How to Be a Happy Teacher
Sarah knows teachers and the challenges of the profession. Let her help you become happier and more resilient!

February 15, 3:30-5:00pm
Presenter: Sarah Dugan, Teach-Learn-Thrive
Audience: Teachers of all ages and the staff who support them!

As educators emerge from two years of teaching in a pandemic, the world is redefining what it means to be a happy teacher - for starters, it no longer means martyrdom. And if you’re wondering, feeling fulfilled and content as an educator is possible. In this 90-minute session for anyone who educates (school leaders are welcome, too!) participants will explore ways to rediscover the joy in their job, improve their personal wellness, and take steps toward a sustainable work-life harmony.

Attendees will learn ways to move on from the apathy, exhaustion, and cynicism (a.k.a. burnout) that has pervaded our field in the past several years. They’ll also gain insights on how and why resilience can (and must!) be cultivated from within. Participants will take a personal resilience inventory, illuminating for themselves their strengths and areas for growth. They will envision realistic ways to cultivate resilience and stave off burn-out through habits, self-talk, relationships, and small but important everyday choices.

This session will be an intentional blend of meaningful content, structured reflection exercises, and guided small group conversation. The learning experiences are built around clear, relevant learning outcomes tailored just for educators.

Meet the Presenter:
Sarah Dugan
Sarah Dugan, M.Ed. is the founder of Teach Learn Thrive, a company committed to supporting leaders and teachers to build their skills, renew their love for their work, and jumpstart their ability to transform students’ lives. Through professional development, instructional coaching, and her signature teacher mastermind program, Sarah empowers educators with interactive learning experiences, structured small-group conversations, and powerful reflection practices.

Before starting Teach Learn Thrive, Sarah worked in Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools for 12 years, first as a middle school English teacher and then as an instructional coach. In the coach role, she worked closely with both principals and teachers, designing and delivering PD that helped close student achievement gaps in diverse schools. Her first teaching job was at the McLean School of Maryland, where she spent 5 years teaching middle school English to students with unique learning styles.

A Massachusetts native, Sarah earned a B.A. in English at Georgetown and M.Ed. in secondary education at George Washington University. She currently lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with her husband and three children.