The Empowered Educator
An 11-week online cohort to support teacher retention, resilience, and well-being in education
The Empowered Educator helps school leaders nurture and retain their strongest teachers—by helping them feel and teach at their best.
When educators have support to shift from “sticking it out” into teaching in a way that’s both sustaining and sustainable…
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students have better outcomes,
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schools cultivate happier, healthier learning environments,
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and principals can sleep better at night!
Poor well-being is predictive of teachers’ and principals’ intentions to leave the profession, with nearly 60% of teachers with 6- 20 years of experience planning to leave the profession soon.
RAND, 2022; National Education Association, 2022
Supportive school environments are linked to better well-being and increased retention.
RAND, 2022
More than 300,000 teachers quit their jobs between 2020 - 2022. There are now 567,000 fewer teachers than there were before the pandemic.
Wall Street Journal, 2022; Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022
The good news is
school leaders like you can take manageable, concrete steps toward creating a happier, healthier, and more sustainable school culture—and it starts with bringing in some support.
Enter the Empowered Educator
Nurturing our educators isn’t simply about preventing burnout— it's about fostering a supportive, resilient, and dynamic learning environment for everyone, and The Empowered Educator program is here to help you lead the charge
The Empowered Educator’s research-based curriculum directly addresses teacher well-being by providing a confidential space in which participants can connect with peers, be supported in overcoming challenges, and gain tools that improve their personal well-being, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
What’s included?
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SMALL COHORTS ACROSS SIMILAR SCHOOLS
Each cohort consists of a small group of up to 20 educators. Cohorts are based on a common thread (e.g., independent school teachers of grades 9-12), allowing you to build connections beyond your school. Our supportive, fully confidential environment allows you to share candidly without stress.
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LIVE SESSIONS
We gather for 11 weekly, live, 75-minute online sessions to learn research-backed concepts about resilience and well-being, explore how to put them into practice in their professional and personal lives, and dive deeper in “hot seats” to connect and problem-solve.
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POWERFUL EXERCISES + A CUSTOM COURSE GUIDEBOOK
A comprehensive course guidebook, journal, and resources (mailed to you personally!) offer reflective exercises to explore the week’s topic and get your thoughts down on paper. Our sessions never feel like “another meeting”—they’re interactive, impactful, and inspiring.
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EXPERT FACILITATION
When teachers get talking, transformative insights are inevitable! I facilitate an active, engaged group so that every educator can ask questions, swap ideas with their peers, discover new lightbulb moments, and request additional resources.
A Look Into the 11-Week Curriculum
The strategies we explore inside The Empowered Educator aren't simply suggestions or feel-good advice but are proven techniques and practices designed to enhance teachers’ resilience and meaningfully reduce stress.
The curriculum includes:
*The investment for The Empowered Educator program is $800 per teacher.
Investing in teacher well-being creates a positive (and compounding!) ripple effect for your school community.
Love from Empowered Educator alums
Sarah is a great example of a teacher who truly cared about all of us in the program and respected our ideas.
The breakout sessions were always fruitful, too. I learned to listen more thoughtfully, both to my peers and to my own thoughts and feelings.
Katie M., Grade 7 history teacher, Virginia
“I would recommend this program to teachers who need rejuvenation in their role as an educator.
This program can motivate them to believe in their true calling.”
Jacqueline L., Reading Specialist, Washington, DC
"In this course, I learned that to give my students the best, I need to be at my best.
The experience was upbeat, kind, and refreshing."
Shannon S., Pre-K teacher, Maryland
Teachers leave the program not only more resilient and satisfied in their role, but also better equipped to manage their stress, work effectively, and contribute positively to their school community.
Participants report:
Enhanced resilience and self-awareness
With a clear understanding of what resilience is and how it influences their professional and personal lives, educators can implement strategies that make teaching much more sustainable.
