Looking ahead to 2026: A new direction beyond Truth for Teachers

Well—we’ve reached the end of the 2025 season of the Truth for Teachers podcast. As usual, I’ll take a break from new episodes in December, so this is it from me until 2026.

I first started the podcast in 2015, and now, ten years and hundreds of episodes later, I’m finding that the time away from the show really helps sustain me. The breaks make it possible for me to keep doing this work and showing up with new things to say.

If you’ll miss having new episodes to listen to, I want to suggest a way to work back through the archives without having to scroll endlessly through episode titles. I have a set of recommended Truth for Teachers playlists you can access. They’re a careful curation of the episodes I’m most proud of—and that I think will help you most—from my ten years of podcasting.

I’ve organized the playlists around four topics:

• The Encouragement Playlist, if you need a boost of inspiration and motivation
• The Productivity Playlist, if you want practical strategies for time management and getting things done
• The Student Engagement Playlist, if you want tools for building relationships with students and enhancing your lessons
• The Greatest Hits Playlist, which covers a wide variety of topics that have been really popular over the years but aren’t necessarily connected to any larger theme. The Greatest Hits playlist offers a really nice variety of episodes.

If you’re a longtime listener and accessed one of these playlists a while back, know that I updated them this month so they include newer episodes, too.

Go to TruthforTeachers.com/playlists and enter your email address to receive the playlist you want. I’ll send you a PDF with a description of each episode, a link to its blog post/transcript, and a link to the MP3 file for listening. It also shares some special bonuses and other related resources I think you might like.

For right now,  I’m sharing some personal thoughts as I prepare to step away for my annual December sabbatical. I’m thinking deeply about alignment, presence, and what it means to move forward with clarity and purpose.

If you’ve been feeling the tension between what you have to do and what you’re called to do… this article + podcast episode is for you.

Listen to episode 338 below,
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Sponsored by Mia and Tiago Books

And as we wrap up this podcast season, I want to take a moment to pause with you—to reflect, to breathe, and to honor everything you’ve made it through this year.

This time of year always feels like a paradox, doesn’t it? There’s the outward busyness of the holidays, but also this inward pull toward stillness. There’s exhaustion and gratitude, joy and heaviness. There’s the part of you that’s celebrating all you’ve accomplished—and the part that’s just plain tired.

So if no one has told you this yet: I see you. I see how hard you’ve worked to keep showing up for kids, to grow as an educator and a human, and to make your work more sustainable so that you can actually enjoy your life outside of school.

And if you’re craving more ease, more peace, more real joy, please know you’re not alone. I’m feeling that, too.

Going offline for my December internet sabbatical

Every December, I take a sabbatical month. I go completely offline—no social media—and I use that time to slow down, reflect, and recalibrate. It’s something I’ve done for years now, and it’s become a non-negotiable for me.

But this year, I feel a deeper need for that space. Because I can sense that something’s shifting in me, and around me.

The online space is changing, and it feels harder and harder to get people’s attention. The things that do get attention are so algorithm-driven, and the most popular things seem to be fueling either outrage and fear, or appealing to the lowest common denominator and not in any way enriching or edifying. Serious, long-form content and deep dives into important topics require more effort to consume, and folks want and need ease right now.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s great stuff being shared on social media and gaining traction, too—thought-provoking hot takes and hilarious videos that bring much-needed levity and light. But I don’t create hot takes or hilarious videos. So what’s my place in this online world where I have things I want to share with teachers but am not willing to bow to the ever-changing demands of algorithms in order to force people’s attention my way?

Maybe you’re feeling that, too. I don’t know.

But for me, the word that keeps coming up is alignment.

Aligning my online and offline lives

That’s what I’ve been turning over in my mind and heart. I want more alignment in my life: a deeper sense that the way I’m living and working matches the kind of person I’m becoming. I want to create, share, and be in community in a way that’s in alignment with the kind of world I want to live in. I want to be part of something nourishing and healing and wholesome and uplifting.

