TL;DR:
- Teachers can repurpose their passion by exploring new opportunities beyond the classroom.
- This requires reflection, reconditioning, remodeling, and restoring.
- Reflect on your vision, recondition your resources, remodel your journey, and restore your joy with intention.
- Embrace change, take risks, and step outside of your comfort zone to make a difference in the lives of students and the education system as a whole.
Redefined Joy
As educators, we are used to being defined by our role in the classroom. It’s our structured routine and it’s the comfortable, contented, safe culture we have built for ourselves and our students year after year. Daily, we take risks, creating an environment that provides freedom to cheer loudly, laugh and cry readily, give generously, and respect differences patiently.
But what happens when you feel the urge to explore beyond the bounds of teaching? How do you continue to have an impact in the next season of your life? Repurposing your passion as a classroom educator does not mean you are exhausted, disgruntled, burned out, or unsatisfied. It is so much more.
It’s time for us to embrace new opportunities and continue to make a difference in the lives of our students and the education system as a whole. Let’s not be afraid to take risks and step outside of our comfort zone. Together, we can navigate this change and continue to make a difference in the lives of our students and the education system as a whole.
So, what does it mean to repurpose your passion as a classroom educator? It requires reflection, reconditioning, remodeling, and restoring. Let’s explore each of these in more detail.
Daily, we take risks, creating an environment that provides freedom to cheer loudly, to laugh and cry readily, to give generously, and to respect differences patiently. Click To TweetRedefined Joy: Reflect on your vision and identify your goal.
The first step in repurposing your passion as a classroom educator is to reflect on your vision and identify your goal. What do you want to achieve? What new opportunities do you want to explore? And what is your passion outside of teaching? Make a vision board, write in a journal, or doodle with colored pencils. Get creative and let your ideas flow.
Redefined Joy: Recondition specific resources and write them down.
Next, it’s time to recondition your resources. You’ve spent years creating lesson plans for your students, Now it’s time to do the same for yourself. Create a choice board and list out your options. Take things that may be obsolete and turn them into something new.
Redefined Joy: Remodel your journey and implement strategies based on informed decisions.
Now that you’ve identified your goals and resources, it’s time to remodel your journey. How can you use your expertise to serve in a new way? Education needs you, and there are so many opportunities to make a difference outside of the traditional classroom. Be a support system and cheerleader for others. Use your coaching skills to help others navigate their own journeys.
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Redefined Joy: Restore your joy with intention.
Finally, it’s important to restore your joy with intention. Take the time to get to know yourself better. What are your internal self-awareness types? Take an enneagram or personality test to gain more insight into your strengths and weaknesses. Set new goals and visions that align with your passions and skills.
Repurposing your passion as a classroom educator requires a willingness to embrace change, take risks, and step outside of your comfort zone.
It requires reflection, reconditioning, remodeling, and restoring.
But with these steps, you can continue to make a difference in the lives of your students and the education system as a whole, all while pursuing your own passions and goals. So, take that first step and start exploring the redefined possibilities today!
About Jillian DuBois
Jillian DuBois currently serves as an elementary school educator in Clearwater, FL. She has worked both in public and private educational settings for over 20 years. Her passion is to initiate, instill, and infuse joy to those in educational leadership through blogs and podcasts. Jillian uses her voice to help foster hope for student equity and empathy. Outside of school, you will find Jillian outdoors, soaking up the sun and surf, or finding new paths to hike with her husband and son. You can visit her website here!
