< Back Erica Triggs M.Ed. ** Lighthouse Learning Studio ** PPT Verified Educator Lighthouse Learning Studio Hi, I’m Erica — a passionate educator with over a decade of experience and personal insight into dyslexia. Through Lighthouse Learning Studio, I provide personalized, one-on-one Orton-Gillingham-based instruction, literacy intervention, and kindergarten readiness support. My mission is to nurture each child’s unique potential, empowering them to thrive academically and socially while fostering a lifelong love of learning. Go to Website

< Back You're Not a Bad Teacher for Wanting More Reading time 4 minutes Published April 4, 2025 Category: Leaving the Classroom, Mindset, Business Coaching I want to say something you may not have heard — at least not loud enough or often enough: You’re not a bad teacher if you want to leave the classroom. You ’re not selfish.You ’re not giving up.And you’re definitely not the only one. You’re a human being who has been giving everything—your time, your heart, your evenings and weekends—for years. And now, maybe for the first time, you’re wondering… What would it feel like to build something that allows space (and energy) for the other parts of me, too? That wondering doesn’t make you a quitter.It makes you brave . Still a teacher. Just on your terms. The teachers I work with aren’t trying to escape teaching.They love it.They just want to do it in a way that feels sustainable . Aligned. Life-giving. Maybe that’s you.Maybe you’re sitting in your car during planning period, wondering how the profession that once lit you up became the thing draining you dry.Maybe you’ve googled “what else can teachers do” more than once.Maybe you’ve seen those TikToks of former teachers working remote jobs in yoga pants, and you feel… both envy and disbelief. Is that even possible for someone like me? Yes. But let’s be clear: I’m not here to sell you a fantasy of passive income and palm trees. What I am here to say is that there is more than one way to be an educator.And you deserve to explore what that might look like— without shame, pressure, or a 5-year plan. The tiniest spark is enough. You don’t need a dream right now.You don’t need to have a business name or a niche or a perfect pitch. You just need a little space to breathe.And maybe the tiniest flicker of curiosity. Because underneath the exhaustion and the overcommitment, you are still that wildly gifted teacher who knows how to change lives.And that part of you? She’s not lost. She’s just waiting for permission to come back in a new way. What if your next chapter felt better than this one? That’s the invitation I extend through the Teacher to Entrepreneur (T2E) Bootcamp — a gentle, two-week space to reimagine what your career could look like outside the classroom. Not because you have to leave. But because you deserve to know what’s possible. Inside the Bootcamp, we’ll replenish your energy, clarify what kind of business you might want to build, and take the very first steps — together. It’s low-pressure, high-support, and designed for educators just like you: curious, courageous, and craving something more sustainable. If you’ve been waiting for a sign… maybe it’s this one. You’re not broken.You ’re not alone. And you are absolutely allowed to want a life that feels better than the one you’re in. The question isn’t: “Am I allowed to want more?” It’s: “What would it feel like to say YES?” 💕 Learn more about the T2E Bootcamp here Best wishes always, Rachel Previous Next

