Beyond the Classroom with Lisa Harding

Are you curious about career options that go beyond the classroom? A role in government as a Program Analyst could be your next exciting step! Join us in this first part of a two-part podcast as we host former teacher turned Government Program Analyst, Paola Clark, as she shares her inspiring journey. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at her daily responsibilities, learn how to apply your teachi...

Are you seeking exciting opportunities beyond traditional teaching roles? A career in software development could be a great fit for you! Software development is the process of designing, creating, and maintaining applications, systems, and programs that solve problems or perform specific tasks on computers and digital devices. It involves writing code, testing, debugging, and continuously improvin...

Are you seeking exciting opportunities beyond traditional teaching roles? A career in software development could be a great fit for you! Software development is the process of designing, creating, and maintaining applications, systems, and programs that solve problems or perform specific tasks on computers and digital devices. It involves writing code, testing, debugging, and continuously improvin...

Scrum? Agile? If you’ve never heard those words before—or assumed they were just tech buzzwords—this episode is your crash course into a career path more teachers should know about. In this conversation, Lisa sits down with  Johnathan Vo , founder of  School of Scrum , to explore how teachers can successfully transition into Agile roles—especially those who enjoy structure, collaboration, problem-...

What happens when you leave the education system—but not your passion for teaching? In this episode, Lisa sits down with  Melissa Lefort , former educator, writer, and creator of  Taught: The Podcast , for a deeply honest conversation about what it really means to walk away from the classroom and rebuild your identity from the ground up. Now living in Portugal, Melissa spends her days writing nove...

Ever wonder what hiring managers actually think when they see a resume from a former teacher? In this episode, Lisa shares what she’s learned from both sides of the hiring process—as a former EdTech executive who interviewed hundreds of candidates (many of them teachers), and as a coach helping teachers land roles outside the classroom every day. You’ll get practical advice on: • What makes former...

You’ve seen the posts:“Excited to announce my new role outside the classroom!” But what you don’t see? The messy, emotional, and often confusing journey it took to get there. In this episode, Lisa pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to change careers as a teacher—and why it’s okay if your transition isn’t quick, easy, or linear. She shares the truth behind the process, common emotional...

Summer break is finally here—but what if you used it as more than just a pause? In this solo episode, Lisa shares how teachers can use the summer months to rest, recharge, and reflect—without piling on more pressure. Whether you're just starting to think about a career change or deep into your transition, this episode will help you create space for recovery and growth. You'll learn:• Why b...

Career transitions are rarely clean or linear—and that’s okay. In this episode, Lisa sits down with  Rachael Johnson , former music teacher turned copywriter and host of the  What Do You Want!  podcast, for a refreshingly honest conversation about what it really looks like to leave the classroom and step into something new. From navigating the stigma of leaving teaching to learning how to advocate...

#051: Breaking the Burnout Cycle: How to Protect Your Energy and Empower Your Career with Grace Stevens Burnout isn't a personal failure—it's a systemic challenge, and teachers deserve better. In this episode, Lisa sits down with  Grace Stevens , a former corporate VP turned public school teacher, best-selling author, and host of the  Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance  podcast. Grace shares her j...

If you’re in the middle of a career transition and feeling stuck—mentally, emotionally, or strategically—this episode is for you. Whether you've been applying to job after job without hearing back, or you're still unsure what kind of career you're even aiming for, today’s conversation will help you reset, refocus, and move forward with clarity. Lisa shares powerful mindset shifts, real...

Curious about a career in HR training?   Your teaching experience might be the perfect foundation! Join us for part two of a two-part podcast for an insightful session with Danielle Remy, a former teacher who successfully transitioned into a role as an HR Training Specialist. Danielle will share her journey, discuss the key responsibilities of her position, and highlight how instructional skills f...

Curious about a career in HR training?   Your teaching experience might be the perfect foundation!  Join us for part one of a two-part podcast for an insightful session with Danielle Remy, a former teacher who successfully transitioned into a role as an HR Training Specialist. Danielle will share her journey, discuss the key responsibilities of her position, and highlight how instructional skills...

