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© Copyright 2026 Lily Jones, Teacher Advocate
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There’s a lot that needs to change in education. But there are inspiring movements going on too! At Educator Forever, we believe teachers need to be at the forefront of education reform and be empowered to create career pathways that work for them.
Do you ever think about leaving the classroom but have absolutely no idea what else you could do? You may not realize it yet, but you have acquired highly valuable skills throughout your teaching journey, and there is unlimited potential for you to use them. Tune in each week to hear about career opportunities that will help you achieve the income, impact, and freedom you’ve always dreamed of. The best part? You can do all of this without having to leave the world of education entirely.
In addition to showing you the many ways you can expand your impact beyond the classroom, we’ll introduce you to inspiring leaders in education. Want to learn about new research? Looking to get familiar with innovative approaches to teaching and learning? We’ve got you covered.
Your host, Lily Jones, is a former kindergarten and first-grade teacher who transitioned out of the classroom to work in curriculum design, writing content for ed tech companies and even launching her own educational product-based business. After quadrupling her teaching income, she realized she could help other teachers do the same. Now Lily runs Educator Forever, where she empowers teachers to expand their impact beyond the classroom, and Educator Forever Agency, where she works with a team of educators to create inspiring curricula.
For more helpful resources, head to www.educatorforever.com.
Do you ever think about leaving the classroom but have absolutely no idea what else you could do? You may not realize it yet, but you have acquired highly valuable skills throughout your teaching journey, and there is unlimited potential for you to use them. Tune in each week to hear about career opportunities that will help you achieve the income, impact, and freedom you’ve always dreamed of. The best part? You can do all of this without having to leave the world of education entirely.
In addition to showing you the many ways you can expand your impact beyond the classroom, we’ll introduce you to inspiring leaders in education. Want to learn about new research? Looking to get familiar with innovative approaches to teaching and learning? We’ve got you covered.
Your host, Lily Jones, is a former kindergarten and first-grade teacher who transitioned out of the classroom to work in curriculum design, writing content for ed tech companies and even launching her own educational product-based business. After quadrupling her teaching income, she realized she could help other teachers do the same. Now Lily runs Educator Forever, where she empowers teachers to expand their impact beyond the classroom, and Educator Forever Agency, where she works with a team of educators to create inspiring curricula.
For more helpful resources, head to www.educatorforever.com.
177 Episodes
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Today I’m doing a solo episode! I haven't done a solo podcast episode in a while, but I thought I'd come in and talk to you all about what I'm seeing in the world of curriculum development. I've been working in this field for almost 20 years, which is wild. But I've really seen some shifts and some things that have stayed the same. And so as you think about maybe considering curriculum development as a next career path for you, I want to talk about some of the top skills you need.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode176.
Mickey Fitch-Collins is a leadership development facilitator, coach and podcast host who turns research into real world impact. With a doctorate in leadership in higher education and a background spanning academia, Ed Tech and corporate learning, she helps organizations unlock the potential of their people, especially their middle managers.In this episode, Mickey told me about how she went from professional bass fisherman to working in higher education to learning and development. She gets deep into her learning and leadership philosophies, and she provides some great advice for those wanting to transition from education to learning and development.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode175.
Leah Ruesink is an early literacy coach and adjunct professor based in Michigan. She supports K–3 teachers in implementing research-aligned reading instruction and provides science-backed literacy guidance to educators, coaches, and families. Through her work in schools, writing, and online, Leah helps bridge the gap between literacy research and everyday classroom practice.In this episode, Leah and I talk about the importance of early literacy intervention to ensure students stick at the pace they need. We also get into the need for systematic, explicit phonics programs and business owners building their brand. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode174.
Dr Erin Sponaugle has been teaching for 23 years. She’s a national board certified teacher and a former West Virginia Teacher of the Year. She’s also the author of two children's books and recently published Teachaholic, a book about overcoming teacher burnout based on her own experience. Erin is also the host of the Next Chapter for Teachers podcast.In this episode, we talk to Erin about her educator journey, writing books, most importantly, how teachers can avoid burnout.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode173.