< Back Teacher Traits That Last Long After Leaving the Classroom Reading time 3 minutes Published October 2, 2025 Category: Leaving the Classroom, Mindset, Community You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can’t take the classroom out of the teacher. Every teacher who has left the traditional school system knows exactly what I mean. The habits and quirks we carried for years don’t magically disappear when we hand in our keys—they follow us into our next chapters. Some are funny, some are frustrating, and some are reminders of how deeply the profession shaped us, for better and worse. The Quirks That Follow Us School dreams: recurring nightmares about forgotten lesson plans or endless stacks of grading. Speedy eating and bathroom runs: we learned to survive on lightning-fast breaks, and those patterns are hard to unlearn. The "teacher look/voice" in public: yes, it still slips out at the grocery store or the park. And, no, I don't mind that at all. These little quirks are funny, but they’re also proof of how much teaching becomes part of our way of being. Some Habits That Are Harder to Shake Some habits aren’t as lighthearted. They speak to the unhealthy coping mechanisms we pick up to make it through the day: Hiding comfort food or working while eating, watching TV, or even spending time with family 🫤 Forgetting to drink water because there’s no time for bathroom breaks Living in the burnout/recovery cycle, both daily and yearly A good work ethic is important, but teachers often take it to an unhealthy extreme. Without a calendar dictating breaks, many of us don’t know when (or even how) to rest. Years of ignoring our body’s cues train us to push past exhaustion until we no longer recognize what balance feels like. Why These Traits Stick With Us Teaching trains us to put others first, multitask constantly, and normalize exhaustion. Those patterns don’t vanish when we leave the classroom. They linger, reminding us just how much the profession asked of us—and how much we gave. Until or unless we notice them, we don't have any way to change them. Where Healing Happens But here’s the hopeful part: healing happens when we notice. When we've been out of "Survival Mode" long enough to recognize the patterns and unhealthy ways we've learned to accomplish tasks on our ever-growing to-do lists. Without awareness, we take all those exact ways of being into entrepreneurship. We accidentally re-create the very situations we're trying to leave. I’ve been sharing clips from last year’s retreat, and what struck me most wasn’t the workshops or the content—it was the power of being surrounded by people who get it. People who don’t need an explanation for why you eat fast, dream about grading, or struggle NOT to speak to a child in public. For years, I've dreamt about creating a year-round version of that community, where we can continue to lift each other up and redefine what it means to thrive as teachers-turned-entrepreneurs. A place for camaraderie, support, accountability, collaboration, and even co-working/body-doubling. A place where we can network and refer students and clients to each other’s businesses. Because when teachers support teachers, everyone wins. Your Turn What about you? Which “teacher traits” have stuck with you long after leaving the classroom? And if a community like this existed, what would you want it to look like? Best wishes always 💕 Previous Next

< Back Montrae Kornegay Kornegay Tutoring and Services Kornegay Tutoring and Services Hi, I am Montrae Kornegay. I’ve been a passionate educator for over 15 years. I’ve been working independently for the last 7 years. I offer tailored math tutoring and homework help, with flexible options for virtual sessions or in-person meetings at a local library. Working one on one with neurodivergent students or students who learn differently is my specialty. Using the Orton Gillingham methodology to teach reading and writing. Since Covid; things have changed a little and now I find myself being a private homeschool teacher/ tutor to students who don’t work well in a large population. Go To Website

< Back The Pros & Cons of Paid Business Coaching Reading time 3 minutes Published April 7, 2023 Category: Business coaching Let's talk about the elephant in the room - paid coaching. Offers for paid coaching are literally everywhere right now, & I want to have a very frank conversation about it. Personally, I have spent approximately $20,000 in paid coaching & courses over the last 3 years. That's how I learned A LOT of what I teach my clients. I also learned a lot about what works (and doesn't work) for me as someone being coached. Most, but not all, of it has been worth the money. When I started my first business - it was by accident. I didn't pay for coaching. I learned EVERYTHING as I went. It felt like a second job sorting through the free advice of so-called gurus. On my own, it took me about 18 months to get my business to the point where I was profitable, consistently earning 4-figure months, and my business ran smoothly. With my second business, I didn't want to take that long. There was still a lot that I didn't know, and I wanted to educate myself. That's exactly how I approached it too. I researched coaches and their programs the way I researched grad programs. I also met with them to make sure that we were philosophically aligned and someone I would enjoy working with. Finally, I met with one or two people who had been through their program and asked them my questions too. Later, almost a year into my second business, I invested in coaching again. This time I wasn't as thorough in my research. I allowed myself to be "sold" a result instead of learning the specifics of the program I was purchasing. I assumed that the creators of this program would operate with the same level of care and integrity that I do with my clients. Still I learned a lot from that experience, albeit the hard way. I learned how much I care about my clients and my business. I learned what my non-negotiables are and that, for me, some things are worth more than money. They were hard and expensive lessons to learn but also important ones. For me, paid coaching has mostly been worth the money I've invested. I've been able to experience much faster growth in both of my businesses and with significantly more confidence. I believe in my ability to learn and put into practice what I learn. I also really appreciate having someone "lay it out" for me rather than having to do ALL the research and trial & error on my own. It's taught me about business and about the type of business person I want to be. Can you create your own private practice teaching business without investing in a coach or mentor? Absolutely! I know you can because I did. Could I have done it more efficiently AND started turning a profit more quickly if I'd had proper guidance? Also yes! The bottom line is this: You're going to have to invest some ratio of time and money when starting a business. Only YOU know what ratio is right for you. I hope this helps Best wishes always. Previous Next

