Hello everyone and welcome to the Forgotten ECE.
I'm your host Jamie and I'm so excited that you're here.
I just wanted to take a second to tell you what you're about to be graced with because
it is good if I do say so myself.
In this uplifting episode of the Forgotten ECE podcast, we are diving into the heart
of what it means to stay inspired as a before and after school educator.
Burnout isn't real, but so is the passion that brought us to this field in the first
place.
Join me as I welcome special guest Anisha Angela, the early childhood coach, a passionate
advocate and mentor for educators.
Anisha shares her insights on how to reconnect with your purpose and rediscover the joy in
your work as an early childhood educator.
Together, we're going to explore practical strategies, inspirational stories, and the
power of finding community in this often overlooked corner of education.
So whether you're a seasoned educator or starting your journey, this episode will leave you
feeling encouraged, empowered, and ready to ignite your passion for making a difference
in children's lives.
Stay tuned and let's rediscover your spark together.
Hello everyone.
I am so excited today to announce that we have a special guest on the Forgotten ECE.
So thank you everyone for joining us.
I have Anisha Angela here, the early childhood coach is what you should know her as, and
she has graciously agreed to be on the Forgotten ECE and we have a lot in store for you today.
All right.
Hello Jamie.
Hi.
Anisha is an early childhood educator, coach, and expert who has been in the industry for
over 16 plus years with a degree in early childhood education studies.
Anisha has held many roles over the years.
She has led childcare programs, taught college programs, and worked as a senior manager overseeing
45 plus childcare locations.
She is also the CEO and founder of her business, the early childhood coach and co, a power
house literally.
For all things, childcare, consulting, coaching, and training, her success has allowed her
to gain exposure through breakfast television, authority magazine, and the Today Show.
Anisha wants to see other members of the ECE community succeed and loves to share her wealth
of knowledge through speaking at a variety of events.
Anisha's speaking engagements focus on diversity in ECE, leadership, mental health, and burnout
in ECE, and effective communication with parents and staff.
She has spoken at over 250 plus events worldwide and is always looking forward to her next
engagement and lucky enough, that's here with us on the Forgotten ECE.
Oh, thank you.
I listen to the bio all the time and I'm like, I don't know who they're talking about.
I guess it's me and it's such a pleasure to join you and I'm excited for this conversation
Jamie.
Thank you so much for having me.
You're so welcome.
I'm actually really excited too because the main thing for anyone who listens to the podcast
knows is that the Forgotten ECE is about just that, educators who feel forgotten in the
before and after school roles.
You are here to tell us how to advocate and mentor and just how to regain that spark for
being in ECE and keep doing what you're doing.
You're absolutely excellent at getting people passionate about ECE.
So this is incredible.
Oh, thank you.
I'm excited to get into it.
So the first question I'm going to ask you is why you're so passionate about helping
educators to continue to feel inspired in their day to day.
Oh, there's so many reasons for that.
I would say the first thing on my mind is because we are the greatest thing since sliced
bread.
Let's just say that without us, society cannot run.
Parents cannot do the great things that they do without us.
So it's great to remind them of why they're so amazing, but I'm also from the field myself.
So I understand that there are times where we don't feel so great about what we do.
So we always need somebody on the other side to remind us of our greatness and our purpose
behind the work that we do.
Oh, I love that.
You're absolutely right.
We are.
We're the cornerstone.
And I know we talk often about COVID and what times we're like in COVID, but COVID taught
us anything.
It's that the world will literally not function without early childhood educators.
And it's like, COVID disappeared and everyone's like, oh, well.
Right.
And you know what?
I will be fully transparent and say, I said to myself when COVID happened that society
would finally get it because they had to shut us down and then open everything back up.
But of course, we're still in the game of still reminding them that we're not babysitters.
So it is quite frustrating.
And I can understand why a lot of educators would lose their spark to have to constantly
advocate for themselves.
So I completely understand that aspect.
But I think looking at the bigger picture of our purpose and what we do and the fact
that we are literally setting the foundation of education for children before when they
go into big kids school or wherever they go after us, we're setting them up for success
in the work that we do.
So that's why I'm so passionate to be sure that they remember that in everything that
they do.
Oh, you're absolutely right.
That's a great way of looking at it because my next question actually leads right into
this is what do you do when you feel like the spark of teaching is fading?
So I usually tell educators to really tap into what is really happening.
The reason why I mention that is because there are usually different circumstances that are
happening within us.
