Unlock Your Teaching Potential

Have a question for the show? Text us here!Struggling with adult ADHD? Feeling overlooked by doctors and mental health professionals? There's a place for you here.In this episode, I got to delve into an enlightening conversation with Shane Thrapp, a certified ADHD life coach and advocate. His personal journey with ADHD has empowered him to help others like him find their unique purpose and steer through the ordinary bustle of daily life.Shane shares his frustration with the lack of information and support for adults with ADHD and how he became an advocate for the condition. We discuss the importance of self-advocacy in seeking a diagnosis and treatment and how individuals with ADHD can navigate professional environments by identifying their strengths and needs and communicating them to HR.A focal point of our discourse was the imperative of spreading education among parents, teachers, and students about neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD and autism. This consciousness can be a cornerstone in crafting a society that welcomes differences and fosters understanding and acceptance.So, are you ready to take the reins of your ADHD and become your own advocate? Tune into this conversation with Shane Thrapp, and gain a fresh perspective on adult ADHD, self-advocacy, and education. Stay empowered,JenLet’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | LinktreeInstagram: @jenrafferty_Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty RoomAbout Shane:Shane Thrapp is a Certified ADHD Life, Relationship, and Career Coach. He is the founder of Creating Order From Chaos, an ADHD coaching and consultation business aimed at empowering individuals with ADHD to discover their true purpose and conquer their goals. Alongside his work with individuals, he collaborates with businesses, facilitating their understanding of neurodivergence and implementing necessary accommodations.In addition to his coaching endeavors, he holds the position of Operations Director for the nonprofit Men's ADHD Support Group, and he also proudly serves as a board member for the Inattentive ADHD Coalition. Through these roles, he passionately advocates for ADHD awareness through public-speaking and podcast or YouTube appearances.His mission is to make a lasting impact in the lives of neurodivergent people, guiding them on their unique journeys through the chaos of life with ADHD, and empowering businesses to provide the support that neurodivergent people deserve.Connect with Shane:Website: creatingorderfromchaos.comFacebook: Creating Order From Chaos ConsultingIG: @creatingorderfromchaosconsultStay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com/resources Instagram: @jenrafferty_ Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room

Gidget Galore educates us on Drag Queen Story Hour and its impact on fostering inclusivity. Gidget Galore and Ginger Minj share their stories of resilience, reminding us of the power of celebrating diversity. They discuss growing up in small towns, overcoming bullying, and the importance of community. They also highlight the need to spread happiness and embrace individuality.

Have a question for the show? Text us here!Do you feel like your students hate the idea of going to school? Are you running out of ideas to keep them engaged and excited about learning new things? In this episode, I had a conversation with Elijah Carbajal, a teacher whose main drive is to make school a place for students to love. We dive into how he views school culture and how he transforms the teaching norms into what young kids would understand.Elijah emphasizes how much better learning could be by using language or games or pop culture references that kids would understand. And by telling captivating stories and incorporating the subject matter within it as moral lessons, the students are kept engaged and wanting for more. As his book says, school becomes “A Place They Love.”We also talked about the ways of keeping the school fun, engaging, and safe, and we challenged the notion that learning can either be fun or rigorous and hard. Elijah dials in on the truth that when things get more fun, learning becomes even more rigorous, except it becomes less hard and more engaging for the students. Elijah’s stories will encourage you to be bolder, more creative, and more engaged with your students more than ever. Ready to transform your classroom into a place that the students will love? Tune in to this episode filled with inspiring stories and valuable takeaways!Stay empowered,JenLet’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | LinktreeInstagram: @jenrafferty_Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty RoomAbout Elijah:Elijah is a teacher, like his mom, uncle, and grandparents before him. He has been teaching in the state of New Mexico since 2014, currently working in the Albuquerque Public School district. Elijah enjoys podcasting about all things educational and listening to podcasts created by his friends in education, some of which he has been honored to be a guest on. He is the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast and the author of the book A Place They Love: Creating a Healthy School Culture and Positively Impacting Students. Elijah strives to make school a place that students love to be at by creating fun, safe, and engaging experiences and environments for all students. By challenging the norms of what education should look, act, and feel like, Elijah has created exciting opportunities for authentic learning to take place. Outside of the classroom, he can be found running, listening to or creating music, reading, or relaxing with his cat, Nala.Connect with Elijah:Twitter: @carbaeliIG: @carbaeliTranscriptStay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com/resources Instagram: @jenrafferty_ Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room

