As academic trailblazers, we take the current educational system on our shoulders and attempt to create lasting change for today’s young learners. Do you want to know a genuinely radical and revolutionary act that will deepen your impact and allow you to succeed beyond your current potential? 

Self-care. 

Today we are joined by educator, author, and Zen teacher Dan Tricarico, who reminds us that self-care is a necessity, not a luxury. Dan reminds us of the importance of creating an attitude of gratitude, trusting the moment, and combating burnout. 

Listen in as we talk about using Zen teaching to break through educational bureaucracy. If we can’t change the system, we have to change how we operate within the system and ourselves.

About Dan Tricarico:

After 30 years as a high school English teacher, Dan Tricarico found himself heading toward burnout and knew something had to change. Wanting to continue as a teacher, he cultivated strategies that helped him reclaim his control and stay in the classroom.

Today, Dan is a national speaker who shares his expertise and insight to show teachers how to reduce their stress and improve their self-care so that they can thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Learn more about Dan and his teaching on his website or by subscribing to his podcast. You can also follow him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Jump in the Conversation:

• [2:01] Dan’s final straw
• [5:11] Exploring the irony of self-care 
• [7:42] Reducing stress with the Five S’s
• [10:04] Creating an attitude of gratitude and detachment
• [18:04] Universal Design for Learning (UDL) vs. state testing
• [30:06] Dan’s Magic Wand to change the system of education so that all teachers can flourish and break loose from top-down mandates
• [32:45] Maureen’s take-aways

Links and Resources:

• The Zen Teacher: Focus Simplicity and Tranquility in the Classroom
• Sanctuaries: Self-Care Secrets for Stressed-Out Teachers
• The Zen Teacher 5 Step Blueprint
• Covey’s Circle of Influence
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
• Episode 10 with Andy Smallman
• Email Maureen
• Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
• Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
• LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
• Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
• Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
• The Micro-School Coalition
• Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
• LEADPrep