TOOLS for SUCCESS PODCAST

Send us Fan Mail What if the fastest way to clarity was to start at the end? This powerful episode of The Ripple Effect of a Teacher opens with that question — imagine your funeral — and uses it to uncover purpose, passion, and the true calling behind why we teach. Kari, a former English teacher turned principal with over two decades of experience, shares how an unexpected journey through parentin...

Send us Fan Mail Teachers often never see the full impact of their work. Beyond grades and test scores lies a deeper influence—one that shapes confidence, purpose, and identity. In this episode, host Cathy Tooley reconnects with her former student, Amber Fields, now a Partner and Chief Culture Officer helping organizations develop their people. Their conversation, “The Power of One: How One Teache...

Send us Fan Mail What truly transforms an educator’s journey? It’s those rare, unforgettable moments when a student lets down their guard and invites you into their world. Maybe it’s the kid who constantly pushes limits or the quiet one who never speaks up—until suddenly, they do. Whether it’s a breakthrough moment, a vulnerable story, or even just a smile that says “I trust you,” those glimpses i...

Send us Fan Mail Rebecca Johnson’s story shows the bittersweet reality so many educators face. The same week she was honored as Teacher of the Year, she also received a reduction-in-force notice. After years of tutoring struggling students before and after school, she left education altogether—only to later receive a call that changed everything. A mother shared that her once-struggling son had be...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode of The Ripple Effect of a Teacher, Principal Kari and host Cathy Tooley dive into the true meaning of success in the classroom. From surprise emails years later to watching students grow in ways that can’t be measured by a gradebook, they reflect on the lasting impact of teachers. This conversation explores how dignity, respect, and encouragement create t...

Send us Fan Mail Teaching is fundamentally legacy work where educators plant seeds of possibility that may not bloom until long after students leave the classroom. What we say to students today becomes part of their inner dialogue tomorrow, shaping how they see themselves and their capabilities for years to come. • The most impactful teachers often teach us more about ourselves than about their su...

Send us Fan Mail What makes a great teacher? It’s not just the test scores or lesson plans — it’s the heart. In this emotional and deeply inspiring episode, Cathy Tooley sits down with Elizabeth Kissel, a school principal and former math teacher, to talk about what truly matters in the classroom: connection, love, and showing up for kids in ways that last a lifetime. Elizabeth shares the story of...

Send us Fan Mail You're waiting for that movie-worthy moment—the dramatic breakthrough where a student's eyes light up, confirming that all your educational efforts are worthwhile. But what if you're missing the real magic? In this heart-to-heart conversation between host Cathy Tooley and K-8 principal Elizabeth Kissel, we discover why the most meaningful moments in education aren&a...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when teaching feels impossible? When student trauma feels too heavy to bear or curriculum demands seem overwhelming? Teachers reach for their secret weapon: a collection of thank you notes from former students. In this emotional episode, we pull back the curtain on a treasure that sustains educators through their darkest professional moments. I share my own journey fr...

Send us Fan Mail Are teachers just educators — or secret social workers, therapists, and supply closets rolled into one? In this powerful episode, veteran educator Cathy Tooley pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to teach in America’s classrooms today. From heartbreaking stories of kids carrying trauma to the invisible burdens teachers shoulder daily, Cathy shares raw truths and inspiri...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever considered that there's only one profession every human being encounters regardless of wealth, background, or circumstance? After four decades in education, I've witnessed both the profound impact of teachers and the frustrating misrepresentation of our profession in media and public discourse. My journey began like many educators—playing "school"...