After ten years of teaching chemistry and dreading a future of 25-35 years of the same job, Lorraine Connell applied for a middle management position, only to be met with disappointment when she was not chosen. Without waning support from the administration, Lorraine had to innovate to find a way to enjoy teaching and challenge her students.
"It was five years later where something landed in my lap, and I felt that same excitement that I had felt that first week that I told you, where I burst into tears. So my mentor was moving on, and he was teaching a class called Peer leadership. And so it was student leadership development, and kids were actually given course credit to learn leadership skills. And this, in addition to my chemistry class, just changed everything for me. I felt really connected again. I was happy."
Lorraine was a successful chemistry teacher for many years and loved her job. She connected with her students and was passionate about her subject matter. However, she felt it was time to move on to something else. After applying for a middle management position, Lorraine was devastated when she was not chosen.
For the next five years, Lorraine felt less and less supported by her administration. In 2018, however, she was given the opportunity to teach a student leadership class. This allowed her to make more authentic connections with her students and rediscover her love for teaching.
Lorraine is now the owner of Peers not Fears, LLC, and a veteran educator of over 20 years. She works with schools and youth-serving organizations to coach educators and students and is the host of the podcast Education Unimagined. In 2022, Lorraine left her full-time chemistry teaching job to work with interested schools, families, and communities to develop more equitable access and empowerment of students.
Lorraine's story is an inspiring one. It's proof that making a career change is possible and that it can lead to amazing opportunities. To learn more about Lorraine's story and hear from current and past students about their educational experiences, check out Education Unimagined Podcast. To learn more about Peers not Fears, LLC and their work, visit www.peers-not-fears.com.
Don't let fear hold you back from making a change - you never know what opportunities might come your way. So take a chance and make the shift.
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Other episodes you'll enjoy:
From Public to Private: This Teacher's Story of Finding Fulfillment | Jackie Scully
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