So one of the biggest things that me and my team really unlocked is the fact that a lot
of us are burnt out.
So when we're burnt out, we feel as if we cannot connect to our purpose or cannot connect
to our wire.
We just don't feel like going on.
And really, really reflecting on the fact that sometimes it could be a burnout situation
and other things and really just asking ourselves what we need in the moment is really, really
key.
But just really taking a moment to ask ourselves in that moment what that looks like.
Oh, that's excellent.
You're absolutely right.
It's a lot about those in the moment feelings and the stressors of the day to day that really
play into factor.
So yeah, taking a step back would definitely work that in.
And how can educators reconnect with their why when the day to day challenges feel overwhelming?
So I think it's definitely fair for us to acknowledge that we have a lot on our plate
as early educators.
I think that we don't want to excuse that.
We don't want to excuse the fact that we do have the whole world.
It feels like we have, well technically, we have the whole world on our shoulders in the
work that we do.
So definitely leaning in to the things that are overwhelming us, but also at the same
time connecting to why we chose this field to begin with.
You and I both know a lot of us don't choose it because it makes a whole lot of money,
girl.
We know that.
There's something a little bit deeper, right?
What?
There's something deeper in us, whether it is connecting to, you know, we love working
with families or we love working directly with children and we love seeing them grow.
So really and truly getting into the nitty gritty of understanding what our why is and
our purpose is really is what's important, but not ignoring the fact that there are day
to day challenges and also just taking it day by day.
So with the day to day challenges, also taking it day by day and looking at the scope of
what we're able to handle and what we can't handle and also advocating for ourselves throughout
that process too.
So that's another thing that I love to, you know, mention to educators is also advocating
for yourself, especially when things get really, really overwhelming because you have to pay
attention to how you're doing and all those aspects, but then also, you know, mixing in
the why piece.
Yeah, absolutely.
You said a couple of things that really resonated with me like first that, yeah, absolutely.
We have the weight of the world on our shoulders.
Most of the time as before and after school educators, you get the best and the worst
of the children's day.
So whether that's the start of the day, whether they had a crappy night or whether they have
a really bad day at school, I always say to look at it like it's a fresh start when they
come to before and after school program and I think educators can also take that.
Just because the morning was a little rough and before school doesn't mean the after school
is going to be rough.
Wash it away, wash yourself off of it and then come in ready to just to give it all
again in the afternoon.
But advocating for yourself and the supports you need definitely, definitely is an important
factor.
Yes, yes.
And I think a lot of what I'm seeing online that I'm loving these days is just bringing
the human side back to what we do.
We're not robots.
Yes, we're superheroes, but we're not robots.
And just leaning into the fact that there will be challenges that will overwhelm us
and there will be stress and there will be burnout and taking care of ourselves or reminding
ourselves that we're human first before anything else is really, really key in this work and
connecting with our why goes right along with it.
Yeah, absolutely.
And I like how you said we're not robots because we feel we feel a lot of the things too.
Like some of the challenges that we face in every day is really how you feel about situations
that are happening with the children or what they're coming and telling you or how like
like I said, how their day is if they're if they're just not getting the whole school
vibe and then they come here, that's just it's overwhelming.
And then also just having to follow these rules all day and then they come to after
school.
It's like, oh my gosh, I'm just so overwhelmed.
And you feel that like educators take that on to their whole heart.
So you're absolutely right.
Yes, and giving us an opportunity to press pause.
I think that's something we feel like we can't and I can understand why a lot of us feel
like we can't.
But we do have the power to press pause and whatever that looks like for you, whether
that's taking your sick days, taking your vacation, taking whatever it is for you to
take time away to restart.
And that's OK.
Yes.
And I love that you said that too, because a lot of people feel they can't take those
sick days or that they shouldn't take a mental health day or they shouldn't shouldn't could
it wouldn't.
But it's OK to do that.
And I'm happy that you're reiterating that.
Yes, absolutely.
Absolutely.
And then for those educators, how can they shift their perspective to focus on the joy
in these times of their work rather than the stress?
So that one's a tricky one, because I don't want educators to feel like they have to ignore
the stress because it's there.
And in order to feel like ourselves, we have to address the stress and all that stuff.
But I think shifting perspective is a great way to align that question.
I think a lot of it has to be with taking our outlook on what we do in a out of a macro
look into a micro look.
So looking at the simple joys of our roles and going back into looking at that.
So I spent a lot of time in the toddler room.
