Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast

Leaving the Classroom 41: Former Teacher Turned Instructional Designer with Sarah Bainter

In this episode of Leaving the Classroom, former teacher Sarah Bainter discusses her journey from the classroom to a career in instructional design. She shares her experience going through IDOL courses Academy. Sarah reflects on translating her teaching skills to her new role and the differences between developing content for children and adults.

On this episode Kristi shares:

• Sarah's background as a teacher for 13 years and her decision to pursue instructional design through IDOL courses Academy
• Details of Sarah's current role as the first instructional designer at the American College of Osteopathic Internists
• Insights into the transferable skills teachers possess and how those skills translate well to instructional design roles

 Listen to the episode here:

Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocational school and implementation program of its kind that not only shows you exactly how to create your job application assets and build a portfolio from scratch, but also includes credentials, mentorship, expert coaching, and paid experience opportunities in corporate instructional design and online learning for life! Learn more about the program here.

 

Enjoy the podcast transcription:

Kristi Oliva 

Welcome, to Leaving the Classroom. This is a podcast for teachers who are ready to transition out of the classroom and into a new career. Each week, I'll share stories about what I've learned moving from education to the corporate world. I'll answer the most common questions and share my best tips to help you get started. If you are considering leaving the classroom, this show is for you.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Leaving the Classroom. I'm Kristi Oliva, and I'm so glad you're here. Today, I am talking to Sarah Bainter, who is an ID that went through IDOL courses Academy, and is a former teacher. Welcome, Sarah.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Thank you, Kristi for having me.

 

Kristi Oliva 

I'm so glad you're here. I remember your whole journey in IDOL because you were one of my mentees and I just remember you were so dedicated to the process. And so I'm so excited to have you here so that you can share with other people what worked for you and how you were able to leave the classroom. So why don't you just give me that background of how long you were teaching, what made you want to leave teaching and how you found IDOL.

 

Sarah Bainter 

I was teaching for 13 years total. So, I... after eight years, actually got out of teaching and did a couple of other things and then circumstances put me back into teaching. I have taught ELA at all different levels, fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and twelfth grades. So, over the course of a total of 13 years, I really started to see the direction that education was taking and that's not something that I wanted to stay in. And you know, you really can't advance in education at all, without paying for an extra degree, or three. So, unless you wanted to be a principal, which I didn't want to be a principal. I started to look for other avenues and I actually found IDOL courses Academy in August of 2022. Did a lot of research. I really loved the fact that working instructional designers were part of the mentor, part of it and part of the feedback. And so I signed up in September, cohort 12 and I had a job by May, the end of May. It was just an amazing journey. A lot of work, but an amazing journey.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Yeah, you did do a lot of work.

 

Sarah Bainter 

I did, you know, but I look at it from the standpoint of, you know, if you're going to go get a master's degree, even in education, just to increase your income. It's the same level of work. I mean, it really is that dedication and time management, which teachers already have and we are masters at. So, you know, it was just dedicating my time. Coming home, going to the mentor sessions and really focusing. I mean, I had big Post-it notes all over the walls of the next projects I needed to complete, the next things I needed to complete. And I did what I felt like doing at that time and just kept checking off the list. I mean, I'm a list driven person and I love to see things marked off. So, it was a great experience.

 

Kristi Oliva 

I'm glad you brought up how in education for teachers, like there's no promotion process and I think that was one thing I had to really adjust to coming into the corporate world was... Like I've been promoted several times already and I've only been out for four years. Whereas in teaching, you know, you're just climbing this arbitrary ladder that really means nothing. So, that was a big change for me of like, oh, wow, my hard work will actually progress me in this role. What a concept. Right?

 

Sarah Bainter 

Right. Yeah, and I mean, just in the six months that I've been with the company I'm at, I mean, the amount of accolades they've given me, the amount of, "atta girls." It's just, it's just such a different phenomenal change. So...

