What educators and experts are saying

“Educating with Passion and Purpose is a useful new companion to resources on teacher wellness. The authors' personal stories are relatable and will provide insight for readers into their own desires to contribute meaningfully to education.”

"For the past twenty years, I have witnessed multiple variations of teacher depletion through my work helping teachers organize, prioritize and plan- both their work and hime lives. Whether outdated curriculum, lack of professional development, or boundary-setting challenges, the path to burnout can be all too clear. Within Educating with Passion and Purpose, there are practical tools, engaging anecdotes, and research-backed strategies to reflect and rejuvenate- and fall in love with teaching again." 

“In the midst of a national teacher shortage, Matson and Shoaf provide a critical contribution to the discussion about how we retain, sustain, and reinvigorate educators — by reconnecting with their purpose! Educators from the district office to the classroom should take note of these practical ideas for transforming experience and avoiding burnout.”

“With the engaging voices of experienced teachers and leaders, the authors provide an insightful and pragmatic guide for educators who are questioning their purpose or facing Burnout. At a time when educators are leaving the field in record numbers, this book provides a useful framework for early- and mid-career teachers and leaders to reflect on their purpose and passion. Reading this book and engaging in the suggested reflection process may very well help struggling educators to reignite their fire and renew their passion for teaching and leading in today’s challenging educational context. The authors’ realistic stories of their own professional struggles should be invaluable to other educators as they reflect on their own professional journeys. Reflective educators who need support in their professional journeys will benefit greatly from reading this book.”

“Reading Meredith and Rebekah's stories reminded me not only of what I loved about learning in the classroom everyday with students, but also that this daily work is something I believe to be sacrosanct and the leader's duty to support and protect. When you are a district leader, it's easy to get caught up in the daily political and operational work that doesn't feel quite so sacred; reading their powerful narratives has inspired me to reconnect to my ‘why’ and to try and ground my daily work more explicitly with it in mind. This book could not have come at a better time.”

“In Educating with Passion and Purpose, Matson and Shoaf combine their extensive experience

to create an invaluable resource for teachers and the leaders who support them. This book

combines the power of personal narrative with practical reflection exercises and resources to

help teachers build careers, curriculums, and communities grounded in purpose and filled with

passion.”

"Rebekah and Meredith provide a candid look at preventing and healing from teacher burnout and do so through personal story-telling that will draw you in in a deeply captivating way and will provide current and future educators with specific and equitable strategies to combat a very real problem in our field. Educators at all levels should pick up this book and learn from the infinite wisdom!"

“Teachers, leaders, and anyone who works in education will benefit from Educating with Passion and Purpose: Keep the Fire Going without Burning Out. The stories, wisdom, and reflective activities will support educators to sustain and evolve throughout their career.”

“This book is truly an inspiration to anyone fortunate enough to read it. The insightful advice, relatable experiences shared, and the encouragement and resources offered to overcome obstacles, make it applicable and useful for all educators - at any level in their careers. Through tears, smiles, and head nods in agreement, there is no doubt that this book will help unlock your ‘why’ and motivate you to grow as an educator.”

“For nearly 15 years I've learned alongside Meredith and Rebekah, and I continue to learn from them through the pages of this book. They interweave their personal journeys with practical tips for educators in a way that truly gets to the heart of the matter: it's all about purpose. Teacher educators, teachers, and school leaders alike will identify, reflect, and improve their practice by engaging with the personal stories and reflective prompts in this book.”

“With compelling personal narratives and a plethora of practical suggestions, these veteran teacher-leaders provide educators at all levels practical and valuable examples of how to maintain energy and commitment in the classroom.  Given the post-Covid education landscape, this book is required reading for everyone working in schools.”

“The question of how to develop and retain educators represents one of the most pressing challenges facing education today. Weaving their personal stories into generalizable insights about the nature of teaching and learning, Matson and Shoaf create opportunities for each reader to reflect on their passions, while  reconnecting us to our common sense of purpose as educators and reigniting our belief in the power of education for all students. Educating for Passion and Purpose is a must read for every educator who seeks to rekindle the flame fueling our professional capacities as stewards of tomorrow's leaders.”

"As a former teacher, school founder and district administrator, I can honestly say that I've not read a book that more clearly, succinctly and powerfully provides a framework for both the struggle and possibility that exists in education. This should be required reading for everyone in the field, as it realistically regrounds the work in purpose and passion, while acknowledging the challenges."