TAUGHT

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What if transforming educational environments could be as simple as asking, "What happened to you?" instead of "What is wrong with you?" Join us on a journey through the evolving landscape of trauma-informed practices in schools. We take a deep dive into the critical need for a comprehensive, multi-year approach that goes beyond traditional training. From gaining administrative buy-in to equipping everyone in the school, including bus drivers and cafeteria workers, with the necessary tools, we explore how a supportive environment can be established. We also highlight the importance of recognizing "big T" and "small T" traumas and shifting from punitive responses to empathetic understanding to tackle student behavior and learning challenges head-on. Filled with heartwarming anecdotes from the classroom, this episode is an ode to the unpredictability and joy of teaching, serving as a reminder of why educators remain passionate about their profession, despite its challenges. Whether you're an educator or simply interested in the future of our schools, this episode offers profound insights and inspiration.

Want to know about Lara? Visit her LinkedIn and get connected!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laramerchant/

Check out this resource that Lara mentioned:
Psychology Today

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.

Send us Fan Mail

Lara Merchant's experiences as an early childhood special educator reveal the systemic issues within special education, from unsupportive environments to the undue pressures of implementing inappropriate strategies. We discuss the far-reaching impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on learning and the necessity for specialized training to help educators manage these challenges. The conversation touches on the harsh realities faced by teachers and the emotional toll of advocating for children with intensive needs amidst systemic obstacles.

Hope is not lost, however. We share practical strategies for self-care in the face of burnout, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing mental well-being. The episode underscores the value of awareness and advocacy for better support systems for educators, and highlights the positive influence of fresh perspectives brought in by new staff. Together, we aim to foster a shift towards more supportive and transparent educational environments, offering both a reality check and a glimmer of hope for those dedicated to making a difference in their students' lives.

Want to know about Lara? Visit her LinkedIn and get connected!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laramerchant/

Check out this resource that Lara mentioned:
Psychology Today

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.

Send us Fan Mail

Ever found yourself stuck in a cycle of venting about work frustrations, only to feel even more overwhelmed? I've been there, and in this episode, I open up about my personal journey navigating burnout in the education field. Together with my guest, the insightful Amy Schamberg, a certified functional medicine health coach, we explore the hidden challenges educators face beyond the classroom. By sharing real-life experiences and practical advice, we aim to highlight the importance of resilience, self-compassion, and the power of building a genuinely supportive community that goes beyond mere commiseration.

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.

Send us Fan Mail

After years of navigating the exhausting terrain of secondary trauma as an educator, I've embarked on a mission to shed light on this invisible burden. In this episode of "Taught," I'm joined by Melissa Anthony, a licensed counselor and trauma expert, who generously shares her wisdom on how compassion fatigue lurks in the lives of teachers everywhere. We comb through the tangled emotional landscape educators face, revealing how trauma ripples through classrooms in ways often unseen but deeply felt.

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.

Send us Fan Mail

Imagine a world where the classroom isn't just a place of stress and competition, but a haven for mental well-being and authentic connections. That's exactly what Jackie Scully envisions as she reflects on her personal journey from burnout to recovery. With raw honesty and heartfelt insights, Jackie unpacks the urgent need for mental health prioritization in education. This conversation is a powerful reminder of the vital role mental health plays not just for students, but educators too.

[email protected]

jackiecscully.com

Jackie Scully YouTube

The Teacher Story Podcast

The Guided Teacher book

Insight Timer-Teacher Profile

LinkedIN

Instagram 

Facebook 

Tik Tok

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.

Send us Fan Mail

Imagine reaching a breaking point in your career where the daily grind becomes unbearable, and the passion that once fueled you starts to wane. That's the reality many educators face, and it's the very issue we tackle in this episode. Join us on a journey through the heart of educator burnout with the remarkable Jackie Scully, an education reform advocate who brings nearly two decades of experience to our conversation. Her adventurous career, starting with a bold move from Pennsylvania to Hawaii, offers a fresh perspective on embracing diverse educational experiences.

