The Show Notes:
Season 1 Finale: Q&A with Ali Parrish
It’s hard to believe, but this episode is the season 1 finale! We are thrilled to be celebrating 50 episodes on the podcast! A podcast is nothing without its listeners, so whether you have been here since the beginning, or you are new here, thank you for subscribing and listening!
You have asked some really great questions about the opportunities you have beyond the classroom. So we’ve put all the questions into one jam-packed episode! You’ll hear all about my transition out of teaching, the many different roles I’ve had since leaving the classroom, and how I am using all that experience to help make your transition even faster and with a clear strategy!
My Journey Beyond the Classroom
My transition beyond the classroom was so much longer than I ever wanted it to be. There were so many questions and doubts to sort through and I was doing all that work alone. I can say with confidence that I never regret leaving the classroom. But there are definitely some ways I could have improved in how I left and communicated to my administrator and colleagues that I was moving on.
So now I am able to take those lessons learned and pay them forward to you. But even before you think about investing in resources that could speed up your transition, there is one thing I want you to know. You don’t have to wait until you hit burnout to start making a transition plan. You can begin without being 100% certain of where the path leads.
The Twists and Turns of My Work Path
It is unbelievable how many opportunities I’ve had to use my skills and strengths beyond the classroom. It’s actually really hard to choose my favorite role – and there have been many! I’ve been a trainer, educational consultant, instructional designer, and I’ve even taught at the university level.
If I had to say which of these jobs opened up the most opportunities, it would definitely be instructional design. I call it the gateway career because so many doors opened as a result of stepping into that one role.
Why I Love Supporting Teachers in Their Transition Now
There are so many different directions my path after the classroom could have pointed. But in this season, I am most fulfilled by the chance to help teachers make the transition faster and with a lot less stress. The chance to support teachers started simply with personal teacher friends asking for support. I quickly discovered that the best way to help support the most people is by creating on-demand resources.
Like any job, even this dream job has come with challenges. I constantly fight the battle of wanting to show up to serve more people and be present to my family and friends at the same time. As a business owner, that can be hard when all the decision-making falls on you. But it’s also been an opportunity to learn and make really big breakthroughs – like being able to offer the Teacher Transition membership.
What You Can Look Forward to Next
In every season of my career path, I’ve learned that it’s necessary to take time to identify my priorities in business. I want to show up to serve in the ways you need most. Right now, that looks like offering more levels of support and more ways to get personalized feedback for all of our resources, but most specifically within the Teacher to Instructional Design course.
So in order to do that, in this season 1 finale, I’m announcing a pause on the podcast so we can be laser-focused in our efforts. We want to invest my energy where it counts the most and we are so excited about the impact that these efforts are ultimately going to have on YOUR future!
Could you use the extra support in taking the next step after the classroom?
Join the membership!
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!
Resources Mentioned in the Show
- Wondering whether you’d enjoy being a trainer or an instructional designer? take the quiz to see which role you’d prefer!
- Join the Teacher Transition Membership
- Become an Instructional Designer in 6 weeks!
- Episode 11: When I Knew It Was Time to Quit Teaching
