Classroom to Boardroom

Let's have a candid chat about social media for small businesses. It's no secret that it's only gotten harder to grow on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, but what else is happening in this online space? I brought my Marketing Manager, Taylor, on to chat with me about everything we've learned firsthand. We share our highs and lows as well as our insights into what's working for us on the platforms. If you're a small business owner struggling with social media - here's what you need to know about the marketing strategy that truly lifted my business off the ground a few years ago.

There are five tools that I couldn't run my business without and they're all very user-friendly. These tools support me everyday in creating, maintaining, organizing, designing, and marketing my small businesses. With these online tools, it's like I have an entire in-house team helping me out. They help me do what I need to do and they keep me organized when working with my marketing manager, sponsors, and guests. If you're a small business owner or just looking for new tools to support your EdTech team, these are the ones you need to try.

Today, we're diving into a crucial topic that often doesn't get the attention it deserves: leaving a job with integrity. While much emphasis is placed on making a great first impression when starting a new job, the way you exit a role can have an even more lasting impact on your career and relationships. The EdTech industry is a very, very, very small space. You want to do the best you possible can to keep your reputation in tact. I still do business with both EdTech companies I worked with ten years ago. I also work closely in a recruiting aspect with many individuals I worked with at my second EdTech job. Why? Because I left both roles with total class and my relationships in tact.

Every job description for an operations role in EdTech looks different. That's because operations looks different for every EdTech company and might require different skill sets. In this episode of the EdTech Connect podcast, we'll explore what's being said about education requirements in job searches, why you need a better resume for recruiters, and finally, what operations roles can look like across EdTech. I'll share why operations looks different for every company and how you can know if it's the right fit for you. This episode is packed with information for the EdTech professional and the transitioning educator alike.

Calling all #bilingual PreK-5 educators! Are you looking for a role at an education company? I've got the job for you: Bilingual Professional Learning Specialist

When I knew it was time to leave teaching, it was a tough decision. I wanted a career that would allow me to make a difference in the world and within education, but I also wanted growth, more money, and goals and aspirations. 10 years later, I've left teaching, worked for two different EdTech companies, and created two successful businesses. Here's how I managed to network as a newly former teacher to land my first role outside of the classroom, use my transferable skills from teaching to excel in my customer success role, and turn those skills into the foundation of my career as an entrepreneur. Learn more at CarrieConover.com

Not everyone transitions directly from teaching full-time to EdTech. There are a ton of different ways in which those working in education find themselves looking for more. Even though you're not in a teaching role, maybe you've found that the path to your ideal role isn't as straightforward as you imagined. We'll explore how Chelsea Moore landed her role with the Texas Education Agency, what that role looks like, self expression in the workplace, and Chelsea's advice on networking. Having never taught in the classroom, here's why Chelsea joined Classroom to Boardroom and how it helped her transition into her first role outside of education. www.carrieconover.com

Intimidated by the idea of leaving teaching after investing so much time in the profession? Here's how Jennifer Moss left teaching after two amazing decades. In this episode of the Classroom to Boardroom Podcast, I sit down with Jennifer to discuss why she left teaching after 20 years and how she landed her role as a partnership manager with Discovery Education. We then explore what lead to her smoothe and quick transition from the classroom as well as how TikTok can help when leaving teaching. Finally, Jennifer and I delve into what her days look like in her EdTech role and how relationship building is a crucial part of her role. www.carrieconover.com

Looking to leave teaching but hesitant to commit because you still love it? Abby Prouty was in the same boat several years ago, until she took the Classroom to Boardroom Full Course and gained the momentum she needed to transition. In this episode of the Classroom to Boardroom Podcast, host Carrie Conover sits down with Abby to discuss why she left teaching and her journey to becoming a former teacher. They then walk through the hard and soft skills crucial to her role as well as the differences she sees since her latest promotion. Finally, Abby explores how the Course supported her through finally deciding to make the leap and land her first role as a Business Development Representative at Discovery Education. Learn more about our courses and community at www.carrieconover.com

So you didn't get the job before back to school. Setting up your classroom is probably the last thing you want to do after you've invested so much time and money into perfecting your resume, interviewing, and networking. But you're not done yet. In this episode of the Classroom to Boardroom podcast, host Carrie Conover discusses what you can do to help your transition while facing back to school. With Carrie, you'll explore your personal finances, refresh your resume, find communities, reflect on your teaching career, and put together a plan for the coming months. Carrie even shares a story about her own transition from teaching to EdTech to keep you inspired in your job search.   www.carrieconover.com

In this episode of the Classroom to Boardroom podcast, host Carrie Conover speaks with former teacher Dana Blumberg on her journey to working in sales for Amplify Learning. We discuss Dana's career transition from School Counselor to sales at Amplify, and how her skills as an educator have translated to her current role. Dana shares her experience of leaving the school setting, including the toxic work situation that led to her transition. We also dive into the hard and soft skills that were crucial to Dana landing her first role outside of the classroom and seeing success on the job. After exploring the skills gained and other benefits of the Classroom to Boardroom Full Course, we conclude the episode with Dana's final words of advice to transitioning educators facing rejection. www.carrieconover.com Coursework and Coaching: https://www.carrieconover.com/learnwithcarrie

How many EdTech tools do you really know? If the first things that come to mind are Google Classroom and Class Dojo… this episode of the educators 2 educators podcast is for you. Tune in for a quick quiz with host Carrie Conover to test your EdTech knowledge. In anticipation of the release of Carrie's latest course, EdTech School, get a sneak peek into the new resource helping teachers help students with new tools they've never heard of. Can you answer all of the questions in the EdTech quiz correctly?   Join EdTech School: https://www.carrieconover.com/learnwithcarrie educators 2 educators blog: https://www.educators2educators.com/

In this episode of the Classroom to Boardroom podcast, host Carrie Conover speaks with Evan Warnock, an academic success coach at Fev Tutor. We discuss Evan's career transition from teaching to customer success, and how his skills as a teacher have translated to his current role. Evan shares his experience of leaving teaching, including the personal reasons that led to his decision, and the guilt he felt about leaving his students. We also dive into the importance of soft skills such as empathy and the ability to take feedback in customer success roles. We also talk about the supportive community and valuable coursework offered by Classroom to Boardroom. The episode highlights the challenges and rewards of leaving the classroom and pursuing a career outside of education. Visit our website: www.carrieconover.com Blog: https://www.carrieconover.com/blog Learn with Carrie: https://www.carrieconover.com/learnwithcarrie

Today, we are joined by Alyssa, a former fourth-grade teacher who has become a sales expert for an Ed Tech company. Alyssa shared her journey from teaching to sales, including the steps she took to make the transition. She also discussed the guilt she felt about leaving teaching but knew it was for the best. In her interview, Alyssa stressed the importance of finding a supportive community during the career transition. She also emphasized the significance of being prepared for interviews and thoroughly understanding the product. Alyssa shared the soft and hard skills that have helped her excel in her new role, including being an effective communicator, being organized, and having a comprehensive knowledge of the product. Learn more about Carrie's courses, community and coaching at CarrieConover.com Connect with Alyssa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssakovatchis/ Connect with Carrie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrieconover/