Have a question for the show? Text us here!Are you tired of the duality of either continuing to drink or being completely sober? While the road to sobriety is important and valid, there needs to be a different conversation that allows for freedom and responsibility.In this episode, I’m joined by Holly Krivokapich, a life coach on a mission to lead a sober uprising for high performers. Together, we explore the concept of "sober-ish" and how it can be a way to approach alcohol with intention and find a balance that serves your life. We'll also talk about the personal process of getting sober-ish, and the need for educators to talk about this who are using alcohol to self-medicate.Today is all about drinking on purpose and finding a balance that works for you! So, if you’re eager to learn this sober-ish approach, tune in now and take the first step toward a different relationship with alcohol. Stay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | LinktreeInstagram: @jenrafferty_Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty RoomAbout Holly:Holly Krivokapich, a certified coach and founder of Sober·ish Uprising, has done many things over her career. From marketing and communications with the Olympic movement to fundraising for a celebrity foundation to an International TedX speaker coach, her biggest accomplishment is one off the resume. Her sober·ish journey. Holly, a self-proclaimed former heavy drinker starated a sober·ish journey in 2021 and her world has never been the same. She believes you don't have to be an alcoholic to have a drinking problem and that finding freedom from alcohol is the ultimate power move for women. She believes like in all things in life we have to choose a path that works for us and is dedicated to sharing her sober·ish story so that others can see they can create their own path to sober·ish.Connect with Holly:Podcast: Sober·ish UprisingWebsite: hollykrivo.comIG: @hollykrivoTranscriptStay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com/resources Instagram: @jenrafferty_ Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room

Have a question for the show? Text us here!Feeling overwhelmed and stressed out as a teacher? Want to reignite your passion for teaching and make it a truly rewarding experience? You've come to the right place!In this episode, I chat with Brian Mendler, an educator who specializes in helping teachers connect with hard-to-reach kids. We dive into his transition from being a teacher to supporting other educators, and explore the gap between teacher training and real-world classroom experiences.Brian underlines the importance of remembering why we become teachers and shifting our focus towards teaching kids, not just content. He also emphasizes the value of building relationships with students and concentrating on self-improvement.Together, we tackle the challenges of reaching and communicating with students who have unique needs and face different obstacles. Brian shares his personal journey of living with ADHD and struggling with reading, which made school a tough environment for him. He stresses the need to understand and empathize with struggling students, and to find ways to uplift them instead of making them feel defeated.So, if you're eager to make a lasting impact on your students' lives, this episode is packed with valuable insights and motivation. Here’s to transforming your teaching approach and embracing a more joyful and rewarding path! Stay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | LinktreeInstagram: @jenrafferty_Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty RoomAbout Brian:Plagued by severe undiagnosed ADHD and reading difficulties, I began disrupting class in 4th grade. I believed my peers would laugh at me for being “dumb” so I made sure they laughed at me for being “bad” instead. I was defiant, disruptive, and relatively unmotivated. By sixth grade, my academic skills were so below grade level that I was pulled/kicked out of school.During my senior year, I started gambling. The next five years were a cycle of lying, cheating, and stealing to feed my addiction. In 2001 I entered recovery. I am now clean 21 years.Today I am a certified teacher, presenter, and international motivational keynote speaker for educators. I have co/authored seven books, including the best seller, That One Kid, 2nd Edition,  Tips for Teachers, Power Struggles, Turning Tough Parents into Strong Partners, and Stay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com/resources Instagram: @jenrafferty_ Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room

