Mandy Froehlich

The Fire Within: Lessons from defeat that have inspired a passion for learning
Adversity itself is not what defines us. It is how we react to that adversity and the choices we make that creates who we are and how we will persevere. The Fire Within: Lessons from defeat that have ignited a passion for learning is a compilation of stories from amazing educators who have faced personal adversity head on and have become stronger people for it. They use their new-found strength to support the students and teachers they work with. They are sharing their stories with a hope that others in the same situations might not feel alone, knowing that in our darkest hours, when our situations feel the most hopeless, is when we develop the extraordinary characteristics that make us who we are at our very cores. In addition to the powerful and inspirational stories, there is a chapter included on trauma and how it rewires our brain, as well as the effects of Secondary Trauma, especially as it affects someone who is still dealing with their own fallout from traumatic experiences. This chapter also includes mindfulness activities that support coping and healing. As teachers, we often don’t like to share our stories of adversity because we feel like we need to be strong for the little people we work with, but oftentimes our struggles give us strengths that are unique to us and support our work with others. When people fight through adversity, they either choose to live in their sorrow, or they use what they’ve learned to become a better servant of others. Everyone has a story.

Divergent EDU: Challenging assumptions and limitations to create a culture of innovation
The concept of being innovative can be made to sound so simple. We think of a new idea. We take a risk and implement the new idea. We fail, learn, and move forward. But what if the development of the innovative thinking isn’t the only roadblock? What if so much of your day is spent solving the issues around you that even the attempt at developing new ideas is not even on your radar? What if you long to have more divergent teachers in your school district or to be that divergent teacher, but you simply don’t know where to start? This is where I was as a Technology Integrator several years ago. I knew what innovative teaching looked like, but I didn’t know how to support all the other areas that were taking teachers’ away from having the time and the brain space to think innovatively and divergently. After working with multiple educators, schools, and districts, I have developed the foundational levels to the Hierarchy of Needs for Innovation and Divergent Thinking in hopes that the information will help educators find the holes in their foundational levels and fill them. When educators are supported, amazing learning opportunities can happen, and a solid foundation allows for more time to try new ideas, challenge their own assumptions, and teach divergently!

The Educator's Matchbook: A weekly guide to reigniting your love of teaching, building resilience, and fighting burnout and disengagement
The Educator’s Matchbook is a weekly guide for educators looking to reignite their love of teaching. Part I begins with background and defining information about educator engagement and disengagement and mental health. The preface to the book Reignite the Flames: Finding our passion and purpose for learning among the embers is also included. Each week includes goal setting, emotion tracking, boundary setting, a mindfulness journal, and a gratitude journal. Also, each week includes a minimum of one gratitude, mindfulness, or resilience activity that you can try. To round out the week, there is an educator activity meant to get you thinking about your purpose in education and finally, an end-of-week review.