From the Classroom to the internet's largest and most heavily trafficked business-for-sale marketplace. Donald Benson decided to leave teaching after 10 years, leading him to join the Classroom to Board Course and land a role as a customer success representative at Biz Buy Sell. If you're searching for a new career outside of the classroom, come join the Classroom to Boardroom Community of transitioning educators! https://www.classroomtoboardroom.net/community Want to learn more about transitioning into EdTech? https://www.carrieconover.com/

In a recent podcast episode, Natalie Cataldo, a former teacher who is now a professional learning specialist with Paper, discussed her transition from the classroom to her current role in EdTech. Natalie completed the Classroom to Boardroom course in 2022, which prepared her for the next step in her career. Learn more at www.carrieconover.com

Do you know the difference between customer support and customer success jobs? To transitioning teachers and educators, these positions might sound similar, but the truth is that they have completely different functions, responsibilities, and departments. In this week's episode, learn the key differences between these two crucial roles in any EdTech company. If you're searching for a new career outside of the classroom, join the Classroom to Boardroom Community of transitioning educators! https://www.classroomtoboardroom.net/community Want to learn more about transitioning into EdTech? https://www.carrieconover.com/

Description: From teaching sciences and technology to landing a job in instructional design, Cynthia Baldacchini walks through her experience transitioning out of teaching and provides her unique insights on the journey. As one of the first success stories of the Classroom to Boardroom Course, Cynthia holds a wealth of knowledge in what it takes to answer a new calling and securing a job in EdTech. If you're searching for a new career outside of the classroom, come join the Classroom to Boardroom Community of transitioning educators! https://www.classroomtoboardroom.net/community Want to learn more about transitioning into EdTech? https://www.carrieconover.com/

Join Carrie Conover and Jessica Seiler as they discuss the top 5 resume mistakes they see in Teacher Transition resumes. Carrie has interviewed hundreds of ed-tech candidates, and Jessica coaches teachers in transition on their resumes weekly, so we've seen everything you can imagine regarding resume writing. We know what works and what gets interviews!   Join the Classroom to Boardroom community at https://www.classroomtoboardroom.net/community   Sign Up for a Coaching Call at CarrieConover.com   Follow Carrie on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-conover/

Yinka Boudreaux went from high school English Teacher to Client Success Partner at Otus. Learn how this Yinka used her teaching skills, an improved resume, and the Classroom to Boardroom course and community to transition out of teaching.   www.carrieconover.com Join the Classroom to Boardroom community at https://www.carrieconover.com/classroomtoboardroom

I left my teaching position with Chicago Public Schools after giving a decade of my life to the profession. I departed for multiple reasons, including a family move, the need for a challenge in my career, and the desire to escape the grind and stress. Back then, I didn't know many teachers who wanted to leave teaching. I was the outlier, and people were shocked when I made my departure. I was a standout educator with strong student and parent relationships, and my test scores and student growth were always through the roof. Wind the clock ahead; I've been out of the classroom almost longer than I was in it. I've spent the second decade of my career working in edtech (eSpark Learning and Discovery Education) and in the last five years building educators 2 educators. Back when I left the classroom, we were all stressed. Yes, parents were demanding. Yes, we had a few students who made our classroom hard to manage. But we faced nothing like what teachers are facing today. Covid, plus social media, plus technology, plus a mental health crisis, plus a downward economy… I've spent the last ten years traveling the nation, visiting school districts of all sizes, and building an educator network of over 70,000 educators. I talk to teachers, coaches, and administrators every day. And today I'm going to tell you WHY teachers and administrators are leaving education in a steady stream.   Important Websites:  www.carrieconover.com www.educators2educators.com

