Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a friendship you thought would last forever… just ends? In today’s episode, I’m sharing something I never expected to go through in my 40s—the sudden loss of a best friend of many years (a span of decades). This wasn’t a slow drift or a mutual fading out. We were talking every day, sharing life, making plans… and then it ended in two emails. No conversation. No c...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply personal episode, I share the story behind my quieter presence over the past six years. Since moving to Las Vegas, I’ve taught at three very different schools and experienced a wide range of leadership, support, and challenges. Teaching in new environments reshaped not only my professional life, but my emotional capacity and creative energy. This episode is an hones...

Send us Fan Mail “When It’s Time to Leave And How to Do It with Dignity” Sometimes the healthiest choice is the hardest one: leaving a toxic school. In the final part of this series, we talk about how to recognize when it’s time to go and how to do it in a way that protects your mental health, your finances, and your future. In this episode, we cover: Signs it’s time to leave: when the environment...

Send us Fan Mail “How to Survive a Toxic School Without Losing Yourself” You can’t always fix a toxic school, but you can protect your peace. Part 4 of the Toxic Schools Mini-Series is all about real, doable survival strategies that help you stay grounded, healthy, and yourself. In this episode, we talk about: Micro-boundaries you can set this week: small shifts that create real breathing room Fin...

Send us Fan Mail What Toxic Schools Do to Teachers: Mind, Body & Heart In Part 3, we’re shifting the focus to you:  your health, your emotions, your identity as a teacher.  Toxic schools don’t just make work hard. They seep into your body, your confidence, and your self-worth. In this episode, we explore: Physical burnout & chronic stress: headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and the Sunday dread...

Send us Fan Mail Hidden Cultural Red Flags That Make School Emotionally Unsafe Some toxicity isn’t loud: it’s quiet, subtle, and woven into the culture of a school.  In Part 2 of the Toxic Schools Mini-Series, we’re talking about the emotional undercurrents that drain teachers’ confidence, joy, and mental health. In this episode, we unpack: Gossip, negativity, and cliques — the staffroom dynamics...

Send us Fan Mail The Big 3 Structural Red Flags Your School Might Be Toxic In this first episode of the Toxic Schools Mini-Series, we’re looking at the structural issues that create unhealthy school environments: the big-picture problems that can make any teacher feel overwhelmed, drained, or defeated. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it me… or is it my school?” — this episode will help you name what’...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher, Jess shares the real story behind her Australia trip: the one that was supposed to be magical, adventurous, and full of teacher-travel joy… but ended up turning into a crash course in listening to her body. What begins as an exciting journey across the world quickly shifts when Jess gets unexpectedly sick far from home. Through hum...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher, Jessica dives into one of the most common and painful experiences educators face: emotionally draining friendships, burnout from “being the strong one,” and why highly empathetic teachers often attract people who take more than they give. You’ll learn the psychology behind why emotionally avoidant or self-centered people gravitate...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher, Jess breaks down one of the most damaging myths in education: the belief that teachers earn their worth by absorbing endless stress. She opens up about what this year has taught her — that exhaustion isn’t a character flaw, burnout isn’t “negativity,” and struggling doesn’t make you weak. Jess explores how school culture conditions...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about how teachers can take tiny little actions or change thoughts into seeing true progress each day.  The truth is that we're all progressing, but happy and healthy teachers are the ones feeling it, noting it and growing from it!  

Send us Fan Mail This episode discusses why teachers transfer schools or positions and what happens when they do.  A lot of teachers still feel unhappy at their new positions and this episode talks about what to do if you are feeling this way. 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jess dishes on why she hasn't podcasted in 2 years and what's happening with her career right now.  She also opens up about her struggles with diabetes and having to use a prescription medication called Ozempic.  Stay and listen to this fun and whimsical welcome back episode and feel free to reach out to Jess about your own ozempic journey!  

Send us Fan Mail I think all teachers would love to feel like they are thriving instead of just surviving in their career.   I see a couple of ways to feel thriving and successful sometimes, and I share these ideas with you in this podcast! 

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, I dish on my international trips with Bookbag Tours  and share my big takeaways from visiting Egypt this last summer.  Egypt was nothing like I imagined!  It was so different and in this episode I attempt to share my experience! 

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about why I left this podcast hanging for over a year!  Teaching is so hard and we all have a different story. This is mine. 

Send us Fan Mail I recently transferred from a 4th grade classroom position to a position in an elementary school library where I teach grades K-5 daily!  Here are the ups and downs of my journey so far as a licensed librarian. 

Send us Fan Mail There are so many problems in the teaching career right now.  Every source of media complains about the world of education constantly, and it can be hard to see any positive aspects to the teaching career right now.  In this episode, Jess (the whimsical teacher) talks about how to identify problems and use 4 different activist- based pathways to living your best teacher life.  So...

Send us Fan Mail Show Outline: How will I survive this school year!  Another pandemic year?!  EEEK  My Self Care comes first Daily self care Meal Planning/shopping on weekends Fixing my breakfast, and my lunch Preplanning all my outfits for the week Doing a toiletry/personal care check on the weekends Spending time with my dogs and husband phone free Practicing things that lower my blood pressure...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I dish all about setting boundaries at school. ** Here are tips for speaking up for yourself** Write down on paper why you need to do this.  What are your feelings if you don't do it?  Will you be resentful?  Honor these feelings as being valid.  They are real. They are yours.  ** Setting boundaries at any job** Know your limits Check in with your feelings Gi...

Send us Fan Mail I did it!  I survived!  I hope my tricks and tips for surviving the first week will help you survive as well!  WE got this teachers! 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jess discusses the year of pandemic teaching and how it impacted her teaching and career.  The episode is chalked full of insight, healing, and lessons learned. 

Send us Fan Mail Teacher Life is not for the faint of heart.  There are a lot of hard parts.  If you struggle, listen to this episode, and you might walk away with something that can help your daily routine! 

Send us Fan Mail I am coming up on the one year anniversary of buying a house in Las Vegas, so I thought that I'd give an honest review of the city and my teaching situation.  

Send us Fan Mail Listen to this episode for some hot tips about leaving the classroom.