During COVID-19-related school closures, many educators are working harder than ever to support their kids’ academic, social, and emotional learning from a distance.

In honor of Teachers Appreciation Week and teachers everywhere, this mini-episode of Grow Kinder features a pre-pandemic conversation with Rachel Lovan, an elementary school teacher from rural Kentucky. Rachel is an educator with more than seven years of experience, and she believes social-emotional learning can positively transform the lives of students.

Rachel talks with us about formative experiences early on in her career as a teacher, the importance of self-care in preventing teacher burnout, and what her grandmother taught her about kindness.