And here’s what I’ve learned about coming into alignment:

Sometimes alignment is less about changing your circumstances, and more about noticing what already feels good—and choosing to lean into that. Sometimes it’s about shifting your perspective so that you can show up differently.

So as I reflect this winter holiday season, I’ll be asking myself:

• What’s giving me life?
• What work feels most alive?
• What connections are most energizing?
• Where am I already in alignment—and how can I do more of that?

Because honestly, my personal life feels more aligned than ever. I absolutely love my life. My husband and I finally stopped renting in Brooklyn and bought an apartment in Queens last summer, and it was life-changing in more ways than I ever thought possible. I had no idea how much living in a different kind of neighborhood—even one just a few miles away—would impact my quality of life.

Where we live now is so incredibly walkable—I mean, the old neighborhood was too, but it was becoming more tourist-driven and less focused on quality of life for residents. Like, I need a hardware store, not a tattoo shop, you know?

And I love the diverse community of people where we live now. It’s a true neighborhood where families live and pass down their homes for generations. I have a yoga studio close by and practice every day, which has been life-changing in and of itself. I feel so at home in the city in a way I never did before. I can see my future here, even in retirement. It’s a forever home for me.

We do still have our home in the Poconos, in Pennsylvania, which is about two hours outside the city. And I still love the peace and nature there, too. That’s where I make art, ride my bike, and hike waterfalls.

I feel like I truly have the best of both worlds, and I’m genuinely at peace within myself and how I’m spending my time. I feel present in my daily routines. I’ve been doing my inner work, and am becoming less and less reactive, and more patient and empathetic with others. I’m savoring slowness and depth and all the offline parts of life.

Which, of course, brings me back to my work life. I’ve been sharing ideas with teachers online since 2003—so 22 years now. The basis of what I do as an educational consultant is really centered on Truth for Teachers. And the disconnect between living my life fully present with other humans in community, and working mostly online, is getting harder to ignore.

So in 2026, I’ll be shifting directions.

I don’t know yet exactly what that will look like—and that’s what I’ll be exploring during my sabbatical in December—but I do know this: I want to connect with people more directly and more deeply.

And like I said earlier, coming into alignment doesn’t necessarily mean walking away from everything. That’s not practical or financially feasible, for one thing. But also, there’s so much good here. I really do love podcasting. It’s just lonely sometimes because I’m talking to myself, talking into the void. I love writing books and creating curriculum and courses, but it’s more time on a computer.

I’m tired of screens.  So bringing my offline life into alignment with my work might mean more live trainings, even if they’re virtual. I’ve been doing them monthly since this past May, and I really enjoy that. I’ll put the link in my show notes to the page where I’ve archived them and where you can find out about new trainings.

I love having folks there with me in the chat and answering questions, and hearing your feedback in real time. So even though that’s screen-based, I do enjoy that, because I feel more of a human connection to you all. I love the energy that comes from showing up in the same moment as other people. It’s different than watching or creating something on-demand.

I’m really looking forward to teaching the live cohort of Unlocking Teacher Productivity through RocketPD in January. We’re going to be meeting for 90 minutes each Thursday evening for five weeks—you can still join us, the link is in the show notes—to build community and problem solve around the practical logistics of time management and organization as a teacher. I love getting to be in real-time conversation with teachers, answering questions in the moment, and feeling the energy of the group. I want to do more of that kind of work moving forward.

Bringing my offline life into alignment with my work might mean more in-person work in schools—doing coaching or workshops where I can meet people where they are and help solve problems in real time, with all the nuance and complexity of their specific contexts.

Traveling takes a toll on me, so in the past, I haven’t accepted a lot of this in-person training work. But with the state of online business, frankly, I need to accept more of it, and I don’t think it would be as tiring if I weren’t also trying to create so much online and keep up with everything digitally, too. I would like to do more PD and speaking, especially locally, because it really feeds my soul in a way now that I think I didn’t need as much years ago.

Introducing teacher retreats

And most of all—after years of dreaming and talking about it—I’m finally going to begin offering teacher retreats. Seriously, I think I first mentioned retreats on the podcast in like 2021. It’s been a very long time coming.

