Latest / Black Fridays: Business Growth for Entrepreneurs, Creators & Professionals / Teacher Burnout Is Hurting Our Schools: Here’s What We Can Do (Black Fridays Special)

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Teacher Burnout Is Hurting Our Schools: Here’s What We Can Do (Black Fridays Special) · Black Fridays: Business Growth for Entrepreneurs, Creators & Professionals

0:00
[SPEAKER_04]: I did all these things to prepare us to go into the classroom and teach students however they did not prepare me to take care of myself and still show up for 100 plus students every single day.
0:12
[SPEAKER_04]: And I mean, to the point where I, it was easier to go to work than it was to take off and take care of my own emotional and mental wellbeing.
0:21
[SPEAKER_04]: And I believe that teachers, a healthy teacher is a better teacher.
0:26
[SPEAKER_04]: And my teaching was impacted.
0:28
[SPEAKER_04]: My patients was impacted, all the things that impact the students were affected by my own struggles.
0:35
[SPEAKER_04]: And the reason why we came to you just before and to you just because I always said, no one understood the life of a teacher like another teacher.
1:01
[SPEAKER_01]: What up, Bill Black Friday's family.
1:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Welcome back to another installment of the Black Friday's podcast.
1:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Before we get to today's episode, need you to hit that like button, subscribe, drop a comment since the videos, the family friends loved ones, so we keep this thing going.
1:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Now that we got that business out of the way, it's back to school season, and obviously everybody is worried about our youth and our young people going back to school, but what if I told you, it was an organization that asked the question, what about the teachers?
1:24
[SPEAKER_01]: So with me today, I have teachers supporting teachers, everywhere I cooperate in the building, how y'all doing today.
1:30
[SPEAKER_03]: doing well.
1:30
[SPEAKER_03]: Good.
1:31
[SPEAKER_03]: Wonderful.
1:32
[SPEAKER_03]: Excited to be here.
1:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
1:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Excited to have y'all on the podcast.
1:35
[SPEAKER_04]: We're took y'all so long.
1:41
[SPEAKER_04]: I don't know.
1:42
[SPEAKER_04]: Just trying to make sure we was bring some good stuff to the table.
1:46
[SPEAKER_01]: OK, well, you've been doing that for quite a while now.
1:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And before I get into the backstory behind TST, I would love to, I believe within this room, correct me if I'm wrong, but like combine work experience and education, you all probably have close food 100 years between the three of you, potentially.
2:04
[SPEAKER_01]: So yes, that's a lot of wisdom and knowledge, especially when it comes to working with young people.
2:09
[SPEAKER_01]: So I first want to ask the question,
2:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Because I always say it takes a special person to be a teacher, want to be a teacher, how do you get into teaching?
2:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'll start with you, Mr. Dunlap, to my left.
2:22
[SPEAKER_04]: oh wow, really.
2:24
[SPEAKER_04]: So when I was a little girl from probably the time I was able to maybe like around second third grade I would help the young the first and second grade teachers clean up their rooms and they will let me take home work sheets and so I had younger siblings and that allowed me to use those work sheets until other people want to do and I really enjoyed it
2:52
[SPEAKER_04]: And I kind of like played around with it.
2:54
[SPEAKER_04]: Then I thought teachers didn't make enough money.
2:56
[SPEAKER_04]: And then I went in another direction.
2:58
[SPEAKER_04]: I'll need to end up back in teaching.
3:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Miss Lann, I'm going to go to your next.
3:03
[SPEAKER_02]: I would say that in education to be someone's inspiration to always make sure that you are reaching the scholars that are before you sell.
3:18
[SPEAKER_02]: To always make sure that you make a mark.
3:23
[SPEAKER_03]: I was a very, very shy Kia growing up and there were teachers that were in my world that helped me find my voice and I think a misdave is right now who was my seventh grade teacher.
3:38
[SPEAKER_03]: I hate it science, but I loved her.
3:41
[SPEAKER_03]: So, for me, I was inspired to do what they did for me, help students find their voice as a journey through life, you know, so to have that support system those mentors very early on, which were teachers.
3:57
[SPEAKER_03]: And I didn't have a lot of, you know, she was my first black female role model that I looked up to because I grew up down south Arkansas.
4:07
[SPEAKER_03]: So that was that was powerful to me and then to be able to go on and help shape and mold the minds of students that that's that's my passion.
4:18
[SPEAKER_01]: That's amazing.
4:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And now we got getting to TSTE.
4:21
[SPEAKER_01]: So I feel like I've had the pleasure of being around since pretty much the inception of TSTE and what love to know.
4:31
[SPEAKER_01]: When did you get this inkling that you wanted to be able to focus on teachers like wellness and well-being and start an organization to do something about that, grant it that teachers don't most of the time are not experts in that space.
4:46
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay, so can I do a little do-off?
4:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
4:50
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay, of course, when my colleagues here shared their experiences, of course, I went all the way back to the little girl.
4:57
[SPEAKER_04]: But when I graduate from high, I'm sorry, college.
5:01
[SPEAKER_04]: I was a manager at Winkleman's, some of you all, out there might remember Winkleman's.
5:05
[SPEAKER_04]: And of course, who works in the retail stores, a lot of high school students, and they would come in lacking some skills
5:17
[SPEAKER_04]: I need to go in the schools and help them figure out how to do this and apply for jobs and all those things.
5:22
[SPEAKER_04]: So that's really what led me back to teaching after I graduated from college.
5:26
[SPEAKER_04]: So that's the more mature reason why I went into teaching.
5:30
[SPEAKER_04]: However, to the story of T.S.T.E.
5:32
[SPEAKER_04]: kind of started when I started my first contract position.
5:37
[SPEAKER_04]: The year before I had experienced the loss of my sister in a car trade accident and I was she was one of my biggest support systems and that was when I had first graduated with my master's and I got my first contract position.
5:52
[SPEAKER_04]: and it was with ninth graders and this if anyone has been around a lot of ninth graders, they are very they can be very challenging and it was like I was being a test in all all is and not being well mentally and emotionally myself it was very difficult and then as soon as I started that job there was another tragedy my mother-in-law was in a car accident, my daughter was in that accident and it was like that was October I had just started that
6:22
[SPEAKER_04]: And I was like, where's the help?
6:24
[SPEAKER_04]: Nobody, everybody was just like, give me this, do this, do that.
6:27
[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, no curriculum.
6:28
[SPEAKER_04]: All the things that could be a challenge was a challenge.
6:31
[SPEAKER_04]: And I was like, wait a minute, hold on.
6:33
[SPEAKER_04]: They did all these things to prepare us to go into the classroom and teach students.
