New Teacher Talk welcomes Abby Bartle, a fourth-year English teacher at Oswego High School in Oswego, Illinois, for an honest conversation about getting involved in your school community without running yourself into the ground. Hosted by Dr. Anna Quinzio-Zafran and Dr. Beth Wilkins, this episode is full of practical guidance from someone who has done a lot, running the school website, coaching, sponsoring clubs, tutoring, volunteering, and finishing a master's degree, and has learned where the limits need to be.
Abby walks through the many doors into school involvement, from coaching and sponsoring activities to simply showing up at student events like games, musicals, and poetry slams. She makes the case for committees and PLCs as a way to grow fast, sharing how joining a curriculum-rewrite committee in her first year became the best professional decision she made, even though it took time to find her voice among veteran teachers. She talks candidly about mentorship on both sides of the relationship, the realities of pursuing a master's degree, and how she funded hers through coaching. Throughout, she keeps returning to one idea: say yes on purpose, and protect the time that keeps you whole.
Abby’s Teacher-instagram account: @teaching_with_ms_b
What you will take away:
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#NewTeacherTalk #NewTeacherSupport #TeacherBurnout #SchoolInvolvement #TeacherMentorship #PLC #FirstYearTeacher #WorkLifeBalance #TeacherCommunity #IntentionalTeaching
