097: Resilience and Reflection: Educator Stories from the Pandemic with Candy Allen and Julie Clay

Welcome to Rock Your Shine: After you’ve been cracked wide open. On this show, I sit down with people from all over the world to hear their transformational stories on their deep grief and loss journeys. 

This episode was taped before the podcast L.E.A.P was rebranded to Rock Your Shine: After you've been cracked wide open. This episode was held to coincide with an interview on news channel 6 that aired on Monday, June 26, 2023. Here is a link to the news story for those of you who are interested. It's a 4-minute clip:    • She left behind h

In this episode, teachers Candy and Julie share about the challenges, resilience, and hope they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. They share their personal journey as retired teachers, shedding light on the profound impact the pandemic has had on their lives and the education system.

The discussion revolves around the top 5 challenges faced by educators during the pandemic. From adapting to remote learning and grappling with technology at the onset to transitioning from traditional classrooms to home environments, these dedicated professionals candidly recount their experiences and the resilience required to navigate these unprecedented obstacles.

The episode also explores the crucial aspect of nurturing their own mental health. They share the strategies they employed to prioritize self-care amidst the emotional demands of teaching during a pandemic. They reflect on the importance of support systems for educators and the need for comprehensive assistance to help them thrive in the face of adversity.

Ultimately, the conversation concludes on a note of hope. The educators share how these events have changed their lives and imparted valuable lessons learned. They discuss their interpretations of hope and highlight the resilient spirit that has emerged from the challenges. 

Julie taught for 39 years: Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, and Fourth Grade. Candy taught 2nd & 3rd grades for 32 years and retired in the spring of 2021 after a rich, rewarding, and fun career. 

**TRIGGER WARNING** This episode covers sensitive subject matter and is not suitable for all listeners. If this topic could be a trigger for you, listen to this episode with a friend, a sibling, a loved one or a parent so you can talk about any emotions that come up for you. The contents of this episode are not intended to replace therapy and should not be taken as such. If you need immediate help, please call the crisis hotline listed below in our resources.

Listen in as we talk about:

[1:20] Candy and Julie's backgrounds

[3:30] Top 5 challenging experiences being an educator during COVID

[6:10] Challenges with technology

[10:30] Transitioning from school to home

[13:40] Was there grace given to learn these new teaching models?

[18:20] Nurturing their own mental health 

[23:30] The support in place for teachers

[26:55] How these events have changed and impacted their lives

[32:55] What did self love mean before the pandemic and what does it mean now

[35:20] Hope is…

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Mining-River-Sibling-Grief/dp/1732888892/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Rock+On%3A+Mining+for+joy&qid=1570199126&sr=8-1 

L.E.A.P 6 week virtual course: https://rockyourshine.com/l-e-a-p-into-light-and-healing-6-week-virtual-course/

BetterHelp

Go to https://betterhelp.com/rockyourshine for 10% off your first month of therapy with
BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help. #sponsored

Grief Hotline: 

https://www.griefresourcenetwork

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