Educating with Passion and Purpose - by Meredith Matson & Rebekah Shoaf (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Stay engaged with your purpose to better serve your students--and yourself

In an era of sky-high burnout, Educating with Passion and Purpose gives veteran educators everything they need to thrive in their profession. This book will help you avoid the disenchantment and frustration that can come from doing the difficult work of K-12 education. You are in this field because you want to make a difference, but you often lack the support you need to do that amid overwhelming demands. Experienced educators themselves, authors Meredith Matson and Rebekah Shoaf speak the truth about what today's teachers confront--and how you can navigate the changing landscape to face the challenges and opportunities we encounter.

Inside, you'll find frequent opportunities for self-reflection on the topics that matter most to educators, including race, privilege, wellbeing, mentorship, and how to rise to the social-emotional demands that teaching asks. At a time when many teachers are leaving the field within the first years of their careers, Educating with Passion and Purpose offers you a way forward, so you can nurture your students and professional self.

• Gain perspective on why you teach and what matters most to you in your career
• Explore how race and identity impact interactions in your classroom
• Learn practical strategies for protecting your social and emotional energy and seeking help
• Find a new sense of inspiration in your teaching practice with hands-on activities and tools

This book is perfect for educators with three or more years of experience. It also offers crucial insights for pre-service educators, staff developers, and experienced teachers looking for ways to avoid career burnout and other pitfalls traditional teacher-training programs did not prepare them.

From the Back Cover

Rediscover why you are an educator

So you've survived your first years as a teacher, and you know how rewarding--and how stressful--teaching can be. Educating With Passion and Purpose is a toolkit for mid-career educators who need advice and strategies for meeting the daily challenges of K-12 classroom teaching. Drawn from recent research and the firsthand experiences of seasoned educators, this book offers you an opportunity to self-reflect, connect with what inspires you, and develop the resilience that you'll need as you settle into your teaching practice.

Each chapter of this book features stories from the authors' experiences, followed by reflective activities designed to help you stay engaged with your "why." You'll examine your classroom content, your style as a teacher and a learner, the professional network that you can draw on for support, and how your race and identity manifests in the work you do. Those in educational leadership will benefit from considerations specific to those who support frontline educators in doing their important work. Whoever you are, you'll uncover the secrets to maintaining a long, productive, and inspired career in education.

"Educating with Passion and Purpose is a useful new companion to resources on teacher wellness. The authors' personal stories are relatable and will provide insight for readers into their own desires to contribute meaningfully to education."
--Elena Aguilar, author of Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators

"Rebekah and Meredith provide a candid look at preventing, and healing from, teacher burnout and do so through personal storytelling that will draw you in, in a deeply captivating way, and will provide current and future educators with specific and equitable strategies to combat a very real problem in our field."
--Carlos Beato, EdD, Co-Director, Next Generation Learning Challenges

"Through tears, smiles, and head nods in agreement, there is no doubt that this book will help unlock your 'why' and motivate you to grow as an educator."
--Shelby Sprung, Special Education Teacher, P94m, New York

About the Author

Meredith Matson is Principal at the Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction in New York. In her twenty-one years as an educator, she has also been a teacher, assistant principal, mentor to new teachers, history department chair, and grade-team leader.

Rebekah Shoaf has been an educator for twenty years and is the CEO of the educational consulting firm What If Schools. She is also founder and owner of Boogie Down Books, a bookstore-without-walls^(R) for kids, teens, families, and educators.