162: How to Be the Teacher Students Never Forget (Without Burning Yourself Out) with Jim Giovannini
Oct 27, 2026
Think back to your time in school. Is there a teacher you still remember? Someone who made you feel seen, believed in you, or completely changed the way you thought about yourself?
Now think about this: What if you're that teacher for someone else, and you don't even know it?
As teachers, we spend so much time focusing on everything we haven't done, the students we haven't reached, and the never-ending list of things demanding our attention that it's easy to forget the impact we're actually making.
But what if being a great teacher isn't about doing more? What if it's about leaning into who you already are while making sure you're taking care of yourself along the way?
In this episode of The Resilient Teacher Podcast, I'm joined by Jim Giovannini, a 40-year educator, founder of Elevated Minds, and author of Elevating Education: One Great Educator at a Time. We're talking about what it really means to be a great teacher, how to reconnect with your purpose when you're feeling burned out, and why your impact goes so much further than the students sitting in your classroom.
Jim shares stories from his decades in education, practical strategies for reaching students who are struggling, and a framework for preventing burnout that starts with something teachers are often encouraged to put last: themselves.
We also talk about why your teacher's heart doesn't have to be confined to a classroom and how finding your own version of greatness can change the way you approach teaching.
Because the goal isn't to be the teacher who does everything.
It's to be the teacher who makes a difference without losing yourself in the process.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:
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What makes a teacher one of the "great ones" students remember years later
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Why being a great teacher starts with leaning into your own personality and strengths
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How to recognize the ripple effect your teaching has on students and future generations
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Jim's PIES framework for preventing teacher burnout through physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual well-being
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Why taking care of yourself isn't selfish and how neglecting your own needs can contribute to burnout
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Practical classroom management strategies for reaching students with challenging behaviors without creating power struggles
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Why making students feel seen can be one of the most powerful things you do as an educator
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How teachers can make an impact beyond the classroom and explore new opportunities without abandoning their passion for education
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The importance of surrounding yourself with teachers who help you focus on what's going right
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Jim's "Greatness Gang" idea for creating a more positive, supportive school culture in just 20 minutes a week
CONNECT WITH JIM:
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Website: Elevated Minds
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Book: Elevating Education: One Great Educator at a Time — How to Avoid Burnout While Inspiring the Uninspired
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CONNECT WITH BRITTANY:
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MORE ABOUT THE RESILIENT TEACHER PODCAST:
The Resilient Teacher Podcast is the show that will give overwhelmed educators the support, tools, and mindset to reduce teacher burnout and keep teaching sustainable. Each week, Brittany Blackwell, M.Ed. & her guests will share inspiration and actionable steps to avoid or recover from the dreaded teacher burnout.
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Hey, y'all! I'm Brittany!
