Let’s be real for a minute: teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs out there, but it can also wear you down in a big way.

After almost a decade in the classroom, I found myself deep in the cycle so many teachers know too well. My days were packed with lesson plans, meetings, grading stacks of papers taller than my four-year-old, and all the “just one more thing” tasks that never seemed to stop. I loved my students. I loved teaching. But I was completely drained.

Recognizing Teacher Burnout

When my daughter Gemma was born in 2022, I took a year off. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t living by the bell. There were no papers to grade at 9 p.m., no Sunday night planning marathons.

And when the year was up? I had to be honest with myself. As much as I loved teaching, I couldn’t go back to doing it that way. Not if it meant missing time with my family or putting myself last every day.

Then life threw us a curveball (in the best and weirdest way). My husband’s job moved our family to Canada for 18 months. Teaching was suddenly off the table, and for the first time in years, I had breathing room.

Space to think.
Space to rest.
Space to ask: What do I really want my life, and my career, to look like?

The Real Talk Behind Teacher Burnout Recovery

Here’s what I realized in that quiet space: it wasn’t the teaching I needed a break from. It was the everything else.

The never-ending prep. The after-hours grading. The mental load of constantly creating new materials that were both rigorous and engaging.

I knew I wasn’t the only one.

So I stopped asking, “How can I keep up?”
And started asking, “What if I made it easier?”

The Start of Simply Teach: My Burnout Recovery Plan

That’s when Simply Teach came to life. Born from burnout, yes, but fueled by a deep love for teaching and a bigger belief: it doesn’t have to be this hard.

I started creating no-prep resources for upper elementary teachers. Resources that are:

• standards-aligned
• classroom-tested
• genuinely easy to implement
• and actually fun for students to use

Because lesson planning shouldn’t take your whole weekend.
Because you shouldn’t have to choose between great instruction and your own well-being.
Because you deserve a classroom that runs smoothly—and a life that feels sustainable.

Feeling Burned Out? You’re Not Alone

If you’re in the thick of it, feeling burned out, and questioning whether you can keep going, I see you. I was you.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me sooner:

You don’t have to keep pushing through just because that’s what you’ve always done.

Taking a step back to catch your breath or rethink how you approach your work isn’t a weakness, it’s actually wisdom. Teaching can look different and still be meaningful. And if there are tools out there that make things simpler? It’s not just okay to use them, it’s smart!

You don’t have to do it all from scratch, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Your Time Matters. Your Energy Matters. You Matter.

No matter if you’re just starting out or you’ve been teaching for years and are looking to take a few things off your plate, I’m really glad you found your way here. What I share through Simply Teach is all about helping you get some of your time and energy back—without giving up the kind of teaching you believe in.

If you’re ready for resources that support your students and your sanity, I’d love for you to check out my no-prep collections:

BROWSE NO PREP UPPER ELEMENTARY RESOURCES

Here’s to less stress, more joy, and a classroom where you (and your students) can thrive.