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This podcast is for teachers ready to transition out of the classroom and into a new career. Each week, I will share stories about what I have learned moving from education to the corporate world. I will answer the most common questions and share my best tips to help you get started! If you are considering leaving the classroom, this show is for you! Kristi Oliva is a Learning Program Manager for Worldwide Customer Service Assessment Strategy at Amazon. She drives a global program to design high-quality assessment methods that correlate with performance-based business solutions. A successfully transitioned teacher, Kristi is also a Guest Faculty Member and Mentor for IDOL courses, where she has helped hundreds of professionals enter the instructional design field by providing group mentoring and one-on-one coaching.
Episodes

Monday Jul 15, 2024
Monday Jul 15, 2024
In this episode, Kristi Oliva discusses 5 effective strategies for teachers to build a professional network outside of education in order to transition into a new career.
Tune in to find out:
- How to leverage your current contacts, including colleagues, friends, family, former students, and parents
- The benefits of joining professional organizations and attending industry-specific events and conferences
- Tips for using social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to connect with industry professionals and learn about new fields

Monday Jul 08, 2024
Monday Jul 08, 2024
In this episode of the Leaving the Classroom Podcast, host Kristi Oliva provides tips for teachers looking to transition into corporate roles on how to write a standout resume.
Tune in to hear:
- How to highlight transferable skills from teaching experience, such as communication, project management and problem-solving
- Tips for using strong action verbs and quantifying achievements with numbers and metrics to showcase impact
- Strategies for tailoring your resume for each job application and keeping it concise and focused

Monday Jul 01, 2024
Monday Jul 01, 2024
In this episode of Leaving the Classroom Podcast, Kristi Oliva interviews David Richards about starting micro-schools as an alternative to traditional public education.
Tune in to hear...
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David Richards' experience transitioning from teaching to opening charter and Micro Schools
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The benefits of Micro Schools for personalized learning and teacher autonomy
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Steps for starting a Micro School and resources for teachers interested in this option

Monday Jun 10, 2024
Monday Jun 10, 2024
In this episode of Leaving the Classroom, host Kristi Oliva interviews Jill Kelly, a former teacher turned Project Coordinator.
Tune in to find out:
- Jill's 12-year teaching experience and why she decided to leave the classroom
- Her journey from teaching to becoming a Sales Development Representative (SDR) at an EdTech company
- What a Project Coordinator does and how her teaching skills transferred to this new role

Monday May 27, 2024
Monday May 27, 2024
In this episode of Leaving the Classroom, former teacher Jared Speight shares his journey transitioning from teaching to instructional design.
Tune in to hear:
- Jared's story of transitioning from 14 years in the classroom to an instructional design role due to burnout from COVID.
- Strategies for building an instructional design portfolio through groups, challenges, and independent projects.
- Insights on transferring teaching skills like curiosity, delivering instruction, and empathy to instructional design work.

Monday May 20, 2024
Monday May 20, 2024
In this episode of Leaving the Classroom, host Kristi Oliva interviews former teacher Melissa Chapman about her transition to a career in project management.
Tune in to hear:
- Melissa's journey from burnout in teaching to becoming a certified project manager.
- How teachers can translate their skills and experience on their resume for roles in project management.
- Advice for teachers on gaining clarity about their career goals and tailoring their resumes and LinkedIn profiles for specific roles outside of education.

Tuesday May 14, 2024
Leaving the Classroom Podcast: 3 Steps to Leave the Classroom | 46
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Tuesday May 14, 2024
In this episode, Kristi Oliva provides tips for teachers planning their transition out of the classroom.
Tune in to hear:
1. The importance of mapping out your journey and identifying a clear destination or target career path to avoid feeling lost.
2. Steps to research potential post-teaching careers, identify skill gaps, and address qualifications needed for the target role.
3. Details about an upcoming "Teacher Ditch Day" event on June 3rd to explore career options and networking opportunities.

Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
In this episode of Leaving the Classroom, former teacher Kim Brooks shares her journey of transitioning from the classroom to holistic wellness curating.
Tune in to hear:
- Kim's story of teaching for 18 years in elementary school both in the US and internationally before feeling burned out and resigning.
- How she discovered yoga and other holistic practices to help manage her stress and fibromyalgia, leading her to get certifications in yoga, meditation, Reiki and more.
- Kim now offers private wellness sessions blending various modalities and shares insights on embracing life after teaching, managing stress, and asking for help in the transition process.