Think LinkedIn is only for people who already have corporate jobs? Think again. In this episode of  Beyond the Classroom , I’m breaking down five powerful (and often overlooked) ways LinkedIn can support your career transition—whether you’re just starting to explore your options or actively applying to roles. You’ll learn how to: • Use LinkedIn to explore career paths and discover real-life succes...

Thinking about leaving the classroom but not sure what to do with your LinkedIn profile—or if you even need one? You’re not alone. In this episode, I walk you through exactly how to build or refresh your LinkedIn profile as a teacher exploring a new career path. Whether you’re starting from scratch or giving your LinkedIn a total makeover, you’ll learn how to write a compelling headline (even if y...

Are you interested in exploring career opportunities beyond the classroom but still within a school? Consider a role as an instructional coach! Join us in part two of a two-part podcast for an insightful session with Terri Davidson, a former teacher who successfully transitioned into her role as an Instructional Coach. Terri will share her journey, discuss her daily responsibilities, and provide p...

Are you interested in exploring career opportunities beyond the classroom but still within a school? Consider a role as an instructional coach! Join us in part one of a two-part podcast for an insightful session with Terri Davidson, a former teacher who successfully transitioned into her role as an Instructional Coach. Terri will share her journey, discuss her daily responsibilities, and provide p...

Join us in part two of a two-part podcast as we host special guest, Catherine Coyle, to hear about her inspiring journey out of the classroom and into the world of EdTech Marketing. You may know Catherine from her popular Instagram account, @classroomcreations_, but when she’s not busy sharing beautifully crafted digital content – she’s working a full-time job in the world of edtech marketing. Joi...

Join us in part one of a two-part podcast as we host special guest, Catherine Coyle, to hear about her inspiring journey out of the classroom and into the world of EdTech Marketing. You may know Catherine from her popular Instagram account, @classroomcreations_, but when she’s not busy sharing beautifully crafted digital content – she’s working a full-time job in the world of edtech marketing. Joi...

Are you an educator looking to pivot your career away from traditional teaching roles? Transitioning into the realm of Learning & Development as a Senior Knowledge Management Associate might just be your next professional chapter. Discover the possibilities! Join us for an insightful session featuring Taryn Ferch, a former World Languages Department Chair turned Senior Learning & Developme...

Are you an educator looking to pivot your career away from traditional teaching roles? Transitioning into the realm of Learning & Development as a Senior Knowledge Management Associate might just be your next professional chapter. Discover the possibilities! Join us for an insightful session featuring Taryn Ferch, a former World Languages Department Chair turned Senior Learning & Developme...

In today’s episode of  Beyond the Classroom , Lisa Harding helps you build the confidence you need to succeed in your career transition. Confidence is one of the biggest barriers teachers face when changing careers. Lisa shares actionable steps you can take to overcome self-doubt, celebrate your small wins, and start moving forward with confidence. Plus, Lisa invites you to join her  free career c...

Join us for this second in a two-part episode as we host former teacher turned Nonprofit Grant Writer, Kimberly McCabe, as she shares her teacher transition story.  Kimberly will share her inspiring journey from the classroom to the forefront of nonprofit work, offering insights into her daily tasks, the intricacies of her role, leveraging teaching experience for success, invaluable advice for sec...

Join us for this first in a two-part episode as we host former teacher turned Nonprofit Grant Writer, Kimberly McCabe, as she shares her teacher transition story.  Kimberly will share her inspiring journey from the classroom to the forefront of nonprofit work, offering insights into her daily tasks, the intricacies of her role, leveraging teaching experience for success, invaluable advice for secu...

In this episode of  Beyond the Classroom , we dive into a topic that isn’t often talked about: the grief teachers experience when leaving the classroom. Lisa Harding is joined by Nichole Haugen, a registered nurse and life coach, specializing in grief to explore the emotional challenges of transitioning out of teaching. Together, they discuss why acknowledging grief is essential, how to process fe...