< Back Why Are Teachers Leaving, and Who’s Paying Attention? Reading time 5 minutes Published August 13, 2024 Category: Retention Teacher retention is at an all-time low, and it feels as though no one is paying attention—or worse, no one cares. Our schools resemble leaky buckets, constantly losing valuable educators with little effort to retain them. Principals, who play a crucial role in fostering positive school environments, are often not evaluated effectively. In many states, neither teacher retention nor turnover rates are considered in school administrator evaluations. It’s as if we’re ignoring the problem entirely, hoping it will resolve itself. Spoiler alert: it won’t. In most professions, HR departments routinely assess and refine their retention strategies. Unfortunately, when it comes to our teachers, we seem to be stuck in a never-ending cycle of losing staff and desperately attempting to hire replacements—without ever taking the time to understand and address the reasons they’re leaving in the first place. It’s clear that we need a new approach, and we need it quickly. Consider the healthcare industry. Despite facing many of the same staffing challenges, healthcare providers are focusing on understanding and improving employee retention. In stark contrast, the education sector is often preoccupied with recruitment efforts, and, disturbingly, many states aren’t even collecting teacher retention data. We need comprehensive state programs that evaluate and support school leadership, similar to the systems in place for hospitals. For example, a simple Google search reveals a National Health Care Retention Report (listed below) that outlines the costs, details, and the urgent need to build retention capacity and understand turnover trends. Meanwhile, 22 states have not collected any teacher retention data at all in the last five years. And yet, so-called "innovative" programs and solutions are being implemented by every state in an attempt to address the teacher shortage by making the teaching profession more accessible and appealing. But how can we solve a problem if we don’t even know its full extent? It’s time we stop treating our teachers as expendable. We must truly understand why they’re leaving their schools and involve them in the problem-solving processes to address these issues. After all, the future of our children and nation depends on it. Best wishes always 💕 References: DailyPay. (2023). Employee Turnover Rates in the Healthcare Industry . Retrieved from https://www.dailypay.com/resource-center/blog/employee-turnover-rates-in-the-healthcare-industry/ Education Commission of the States. (2022). 50-State Comparison: Teacher Recruitment and Retention . Retrieved from https://reports.ecs.org/comparisons/teacher-recruitment-and-retention-2022-03 Learning Forward. (2022). How Districts and States are Addressing Teacher Turnover . Retrieved from https://learningforward.org/journal/tackling-turnover/how-districts-and-states-are-addressing-teacher-turnover/ Learning Policy Institute. (2023). Tracking State Teacher Workforce Across States . Retrieved from https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/tracking-state-teacher-workforce-across-states#:~:text=Based%20on%20our%20analysis%2C%20Vermont,salaries%20and%20more%20supportive%20teaching NSI Nursing Solutions, Inc. (2023). 2023 National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report . Retrieved from https://www.nsinursingsolutions.com/Documents/Library/NSI_National_Health_Care_Retention_Report.pdf Previous Next

< Back Lance Green ** Green STEM Learning ** PPT® Verified Educator Green STEM Learning provides several options for parents of students (Grades 5-8) who either want their child to: Receive additional support in Math and / or Science, Develop an interest in STEM, Obtain a comprehensive year-round high-quality education in math, science, and STEM. Green STEM Learning was created to address learning loss that may have occurred during the pandemic and to offer an alternative pathway to close the achievement gap to get students back on track in math, science, and STEM. With the use of literacy, cross-curricular support and project-based learning, Green STEM Learning ensures that your child will walk away with the knowledge and skills to become STEM masters! Go To Website

