Why I Wrote Uplift: Energizing Educators’ Passion & Purpose

When I first started writing Uplift, I didn’t set out to become an author — I set out to help teachers stay in the work they love.

I still remember a former administrator saying, “There are no tears in education.”
She said it often — like she wanted it to catch on, to become our mantra.

But I couldn’t buy into it. Because almost every day, I was talking to teachers or instructional coaches who were, in fact, in tears. Every. Single. Day.

They were overwhelmed. Exhausted. Angry. Frustrated. Stuck. On one hand, they did not know how this work, the pace, the stress, and the feelings of inadequacy were sustainable, and on the other hand they had no clue what other jobs they were qualified for without returning to college.

And honestly, I understood.

Throughout my thirty years in education, I’ve been there too. I’ve had seasons where I felt completely drained, wondering if I wanted to keep going, or if it was time to move on.

Those moments — the ones filled with fatigue, frustration, and a quiet ache to feel joy again — are exactly why I wrote this book.

Tomorrow I will share another reason I had to write the book. In the meantime, check out the website and learn more about who I am under Home Room and Meet the Teacher.  

In gratitude for the work you do, let’s uplift our classrooms and inspire the next generation!