6:37
[SPEAKER_04]: However, they did not prepare me to
6:40
[SPEAKER_04]: Take care of myself and still show up for a hundred plus students every single day doing all the things that were required of me as a teacher, especially a new teacher.
6:50
[SPEAKER_04]: And I thought to myself, this is not good, you know, if it's one of me here and not to mention other times in my career where I suffered burnout or again, personal life challenges, if there's just one person like me and every district, that's a lot of people that are
7:10
[SPEAKER_04]: I, it was easier to go to work than it was to take off and take care of my own emotional and mental well being.
7:16
[SPEAKER_04]: And I believe that teachers, my, a healthy teacher is a better teacher and my teaching was impacted.
7:23
[SPEAKER_04]: My patients was impacted.
7:25
[SPEAKER_04]: All the things that impacted the students were affected by my own struggles.
7:30
[SPEAKER_04]: And I thought somebody needs to do something about that.
7:33
[SPEAKER_04]: And throughout my 26 years and 23 years in the classroom at that point,
7:40
[SPEAKER_04]: came up with different aggregations of what I thought teachers supporting teachers would be and settled on really focusing on their emotional and mental well being and celebrating them for the work they do because oftentimes no one else is doing that.
7:55
[SPEAKER_01]: And then real quick before I go to your esteemed board members, could you tell us some of the services and program activities that teachers for teaching does for that community educators?
8:05
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay, great.
8:06
[SPEAKER_04]: Yes, we have a number of programs we started out with just our micro grant where we support schools that have workplace wellness programs, however, they lack resources.
8:17
[SPEAKER_04]: So we started out literally with that program and then it just by nature of the beast, we came up with our happy Monday happy Friday.
8:27
[SPEAKER_04]: So now gift cards to teachers on Mondays and Fridays, you know, start your week, end your week on the positive note.
8:33
[SPEAKER_04]: which led to our adoptive school, which eventually became project refueled, we go on the different schools every month.
8:41
[SPEAKER_04]: And we take our project refueled, where we literally have a dashboard that teachers can look at and assess their well-being and look at ways and things they need to do or can do to improve their well-being.
8:53
[SPEAKER_04]: And finally, our workplace wellness program, which we were fortunate enough to start
8:59
[SPEAKER_04]: where we go in every single month, do a wellness check in, we have a workbook, we bring in the therapist, we bring in snacks and refreshments, and we do something special for them.
9:12
[SPEAKER_04]: When they come back, I welcome back and during teacher appreciation.
9:16
[SPEAKER_04]: We, so those are the main problems.
9:19
[SPEAKER_01]: very nice.
9:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And so for your board members, we'll love to know for you all in addition to being friends, sisters, fellow educators and getting a chance to do life together, what made you want to buy into the mission and be a part of the board for TST, given everything that Mr. Dunlap just mentioned.
9:40
[SPEAKER_02]: I would say that I was so inspired by Jackie's dedication to supporting teachers, knowing that we were in the trenches together at the school and how stressful it can be, and that it was important to reach back and to help and support those teachers.
9:59
[SPEAKER_02]: So I was so passionate about it and I promised that once I retire I will be full time,
10:09
[SPEAKER_02]: way, shape or form.
10:13
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, I was I'm sitting here and I listened to all of the programs that, um, Jackie, um, Mr. Unlab named off and it's just like, wow, like we, when we started, you know, it was just one program that we had.
10:28
[SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
10:28
[SPEAKER_03]: And I'm like the work that has been done and what's been created.
10:32
[SPEAKER_03]: and to be behind a founder who is so inspirational and passionate about doing the work, right?
10:40
[SPEAKER_03]: And so for me, I want to be alive with people who are truly passionate about, they don't just talk about it, but they put their feet to the road and they do the work.
10:50
[SPEAKER_03]: So Jackie, not just the program, but just
10:54
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, one thing that came into my mind pouring from an empty cup, which is a book that she wrote along with the work book for educators, and when I say that is exactly what happens to educators is that, you know, people don't understand that when we go in there every day and you have 25 30 kids per hour, that is so much that goes into that they don't, they don't really get it.
11:20
[SPEAKER_03]: Everybody don't really get it, but we get it because we're in it every day.
11:24
[SPEAKER_03]: So to have to leave from that environment every day, you know, you depleted it at the end of the day, it takes so much more than just coming up and teaching the curriculum where everything, we have so many roles, you know, in the classroom.
11:37
[SPEAKER_03]: So to have to be a part of something that, you know, going into the schools and the things that she, you know, able to do with the foundation, the organization, teachers just a cup of the coffee things that she did,
11:53
[SPEAKER_03]: Hot chocolate, that's called the Coca-Cola bars, and that's amazing, that's amazing.
11:58
[SPEAKER_03]: The teachers being able to get the cards that she gives a different gift card.
12:04
[SPEAKER_03]: It's just something so simple when they're going through because one of the things that the foundation does, Miss Jackie.
12:11
[SPEAKER_03]: Incorporated into the organization is that give teachers who are grieving, which is something that she was that happened to her.
12:19
[SPEAKER_03]: Making sure that she goes into the school asked the questions what teachers need these services.
12:23
[SPEAKER_03]: And then just to get that in their mailbox, I deliver it to the happiness in the joy.
12:29
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, when she, the pictures of the, the, the, the little cafe thing that's that you do, you go in and so to experience that and to see it, that's joy.
12:38
[SPEAKER_03]: So to be a part of that is what it's all about.
12:42
[SPEAKER_03]: Thank you.
12:43
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's one of the things that I really enjoy about TST is that human first approach to teachers and they're well-being and thinking about them as a whole person because I'll be honest, like especially in high school, I just like my teachers, only see them in school and that they don't exist outside of here.
12:59
[SPEAKER_01]: to actually, and I think a lot of people, unfortunately, think that way when it comes to teachers and education.
13:04
[SPEAKER_01]: So I appreciate that aspect of the work.
13:07
[SPEAKER_01]: So if y'all don't mind, I wouldn't have a little fun on Black Friday's and introduce y'all to my favorite part, which is Freestyle Fridays.
13:20
[SPEAKER_01]: So, uh, which one y'all gonna start rapping first?
13:24
[SPEAKER_01]: No, do a rap cypher.
13:25
[SPEAKER_01]: So, was everyone y'all wanna start first and then I'm gonna finish it up?
13:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't wanna hurt anybody.
13:32
[SPEAKER_04]: That is not my mistake.
13:34
[SPEAKER_04]: Leave that one alone.
13:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Or y'all can just ask some rapper for our questions.
13:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Answer some rapper for our questions.
13:40
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll go with the questions.
13:42
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, perfect.
13:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Same.
13:43
[SPEAKER_01]: So, uh, I want you to finish this sentence.