Kendell Hunter is a former special education teacher and reading specialist with a master’s degree in education and more than a decade of experience across K–12 schools and edtech. She is the Director of Marketing at Otus, where she has spent nearly seven years helping districts turn assessment and student data into meaningful, actionable insights.Kendell and I discuss how and she moved from teaching to ed tech, and how that’s lead to her having an impact nationally. She also gets into her transition into marketing and what it takes to find a new job in ed tech today.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode172.
Dr. Coral P.S. Hoh is a clinical linguist and the founder of Dysolve AI, a technology platform designed to support students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. With a PhD in linguistics, her work focuses on applying research and artificial intelligence to improve how dyslexia is identified and supported at scale.In this episode, Coral and I discuss how she began studying dyslexia and how that lead to her creating Dysolve. She goes deep into how successful AI has been in helping language-processing issues and why she thinks AI should be integrated into education.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode171.
Emily Read Daniels is a former school counselor, a proud soccer mom, and the author and creator of The Regulated Classroom©. Through her work as a trauma specialist, she’s become internationally recognized in her field and as a trainer in the trauma-informed schools movement.Emily and I spend the episode talking about the the overemphasis on data in education. We discuss the need for schools to focus on outcomes and teachers to align their lessons to their values. It’s an enlightening conversation that you don’t want to miss.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode170.
Lisa Riegel is the creator of the NeuroWell Framework and the 8C Commitment Framework, which are brain-based approaches to engagement and change. She holds a PhD from Ohio State in policy and leadership and is a former educator and school reform specialist turned leadership strategist. She is known for turning neuroscience into practical tools that help people gain happiness, health, and more success.In this episode, Lisa and I talk about her journey from tech sales to education and the PhD work that drove her evolution. She also told me about how she integrates brain science into educational practices and the importance of of emotional and intellectual safety in schools.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode169.
A lifelong educator with extensive experience in challenging students inside and outside the classroom, Nicholas Bradford started his restorative justice education in 2009 working in therapeutic settings. Having worked with hundreds of schools and districts, he has built a robust program that delivers a comprehensive Restorative Justice frameworkNicholas and I talk about how he began teaching restorative justice and the successes he’s seen in the classroom after providing it, especially in discipline rates. He also gives some good tips on starting a consultancy!For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode168.
Patty McGee, the author of “Not Your Granny’s Grammar,” is a nationally recognized literacy consultant, speaker and educator with a passion for transforming classrooms into spaces where language and literacy come alive. With years of teaching experience under her belt, she’s become a strong advocate for delightful literacy practices.In this episode, Patty describes how she went from teaching to starting her own literacy consultancy. She also gets into why there needs to be a shift in how grammar is taught, and why budding consultants and small business owners should write a book.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode167.
Jessica Werner, Ph.D. is the founder and CEO of Northshore Learning. She has worked with schools worldwide as an instructor, a professor of education and classroom management, and a consultant. She is passionate about helping to equip educators to work with students with varying academic and behavioral needs.In this episode Jessica details how her education journey started with a trip to Chile. She also details how Northshore Learning helps teachers and how they need support through wraparound services and professional development. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode166.
Karen Meyer Cunningham is a nationally recognized special education advocate, speaker, and mediator with over two decades of experience guiding families, educators, and professionals through the complexities of special education systems. Known as The Special Education Boss®, she brings deep expertise in IDEA, Section 504, and disability advocacy, with a clear commitment to ensuring equitable access and meaningful outcomes for students with disabilities.Karen details how a difficult introduction to special education set her down her path to helping others. She also gets into her book, The Epic IEP, and how she runs her Special Education Academy. Make sure to tune in to hear how special education programs can improve.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode165.
Jim Hollis is the founder and executive director of the Calculus Roundtable, a nationally recognized nonprofit that improves math and science achievement for underserved students. Under his leadership, the organization has worked with over 65 schools across California, Washington, and New York, earning accolades such as the New Profit Foundation’s recognition of Hollis as one of America’s top 24 social entrepreneurs of equitable education.Jim and I talk about the experiences that led him to start Calculus Roundtable as well as how it makes a difference in the classroom. We also get into the importance of providing engaging content in the classroom and the future of his organization.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode164.