We know that going through the process of potty training can be tough.
One day they got it, next day they don't got it.
You know what I mean?
And then there's a moment where they do have it and you are cheering with them, they're
cheering with you and the parents are happy in all those aspects.
Just going back into those smaller joys of our job, of our role and our profession is
what's really, really important to shift the focus away from the stress.
Because the stress is always going to be there and I think we should definitely address it
and do what we have to do.
But we have to go back into looking at those simple joys to make everything more enjoyable,
but then also bring back purpose to what we do.
Yeah, absolutely.
And those small joys, I mean, it keeps me going for sure.
Any of the listeners, no, if you've listened a lot, that I run a supervisor, sorry.
I run a preschool during my full-time job and I share my office is actually in the before
and after school room.
But one of the children here has a really hard time at school and what they and their
educator, their teacher worked out is they get stickers or 10 frames of check marks if
they make better choices throughout the day than the alternative.
And the last two days, this child has come running down the hall to tell me that they
got two full 10 frames and it's the best they've ever done.
And it's those things that make me want to keep doing what I do.
Yes, yes.
And just honing in on those moments.
Honing in on those moments is what's really going to keep us going.
And like I said, I think a lot of us get down the rabbit hole where we're looking at the
long laundry list of things that we have to accomplish on a daily basis, all of the needs
of everybody.
And we really lose sight of those simple joys.
You're absolutely right.
And in educators that are losing sight of those simple joys or worse, like facing that
burnout, what strategies do you think can help our listeners build the resilience in
the face of burnout?
I think, okay, so I'm going to take a very different approach to this question.
And I have a very controversial look at it.
And I don't think that educators should build resilience when it comes to burnout.
They need to deal with the burnout.
And the only way to really move to an area to feel like themselves again is addressing
the burnout.
And I think a lot of us, and including myself, think that we need to perform in early education.
And that also includes ignoring what we're feeling, which includes burnout.
And what happens is you keep burning out, burning out, burning out, and it comes to
a point where you can't recover from it.
So I think an outlook that educators should really look at is how do you address the burnout
so you don't have to build resilience against it?
Because some of the things that I give in my workshop that I do in terms of burnout
is I look at burnout in three stages.
There's the prevention, and then there's the understanding, prevention, and recovery.
A lot of the times when we have conversations about burnout is usually about the recovery,
right?
But we need to start having conversations around the understanding piece, which is understanding
what's happening in our body, which a lot of us don't realize that we're burning out
half the time when we're burning out, right?
So the understanding of what burnout is, and then also the prevention, how can we can prevent
ourselves from burning out is really, really key.
And then we'll have less conversations on the recovery piece, which connects with your
question in terms of having to build a sense of resilience around burnout or in the face
of burnout.
We just need to address the burnout as it is.
Absolutely.
And it's not just because we're addressing it doesn't mean it's normalized.
It doesn't mean people should be getting to the point of feeling that burnout.
It means that we should be working on strategies on how to take care of ourselves so we avoid
the burnout, but also so that we can build each other up in that sense of supporting
each other as a community rather than letting each other get to that point or feel like
it's a norm to burnout.
Right, right.
And one thing that normally pops up with educators when I talk about challenging burnout and
going through the process is there's a weird feeling of guilt that we have when it comes
to taking care of ourselves and addressing things when it comes to burnout.
And I always use the example that we always hear online is when you're on the plane and
they're doing their little flight attendant thing and they're telling you when that mask
comes down, what's the first thing they tell you to do?
They tell you to put your mask on first.
So if you want to continue to do the great things that you're doing in this industry
through your work, you have to take care of yourself.
So that's for the individuals that listen to every time when I say, let's address burnout,
let's do some self care and all that stuff.
And they're like, oh, I feel guilty.
I can't do it.
That's the outlook I have them.
Like you want to continue to do the great work.
We have to address the burnout.
Oh, you're you're 100% right.
And I love that you added that because it's true.
You can't pour from an empty cup.
So you can't you can't expect that you're giving the children the best that they deserve
or or being an inspiring educator if you're feeling burnt out all the time and not taking
care of yourself.
Yes, yes.
Yes.
And I actually shared this at the summit the other day about a perspective I had on TikTok
Academy.
You know, TikTok is now a university, right?
Because we all learn from TikTok.
There was something that somebody said the other day and I thought it was so brilliant.
And when because you mentioned something about filling your cup.
