Welcome to another episode of the Teach with Mrs. Parks podcast. I'm Nicole Parks, the content creator behind Teach with Mrs. Parks. Today, I'm sharing a deeply personal story in an episode titled "How My Trauma Prepared Me...".
Let me start by introducing myself and my journey. Teaching was not my first career choice. In this episode, I explain how I found myself in the world of education. My path wasn't straightforward; it was deeply influenced by my own childhood experiences.
I share some of the challenges I faced growing up, which have shaped my core values today. I believe every child deserves love, support, encouragement, and safety. When it comes to behavior issues, I advocate for a mindset of "Get curious, not furious" because I see behavior as a sign that a student needs more support.
Creating a safe and comforting school environment is my passion. While I can't fix everything that happens at home, I am committed to making school a place where students feel secure and valued. I also talk about my efforts to connect with the "silent" students—the ones who might otherwise go unnoticed.
A pivotal moment in the episode is when I share how my trauma has made me a multi-passionate person. This trait helps me satisfy an obsessive urge to control things when life feels uncontrollable. It drives me to excel in various areas, constantly seeking to improve and innovate in my teaching methods.
As the episode progresses, I reflect on the legacy I hope to leave behind. Kindness, grace, empathy, and being unapologetically authentic are important to me. I want to be remembered for my ability to be "straight the eff up," providing genuine support and guidance to my students.
In conclusion, I recap the main points discussed in the episode and encourage you to reflect on your own journeys and how your experiences shape your teaching. I invite you to connect with me on social media for further insights and support.
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and subscribe to the Teach with Mrs. Parks podcast. Your reviews and shares help reach more educators who can benefit from these discussions.
Connect with me by following @teachwithMrs.Parks on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, and my website for more inspiration and resources.
Lastly, don't forget to join the Social Emotional Classroom with Kinda Sorta Teacher to get over 175 resources you can plug & play plus reoccurring live calls with educational experts in her Burn it Down series! You get your first 14 days free and then its only $10/month! You'll catch me there regularly!
Thank you for tuning in to this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Teach with Mrs. Parks. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions that aim to empower and uplift educators everywhere.
XOXO,
Mrs. Parks
