Teachers in Transition: Career Change and Real Talk for Burned-Out Teachers
Burned out in the classroom? You’re not alone—and you’re not stuck.
Teachers in Transition: Career Change and Real Talk for Burned-Out Teachers is the podcast for educators who’ve given everything to their students—and now need to give something back to themselves.
Hosted by Vanessa Jackson, a former teacher who transitioned into the staffing and hiring industry, this show blends honest conversations, practical strategy, and deep emotional support. Vanessa knows exactly how burned-out educators can reposition themselves and stand out to recruiters because she’s been on both sides of the hiring table.
Each episode offers real talk and real tools to help you explore what’s next—whether that’s a new job, a new identity, or a new sense of peace.
💼 Career advice for teachers leaving education
💡 Practical job search tips, resume help, and mindset shifts
🧠 Real talk about burnout, grief, and rebuilding
You’ve given enough. It’s time to build a life that gives back.
👉 Learn more at https://teachersintransition.com
Episodes
302 episodes
The Testing Tax: Why Teachers Are So Tired Right Now
This week, Vanessa talks about a tax no one warns teachers about: the hidden toll of testing season. If you are extra tired right now, emotionally thin, strangely drained, or wondering why you still feel exhausted after a weekend, this episode ...
You’re Not Starting Over: How Teachers Actually Transition Careers
If you’re a teacher thinking about leaving the classroom but feeling stuck because you “don’t know what you would do,” this episode is for you. In this episode, Vanessa breaks down one of the biggest myths in career tr...
Should You Leave Teaching This Year? What to Know First
Teachers are more valuable than you’ve been told, and if you feel like you’ve lost your sparkle, it might not be you… it might just be the lighting. This week, Vanessa shares a story about Llanite, one of the rarest ro...
Designed for a World That Doesn’t Exist: Why Education Is Breaking Teachers
An AI robot named Plato got pitched as the future of classrooms… and Vanessa is not buying it. In this episode, she breaks down why teaching can’t be automated, why things like Plato keep showing up, shares a junk-mail hack that saves your sani...
Get Taken Seriously Outside the Classroom (Working Girl)
Ever been told, “You’re just a teacher”… and felt your stomach drop?This episode is your reminder that “just a teacher” is not a truth — it’s a label that makes your skills invisible.In today’s Moviesode, Vanessa uses the 1988...
Career Quizzes Won’t Save You (Here’s What Will)
If you’re a burned-out teacher wondering how to leave teaching but you don’t have clarity yet, this episode is your nervous system’s permission slip to slow down and get oriented—before you start “fixing your resume” for a job you don’t even wa...
Why Leaving Teaching Makes Career Change Feel So Hard
Why do capable teachers often feel anxious about leaving the classroom? It may have less to do with confidence and more to do with cognitive overload. In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa ...
Why Your First Job Applications Don’t Work (And That’s Normal)
What do pancakes have to do with changing careers?More than you might think.Anyone who has ever made pancakes knows the truth: the first pancake is almost always a mess. The pan isn’t quite hot enough. The batter spreads oddly. Yo...
Fear, Burnout, and a Smarter Job Search Strategy for Teachers
In this episode of Teachers in Transition, we’re talking about the fear that shows up when you’re ready to leave teaching—and what to do when you’ve been applying for jobs and hearing nothing back.You’ll learn how to stop letting fear ru...
You’re Not Crazy – You’re Just in the Wrong System
Big Rocks, Small Peeps, and What ATS Systems Really Do to Teacher ResumesIn this episode, Vanessa talks about the physics of “yes” and “no,” how scope creep quietly expands your workload, a Peeps-inspired morale hack, and a deep...
Why Teachers Get Called “Difficult” — And Why That Might Be a Good Thing
What if being labeled “difficult” wasn’t a flaw — but a sign that you refused to walk away from your integrity?In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa continues her anti-shame crusade with a powerful conversation about boundar...
