🎙️Ep.5: Find Your Rainbow with Jornéa Armant

What This Episode is About

This episode follows Jornéa’s journey of finding her purpose in education, navigating pivots, and embracing community along the way. You’ll hear how she moved from the classroom to coaching, to edtech, and even through the tough ending of Flipgrid—always guided by her values and belief in connection.

The tension of “what’s next?” shows up again and again, but Jornéa reframes each shift as preparation for something bigger. It’s a warm reminder that our gifts, when rooted in love, growth, and inspiration, can open doors we never imagined

Meet Our Guest

Jornéa Armant is a tech enthusiast and AI in education facilitator with over 20 years of experience in the field of Education. She currently serves as a Program Manager at Milestone Technologies, supporting the Google Global Education Impact Team, where she helps advance initiatives that expand access, equity, and innovation in learning worldwide.

Jornéa is also the owner of Savvy Cre8tions, an educational consulting, advising, and coaching practice, and the founder of Skoolz.Out! Cocktails, a creative brand designed to celebrate educators.

Formerly the Principal Head of Engagement for Microsoft Learning, she led global initiatives around inclusive, equitable, and accessible learning tools, including Microsoft Flip (formerly Flipgrid), Math Solver, and Microsoft Copilot. Her career journey also spans roles as a classroom teacher, reading interventionist, instructional coach, technology coach mentor with the Dynamic Learning Project, and instructional technology specialist with the Alabama State Department of Education.

Recognized as a renowned keynote speaker, educational thought leader, and global presenter, Jornéa is passionate about lifelong learning, supporting others, and transforming teaching and learning experiences through AI and technology. She frequently engages with educators across conferences, virtual events, and mentorship spaces, inspiring them to embrace innovation while staying grounded in equity and purpose.

Guided by her personal mantra—Love, Grow, Inspire—Jornéa is committed to helping educators and communities thrive.

🔗 Jornéa on X/Twitter

🔗 Jornéa on Instagram

🔗 Jornéa on LinkedIn

💻 Jornéa’s Website

Key Takeaways

• Every closed door can be preparation for a bigger opportunity ahead—what feels like an ending is often the start of a new chapter.
• Jornéa sharing the email she sent Flipgrid’s founder in 2017, mapping her values with Ikigai, and realizing alignment mattered more than the job title.
• Pause and notice what makes you smile in your work—double down on that joy and let it guide your next steps.
• Mentorship and community are the threads that carry us forward; when educators lift each other up, belonging and growth ripple out across classrooms and careers.

Transcript

Cate: Hi.

Jornéa: Hey, Cate,

Cate: Welcome to the Bridge. I'm so excited to have Jornéa with us. Did I say that correctly?

Jornéa: yes, you

Cate: Good. It is so important to me to make sure we are saying each other's names and acknowledging that. And I am just so excited to have you here. Jornéa and I have, had the pleasure of being in your circle for, for a long time, but I don't, I mean, this is like first time we're like getting to talk, which I'm so excited about.

Jornéa: one on one. for sure.

Cate: Exactly, and I couldn't, you know, when I, when I was thinking about people, that I thought have some pretty ex, just impactful stories around community and, life and like, love of. educators, I thought you would be a wonderful person, a wonderful voice to bring to the conversation.

And really the bridge is about, you know, breathing life into educators and making sure they feel connected and supported and, using stories to do that. And so let's start there. Like what does, what does that all mean to you? Like you have had such a rich story. So I'm gonna let you jump in and just kind of speak to.

You know what the bridge and those ideas mean.

Jornéa: Oh my gosh. I read, just about the podcast, it just warmed my heart because community is everything, to me

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: as an educator. I've definitely been empowered and supported by fellow educators, and I take that with me as my mission every single day to just pour back into, my fellow educator community. thank you. For, providing the space, to not only share about like wonderful ideas, but also those stories. And you know, the thing about stories is that stories are not always perfect, right? Like there's a lesson to be learned in every story that we have. And so I'm happy to be able to share some of my stories, with your community today.

I hope that not only do they learn a little bit more about me, but also, can reflect back

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: and, and think about ways that, one, you know, give themselves kudos for,

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: showing up every day for what they do as an educator. and to think about ways that they also can empower the next educator.