Clearer sense of purpose
Reconnecting with the values and purpose that initially called them to teach, educators can more joyfully refuel their professional motivation and satisfaction. (And positive teacher mental health has a demonstrated connection to student mental health!)
Improved problem-solving skills
: Hot seat sessions give teachers the opportunity to support each other in overcoming challenges and achieving goals, enhancing their sense of collaboration and community with other educators.
Better stress management
Understanding the body’s stress response cycle helps teachers identify practical ways to manage their stress and can offer insights into supporting their students' needs as well.
Improved time management
Teachers who can adeptly prioritize tasks, make the most of their time and cultivate more balance in their work-life integration are healthier, happier, and more effective educators.
Established, sustainable wellness routines
Not only are teachers equipped to maintain their well-being after the course ends, many are inspired to adapt and share their learnings with their students.
Impact teacher resilience and retention in just 11 weeks.
Hi! I’m Sarah Dugan, coach & PD creator for teachers
Building on 25 years of education experience both as a classroom teacher and an instructional coach, I founded Teach Learn Thrive to help school leaders like you support their teaching faculty with effective and inspiring learning experiences.
After four years and professional growth for 450+ teachers and 100+ school and district leaders, Teach Learn Thrive has grown into a hub of teacher joy, where educators at all levels can connect with each other and rededicate themselves to their purpose through professional development, coaching, wellness programming, and more.
My mission is to reconnect educators to their purpose in this work and empower them so they can continue thriving and impacting students’ lives.
As a trained instructional coach who uses Cognitive Coaching™, Adaptive Schools, and other research-backed facilitation techniques, I am eager to help you realize your vision of a world where educators feel appreciated, understood, and cared for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Winter 2024 cohorts will meet for 11 weeks from February through May. Sessions will be after school each week on a designated day, usually 3:45-5.
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There will be two cohorts: one for grade pre-k through 6 teachers and one for grade 7 through 12 teachers.
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Complete the form below and we will set up a time to discuss it.
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Each school can purchase up to 3 spots in each cohort. This maintains the diversity of the 20-person group. For example, for winter 2024, you can purchase 3 seats in the pre-k though 6th grade cohort and 3 seats in the 7-12th grade cohort.
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When teachers connect with peers from other schools, they are refreshed by hearing other perspectives, and they see they aren’t alone in their struggles. Making new connections across schools is energizing and enriching!
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The cost is $800 per participant. Teach Learn Thrive accepts purchase orders and is a registered vendor in DC and Montgomery County, Md.
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From the program start, we agree to guidelines for creating a safe space for growth and support in the group. Honesty is critical in this program, and everyone’s feelings are acknowledged and validated. However, we also help each other flip the narrative and form new neural pathways that bring a more energizing outlook. There is always another way to view the story. Where we put our energy matters, and dwelling on the negative is an energy drain. This is a lesson we touch on repeatedly during the cohort, and we all come out better for it.
Reflections from Empowered Educator participants
“This course has helped me reflect on myself as an educator, what my values are, what my needs are, and who I am as a communicator and a person.
“I felt less alone knowing that other teachers had the same feelings and viewpoints as I did about many things as an educator. I loved being able to mastermind with those in the Hot Seat and help each other out. It was great to get a chance to talk and collaborate with teachers from other schools.”
Jenn Thomas, math teacher, Maryland
“This program should be mandatory for all teachers.
“I have learned so much and am already seeing wonderful results, not only in my personal life, but also in my lesson planning and in my co-worker interactions at school.”
a teacher in ADW schools, Maryland
“The collaboration with my classmates gave me some very tangible ideas about how to reach and engage my students both academically and social-emotionally.
“It also gave me tools to understand my own needs, which, in turn, helped me to better engage and motivate my students.”
Colleen W., 4th - 8th grade math teacher, Maryland
Next Steps
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You’re invited to enroll your teachers in the January cohorts of the Empowered Educator, so they can thrive for years to come. Click below for details and options.
The investment for the Empowered Educator program is $800 per teacher.