Unlock Your Teaching Potential

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Feeling overwhelmed and stressed out as a teacher? Want to reignite your passion for teaching and make it a truly rewarding experience? You've come to the right place!

In this episode, I chat with Brian Mendler, an educator who specializes in helping teachers connect with hard-to-reach kids. We dive into his transition from being a teacher to supporting other educators, and explore the gap between teacher training and real-world classroom experiences.

Brian underlines the importance of remembering why we become teachers and shifting our focus towards teaching kids, not just content. He also emphasizes the value of building relationships with students and concentrating on self-improvement.

Together, we tackle the challenges of reaching and communicating with students who have unique needs and face different obstacles. Brian shares his personal journey of living with ADHD and struggling with reading, which made school a tough environment for him. He stresses the need to understand and empathize with struggling students, and to find ways to uplift them instead of making them feel defeated.

So, if you're eager to make a lasting impact on your students' lives, this episode is packed with valuable insights and motivation.

Here’s to transforming your teaching approach and embracing a more joyful and rewarding path!

Stay empowered,
Jen

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About Brian:

Plagued by severe undiagnosed ADHD and reading difficulties, I began disrupting class in 4th grade. I believed my peers would laugh at me for being “dumb” so I made sure they laughed at me for being “bad” instead. I was defiant, disruptive, and relatively unmotivated. By sixth grade, my academic skills were so below grade level that I was pulled/kicked out of school.

During my senior year, I started gambling. The next five years were a cycle of lying, cheating, and stealing to feed my addiction. In 2001 I entered recovery. I am now clean 21 years.

Today I am a certified teacher, presenter, and international motivational keynote speaker for educators. I have co/authored seven books, including the best seller, That One Kid, 2nd Edition,  Tips for Teachers, Power Struggles, Turning Tough Parents into Strong Partners, and Watch Your Mouth.

Connect with Brian:
Website: brianmendler.com
IG: @brianmendler
Podcast: The Brian Mendler Show

Transcript

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Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and stressed in the education system? Are you ready to make a real impact and create generational change for our kids? 

Join me as I interview Veronica Sopher, a renowned school communications leader with over two decades of experience in K-12 leadership. Veronica and I dive into the heart of the problem in education today - the need for appropriate mindset professional development for all adults in schools, not just teachers and leaders.

In this episode, we uncover the importance of self-care and reflection in the education system, especially in light of the ever-evolving expectations of parents, teachers, and staff. We explore the impact of COVID-19 on the education system and how we can recalibrate and rebuild for the future.

Veronica brings a wealth of knowledge on how to achieve a balance between masculine and feminine energy in leadership by embracing vulnerability. She shares her own experience of wearing pink and how it transformed how people responded to her. We also discuss how mindset professional development can shift traditional structures in education and create new models for the future.

If you're ready to reignite your passion for education and be part of the crucial time of school culture building, tune in to this episode of Take Notes. Veronica's wisdom will leave you feeling empowered, inspired, and ready to make a change for the better. 

Stay empowered,
Jen 

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:
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About Veronica:

Veronica V. Sopher is a dynamic school communications leader with more than 20 years’ experience in K-12 leadership. She has served as the Chief Communications Officer for several large and mid-sized school districts. Sopher provides leadership, vision, direction and execution of major district communication programs, strategies, events, and activities. She now consults full time in the K-12 Communications space.

Sopher believes in the power of selfcare and its dynamic impact on customer service, leadership development and teambuilding, especially in the K-12 space. After years of burning the candle at both ends and pushing herself to achieve, she realized that her physical and mental health were preventing her from creating balance in her home and her two teenage daughters and husband were not getting her best self.

Sopher changed course, started investing in herself and reignited her mindset. This shift created a healthier homelife for her family, stronger and more effective productivity for her school district and leadership team and created a passion for sharing her learning with other K-12 leaders.

Throughout her career, she has earned numerous professional awards and has led national award-winning teams. Sopher serves as a mentor to several school communications professionals and has held leadership positions for the Texas Schools Public Relations Association, including serving as President in 2021.