13:48
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, in high school, I was lost and I believe that through teaching, I was able to reach a lot of scholars in middle school that probably needed the Melanie back in high school,
14:16
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay, in high school, I didn't want several ideations of me.
14:22
[SPEAKER_04]: I went to cast and anyone who knows anything about cast knows that there is some very, there's a variety of the different demographics that attend cast.
14:32
[SPEAKER_04]: I happen to be one of the ones that probably definitely was not popular and we were not, you know,
14:39
[SPEAKER_04]: The fortunate ones economically and therefore, you know, you kind of disappear into the background, and then so it was like finding my way doing things me and low key, but of course, finding something that I was able to find passion.
14:58
[SPEAKER_04]: and in which was my son, which led me to the Fast Institute of Technology.
15:02
[SPEAKER_04]: So I would say I was just someone that was really in high school trying to figure out how to become something other than just another person in Detroit not able to make it.
15:24
[SPEAKER_03]: In high school, I was blessed enough to be able to have some teachers that helped me find my gifts and my talents, you know, to discover.
15:40
[SPEAKER_03]: who I was at that age, you know, I was very shy as I said earlier, but that's what happened for me.
15:48
[SPEAKER_03]: And then, you know, it's a power when you begin to discover who you are, it's so empowering which led me to join more clubs and organizations which helped to me, you know, getting, you know,
16:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, and then so I'll never forget in college I did a autonomous spring break trip when down in Chicago was working at Chicago Middle School, getting third-party greatest prepare for the jam that would allow them to move on to the fourth grade.
16:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And the teacher that we work with, he basically just was like, because he'd be so stressed out.
16:24
[SPEAKER_01]: At the end of the day, he got to go home and he had to crack him open a cold beer.
16:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Like that was his relaxation and decompression from the day.
16:32
[SPEAKER_01]: So I want to ask y'all be in the classroom.
16:35
[SPEAKER_01]: What was that one thing that when you got off work, you had to do for yourself to keep yourself going mentally to be able to decompress from the long day in the activities.
16:46
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay, for me, it was, especially when the weather was nice, I had to go outside and sit in my yard.
16:51
[SPEAKER_04]: And I will say that was my saving grace because at my lowest point in education, I mean, my lowest point.
16:58
[SPEAKER_04]: It was sitting in my backyard where I got the realization or the vision to do teachers' important teachers, the way it is today, where it was all about the wellness and that again knowing that if it was,
17:11
[SPEAKER_04]: just wanted me in every district, then there was a problem in this country.
17:15
[SPEAKER_04]: And that's where I got to visit.
17:17
[SPEAKER_04]: So sitting in my yard in a nature and being able to just to regroup.
17:22
[SPEAKER_02]: My was crafting like I love to craft.
17:25
[SPEAKER_02]: So first shopping and then bringing home the craft and things and just creating.
17:33
[SPEAKER_02]: So that took my mind away from a lot of the stressors of the day.
17:39
[SPEAKER_03]: I will find myself in a theater.
17:42
[SPEAKER_03]: By myself.
17:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Mm-hmm.
17:45
[SPEAKER_03]: um after school because a movie a good movie can just take me away, right?
17:51
[SPEAKER_03]: So that's I would find myself just after work catching a five o'clock movie or and in a lot of times that theater would be empty but that that was my time where I could just you know regroup and just be taken away from whatever I was feeling or thinking about.
18:11
[SPEAKER_01]: And I know all y'all like to travel, so if you have a big one destination, you get a chance to pack a carry on and you go to your tomorrow where you want.
18:22
[SPEAKER_04]: Hmm, one destination.
18:24
[SPEAKER_04]: All right, now I will say, I really have to go back to New York last year.
18:28
[SPEAKER_04]: Again, I went to the fashion student technology and I went back for it in alumni weekend last year.
18:32
[SPEAKER_04]: We have such a good time.
18:34
[SPEAKER_04]: I see in my mind a lot of times just like, man, if I could just go live in New York, live in New York, it would be like a fun thing, but with money.
18:43
[SPEAKER_04]: not living in New York as a college student, but living in New York with so many, you know, you think about is restaurant everywhere you turn, the life, the energy is just different.
18:54
[SPEAKER_04]: And of course, again, that was my first time going back to New York in a while, and, you know, to have the resources to stay in a nice hotel, in the city, and do the things.
19:05
[SPEAKER_04]: New York right now.
19:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
19:09
[SPEAKER_02]: How to say, my goal is to take an Alaskan crew, so that will be my next venture.
19:16
[SPEAKER_03]: I want to go to Africa.
19:20
[SPEAKER_03]: I'm never going to Africa, and everybody that I'm known at the corner just had wonderful stories to tell.
19:26
[SPEAKER_03]: So if I could pack my bags, I would go to Africa.
19:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, so I don't know if y'all know this now, but I got a chance to teach a class recently, so I can, I'm gonna start calling myself a professor of eatin' dogs.
19:36
[SPEAKER_01]: I might not have a certificate, so I, I, I want to get invited on these trips as well, but I need to be a class from teaching my, my three classes that I told you.
19:46
[SPEAKER_04]: Technically, you have the credentials to teach college.
19:49
[SPEAKER_01]: So, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
20:16
[SPEAKER_04]: Favorite teacher?
20:16
[SPEAKER_04]: Oh, Dr. Gardener.
20:17
[SPEAKER_04]: How could I forget Dr. Gardener?
20:20
[SPEAKER_04]: When I was in high school, Dr. Gardner was the department chair for family and community services.
20:26
[SPEAKER_04]: She was my sewing instructor.
20:28
[SPEAKER_04]: She was my, uh, what did they call that?
20:31
[SPEAKER_04]: Food, they didn't call it cooking.
20:33
[SPEAKER_04]: They called it something else.
20:34
[SPEAKER_04]: It was more technical, um, food class.
20:37
[SPEAKER_04]: I'll say that at cash.
20:39
[SPEAKER_04]: She was forever correcting my English.
20:41
[SPEAKER_04]: She was all of the things.
20:44
[SPEAKER_04]: She was the person I invited to my wedding.
20:47
[SPEAKER_04]: It was an honor to see her in her later day.
20:50
[SPEAKER_04]: She lived down by Wayne State before a mid-town was Wayne State became mid-town.
20:57
[SPEAKER_04]: And Amanda and I were walking down the street.
21:00
[SPEAKER_04]: And she was sitting on her porch.
21:01
[SPEAKER_04]: And even then she was, she wasn't alert.
21:04
[SPEAKER_04]: I was, I shouldn't say alert.
21:06
[SPEAKER_04]: She wasn't as aware as she was.
21:08
[SPEAKER_04]: And Sean, when I had her high school, but just the fact that I was able to introduce Amanda to her.
21:13
[SPEAKER_02]: That's Dr. Gardner, and she wouldn't come off her porch.
