In episode 52, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Jen Rafferty, a former music educator and the founder of the Empowered Educator. Jen discusses the importance of educators taking care of themselves to create a positive impact on students. By prioritizing self-care and practicing breathing exercises, teachers can regulate their nervous systems and make better decisions. Jen advocates for shifting the narrative from selflessness and martyrdom to empowering educators, as their well-being directly affects student success. Modeling healthy behaviors for students can create a positive learning environment and foster emotional awareness and resilience in young learners.

Connect with Jen and learn more:

Learn more about Pass the Baton:

We want to hear from you! How are you passing the baton? Have students started taking ownership in your music classroom? Have you created an environment where students feel empowered? We want to hear about it! No matter how big or how small, consider sharing your experience passing the baton to your music students. Use this link to record a short voice message: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/PasstheBaton⁠.

You may even hear your story on an upcoming episode of the Pass the Baton podcast.