[00:00:00] Welcome to the triple T podcast. This is the second introduction episode. And today I'm taking you back to a pivotal time in my teaching career when I moved to my Mahaffey elementary. And let me tell you change is never easy and leaving the comfort of Hassler, which was a school that I loved, and it was filled with my best, best friends. 

It was a big leap.

But sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone is exactly what you need to grow. And I wanted to learn how to use technology to support students and Mahaffey was this brand new high tech model school. And I felt like it was the perfect place to do that. 

And it was just staffed with the best of the best from our very large district. And there weren't many teachers that were brought in from outside of the district, but my new partner. Ashley Vara was one of those teachers that I had never heard anything about. So as soon as I found out who was going to be my [00:01:00] teaching partner, I started digging Instagram, Facebook. 

I was trying to find out anything about this girl that I'd soon be working with. And one of my first discoveries was that Ashley had just been named the ESL teacher of the year, which I thought was amazing because I knew at our school, we were going to have a very high population of ELs. And then I was just reading through the messages on her Facebook, and I just saw how much she was going to be missed at our old school. 

There were countless people congratulating her on her new job, and then just saying how much they were going to miss her and how much they love her and little did I know. No just how right. All those people were. So in this episode, Ashley and I are going to share stories about our time at Mahaffey, a place where we embraced innovative teaching. 

Um, but we still had to tackle the everyday challenges that any teacher faces. So Ashley has some amazing tips on how to keep a good work life balance while still being [00:02:00] an all star teacher. And we're going to chat about everything from staying on top of grading, to how digital tools made our lives easier. 

Plus. Plus what it was like for Ashley to prep for maternity leave, which she had to do twice. And two very different situations. So I hope you enjoy hearing us as we reflect on what it was like to work in such a forward thinking school. We talk about teamwork and how those experiences have helped shape the teacher I am today. 

So whether you are just starting out or you've been in the game for a while, this episode is packed with inspiration. And down to earth advice that you can really use.

Cassi: So welcome, Ashley. I am so, so, so glad to have you. You were a big, big part of some of my most fun teaching and being a part of. Mahffey and just having a place in this really technologically advanced school.

We got to do all these things [00:03:00] and it was just such a fun time. But ever since I've met you, I have always been so impressed. With your ability to be a rock star teacher, but at the same time, you always had such good work life balance. And I remember there were so many days where I was staying so late after school.

Probably a lot of times, so like six o'clock, seven o'clock, because I felt like I had a million things that I wanted to do. And. I noticed after a while that you were leaving your classroom at a reasonable time, but we shared students. So I knew, I knew it wasn't that you were slacking any way, or they weren't getting the same things in any kind of way.

It was literally, you were just very efficient at what you did. So I always, always just. Was in awe of you about that. And anytime I talked to my husband, I was like, I just got to learn from Ashley. Like how do I [00:04:00] set some boundaries and go home and be like a decent hour. That means a lot because I feel like all I've ever wanted to do was be a rock star, like you, from the moment I saw your.

This is a side note, but from the moment I saw your website, your teacher website, I was like, Oh, that puts mine to shame. I need to add some more information in there. So I was not the only one staying late and you were not the only one with good work life balance. But one thing I guess, to me was my mindset.

I just felt like I had to do all these things. I had to, just the list is never ending. And so like, I don't know, just the pressure I put on myself. The unrealistic checklists and not just other people were putting this pressure on me. It wasn't just admin or anything like that. It was myself, right. Yes. That's, yes. Everyone knows. I feel like we do that. [00:05:00] Yes. Everyone knows I am a resource creator now, and that's what I really love. Yes. But I loved it then too, so I felt like every day I had to create my own lessons and, and do all of that, but. When I think about it, there is so much value in being balanced.

How do you think having a good balance between your work life and your home life actually does make you a better teacher? I think it makes you a better teacher because you're not so burned out by the end of the day getting home just in time to maybe warm something up in the microwave, go to sleep, and then do it all again the next day.

Like, I feel like you need time for you as a person so that you can be a really great teacher. And one thing that actually just stood out to me when you said, how did you have really good home work life balance? Well, part of that is from resources like you create and that we have utilized with digital platforms so [00:06:00] that, when we're looking for a great activity on cause and effect or main idea.