But as I work to come into alignment, a series of events happened this fall that just made everything fall into place. Literally within a 72-hour period, with minimal effort on my part, things just started falling into place, and I felt a peace that this is finally the right time.

A big catalyst for this was finding the perfect home base for these experiences: the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. It’s the most beautiful, peaceful location of 400 acres of forest in the Pocono Mountains, about two hours from both NYC and Philadelphia.

I chose this location for two main reasons.

First, it’s convenient enough for me to return to again and again. You know how I really take sustainability into consideration when I embark on new endeavors. I want this to be something I can continue doing for years without burning out.

And second, the accommodations are affordable. Hotels and meals are crazy expensive now, and the price tag for many retreat locations is eye-watering. The Himalayan Institute is designed with “conscious simplicity” so that your room is comfortable and meals are nourishing without the luxury price tag.

Though I do plan to host retreats in other locations, I’m letting go of the internal pressure to be everywhere and find places that work for everyone. I hate disappointing people and leaving folks out. And yet, there’s just one of me, and my concept for the retreats doesn’t (and shouldn’t) scale.

 

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Why retreats, and why now?

I think there’s a tremendous need for in-person community and connection.

I remember when the internet was an enjoyable escape from real life, and now, I see people longing for real life as an escape from ever-present screens. Loneliness is real. I think many of us are looking for deeper connections to each other, and to ourselves, and to the natural world we’re designed to be part of.

Through these retreats I want to share with you the parts of myself that you don’t see online or in my teacher-oriented resources.

I want to make art with you (I’ve done art therapy training and use art for stress management and inner expression).

I want to do shinrin-yoku (forest “bathing”) and nature healing with you (I’m a certified Forest Therapy Guide).

I want to support you in deep healing and relaxation by leading you through restorative postures (I’m certified as a Restorative Yoga Teacher).

I want to help you reset your nervous system by guiding you through meditation, not with words, but with sound, as I play soothing instruments like the kalimba, singing bowls, Koshi chimes, and gong (I’m a certified Sound Healing Practitioner).

And while my heart is always with educators and those in the caring professions, these kinds of experiences are beneficial for all people. So, some of my retreats will be teacher-centered, and some will be open to everyone.

The first event is actually going to be this February, and it’s called Books in the Wild: A Winter Sensory Retreat for Readers. This one is open to everyone and is geared toward avid readers, because I find book lovers tend to have three things in common:

• We have more wish-listed books than time to read them all
• We have broad interests that span multiple genres
• We love to hear what other people think about various titles, so we can find our next great read

So I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if we gathered together in a place without TV, without the piles of laundry and household tasks that pull us away, and do a book-centered retreat? So my vision is that, unlike a book club in which everyone reads and discusses a single agreed-upon book, this retreat is designed for folks from all backgrounds to come together and share a wide diversity of reading interests.

If you are a curious, open-minded person who enjoys learning and exploring new “information rabbit holes” and stories, you will fit right in! Readers of all genres are welcome. Bring a friend, a partner, a family member, anyone you’d like, pack that pile of unread books, and enter our peaceful forest haven, where you can immerse yourself in stories and leave the to-do list behind.

So Books in the Wild is going to be a three-day and two-night weekend retreat, February 20-22, filled with delicious, healthy meals, guided excursions to get you moving outdoors, restorative live music in the form of sound baths, mindful time to be still and reconnect to yourself in nature, and meaningful human connection around shared interests.

The remaining retreats are in the summer and fall, with one in North Carolina and one in Arizona, and the rest at my home base in Pennsylvania. You can see the full list of retreats here.

Introducing Due Season Press & Ed Services

It’s a link to a new website, actually. Thus far, I’ve kept everything at truthforteachers.com, but going forward, if I want to serve more folks, I want to have a place that showcases what I do beyond just the K-12 setting. So I set up a website at dueseasonpress.com.

Due Season Press and Educational Services is the official name of my LLC—I do all business under that LLC. Most people don’t realize it because they purchase from Truth for Teachers, The 40 Hour Teacher Workweek, or other brands under Due Season Press, but that’s the parent company.