Olivia went from Kindergarten teacher to Sales at Scholastic. Hear her story and how Classroom to Boardroom helped her land her first position at an education company.   Learn more about Classroom to Boardroom at www.carrieconover.com. Transcript: Introduction (00:00): Welcome to the Classroom to Boardroom podcast. If you are a teacher or administrator looking to change careers, you are in the right place. There can be many reasons an educator is ready to leave the classroom, boredom, burnout, pressure from parents and administrators. The list goes on and on. If you are ready to move on from teaching, there are many roles in which you can use your teacher skillset to have a positive social impact and set yourself up for a fulfilling and rewarding career. Now, let's meet your host, Carrie Conover. Carrie is a veteran educator and ed tech, corporate leader, turn founder, and c. So grab your notepad because your new journey outside the classroom starts right now. Carrie Conover (00:47): Hey there, friends. Welcome back to the Classroom to Boardroom podcast. Today I have a success story that you are going to love. The best way I can summarize it is the person I'm about to interview now works in sales for an education company. You definitely know, and when this person came to Classroom to Boardroom, I never would've guessed sales for them, and they would've never kept, guessed sales for themselves. But guess what? Sales was a match made in heaven with my guest, Olivia, today. We'll get to that in one second, but I just wanna let you know that if you have not listened to the first episode of this new season of the Classroom to Boardroom podcast, our third season, I'm gonna ask you to pause this podcast and go back and start there. This year I am focusing classroom to boardroom everything we do around these seven stages that I believe a teacher or educator goes through when they are transitioning out of the classroom quickly. Carrie Conover (01:52): I'll just share those with you. They are contemplation, decision making, exploration, fear, action, belief and results. And I am basing everything we do on classroom to wardroom this year around those kind of seven pillars. So if you haven't listened to the episode that came out on January 10th, please go listen to that episode now and then come back to this success story within these pillars. The, the first stage that I think most teachers go through is a stage I call contemplation. And when it's when an educator realizes, Hey, I'm not totally satisfied or totally happy or totally fulfilled in the role that I'm currently in, and they first recognize that unsettling feeling, that unhappiness, and then they start wondering about other options that are out there for them and are dreaming of what that change could look like. And so I want you to really pay attention in this Success story interview with Olivia about at the beginning of her journey, this contemplation stage where she recognizes she wasn't totally unhappy, but she knew it was time to think about more in her career. Carrie Conover (03:05): So today in this interview, I not only want you to hear the success story, I want you to really hone in on that first stage that I think teachers go through, which is what I call the conation stage. Today I have a very, very special guest, one of my first classroom boardroom students, Olivia Luwak. She is a former teacher that now works as an education specialist at a company. You all know Scholastic Learning? She is a passionate educator. She's passionate about reading, she loves talking about education, and now she has gone from teacher to working at an education company. Thank you so much, Olivia, for being here today. Olivia L. (03:54): Carrie, thank you so much for having me. It's so great to connect with you. I feel like it's been a little while since we've had a chance to speak. So it is so, so great to be able to to catch up with you tonight and to be able to talk about Classroom to Boardroom. Carrie Conover (04:08): Well, you know, you hold a special place in my heart because you were one of my first classroom to boardroom students , and I knew Classroom to Boardroom was gonna work, and I knew it was good, but there's kind of a trio of you. You, Marjorie and Jessica were like the first three that got jobs outta costume border, and I'm like, this works, this works. But before we start talking about all of that, could you just give our listeners a general story of your career and your background? Olivia L. (04:35): Sure. So I graduated from Marquette University and while at Marquette I studied both education and communication studies. And during my time in college, I always thought that it would be so neat to one day tie both of my degrees together. I had no idea what that would look like, but as I was going through my classes, I really had a passion for both, a passion for education and a passion for communication studies where I had the opportunity, you know, to work with clients and to share knowledge about a particular, you know, topic with a larger audience. And so I kept that idea in the back of my pocket. A student taught in first grade my last year of my senior year at college. I loved first grade, and so I knew when I started to apply for teaching roles that I wanted to stay somewhere in the primary grade level. Olivia L. (05:44): I never thought that I would teach kindergarten, but an opportunity came up and as soon as I went through the interview process and got to meet with some of my some of the teachers that were going to to be on my team, I became super excited about kindergarten. And I have to say teaching kindergarten was a very, very special time for me. I was in the classroom for five years. I truly loved getting to know the families that I worked with and my colleagues, but I have to say that two things stuck out to me during my time as a teacher. I found myself loving teaching, phonics and reading. And I also had a deep love for going to professional development sessions, which I know not every teacher enjoys getting to do that or, you know, it can, they can be long days. Olivia L. (06:40): But I always loved going and learning about new curriculum, new technology. So about after my third year of teaching, I, you know, I kind of kept thinking about these thoughts that were coming through my mind of man, I, you know, I really love you know, the time that I have in the classroom where I'm watching students learned how to identify single sounds and eventually blend them together and make words. And I also really love sitting down with my team every Thursday and going over lesson plans and explaining and sharing ideas about how we can best implement the curriculum that we've been given, you know, to teach our students. So I started thinking about a little bit and year four, same thing, that those same thoughts kind of kept coming up on my heart. And by year five I remember telling my husband, I was like, I think I'm gonna start to look at what other opportunities are out there within the education field. Olivia L. (07:42): I have no idea, you know, if there is anything or how I would even get there, but I just wanna start looking. And so it was the spring of my fifth year of teaching. I started Googling, you know, jobs outside of the classroom. And the more and more that I searched, I just found my heart filled with excitement for some of these, some of these roles. And so I, I was so excited to explore, but I felt kind of stuck at the same time. You know, every time I would read a read a job description, I would be like, yes, this is what I wanna do. Like this is exactly what's in my heart. But I didn't exactly know how to express that to others and exactly know like what to do with those thoughts. So it was an evening in May and I was on the phone with one of my very dear friends, also now a classroom to boardroom graduate, and she calls me up and she said, Olivia, she's like, I know someone who who has a program called Classroom to Boardroom, and the program is designed to help teachers find a job outside of the classroom. Olivia L. (08:57): And I remember turning to my friend and being like, are you reading my mind? Because like, this is exactly like what I have been thinking about and I just don't know how to get from here to there. So she quickly shared your information with me, Carrie and I immediately like Googled her name and like found classroom to boardroom, and within 24 hours I was signed up . That Carrie Conover (09:21): Is awesome. I I actually have forgotten about because that was Lexi, right? Olivia L. (09:28): Yes, yes. That Carrie Conover (09:29): Is crazy because okay, we just kind of have to tell this story. So Olivia L. (09:33): Yes, Carrie Conover (09:34): Of, you know, that I am an avid tennis player, and when I started my own business, I started playing competitive tennis again. Like I, I am on a traveled tennis team, like every week we travel to different clubs and play, and that's a whole other thing. But on my, in my tennis program is a woman who, her daughter's name is Lexi, and she was a teacher. And so Lexi's the one that told you about me because she knew through her mom, right? Like, that's so funny. And then Lexi just recently came back around and also took classroom to boardroom and also just got a job working with you, which is just, yes, so crazy. I mean, I, I had forgotten that's how the intro was and how all the dots were connected. So what a crazy, crazy timeline there. So I wanna pause you for a second because this is a question I always ask every guest. Did you feel guilty about leaving? Olivia L. (10:36): I did. Carrie, at first I felt a sense of guilt because I felt, you know, for the longest time I felt teaching was my calling. And, you know, everyone knew me as a teacher. I, it was something that I wanted to do. Ever since I was a little girl. I, you know, I remember playing school in the basement. My mom was a teacher. And so for the longest time, you know, teaching had been my dream. So I did feel guilty in the sense that I was leaving my calling. However as soon as I started researching jobs outside of the classroom and, you know, reading the, the job descriptions, I found that so much of what these jobs entailed were areas of focus that I did every day in the classroom. Meaning that the skills that were needed and the, you know, the job duties, so much of that was what I was already doing in the classroom. So that made me feel 10 times better. And I was like, you know, the, the, the outlines here that I'm seeing are exactly what I wanna do. And so being able to do that in a new way, in a new light, in a new environment made me really excited. So I think seeing that information helped me feel less guilty and made me really excited to take the next step forward. Carrie Conover (11:57): Well, and I also, I, I felt guilty at the beginning, but like looking back, I don't feel guilty at all. Like, I gave 10 years of my life. You gave five years of your life to teaching. And I do remember, I, I was chuckling, like I played school in my basement, I think all the way through middle school . And the funny thing is that I didn't even get my undergrad in teaching. I went back and got my master's so I could teach. But my point is, is that I think that, you know, especially with the teacher shortage right now, everyone's so scared about the teacher shortage, but it's okay. Like you can do something for five or 10 years or 15 years and then be like, okay, I'm done doing that thing. It doesn't mean it bothers me a little bit that society thinks, like I call them the Apple handcuffs, that like, once you're a teacher, you're never allowed to leave . Carrie Conover (12:43): And that's just, you know, you know, that's a whole other complex , this is a subject. But I do think that a lot of times when you're a really successful and talented teacher, a lot of the things that make you a successful and talented teacher are what would make you a really good salesperson or customer success person and all the various roles. So tell us a little bit about so you talked about joining Classroom to Boardroom and you know, that process. Can you talk a little bit about maybe how you grew in Classroom to Boardroom and then what you think, like, looking back on your new career so far, how do you think you've grown and changed the most? Olivia L. (13:24): Sure. so as I began, I remember like with, you know, within 24 hours I had signed up for Classroom to Boardroom. And that following weekend, like I was so excited to dive right into like module one . And so I, I have to say Carrie, that the modules within classroom to, to Boardroom provided me with so much knowledge about different opportunities and the different areas that you could go into. Again, you know, I was researching these jobs on my own, but I didn't exactly know what area they all fell into. And so the modules really helped me to see all the different fields that I could go into. And I have to say that the vocabulary that you provided for us in the modules was so, so helpful. It was so helpful When it came time for interviews I would use my little notebook and reference the vocabulary that I learned, you know, when the person interviewing me with rollout an acronym and I would be able to understand, you know, what they were talking about. Olivia L. (14:28): So the vocabulary that I learned was just amazing. And actually, I still use my little notebook from classroom to boardroom today because I still use the vocabulary that's in there. Even in my, my new job now I referenced that vocabulary and so I grew in my knowledge of the ed tech field, the ed tech world and I was able to take that knowledge that I gained and apply it to, you know, to where I am now. Like I said you know, before joining Classroom to Boardroom, I had no idea what C R M meant. And now, you know, I use Salesforce, our, that's our customer relationship management tool that we use. And, you know, I'm able to reference the concepts and the terminology that I used in classroom to boardroom. So classroom to boardroom, I refer to it as like my stepping stone to where I, to where I am today. Olivia L. (15:25): The knowledge that I learned the interview help and just growing with the classroom to boardroom community, you know, when we met and did our group sessions, we shared, you know, tips and tricks on resumes and interview help and all of that helped form who I am today. And I still use the same skills, you know, that I, that I learned from classroom to boardroom in my day-to-day