I would go and find those resources that were already created and amazing and I would tailor it to my classroom. So that's one thing. So thank you for being a digital creator because that helps me with homework life balance. But yeah, I would say the mindset I used to, because when we worked together, I didn't have children yet.

Uh, and when I worked at my previous school, I always saw just a lot of people staying late and I'd probably stay later at the beginning as, a first, second, third year teacher. Then the only people I saw that would kind of have a better homework life balance were those that had children. I remember one teacher telling me, like, you don't have to have kids in order to, go take care of you, go to the gym, like, what makes you happy, go hang out with your husband, you guys go take a walk, go, spend time with your family.

So I think I've just always been very family oriented. oriented as well. And so I love my job and I make sure I'm prepared for it. But also I [00:07:00] am making sure I have what I need for the next day, but also knowing after 4, 4 15, like it's now my time to have the home balance. And so I would just really use my time wisely.

I would use conference times when I didn't have a meeting in order to plan with my team. That was always a big one because When you're working with a team that really works well together, then you can all take certain tasks so that you're not doing it all. So I would say having a great team really helped.

And then also just using time efficiently. Like if I was behind on grading, I might eat my lunch while grading. But then as we became more digital, That was helping like when we use grade cam or we use Schoology, we would have that instantaneous feedback, which helped me not stay too long, but also helped me with getting the kids feedback quicker and like making adjustments that I needed to.

So I think just having that mindset of [00:08:00] you have to take care of yourself, I think in order to be a good teacher that, school will be there the next day. So I really just made sure I was prepared for the next day, but also just having those resources. Having And I think Help ingrating having a team to like work with to where I was.

Contributing and they're contributing in your again, not creating at all. Really helped me.

intentful about using your time wisely. And you, you just mentioned sometimes you might eat your lunch while you were grading paper. I saw that a lot of times. And I think, that's just one good strategy to help you be efficient at, at work so that you can go home and do it. Right. Right. Because, right.

Because it's like, I heard a teacher say before, teaching is one job that you have to basically, work before your job so that you have work to do at your job. So, it is about being prepared. But again, that's where I feel like a [00:09:00] great team comes in because I would create something in reading while another teammate was creating something in writing or social studies.

And then we all collaborate and share because if, if, and again, or using the digital creators, because if. You are creating every single thing, you will never go home. So I feel like using your resources and your time wisely. Another thing I wanted to say is If the students did or definitely just do not let your grading pile up because I've done that too.

That's like when you take this massive stack home on the weekends. So one thing that helped me if it wasn't during a conference period where I was free, if the students were independently taking a quiz that we had on Friday, that's when I would go over their spelling test. And then I can pull them over right away if there's something that we need to talk about.

And so that also helped me just to know where they are and not wait through the weekend and a big pile to try to figure out how to help them the following week. I, [00:10:00] uh, I remember another one of our coworkers would just throw papers in the trash. And at first I was just like, No. Right. I'd be like, they did work.

You can't throw it in the trash. But you do not have to grade everything either. And knowing what is important for you as the teacher to take in as your assessments, as your formative assessments. Right. But not everything, something is just practice. Right. Exactly. And like, and we never want our students to know that not everything is going into the grade book because it is important, even if it's just for practice.

But yes, not every single thing. Has to have a great in your grade book. Yep. So I'm going to go into some specific teacher duties and maybe add some idea of something that you did in that area that kept you on track. You already talked a lot about how you kept up with your grading through digital grading and just for using your time wisely.

What about answering emails? Okay, so [00:11:00] answering emails. Well, I know I feel like any district I have worked in, which I worked into, always has said to return a phone call or an email within 24 hours. So again, I would say getting to work early enough in the day making sure they're like at least 15 20 minutes before you need to be, the first thing I would do is log in on my computer, check any emails, see if there's any changes for the day.

I could quickly respond to emails that way. Again. Conference times, using that wisely. We even have had, like if there's a parent situation we've even done it to where like if it's during recess and I'm on lunch duty or something, like just using your coworkers and if you need to step out for a second to make an important parent phone call.

And then if it's after 3 45, I respond the following day because, and I even said this to one my daughter's teacher this year. I said, like, go home. Don't think about work until tomorrow because you just want them to, [00:12:00] to like have that good homework life balance too and so if I get it after 345 I'll respond the next day just so that I'm giving myself a break and I'll get there at like seven o'clock in the morning to respond to that email if it's something that can wait.

