, but can have a harmful impact on job performance and satisfaction, and eventually cause burnout. Today I talk about what to do when you feel like a fraud.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocational school...

Self-talk, if harnessed appropriately can become powerful. Research has shown that talking to yourself out loud can motivate you to move forward with your goals, help you focus on a task, and get rid of self-criticism . Today I talk about self-talk and 3 ways to use it to your advantage.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized voca...

If you are like most people, you probably don’t like to fail. It may not be one your basic fears, but I am sure it is a factor for you at some point or another. Today I talk about failing forward and how to use it to create great success in your life.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocational school and implementation prog...

In this episode, I talk to Margie Bowling. Margie is a former middle school science teacher who now works as an instructional designer for a life sciences company, providing solutions for the life sciences community. She discusses how she transitioned to the corporate world using IDOL courses Academy.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn Connect with Margie on LinkedI n   This podcast is sponsored by...

Setting goals is a process that, in most cases, comes before a specific outcome you have in mind. When I wanted to leave the classroom and become an instructional designer. I set myself a goal to have an ID role by the end of that school year. I set that goal in January of that year and achieved it just a couple of months later.  To reach that goal required me not only to work really hard but to h...

In this episode, I am talking about the different titles there are in the instructional design and online learning space. And there are a LOT of them. It can get confusing when you are looking for a new role in instructional design and online learning, to figure out which role is right for you, and frankly, what the heck is the difference between all these titles? Listen in to hear my take on all...

How does an instructional designer's salary compare to a teacher's salary? There are several factors to consider. In this episode, I discuss the 5 factors that can affect how much you make as an instructional designer, plus I give you some insight into how much you can make compared to a teaching role.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only...

In this episode, I talk to Monica Garcia. Monica works as a supervisor for a team of instructional designers in the government sector, specifically the Air Force Career Development Academy. She discusses how she upskilled using IDOL courses Academy and how a career in government ID is an untapped resource.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the o...

In this episode I talk about what you need to expect when entering into the instructional design interview process. When I began interviewing for ID positions, I was so naïve. I literally had never interviewed for a position that I did not get. So when I started putting my resume out there, I never really knew what I was getting myself into. I went on at least 10 interviews in the beginning, and m...

In this episode, I’m going to talk about what you should have in your portfolio, what tools to use, and how long it may take to build a portfolio.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocational school and implementation program of its kind that not only shows you exactly how to create your job application assets and build a por...

Revising your resume is pivotal to switching careers. Especially as a teacher. Often your resume is the hiring manager’s first impression of you and your skills. In this episode, learn my resume formula to make your resume stand out and get attention!   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocational school and implementation prog...

In this episode, I give you a list of the 10 instructional design technologies that are most used, as well as some more cost-effective alternatives!   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocational school and implementation program of its kind that not only shows you exactly how to create your job application assets and build a p...

There is a whole new language to learn in the instructional design world. In this episode, learn 5 of the terms you need to know for instructional design, and they all happen to be acronyms.   Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn     This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocational school and implementation program of its kind that not only shows you exactly how to create...