The Show Notes
Teachers are hands down some of the most creative people I know. They can come up with genius methods for engaging any kind of learner in the classroom. But sometimes that creativity reaches beyond the classroom to hobbies and other passions too!
If you’ve been appreciated for your creative talents inside or beyond the classroom, today’s episode might resonate in a special way. In this episode, Jill Childre is sharing her story of how she managed to take her creativity from the classroom to the kitchen as she built her business Nibble Cookie Company, all while supporting the very unique needs of her family.
An Unlikely Road to the Classroom
Jill did not always want to be a teacher. When she was little, she actually wanted to be an archeologist and dig up dinosaur bones! Jill had started college and then decided to quit. When it was time to finish off a degree, she wanted to choose something she could finish quickly.
It turns out, a teaching degree was a good option for that. After graduating, she found a position teaching first grade at a small town in Georgia. Jill loved many parts about teaching, including the opportunity to use her creatively so consistently. But when the recession hit and she started having babies, it just felt like the right time to pull back and focus on her family.
The truth was that as much as she loved those faces in her first grade classroom, Jill was entirely overwhelmed. And to top it off, her school’s climate was anything but supportive. Substitutes were extremely limited. If you wanted to take a sick or personal day, it was not uncommon that her students would be divided among three other classrooms.
Cooking Up Some Creativity at Home
While Jill stayed at home with her kiddos, she managed to find a way to use that teaching degree to work with a homeschooled student who was training for the Olympics. This was a perfect gig in a lot of ways because she could balance working with this student and still have the capacity to be home with her children the majority of the day.
Jill loved being able to be present for such precious moments as her kids were growing so fast. And yet, as we all know, there were plenty of days that were not so magical. It was challenging to strike a balance.
Jill decided she needed a little outlet that she called hobby baking. Friends and family noticed her creativity and skill in the kitchen. It wasn’t long before Jill was asked to try making some decorated cookies. When those were a success, that led to some small paid gigs.
Soon enough, Jill had opened an Etsy store, shipping decorated cookies all over the country. After some careful consideration, Jill realized that her local community would be a better place to grow her business. She would have more control over her products and connect more intimately with her customers.
During this season in her business, Jill’s daughter was diagnosed with selective mutism, an anxiety based disorder that causes someone to freeze in everyday situations. Jill was devastated to find out her daughter had not spoken a word in her preschool all year when she was so chatty at home. With this new diagnosis came a lot more stress with all the new ways she would have to show up to support her daughter.
Thinking Outside the Box
So with a new, unfamiliar diagnosis for her daughter, another baby on the way, and a business she just couldn’t keep the lid on, Jill felt a little stuck. She desperately needed to be flexible and available for her family. As a family, they were having to travel to see a specialist in New York because resources were so limited in Georgia.
It was around this time that Jill realized that she could use everything she had learned to build a baking business and teach others how to do the same. Jill shares that her first class was a total flop. Thankfully she didn’t let that stop her because soon she realized how many people (and often teachers) she could help get their own cookie business off the ground.
At the same time, her daughter was starting to make serious breakthroughs with speech in the classroom. Jill even found ways to use her business to raise awareness for selective mutism as she partnered with community resources.
Key Takeaways For Teachers Seeking a Transition
Jill shared a couple brilliant tips for anyone looking to pursue a creative venture beyond the classroom.
- Get familiar with your true gifting! This will take some time and curiosity!
- Be careful not to burn any bridges on the way out of the classroom. Your teaching community might be an important part of your next venture!
Additionally, Jill shares that it is normal and common to feel guilty about leaving the classroom when you feel pulled for any reason, especially if it is just a need to prioritize your family in certain seasons.
She encourages us that it is okay to try on a lot of hats. Those hobbies or passions you invest in may appear so random in the moment, but you just never know what a small investment of time or money can make in your life. Give yourself the chance to explore. You are worth it!
A Breakdown of This Episode:
[3:03] Learn about Jill’s indirect path that led her to teaching elementary school
[4:54] Hear why Jill felt like she really never could say she “thrived” in the classroom
[14:28] Why Jill’s family suddenly became an even bigger priority
[24:38] Discover some of the lessons that Jill learned the hard way about building her business
[32:14] Listen to Jill share her advice to any teachers who are looking to pursue creativity beyond the classroom
If you enjoyed this episode I invite you to take a screenshot and tag me on your Instagram stories @teachertransition and tell me your biggest takeaway!
Want to know what other work opportunities you might love beyond the classroom? Click here to get the FREE Top Jobs for Teachers download.