A lot of the times when we think about, you know, the process of like self care and getting
better, we think about filling our cup so that we can pour into others.
But I think an outlook that early educators need to step into is that what's in your cup
that you're filling is actually for you.
The overflow that's coming outside of your cup when you've done all of that work and
you have extra to give.
That's what we're giving to others.
And I think that that can be almost a remedy to help us challenge burnout is looking at
it in that mindset that we're always focused on having a full cup, but that full cup is
for ourselves.
And I think that that's something I really wanted to share because I know that that's
definitely a conversation I've seen before.
Yeah, that's like a mouth dropping moment.
I know people can't see it because I'm like, but you're so right.
Like it's a podcast, Jamie.
People can't see you.
Anyway, but it's true.
That's absolutely right.
Like the cup that is filled is for you.
You're not filling your cup to just pour it out every day again.
It's the fillings to stay fulfilled.
And then that overflow that you get from it, that's amazing.
Now, Anisha, I know you as an amazing mentor and professional support, but what role does
mentorship or professional support, in your opinion, play in staying inspired?
So I have another interesting outlook on mentorship in early education.
I always challenge educators to take on mentorship under the lens of wanting to continue to create
a legacy in early education, because the work that we do every day, whether it's with the
children, whether it's with the families, whether it's with the whole industry, we're
creating a legacy when we connect with people.
And I think, and I actually made a video about this the other day where I basically said,
if we care about this industry as much as we do, we have to care about the industry
after we leave.
So after we retire, after we move from one centre to another, we have to care about what
it looks like after that.
And that's where mentorship comes in.
By mentoring a new ECE, by mentoring somebody coming into the field that needs to be shown
the ropes, that's a part of you leaving a long lasting legacy.
I do a workshop about leaving a legacy in early education.
And I usually have the crowd talk about, you know, somebody in their life that has left
a legacy.
And usually nine out of 10 times, the person that they're talking about is right beside
them.
And those fears just flow from the person beside them because they never knew that that
person impacted them in that way.
And I think if we create those moments where people can say such amazing things about us,
that's powerful.
And I think that that's what really brings in the inspiration again for what we do.
So taking a look at mentorship under the lens of it playing a part in you leaving a legacy
in this field, that's what will make you inspired, I think.
Oh, yeah.
Like, even as you spoke that whole spew, it's beautiful and I don't want not to say that
it's a spew.
No, no, no.
Your words, it is.
It's like, so what we do for early childhood education is that we build the foundation
for children to go on and do these amazing things.
And without people to build that foundation, there will be not more amazing things that
come from it.
So if we're just leaving this field behind and saying, you know what, I'm done with it,
I can't do this anymore, whatever.
It doesn't matter who they train.
They're not going to be as good as the people that were before us and yada, yada, yada.
It's never going to build that legacy.
So you're right.
We have to care about the profession itself and about what we actually do from the profession.
That's it.
If we truly love this industry, which I know everybody listening to your podcast loves
this industry and they're in it to win it, that's a part of our story too, is mentorship
and being sure that this industry is taken care of after we it's all said and done and
we're done here.
Yeah, absolutely.
And I think in a grander scheme of things, this is why I started the Forgotten ECE podcast
because I see what's happening to before and after school education, especially with SeaWalk
and everything coming in, and that it's slowly dying.
And my hope is that people will listen to this and be like, oh yeah, I love school age.
I should go back and do this and then not be seen as that stepping stone.
But no, I think your words speak wonders to that where there's a reason for each age group
and there's a reason that early childhood education exists and we have to carry that
reason on with us and pass it down.
Beautifully put, yeah.
I'm getting all the feels over here.
So how can educators create space for play, creativity and fun for themselves, not just
their students in order to rediscover this joy, to find this spark that they can not
only leave for other people, but so that they themselves stay in the field.
Well, I love this question because it allows space to have those things for us.
Because a lot of the times when we think of the words playing, creativity, we're thinking
about the children.
But I think for us to be our best authentic selves and show up like what's the lady from
Magic School Bus, Miss Frizzle, put on Miss Frizzle on with lots of magic and inspiration,
we have to be sure that we're doing that for ourselves as well.
So I think a lot of the things that can be done is, for instance, finding out what makes
you the most creative.
What are things that you can do in your personal life and your professional life that brings
out the creative side of you?
I think going back to the conversation about burnout, a lot of us are not feeling that
spark anymore of playing creativity for the children because we're not addressing what's
happening in ourselves.