Connect with Veronica:
FB: Veronica V. Sopher 
IG: @veronicavsopher
Website: www.veronicavsopher.com

Transcript

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com

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Do you ever feel empty or lost deep inside? Are you hungry for more happiness and fulfillment?

As we strive to create career success for ourselves, we can get so focused on our job that we forget to slow down and acknowledge our thoughts and feelings, which causes us to feel disconnected from ourselves.

So how do you reconnect with yourself?

Welcome to episode 34 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty podcast! Today, I’m joined by Ben Yeh. He is an entrepreneur, business/conscious leadership coach and creator of transformations.

As you join us today, Ben will share the importance of having a heart-centered approach to your life. By discovering how to slow down, you’ll be able to listen to your intuition which will help you learn about yourself and really understand what makes you happy.

Are you ready to embrace a life that empowers you?

Stay empowered,

Jen 

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:

 Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | Linktree

Instagram: @jenrafferty_

Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room

About Ben:

Benjamin Yeh is a Business & Transformation Coach.  Ben's career has evolved from being a real estate consultant, investment officer for a family office where he invested over $1 billion dollars, serial entrepreneur, husband, father, speaker, advisor/coach and overall student of life. Combining his investment experience, business coaching and spiritual journey, Ben empowers heart-centered entrepreneurs on how to gain clarity in their purpose (their 'True North'), and live an enriching life: physically, mentally and spiritually.  Ben launched his Boom Vision Podcast in 2021, a show all about health, wealth and higher self! This show dives deep on how to create a fulfilling, abundant life: it starts with a powerful mindset!

Connect with Ben:

IG: @benjaminyeh

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminyeh

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com

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As an empowered educator, how do you spend your time? Do you make aligned decisions on what to prioritize in your life?

When it comes to living a full life, knowing how and when you spend your time is important. The decisions you make with your minutes define how your day and week will look.

Welcome to episode 33 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty podcast! Today, I’m joined by Laura Vanderkam. She is a notable writer, author, and speaker on topics surrounding work-life balance, time management, and productivity.

As you join us today, Laura will share tips and tricks you can use to optimize time management in your week. She also shares strategies that will help you get stuff done! 

Are you ready to establish good habits that will make your life easier?

Stay empowered,

Jen 

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:

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About Laura:

Laura is the author of several time management and productivity books. Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters, which was published on October 11, 2022, shares strategies that have been proven to help busy people feel like life is more sustainable and joyful on normal days. Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done (Portfolio, May 29, 2018), I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time (Portfolio, 2015), What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast (Portfolio, 2013), and 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think (Portfolio, 2010).

Laura is also the author of a time management fable, Juliet’s School of Possibilities, published by Portfolio in early 2019. Another novel, The Cortlandt Boys, is available as an ebook. 

Laura’s work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, City Journal, Fortune, and Fast Company. 

She has appeared on numerous television programs, including The Today Show and CBS This Morning, hundreds of radio segments, and has spoken about time and productivity to audiences of all sizes. Her TED talk, “How to gain control of your free time,” has been viewed more than 12 million times. She is the co-host, with Sarah Hart-Unger, of the podcast Best of Both Worlds. She hosts the every-weekday-morning podcast Before Breakfast, featuring productivity tips designed to take listeners’ days from great to awesome.

 Connect with Laura:

Website: lauravanderkam.com

IG: @lvanderkam

FB: Laura Vanderkam

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com

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As empowered educators, we understand our students need a classroom culture where they can express themselves, honor others, and celebrate differences.

But how do you create a safe space for diversity in the classroom?

Welcome to episode 32 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty podcast! Today, I’m joined by Dr. Nia Nunn who is a teacher, scholar, and diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) consultant for schools, universities, and organizations.

In this episode, Dr. Nia talks about radical vulnerability and how it can transform the dynamics of the community. She also shares that by tapping into creative spaces that are freeing and allow us to express ourselves creatively, we can be role models for our students.

Today is all about learning, unlearning and unpacking our differences to make a difference!

