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Let’s be honest: most professional development leaves teachers burned out, bored, or straight-up bewildered. In Part 1 of our 6-part series launching Teacher-Tested Hacks for Smarter Days, Rae Hughart gets real about the broken system—and the bold new course built to fix it.

You’ll hear the story behind this educator-powered project, why 30+ teachers, paras, coaches, and leaders contributed practical 5-minute hacks, and how this flipped PD model is changing the game. No theory. No fluff. Just strategies that save time, build confidence, and actually help.

🎓 Pre-order the course now: tdi.thinkific.com/products/courses/Hacks
🔑 Use code Hughart2025 to save 20%
📬 Subscribe to Rae’s weekly Substack: raehughart.substack.com

This episode is for every educator who’s ever walked out of PD and thought, “That’s an hour of my life I’m not getting back.” Let’s do better. And we are.

Too many schools are wasting contract hours on PD that doesn’t actually support teachers. This episode flips that on its head.

Rae walks through the truth behind most professional development frustration—not the contract, but the confusion around how to use the time. Inspired by her viral Substack post, “How to Make Your PD Plan Work with Your Union Contract,” this episode is packed with real solutions.

Inside, you’ll learn:

• What real PD should actually include (no fluff)

• How to align your school’s goals with the hours you already have

• Why the TDI model is designed to work with even the most complex union agreements

If you're a school leader, teacher, or union rep looking to build a system that respects time and builds real growth—this one’s for you.

Read the full post: raehughart.substack.com
Take the Instant PD Plan Quiz: teachersdeserveit.com

Feeling the July pressure to build the perfect PD plan, support paras, and magically align your whole staff before August hits?

This episode walks through the full Back-to-School Checklist Series—four tactical guides that help school leaders stop guessing and start building systems that work. No fluff. No filler. Just the tools you actually need.

Rae breaks down:

• 8 things that make or break your PD days

• What paras actually need before school starts

• 10 essentials to lock in before August

• A schoolwide systems checklist (plus a 60-second PD plan quiz!)

Whether you’re building your plan solo or ready to hand it off, this episode will help you start the year with clarity, confidence, and actual support.

Read all four parts on Substack: raehughart.substack.com
Take the PD Plan Quiz: https://teachersdeserveit.com/vsl-landing-page/

Budgets reset July 1 and suddenly every decision feels high-stakes. In this episode, Rae shares a true story from a principal’s office that perfectly captures the pressure school leaders are facing right now. But here’s the thing: planning PD shouldn’t feel like guessing.

We’ve built a tool to help - an instant quiz that gives you a custom PD plan in under 60 seconds. No fluff. No “fingers crossed.” Just real strategy that respects teacher time and aligns with school goals.

Whether you’re an admin or teacher leader, this episode will help you:

• Name the fears behind summer planning

• Shift from overwhelm to clarity

• Use the quiz to start a smarter PD plan now

Take the quiz here: https://form.jotform.com/251725407374054

And as always… we’re building this movement one educator at a time.

Paraprofessionals are the glue of our schools—but most are expected to lead without real training. In this episode, Rae walks through Part 2 of the Teachers Deserve Para Support series, featuring three brand-new micro-courses designed to give paras confidence that sticks. From note-taking strategies to transition phrases and boundary-setting homework help, this bundle is all about clarity, calm, and real-time impact. Perfect for teachers, paras, and administrators who want support that actually works.

Want access?
This bundle is available inside the All Access Membership or by requesting a school quote at teachersdeserveit.com.

In this episode of TDI: Real Talk, Rae Hughart breaks down what real professional development looks like and why most schools are getting it wrong. From surviving slideshow sessions to finally building systems that work, this episode unpacks what teachers actually need: clarity, relevance, tools they can use Monday, and support that doesn’t end in August.
Plus: Rae shares a major milestone - TDI is now an official NYC DOE vendor and what it means for the future of para and teacher PD nationwide. If you’re ready to ditch professional disappointment and build PD that sticks, this one’s for you.

Tired of PD days that waste time and drain morale? In this episode of TDI: Real Talk, Rae Hughart breaks down why traditional professional development often leads to disappointment—and what real growth actually requires. Learn what every PD system should include, why feedback can’t just be criticism, and how school leaders can shift from one-off sessions to yearlong impact. If you're ready to stop checking boxes and start building teacher-centered PD that actually works, this one’s for you.

In this episode of TDI: Real Talk, Rae Hughart shares the bold vision behind Teachers Deserve It: reaching 1 million educators by the end of 2025 through PD that actually works. No more wasted time, cookie-cutter workshops, or compliance checklists—this is about saving teachers real time, supporting their real lives, and creating lasting student impact.
Plus: a spotlight on the Thinkering Collective’s Teacher Internship opportunity, Shaklee’s Morning Glow, and a powerful call to join the movement.
You’re not just invited—you’re essential.

In this episode of TDI: Real Talk, Rae Hughart shares what it really takes for educators to rest—not just escape—during the summer months. Inspired by her 3-part Substack series, Rae unpacks what strategic rest looks like, how to protect your peace without disconnecting from your purpose, and how the TDI Summer Toolkit can help you prep smarter (not harder) for August.
Plus: this week’s sponsor shoutout to Shaklee’s Morning Glow, a partner spotlight on Thinkering Collective, and a reminder that rest isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what actually matters.