Make your school a place where talented educators choose to stay
Adult resilience and engagement has a direct impact on students and their learning. Strong teams, grounded teachers, and connected leadership create the conditions for a school culture that drives teacher retention and student achievement.
The current climate has left many educators feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure whether their work has the impact they set out to make. They feel misaligned with school or district priorities, unclear about their agency, or disconnected from colleagues. The question they carry, that interrupts their fuller life: Am I making a difference?
We help school communities and individuals cultivate practices that deepen self-understanding and strengthen group relationships. We explore and revise defining stories we carry and disrupt narratives that do not match our values. Using frameworks to better understand values and tendencies, we then examine how individuals align and contribute within a team. This approach centers on the wellbeing of school-based educators as they work within complex systems and learn to find their agency. The outcome is a school community that has the energy to center student relationships and academic success.
About Jackie Smith
Creator and Educator
About Me
I am guided by a commitment to help educators connect with their purpose and build meaningful, sustainable careers in education. When educators feel supported, aligned, and connected to their work, they are better able to experience impact, fulfillment, and a strong sense of professional identity. This strengthens school culture and student learning.
Educator effectiveness is a significant in-school factor influencing student success, and people perform at their highest level when they feel supported, connected, and empowered. I work with individuals and teams to clarify priorities, identify areas of influence, and restore a sense of purpose, impact, and professional fulfillment. Together, we explore the practical and personal dimensions of school life and find balance that encourages retention and school stability. My work focuses on strengthening culture, clarifying boundaries, and building the conditions that allow educators and leaders to do their best work in demanding educational environments.
Through coaching, strategic planning, and thoughtful teaming, I support educators in rediscovering joy and purpose in their work while developing skills to manage the stress inherent in the profession. Clients gain a clearer understanding of their values, personal narratives, and professional dispositions. This leads to a more centered sense of self and stronger connection within their school communities. The result is not only improved well-being, but more sustainable practice, healthier relationships, and renewed capacity for leadership and teaching.
I hold degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (BA), the University of Minnesota (MEd), and Concordia University (EdS), along with certifications in Cognitive Coaching and leadership development through Prizmah’s You Lead program. In addition to my formal training, I have facilitated and collaborated with educators in six professional development conferences in rural Bolivia, an experience that continues to shape my perspective on teaching, leadership, and community. I am a regular presenter in conferences and educational settings, bringing a grounded and practical approach to leadership and school culture development.
How The Joyful Educator Can Help Your School
With a focus on the well-being of educators in school settings, together we navigate complex systems while discovering agency in the community. Supporting adult resilience and engagement positively influences students and their learning experiences. Strong teams, dedicated teachers, and connected leadership foster a school culture that promotes student achievement.
Services include:
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Strategic consulting and planning
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Coaching for school leaders, including principals, TOSAs, and PLC leads.
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Group work for teaching teams, including leadership teams, PLC’s and academic departments.
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Community and third space offerings to support individual educators from a variety of settings
For School-Based Teams
Strategic Planning & School-Wide Support
We partner with school leaders to clarify initiatives, align values, and respond to the needs of the school community. This work builds a resilient, empowered staff with a shared sense of purpose and a clear understanding of their role in the success of the school.
Coaching for individuals
Through coaching grounded in values and purpose, educators cultivate tools for growth, clarity, and renewed joy in their daily work. We work with a range of educators including school leaders, TOSAs, PLC leads, and early- and mid-career teachers, supporting them as they reimagine their place in the field. Coaching is tailored to the individual and focused on building capacity, resilience, and a strong sense of agency.
Coaching for teams
Grounded teams with shared values are better equipped to collaborate, plan, and respond to student needs. Group coaching strengthens team dynamics, supports effective problem-solving, and builds capacity to use data meaningfully. The result is stronger collaboration, healthier working relationships, and improved outcomes for students.
Growth and Resilience for Individual Educators
With a focus on the well-being of educators in school settings, together we navigate complex systems while discovering agency in the community. Supporting adult resilience and engagement positively influences students and their learning experiences. Working in small groups outside of the school setting offers a unique safety and opportunity for honest reflection and sharing.
Services include:
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Coaching for school leaders, teachers, and other school staff
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Community and third space offerings to support individual educators from a variety of settings
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Opportunities for Cohort Learning
For Individual Educators
1:1 Coaching for individuals
Individual coaching offers a dedicated space for reflection, growth, and strategic action. Educators clarify their values, strengthen their sense of agency, and develop sustainable practices that support both their wellbeing and their impact in the classroom.
Third Space Gatherings
These gatherings provide a space for learning, reflection, and connection outside of the school setting. Educators from any background come together to explore strategies for building agency, setting boundaries, and sustaining meaningful work in education. Participants benefit from the “safety of strangers”, a community of peers who are not part of their immediate workplace but share a common desire to grow, reflect, and navigate the challenges of education with intention. Watch this space for upcoming opportunities.
Educator Cohorts
Reconnect with your purpose in education through a six-month cohort experience. Engage in a guided exploration of values and dispositions as they relate to their work, while building practical strategies and supportive practices for resilience. This experience blends reflection, collaboration, and application to create lasting impact in daily professional life. Watch this space for upcoming opportunities.