Cate: I love it. Okay, well let's dive into that. Like how, how do you, your background as far as being an educator is really rich and I don't know how many people know all of that. So do you wanna start with just that background piece and, and we'll go from there.

Jornéa: Yeah, sure. so my journey in education started way before that first full-time job right out of college in 2003. I come from a family where I have, a couple of, educators in my family. My two aunts are educators, administrators, et cetera. And so I. Saw firsthand, work that they did and the impact

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: they were making.

And I would be the, the little girl going to the school, volunteering and, you know, working side by side, with students. while I was at university, I, you know, my initial plan was. I was gonna be in the medical field, I was gonna

Cate: Oh

Jornéa: yeah, a physical therapist.

Cate: All right.

Jornéa: and then I had this biology class that just like hit me in the face and was like, you know what, Jornéa, you are not really passionate about this. might really wanna reconsider. you know, I think a lot of times in life we have this idea of what success. Might look

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: be like, and we have like this internal struggle a lot. Like, okay, I should be doing this, but I really wanna be doing that

Cate: Yeah,

Jornéa: Right. And so, you know, I made that switch, to focus on education,

Cate: Wow.

Jornéa: during my, like, I wanna say the second semester of my sophomore year of

Cate: that's kind of far in like you had taken some classes by that point. Okay.

Jornéa: Oh yeah, definitely. and it was the best decision of my life. 

Cate: Nice.

Jornéa: you know, I couldn't be happier. But, in 2003, once I graduated, I immediately started working, at a local school in St. Charles Parish public schools. I'm gonna give them a shout out

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: they are critical to the foundation that I've had.

They are a very incredible. School district that has, leadership and love in the forefront.

Cate: Okay.

Jornéa: to, to this day, 20 something years later, I remember the motto, you and I, we are St. Charles Parish public schools. And so that sense of belonging was always there. It was seen and felt in every role I had at that district.

so transitioning from a second grade teacher, shout out to all the second grade teachers. you know, it's a special grade level. I transitioned into administrator role after a few years. loved being an administrator, but I also learned during that timeframe that. I really wasn't passionate about the ins and outs in the day-to-day operations of a school.

if you've never been an administrator, it is much more than just teaching and learning at that point. I mean, you are dealing with, you know, buildings opening and,

Cate: Oh my God.

Jornéa: happening that you know

Cate: Codes and parents and Oh my gosh.

Jornéa: the things. And so it really took away the reason why I was there.

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: so I found my love with instructional coaching.

 I was always a mentor to other teachers, and so, instructional coaching kind of became my jam. I moved to, Alabama, became an instructional coach, during that timeframe. That's the brink of when like Google apps for education came

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: so it was in. Exciting time, between 2011, 2012, that I just embraced technology and, you know, started getting into various, communities, sharing my knowledge not only with the educators that were in my school district, but in. Other capacities. Then I started working for the State Department of Education in Alabama as an instructional technology specialist. So then I had, a region of educators. It was 12 different school districts that, I provided the professional development centered around instructional technology for.

And, at that time I also, joined an, a beautiful project called the Dynamic Learning Project.

Cate: Okay.

Jornéa: that was a Google project, to really. Put in the forefront, coaches in these schools. And so I'll take that, that experience with me wherever I go because it not only allowed me to take a passion that I had, but really helped to devise what's now called the Google Coaching Program.

So if you are a

Cate: Oh my gosh. That's amazing.

Jornéa: was a precursor to that. So, yeah, so that's something that will always resonate with me. from that point, I'm, I'm just out doing my thing, presenting at conferences and I was sharing about this little tool called Flipgrid and lo and behold, there's a guy sitting in my session and it just happened to be the founder of the tool, Flipgrid. and so that's Dr. Charlie Miller.

Cate: Wait, what year? Yeah, what year is this?

Jornéa: Yeah. So this is 2017.

Cate: Okay. Okay, so

Jornéa: is 2017. So, at this time I have the founder of a tool that I'm talking about sitting right in front of me.

Cate: crazy.

Jornéa: actually, you know, had dinner that night. he called me up and was like, we would love for you to do a webinar for us.

I flew to Minneapolis, I did that webinar, and a few weeks later he asked me, you know, if I would join the team and he kind of laid

Cate: What?

Jornéa: it out for me. He's like, this is a startup, so I'm just letting you know. Either we'll do good for, you know, a while. We could be here today or going tomorrow,

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: be acquired.