job. Now I remember Carrie calling you for the first time I had an interview and I was like, Carrie, I have an interview. Like what do I do? Can you like walk me through? And I still remember the advice that you gave me and I still have my pearls and red lipstick by the way. . Carrie Conover (16:08): Okay, we're gonna get to that, but I have to pause you for a second because I remember when you said you were prepping for the interview and I think you showed me or told me that you had like a binder, a notebook with all the vocab and I was like, oh my gosh, I need to make a workbook. So you inspired me. I made a hundred page digital workbook that goes with the course now. Cause I'm like, everybody needs this in their back pocket. But you were also one of the people that listened to the modules over and over again so that you knew it. And it, it's interesting, I have a new leader board in classroom to boardroom. We didn't do this when you were part of the cohort, but every month for our monthly get together and coaching call, I say who the leader boards are, like who's completed the most of the course. Carrie Conover (16:49): And when I pull the data and I can pull it and sort it from, you know, who's completed all of it down to who's completed, like none of the coursework. What's interesting is that the people at the top are the people with jobs. So like you pull all the historical data of everyone that's ever taken it and the people that have gotten jobs are the people at the top. And so I always tell the members like the magic is in, you know, building a strong relationship with me, but it's in the coursework, like I spent Yes. Blood, sweat, and tears giving that knowledge. So I'm glad that helped you so much. Let's shift and talk a little bit about those pearls and red lipsticks, . So you purchased a one-on-one coaching call with me when you were going into your interview with Scholastic. And I'll never forget it was it was like kind of a gray day. We were talking later in the day and one of the first things we talked about is how are you gonna present yourself to the camera? How are we, so I remember we broke down your job descript the job description. Yes. And really started thinking through like, you know, your answers for interview questions based on your history, but we did talk about pearls and red lipsticks. So can you talk about that a little bit? Olivia L. (18:00): ? Yes, I do remember we'd gone through all like the logistics of the job and then you're, and then you're like, I also have some advice on, you know, you know, we wanna make you, cuz again, I only taught for five years in the classroom and so I am still, you know, rather new in my, in my career. Yeah. And so you're like, I think I know the perfect like finishing touches to add to your outfit pearls and red lipstick . Yes. Those are like my confidence boosters. So ever since that conversation I would always wear my pearls and red lipstick for any interview that I did . Carrie Conover (18:33): Well, and I remember saying because the one job that we were looking at in that session repeated over and over again that they needed someone to be like super poised and seem experienced. I can't remember what the vocabulary was, but yes, really professional. So I wanted you to really look kind of buttoned up and pulled together cuz you're so articulate. I knew you would nail that part, but I didn't want them to look and be like, oh, you only taught kindergarten for five years, you're so young. I wanted you to seem experienced so that they would like, you know, not, they would look past that and and say like, wow, this woman has a lot of knowledge. So whether it's pros or red lipstick, I just think it's like putting your best foot forward in these interviews in the way you look, in the way you talk in your energy. So I'm glad that worked out. . Let's talk a little bit about, okay, so you've had two different roles at Scholastic. So can you tell us those two different roles and then talk to us a little bit about like your day-to-day responsibilities? Olivia L. (19:36): Sure. So when I, I had applied to Scholastic you know, last year and it was, I applied for a full-time position actually. And when I received the email back from them, it was actually regarding a temporary role. And I remember reaching out to you Kiri, I think you may have been in Florida at the time, and it was like, I don't wanna bother her, but I have to share this news. They emailed me back about an interview for a temporary role on the classroom magazine team and Kiri, I remember you took time outta your day to write me back and you said, Olivia, like, you know, I would go for it. Give it your all work hard, you know, and just put your best foot forward because you never know what could come out of an opportunity like this. Yeah. And so I took your advice, Carrie and I was on the magazine team for the fir for, it was a three month position and at the end of the my third month there were some additional job postings in the company for full-time positions. Olivia L. (20:41): And I remember reaching out to the HR manager asking if I would be able to, to, or if I would be eligible to apply to one of the full-time positions. And she had gotten back to me and said yes. And so I applied for a position on the education team and that is where I'm currently at. So I went from working on the magazine team where we focused on renewing classroom magazines for schools in addition to, you know, trying to get new business as well. And then I transitioned over to the education team where our focus is more so on classroom instructional materials. So I have the opportunity each day to work with principals and superintendents to have conversations with them about their pain points what's working for them, what's not working from them, for them. And ultimately my job is to help find a solution to help support their teachers and students in whatever initiative or goal they may have. Olivia L. (21:51): So I work really closely with principals and superintendents having conversations with them about, you know, what are their goals, what are their, what are their initiatives, what are they currently using and where do they see gaps where I can come in and provide a resource, whether it would be you know, a classroom library collection, professional learning for their teachers small group instructional material or even books to send home with students to help students build their at-home library. So I have the, the privilege and the opportunity to work with school districts on reaching their, you know, their literacy, literacy initiatives and their literacy goals. Carrie Conover (22:36): That's amazing. Wow. And I, can we just talk about the fact that, how many times have you heard me say this, and I say it all the time, teachers in trans transition, your first job may or may not be your ideal job, but you've got to get that first job and get that on your resume, right? Yes. And whether Olivia had taken that magazine job and then that ended and she didn't have the opportunity to continue full-time, she would've had a leg up in so many ways looking for a full-time position outside of Scholastic. So I say it all the time, I mean, don't get desperate, but if you can get that first job and stay there a year, 18 months, even a few months, if it's temporary, I love contract positions, go for it. Be brave and take the job. Olivia L. (23:28): Yes, I remember, that's exactly what you told me, Carrie, and like as soon as I got the email back from you, I was like, okay, I'm doing this. I'm in . Carrie Conover (23:36): Well, and you mentioned a little bit too about the group meetings. This is where you hear me say a lot of the same things over and over again, , but those group coaching calls, we really are, we become friends, we become a community. And I am still close with a lot of the people who started Classroom boardroom and are all and are outworking and many of you are gonna hear those talented individuals on the podcast this season. When we talk, think about your role, can you talk to us a little bit of some of the soft skills required in your role, and then maybe tell us about some of the different hard skills required in your role. Olivia L. (24:15): Okay. So regarding soft skills, I would say that it's definitely important to be a good listener to have good communication good communication skills, and also to be time oriented. So when I call a customer, again, whether it be a principal or a superintendent or a curriculum specialist I have to be able to listen closely and carefully to their needs their pain points, you know, what they're looking at so that I can then provide a solution that will actually be able to meet their needs and, you know, and that they can have success. So it's really important that I, that I listen closely and carefully to my customers. And then the second part of that is having good communication where I can share the products that I sell. I need to be able to share what the product is and how it will benefit them. Olivia L. (25:09): Oftentimes, if, you know, a principal doesn't know about the value of the product it can be easy for them to, to turn away and, you know, not have as much interest in what I am selling. So it's important for me to be able to convey the value of the product that I am selling to them. And then with that in mind it's very important that I am time oriented. Most times a principal won't, you know, purchase a product on the first phone call that we have, so I will set a callback with them and, and sometimes it can be many callbacks. So I need to keep track of my call log who I talk to when the next phone call conversation will be. And then also whether sometimes, you know, the customer will, will request a Google meet or a Zoom session. So I need to make sure that I stay on top of my appointments and my calls because that's ultimately how I get, you know, my sales and how we get business. So it is important for me to be time oriented you know, without throughout my day, but with answering emails, answering phone calls, and then being proactive and reaching out on my own to customers and setting up those appointments. Carrie Conover (26:28): Wow. Just listening to you, I I'm just, it's, it is amazing how far you've come in a year, . And, and, and whoever thought like, I think, so you're technically in sales, correct? Under the sales under, yes. And like I think a lot of people, especially teachers are like, oh, there's no way I could ever do sales. And I bet you probably thought that you weren't a sales person, but like that's the difference between selling, there's a difference between selling, you know, used cars and selling education tools that are gonna make classrooms better. Olivia L. (27:10): Exactly. No, I never would've pictured myself in sales, but Carrie, I absolutely love it . I, I find it so fun to engage with customers. You know, in a way it's like consulting where I'm listening, you know, to their needs and being able to provide a solution. And ultimately these solutions are helping students and that was one of the main reasons why I became a teacher in the first place. So I still feel like I'm getting to help students and teachers every single day, which really is my passion and my dream. So I feel like I'm living, I feel like I'm living my, my best dream . Carrie Conover (27:45): Well, what advice do you have for teachers who are looking to transition into a role at an education company? Olivia L. (27:53): Very, very similar to your advice, Carrie. I I just say go for it. So many education companies need teachers input and need teachers knowledge in order to successfully run, you know, run their business. You know, I use my teaching experience, my teaching background on a day-to-day basis. And I even tell my customers, you know, I was a former teacher, so I totally understand where you're coming from. And just sharing with them my understanding, it's that is such a great relationship builder for me with my customers because I can relate to what they're going through. I've been there, I understand what it's like to be, you know, in their shoes. And so my advice would be to keep moving forward, keep applying. And I used to think of it as this, every application, every interview that I did every afternoon that I would spend time researching different jobs and different roles is a stepping stone to your final destination. And so even though the journey may seem long keep your head up high because there are so many education companies out there that need you. Carrie Conover (29:03): Oh, that's amazing advice. Thank you so much for sharing that. And I just ask you if you have any final thoughts or advice before we sign off here on today's episode. Olivia L. (29:16): I just wanna say carried. You and the classroom to boardroom community will forever hold a special place in my heart. You and the community have formed who I am today, and I just encourage anyone who is thinking about leaving the classroom to give classroom to boardroom a chance because I feel all the tools and the knowledge that I now carry in my pocket were gained from attending the classroom to boardroom group sessions and by going through the modules. And so I definitely 100% hands down would say Join Classroom to Boardroom because you truly will receive the tools that you need to make the transition forward. Carrie Conover (30:00): It's like, I wanna sing that song, you've Got a Friend In Me, . I think that's story, story, right? . But the truth is you do have a friend in me and through going through this process, I get to know everyone. And I'm here for you, Olivia, no matter where your career journey takes you. I hope you stay at Scholastic for a long, long time, , but I'll be here for you through the rest of your career. It's not just a short-term partnership. So thank you for those kind words and thank you so much for taking your time to be here with us. If you are interested in taking Classroom to Boardroom, you can learn more about the course and all the courses that I teach@carrieconover.com. Olivia, thank you so much for being here Olivia L. (30:45): Today. Introduction (30:47): Thanks so much for tuning in to this episode of The Classroom to Boardroom podcast. If you are enjoying the show, please feel free to rate, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. That helps others find the show and we greatly appreciate it. Once again, thanks for listening and we'll catch you in the next episode of The Classroom to Boardroom podcast.  

