Lost, Not Broken: Finding Your Way Out of the Classroom

"I just think you're not trapped. You have options." Kate left teaching after 23 years in the secondary English classroom - not with a plan, but with the certainty that something had to change. Long-term supply work gave her breathing space but not direction, and by the time she found the Adventures After Teaching Academy, she was no longer burnt out, just lost. Having already invested time, money and energy into courses that hadn't moved the needle, she wasn’t sure about joining at first. But hearing others further along the journey made her feel, for the first time, that this is where she needed to be.Now a Learner Success Coach, Kate spends her days supporting apprentices through deadlines, personal crises and everything in between - all entirely remotely. With control over her own calendar and holidays where she's truly switched off, she's built a working life that actually fits around her family. Losing the subject expert identity was an adjustment, but she's gained something she hadn't had in years - time to read for pleasure, go to the theatre, and follow her own interests again. In this episode, we also talk about:Supply teaching as your lifeboatWhy CVs aren't one and doneThe project management course that changed everythingFeeling in limbo - and the power of seeing others make it outResilience in the career change processWhat an AI-driven interview actually looks likeThe pastoral heart of a Learner Success Coach roleWhat genuinely supportive workplace feedback feels likeTaking time to unpick your identity outside of teachingEnjoying flexible working!Links & Resources: Kate’s LinkedIn Profile ⛺ Next Step Fest 2026 is coming! FREE online event for teachers ready to leave ~ released 23rd July. Register here now 🩷