Right? Like that's. That's the options. Are you willing to take that risk? And so what's so funny is I sent him this long email about my passion and purpose in life. 'cause one thing if you know me, I am not gonna do anything that does not align with my values and like the way that I work and the things that I believe in. And so anyway, I put the, these Ike circles in the email. I still have the email to this day. And so he replied back, when, not so long of an email, but basically like, we're on the same page, right? And so that's when

Cate: Wow.

Jornéa: I was like, okay, I am making this shift, because this shift is going to.

Evolve me in

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: ways. Right? and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. It, you know, at first I was thinking, you know, am I saying goodbye to something that

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: loved and believed in? But it was like, no, like this is a new door that now I can help to empower

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: around the world versus just in the state that I was working in.

So,

Cate: Oh my gosh.

Jornéa: definitely a beautiful journey. and as you all know, the tool Flip had its sunset, in July of, well, in June of 2024. And so, unfortunately our team was laid off. But once again, you know, when one door closes, that just means there's another bigger grander door, you know, ready to explore.

and so I know a lot of times we focus on that closed door

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: not really see what has opened for us. So, you know, I spent a lot of time like looking towards like, okay, this has happened. Like,

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: it's nothing to be taken away from this experience, even though it felt like, a chapter of a book that, you know, ended that I didn't want to finish yet.

You know, if you've,

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: and you

Cate: Yes.

Jornéa: oh,

Cate: Oh my gosh. Sometimes I don't even finish reading the book seriously, because I'm like, I'm not ready to say goodbye. I have two books like that on my bookshelf. Okay. Keep going.

Jornéa: Yes, yes. You know, but what I learned is that. The story of connection

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: the story of community doesn't end or even begin with this tool, right? it's the people who are a part of it and it evolves over time. You know, tools are gonna be here today, gone tomorrow, et cetera, but the mindset will always be, and I

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: educator, when we talk about those 21st century learning skills,

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: that.

Critical thinking, creativity, the problem solving, all the wonderful things, we want to impart on our students. That's something that no one can take away from them. Right? so anyway, yeah, that, that has been my journey and now after 10 months of many things, I can give a a, quick rundown

Cate: better because I'm dying. I wanna know it all.

Jornéa: Well, people know me as, the Savvy Educator. and so I launched a business, called Savvy Creations. There's a lot of savvy things that I do, and one is that educator aspect of

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: but then I also launched an online, platform, called Schools Out Cocktails, which basically talks about like. Ideas and education, and a cocktail is crafted based upon those ideas.

Cate: Oh my God. I love it.

Jornéa: yeah, I was really just having fun, just blending my love of education, technology and cocktails all into one. And for me to really be able to do that well, I actually took, a bartending class. I have my like responsible vendor's license now and everything.

And if I had a full-time job, I would've never explored that, right? So. Once again, it's kind of like life doesn't happen to you, it happens for you and

Cate: I love it.

Jornéa: to the journey. So, so yeah, that's what I've been up to. And in May of 2025, I actually, did receive an opportunity for a full-time contract role through Milestone Technologies in

Cate: Okay.

Jornéa: of Google's global education impact team.

So,

Cate: Wow.

Jornéa: building. Programs and course lots of AI Gemini work,

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: so that's really exciting. And then I get to connect with the community that embraced me so much, back in my early days of educational technology through, the Google educator communities. So shout out to all the innovators, trainers,

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: that are out there.

Cate: Okay. Jornéa, you have shared so many things that I need to go back to. Okay. First of all, first of all, and I don't wanna forget 'em, I should have been, I'm gonna, I should write, I'm gonna write 'em down. okay. First of all. This email and your values. Okay, let's go there. Because that to me, like struck a nerve and, and I've also been on a journey to find like my next chapter, and I'm getting closer and closer and closer, and I feel like I'm, I'm like 95% landed, but.

To your point, like it was not, it was not just going to be a job, you know, like we, it was worth the work and the waiting and the criticality to wait it, wait this out. And yet through that journey, I feel like I've uncovered so much about myself. Kinda like what you were saying, but what has held true are my values.

And so what, like what are some, what were some of those elements you included in that email? Like, I'm just curious.

Jornéa: Oh yeah. So, like this Japanese, like mindset called Ikigai.