21:15
[SPEAKER_04]: We was on the other side of the fence, but she did talk to us.
21:18
[SPEAKER_04]: So Dr. Gardner, okay, but she really cared.
21:22
[SPEAKER_04]: It was obvious, and she even mentioned it to me one day.
21:25
[SPEAKER_04]: Like, do you think I just do all this stuff just because it was like she said because I know you can do better, and I want better for you.
21:32
[SPEAKER_04]: So Dr. Gardner, rest in peace, Dr. Gardner.
21:37
[SPEAKER_02]: Mine would be Mrs. Scott.
21:39
[SPEAKER_02]: She was my middle school math teacher.
21:43
[SPEAKER_02]: And math was easy when I was an elementary, but once I got to middle school, it was like, whoa.
21:49
[SPEAKER_02]: And so she took the time and care with students and she was so beautiful.
21:56
[SPEAKER_02]: It was just such an inspiration and seeer in those.
21:59
[SPEAKER_02]: Like tall heels and those pencil skirts.
22:03
[SPEAKER_02]: And she was just very soft-spoken, but.
22:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Definitely an inspiration.
22:10
[SPEAKER_03]: Miss Davis, I'm going to go back to Miss Davis, but Jackie, like you said, there were so many teachers that were so impactful in my life.
22:16
[SPEAKER_03]: A Miss Davis, my grandmother had instrumental, played an instrumental role in helping to raise me, so she trusted her.
22:23
[SPEAKER_03]: Enough to allow her to take me to parades and take me to the local city next to where we lived.
22:30
[SPEAKER_03]: And I think back now, I'm so grateful that she allowed Miss Davis to do those things, so I could experience more things from my grandmother
22:39
[SPEAKER_03]: But recently short story I found her picture so I was trying to figure out her first name.
22:45
[SPEAKER_03]: I couldn't remember and I was going through Teacher things that I was trying to you know go through and organize and throw away things and I found her I said is this her picture that I kept all those years and I turned the picture over and it had her name Jackie Davis.
23:04
[SPEAKER_02]: Wow
23:06
[SPEAKER_03]: So, and that's a special name since my dear friend.
23:09
[SPEAKER_03]: So, I say, oh my God.
23:10
[SPEAKER_03]: So, cause I was wanting to find out where she is and find out information about her.
23:16
[SPEAKER_03]: So, I go back to Ms. Davis, science teacher, hate science, but I loved her.
23:22
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
23:23
[SPEAKER_01]: amazing.
23:24
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I got a bonus one.
23:26
[SPEAKER_01]: We really go have some fun with this one.
23:27
[SPEAKER_01]: So I didn't mention that this is basically family that I have here.
23:31
[SPEAKER_01]: So Michelle, Ms. Man, are respectfully my aunties and have a doctor me as such.
23:37
[SPEAKER_01]: And Mrs. Dunlatt is my mother-in-law.
23:39
[SPEAKER_01]: So my question for you is, what was your first impression of me?
23:42
[SPEAKER_01]: You, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you.
23:47
[SPEAKER_01]: And what?
23:47
[SPEAKER_01]: And what was going with your money?
23:48
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm going to get to y'all and say,
23:51
[SPEAKER_04]: serious.
23:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, man.
23:53
[SPEAKER_04]: I love it.
23:54
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay.
23:55
[SPEAKER_04]: So of course, um, I don't know.
23:58
[SPEAKER_04]: I just was like, you weren't, you see, Mike a nice kid.
24:02
[SPEAKER_04]: Because at that time, I believe you were finishing up your undergrad degree.
24:08
[SPEAKER_04]: Don't call it, yeah.
24:08
[SPEAKER_04]: All right.
24:09
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay.
24:09
[SPEAKER_04]: So half finished or were finished.
24:11
[SPEAKER_04]: We're finished.
24:12
[SPEAKER_04]: We're finished.
24:13
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay.
24:13
[SPEAKER_04]: And so, it seemed like a nice kid, you know, of course I got a little background.
24:16
[SPEAKER_04]: And I was just like, okay, you seem like he got a plan, you know?
24:20
[SPEAKER_04]: Of course, uh, never knowing that all these years later will be true family.
24:27
[SPEAKER_04]: But yes, I will say that, you know, it's nice kid.
24:30
[SPEAKER_04]: You know, again, who you look like.
24:35
[SPEAKER_04]: I was like, where the man is not absolutely innocent.
24:38
[SPEAKER_04]: So, yeah, definitely, I was like, okay, you seem like a nice kid.
24:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, and then did she say anything to y'all?
24:44
[SPEAKER_01]: That's my follow-up question.
24:46
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, so yes, for sure.
24:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I would this guy.
24:50
[SPEAKER_02]: Highly, highly impressed by you.
24:53
[SPEAKER_02]: So I always heard wonderful things, even before you all planned to get married, I always heard how amazing
25:05
[SPEAKER_02]: And I'm meeting you just such a gentleman who just touched my heart and you truly have become my nephew for sure.
25:15
[SPEAKER_03]: Yes, you know, and did all to what Miss Lance said, you know, she always has so many positive wonderful things to say about you as well as your beautiful wife.
25:28
[SPEAKER_03]: But your spirit, you know, I met you before you as some Christmas party, and you were walking around.
25:34
[SPEAKER_03]: You had just happened to come in from out of town, and I kind of briefly met you.
25:38
[SPEAKER_03]: But, you know, just your beautiful spirit.
25:41
[SPEAKER_03]: Thank you for embracing us as your aunties.
25:44
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, you opened your arms and took us in just like you've known us forever.
25:49
[SPEAKER_03]: And you just, you know, you're just, you work the work that you're doing to be able to just this podcast like allowing people to tell their story.
25:59
[SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
25:59
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, like, come on, like, what was your name?
26:06
[SPEAKER_04]: And if I might ask up the to it, now you and you know in the in the matter of like you and I have always had a connection anyway, if it wasn't an entrepreneurship, it was like the websites and everything was like I always had a reason to call it in jail for something.
26:21
[SPEAKER_04]: So we just connected, I think, I would you not agree I would just connect it to the point where somebody would have something to say, we just connect it.
26:30
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, it would be like that.
26:35
[SPEAKER_01]: but I appreciate y'all love y'all and thank you very much for the kind of words.
26:38
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm a cashf y'all to y'all follow the script to say everything I had written up for y'all and thank you all.
26:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, I appreciate that.
26:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so thank you for partaking the free stop right there's definitely appreciate y'all for that and
26:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Mr. Dunlap, we talked a little bit about your career path and trajectory and where you are now with TSTE.
26:57
[SPEAKER_01]: But then, also, obviously, outside of the confines of TSTE, Ms. Land, and Shack, respectively, you all have your own day's going on.