I have not taught since AI was a big thing but I bet using chat GPT can help you write your responses to your parents quickly and just another way. I know. And actually, I have not used that either yet. But when I go back, that could be something that I'm looking into. And one thing that I also liked with parent responses that we had, if we had we have, class dojo.

Or I know my daughter's school is using seesaw, some sort of messaging system that's quick because again, if I'm, during conference time, or if it's during my lunch break, I am fine responding to a parent at that point too, because I know they're trusting us like with their most important possession and now that I'm a parent, I get that even [00:13:00] more.

And I want them to know that their kid is valued. And so. Yes, I would definitely say get back to any emails within 24 hours or less. Okay, so you talked a little bit about now being a parent. So I think we can maybe move into another topic that you know a lot about and that is maternity leave. So you have had two children since I worked with you.

And so two maternity leaves, both of them were very different situations, but some things, work the same. So let's talk about maternity leave in case any of our listeners are going to be having a baby soon and they're wondering what can I expect? How much work do I have to put into this? Right, yes, because it can seem very overwhelming that you're going to leave your classroom for 12 weeks.

It doesn't. Up to 12 weeks. Yes, I, I've never had a maternity leave, so I don't. I don't know what that's like, but I [00:14:00] have been absent before, for one or two days. It's a lot of work. Yeah. So knowing how much work it is to be absent, it's hard for me to even believe how much work it would be to to go on a maternity leave.

So how do you prepare? Your classroom and your students for your maternity leave. Yes. Okay. So I had two very different experiences. The first experience with my daughter, I had her April 30th. So it was right before the star test. So that was me giving up a lot of control and knowing that my, I, I did my job.

I taught them all year. They are like, they have what they need, the tools that they need, they'll be successful. And then, I was only gone with her through May, so I was actually able to take off the beginning of the following school year since the summer does not count in your 12 weeks. So that's, so I can speak to that too in a minute about setting up a classroom [00:15:00] and not even meeting your students yet and like coming into an already established classroom because that's a whole another thing in itself.

But I would say if you're going on a regular maternity leave when you've already been with your students. The biggest thing for me is meeting with the long term sub and really just going over our procedures and routines making sure that long term sub knows how your classroom is run, how you guys are a family, the things that you do, so that they're able just to continue and pick up where you left off.

So what I had was a running Google Doc where I wrote. Our, our daily like schedule again, procedures, routines. What do we do for this and that? And then I also had her ask me questions on there and then I can respond as well so that she has all the information that she needs. And then my district was great where I did not have to make 12 weeks.

So of plans, because as we know, as teachers, you have your plans, but sometimes you have [00:16:00] to adjust based on like, do they need to go back? And do we need to spiral this topic? So, my long term sub would actually plan with my amazing team. And so they helped with the lesson plans and they inputted the grading.

But again, just really meeting with your long term sub. Going over those procedures expectations. And then I would say if you're going to start the year without , and like to go back, this was the year of 2020 COVID when it hit. So I came back in October and by March we were online. So it was a very different year that year.

But what I did for that was I felt like it was really important for me to meet my students before they came so that they know, like, I'm going to be your teacher. So I came, I got permission you. to go to meet the teacher with the long term sub. So we kind of introduced ourselves together and then I let her take over.

And again, I let that teacher know how I introduce, our procedures, our routines at the beginning of the year. How [00:17:00] do we bond and make a class family? And then when I came back in October, I just made sure to Meet with the long term sub again before kind of check in, see how her take was on the class that was going.

If there's anything that she had done that I should know about. So I felt like it was actually a pretty smooth transition back. And I would say when you do come back. Just really have some, like, class bonding times where you meet as a little class family and get some, do some get to know you activities again, and they love to see pictures of your baby.

So definitely send that. But yeah, I would say I had very good experiences with my long term subs. They were wonderful. How much time do you think you devoted, let's say, during a week? While you were at home on maternity leave, could you just be gone or did you still have to do some things? No, technically you're supposed to just be gone, but you know, you're not supposed to be responding to things because you are on leave.[00:18:00] 

So I really did, well it was hard to give up control. I do remember texting my teammates a lot, especially with Finley. Especially when I was like back to school and I was still off, I remember I'd be like, how's it going? What are you guys up to right now? How's it looking with class list? But really, I just let my long term sub handle it because I knew that's what they were there to do.