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: basically it is, thinking about what your purpose in life is. And so, I've always been drawn to that was a part of the email that I sent before saying yes, to the opportunity with Flipgrid back in 2017.

And it's something that I revisited after, you know, that sunset, thinking about what is it that I truly love? I have a passion for what is my purpose in life, you know, what is my profession? What can I get paid for, you know, and when all those things. you just wake up and feel good because you're

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: and you're doing things that

Cate: my gosh.

Jornéa: fulfilling to you, right?

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: so me, at the center of those circles, that purpose learning. I know I'm smiling big time right now, but you know, learning unlocks so much.

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: matter if you're two, or you're 22 or you're 52, right? The moments where you have this learning moment. It becomes the world to you

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: and it is such a good feeling. and for me, you know, learning comes in various capacities. but, you know, learning through experiences is what I truly focus on

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: and one of the greatest experiences that we can give as teachers is a high quality education to all students

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: What does that mean? Right. because, you know, I think people can sit around a round table and debate like, what is high quality education?

Cate: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: And it, it may look different across the board to different people. But like for me, a high quality education really considers, the person who is learning, and their experiences.

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: it is a

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: together. It's not one thing that needs to be imparted on someone else. 

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: reflecting, recently about like learning in general. So like at the age of five, I knew my phone number.

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: We all did. Right.

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: like that was a thing. Right I am 44 years old. You asked me what my daughter's phone number is and I don't know

Cate: I.

Jornéa: Okay. Right. Does that take anything away from us?

Cate: No,

Jornéa: Right, because the whole purpose is to get in contact with someone.

Cate: Right, right,

Jornéa: we didn't have the tools to be able to just call, so

Cate: right.

Jornéa: we had to use some muscle memory to remember. You know, numbers in order to make that happen. But now technology has evolved.

We

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: work as hard in our brain to remember all of these phone numbers, which thankfully we don't

Cate: Yeah. Right.

Jornéa: so I think like sometimes we get lost in the shuffle of like, what's really. Important

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: right now, like even the conversation around AI

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: should we use it, should we not use it?

It is another tool to help us

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: learn better

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: and allow for that exploration of, know, of creativity. You know, a lot of people like me, I am an ideas person. I am, I'm the person that will stay up all night because I can't get this idea. Out of my head. Right. because I'm also a leader and I've worked with teams, I'm really good at, of pointing out like the, the skills and, best qualities in other people to make those things happen, right?

Like I can put a great team together to make something happen, right? I'm the visionary.

Cate: huh.

Jornéa: you know, I have those ideas. So I think for a lot of people too, like if you are, let's say. Have a heightened sense of one thing and not the other. AI can kind of help you fill that gap,

Cate: Right.

Jornéa: So if

Cate: Interesting. Okay.

Jornéa: detailed oriented person, I'm the visionary, I give it the vision, ask it to break it down into

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: manageable steps for me.

Now I can get from point A to point B without abandoning that idea. 'cause I think a lot of people, they abandon things

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: they don't either have the knowledge or the skills or. sometimes the will,

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: make something happen or fear, you know, steps in. 

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: so once again, in order to combat fear, you have to face it.

You have to see what's possible. And when you see that's possibility happening over and over again,

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: fear it like you're conquering it. So, I think, you know, that's, that's what I think learning is all about. So whether it is through. Textbook or websites

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: or AI or going on a learning walk or a

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: you know, it is about just being in tune to what's in front of you, asking those questions, being curious, you know, collaborating with other people, and then thinking about like the innovations, that can come about from those conversations.

So,

Cate: Yeah. And it makes me think like, how often do educators get a chance to learn so freely, you know? And then we wonder why classrooms look and feel the same today as they did when we were in them, you know? And that. You know, I feel very, like what makes me tick is really thinking about professional learning and, and like, if we don't give it to the teachers, it will never get to the kids if we don't change the way we educate and engage with the educators, right?

Like, what is, what is it's, you know, we can't hope for change in the classroom. And so it's interesting when you were talking about, The way that you first engaged with Google back when it, before it was full blown, the coaching program and like

Jornéa: like

Cate: you found a way to, connect your passion and connect your interest and, and leverage what was happening at the time and turn that into an opportunity.

And now it's like.

Jornéa: it's like,

Cate: You're, you're doing it again. It's like, I feel like you've been doing it, listening to your story. You keep doing that, and so like, how do you like, like when other educators ask you like, how did you do that? I got like, what do you tell them? What, like, how do you get It's not luck. It's luck.