Are you thinking of leaving teaching? Teachers looking for a job outside the classroom go through many ups and downs. The good news is that many teachers end with the happy result of finding a new career that makes them happy. I'm sharing my observation of the 7 Stages of Teacher Transition from my many years of helping teacher transition from the Classroom to EdTech companies such as Discovery Education, School Speciality, EdPuzzle, Amplify Education, and many more. Click to download your free PDF copy of the 7 Stages of Teacher Transition from my free resource library: www.classroomtoboardroom.net/resources   ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH ME? LEARN MORE HERE: www.carrieconover.com

Looking for a job in ed-tech? Grammarly has released the perfect job for a former teacher.   Learn more at https://www.carrieconover.com/

Teachers looking for roles outside the classroom should look no further! Today I'm sharing a role for teachers in transition at Scholastic Learning. They are hiring for this role throughout the entire United States.   Learn more about this job posting at CarrieConover.com     #edtechjobs #literacyjobs #teachersintransition #teachercareercoach #carrieconover #jobsforteachers #teacherjobs #leavingteaching

Alexis Shepard is a veteran educator with over a decade of experience in South Carolina public schools. Her career began as an elementary teacher where she taught 2nd and 4th grades before transitioning to the middle school setting. Alexis currently teaches 6th grade ELA where she uses a human-centered approach to facilitate students' love of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. In 2018, she created The AfroEducator, after a burn-out experience that nearly pushed her out of the classroom. Alexis uses her voice and her expertise to empower educators to teach and live authentically. She believes that change is long overdue for teachers and is dedicated to leaving a lasting impact on the profession.   Teacher Summer Reboot Tickets: www.educators2educators.com   Links:  Instagram Website    

Today, we are celebrating another Classroom to Boardroom graduate, Jessica Seiler, and her success story transitioning from teaching to a Client Experience Partner at Otus. Jessica shares her journey and the responsibilities of different roles in her Client Success team at Otus  In her position, she really loves the creativity, problem-solving with team members, and building new relationships with clients every day. I look forward to continuing to watch her grow in Client Success at Otus.  

Are you a teacher looking for a job in ed-tech? Ed-tech jobs for teachers can be hard to come by so you'll want to make sure you are 100% ready for your first interview if your resume gets in you in the door for a role. Maybe you have had a few first-round interviews but you just can't seem to get past the first round? Today, Carrie shares three reasons why you may not be getting asked back for another round of interviews at your favorite ed-tech company. Learn more about the Classroom to Boardroom course at https://www.educators2educators.com/classroom-to-boardroom. Here is an attached link for Dr. Bukhuni's interview.  