< Back I spent over 11K on a coaching program, and it almost killed my business. Reading time 10 minutes Published December 20, 2023 Category: Business coaching Offers for paid coaching are literally everywhere right now, & I want to have a very frank conversation about it. Personally, I have spent over $20,000 in paid coaching & courses over the last 3 years. That's how I learned A LOT of what I teach my clients. I also learned a lot about what works (and doesn't work) for me both as someone being coached and as the coach I strive to be. I wish I could say that all of it has been worth the money, but sadly that wasn’t the case. In my experience, the phrase “You get what you pay for!” doesn’t apply to business coaching. When I started my first my business, MyFrenchU, it was by accident. I didn't pay for any coaching. I learned EVERYTHING as I went. It felt like a second job sorting through the constantly-changing, free advice of so-called gurus. On my own, it took me over 18 months to get my business to the point where I was consistently earning 4-figure months and my business was running smoothly. With my second business, I didn't want to take that long. There was still a lot that I didn't know, and I wanted to educate myself. That's exactly how I approached it too. I researched coaches and their programs the way I researched grad programs. I also met with them to make sure that we were philosophically aligned and someone I would enjoy working with. Finally, I met with one or two people who had been through their program and asked them my questions too. For my first business coach I paid $6,000 for a 6 month program that included a self-paced digital course with resources and live group coaching. That program was worth every penny. I made back my $6,000 investment and begin earning a profit in less than 6 months of opening The Private Practice Teacher®. I do not believe I would have been able to accomplish so much so quickly without her guidance and feedback. I was able to experience much faster growth in that businesses and with significantly more confidence. I believe in my ability to learn and put into practice what I learn. I also really appreciate having someone "lay it out" for me rather than having to do ALL the research and trial & error on my own. It was also incredibly helpful to have other people to bounce my ideas off of and to learn from. Then, about a year after starting The Private Practice Teacher®, I started looking for coaching again to help my business grow AND help me have a bigger voice when advocating for teachers and education. The algorithm heard me and started sending me ads for a coaching program co-developed by a well-known TedX speaker. I thought, “This could be perfect. I’d love to do a TedX talk about all the wonderful programs the teachers I work with have created for their students and communities.” Sadly, this time I did not do my due diligence. I researched the Ted-X speaker who acts as the face of the program, but I didn’t push for clarification about the particulars of their program during my discovery call. Nor did I meet with any of the actual coaches/trainers or ask to connect with current program members or alumni, so I could ask them my questions. My discovery call was with a masterful sales person. I trusted him and in my naivety and fear, I went for it. I spent almost $12,000 on that coaching program, and it almost killed my business. They pushed me to use sales tactics that I believe to be unethical and intrusive like “pain-point marketing”, cold DM'ing, and told me NOT to explain any of particulars of my program and what it includes - instead lean into their hopes and fears. I found myself questioning if there even is a place for transparent and ethical business practices in business coaching. Because if it’s all sales tactics, manipulation, and a “numbers-game”, than it's not for me. I don’t want to be someone who makes money that way. If it wasn’t for the wonderful teachers I’d coached up to that point and the community we created together, The Private Practice Teacher® wouldn’t still be here. They lifted me up, reminded me of who I am and why they chose to work with me instead of other teacher coaches. They also reminded me of the inspiring businesses and lives they created during our time together. Now , last but not least, the $2,000 coaching program I most recently invested in. This 9-week digital course plus live coaching and community gave me everything that the $12,000 program promised it would but failed to deliver. The least expensive coaching program I ever paid for was exactly what I and my business needed . As a result of that program, I have been able to: Make my Jumpstart program less expensive and more accessible for more teachers Create the Teacher 2 Entrepreneur Bootcamp to help teachers make the mental transition necessary to create a successful teaching business Learn marketing strategies and operating systems that allow me to work for efficiently, be more productive, and provide better service All of which is exactly what I need to grow The Private Practice Teacher® into the business I want it to become. The bottom line is this: You're going to have to invest some ratio of time and money when starting a business. Only YOU know what ratio is right for you! Before you invest any money in anyone’s programs I encourage you to do the following: Make sure you are comfortable with the person/people you will actually be working with in the program. (ie. not a sales team or onboarding member - the actual coach/coaches) Ask to preview the course or for a course outline Reach out to people who are in their program or have complete their program Familiarize yourself with their refund policy Don’t be afraid to ask “too many questions” or “dumb questions”. This is your hard-earned money. You have a right to ask as many questions as you need to in order to make an informed decision about how you spend it. Listen to your gut not your fear or self-doubt. Thank you for reading. I hope this helps. Best wishes always, Rachel Previous Next