Together, Jackie and I navigate the tumultuous waters of teaching during the pandemic, where virtual and hybrid learning environments have intensified the challenges teachers face. Jackie opens up about her transition from the classroom to advocating for reform, shedding light on the need for environments that genuinely value educators' voices and support a healthy work-life balance. We discuss the therapeutic power of podcasting, which has become a vital outlet for educators to express themselves authentically and challenge the secrecy often present within the educational system.

Want more Jackie?? You can find her here:

[email protected]

jackiecscully.com

Jackie Scully YouTube

The Teacher Story Podcast

The Guided Teacher book

Insight Timer-Teacher Profile

LinkedIN

Instagram 

Facebook 

Tik Tok

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.

Send us Fan Mail

What if a simple shift in mindset could transform your teaching career and restore peace to your life? Join me, Melissa Lefort, as I unravel the profound impact of self-compassion in tackling educator burnout, a subject close to my heart. On this journey, I’m accompanied by Amy Schamberg, who brings her invaluable experience as a former school psychologist and certified functional medicine health coach. Together, we address the common misconceptions surrounding self-compassion, distinguishing it from self-indulgence, and exploring how genuine self-care can serve as a lifeline for those overwhelmed by stress and criticism.

See our blog for a breakdown of Amy's steps!

https://self-compassion.org/

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.

Send us Fan Mail

Ever wonder why teachers feel more stressed than ever, despite all the resources pouring into education? Join us for Part 2 of Meagan's interview as we continue discussing the barriers (and how we jump them!) around systems and change in education.

We also explore feedback and the role of those willing to challenge the status quo, or "boat rockers," in inspiring change. We’ll delve into how structured feedback cycles can create spaces where teachers and students alike feel heard and valued, encouraging honest dialogue that fuels progress and innovation in education.

This episode will wrap up with some of Meagan's personal experiences in education and how they led this spunky educator to become an agent of advocacy and change within the systems she worked in.  I'm convinced you'll want to know more about Meagan, so make sure you check out her website:

https://www.aligneducation.org/

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.

Send us Fan Mail

Imagine feeling overwhelmed and burnt out to the point where you question your purpose in education. I’ve been there, and it’s what drove me to create a platform for teachers to share their struggles and successes. In this episode, we welcome Megan Gilchrist, executive director and founder of Align ED, who reveals her own transformative journey from special education advocate to an entrepreneur with a broader focus for changing the landscape of education through MTSS. Megan and I focus on the potential of MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) to facilitate meaningful change. We explore the necessity of breaking down complex systems into actionable steps and reflective practices, avoiding the pitfall of overwhelming educators with data. We also touch on the cultural shift needed to embrace continuous improvement and rebranding MTSS to make it more accessible and accepted among educators. This episode is a compelling call for educators to prioritize their mental health and align their professional lives with their personal values, ensuring a sustainable and fulfilling career in education.

Need a systems thinker who believes in community impact to support your implementation? Connect with Meagan!
https://www.aligneducation.org/about

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.

Send us Fan Mail

Can understanding trauma truly transform how we educate? Join us on “Taught, the Podcast,” where we unravel the complexities of trauma with the insightful Melissa Anthony, a licensed counselor specializing in trauma and grief. Melissa dives into the nuanced differences between big T and little T traumas, offering relatable examples like car crashes and feelings of exclusion. This episode shines a spotlight on how educators can recognize and address trauma symptoms not just in their students, but within themselves, especially in the face of both direct and secondary trauma.

Resources:

Teaching with Trauma by Emily Donahoe (Edutopia) https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-trauma/

NEA News: I didn’t know it had a name by Tim Walker https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/i-didnt-know-it-had-name-secondary-traumatic-stress-and-educators

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
https://a.co/d/bHjgFuW

Education Support UK Dealing with Stress and Trauma https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/resources/for-individuals/guides/dealing-with-stress-and-trauma-for-staff-in-education-settings/

The Trauma Transition for Students to Teachers By Karen Gross (ASCD)
https://ascd.org/el/articles/the-trauma-transmission-from-students-to-teachers

Better Days Counseling and Consultation; Melissa J. Anthony, MA LPC
https://www.mibetterdays.com/

Psychology Today: Find a Therapist
https://www.psychologytoday.com/

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website. 

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort  — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

Need Support Right Now?
For immediate mental health resources, visit HealthCentral or connect with a licensed provider in your area.