Are you looking for an ed-tech company that hires teachers? Today, Carrie Conover will share 4 education companies that hire former teachers. Many ed-tech companies are smart enough to know that teachers are the answer to building top-notch, effective products. Teachers in transition from the classroom should look into these 4 companies for roles that are perfect for teachers. Join Classroom to Boardroom: classroomtoboardroom.net *Follow me* on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-conover/ Job Boards: Discovery Education: https://www.discoveryeducation.com/company/careers/ eSpark Learning: https://jobs.lever.co/eSpark edpuzzle: https://apply.workable.com/edpuzzle/

Are you thinking of leaving the teaching profession? Wondering what to do next? Join Carrie for her weekly coffee chat, where she shares 3 roles a teacher could apply for after leaving the teaching profession. Learn more about Carrie's course: www.classroomtoboardroom.net Customer Support Specialist (CodeCombat) - https://www.edsurge.com/jobs/customer-support-specialist-job-at-codecombat--4a041a19-08f6-41a9-be50-79dc8bf816f1 School Account Manager (Common Curriculum) - https://www.edsurge.com/jobs/school-account-manager-job-at-common-curriculum Marketing Writer and Editor (Goalbook) -  https://www.edsurge.com/jobs/marketing-writer-and-editor-job-at-goalbook--74163cf7-1839-44dc-b148-f07313a995fc Follow Carrie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-conover/

Did you know that there are over 14 million teachers on LinkedIn? If you are an educator looking for a new role outside of teaching, it is essential that you have a LinkedIn profile that you can leverage to network and showcase your talents.  Today, I'm going to walk you through the essentials of building a LinkedIn profile for a teacher thinking about transitioning from the classroom to a role in the ed-tech field. Learn more about the Classroom to Boardroom course at classroomtoboardroom.net Follow Carrie on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-conover/

Are you thinking of leaving the teaching profession? Wondering what to do next? Join Carrie for her weekly coffee chat, where she shares three roles a teacher could apply for after leaving the teaching profession.   Learn more about Carrie's course: www.classroomtoboardroom.net   BoClips Role: https://apply.workable.com/boclips/j/3B5C024050/   Ed Puzzle Role: https://apply.workable.com/edpuzzle/?lng=en   Leader in Me Role: https://careers.franklincovey.com/en-US/search?keywords=Leader%20in%20Me%20Coach%20%26%20Consultant&location     Follow Carrie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-conover/  

Are you thinking about leaving the teaching profession?   According to Forbes.com 48% of teachers admitted that they had considered quitting teaching within the last 30 days. Of that number, 34% said they were thinking about leaving the teaching profession entirely.   What do you need to think about before you make the decision to transition out of the classroom? Today I'm going to give you a checklist of the first 5 things you should do immediately to set yourself up for success in your transition out of the classroom.   Join Classroom to Boardroom: https://www.educators2educators.com/classroom-to-boardroom   People to follow on LinkedIn:   Carrie Conover, podcast host   Mark Dallmann M.Ed is now a Curriculum Coordinator at The University of Minnesota. Amy DeLair, MAT is now working to spread the word about Canva for Education. Dave Slamer went from principal to K-12 Education Partnership Manager at Discovery Education. Meredith Newlin is a national speaker at The Transformed Teacher. Amber Gantt took a position with Netragard, Inc - Penetration Testing Company. Karen Sommerhauser, M.Ed. is now a Business Development Representative at Discovery Education. Stacey Carpenito is now a Business Development Representative at Discovery Education. Laura Henderson is using her passion for math in a new Account Executive role at Origo Education. Haley Marcoux, M. Ed landed a new position at Verkada. Chelsea Moore is a Project Manager with Texas Education Agency. Jessica Seiler went from teacher to Onboarding Coach, Otus Marjorie Stahl is a Customer Success Manager at Skill Struck Olivia Louwagie is an Education Specialist at Scholastic Jaime Ann Sanborn, MLIS Ann Sanborn went from teacher to Instructional Designer at Percepta Bethany Cathey transitioned from teacher to Education Program Manager at Dell Technologies Anne Fussichen went from teacher to Customer Success Manager at 101edu Allison Mosele lept from teacher to Customer Success Advocate at Lumen Technologies

Last week, a LinkedIn post from a teacher (new to the platform) criticized former teachers turned coaches for charging teachers money for their programs. I didn't respond to the post, but it got me thinking that I've never really explained why I price Classroom to Boardroom the way I do. Classroom to Boardroom is a course I built in the Fall of 2020. As the founder of educators 2 educators, I've created a network of 38,000 teachers through our online, virtual professional development. So naturally, a segment of those educators has approached me to help them leave the profession of teaching. I couldn't possibly coach all of these teachers 1:1, so I built Classroom to Boardroom. Classroom to Boardroom has two components: a self-paced course and a monthly group coaching call. The system takes educators step by step through the transition: the reality of working in ed-tech and how businesses are structured and run. Next, I take my students on a deep dive into the roles of marketing, sales, customer success, professional development, and learning design. Finally, I spend hours with our students in our monthly coaching calls answering questions and looking at resumes. We also invite special guests speakers from various education companies. So why do I charge $590 for this course? Quality over Quantity I don't want 2,000 people in my course at one time. I could charge $99 so that everyone could afford the course and participate in Classroom to Boardroom. However, if I made that choice, Classroom to Boardroom would become an assembly line. I'd have thousands of teachers enroll to take the course, and I'd never truly get to know them. And they most likely would not land quality roles in ed-tech because they would have a very surface-level relationship with the course and me. By pricing the program where I do, educators have to make a thoughtful investment in themselves and be serious about the transition. Then, they will do the work. What does that mean? They actually complete the course. They attend the group coaching calls. They engage with me on LinkedIn. They are invested. When they do this work, and I get to know them; I can confidently refer them to the companies that reach out to me with exciting roles to fill. I can give them honest (and sometimes hard to hear) feedback that propels them forward. My reputation for a person who gets results stays intact. Bottom line, I don't want to run a teacher transition factory line. Instead, I want to run a meaningful program that helps invested members land a high-quality role at their favorite company. Are you interested in joining Classroom to Boardroom? Learn more at classroomtoboardroom.net.