27:05
[SPEAKER_01]: You have life going on in terms of education and your career.
27:09
[SPEAKER_01]: So just, if you don't mind, would you be open to telling us more about currently the work that you do and how that impacts our young people?
27:20
[SPEAKER_03]: Go ahead.
27:25
[SPEAKER_03]: Goodness.
27:25
[SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
27:26
[SPEAKER_03]: So I retired.
27:27
[SPEAKER_03]: It's about the same time that it's done that retired.
27:30
[SPEAKER_03]: And my goal has always meant to be able to expand the work that I do in some way.
27:36
[SPEAKER_03]: So I actually 2017 was when I started inspire classroom solutions.
27:42
[SPEAKER_03]: And then I really dug deeper into what I do when I retired.
27:46
[SPEAKER_03]: So, the goal goal for me is to develop programming that is relevant, transformational, inspirational for students as they discover their gifts and talents and find their voice.
27:57
[SPEAKER_03]: So, I've been very fortunate to be able to go out and to do that work and start it through students that I had taught.
28:05
[SPEAKER_03]: who were waiting on me to retire and said, okay, miss, when you're ready, you know, less, less go out into the schools and to do this, and then to put me in a position where that grant money is there for me to do it.
28:18
[SPEAKER_03]: I don't have to do on the work and then running, running an organization and nonprofit is a whole lot when you don't have people to go and do the work, do being the buildings, doing the work for you.
28:28
[SPEAKER_03]: So, that's been a blessing that I can go in, touch kids every year through the schools that I work with and I like to go into my schools that don't get the programming, easing this village, communication media, arts high school, you put all those schools that they don't have the money in the funding but because of gear up and trio, they're able to do that, working with midnight golf, golfing and working with them and different organizations run to walk around
28:57
[SPEAKER_03]: my passion work.
28:59
[SPEAKER_03]: And number one, it's appreciated by the organizations that I work with.
29:05
[SPEAKER_03]: And there's a need for it.
29:06
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, these kids are going out into this crazy chaotic and confusing world.
29:10
[SPEAKER_03]: And they got to have some extra.
29:12
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, so it's all get the X factor developing students who are branded for success.
29:17
[SPEAKER_03]: They walk away with that extra of something which I call the X factor.
29:23
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to piggyback on what you said because X-Factor is amazing.
29:28
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to say that.
29:30
[SPEAKER_02]: Bless to see one of the performances and the work that you're doing is amazing.
29:38
[SPEAKER_02]: Second to none and children in the inner city that need that extra.
29:44
[SPEAKER_02]: You are definitely blessing them with.
29:46
[SPEAKER_02]: So thank you.
29:47
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you.
29:48
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm just so impressed by that.
29:51
[SPEAKER_02]: But with me, I am currently still in education.
29:55
[SPEAKER_02]: I am in my 25th year of education.
29:59
[SPEAKER_02]: I am currently the school's community school coordinator as we are community school in the city of Southfield.
30:08
[SPEAKER_02]: just meeting the needs of our entire community, making sure that families have wraparound services, our families, we're blessed to have a health clinic in our building that was named after my late son, and just meeting the needs of families, and that is my passion.
30:30
[SPEAKER_01]: amazing.
30:31
[SPEAKER_01]: And you all have some, but when people see this episode, it's going to be your week of activations for, again, prepared for our back to school seasons.
30:39
[SPEAKER_01]: So, let's do that because you talk a little bit more about that and how people can engage with you all during this time for.
30:46
[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, so we're calling that week supporting teachers and strengthening communities because one part I did mention when I mentioned the programming was the workplace wellness program has evolved into in certain partner schools, the bridging wellness and learning where we support the entire school community providing targeted resources for students and parents as well and so that's where we come in with the whole communities and not to mention the fact that when you support teachers, you are supporting students.
31:15
[SPEAKER_04]: So the it runs from Monday the 24th through Saturday the 29th.
31:23
[SPEAKER_04]: Monday is all about appreciation being grateful.
31:28
[SPEAKER_04]: Show appreciation for a teacher or mentor that poured into you and being grateful just because gratitude makes everything better.
31:36
[SPEAKER_04]: Day two, Tuesday is $10, Tuesday again, it's about fundraising and awareness, so people can donate to us through our three platforms, give them a five paypal or cash app.
31:51
[SPEAKER_04]: information will be available online on our various platforms on Instagram, Facebook, etc.
31:58
[SPEAKER_04]: They can do $10 or more as a matter of fact.
32:01
[SPEAKER_04]: As the founder, I am matching the first $500 in donations on that day as well.
32:07
[SPEAKER_04]: And then Wednesday is a wellness day.
32:10
[SPEAKER_04]: Do something for yourself to take care of your own wellbeing.
32:13
[SPEAKER_04]: Third, Thursday we're having
32:16
[SPEAKER_04]: what we call our after-the-bale series is the first one.
32:19
[SPEAKER_04]: For the fall, it will be at the boulevard restaurant on Northwestern Highway from 430 to 6 o'clock.
32:26
[SPEAKER_04]: We're pairing it with our back-to-school for teachers.
32:28
[SPEAKER_04]: So we'll have teaching classroom resources in addition to the first 20 people who come in as a teacher with their current school ID.
32:37
[SPEAKER_04]: We'll buy them appetizers and up to $20.
32:43
[SPEAKER_04]: as well as bringing your ideas show up.
32:46
[SPEAKER_04]: You'll get a bonus teacher get as supplies last.
32:50
[SPEAKER_04]: And then there's, what's that Thursday Friday?
32:54
[SPEAKER_04]: $5 Friday another day for you to pour back into the teachers.
32:58
[SPEAKER_04]: Another day I'm matching the first $500 in donations.
33:01
[SPEAKER_04]: Me, the founder, director, you know, put your money where your mouth is.
33:04
[SPEAKER_04]: And then on Saturday, our final event is our everyday TST,
33:10
[SPEAKER_04]: Uh, bubble walk community bubble walk on the Dequinder cut and something like what's a bubble walk?
33:16
[SPEAKER_04]: Well, everybody can walk, but I wanted to put a different spin on it.
33:20
[SPEAKER_04]: So we started bringing bubbles and it's just an amazing experience to see adults and children.
33:27
[SPEAKER_04]: blowing bottles and it's fun to be on the cut because you'll have to worry about traffic, the kids to run and play.
33:33
[SPEAKER_04]: You have different art activations down there.
33:35
[SPEAKER_04]: It's just a really nice experience.
33:37
[SPEAKER_04]: We started this last year that kids have fun, adults have fun.
33:40
[SPEAKER_04]: We're only going to be out there for about 45 minutes.