Have a question for the show? Text us here!Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and stressed in the education system? Are you ready to make a real impact and create generational change for our kids? Join me as I interview Veronica Sopher, a renowned school communications leader with over two decades of experience in K-12 leadership. Veronica and I dive into the heart of the problem in education today - the need for appropriate mindset professional development for all adults in schools, not just teachers and leaders.In this episode, we uncover the importance of self-care and reflection in the education system, especially in light of the ever-evolving expectations of parents, teachers, and staff. We explore the impact of COVID-19 on the education system and how we can recalibrate and rebuild for the future.Veronica brings a wealth of knowledge on how to achieve a balance between masculine and feminine energy in leadership by embracing vulnerability. She shares her own experience of wearing pink and how it transformed how people responded to her. We also discuss how mindset professional development can shift traditional structures in education and create new models for the future.If you're ready to reignite your passion for education and be part of the crucial time of school culture building, tune in to this episode of Take Notes. Veronica's wisdom will leave you feeling empowered, inspired, and ready to make a change for the better. Stay empowered,Jen  Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | LinktreeInstagram: @jenrafferty_Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty RoomAbout Veronica:Veronica V. Sopher is a dynamic school communications leader with more than 20 years’ experience in K-12 leadership. She has served as the Chief Communications Officer for several large and mid-sized school districts. Sopher provides leadership, vision, direction and execution of major district communication programs, strategies, events, and activities. She now consults full time in the K-12 Communications space.Sopher believes in the power of selfcare and its dynamic impact on customer service, leadership development and teambuilding, especially in the K-12 space. After years of burning the candle at both ends and pushing herself to achieve, she realized that her physical and mental health were preventing her from creating balance in her home and her two teenage daughters and husband were not getting her best self.Sopher changed course, started investing in herself and reignited her mindset. This shift created a healthier homelife for her family, stronger and more effective productivity for her school district and leadership team and created a passion for sharing her learning with other K-12 leaders.Throughout her career, she has earned numerous professional awards and has led national award-winning teams. Sopher serves as a mentor to several school communications professionals and has held leadership positions for the Texas Schools Public Relations Association, including serving as President in 2021.ConStay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com/resources Instagram: @jenrafferty_ Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room

Have a question for the show? Text us here!Do you ever feel empty or lost deep inside? Are you hungry for more happiness and fulfillment?As we strive to create career success for ourselves, we can get so focused on our job that we forget to slow down and acknowledge our thoughts and feelings, which causes us to feel disconnected from ourselves.So how do you reconnect with yourself?Welcome to episode 34 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty podcast! Today, I’m joined by Ben Yeh. He is an entrepreneur, business/conscious leadership coach and creator of transformations.As you join us today, Ben will share the importance of having a heart-centered approach to your life. By discovering how to slow down, you’ll be able to listen to your intuition which will help you learn about yourself and really understand what makes you happy.Are you ready to embrace a life that empowers you?Stay empowered,Jen  Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | LinktreeInstagram: @jenrafferty_Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room About Ben:Benjamin Yeh is a Business & Transformation Coach.  Ben's career has evolved from being a real estate consultant, investment officer for a family office where he invested over $1 billion dollars, serial entrepreneur, husband, father, speaker, advisor/coach and overall student of life. Combining his investment experience, business coaching and spiritual journey, Ben empowers heart-centered entrepreneurs on how to gain clarity in their purpose (their 'True North'), and live an enriching life: physically, mentally and spiritually.  Ben launched his Boom Vision Podcast in 2021, a show all about health, wealth and higher self! This show dives deep on how to create a fulfilling, abundant life: it starts with a powerful mindset!Connect with Ben:IG: @benjaminyehLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminyehStay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com/resources Instagram: @jenrafferty_ Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room

Have a question for the show? Text us here!As an empowered educator, how do you spend your time? Do you make aligned decisions on what to prioritize in your life?When it comes to living a full life, knowing how and when you spend your time is important. The decisions you make with your minutes define how your day and week will look.Welcome to episode 33 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty podcast! Today, I’m joined by Laura Vanderkam. She is a notable writer, author, and speaker on topics surrounding work-life balance, time management, and productivity.As you join us today, Laura will share tips and tricks you can use to optimize time management in your week. She also shares strategies that will help you get stuff done! Are you ready to establish good habits that will make your life easier?Stay empowered,Jen  Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | LinktreeInstagram: @jenrafferty_Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room About Laura:Laura is the author of several time management and productivity books. Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters, which was published on October 11, 2022, shares strategies that have been proven to help busy people feel like life is more sustainable and joyful on normal days. Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done (Portfolio, May 29, 2018), I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time (Portfolio, 2015), What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast (Portfolio, 2013), and 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think (Portfolio, 2010).Laura is also the author of a time management fable, Juliet’s School of Possibilities, published by Portfolio in early 2019. Another novel, The Cortlandt Boys, is available as an ebook. Laura’s work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, City Journal, Fortune, and Fast Company. She has appeared on numerous television programs, including The Today Show and CBS This Morning, hundreds of radio segments, and has spoken about time and productivity to audiences of all sizes. Her TED talk, “How to gain control of your free time,” has been viewed more than 12 million times. She is the co-host, with Sarah Hart-Unger, of the podcast Best of Both Worlds. She hosts the every-weekday-morning podcast Before Breakfast, featuring productivity tips designed to take listeners’ days from great to awesome. Connect with Laura:Website: lauravanderkam.comIG: @lvanderkamFB: Laura VanderkamStay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com/resources Instagram: @jenrafferty_ Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room

