Grace in the Grind: Finding Space to Breathe as an Educator
Tue Oct 14 2025
In this episode of Teach, Lead, Innovate, host Dave Walker returns with a heartfelt reflection on one of the most essential yet overlooked elements of teaching and leadership: grace.
Education never slows down, but your soul needs you to. Dave explores what it truly means to give yourself grace, weaving personal reflection with insights from leading research on self-compassion, burnout, and teacher well-being.
Listeners will learn:
✅ What “grace” really looks like in a school setting
✅ Practical ways to set boundaries and celebrate micro-wins
✅ How teacher well-being directly impacts student success
✅ Why grace isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom
🎧 Whether you’re a teacher, leader, or lifelong learner, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and remember that presence matters more than perfection.
📚 Referenced Research
Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250.
Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111.
Jennings, P. A., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). The prosocial classroom: Teacher social and emotional competence in relation to student and classroom outcomes. Review of Educational Research, 79(1), 491–525.
Roeser, R. W., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., et al. (2013). Mindfulness training and reductions in teacher stress and burnout. Mindfulness, 4(3), 174–189.
Dreer, B. (2023). On the outcomes of teacher wellbeing: A systematic review of the literature. Frontiers in Education, 8, 1228688.
#TeachLeadInnovate #TeacherWellbeing #EducatorGrace #LeadWithLove #MindfulTeaching #PrincipalPodcast #EducationLeadership
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In this episode of Teach, Lead, Innovate, host Dave Walker returns with a heartfelt reflection on one of the most essential yet overlooked elements of teaching and leadership: grace. Education never slows down, but your soul needs you to. Dave explores what it truly means to give yourself grace, weaving personal reflection with insights from leading research on self-compassion, burnout, and teacher well-being. Listeners will learn: ✅ What “grace” really looks like in a school setting ✅ Practical ways to set boundaries and celebrate micro-wins ✅ How teacher well-being directly impacts student success ✅ Why grace isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom 🎧 Whether you’re a teacher, leader, or lifelong learner, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and remember that presence matters more than perfection. 📚 Referenced Research Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250. Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. Jennings, P. A., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). The prosocial classroom: Teacher social and emotional competence in relation to student and classroom outcomes. Review of Educational Research, 79(1), 491–525. Roeser, R. W., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., et al. (2013). Mindfulness training and reductions in teacher stress and burnout. Mindfulness, 4(3), 174–189. Dreer, B. (2023). On the outcomes of teacher wellbeing: A systematic review of the literature. Frontiers in Education, 8, 1228688. #TeachLeadInnovate #TeacherWellbeing #EducatorGrace #LeadWithLove #MindfulTeaching #PrincipalPodcast #EducationLeadership