Jornéa: It's hard to see it in the moment. I won't say it's luck because when you have this passion,

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: preparation in place and that opportunity comes, alignment, right? So, you know, there may be instances where someone may find themselves, you know, maybe wanting a certain opportunity.

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: I hear educators all the time, I wanna know how do, how do I, you know, leave the classroom. I'm like

Cate: Right.

Jornéa: the goal is not to leave the classroom

Cate: No.

Jornéa: The goal is to make the classroom better, right?

Cate: Love that.

Jornéa: starts with the mindset, like, what are you trying to achieve? You know, I want equitable learning experiences for all students no matter what.

Cate: Right?

Jornéa: whether I was a classroom teacher. administrator for a short time. When I moved from Louisiana to Alabama, I took a part-time role as an interventionist making minimum wage because I could not be away from a school, you know,

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: still looking for a full-time, you know, job role. While I was there, I'm there actually coaching teachers.

Like the principal was like, wait, you, you're doing like. more than what you know I needed. And I love that. But I need to find you a job where your skills can really be utilized. But once again, it's in you,

Cate: Yeah. Yeah,

Jornéa: it's in you, like nobody can take that

Cate: yeah.

Jornéa: people can see it, they can view it, they can feel it,

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: so I think, know, my advice to teachers who's looking for like, kind of like those next steps,

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: like. Not only your, your passion and purpose, but are you living that truly right now, everyday when

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: you wake up? Right. if you can honestly say, yes, I am waking up. I am happy to go to school every day, and I am learning so that I can give my kids better experiences, then those things are gonna be seen and felt and recognized, et cetera.

And opportunities that come your way, either, you know, like in my case. I didn't seek out those opportunities, those opportunities came to me of, you know, with people sharing, you know, well I know this person who does this, that and the other. You may wanna talk to them. You know? And to me, your network is your network.

Right?

Cate: Oh, I love that.

Jornéa: You know, not only sharing with other people, but pouring into other people you know, as well. and so yeah, that would be my advice to, teachers who's looking for maybe the, the what next, you

Cate: Sure.

Jornéa: you know, you never know that what next might be teaching a team of professionals in

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: different discipline, right?

Cate: Right.

Jornéa: have a passion for, learning development or curriculum development or whatever the case might be,

Cate: Yeah. Yeah.

Jornéa: spend some time really thinking about, those circles. Like, you know, as an I guess an activity like just going through, like what brings you joy. Every day. Like what makes you smile?

Like when, you know, when people start talking to you, what is the one thing that you always like, bring up in those conversations? Right?

Cate: oh.

Jornéa: start to be in tune with yourself. and then, you know, I'm gonna say once again, like, leverage ai, right?

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: know, so sometimes like we don't know what we don't know, right?

So. you know, leverage AI saying, okay, these are the things I absolutely love. These are the skills that I have currently. I'm an educator. What other professions can utilize, can best utilize my skills for a job role. You know what I mean? And

Cate: Hmm.

you 

Jornéa: would be surprised at the possibilities. actually did this activity with, people who was actually trying to get. In tech roles.

Cate: Okay.

Jornéa: you know, and so, what was interesting, like they didn't realize that they had skills that were transferable to various disciplines, right? So as educators, we are true leaders in our classroom. We have to communicate daily to various. Stakeholders,

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: We have to plan. So, you know, once again, you might be great as a program manager or, you know what I mean?

Or a communications manager. if you are posting what you're doing in your classroom on social media and you're making connections with other companies, you might be great in partnerships or,

Cate: Totally.

Jornéa: Or fundraising. I mean, there's. The possibilities are truly limitless, right?

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: but one, you know, spend that time with yourself first and, and truly figuring out, really who you are.

Cate: Yeah. And it's like we get so caught up with the minutia of the day that, like, that's the thing about education, right? Like there's never a break. There's, there's just this cycle of go, go, go. And as soon as the year ends in July or June then we're just getting ready for the next cycle. And it's, and it gets to the point where you can get caught up in that.

And I, and I, and there's, like what, what you're making me think is like, that's. In a way kinda dangerous because? Because if you don't pause to go like, what made me smile? I love that. Like something so simple, like what do you talk about a lot that makes you smile when it comes to your work? Like maybe start there.