And my administration was wonderful. My team was wonderful. And I just really focused on again, that homework life balance and just bonding with my baby because I knew before too long, I would be back at work. So, what do you think would be your best tip for someone who is coming back after let's say a 12 week?

Right. Okay, so again, I think just meeting with your long term sub before you get back that first day because it can be overwhelming 12 weeks and come back into a classroom wondering what happened. So, I definitely had a [00:19:00] meeting with both of my long term subs where I came into the classroom They basically just told me how it had been going, what was going on, if there was any situations happening in the classroom.

Anything going on with students that I might need to know about and and the other big tip would be just re getting to know your class and having them get to know you again. So I'd always do icebreakers or I've used a lot of your icebreakers when coming back into the classroom, just doing some bonding time before we go straight back into lesson.

So I think just kind of like reestablishing our procedures and routines as well. I think that's helpful. So this is question that I have that I don't want to throw any subs under the bus or speak negatively of anybody. But just out of curiosity's sake, how do you feel when you're coming back? Do you feel like, oh man, I missed all this time, and these kids are so far behind, and I, they don't know [00:20:00] this, that they would have known if I was there?

Like, is there a lot of that feeling? Like you really Missed out or they really missed out because you weren't there? I, well, it could have been my experiences, but I feel like I did have two really good long term subs, but also that my team had always just been so wonderful. So in our specialist, we had a literacy specialist who is a rock star.

And she actually told me, like, she called me before, right before I came back. And she told me like, Hey, I've been meeting with these kids in a small group. We've been working really hard because we had a specific dedicated time. Every day to small group intervention. So she actually I met with her too.

And she let me know what she had been doing. So I actually felt like my kids were in really good hands. I think just because of like the team in the school I had, like they really made sure my students. And I just didn't fall behind because I wasn't there, so I wouldn't say that I felt that way.

It's kind of weird to be back at first, but then I feel like you guys, like you get back in your groove, and honestly, the kids are [00:21:00] always so happy to see you that it makes it easier because I do remember being really bummed going back after Finley. I was more excited after Hudson, but this was my second time, but after Finley, I remember being like, how did I just leave my?

Well, we gold or actually she was a little bit older, but how did I just leave her? But all the other students and like seeing their happy faces and they're so excited to talk to you about the baby that helped Yeah, and I think it gives you a better perspective of How your students, his parents feel about them.

Yes, for sure. And especially now, and everyone always said that, but I really didn't feel it as much until this school year and sending, my baby off to kindergarten and not hearing from her from 8 30 to 4 PM, that's like a lot for me. So just trusting that like her teacher has her best interest as like, I would have.

My students best interest. And so I think when I go back again, it'll really give me just an extra [00:22:00] motivator to want to even connect more with parents and let them know what's happening in our classroom. We always had a weekly newsletter that we would do, which was great to let the parents know, like what we're learning, what the students are learning in class, if there's any events coming up.

But one thing I could get better at is like sending pictures of classroom activities, because I know when. Her teacher has done that. It just made my whole day to see like her learning at school. So it definitely has given me a different perspective being a parent that I can add to being an educator. So in just listening to you talk about maternity leave it just makes me feel as though if I'm on a team, I want to, I want to go that extra mile and, and think of all the teachers as one teacher and how can I support Yes.

My fellow, my co teacher who is out having the time of her life with her. Right. Yes, exactly. And just remembering that like when you were at that point or [00:23:00] even if they're out for a different like medical reason or something, but remembering that they are still probably not wanting to leave their classroom either.

And they want to know that their classroom is in good hands, which is why it's, I feel like so important to have a really good team that works so cohesively and has one that I feel like makes all the difference in the world. So, just for the listeners, Ashley is not currently teaching. She is on a year's leave with her baby.

And so you've been out of the classroom for, for quite a while. If you like a little over than a year. Yeah. And so I have a little game we're going to end with, ask you about things to see if you miss them or if you don't miss them, okay. Okay. What about having morning meeting with your students? A morning meeting, I think is wonderful.

