Back-to-school season has a way of taking over everything.

There’s always another email to answer, lesson to prepare, meeting to attend, activity to volunteer for, or person who needs something from you.

And when your time and energy are already stretched thin, your career transition can quickly become the thing you keep promising yourself you’ll get back to later.

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Lisa talks about how to protect your career goals during one of the busiest seasons of the school year — without expecting yourself to do everything.

We’ll talk about:

• Why your career transition keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list
• How to decide what your “minimum week” looks like during busy seasons
• Why protecting your energy matters just as much as protecting your time
• How to create boundaries around the things that don’t need your attention right now
• Why consistency matters more than intensity
• How accountability and support can help you keep going when motivation dips

You don’t need to fit a second full-time job into your already-full schedule.

You just need to intentionally protect a little space for the future you’re trying to build.

Links from Episode:
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

Back-to-school season leaves teachers with very little extra time or energy — which makes it even more important to spend the time you do have on the right things.

But when you’re trying to change careers, it can be hard to know where to start.

Should you update your resume?

Apply for jobs?

Research new careers?

Take another course?

Work on LinkedIn?

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Lisa talks about why career-transitioning teachers often get stuck doing the right things in the wrong order — and why you don’t need to have your entire future figured out before you can start making progress.

We’ll talk about:

• How to identify where you actually are in the career-transition process
• Why doing more isn’t always the same as moving forward
• How small actions can help you create career clarity
• Why career exploration is more effective than waiting for the perfect answer
• How perfectionism can quietly keep you stuck
• Why progress matters more than having everything figured out

When your time is limited, you don’t need to tackle your entire career transition.

You just need to know your next meaningful step. Because action gets you information — and information gets you clarity.

Links from Episode:
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

Back-to-school season can make even the most motivated teacher feel like there simply isn’t room for anything else — especially a career transition.

Between new students, lesson planning, open houses, family responsibilities, and everything else competing for your attention, it’s easy to decide that your career transition will just have to wait.

But putting it completely on hold can make it that much harder to start again later.

In this episode, Lisa talks about why career transitions have seasons, how to adjust your pace during one of the busiest times of the school year, and how to create a transition plan that actually fits your life.

You’ll hear practical ways to find small pockets of time, stop comparing your progress to someone else’s, and keep moving forward even when your capacity is limited.

Links from Episode:
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

What if your next career could combine problem-solving, data, creativity, and the communication skills you already developed as a teacher?

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Megan Johnson talks with former middle and high school math teacher Jim about his transition from 14 years in the classroom to a career in business intelligence and data analytics.

Jim shares how he discovered the field, taught himself the technical skills he needed, built a portfolio, and ultimately landed a data analyst role before advancing into business intelligence development.

You’ll learn:

• What data analysts and business intelligence developers actually do
• Which job titles to search for when exploring careers in data analytics
• Which technical skills are most important for getting started
• How Jim used Coursera, DataCamp, SQL, Excel, and Tableau to upskill
• Why you don’t necessarily need another degree to become a data analyst
• How to build a portfolio that demonstrates your skills to employers
• Which transferable teaching skills can give you an advantage in data-focused roles
• What Jim’s four-round interview process looked like—and how his presentation skills helped him stand out
• Why staying within the education industry can give transitioning teachers an advantage
• How career growth and earning potential can change after leaving the classroom

If you enjoy problem-solving, working with information, finding patterns, and explaining complex ideas in a way others can understand, data analytics may be a career path worth exploring.

Jim’s story is also an important reminder that you don’t have to already possess every skill—or have the “perfect” degree—to begin building toward something new.

Links from Episode:
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

What if you don't hate teaching... but you know you're ready for something new?

After 19 years in education, Amy isn't running away from the classroom, she's searching for a career that challenges her in new ways while allowing her to use the skills she's spent years building.

In this Messy Middle conversation, Amy shares what it's really like to navigate the uncertainty of a career transition while still teaching full-time.

From narrowing down career options and battling imposter syndrome to questioning whether AI should help write your resume, this episode is full of honest reflections and practical takeaways.

We talk about:

✨ Why even experienced teachers can feel unqualified

✨ How to use AI without losing your authentic voice

✨ The surprising realization that remote work isn't always the best fit

✨ Why taking action—even before you have all the answers—creates clarity If you've been waiting until you feel "ready" before taking the first step, this episode is your reminder that clarity doesn't come before action, it comes because of it.

Links from Episode:

» Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-garner1/
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

Trying to balance a full-time teaching job while also navigating a career transition can feel completely overwhelming.

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m talking about how to realistically manage both without burning yourself out in the process.

We’ll talk about:

• Why trying to “do it all” usually backfires
• How to create sustainable momentum during the school year
• What actually deserves your limited time and energy
• Why consistency matters more than intensity
• Practical ways to protect your mental health during the transition process
• How structure and support can make the process feel more manageable

If you’re trying to survive the school year while still working toward a career change, this episode will help you approach the process more strategically—and with a lot more grace for yourself.

Links from Episode:
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

Are you getting ready to head back to school… while still knowing deep down that you want a career change?

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m talking to the teachers who are carrying a mix of emotions right now—disappointment, frustration, exhaustion, uncertainty, and maybe even guilt for not having transitioned out yet.

We’ll talk about:

• Why going back to school does NOT mean your transition failed
• The emotional pressure teachers feel at the end of summer
• How to stop comparing your timeline to everyone else’s
• Why many successful transitions happen during the school year
• How to approach this school year differently
• Ways to protect your energy and maintain momentum without burning out

If you’re feeling discouraged because you’re returning to the classroom while still hoping for something different, this episode is for you.

Links from Episode:
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

What happens when your life falls apart… at the same time you’re trying to rebuild it?

When Kim Reed left teaching, it wasn’t part of a carefully planned transition, it was a breaking point.

After 14 years as a middle school band director, Kim found herself physically unable to keep going.

She didn’t have a plan.

She didn’t have a safety net, and she had no idea what was next.

In this deeply honest Messy Middle conversation, Kim shares what it really looks like to walk away from everything you thought your life would be and rebuild from the ground up.

From taking microscopic steps forward… to navigating self-doubt and embarrassment… to discovering a career she didn’t even know existed.

Her story is a powerful reminder that progress doesn’t have to be perfect to be real and sometimes, the breakthrough comes when you least expect it.

In fact, between the time she signed up for this podcast and the day we recorded it, Kim received and accepted a full-time job offer as a Customer Success Manager.

We talk about:

✨ What it feels like when your body tells you it’s time to leave

✨ How to move forward when you have no plan

✨ Why tiny steps actually matter

✨ And what it takes to rebuild confidence after walking away

If you’ve ever felt stuck or like you’re starting over, this is your reminder: you don’t have to have it all figured out—just keep going.

Links from Episode:

» Connect with Kim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyreed2/
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!