As Customer Success Manager for Skill Struck, Marjorie Stahl is living out her dream of impacting schools across the country. As a Classroom to Boardroom graduate, she embodies the successful transition that our educators 2 educators course prepares its students to achieve.  Stahl's current position assisting schools in implementing Skill Struck's comprehensive K-12 coding curriculum is the culmination of 10 years of teaching and a year and a half of intentionally moving away from the classroom and into an ed-tech career. "Toward the end of my career in teaching, I realized I wanted to have a bigger impact and affect more students than just my 20," she says.  Stahl's new position allows her to do just that. As Customer Success Manager, she walks with schools throughout the entire process of turning the Skill Struck curriculum into a core part of the educational experience they offer their students.  From onboarding to ongoing support, Stahl is helping schools transform students' education and lives all over the country, from California to New Jersey, and everywhere in between.  In addition, Stahl is ensuring that Skill Struck continues to improve its curriculum and its customer support. A quarterly customer advisory board created by Stahl gives customers a voice in how to improve the platform for schools and students alike.  Stahl's success in the ed tech field, and her countrywide impact on education, began with two contract positions creating curriculum, including a pivotal job with Code VA building a cross-curricular series of lessons that integrated social studies and technology.   At the same time, Stahl began what turned into a life-changing course: The Classroom to Boardroom course offered by educators 2 educators. Designed to support educators as they move into ed tech, this course provides content, lessons, coaching, and a supportive community to help educators turn their classroom experience into a successful new career.  Join our email list. Want to learn more about transitioning from the classroom to working at an education company? Join our email list. We respect your inbox.   SIGN UP   We respect your privacy. Stahl already had a head start on some of the steps that Classroom to Boardroom recommends educators take to prepare themselves for an ed-tech career, such as taking advantage of any part-time or contract jobs they find that can help them build experience in the ed-tech field. Her contract with Code VA, for example, gave her technology experience that made her a valuable candidate for Skill Struck. However, Classroom to Boardroom prepared Stahl in other ways, in particular by helping her to understand and evaluate the various ed-tech positions available. This ability made it easier for her to identify the best fit for her skills. "If you are applying to roles, it is good to know what you are getting into," she says. [Classroom to Boardroom] did a great job explaining each role. When you go through these you can think to yourself 'Is this a good match for my skill set? And from there you can make the best choice for you." Classroom to Boardroom's links to the ed-tech industry also benefited Stahl by connecting her with the Skill Struck job opening. Job postings and networking connections occur frequently in Classroom to Boardroom, making it easier for students to find the types of jobs they need to transition into the next part of their careers.  What other skills helped Stahl move from the classroom to her successful position in Customer Success? Soft skills, which Stahl calls essential skills, that she had developed in the classroom. These include abilities such as empathy, communication, problem-solving, flexibility, and decisiveness that all teachers must have to succeed in a classroom.  "I think there's a lot of similarities between teaching and making that transition into customer success," Stahl says. "You need all your real essential skills from teaching. For me, empathy is the biggest piece and being able to relate to your customers. Teachers, you are already miles and miles ahead." For making that transition, Stahl highly recommends Classroom to Boardroom because of its ability to take educators, hone those soft skills, prep them for the new skills they will face, and plug them into a community where they can gain support and new job opportunities to make their ed-tech dreams come true.  "I just think it's great for anyone who really wants a new start in education, someone who wants to have a larger impact or really just make a difference. It really changed my life."  About educators 2 educators e2e was developed by Carrie Conover after 20 years of experience in the field of education to create a community of educators that could refresh, inspire, and equip teachers to revitalize their time in the classroom. Today, e2e draws more than 10,000 teachers to its two virtual Reboot events every year and provides more than 150 hours of professional development modules on its website. In addition, e2e provides a free podcast and verified completion certificates for educators who complete certain modules.  About Classroom to Boardroom Classroom to Boardroom is a course developed by e2e for teachers who want to move their careers outside the classroom. This course provides a step-by-step plan to help teachers get their first job outside the classroom while providing mentoring, community, tools, lessons, monthly coaching calls, and a job board that makes it easier for students to prep for, identify, and successfully interview for their ideal ed tech job.    

Are you thinking about leaving teaching? Sit down with Carrie as she talks through a few things you could do to find happiness in the classroom before you decide to leave. 

Teaching Skills that Prepare You for Ed Tech Success  Teachers looking to transition from the classroom to a position with an ed-tech company sometimes worry about whether they are qualified to make such a big career change. The reality, however, is that #teacherjobs are excellent preparation for ed-tech employment. Your time in the classroom has given you numerous skills that will make you an effective member of the ed-tech field.  Empathy Empathy is central to the teaching experience. As an educator, you do not just help students to develop their intellects. You also help them to develop emotional intelligence, and that means teaching them to understand and model empathy.  Great teachers TEACH empathy to their students in a multitude of ways. Every time you explore a character's feelings in a story, help a student navigate a conflict with a friend, or show your class how to care for their community or their world, you are helping them to use empathy to connect with those around them.  Great teachers also USE empathy themselves as they build relationships with students, parents, colleagues, administrators, and other educators.  When it comes time to transition to the ed-tech world, particularly in the fields of sales, customer support, and customer success, empathy plays a central role.  Research shows, for example, that empathy is one of the most important leadership skills. Empathetic leaders foster greater innovation, engagement, and inclusivity within their environments. You can use your skills in teaching and using empathy to create strong teams and effective communication within your ed-tech corporation. In addition, the school districts and educators with whom you will interact in your new role need more than just facts about the technology options available to them. They need someone who will listen to and care about their needs and who will find ways to support student learning and growth. Your skills in using empathy can help you to build trusting, effective relationships with them as you seek to meet their ed-tech needs.  Documentation Documentation can seem all-consuming in the field of education. A Facebook post that circulated when I was teaching said, "Teaching is at the point that if a student passes gas in class, we have to document it."  While the post was a bit sarcastic, there was some truth to it. A decade later, the need for documentation is even higher. IEPS. Behavior improvement plans. School lunch lists. COVID contact lists. Teachers spend many hours meticulously documenting student progress and behaviors.  When you are ready to transition from the classroom to #edtechcareers, those documentation skills will be a highly valuable skill in any role you take on. From engineers who need to write a postmortem to a customer success manager who needs to document a success story for a case study, to a recruiter who needs to document the outcomes of an interview, great documentation skills are essential.  Organization Most of us remember that one teacher who struggled with organization  - Late test grading, messy classroom, etc. However, most teachers are extremely organized because they have to be. Thoughtful, intentional organization keeps their lives at school less stressful and equips them to teach more effectively.  You can take those same organizational skills and use them to succeed at an ed-tech company. For example, in my first ed tech position, I used my organizational skills to build a tracking system to manage the company's book of renewals and expansions. The system caught the attention of my CEO, who told me at my year-end review that  “I didn't know you had this operational side to you!”  As a teacher looking to move into ed-tech, you too can leverage those organizational skills as the valuable contributions they are to the ed-tech field. And, you can market those skills at the beginning of the application process, rather than waiting until you are in the role to let your operational skills shine!  Differentiation In my opinion, one of the biggest shifts in education over the last 20 years is the practice of differentiating instruction for students. Back in the 80s and 90s when I was a student, education was a one-size-fits-all approach. Every student received instruction in the same way.  When I became a teacher, however, we began learning the importance of tailoring the curriculum to match students' learning styles. Today, teachers are expected to provide an education that meets students' unique learning needs.  As a result, teachers understand the importance of differentiation to student success, and they understand how to implement it in their everyday approach. You are probably very comfortable with using tools and strategies to make a curriculum an effective teaching tool for all of your students.  Differentiation is also at the core of ed-tech curriculum today. Tools such as eSpark Learning, iXL, DreamBox, LearnZillion, NewsELA and ThinkCerca use technology to make differentiation easier and more effective within the classroom.  As an ed-tech employee, particularly in the customer support field, differentiation is also key. We all know the constant conversation that goes on behind doors about customer segmentation and services. Teachers are not only great at understanding the concept that some customers deserve higher-touch care than others, but they can also deliver on it without the urge to over serve the lower-touch customer. The former teachers on my customer service teams were the BEST at executing based on customer segmentation plans. Patience Patience may not be a skill you think to put on your resume, but it is a valuable tool that you can take from education to ed-tech. Those classrooms of busy children that you manage every day have given you a level of patience you would never have been able to imagine before you started teaching.  You have also learned how to read students (and sometimes parents) in order to determine when to push them toward positive change and growth and when to wait patiently in order to optimize their chances for success in the classroom.  That balance is essential in #edtechjobs, particularly in the sales and customer support fields. You need to know when to stretch the thinking of a school district and push them toward a certain solution, but you also need to know when to be patient and wait for a better time.  In addition, you will need patience when dealing with people inside and outside your organization. You are working with human beings, whether they are from the product team, instructional design, engineering, or another department, and successful interactions with others, as you know, often requires patience.  As an educator, you already have many of the skills you need to succeed at an ed-tech company. If you are ready to begin the journey to an ed-tech position, Classroom to Boardroom here at educators 2 educators can help.  In addition to teaching you how to recognize, and promote the critical skills you have, we also offer lots of online content, a #teachercareercoach, connections with others, and more. Here you can network, spruce up your resume, and become part of a community that supports you along the way. Contact us today to learn more! 