So another thing is addressing any issues and burnout in those aspects as well.
But I think coming back to thinking of what sparks your joy, not just professionally,
but personally is a part of that too, because when we feel fulfilled and we're happy and
we're joyous, that's when those program plans don't become hard anymore.
All the ideas start flowing, but you have to create space for yourself to have that.
So I think that that's some of the things.
Oh, yes, absolutely.
And then when all that starts and you create space for it, it refuels your interest as
well as a kid's interest.
And that's how you get excited.
And then it's easy to play and create, and you're absolutely right.
Exactly, exactly.
And children feed off of that.
I think we also have to realize that as much as we want to turn on robot mode and cruise
control and not address taking care of ourselves and our growth and burnout, we feel like we're
just making it work with the children.
Do feel when you're not yourself.
And they see and they're attracted to people that are in their creative zone and stuff
like that.
So if you're thinking you're doing a justice by ignoring it and not making a space for
yourself, you're actually not.
So might as well just do the work.
Absolutely.
Bring that authenticity to your programs.
You're there because you're you.
Yes, absolutely.
Now I have a deep question to ask you.
Sure.
To end us off on an inspirational note.
If you could go back and talk to yourself when you first started, what would you say
to keep yourself inspired?
I do this a lot.
It's funny.
If you follow me on my social media, I post a lot of pictures of myself as a kid because
I have a lot of conversations with my younger self.
And I think when I first started in this field, what I would have said to myself is know the
power of me and that I am different.
My mind is different.
What I say is different.
My experience is different.
And that's what makes me unique because I found a big part of my journey and where I
lost my joy and my spark is thinking that I have to fit the mold on what the regular,
you know, what the most professional ECE is doing, the most creative ECE is doing and
finding myself lost and trying to make myself into that person.
So I think one of the things I would have said to myself is there's power in you and
what you have to offer and just rock in that power because children will be happy with
that.
Parents will be happy with that.
And it's just so much easier being yourself than trying to pretend to be something that
you're not.
So that would be something that I would say to myself.
Absolutely.
And you're absolutely right.
Like it's so much harder to try and spend your days being something that you're not
when like you're already fabulous.
Anyone listening to this is already fabulous because you're doing the work it takes to
be an ECE and that you care.
You care so much.
Exactly.
And there's power in that.
There's power in the uniqueness.
I think that's what makes our field so dynamic is that there's just so many different types
of ECEs out there, all with different experiences and backgrounds and ideas of things that bring
us all together in this industry.
And that's why this industry is so thriving because we all come together with this uniqueness.
So it's never a pressure to have to fit the mold.
It's the individuality is what we need.
Absolutely.
Oh, it's been so great talking to you.
And I'm sure, I mean, if they're not already following you, which they should be, but if
the listeners of the Forgotten ECE are not following you, where can they find you?
Oh, well, they can find me almost everywhere.
I have to say it's very tiring.
You can find me on TikTok.
So if you're on the TikTok, you can follow me on Anesha.
I think it's anesha.co.
And then on Instagram, Anesha Angela, if you put that in, you'll be able to get me as well
as I have a community called the ECC.
So you can find the community on Instagram as well, as well as Facebook.
Amazing.
And if you and I'm shamelessly putting a plug in because your summit was amazing, and I
think there's still time to get in on it.
If you want to purchase, how long do people have?
Oh, yes, I'm keeping it open.
So it's up for purchase up until I think we said until end of summer.
Oh my God.
Do it.
Go right now if you're listening.
And if you're listening to this before summer, go ahead.
Because it is, it's phenomenal.
The one that sticks out the most was when all the amazing entrepreneurs of ECE were
coming and like the conversations were so authentic and amazing.
It's just the whole the whole summit was phenomenal.
Oh, awesome.
Yeah, definitely grab it.
It'll be there for you guys.
Thank you so much, Anesha.
This really means a lot to me.
And as someone who's followed you for a long time, like it's an honor to have you on the
Forgotten ECE.
Oh, thank you so much.
And keep doing the amazing work you're doing, Jamie, because the Forgotten ECE, it's such
a powerful name and a lot of ECEs, like you said, feel forgotten.
So keep being the shining light for all of them.
Thank you.
All right, everyone.
Thanks so much for listening to the Forgotten ECE.
I'm your host, Jamie Weigler, and I'll see you next time.
Thank you.
Amazing listeners for your support.
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram at miss Jamie underscore R E C E.
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Again, thank you so much and happy learning.