After spending 17 years in education, Meredith Cooley decided to try something new: copywriting. She started Page and Purpose after the pandemic and leveled her experience as a teacher into helping ed tech companies craft their marketing. Finding success quickly in her new business, she wants to help other educators try copywriting with her new an online course “Classroom to Copywriting.”

In this episode, Meredith and I discuss why she left teaching and jumped into marketing. She describes how she applied her teaching experience to copywriting, and the process of starting a business, Lots of helpful information in this one!

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode143.

Patrick Mongrain spent ten years teaching middle school history and leadership, and another ten working as as a district-level instructional coach and restorative justice specialist before moving on to professional development. Over the years he’s come to believe that teachers are incredible, but he also created a Moneyball-inspired data collection system to improve their outcomes. It’s worked so well he created the EdChanger Pro app and wrote a book about his findings called “Theory Can Only Take You So Far.”

In our discussion, we get into Patrick’s career and how he came to create EdChanger Pro. We also get into the importance of instructional practice and how effective teaching involves focusing on the “how.” If you love teachers as much as Patrick and I do, you’re gonna love this episode.

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode142.

Dr. Rick Rodriguez is a first generation Mexican American who has lived through and acknowledges the challenges that individuals and communities of color face across our systems. Guided by these experiences, he co-founded the Rooted Life, a bilingual coaching and consulting business that incorporates research-based frameworks to trigger thinking, strategy, and collaboration.

Rick and I had a long conversation about his childhood and the inspiring women in his life — his mother and grandmother. We also get into the systemic barriers in education that were not designed to serve people like him and how that motivated him to work in education. Strap in — it’s a good one!

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode141.

Dana Anderson teaches digital citizenship, language arts, and literature to Middle and High School students at Bridgemont International School. She's also served as a kids' and teens' digital content expert for non-profits, tech companies, teacher training programs and schools. Dana is also a writer, a nature and animal lover, and a mom of three.

In this episode we discuss Dana's educator journey and what she feels educators need to do to find success in teaching or other fields. She also opines on AI and the possibilities it can provide for teachers.

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode140.

Kirk Spahn is a fourth generation educator with more than two decades in the field. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he worked for schoolmaster.net, an early online learning platform based in London.But it was the events of Sept. 11 that inspired him that inspired him to start the Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL), an award winning youth educational nonprofit organization..

In this episode, Kirk tells the entire story of ICL’s founding and the challenges of online learning. He also discusses the importance of mentors in a child’s education, how the COVID 19 lockdown affected online learning, and how he’s developed an academy that attracts top student athletes.

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode139.

Dr. Emily Levy is the founder and director of EBL coaching, a specialized tutoring program that offers individualized one on one, home, virtual and on site instruction using research based multi sensory techniques.

In this episode, Dr. Levy tells me about how after teaching special education, she went to Wall Street and then back to the so-called “family business.“ She also discusses her multi-sensory approach to tutoring and how she finds new clients. It’s a short but informative episode!

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode138.

Iuri Melo is a therapist, motivational speaker, and—on particularly exciting days—a “professional teenager whisperer.” He has spent over two decades working closely with families, students and schools, and he's become a trusted voice when it comes to promoting psychological awareness, great relationships and student success. His research led to the creation of SchoolPulse, a text/email service to help kids struggling with mental issues.

In our discussion, Iuri and I discuss why he started SchoolPulse. He also talks about his use of adventure therapy, mainly rock-climbing, as a therapeutic tool. Hopefully you’ll walk away from this prioritizing your mental wellness!

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode137.

Ronnie Thomas is the founder of Fun Weird Science, an education company built on the belief that STEM lessons can apply all kinds of disciplines. A science teacher with 25 years of experience and two Teacher of the Year awards, Thomas started Weird Fun Science after developing a reputation for engaging and versatile teaching methods.

In our discussion, Ronnie and I discuss the efficiency of hands-on learning and why he was inspired by it. We also talk about his mission to expand STEM education in underserved communities and in early education, and his belief in the need for more innovation in schools.

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode136.