Struggle for Change

Join us as we discuss AI's impact on education access and how it may or may not meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.

Are you an education professional or a student struggling? Email us at struggleforchangepodcast@gmail.com. We would love to hear your story.

Here is a throwback to March of 2020, when Traci sat down with Diane Main in a heart-felt interview addressing her personal struggles with mental health as an education professional.

It’s not just authors feeling the pressure of book-banning movements. Through this current uptick in school and public library censorship, students are missing opportunities to hone their critical thinking skills as readers and teachers facing barriers to providing a well-rounded curriculum for students.

Join us as for a meaningful conversation around normalizing mental health management as an education professional. Tory shares with us his own raw and honest approach to managing mental health, and how it has made him a stronger educator and more-grounded human.

We hope you find some strategies that you can apply tomorrow.

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?

Join us for a conversation with school media specialist and librarian Mary, who left the elementary classroom to better support teachers in a changing tech landscape. After 20 years or so in the elementary classroom, Mary took advantage of an opportunity to transition to the school Media Center as a librarian, where she supports teachers with innovative, (mostly) tech-centered and relevant approaches to lesson design.

According to Traci, this is a must-listen episode.

A conversation with Ashley, a public middle school teacher, doing her best to meet students where they are, both emotionally and academically. She struggled last year with her 8th-grade students not meeting the academic standards to proficiently "graduate."

Most importantly, we talk about the awesome ways in which she HAS achieved success in helping students do their best and be their best. We also discuss the opportunity for schools to better support the mental health of teachers so they can be their best for students.

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?

Emily Hendricks (@eh48), Traci Bonde (@tr_bo), and Valerie Sun (@mllevalsunshine) transport you to a Zen space known more commonly as a wellness room that was piloted at #FallCUE and brought fully to life at #SpringCUE with the support of Axiom. The space appealed to all senses with activities, décor, and furniture intentionally placed. While that space described was at a conference, the hosts discussed the reality of wellness rooms on school campuses. What’s the school culture around the use of the wellness rooms? What kind of guidelines or culture will there need to be for this new space? Don’t forget the funding necessary. Join us, lean in, take a deep breath, and give yourself a bit of rest.

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?

Here’s the first episode of pocket change, where the discussion is short and sweet, for those with less time to listen. Valerie (@MlleValSunshine) shared the awesomeness of the wellness room at the #SpringCUE Conference in Palm Springs with Emily (@eh48) who wasn’t able to attend this year. They share this innovative model and the need for a wellness room at conferences where attendees can have a space to rest in a mentally and physically draining setting. Together, they dream of having this kind of space on school campuses where students can have the chance to relax. Do you have a wellness room on your school campus or workspace? Let us know!

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?

Emily (@eh48) in California, chats with Brianna in Michigan, who has been passionate about music and was on track to earn her undergraduate degree in music with an interest in becoming a teacher. In her second year of college, her classes were moved online due to COVID safety and restrictions. She pivoted to another passion - cosmetology. Tune in as she shares the stigma of alternative education and the joy she has every day in her profession.

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?

In this episode, Traci Bonde (@tr_bo) starts a conversation with Joe Ayala (@joeayala) in regards to his 2022 CITE Conference session about resilient leaders. He shares his process to prepare for the session, the reasons for demonstrating his vulnerability, and the practices he continues with to ensure his mental health. Tune in to find ways to self regulate and to stay grounded.

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?

Traci Bonde (@tr_bo) kicks off this episode by sharing her professional background and the realization that she needed to create boundaries in order to maintain balance. She shares the small changes she has made and the ways she protects her time and productivity. Emily Hendricks (@eh48) shares the self-care steps she has taken to recharge from different work environments. Valerie Sun (@mllevalsunshine) reflects on the demands of teaching and educators wanting to do it all to be the best teacher at a high physical, emotional, and mental cost. They recognize that good mental health doesn't require big vacations or frequent getaways. Daily, small changes in our habits can provide high dividends in happiness and better social, emotional, mental, and physical health.

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?

Emily Hendricks (@eh48) begins this episode with a reflection on the difficulties of making a transition and listening to her gut when it comes to making changes. Traci Bonde (@tr_bo) compares transitory steps to the stages of grief. Valerie Sun (@mllevalsunshine) points out that everything we do is hard when it is not part of our regular routine. Join us in this discussion about making changes in our lives, if there is a possibility for systemic change in education, and how we can all be better “listeners of our gut.”

We’re 3 years into the progression of COVID where some of us feel like it’s a thing of the past and others are still diligently masked and taking precautions. Traci Bonde (@tr_bo), Emily Hendricks (@eh48), and Valerie Sun (@mllevalsunshine) explore the effects of our post-COVID collective “whiplash” that we witness in our classrooms and workplaces, setting boundaries for our own benefit, and the fact that there is no “normal” for us to return to in this post-shutdown time.

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?

Traci Bonde (@tr_bo), Emily Hendricks (@eh48), and Valerie Sun (@mllevalsunshine) come back together for Season 3, after several months of podcast hiatus, to share the news: We’re still here and we’re still struggling. This short and sweet episode shares thoughts for future episodes.

Valerie (@mllevalsunshine) speaks with Jen Young (@msyoung428) about the positive things that have come out because of COVID and distance learning. In a previous episode, she gave us a run-down of her struggle with managing mental health issues while teaching. This is a follow-up episode to see how things are going! She talks about making connections with her students from last year and this year through Lunch Bunch meetings and the support she has received from her district for her mental health. She also explains her new-found confidence in fighting the challenges of being a person of color in public education by taking on leadership roles within her school, district, and teacher union.

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?

In this episode, Traci has an unscripted conversation with Danny Hauger (@DannyHauger). Danny is host of the podcast "Inspiring Teachers Show" (@ShowTeachers), as well as a broadcast professional and high school educator. He talks about about how he found ways to be super positive when we entered the shutdown in March of 2020. He shares his approach to trying to make his course a safe & fun destination through the spring and for the 2021 school year.

Are you someone with a story about a struggle related to education?