And that is like, that's such a simple like tangible thing.

An advice you can give any educator. I love that. And, and then double down on that, you know, like smile more and then see how that works into your cycle. yeah, and, and I've been thinking a lot over the last couple of years, like which is, which is where the bridge really was born, was out of, out of my observation of these teachers specifically, like the, the teachers that were taking the risks and, and doing like.

The amazing teachers that work so hard, but don't necessarily, they get recognized by, by given, by being given more to do. Like, I don't know if you know those teachers or you were probably that teacher actually I think you were, I was that teacher of like, oh, Cate, you know, you integrate techs so well.

Do you mind leading? Like, can we bring all the parents by and can you be that room that we show all the prospective families? Can, can you just. Be ready to show off at any point. And I was like, absolutely. I would totally use a smart board in front of anybody, but I'm like,

we don't pause and go, wait a second, like, like being excellent means I get to do more.

Like that kind of doesn't work for me, you know? And so goes this like perpetual, the perpetuity of the do, do, do that we don't stop, stop, stop for a minute. And yeah. Oh my gosh. So you were that teacher?

Jornéa: Yeah. But you know, I really think too, believe as humans, we all have

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: and sometimes we don't recognize the gifts that we possess. but it makes it very easy for other people to recognize those gifts too. Right. And so to kind of reframe what you're saying, It is not always like something else to do.

And I get the feeling, you know, I, I get it. 'cause I, you know, I was there sometimes where I'm like, I don't need another thing on my plate. Like

Cate: Right.

Jornéa: is super duper full. for someone to be able to recognize that, hey, I know I can count on you because you have shown up and you have done this

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: right.

Like, I, I see it as they're recognizing a gift and can put that trust in me as a person to make sure that that can happen. Right? So, you know, what they say is like, you know, with great power comes great responsibility, And so, When it comes to leaders, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to do everything as a leader, but you have a responsibility to recognize those gifts in other people and put that in the forefront.

So I'm saying that because if I never said yes to the opportunity to maybe. Lead, school leadership teams

Cate: Right, right.

Jornéa: not have been prepared to become a school administrator,

Cate: Right.

Jornéa: If I never said yes to the opportunities of training, you know, the educators within my building with the knowledge that I learned at a conference, I would not be ready and prepared to.

You know, do professional development

Cate: You're right.

Jornéa: right? So it's kind of like it's these building blocks that happen over time. Like we may not realize it in that moment in time

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: be frustrated, but I guarantee you when you reflect back, you can say. this didn't happen,

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: this, and that would not have happened

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: So I, I feel like once again, everything happens for us and not to

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: it's just the way that we kind of embrace it. And so, you know, I think. This 10 months, of not working to, allowed me to have the time

Cate: Hmm

Jornéa: and actually reflect. And I've just made it a part of like my every day now where, you know, in the mornings.

You know, I say affirmations to

Cate: mm.

Jornéa: know, I get my mind prepared for whatever is ahead. I know I can, you know, rise to any challenge that's before me because I've had challenges before that were very difficult

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: I was able to accomplish them. Now, how I accomplished them and the timing of which I accomplished them, that might be different depending on the challenge, but. I know me because I'm spending

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: time with me and I know I'm not gonna give up on myself. I'm not gonna give up on my purpose. I'm not gonna give up to a commitment that I have, so I will figure out a way. Right.

Cate: Totally.

Jornéa: just me. I've. I know myself. and so, yeah, so I, I'll just say that, you know, for educators, who might feel under the pressure

Cate: Mm-hmm.

Jornéa: you know, there's 200 people in my building, but every time I am the one that's being asked, like. You might be the chosen one for a reason. There might be something coming for you very, very soon

Cate: I love it.

Jornéa: you know, and, and if it is something that you truly can't take on. Be honest about that and speak up for that. Say, I, I thank you for this opportunity. At this time I don't feel like I can, right? But if you can, if you feel like you have just a little bit more bandwidth to give, that might be that indication of like, something else is about to open for you and this is the preparation for you. So, 

Cate: Oh my God, that just, that reframe is so beautiful and, and that's exactly why I needed you on this Bridge podcast because you're, you're so spot on and, and that we don't get to say things like, educators don't hear this. You know, you're right. Like, what? Maybe it's a signal that something else is coming.

