Balance, Satisfaction, Connection
Find your light again.
The current climate presents challenges for teachers and educators, and we are committed to maintaining the vibrancy and significance of the profession. In today's demanding educational environment, this work is crucial. Teacher effectiveness is the most significant in-school factor influencing student success, and educators perform their best when they feel supported, aligned, and empowered.
Let the Joyful Educator help you rediscover your passion for teaching.
Many educators feel 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 the difference I hoped to in this field?
We help clients cultivate tools and practices that deepen self-understanding and strengthen group relationships. We explore the defining stories they carry, working to challenge and revise those narratives. 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. Supporting 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 student achievement.
About Jackie Smith
Creator and Educator
I work with individuals and teams to help educators reconnect with their purpose and build meaningful, sustainable careers. Together, we clarify priorities, identify areas of influence, and restore a sense of impact and professional fulfillment. We also explore our personal stories and how they affect our day-to-day work.
In today's demanding educational landscape, this work is essential. Teacher effectiveness is the most significant in-school factor influencing student success, and educators perform their best when they feel supported, aligned, and empowered.
I believe that teachers and other educators can rediscover joy and purpose in their work, develop tools to manage the stress inherent in the profession, and foster relationships that sustain and renew their passion for teaching. After working with me, clients gain a clearer understanding of their values, stories, and dispositions, which leads to a centered sense of self and community within their schools.
Jackie's Background
Educator for over 30 years, teaching and leading in a variety of settings.
Degrees and certifications:
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University of Wisconsin- Madison (BA)
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The University of Minnesota (MEd)
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Concordia University (EdS)
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Cognitive Coaching Certification
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Prizmah You Lead Leadership Graduate
Additional Experience:
Facilitated and collaborated with US and Bolivian teachers in six professional development conferences in rural Bolivia
Regular presenter at conferences and community spaces.
How The Joyful Educator Can Help
We assist clients in developing tools and practices that enhance self-awareness and strengthen group relationships. Together, we examine the key narratives they hold, aiming to challenge and revise those stories. By employing frameworks that clarify values and tendencies, we evaluate how individuals align and contribute within a team.
Our approach focuses on the well-being of educators in school settings, helping them navigate complex systems while discovering their sense of agency. 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.
Our Services include:
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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
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Strategic consulting and planning
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.
1:1 Coaching for schools
Through individualized 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.
Group Coaching
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.
For Individual Educators Seeking Support & Growth
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.
Educator Cohorts
Reconnect with your purpose in education through a six-month cohort experience. Educators 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.