33:43
[SPEAKER_04]: It starts at 10 o'clock a.m. on the 29th and we wrap up by like I said 11 o'clock.
33:52
[SPEAKER_04]: We have the bubbles.
33:53
[SPEAKER_04]: If you register in advance, we make sure we have bubbles in water for everyone and that event as well if teachers show up and they bring their ID will have some special gifts and we'll have a few resources as well.
34:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Like school ID or because I don't have a teacher teacher.
34:09
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm a teacher.
34:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you.
34:10
[SPEAKER_04]: No, but I can make one.
34:17
[SPEAKER_04]: teachers show up when they're ID again.
34:20
[SPEAKER_04]: We will have a special gift for them.
34:22
[SPEAKER_04]: So it's all about again awareness and fundraising.
34:26
[SPEAKER_04]: We want people more people to know that we exist as well as help us help teachers and help school communities.
34:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely.
34:34
[SPEAKER_01]: And in terms of, so as you were talking about that, I think about obviously back to school season and I'm wondering for you all, if you had any advice, I'm thinking about, I know a lot of younger teachers that's earlier in career around my age, but anybody who's getting prepared for it, well, especially working with the youth, but anybody's getting prepared to teach anything this far, what advice do you have for people to be able to have a strong start to the year that's going to be able to help kind of carry you on through like the dog day,
35:06
[SPEAKER_04]: Well, as a teacher, I had to put the teachers to things once.
35:10
[SPEAKER_04]: Start the way you want to finish.
35:12
[SPEAKER_04]: Ironically, I was at a teacher event last weekend, and that was a question.
35:17
[SPEAKER_04]: Someone, one of the teachers mentioned how she was trying to get her classroom management in order.
35:23
[SPEAKER_04]: She's like, yeah, come in.
35:24
[SPEAKER_04]: And then you know, I'm real nice to first, no, you start the way you want to finish.
35:29
[SPEAKER_04]: You got to go in there with your classroom management firm and you have to be consistent.
35:35
[SPEAKER_04]: I think that is one of the major keys to success when it comes to classroom management for you, and for your students because we graphically a lot of our students come from spaces where they don't have consistency.
35:48
[SPEAKER_04]: and they don't have structure regretfully.
35:50
[SPEAKER_04]: So when they come in your room and if they know what each day we do this, we do that in the structure and your consistent, you're not up and down and all over the place with your own emotions and things like that, it creates a better learning space environment for everyone about, like say healthy teachers make better teachers.
36:09
[SPEAKER_04]: So, start the way you want to finish and just make sure you make some time for yourself.
36:14
[SPEAKER_04]: One of the things that I implemented in the last like five years of my career, I call it the Sacred Saturdays where I took one day out of the week.
36:23
[SPEAKER_04]: You know, we want to get spiritual gossip, you need it a day at rest.
36:27
[SPEAKER_04]: I took one day out of the week that I did absolutely no work.
36:30
[SPEAKER_04]: I don't care, unless it was like something that was totally mandatory, I would get fired, it had nothing to do with work.
36:39
[SPEAKER_04]: I had a day to sit around because it was Saturday, and it was the busiest day of the week because you have all these things going on with family, but it was the fact that I took that day and made myself, my family, all those things of priority outside of work, and that way I felt rejuvenated like on Sunday at least that I did have a day to do, rather that to sit down, or I was running around, that had nothing to do with work.
37:02
[SPEAKER_04]: Work.
37:03
[SPEAKER_04]: So take a day for yourself, ideally, if you can, once a week.
37:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I would say sure up your preparation and your planning so that routines and implementation is well planned out and definitely working on building relationships because if you don't have those relationships, you can't reach anyone that or teach anyone if you can't reach them.
37:34
[SPEAKER_02]: So that's very important.
37:38
[SPEAKER_03]: detail to what they say.
37:39
[SPEAKER_03]: The two words that suck out to me was consistency and then relationship.
37:43
[SPEAKER_03]: I think if you have those two ingredients, be consistent, build relationships.
37:49
[SPEAKER_03]: That's power in that.
37:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
37:52
[SPEAKER_01]: And one thing that I definitely want to make sure that I touch on because for me, I always got good grades, but at certain points in time are specifically like,
38:01
[SPEAKER_01]: that once I got comfortable in school, I became a problem.
38:04
[SPEAKER_01]: I had a smart mouth.
38:05
[SPEAKER_01]: So, I would be giving my teachers or some teachers trouble.
38:12
[SPEAKER_01]: So, I'm wondering how do you handle challenging minds or the people who want to test you or try against their socials?
38:24
[SPEAKER_04]: Sure, yeah, gangster, that's a good one.
38:25
[SPEAKER_01]: You like our knowledge, we was outside this classroom.
38:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, because I like what I do and I want to keep doing it.
38:32
[SPEAKER_01]: This is how I got to handle it.
38:35
[SPEAKER_04]: Well, of course, as you stated earlier on, there's a lot of years of experience here.
38:40
[SPEAKER_04]: So I'm sure we all have quite a few stories.
38:43
[SPEAKER_04]: And I think one of the common threads at my career in terms of the challenging students, because Lord knows you have them every year, sometimes more
38:53
[SPEAKER_04]: I would say, just trying to find a space meeting, you know, half way point, we could like agree on some things and recognize in, of course, that we're the adults and they're the students.
39:07
[SPEAKER_04]: And no matter what they do, we still have to be the adults.
39:10
[SPEAKER_04]: But again, just trying to meet them where they're at and figure out why, you know, you may not know why, but figure out a way to help them just.
39:19
[SPEAKER_04]: uh, have an easier time in your classroom a better time and build that relationship to the to the best of your ability where you can have a meeting other minds and some shape upon.
39:31
[SPEAKER_04]: It may not work all the time, but you know, at least you're trying.
39:36
[SPEAKER_04]: Don't give up.
39:36
[SPEAKER_04]: You're just like, figure out a way in looking out.
39:40
[SPEAKER_04]: Mm-hmm.
39:42
[SPEAKER_02]: Estatlishing very strong consequences for will not I wouldn't say strong, but firm consequences That they understand why there there's a consequence, but that I am here to help you to support you But if you make this choice, then this is your consequence and so if you have relationships children generally will understand that so
40:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, I think, you know, getting to know their story?
40:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes.
40:23
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, I think kids come into the classroom with so many things, but sometimes there's so much going on in their lives and I experience that even with high school kids and I would, you know, getting to know their story helps you better understand how to reach them and to take that.
40:42
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, sometimes they just need a moment.
40:43
[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, one of the things I would always tell kids, if you haven't a bad day, just let me know.
40:48
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, let me know, walk through the door.
40:50
[SPEAKER_03]: Hey, it's one of those days this morning.
