The Inspired Educator: Empowering New Teachers to Thrive

In this episode of The Inspired Educator: Empowering New Teachers to Thrive , Dr. LaToya Crockett shares honest and practical advice on what to do when students start testing the rules. Whether it’s off-task behavior, ignoring directions, or pushing limits, these moments are part of every teacher’s journey but they don’t have to shake your confidence. LaToya walks you through why students test bou...

In this episode of The Inspired Educator: Empowering New Teachers to Thrive , we continue our classroom management series with a thoughtful conversation about what it means to manage a classroom in a way that honors students' backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. Dr. LaToya Crockett is joined by Anjali Bajaj , founder of AHINSA Leadership Collective and a longtime educator and school lea...

Welcome to Episode 2 of our four-part series on classroom management. If you're preparing for a new school year, this episode is designed to help you start strong by understanding one of the biggest misconceptions new teachers face: the difference between classroom management and discipline. Dr. LaToya Crockett is joined by veteran educator and leadership consultant Lisa Norwood, founder of iLead...

Welcome to Season 2 of The Inspired Educator: Empowering New Teachers to Thrive! To start this season, we're launching a focused four-part mini-series on classroom management. This first episode sets the foundation with one essential truth for new teachers: behavior must be taught, modeled, and practiced just like reading. Dr. LaToya Crockett sits down with Tangela Leggett, founder and CEO of Legg...

New teachers, if you've ever felt unsure about how to support students with IEPs, collaborate with special education teams, or create a classroom where every child feels seen, this episode is for you. In this powerful conversation, Dr. LaToya Crockett sits down with Shannon Poynter , a special education teacher with over 17 years of experience, to discuss what inclusion really means and how to mak...

If you're a new teacher stepping into summer school with extra income on the way, this episode is your financial wake-up call! In today’s conversation, Dr. LaToya Crockett sits down with Dr. Melissa Weathersby — a financial wellness consultant, educator, and advocate for financial literacy — to break down smart money habits every early-career educator needs. You’ll learn: ✔️ What to do with your s...

Summer school teachers, this is for you! The secret to a thriving classroom, even in the summer, starts with genuine connections. I’m Dr. LaToya Crockett, and today I chat with transformational speaker and educator Wynette Richardson—aka “The Teacher’s Champion”—on how to lay the foundation for learning through authentic rapport in a short amount of time. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: 🎯 Why R...

In this inspiring episode of The Inspired Educator: Empowering New Teachers to Thrive! , Dr. LaToya Crockett is joined by Tanjarae Porter —arts educator, certified reading specialist, and founder of Cultivated Connections —to explore how arts integration can be a powerful tool for student engagement, inclusivity, and personal teacher wellness. Whether you're a first-year teacher, a career changer,...

Feeling like you’ve poured every ounce of energy into your classroom… and now there’s nothing left? You’re not alone. I’m Dr. LaToya Crockett, and in this episode I sit down with licensed therapist Timeka L. Muhammad of The Courage To Cope to break down what educator burnout really looks like—and share therapist-approved habits to reclaim your passion for teaching. In This Episode, You’ll Discover...

Feeling exhausted, emotionally drained, or just overwhelmed as the school year winds down? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode, Dr. LaToya Crockett sits down with educator wellness expert and founder of Teacher Recess, Daryll Wharton, to explore what burnout really looks like—and how new teachers can create sustainable boundaries to protect their energy, purpose, and passion. This episode i...

Hey there, educator friends! 👋 Ever feel like the weight of the classroom is just... a bit too much? In this episode of The Inspired Educator, I sit down with Claire from The Feeling Centre to share real‑world, heart‑centered strategies that help you: 💖 Spot the first whispers of burnout before it takes over 💖 Build simple, feel‑good emotional‑wellness habits into your day 💖 Draw firm lines be...

Feeling overwhelmed in the classroom? In this episode of The Inspired Educator, Dr. LaToya Crockett sits down with mindfulness coach Martin Hofkamp to explore practical strategies for managing stress, staying grounded, and creating a calmer, more focused learning environment. Martin shares simple mindfulness tools new and aspiring teachers can use to build emotional resilience, navigate daily chal...

As the school year winds down, energy winds up—and for many teachers, that means classroom management becomes more challenging than ever. In this episode of The Inspired Educator, Dr. LaToya Crockett is joined by MaaTchaas Thomas, founder of Sankofa Learning Place and a certified special education teacher, to talk about end-of-year student behavior. With years of experience supporting students wit...

Is science always the first subject to get cut when you’re short on time? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Inspired Educator, Dr. LaToya Crockett welcomes Anissa Williams, a Science Coordinator who shares practical, real-world advice for bringing science back into your classroom—without feeling overwhelmed or off track. With a background in middle school science and K–12 curriculum support...

In this value-packed episode of The Inspired Educator, host Dr. LaToya Crockett sits down with Dr. JaNae’ Alfred, a 17-year educator, instructional coach, and Director of Community and Culture. Dr. Alfred brings wisdom, warmth, and real-world strategies to one of the most important (and often overwhelming) parts of teaching: parent communication. Whether you’re preparing for your first parent-teac...

Managing a classroom full of students can feel like juggling 20 spinning plates while walking a tightrope—especially when small, repeated disruptions start piling up. In this solo episode of The Inspired Educator, Dr. LaToya Crockett breaks down a clear, actionable framework for handling those little disruptions before they turn into big problems. Whether you’re a first-year teacher, career change...

In this episode of The Inspired Educator: Empowering New Teachers to Thrive, host Dr. LaToya Crockett sits down with veteran educator and consultant Felicia Heard of Be Heard Education. With over 20 years of experience in instructional design, student engagement, and relationship-building, Felicia brings fresh insight into how new teachers can teach critical 21st century skills without burning out...

Feeling overwhelmed by lesson planning? You’re not alone—and this episode is here to help. In Episode 9 of The Inspired Educator, host Dr. LaToya Crockett shares step-by-step strategies to help new and aspiring teachers simplify their planning process, save time, and reduce stress—without sacrificing student learning. If you’re a first-year teacher juggling multiple content areas, scripted curricu...

Nervous about parent-teacher conferences? In this episode of The Inspired Educator, Dr. LaToya Crockett shares 6 practical strategies to help new teachers navigate tough conversations with clarity, confidence, and compassion. Learn how to prepare talking points, manage emotions, and follow up with families to build strong relationships and create a positive classroom culture. Perfect for first-yea...

In this energizing episode of The Inspired Educator, host Dr. LaToya Crockett sits down with high school teacher and instructional coach Erin Shook to explore practical, creative strategies for student engagement. Whether you teach kindergarten or seniors, Erin shares actionable ways to get students talking, thinking, moving—and actually enjoying learning. We cover: ✅How to rebuild student social...