As we embark on this new year, I want you to think about what you really want. Then believe– KNOW– that this is possible. Before setting goals and making progress towards what we want to achieve, we need to really see the possibilities in front of us.

So often, we talk ourselves out of doing what we want to do. I talked myself out of building Educator Forever for years. People will think I’m trying to take teachers away from teaching, I thought. I have a young baby at home, I reasoned. I know nothing about building a business, I told myself.

But there will always be excuses. ALWAYS. And we can always move through them to do the things we want to do. So the first thing I want you to think about is: What do you really want to do?

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode117.

Dr. Bibi Pirayesh is a learning specialist and educational therapist who has been in private practice for over 15 years. works with children in grades one through 12, and covers a wide range of learning difficulties, including dyslexia, ADHD and spectrum disorders. While the emphasis of her work is on remediating learning disabilities in a one on one setting, she is also a sought after speaker and community advocate for children and families around learning rights.

In this episode, Dr. Pirayesh and I discuss the need for educators to resist oppressive systems and promote social justice, particularly in the context of disability. She also mentions her project, "Difference is Not Deficit," aimed at fostering community and radical love. Pirayesh also advises teachers to pursue educational therapy to enhance their teaching skills and better support students with learning disabilities.

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode116.

Khiana Wheeler leveraged her 15-year career in banking to seamlessly transition into education, bringing strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills to her role as a middle school science teacher. Passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences, she pivoted to curriculum writing and instructional design, where she applies her unique blend of industry and teaching expertise to develop engaging, standards-aligned content.

In this episode Khiana and I discuss how she found joy in curriculum development, how her teaching experience has helped her career and the importance of freelancing. (Excuse us for some of the technical difficulties, we had Internet issues.)

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode115.