In this episode of Twee Bat, Brandon Haskey-Valerius talks with Annie Kiyonaga about identity, selfhood, and the quiet pressure to define ourselves through our work.

Building from Annie’s recent article, the conversation explores how teaching and other care-centered professions encourage us to collapse who we are into what we do. Annie reflects on the language of productivity, success, and usefulness, and how those narratives shape not just our careers, but our sense of self.

Together, they consider what it means to step back from assigned roles, sit with uncertainty, and begin the work of unlearning identities that no longer fit. This episode is about the lessons we internalize, the ones we were never formally taught, and the ongoing process of figuring out who we are when the syllabus runs out.

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Why Teachers Leave: Lack of Support and Classroom Autonomy

In this episode of Twee Bat, we explore why teachers leave the profession. Research shows that key factors include lack of administrative support for student behavior, limited classroom autonomy, and systemic pressures that contribute to stress and burnout.

We break down what these challenges look like in real classrooms and discuss strategies schools can use to better support teachers and improve retention. This episode is essential listening for educators, administrators, and anyone interested in teacher well-being and education reform.

Resources & Links:

Research referenced: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0742051X25003622

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