Looking for a role in Ed Tech? Then you are embarking on an exciting, challenging, and potentially lengthy journey to find your dream position. You should not have to do it alone. In fact, finding a community of like-minded educators, and receiving guidance and support along the way, can make it faster, easier, and less stressful to land the right job at an education company.  In this episode, Carrie talks about the why and how of community in your job search! www.classroomtoboardroom.net

Donnaly Crull went from middle school teacher to Director of Customer Success at Skillstruck. In this episode of the C to B podcast, hear Donnaly's story and why her Mexican roots play an important part in her career path.   Learn more about Classroom to Boardroom here.

Teacher to Business Development with John Putman John Putnam went from teacher to professor to head of business operations at Schoolytics. In this episode of the C to B podcast, hear John's story and learn the number one skill John believes you already have that can help you make the transition out of the classroom. Learn more about Classroom to Boardroom at www.educators2educators.com/classroom-to-boardroom

Patrick went from teacher to VP of Sales at Acadeum.  Patrick’s career path helped him uncover his common thread: helping people realize their own potential. He majored in engineering but pursued being a high school math and science teacher. After 7 years of teaching Algebra I and II, geometry, statistics, and physics, Patrick did the unthinkable and quit his job as department chair two weeks into the fall semester. He took a job as an entry-level salesperson at a midsize tech start-up that worked with universities and colleges. It was the scariest thing he could have done but it was the right decision.  Sign up for Classroom to Boardroom at http://classroomtoboardroom.net/ Check out Patrick's workbook at  https://patrickfrasier.com/workbook/.

Hear the story of how Katie (Daugird) House went from teacher to working for multiple successful ed-tech companies such as Encyclopaedia Britannica, SMART Technologies, Amplify Education,  Discovery Education, Clever, and Dreambox.   Learn more about Classroom to Boardroom here.  Connect with Katie here.    

Heather Hoeppner went from high school teacher to client success leader at Affirm. Heather sits down with us to chat about how her love for data drove her to make various twists and turns in her career. In this episode, Carrie and Heather talk about their time together working in ed-tech at eSpark Learning and what Heather has been up to since that time. Learn more at ClassroomtoBoardroom.net Heather's Bio: Heather leads big box retail initiatives for Affirm, a San Francisco-based Financial Tech firm offering honest financial products. Prior to Affirm, she oversaw enterprise key accounts at Narrative Science, a Chicago-based AI company focused on language capabilities in advanced analytics. Heather spent the first 10 years of her career with Teach For America, first as a high school English teacher in West Baltimore followed by seven years supporting and managing teams of teachers and district leader relationships. Heather holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University and a BA from Kenyon College. She is also the co-founder and advisor of Tilly, an online landscape design company. 

Tomer Yogev specializes in helping people identify and understand their strengths. This process helps his clients find the ultimate joy in both their personal and professional life. During this interview, Tomer and Carrie sit down to discuss the process we used during our coaching sessions to identify and maximize Carrie's strengths as she began her work as an entrepreneur.  ____ Dr. Jax ML Black and Tomer Yogev, a married couple, have become two of Chicago’s most sought-after executive coaches thanks to their genuine, contagious passion and radiant energy. Their journey to The Big Joy Theory was set in motion after a skydiving trip, where they both had a revelation. As they hurtled through the air, snugly tied to a trusted expert, they realized what all leaders should embody: security, trust, and confidence.  Following their realization, Dr. Jax and Tomer founded TandemSpring: a coaching center that empowered leaders to break free from the corporate mindset and work as their authentic selves. The couple spent the next decade teaching others how to find and own their strengths so that they could become the skydiving instructors of their own lives.  As they watched more and more leaders elevate into their fully-expressed and authentic selves, Jax and Tomer realized there was one more component that came out of their life-changing skydiving trip: joy. Now, TandemSpring has become The Big Joy Theory, where they teach and encourage leaders to become their whole selves so they can jump into joy —  and land in their own authentic leadership presence.  Jax and Tomer invite you to connect with them on LinkedIn or schedule a time to connect with them in-person here.  

Rachel Van Aken turned her passion for helping her students grow into a passion for helping entire school districts meet their goals. In this episode, hear how Rachel found a fulfilling career as an education sales leader and in her role as a Board Member in her local school district. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelvanaken/

Kristen Harris always knew she wanted to have a positive impact on children and she made that dream come true by teaching pre-K to 3rd grade for many years. She is now a Professional Learning and Support Coordinator and helps other teachers use best-practice to implement new technology in their classroom.  In this episode, learn how Kristen used the power of social media and the tools provided to her in Classroom to Boardroom to make her career dreams come true. Learn more at classroomtoboardroom.net  

What jobs can teachers do outside of teaching? Lauren Benefico tells her career story from going to classroom teacher to implementation and customer success manager at an education company to her role today as Program Delivery Manager at Habits at Work.  Lauren talks about letting go of the guilt (hello, she impacted thousands of teachers and students in her work at Discovery Education) and how she carved a career to job satisfaction outside the classroom.  Interested in a job outside of teaching but don't know where to begin? Learn more at http://classroomtoboardroom.net/.

Taylor Daugherty went from teacher to customer success intern, to sales associate to senior iOS Engineer. She reached her career sweet spot by taking risks and truly understanding her strengths and the type of work that brought her joy. Hear her story and the fun Taylor and host Carrie Conover had together during their time working at eSpark learning on this episode of Classroom to Boardroom. Learn more about Classroom to Boardroom the online course at www.classroomtoboardroom.net.    

Anya Dudek went from high school Writing Teacher to Senior Customer Success Manager by using her ability to backward plan to reach large goals within the classroom, large school district, and fortune 500 companies.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/anyadudek/   Learn more about Classroom to Boardroom at www.classroomtoboardroom.net

Hear the success stories of how teachers transitioned from the classroom to their dream position at an education company and beyond. Welcome to this brand new show from educators 2 educators, Classroom to Boardroom, hosted by Carrie Conover. Learn more about Classroom to Boardroom, the online course at www.classroomtoboardroom.net