With 29 years of teaching behind her and 58 podcast episodes under her belt, Rachel wraps up season one of Life’s Next Lesson Plan with an open letter to you—her listeners. This episode isn’t about interviews or expert advice. It’s about reflection, gratitude, and a little bit of humor.

Whether you're a fellow educator, a lifelong learner, or standing at your own personal crossroads, this heartfelt solo episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and maybe even laugh at the growing pains of change. Rachel shares what she’s learned (and unlearned) while making this podcast—and what’s next as she steps into a whole new lesson plan.

What You’ll Hear:

• Rachel’s honest reflections on ending her teaching career
• 5 life lessons for anyone in transition
• The funny (and humbling) things she’s learned from podcasting
• A thank-you to her community of listeners
• A free journal to help you navigate identity shifts
• What might come next for Rachel—and the podcast

Mentioned in This Episode:

🎁 Download the Free Identity Journal: 👉 lifesnextlessonplan.com/freebies

📺 Follow Rachel’s post-classroom journey: Instagram: @lifesnextlessonplan YouTube: Life’s Next Lesson Plan

Thank you for being here. Keep learning. Keep listening. And don’t be afraid to rewrite the plan.

With love, Rachel

In today’s episode, I sit down with the incredibly brave and authentic Sammy Christofferson, whose career journey is a perfect reminder that sometimes the degree you earned isn’t the life you’re meant to live forever.

After just a few years in the classroom, Sammy knew something wasn’t sitting right — with her evaluations, the lack of flexibility, and the system that didn’t fully value her as an educator and individual. With the support of her fiancé (now husband), Sammy made the difficult but empowering decision to leave education and create her own version of success.

We dive into:

• What pushed Sammy to walk away from teaching
• How she made the transition without a full plan in place
• The importance of time freedom, especially as a mom of two young kids
• How she built her businesses as a Virtual Assistant and Hugh & Grace representative
• The role a strong mentor played in helping her prepare for change
• The power of trusting your gut when something isn’t right

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s crazy to leave behind a steady career in search of something more aligned with your life, this episode is for you.

Sammy’s biggest takeaway? You are never as stuck as you think you are — and your happiness is worth chasing.

Homework (Takeaway for Listeners): Have open conversations with your partner or support system when you feel those tugs toward change. They want to support you, but they can’t read your mind.

Connect with Sammy on Instagram: @sammy.christofferson

Connect with Me: 👉 Download my free Identity Journal: lifesnextlessonplan.com/freebies 👉 Follow on Instagram & YouTube: @LifesNextLessonPlan

Hey friends, This episode is raw, real, and—let’s be honest—brutally honest.

After 29 years in the classroom, I’m down to my final days as a teacher. This isn’t just a farewell; it’s a reckoning. I’m pulling back the curtain to share what I built, what I loved, what nearly broke me, and what I’m carrying with me into whatever comes next.

✨ Whether you’re a fellow educator, someone navigating a major life pivot, or just curious about what it’s like to walk away from a decades-long identity—this one’s for you.

In this three-part episode, I unpack:

📚 Part 1: What I’m Taking With Me From matchmaking students during literary analysis to decoding Axe body spray clouds in the hallway—these are the skills, stories, and soul-shaping moments I’ll never forget. Deep listening, classroom improv, open mics, student-driven learning, and the ability to build community through Buzzfeed quizzes and literary tears alike.

📸 Part 2: What I’m Leaving Behind Let’s get honest: I’m leaving behind the mental load, the never-ending grading, the guilt, the martyrdom, the impossible standards, and yes—staff meeting icebreakers. (IYKYK.) Also not missing: mystery vapes in the bathroom, forgotten SD cards, and “How many points is this worth?” echoing in my nightmares.

🌀 Part 3: Becoming Rachel Again Who am I when I’m not “Ms. Rauch”? I’m finding out—slowly, awkwardly, and with a surprising amount of joy. This ending is creating space for something new. A new identity. New rhythms. New ways to use my voice and talents—without bells or bells schedules. And I’m finally learning to measure worth by something other than awards and productivity.

💬 Quote to Hold Onto: "Sometimes the most important lesson isn’t what we teach others—but how we ourselves learn and grow along the way."

🛎️ Tune in as I ring the bell one last time—and invite you to turn the page with me.

🔗 Connect with Me → Website: lifesnextlessonplan.com → Instagram and YouTube: @lifesnextlessonplan