Have a question for the show? Text us here!As empowered educators, we understand our students need a classroom culture where they can express themselves, honor others, and celebrate differences.But how do you create a safe space for diversity in the classroom?Welcome to episode 32 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty podcast! Today, I’m joined by Dr. Nia Nunn who is a teacher, scholar, and diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) consultant for schools, universities, and organizations.In this episode, Dr. Nia talks about radical vulnerability and how it can transform the dynamics of the community. She also shares that by tapping into creative spaces that are freeing and allow us to express ourselves creatively, we can be role models for our students.Today is all about learning, unlearning and unpacking our differences to make a difference!Stay empowered,Jen  Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | LinktreeInstagram: @jenrafferty_Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty RoomAbout Dr. Nia:Dr. Nia Nunn is a community leader wearing multiple head-wraps as a mother, artist, professor, board president, program developer, public speaker, and activist. Her work is rooted in creating an innovative Black consciousness curriculum, and centers on anti-racist and abolitionist framework with a performance arts delivery. She is committed to learning and engaging audiences creatively, intensely, and gracefully.Connect with Dr. Nia:Website: www.drnianunn.comIG: @drnianunnStay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com/resources Instagram: @jenrafferty_ Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room

Have a question for the show? Text us here!What does it take to bounce back from a traumatic event? How do you thrive and survive the toxic stress and trauma?As educators, we often see certain behaviors that can be barriers to success for some students. And the ultimate goal is to help them get past these conflicts and challenges by encouraging them to focus on their future and success. But most of the time, what our students need is a safe space and adults who will listen and try to understand what they’re going through. Welcome to episode 31 of Take Notes with Jen Rafferty! In this episode, I’m speaking with Renee Hettich. She is an author, licensed master social worker, and trainer on topics such as resiliency and therapeutic parenting.Renee opens the conversation about adverse childhood experiences and how they can affect the child’s mindset and behavior long term.  Understanding your student’s behavior is essential to their success. The truth is, we don’t know what each student is going through, but the best we can do is to learn more about how we can help them. Tune in and find out how you can help your student understand their feelings better! Stay empowered,Jen  Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: Jen Rafferty | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | LinktreeInstagram: @jenrafferty_Facebook: Empowered Educator FacultyRoomAbout Renee:Renee has been parenting children from adverse histories for over twenty-six years as a foster, adoptive, and kinship parent. She is currently parenting four children who joined her family through inter-country adoption. She cares for children with special medical, learning, developmental, and mental health needs. Renee has worked in the field of adoption and foster care since 2004 as an adoption social worker and program director supporting families adopting domestically and internationally. In 2017, she joined the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition as program director. She is dedicated to the well-being of adoptive, foster, and kinships families. She is proud to lead a team of experts who support adoptive and guardianship families in eight counties. Renee has published articles in Adoption Today and Adoptive Families (national adoption magazines). She is the author of the book My Kids Know More Than Me! 15 Life Lessons from Foster and Adopted Children. Renee is also a trainer on the topics of adverse childhood experiences, the adaptation of the brain from toxic stress and trauma, resiliency, and therapeutic parenting. She has also been featured on radio and podcast broadcasts in regard to parenting children with traumatic histories and with mental health challenges. Renee earned a Master of Social Work degree from Marywood University and has been a Licensed Master Social Worker since 2005. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Audiology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech/Language Pathology from Ithaca College. Stay empowered,Jen Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at: empowerededucator.com/resources Instagram: @jenrafferty_ Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room