< Back Would you rather? Summer Edition Reading time 5 minutes Published June 3, 2024 Category: Teacher life In my neighborhood, summer break is almost here, and it has me reflecting on the summer break after my last year in the classroom. ! It felt like a breath of fresh air after an entire year of insanity. But we all know that summer break does NOT mean a summer off. I don’t know about you, but I honestly only ever really took off 2 weeks a year. The first week of summer break and the week of our family vacation. What summer break actually meant was that I got to make my own hours. It meant that I got to work at a pace that allowed me to not feel overwhelmed while also feeling like I was “setting myself up” for a less overwhelming school year next year. (This never really happened because there was always some new something added to my plate.) And thus the cycle of The Teacher Hamster Wheel continued year after year after year. But what if I told you there's an exciting alternative? Let's dive into how much time teachers typically spend on summer prep and compare it to the mere 5 hours a week it takes to kickstart your own teaching business using The Private Practice Teacher® 90 Day Jumpstart Mentor Program. Trust me, this could be a game-changer for you! 1. Traditional Summer Preparations :The summer break turns into a whirlwind of planning, curriculum development, resource curating/creating, and professional development (all while attempting to recover, relax, and have fun). According to the National Education Association (NEA), teachers usually devote around 12 to 20 unpaid hours a week to school-related tasks during their well-deserved summer break[^1^]. It's a significant (unpaid) time commitment that eats into our precious downtime. Even though everyone tells us we don’t “have” to do it, when else are we supposed to do it? And so we do it during breaks. 2. The Private Practice Teacher® Alternative: Now, I want you to imagine reclaiming your summers and life by creating your own teaching business. With just 5 hours a week, you can make it happen! This is exactly why I created The 90-Day Jumpstart Mentor Program the way I did. This program provides everything you need to create, market, and run your teaching business. Say goodbye to the teacher hamster wheel and hello to more personal time for relaxation and enjoyment year-round. So, dear teacher friend, I believe it’s time to think outside the traditional summer prep box. Instead of sacrificing so much of your break to school-related tasks, why not invest 5 hours a week in yourself and build a career that fits your life? I and all the Jumpstart Alumni are here to guide and support you every step of the way. Best wishes always, Rachel References: [^1^] National Education Association (NEA). (n.d.). Teachers’ Summer Break: How Often and How Long? Retrieved from https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/teachers-summer-break-how-often-and-how-long Previous Next

< Back Sheryl Uehling Tutoring with Sheryl Tutoring with Sheryl began 4 years ago and has been supporting students as a private service for 2 years, supporting struggling readers. The mission of Tutoring with Sheryl is to build confident and knowledgeable readers and writers who are successful in all academic areas. Students meet regularly with Sheryl Uehling, owner, via Google Meet. Learning gaps are identified and taught through personalized lessons for each student. Students have a dedicated learning library they can return to for links, pdfs, and printable materials. They also receive a dedicated digital space they can return to as they practice skills in reading, math, and typing. Most students are back to grade level or above in 6 months to a year. Many of the Tutoring with Sheryl students have IEPs, SATs, or have Speech services. Sheryl easily navigates those and supports goals with the student's needs in mind. Go To Website

< Back Hilary Farmer Adventure Learning LLC Adventure Learning LLC Are you looking for someone to help your child with a certain academic area? I am Hilary, a private teacher who teaches students Kindergarten through 5th grade in all academic areas, but specialize in math. As someone who struggled with math when I was in school, I understand what it is like to feel behind. It wasn't until I started playing card and dice games with my family and relating math concepts to real world experiences that it finally clicked. I love to help kids make those same connections. My tutoring services are unique in the fact that I create individualized lesson plans and activities that involve number sense, making connections to the real world, and solidifying their learning through game play. I offer in person tutoring for those in the Centerville, OH area and virtual tutoring for those in a different area. Go to FB Page

Accessibility Statement for The Private Practice Teacher This is an accessibility statement from The Private Practice Teacher®. Measures to support accessibility The Private Practice Teacher® takes the following measures to ensure accessibility of The Private Practice Teacher: Include accessibility throughout our internal policies. Conformance status The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. The Private Practice Teacher is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard. Feedback We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of The Private Practice Teacher. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers on The Private Practice Teacher: Phone: +01 484 713 4909 E-mail: rachel@theprivatepracticeteacher.org Instagram: @privatepracticeteacher We try to respond to feedback within 2 business days. Compatibility with browsers and assistive technology The Private Practice Teacher is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies: Provide captioning on all monetized video content. Date This statement was created on 4 December 2024 using the W3C Accessibility Statement Generator Tool .