When Burnout Isn’t the Full Story: CPTSD and Chronic Stress in Teaching
Many teachers don’t leave the classroom and instantly feel better—because your nervous system doesn’t clock out just because you did.In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa unpacks Complex PTSD (CPTSD) in a pra...
On a Scale of 1–10: How Bad Is Your Teaching Pain Right Now?
Are you a teacher who feels constantly stressed, exhausted, or overwhelmed—but can’t quite explain why it feels so heavy? In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa Jackson uses a familiar question—“On a ...
Career Clarity for Teachers: The Carrie Fisher Method - Encore Presentation
Boundaries, Burnout, and Why You Shouldn’t Write Scripted Lesson Plans at Home”Are you a teacher on the edge of burnout, wondering if your skills have value outside the classroom? You're not alone—and this encore episode ...
You’re Not Lazy. You’re Exhausted. (Encore Presentation)
Originally aired in May 2024, this encore episode might just be more relevant now in January 2026. If your New Year energy already feels like it’s running on fumes, take this as your permission slip to pause.Vanessa explores the...
The Power of No - Encore presentation
In this encore episode, Vanessa breaks down how learning to say no can help teachers reclaim their time, sanity, and future. If you’ve ever felt guilty turning things down or stuck in the cycle of "yes" to everything—this one’s for you...
Don’t Stall Out: The Hope-Habit Combo That Keeps You Moving in 2026
What if your job search had an engine—and you just needed to spark it? In this episode of Teachers in Transition, host Vanessa Jackson (former middle school teacher turned career transition coach) breaks down the power of ho...
The Power of One Word: A Teacher’s Guide to Building Momentum After Burnout
Are you standing at the edge of a new year wondering which way to go and how far you'll go? In this Teachers in Transition episode, Vanessa Jackson invites teachers, career changers, and dream‑seekers to discover their Word of the Year...
End-of-Year Burnout Recovery for Teachers (That Doesn’t Involve Resolutions)
Feeling burned out, used up, or overwhelmed as the year ends? You are not alone.In this Christmas Eve episode, Vanessa wraps up the “12 Gifts of Christmas” series with the final three gifts every teacher needs heading into a new y...
You Can’t Make Everyone Happy (And You Don’t Have To)
Episode SummaryEver feel like no matter what you do—someone’s unhappy? As a teacher, it can feel like your job is to keep kids, parents, admin, and coworkers content... all while your own needs take a back seat.In this ...
Holiday Chaos, Career Clarity, and the Gift of Grace for Burned-Out Teachers
Feeling maxed out this December? You’re not alone. In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa Jackson dives into the real root of burnout — capacity overload — and offers three powerful tools to help you begin rebuildi...
Three Gifts Every Burned-Out Teacher Needs Right Now: Not a Wishlist. A Survival Kit
Episode Summary:December isn’t just tinsel and teacher mugs. It’s also the season when most educators crash - emotionally, physically, and financially. In this powerful kickoff to her “12 Gifts of Christmas” series, this episode d...
“No. You Move.” What Captain America’s Moral Stand Means for Burned-Out Educators
What happens when doing the right thing costs you everything? In this final chapter of the Captain America trilogy, Vanessa unpacks Civil War as a reflection of the teacher’s moral stand—when institutions fail, trust fractures, and sta...
Why The Winter Soldier is a Blueprint for Burned-Out Teachers
This week on Teachers in Transition, Vanessa Jackson uses Captain America: The Winter Soldier to unpack what it means to serve a mission—even when the system behind it is broken. From heli-carriers to hall passes, this episode...
You Didn’t Become a Teacher to Be a Babysitter: Reclaiming Purpose in the Classroom — and Beyond
In this powerful kickoff to a 3-part Captain America series, Vanessa Jackson unpacks what makes Steve Rogers more than just a superhero — and how his journey mirrors that of so many teachers today. From being paraded as a symbol to reclaiming h...