40:51
[SPEAKER_03]: Could miss you because you know, a lot of kids are getting their siblings ready in the morning, feeding their siblings in the morning.
40:56
[SPEAKER_03]: They have so many things in today's world that, you know, we, I didn't have to deal with growing up.
41:03
[SPEAKER_03]: So, you know, just understanding their story, I think a little bit sometimes can help you better understand how to work with them.
41:10
[SPEAKER_03]: And, you know, meet them where they are, you know, because it's not just about curriculum, it's about their whole story, right?
41:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think people forget that teachers who want students themselves.
41:24
[SPEAKER_01]: So, what are you seeing in a truck before?
41:26
[SPEAKER_04]: I had to smartmole.
41:27
[SPEAKER_04]: I was shy.
41:28
[SPEAKER_03]: Remember I said that about five times.
41:30
[SPEAKER_03]: So I was talking too much.
41:41
[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, that wasn't I was I was the kid that
42:01
[SPEAKER_03]: I was a nerd.
42:02
[SPEAKER_03]: I was sit with the kids at the table and nobody else sat with it.
42:05
[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, really.
42:06
[SPEAKER_03]: I was just, I don't know.
42:08
[SPEAKER_03]: So that's why people help and you find find my way through and find my voice was very instrumental for me.
42:15
[SPEAKER_03]: But yeah.
42:16
[SPEAKER_03]: That's hard to believe.
42:17
[SPEAKER_03]: You're so cool now.
42:18
[SPEAKER_03]: All right.
42:19
[SPEAKER_03]: Exactly.
42:21
[SPEAKER_04]: Exactly.
42:22
[SPEAKER_04]: And that's why you do such a wonderful job of helping other students.
42:29
[SPEAKER_01]: So in terms of like being able to help continue to help teachers with their overall wellness and well being, that's something that is often from conversations that I've had over the years often kind of put last when it comes to the people and education, I think, because of the workflow and also possibly the demeanor and some of the innate abilities of someone who wants
42:59
[SPEAKER_01]: put yourself last in on the back burner.
43:00
[SPEAKER_01]: So I want to ask you all why is a teacher wellness so much more important or emphasize.
43:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously you are doing the work to be able to support with that, but why should that be of more important in today's society?
43:16
[SPEAKER_04]: Well, one thing, just as we mentioned with students, is so much going on in the world today, people have so many things that they're carrying with them, that again, I can't say enough, like the teachers, person fillings, and all of those things impacts the learning.
43:34
[SPEAKER_04]: And so we want them to show up for students, we want them to show up and build these relationships and all those things, but if they're not right, if if their life is totally chaotic and nobody's pouring into them and they just like barely from an empty cup showing up.
43:51
[SPEAKER_04]: It impacts everything that goes on in that school and when they're classroom and so I do believe that it's just a matter of it's the time we need to be mindful of that and pour into those teachers so that they can service the students in all of their needs and all the things that are going on with them.
44:10
[SPEAKER_01]: How do you kind of see the ecosystem of, because you're working right if I'm just strictly working with teachers to also work in with families and the students and the parents, which I think is very important as well.
44:23
[SPEAKER_01]: And the forgotten aspect, students learn an education.
44:27
[SPEAKER_01]: What would you say to encourage families to be more involved in their students progression as they're as learners
44:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, like parents get different stuff going on.
44:41
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm sure you all have experienced it where life, you got life going on in the dance.
44:45
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's kind of hard to be at parentage conferences and all that type of stuff.
44:49
[SPEAKER_01]: But what would you say at minimum, would you encourage them to do in order to give their child that much of an age to be able to succeed?
44:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I have that much more juice to be able to succeed in the classroom that may be on.
45:06
[SPEAKER_04]: Well, um, I would say just from my work with the bridge and wellness and learning program right now where we interact with the entire school community do what you can with what you have, you know, graphically oftentimes, you know, in life, especially adults is just so much going on.
45:24
[SPEAKER_04]: You kind of want to pull it back.
45:26
[SPEAKER_04]: But you can't do that when your students are in school because it's so much going on just do what you can and it's amazing how just a little bit of interaction engagement support can go a long way because your students know what you're facing as a child in the house.
45:44
[SPEAKER_04]: They can see what their parents are going through, but again, a little bit can go a long way so do something if it's just show up for one parent to come.
45:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Go to one breeding night do something a little extra to build that bridge between the school and in your household We're a quick my mom would use to get mad at me because I'll make her I want her to go to parent teacher conference and she's like you got good grades And what when I Before I just want you to be there, but yes, I had to I had to throw that in there.
46:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Well the honor rolls to that
46:18
[SPEAKER_04]: You had to go that into the right.
46:24
[SPEAKER_04]: Same was blood.
46:25
[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, of course.
46:25
[SPEAKER_04]: So build a bridge.
46:26
[SPEAKER_04]: Do what you can.
46:27
[SPEAKER_04]: Mm-hmm.
46:28
[SPEAKER_04]: And a little bit counts.
46:30
[SPEAKER_02]: I would say communication is key.
46:33
[SPEAKER_02]: And so a lot of parents, if they can't be there, just say, I can't be there.
46:38
[SPEAKER_02]: Is there something else that I can do?
46:40
[SPEAKER_02]: Hey, I'm willing to cut the resources that the teacher may need like on my lunch break or over the weekend.
46:48
[SPEAKER_02]: So any little piece that they can do to pour into that school or classroom community is important.
46:55
[SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
46:57
[SPEAKER_03]: I love it when Jackie you said, do what you can do when you can do it, right?
47:02
[SPEAKER_03]: No.
47:02
[SPEAKER_03]: That's powerful because, you know, so much is going on in people's homes and the schools, yes.
47:09
[SPEAKER_03]: But it's being present in whatever way you can and now we have so many ways.
47:13
[SPEAKER_03]: If you can't be there at a parent to your conference, virtual phone call, you know, you can do a face time with two people on it.
47:19
[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, just showing up somehow, yeah.
47:22
[SPEAKER_03]: for your kid or I'm thinking about from as a parent with the children showing up somehow, right?
47:29
[SPEAKER_03]: But just, there's so many ways.
47:31
[SPEAKER_03]: Sometimes that one question today.
47:33
[SPEAKER_03]: How was your day?
47:34
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, even through a text.
47:36
[SPEAKER_03]: Now, kids, how was your day today?
47:39
[SPEAKER_04]: You know, you can.
47:41
[SPEAKER_03]: There's just so many ways, but I love that.
47:42
[SPEAKER_03]: Don't what you can when you can, how you can do it, and when you can do it, yeah.
47:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll definitely.
47:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
47:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And real quick, Mr. Dunlath, you are author.
47:51
[SPEAKER_01]: So you have published multiple books, a wordbook, and then also a book of like your journal entries to be able to second talk people through your experience as a teacher.