Emily Cadiz is a teacher, musician, mom of three, and founder of Prelude Early Learning, home of Finnegan the Dragon. After a traumatic brain injury left her needing to relearn how to talk and walk, she rebuilt her skills through music and singing—an experience that inspired Prelude’s music-based approach to teaching language and pre-reading. With 20+ years in education and master’s degrees in education, special education, and music, Emily has created an NIH-supported program that’s shown up to 250% growth in early literacy skills. In our talk, Emily dives deep into her accident and her history as an educator. She emphasizes why she advocates for inclusive music in classrooms, rather than traditional speech therapy. She also has some great advice for those transitioning from education to entrepreneurship.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode163.
Leah Ellis is a mom of four, writer, wedding officiant, Girl Scout leader, and founder of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs. Through SoCE, Nerdy Nuptials ICT, and Girl Scouts, she creates spaces where kids, couples, and communities are empowered to lead with authenticity. Leah believes in making room for both the mess and the magic of becoming.Leah, a “serial entrepreneur,” shares with me how her daughter's interest in selling paintings led to hosting children's business fairs. She also explains why she hopes more parents help their children start their own businesses. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode162.
Stephen Hughie Lasseter is the author of Kingston To The Rescue. He is also a special education teacher in Philadelphia, where he teaches reading and math to elementary school students. He designed an educational program called Educate to Skate. Educate to Skate combines the metrics of learning, physical exercise and independence with skateboarding to teach math, geometry and science to elementary and middle school students.In our talk, Hughie and discuss how his son’s skateboarding career influenced his work in special education. He also details how he intended his book to also teach reading and how storytelling can be a wonderful teaching tool. For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode161.
Dr. Marcus Deveso is the co-founder and Chief Program Officer at C3 Community. He is a lifelong educator with nearly 30 years of experience in fostering inclusive, equitable educational environments. Throughout his career, Marcus has held a variety of roles, from classroom teacher to Chief Program Officer in the nonprofit sector.Marcus and I discuss his teacher journey, which he sees as “accidental” despite his mother and grandmother having been teachers. He dives into the C3 framework — care, capability, and connection — which he applies to education and corporate spaces. Also, we discuss the importance of inclusive, joyful learning spaces, which is such an important topic to me.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode160.
Jean Lee is a neuroscientist and homeschooling parent of three who founded the Academy of Chaos, which provides classes for homeschoolers. She’s also the director of the Midwest Homeschool Expo, one of the largest secular homeschool conferences in the United States. Jean’s career is defined by scaling operations, leading diverse teams, and building high-impact partnerships. Today, she brings that expertise to reimagine education, bridging the gap between homeschool, higher education, and the business world.In our conversation, Jean and I discuss why she homeschooled her children, how she started the Academy of Chaos and how it lead to starting the Midwest Homeschool Expo. She also drops some great advice for budding entrepreneurs working in the field of education.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode159.
National Novel Writing Month might be gone, but its founder Chris Baty and a collection of former employees and volunteers are making sure the writing tradition continues. Next month their new organization, NaNo 2.0, will be encouraging writers all over to start and complete a novel, while also providing support through resources and camaraderie.In this episode, Lily talks to Tavia Stewart and Laura Bradley from NaNo 2.0. Both of whom played integral roles in the original NaNoWriMo, with Tavia being its first employee. Laura was an eighth grade teacher who incorporated NaNoWriMo into her writing lessons and saw her students fall in love with the hardest writing assignment she had ever given in her 20 years of teaching. She’s now one of the tradition’s biggest advocates.Tune in to hear why Tavia and Laura believe in NaNo 2.0 and how it helps foster a love for writing. You might want to write a novel this year after listening!For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode158.
Alexandra DeSorbo-Quinn is the executive director of Pilot Light, a nonprofit that helps educators incorporate food education into their lessons. She joined the organization in 2014, hired personally by its founders as its first staff member, and since then, she has proudly worked in partnership with many educators, chefs and community members to grow the reach of their food education programs from one school to 79 impacting over 20,000 students nationwide.Alexandra and I get into her work history, starting with her days at a stroke center where she used hip hop to teach stroke prevention. We also dive deep into Pilot Light and the group’s involvement in developing food education’s seven standards. Alexandra’s story is a testament to the need for vision in the worlds of education and social work.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode157.
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