Like how exciting, you know, and when, when you come across the teacher who's like, you know, I just, I'm in my third year teaching this one grade level and I just found out they're switching me to a new grade level and I don't wanna switch the new grade level. And that, you know, it's like, yes. And.

What if, what if there's something else happening that you don't know about yet, and what a powerful reframe that I think I'm gonna take with me.

Jornéa: we are our own walking stories, right? And you know, like when you read

Cate: I,

Jornéa: and your main character has this, you know, this thing that they're going through, like it always becomes better at the end, right? It's.

Cate: Right.

Jornéa: It's like, like you can see that as you're reading the story. So the same thing like with yourself,

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: just think to yourself, okay, like this is happening right now.

It feels like the end of the world, but I can't wait to see. What next, you know?

Cate: Oh my gosh.

Jornéa: we are part of our own story, so the choices we make every day and the mindsets we have will also impact how that story will turn out,

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: so anyway, I, I can talk about that all day. I'm a person that likes support into people.

Cate: feel it.

Jornéa: I truly believe like everybody is here on this earth for a reason and a purpose. And we all just need that time to figure out what is that gift that we were given so that

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: you know, give to others in our own special ways

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: so that kid in your classroom that drives you nuts that only wants to talk about like. Certain things like animals or whatever the case may

Cate: Right,

Jornéa: be, like that's for a reason. Like it, that kid is maybe uncovering that one special gift that they

Cate: Oh,

Jornéa: and we have a choice.

Cate: I,

Jornéa: we gonna shut that down or are we gonna

Cate: yeah.

Jornéa: foster it?

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: thing we need to do for educators. know, I pray for educators every day.

There's so many things that are out of our control, but what's in our control is how we show up. for ourselves and for our students each and every day, and for those who support educators, you know, just as educators, so-called unwrap the standards so you can understand like what are the knowledge and the skills that students need in order to master something.

Same thing for adults, right? You know, we might have the knowledge, the pedagogy, we, we've took those classes, but maybe we haven't put those skills into

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: So how do we best put those skills into practice? How do we get, how do we get the feedback we need to improve

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: upon it? You know, what are the structures that are in place to ensure that? we're having conversations and can collaborate with others and can learn

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: others within our school building and beyond. Right?

Cate: Yeah.

Jornéa: so once again, you know, there are certain things definitely that we can control and how we show up for ourselves in each other every day is one thing that no one can take away from us.

Cate: Oh my God. Jornéa. I can't think of a better way to wrap up. This episode than what you just said. Like, I wanted, I was gonna say like, okay. What's your advice for the, like you just gave, you just like dropped the mic on that advice. And honestly, like, from the bottom of my heart, we're so lucky to have you, you know, and your story and your voice.

Like, like I, I hope you know, and I, I think you do, but I hope you know, like that your energy is contagious and, And you brightened my day and I know you're gonna brighten so many people, so many other people who listen to this. So thank you

Jornéa: Thank

Cate: so much.

Jornéa: Thank you so much. and for those who are listening, I know we said a lot, I want you to remember just three words. It's my mission

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: that I live out every day, love, grow, inspire.

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: If you think about those three words every single day. Everything will be all right. And I'm looking at Cate's background.

You have that rainbow.

Cate: Yep.

Jornéa: I shared with my team early on, that every meeting that we had together, we actually started by sharing rainbows in our lives,

Cate: Oh.

Jornéa: are just positive things. It could be. Anything centered around the job, but it could be your personal life, just anything that brought joy to your life, you know, for a moment.

And, so I challenge each and every one of you, you know, when you wake up or when you go to bed at night, think about those rainbows in your life

Cate: Hmm.

Jornéa: and, and keep that positivity in the forefront because it's very easy in this world, to. To focus on the things that are not going so well. but when we can focus on those rainbows in our lives and we can see all these positive aspects, you know, that becomes kind of like our armor, you

Cate: It totally does.

Jornéa: everything. So

Cate: Oh my God.

Jornéa: you reaching out and being on this podcast. And cheers to all the educators who continue to do amazing things. am here for you. You can find me on social.

Cate: Perfect.

Jornéa: I’m known as Savvy Educator, so you can find me there, or on LinkedIn under my name Jornéa Armand. And I am here for you.

Cate: You are amazing. Thank you my friend.

Jornéa: Oh, you're welcome.