Stay empowered,

Jen 

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:

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About Dr. Nia:

Dr. Nia Nunn is a community leader wearing multiple head-wraps as a mother, artist, professor, board president, program developer, public speaker, and activist. Her work is rooted in creating an innovative Black consciousness curriculum, and centers on anti-racist and abolitionist framework with a performance arts delivery. She is committed to learning and engaging audiences creatively, intensely, and gracefully.

Connect with Dr. Nia:

Website: www.drnianunn.com

IG: @drnianunn

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com

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What does it take to bounce back from a traumatic event? How do you thrive and survive the toxic stress and trauma?

As educators, we often see certain behaviors that can be barriers to success for some students. And the ultimate goal is to help them get past these conflicts and challenges by encouraging them to focus on their future and success. 

But most of the time, what our students need is a safe space and adults who will listen and try to understand what they’re going through. 

Welcome to episode 31 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty! In this episode, I’m speaking with Renee Hettich. She is an author, licensed master social worker, and trainer on topics such as resiliency and therapeutic parenting.

Renee opens the conversation about adverse childhood experiences and how they can affect the child’s mindset and behavior long term.  

Understanding your student’s behavior is essential to their success. The truth is, we don’t know what each student is going through, but the best we can do is to learn more about how we can help them. 

Tune in and find out how you can help your student understand their feelings better!

Stay empowered,

Jen 

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:

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About Renee:

Renee has been parenting children from adverse histories for over twenty-six years as a foster, adoptive, and kinship parent. She is currently parenting four children who joined her family through inter-country adoption. She cares for children with special medical, learning, developmental, and mental health needs. 

Renee has worked in the field of adoption and foster care since 2004 as an adoption social worker and program director supporting families adopting domestically and internationally. In 2017, she joined the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition as program director. She is dedicated to the well-being of adoptive, foster, and kinships families. She is proud to lead a team of experts who support adoptive and guardianship families in eight counties. 

Renee has published articles in Adoption Today and Adoptive Families (national adoption magazines). She is the author of the book My Kids Know More Than Me! 15 Life Lessons from Foster and Adopted Children. Renee is also a trainer on the topics of adverse childhood experiences, the adaptation of the brain from toxic stress and trauma, resiliency, and therapeutic parenting. She has also been featured on radio and podcast broadcasts in regard to parenting children with traumatic histories and with mental health challenges. Renee earned a Master of Social Work degree from Marywood University and has been a Licensed Master Social Worker since 2005. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Audiology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech/Language Pathology from Ithaca College. 

www.Affcny.org

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As an empowered educator, how do you shape the minds and hearts of your students?

In this world that can seem chaotic, we all want them to grow successfully, but also to be kind and compassionate towards others.

Encouraging them to reframe and adjust their perspective a tiny bit will help them become the best versions of themselves.

Welcome to episode 30 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty podcast! Today, I’m joined by Amy Dickinson. She is an advice columnist, bestselling author and radio personality.

Amy talks about the power of reframing our thoughts and the way we see things. 

When bad things happen, we often look at it negatively. But embracing a kinder and more compassionate mindset will help you live more freely and happily!

Tune in to this very insightful episode and let compassion grow in your heart.

Stay empowered,

Jen 

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:

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About Amy:

Amy Dickinson writes the syndicated advice column, “Ask Amy,” which is carried in over 150 newspapers and read by an estimated 22 million readers daily. She is also author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, “The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Story of Surprising Second Chances,” and Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things.

She is known not only for her wisdom but her wit. Since 2006, she has been a featured panelist on National Public Radio’s comedy quiz show, “Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me.” She is also a sought-after speaker, delivering her inspiring and comic stories of her adventures and misadventures to groups around the country. After living in New York, London, Washington DC and Chicago, she moved back to her hometown in Central NY, married a local contractor she had known since childhood, and is now mother to five daughters.

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com

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Let’s be honest, empowered educators, aim for a bright future for each of our students. We want them to succeed, not just inside the classroom, but also in the real world.

