Home Podcasts Beyond the Classroom with Lisa Harding
Beyond the Classroom with Lisa Harding

Beyond the Classroom with Lisa Harding

Teacher Career Transition Academy 115 Episodes Aug 11, 2026

This podcast supports teachers who want to leave the classroom and find more fulfilling careers. Host Lisa Harding, a former EdTech CEO and certified teacher career coach, draws on over a decade of recruiting and hiring experience to share a proven four-step method. Listeners receive mentorship, practical advice, and inspiration to pursue roles outside education that bring joy and happiness. The show aims to guide teachers toward successful career transitions.

Episodes

#115: What If You’re Going Back to School… But Still Want Out?
#115: What If You’re Going Back to School… But Still Want Out? Aug 11, 2026 00:10:13 Are you getting ready to head back to school… while still knowing deep down that you want a career change?In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m talking to the teachers who are carrying a mix of emotions right now—disappointment, frustration, exhaustion, uncertainty, and maybe even guilt for not having transitioned out yet. We’ll talk about: Why going back to school does NOT mean your transi
#114: The Messy Middle: How Kim Kept Moving Forward When Everything Changed 
#114: The Messy Middle: How Kim Kept Moving Forward When Everything Changed  Aug 4, 2026 00:31:00 What happens when your life falls apart… at the same time you’re trying to rebuild it? When Kim Reed left teaching, it wasn’t part of a carefully planned transition, it was a breaking point. After 14 years as a middle school band director, Kim found herself physically unable to keep going. She didn’t have a plan. She didn’t have a safety net, and she had no idea what was next. In this deeply hones
#113: From Teacher to After School Programmer: A Career as a YMCA Multi-Site Coordinator with Jamie Bulva
#113: From Teacher to After School Programmer: A Career as a YMCA Multi-Site Coordinator with Jamie Bulva Jul 28, 2026 01:01:08 What if leaving the classroom didn’t mean leaving behind the parts of teaching you love?In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Megan Johnson talks with former elementary teacher Jamie Bulva about her transition into a multi-site coordinator role with the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. Jamie shares how she found a career that still allows her to work with children, support staff, and partner with s
#112: What Actually Helps Teachers Get Hired
#112: What Actually Helps Teachers Get Hired Jul 21, 2026 00:12:11 What actually helps teachers get hired during a career transition? In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m breaking down some of the biggest things that genuinely help former teachers gain traction during the job search process—from career clarity and transferable skills to networking, confidence, and becoming “recruiter-ready.” We’ll talk about: Why clarity matters more than random applying 
#111: You Are Not Running Out of Time
#111: You Are Not Running Out of Time Jul 14, 2026 00:09:02 Feeling discouraged because summer is flying by and you still don’t have your career transition fully figured out?In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m talking about the pressure so many teachers feel in July—the panic that starts creeping in when school feels closer, timelines feel shorter, and it seems like everyone else has everything figured out. We’ll talk about: Why career transitions
#110: The Messy Middle: How Sally Found Her New Path, One Step at a Time
#110: The Messy Middle: How Sally Found Her New Path, One Step at a Time Jul 7, 2026 00:32:20 What if the hardest part of your career transition… is how long it takes? For Sally Del Llano, the decision to leave teaching didn’t happen overnight. After nearly two decades in special education, she knew as early as 2016 that she couldn’t sustain the pace long-term. But it would take eight more years of planning, saving, and navigating real-life responsibilities before she was finally able to s
#109: From Teacher to Nonprofit Managing Director with Amber Shields
#109: From Teacher to Nonprofit Managing Director with Amber Shields Jun 30, 2026 00:47:46 After spending 11 years in education, including roles as a kindergarten teacher, third grade teacher, instructional coach, and elementary principal–Amber Shields wasn't actively looking for a new job.But one unexpected phone call from a former colleague changed everything.Today, Amber serves as a Managing Director for a nonprofit organization, where she partners with school districts across he
#108: The Messy Middle: How Christina’s Faith Carried Her Through a Career Breaking Point 
#108: The Messy Middle: How Christina’s Faith Carried Her Through a Career Breaking Point  Jun 23, 2026 00:34:54 After years of navigating an incredibly challenging classroom environment, Christina Howard reached a moment where everything came to a halt—physically, emotionally, and professionally. After enduring some incredibly heavy moments during her teaching career, Christina reached a point where she knew she needed a different path forward. But what came next wasn’t a clear plan or an easy transition. I
#107: Why Your Job Search Might Feel So Draining
#107: Why Your Job Search Might Feel So Draining Jun 16, 2026 00:12:12 Does your job search feel emotionally exhausting lately?In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m talking about why career transitions can feel so mentally and emotionally draining for teachers—and what you can do to make the process feel more manageable. We’ll talk about: Why job searching can trigger overwhelm and burnout  The emotional weight of rejection and uncertainty  How overapplying ca
#106: You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out Yet
#106: You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out Yet Jun 9, 2026 00:11:03 Do you feel stuck because you still don’t know exactly what career you want after teaching? In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m talking about one of the biggest things keeping teachers stuck during a career transition: the belief that you need complete clarity and confidence before you can move forward. We’ll talk about: Why uncertainty is a normal part of career transitions  The pressure
#105: From Teacher to Prison Educator with Samantha Laca
#105: From Teacher to Prison Educator with Samantha Laca Jun 8, 2026 01:17:57 After 10 years teaching elementary school, Samantha Laca reached a breaking point.Like many educators, she loved teaching—but she no longer felt safe, supported, or able to focus on what she entered the profession to do. Increasing behavioral challenges, safety concerns, and growing frustration with the traditional school environment led her to explore an unexpected alternative.Today, Samantha wor
#104: The 5 Things I’d Focus On If I Were Transitioning This Summer
#104: The 5 Things I’d Focus On If I Were Transitioning This Summer May 26, 2026 00:12:50 Feeling overwhelmed by everything you could be doing this summer for your career transition? In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, I’m breaking down the 5 things I would focus on if I were transitioning out of teaching this summer—without trying to do everything at once or burning out in the process. We’ll talk about: Why career clarity should come before mass applying  How to start positioning

Recommended