Welcome to the very first episode of the Pit Pony Podcast with us, Sharon Cawley and Sarah Dunwood. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of our Facebook group Life After Teaching – a space for teachers who’ve said "enough is enough" and are ready to thrive outside the classroom.
What We Chat About:
- How It All Started: Picture this – it’s 2020, we're stuck at home during lockdown, and one evening on Zoom, we thought, “Why not start a Facebook group?” What began as a small gathering of friends quickly exploded into a massive global community for teachers in need of support, laughs, and a good old vent.
- Creating a Lifeline for Teachers in Crisis: We wanted the group to be a safe place for teachers, many of whom are in a bit of a crisis (or a total meltdown, let’s be real). Whether they’re feeling burned out, stressed, or just ready to leave the profession, they’ve found a home in Life After Teaching.
- The Madness of Moderation: Ever wondered what it takes to keep tens of thousands of teachers in line on Facebook? Well, it’s a full-time job. Between moderating posts, managing thousands of comments, and dealing with Facebook’s odd algorithms, let’s just say it’s a wild ride.
- **Why We’re So Strict (But In a Good Way!)*: No swearing! Yes, we know – you wouldn’t think it from two Northerners who love to curse like sailors in real life, but we’ve kept the group a safe, polite space where people can share their experiences without things getting too heated.
- The Evolution of the Group: What started as a little support group has now grown into a global community with tens of thousands of teachers. We’re so proud of the space we’ve built – and we love seeing the real friendships (and maybe one day, a Life After Teaching marriage?) blossom from it.
If you’re a teacher thinking about making an exit, or just want to hear what life after the classroom could look like, come join the Life After Teaching Facebook group. We promise it’s a place where you’ll feel understood, supported, and maybe have a few laughs along the way.
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Edited with finesse by our Podcast Super Producer, Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real