And when you think about it, we guide them to bridge the gap between how our students see themselves and how they act and behave.

As their teachers and role models, we must understand the power we hold when we show up for our students. We are their mentors and setting a good example is important for them to hone their future.

Welcome to episode 29 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty podcast! Today, I’m speaking with AJ Crabill. He is an advocate and public speaker on education reform.

AJ believes that student outcomes don’t change until adult behaviors change. And he shares the importance of transformation of adult mindset to encourage our students.

You get to be the change you want to see in your students.

Stay empowered,

Jen 

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About AJ:

AJ Crabill serves as Conservator at DeSoto ISD -- where during his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings -- and as Governance Director at CGCS. He served as Deputy Commissioner at Texas’ Education Agency and Board Chair of Kansas City Public Schools.

Connect with AJ:

Website: www.ajcrabill.com

https://www.greatontheirbehalf.com/ 

IG: @ajcrabill7

https://www.greatontheirbehalf.com/

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com

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Do you feel burnt out, tired, and sluggish at times?

Sometimes this can actually be because our hormones are a little out of balance.

Working in a fast-paced environment, you sometimes don’t realize that your daily habits can be extremely exhausting.

It’s easy to chuck it all up to your stressful work. But the truth is, knowing how your hormones work can help you understand how your system changes throughout the month.

Welcome to episode 28 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty! In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Beth Westie. She’s an amazing author, speaker, chiropractor, and the host of Female Health Solution Podcast.

During our talk, we cover the importance of knowing about how your hormones work in maintaining good health and lifestyle. Dr. Beth aims to provide the best tips and tricks that you can start implementing to help you be more productive and energetic in your work.

As an empowered educator, it’s really essential to get your body to a state of optimal functioning to serve your students better.

Today is all about the power of knowledge towards a healthier lifestyle!  

The power is in your hands, are you ready to claim it?

Stay empowered,

Jen 

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About Dr. Beth:

Dr. Beth is the author of the Best Selling book, The Female Fat Solution, the creator of the 12 Week Female Hormone Solution, the Eat for Your Cycle™ Method, and the host of The Female Health Solution Podcast. She has made it her mission to change the way women view their health. Working to educate and empower women to take their health into their own hands, she uses nutrition to help women work with the natural cycle of their bodies to achieve lasting weight loss results.

Connect with Dr. Beth:

Website: www.drbethwestie.com

IG: @drbethwestie

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Bullying.

It’s unwanted, hurtful, and aggressive.

One out of every five students reports being bullied in schools around the United States. While it’s a rocky territory to navigate, it’s important to empower students and strive for a better future for them.

So, how do we stop it? How do we turn anger to compassion?

Welcome to episode 27 of Next level Greatness! In today’s episode, we are joined by Dali Rivera who is a parenting coach specializing in bullying. She’s an advocate for the kids and aims to help families thrive and promote equality in their communities.

Dali gives us a glimpse of how she started her mission to educate people about bullying prevention and awareness.

Ready to stand firm and strong against the bullies? Listen to this insightful episode and learn how you can help yourself, your friends, and families to fight against bullying!

Stay empowered,

Jen 

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About Dali:

Dāli Rivera is a parenting coach specializing in bullying awareness & prevention education for parents of middle school-age kids. She helps parents learn how to advocate for their kids, and get them through the experience in a healthy way.

She is also the creator of the Diversity & Anti-Bullying Academy (#DABA) and owner of DaliTalks, L.L.C.

Dāli is a U.S. Army veteran, speaker, parent to two teen girls, and wife of a U.S. Army veteran. Dali earned a master’s degree in Women & Gender Studies from Towson University.

Dali’s passion to stop bullying comes from her own personal experiences as a bullied child and from having become an advocate for children, including her own. She has dedicated herself to sharing her knowledge to help families thrive, and promote equality in their own communities.

Connect with Dali:

Website: https://www.dalitalks.com/

IG: @dalitalks

YT: @DaliTalksShow

Podcast: The DaliTalks Podcast

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com

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