I know I do miss that because they'll come in and they'll just tell you something silly that happened to them over the weekend. Or maybe it's something not silly, like maybe, something happened to them and that way you know [00:24:00] how to help them throughout the day. So yes, I definitely miss connecting with the kiddos.

Okay. Do you miss the sound of the bell? No. I definitely do that. That's true. But I feel like we would hear the sound of the morning bell and then you just hear like this packing going down the hallway and you hear someone, no running. Oh my God. And then it's like makes my heart beat faster. What about grading papers?

I mean, it is a lot of work, but it just depends. There are some things I like grading and some things that were very tedious to grade, so I would say I don't totally miss it. Yeah, I mean, as a kid, Wanting to be a teacher, I think grading papers was the thing that I looked up to the most. Yes. Yeah, you graded a lot of essays, no offense.

Well, yes, essays are hard, but I was going to say back to that, like, I remember being a first year teacher, bringing a load of papers home to grade. [00:25:00] Again, first year, so I'm just bringing home my work with me. And I remember grading my first set of spelling tests and I was like, is this legit? Like , I'm a teacher.

Like this, just like I just put a grade on a paper. So, yeah. And a big smiley face. . Yes, exactly. I love putting stickers or like, yay, great job. Like I would do a lot of encouraging notes on our papers. . Okay. What about recess duty? It depends. I loved recess duty in the fall, sometimes in the winter, and during the spring summer when we were literally sweating or bringing our umbrellas.

I enjoyed lunch duty better. I never enjoyed lunch duty more than recess duty. I loved lunch duty. I would just, like, go around and see what they were eating by, like, talking to them and it was great. Okay, what about the smell of dry erase markers? Yes, sure. I'll miss that. Yeah. Yeah. Just the smell of school.

I do miss that. What about staff meetings? Well, it depends if it was a fun [00:26:00] one. Cause sometimes, after a long day to have to sit for another hour was a lot. And especially when you just want to talk to your teacher friends, but our principal would do some like games sometimes, or I know we had like at the beginning.

With the staff development, we would be on teams against each other. So that was fun, but the sit and get ones aren't very fun. I wouldn't say I miss those. I like sitting in the back with the team and I don't know, sometimes. I know, like sitting down, like finding your team after school, grabbing a snack, talking about your day.

It's great. Okay, do you miss having a break room staffed by the PTO and always full of snacks and coffee and stuff? Yes, I miss that because now I have to go grocery shopping for my own stuff. What about packing your lunch? I definitely do not miss that because now I'm able to, just make something whenever I have time during the day or I'll go.

The one thing I do like is having. more than 20 minutes to [00:27:00] quickly scarf down my lunch, or sometimes I feel like it was 15 minutes by the time you walk your kids to lunch. Go warm up your food. You need to use the restroom. Come back. Quickly shove it down. It's time to like run before they're ready to get out of the cafeteria.

So, uh, I don't know. Uh, I want you to guess what I'm thinking that I miss about school on Thursdays. You missed the Mexican food Thursdays. Yes. I forgot about that because you love those nachos, didn't you? Yes. Oh my gosh, I love those nachos. You might need to go back one day so you can eat some more nachos.

I think I was on like Weight Watchers or something at that time, whenever, and I knew exactly like how many points like the nachos meal had. That is hilarious. And I remember, didn't they have like a really good, like every once in a while they would have I could like, flauta or a taco. Like there was like, it was some kid or something.

Do you remember? It was like a [00:28:00] kid that was like a little chef.

And so I remember wanting to eat lunch on that day. So we had at our school, we had a very, very talented chef that ran the kitchen and she would make a specialty meal for the teachers like seven times a week. So we're having, we would have like. A, a upgraded, fancy version of that. Oh my goodness. I need that.

I need her back when I go back. I think she moved on, but that was amazing. Well, thank you, Ashley, so much for coming on and talking with me. Thank you for having me. I know it's great and it gives me like a renewed hope for once my baby gets a little bit older to go back into the classroom again to have great home work life balance and to remember that they both are very important and that you just I would say the biggest thing is just take care of yourself so that you can be a really great teacher for your students.

Yep you are so smart. [00:29:00] Okay I'll talk to you later. Okay bye.