48:03
[SPEAKER_01]: So I wanted to give you a space to talk about that real quick about your books and do your books or the things that you have
48:11
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay, so as you stated, I started out with my first book, which is basically my story pouring from empty, cracked and leaking cup, and that was again once teacher spiritual journey through education.
48:26
[SPEAKER_04]: So it gave the ups and downs of my career and how I ended up where I am today.
48:30
[SPEAKER_04]: And then there is my a path to wellness, a teacher's workbook.
48:34
[SPEAKER_04]: That is the workbook that we utilize in our workplace wellness program.
48:38
[SPEAKER_04]: that curriculum utilizing all those skills that we built over the years of writing curriculum.
48:44
[SPEAKER_04]: I felt that would put it to use for TSTE and it walks the teachers through our program throughout the year.
48:50
[SPEAKER_04]: In addition to we meet like 10 times, there are more than 10 chapters.
48:54
[SPEAKER_04]: So a number of ways that they can pour into their own well being.
48:59
[SPEAKER_04]: And then the final book is Everyday Wellness Build Your Own Path.
49:04
[SPEAKER_04]: I'm sorry.
49:04
[SPEAKER_04]: I can't remember the next.
49:05
[SPEAKER_04]: 14 for anyone who is an adult looking for ways to enhance their own wellness.
49:12
[SPEAKER_04]: And so we get that book, we always get that book to our parents and our bridging wellness and learning skills.
49:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so you spent years teaching curriculum obviously, and they're building curriculum, but did you ever think that you was going to be a person where the curriculum, like you create the curriculum and other people, got to implement it, because I don't know when college, I thought it was a boss moves, but they were not at the time.
49:30
[SPEAKER_01]: I thought they finessed this when the professor wrote the book
49:36
[SPEAKER_01]: But now I realize I might look as a boss moving, probably how you really like do things at the highest level, economically when you're in academia, but was wondering if you ever thought you would be ever being in this space as often.
49:56
[SPEAKER_04]: But it did work out that way and right, it is a boss move because I was like, Wow, we do continue to buy my book to run this program, but we implement other resources as well, but I do agree that I did not think of that when I wrote the book, I just thought about I wanted to have a resource because the teachers told me that they needed to go deeper and we were only with them so many minutes of day.
50:21
[SPEAKER_04]: and I felt like the best way to do one of the best ways to do that was to provide them with a resource that allowed them to reflect, so there's the reflection questions and all the things and it ties into looking at the actual curriculum that we utilize in the workplace well in a small point.
50:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Very nice.
50:37
[SPEAKER_01]: And as we land the blank, the plane here would like to know for you all what's next for the organization and then what's next to you all individually and what you see in your crystal ball so we can speak into existence and then see it coming to fruition long after the podcast.
50:54
[SPEAKER_01]: So the shack I'm going to start with you and then we'll make no way around.
51:01
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, I just want to continue to do in the work that I do, expand it in the ways that I can look into hopefully, you know, I've reached out to some retired teachers that can help me in the buildings that I'm going into.
51:17
[SPEAKER_03]: So that's a blessing because I can't do it all as hard, you know, you try to bring in people to support.
51:23
[SPEAKER_03]: So that's my goal.
51:24
[SPEAKER_03]: It's just to continue to be able to do the work that I'm doing, you know?
51:28
[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
51:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I would say the same I am approaching retirement in the next four to five years so I do want to finish strong.
51:40
[SPEAKER_02]: Hopefully I will be blessed to finish out the remaining years and then I want to move on to help in another capacity.
51:51
[SPEAKER_02]: So, and I don't know what that is.
51:53
[SPEAKER_02]: Just just me?
51:55
[SPEAKER_02]: Definitely.
51:57
[SPEAKER_02]: Definitely still be with TST.
51:59
[SPEAKER_02]: It's a couple of days.
52:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Years.
52:02
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you guys joined the, we all retired teachers.
52:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
52:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
52:05
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure.
52:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sorry for the time being.
52:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
52:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Join us.
52:10
[SPEAKER_04]: All right, uh, still for teacher support and teachers everywhere, I see us one being able to support more schools more teachers, not just in the Metro Detroit area.
52:22
[SPEAKER_04]: That's where the everywhere comes in.
52:24
[SPEAKER_04]: We've, we've already supported teachers from coast to coast in various ways through our project refuel.
52:29
[SPEAKER_04]: We've sent, uh, the packages all the way to California.
52:34
[SPEAKER_04]: My whole place is in Michigan to continue that work, and potentially five ways to bring on more teachers.
52:44
[SPEAKER_04]: We always look for ambassadors that can really get in and do the program, help us run the program.
52:51
[SPEAKER_04]: And as far as myself going forward, looking forward to hopefully one day, step on the side, that's the executive director, and seeing this work be a caring forward.
53:04
[SPEAKER_01]: And what's the working people reach out if they want to make sure they put in that donation for T.S.T.E.
53:11
[SPEAKER_01]: and if they want to participate in events, get more information working they find you with all the handles where it's like all that good stuff.
53:18
[SPEAKER_04]: Okay, so, of course, everyone Instagram, all things TST, you can check us out there.
53:24
[SPEAKER_04]: The information for the fundraisers, like the, again, the 10 down to Tuesday, find out Friday, we'll be out there.
53:31
[SPEAKER_04]: You could use those platforms, PayPal, cash out and give it a five, as well as we're on Facebook, just put in a teacher supporting teachers, you'll find us, and then, um, my, oh, the website.
53:48
[SPEAKER_04]: kind of eye but teachers number four teachers dot space and that's a whole other conversation but teachers number four teachers dot space or just type in a teacher support teachers nine times out of the team we're going to show up absolutely look for the after apple class you know you're in a right way I mean I'm a facial yes yes exactly
54:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I'm grateful for y'all, I'm grateful for y'all from a personal level.
54:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, but I also appreciate that for the work that you all have been able to do through your own experiences and TST as well.
54:21
[SPEAKER_01]: And thank you for listening to that for letting me be a part of the right from the inception and like going from building the website to you doing one thing and now I grab all of this program.
54:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Going on, it's truly a blessing to be able to see and wish you all a much success in moving forward, and I'm still be there part of the ride.
54:38
[SPEAKER_01]: So, yeah, I'm looking forward to it, being able to do it more.
54:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So, thank you all.
54:42
[SPEAKER_04]: And one other thing, and reason why we came to you just before and teaches, because I always said, no one understood the life of a teacher, like another teacher.
54:50
[SPEAKER_04]: And so, that led me again to the name to just support teachers.
54:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Amen.
54:55
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
54:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Everybody watching listening, we don't tap in with our song, peace.
54:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you, peace.