A Note from Vanessa
In my office, I’m surrounded by a very specific kind of encouragement: a handpicked army I call the Justice Avenger League of Strong Women — otherwise known as my Funko Pop collection.
These aren’t just random figurines. They’re reminders. I’ve got Wonder Woman in multiple poses of power. A few Captain Marvels ready to defy gravity. Queen Ramonda and Shuri standing tall together. Elastigirl and Violet reminding me that strength runs in families. And yes — Amy Farrah Fowler (tiara and all, because brilliance is always best when it’s accessorized).
They look out over me while I write, coach, and record — each one a little symbol of resilience, rebellion, and relentless capability. And one Grumpy Smurf to remind me to stay on task.
In this week’s newsletter, we’re talking about what happens when boundaries break down… and how to start building yourself back up.
(P.S. I’ve included some pictures of my collection — zoom in and see how many you can name!)
The Hello Kitty That Broke the Spell
A Texas teacher had a Hello Kitty Funko Pop stolen off her desk. On the surface, it’s a simple story — a student took something, the teacher asked for it back, and when that didn’t work, she recorded a video.
But what followed was a storm of criticism, judgment, and hand-wringing. And at the center of it all? A teacher who felt unseen and unsupported by her administration.
This wasn’t about a toy. It was about what happens when the system shrugs at a teacher’s boundaries — when someone crosses a line and the people who are supposed to support you… don’t.
The Hello Kitty Funko Pop had sentimental value. It was a gift from a student. But during the fallout, the teacher discovered it also had real monetary value — hundreds of dollars. And still, she was expected to absorb the loss with grace.
First, she tried a gentle, restorative approach: “Just return it. No questions asked.” Nothing happened.
So she recorded a video — not of the students, but of herself, expressing her hurt and disappointment. Still no resolution. And ultimately? She filed a police report, because she felt she had no other choice.
Here’s the part people miss: she didn’t jump to punishment. She gave multiple chances. But when teachers don’t feel protected, they’re forced into extremes.
We shouldn’t have to call the police to be taken seriously.
Teachers are constantly being asked to create “welcoming environments,” but if anything goes wrong? The items we purchase, the supplies we stock, the decorations we hang — are all considered “personal property.” So if they’re stolen or damaged? Too bad. Not the school’s problem.
Meanwhile, if your classroom isn’t colorful or cozy enough, that becomes an issue. So which is it? We’re expected to give everything… and accept nothing in return?
This is what I mean when I say teaching is death by a thousand small cuts. And this story — this one tiny plastic figure — became a tipping point.
We don’t talk enough about what happens when trust and respect erode in small, daily ways. Or about how that erosion affects not just morale, but identity. When even your desk isn’t a safe space, it’s not just your stuff being disrespected — it’s you.
So no, this wasn’t an overreaction. It was disillusionment. And the fact that so many people missed that — including some of the loudest voices online — says more about the system than it does about her response.
When boundaries aren’t respected, when support is absent, and when leadership goes silent, teachers are left to fend for themselves. And the toll that takes? It’s heavier than most people will ever understand.
If you’ve ever had something taken from your classroom — an item, your authority, your peace — you’re not alone. And you’re not wrong to want something better.
Rediscovering Your Element (And Yourself)
When you’ve been teaching long enough, the job becomes more than a job — it becomes your identity. So what happens when that identity no longer fits? Or when you feel so buried under grading, testing, and systemic chaos that you can’t remember what lit you up in the first place?
That’s where The Element (from Sir Ken Robinson) and the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai come in. These frameworks help us reconnect with our talents, passions, purpose, and possibilities — not through reinvention, but through remembering.
Sir Ken Robinson’s Element is about rediscovering where your natural talents meet your greatest joy. It’s where you lose track of time. Where you feel the most like yourself. And for many teachers, that sense has been buried beneath years of survival mode.
Ikigai takes it even deeper. It’s a four-part framework from Japanese philosophy that asks:
Right in the center of those four answers is your Ikigai — your reason for being. The thing that gets you out of bed with curiosity, not just obligation.
How do you find it? You follow the breadcrumbs.
Start noticing the micro-moments when you feel aligned:
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When your breathing slows.
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When your inner critic quiets.
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When you feel momentum, even if just for a second.
These moments are data. Write them down on 3x5 cards. Keep them somewhere visible. Shuffle them. Look for patterns.
That’s where your clarity lives — not in one giant epiphany, but in repetition.
What does all this have to do with Rush?
I found out recently that my favorite band — Rush — is going back on tour. And while their original drummer, Neil Peart, has passed, they’ve continued on… not by replacing him, but by honoring his legacy while evolving.
Rush didn’t become successful by trying to sound like everyone else. They became Rush by leaning into who they were — even when it wasn’t marketable, even when it wasn’t easy. But when they came together and stopped trying to fit the mold? That’s when they became unstoppable.
So if you’re sitting there thinking, “I don’t know who I am without teaching,” remember: you’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience.
You’re not lost. You’re layered.
Let’s start uncovering those layers, together.
THE LATEST PODCAST EPISODE
Check out the full podcast episode here.
NIFTY RESOURCE
This week’s double-duty cool tool? A humble stack of 3x5 index cards.
Use them for two things:
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The 5x3 Hack — Write down five tasks that take three minutes or less. Knock them out when your brain feels stuck.
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Element Discovery — Start tracking your sparks. Write down moments of joy, flow, curiosity. Shuffle, reflect, repeat. Detective Kinsey Millhone would be proud.
I'D LOVE TO CONNECT!
📧 Email me at Vanessa@teachersintransition.com
📱 Leave a voicemail or text at 512-640-9099
📅 Schedule a free Discovery Session with me: https://teachersintransition.com/calendar
🌐 Visit the website: https://teachersintransition.com
📸 Follow on Instagram + Threads: @teachers.in.transition
📘 Like the Facebook page: Teachers in Transition
P.S. A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time to let me interview them for my upcoming white paper. When I started this project, I had no idea what I was really starting — and I’m still working through all the incredible notes and stories.
That said, I’ve still got a bit of room.
If you missed the opportunity and would like to be interviewed for "Teaching on Empty: From Burnout to Breakthrough," just reply to this email and let me know. I’ll reach out and we’ll find a time!
You are not alone. You are not “just” anything. And you’re allowed to want something better.
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