I started teaching as a Teacher For America teacher in Houston, Texas in 2001. I fulfilled my two year commitment and moved to San Diego, CA where I taught first and second grade to black and brown students for 13 years. I always felt like I didn't fit in at my school or with my colleagues. Perhaps, because I cared too much about teaching and my students. I was willing to do whatever I could to encourage their academic success. I took my student’s fate seriously because I knew what might happen if they didn't make it. For me the achievement stakes were high because in some ways my story overlapped with theirs. I was raised by my mom, poor, and in a single parent household. I knew what it was like to learn another language away from your family. Although I'm not Latina, I spoke Spanish fluently and my family’s history also included immigrating to the US in pursuit of the American dream. I knew what it was like to struggle in school because I was an underachieving student myself and was even supposed to repeat the third grade because I wasn't able to read.  

Things were going well for me until I began running on empty. In the beginning I loved my job, I enjoyed staying long hours and planning all of my lessons. But as my career progressed, I had married, became a step-mom overnight, was pregnant with my first child, attending grad school, and all the while still trying to address the staggering needs of my students. I was experiencing burn-out and compassion fatigue, but what made it worse is that no one was talking about it. Although it was heartbreaking, I recognized this change in myself, and looked for my next step out of the classroom.

I became an instructional coach at a 50/50 Spanish Dual Immersion School for four years. I enjoyed working with the new teachers at my school site and creating content and resources for both novice and veteran teachers. From there I left the K-12 context and committed myself fully to my journey towards higher education and to coaching teachers of color much like myself. 

My continued purpose in the field of education is to support Teachers of Color where they are in their careers. I’ve often wondered if I would have stayed in teaching if I had been coached to incorporate mental health strategies into my own life. I wonder if what I`ve learned and continue to apply to my coaching clients and mentees would have saved me from leaving the classroom. I can’t say for sure, but  I do know that over the course of my career I’ve come back to five mental health strategies that have sustained me in any educational position.  To learn more about these strategies, check out my mental health tap in the navigation bar. 

Wherever you are on your journey, I’m glad you are here.

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-Heather Michel, Ed.D