The phrase “due season” refers to the appropriate time for a particular event or action to occur. Due season reminds us that leadership, creativity, and self-care all follow natural cycles. Just as we can’t harvest in winter, we can’t expect constant productivity without renewal. So the books, trainings, and retreats I create under Due Season Press honor these rhythms, offering practices that help you rest, reflect, and return with clarity and strength.

On the new Due Season Press site, I talk about structural editing services for authors who want to publish books, the retreats, and all the other good stuff that’s for both K-12 teachers and everyone. I built that website myself—it’s still not 100% where I want it—but check it out if you want to get a feel for what I’m doing. You’ll see more sides of me, I think, than just what is evident on Truth for Teachers, and that feels really good to share.

Retreats for schools and organizations

As part of this shift toward in-person restorative events, I’m also looking to provide retreat experiences to individual schools and districts that want to offer experiences beyond typical professional development.

Many leaders are ready to take their faculty beyond the experience of sitting in a gymnasium or conference room, taking notes all day. I see a deep need for small, intentional gatherings focused on developing restorative daily practices, renewing our energy, and reconnecting with purpose.

So while there’s still significant value in professional development and workshops (and I’ll continue to offer those), I also want to give schools the option for something truly unique. I’m expanding into retreat planning and facilitation services for schools, teachers’ unions, and non-profit organizations.

My goal is to make evidence-based mindfulness, meditation, and nature-immersion practices accessible to people of all backgrounds and belief systems. I feel like those things are so beneficial, but they get kind of a bad rep, especially when they verge into pseudoscience, and it’s a turnoff for a lot of folks. That’s why I emphasize that term “evidence-based” and also “accessible.” Sound baths are relaxing and help calm the nervous system. You just lie there and listen to the sounds, and observe what happens in your body. Simple. Being in nature opens us up to a sense of something greater than ourselves, cultivates a sense of awe and wonder, and helps us see how living things are interconnected. All educators, all humans, can experience the benefits of these practices.

Learn more about retreat design services for schools and educators.

An invitation to reflect on your own alignment

So if you’re someone who’s been longing for an experience like that—a way to step outside the classroom, outside your routine, and just come back home to yourself—I’m creating this with you in mind. I’ll share more in early 2026 when I’m ready.

As the seasons shift, I hope you’ll join me in reflection on your own alignment.

Often, we focus only on what we want to get rid of. The toxic systems. The unrealistic expectations. The constant demands. And yes, all of that matters.

But alignment isn’t just about what we walk away from. It’s also about noticing what already feels aligned—and giving ourselves permission to want more of that, pursue more of that, and open ourselves up to more of that.

Alignment is about choosing joy where we can.
Leaning into ease when it shows up.
Noticing when something lights us up—and asking: What if I gave myself more of this? How can I experience more of this?

You don’t have to burn it all down to move toward a life that fits you better.
You can start with small shifts in how you work.
How you think.
How you care for yourself.
How you honor what you already know to be true.

How to take a sabbatical with me over your winter holiday break

So as you head into this holiday season, I hope you’ll give yourself the gift of reflection—not just about what you want to leave behind, but also what you want to carry forward.

Think about:

• What do I want more of next year?
• What actually felt good this year, and how can I build on that?
• What rhythms helped me feel grounded, and how can I continue them?
• What connections felt life-giving, and how can I have more of them?

And if you don’t have clear answers yet, that’s okay. Sometimes the questions themselves are the gift. Sometimes asking is the first step toward realignment.

The winter season invites us to go inward. Not to fix everything, but just to notice. To slow down enough that we can hear our own inner voice again. That’s what I’ll be doing during my sabbatical month in December, and I hope you’ll give yourself even just a few moments to do the same.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me in 2025. Thank you for your trust, your presence, and your heart. I’m deeply grateful to be in this work with you.

And I’ll see you in 2026 with new energy, new clarity, and new ways for us to connect—live, in-person, and in alignment.

Until then… rest well. Reflect deeply. Reconnect with what matters most.

Because, as always …

It’s not going to be easy.
It’s going to be worth it.