 

Kristi Oliva 

So, what is your current title and what company do you work for? If you're comfortable sharing, tell us more about where you are now.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Of course. I'm an instructional designer. I'm actually the first instructional designer of this company in 82 years of its existence. So, I work for the American College of Osteopathic Internists, and it is a nonprofit. Short, you know, is ACLI, what everybody calls it, but it's a nonprofit that provides continuing medical education for osteopathic physicians, as well as allopathic physicians. So, we're just a membership organization that provides continuing education, and are very similar to what we had to do as teachers, you know? You had to get those professional development points. So, I kind of draw those comparisons a lot and it is very similar. So, I'm just providing education for adults now.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Awesome. Do you see a big difference in that? Like, I know, that's a big question I get from teachers who want to transition. Somebody just the other day asked me like, do you like... what if I miss creating stuff for kids? And for me, that was not a thing. Like I was just like, I kind of wanted to get away from the kids because at that point, I had had my own kids. So, does that... Is that a factor for you? Do you miss the... Is there a difference between the creativity with adult learning and in kid learning? Like, how are you rectifying that in your life?

 

Sarah Bainter 

There is a difference. I do enjoy the I guess, I enjoy creating for both of them, really. I mean, adults are different. They want something that is fast, relevant for their position, relevant to what they need, you know. A lot of the physicians in my role need certain types of education, to fulfill their licensure and their certifications. So, it's really awesome to me to see that different world and to experience all that education, because while I'm developing all of this learning for them, I'm learning too. And so it really fulfills that part for me, big time. When it comes to the children and creating for younger students. I mean, I've actually started looking at putting together a store for Teachers Pay Teachers, because I have those things and so I can still create for students, and help the teachers that are still in that role, make it easier for them to have material. But at the same time, I'm actually still creating for adults too, and experiencing that world too. So, it really is kind of a... it's really fulfilled both for me, honestly.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Yeah, I do wonder if like maybe even the person that asked me yesterday, like, I'm wondering if they think they're going to miss out on like that enthusiasm that, you know, you can get from being in a classroom. However, I know that, like certain videos I've created for Amazon or whoever, like, the enthusiasm I get from adults can sometimes be even more overwhelmingly positive, than kids, because kids are just like, whatever. But like the adults will be like, that's amazing, Kristi! And I'm like, really?

 

Sarah Bainter 

Yes, the same. I mean, I've experienced the exact same thing. The adults are like... I mean, even some of the physicians are like, I don't know how... I really don't know how you did this. My brain just doesn't work that way. This is amazing. This is so much fun. I mean, they, you know, adults still want to have fun in their learning, too. So yeah, I have never experienced more praise in a position and in a job than I have being an instructional designer, especially for ACLI. 

 

Kristi Oliva 

So true. So true. So good. Love that, and I'm so happy for you! I know, there's no typical day but can you run us through like what you do in this role? I know that instructional design can be pretty broad as far as like, are you more on the instructional design side? You said you're the only one so I'm assuming you are also eLearning developer. You're the whole package.

 

Sarah Bainter 

I am the whole package. I do a lot of LMS management. My supervisor is incredibly amazing, Director of Education. She and I sort of... our tag team between managing the LMS. And I definitely develop the eLearning, develop storyboards, collaborate constantly, you know, with even another instructional designer from another organization, we're working on a project together. So, it's just a lot of collaboration. A lot of communication with SMEs in building the eLearning because, I mean, I'm not a physician. So, that material is... it's super helpful to have the subject matter experts to help parse out and organize all the materials. So, I kind of do it all in this role, because I am a team of one for the moment. And so it's great. I mean, I'm getting a ton of experience in all the different aspects of instructional design, and the best part is, to me is that everybody is so patient. You know, that's another thing, is that they're patient with me when I need to do this versus this, and I am in charge of managing my time. No one is hovering over me. No one is demanding anything of me. It's a really calm environment. So, that's something else that I truly love about it.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Yeah, that's so true. So, tell me more about... when I'm helping teachers decide like is instructional design right for them or program management... I tend to ask them like, what part of teaching was your favorite part of teaching? And I think that can help steer. So, what for you... like, because you're getting this broad perspective of all the roles, which is... I think the perfect first role coming out of education, because now you see it all and you're like, Oh, I think I want to go more... For me I went into more project man... or program management, you know, role. I'm more about efficiencies and processes. Where some people lean way into graphic design even and go, you know, once they learn about ID, they want to become a graphic designer because they love that part. What part of it really shines for you so far? The attachment to what you liked about teaching.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Sure, I loved the planning of teaching and I loved to see from planning to execution happen and then throw in the technology part of it. I love technology. And so, comparatively with ID, the storyboarding is huge for me. Being able to lay it all out, see it before it exists and then, you know, then execute, put it into existence, into an actual program that somebody can experience and learn from, and then making those little tweaks and changes. So, those are the biggest things for me and seeing that enjoyment in my learners. You know, when I actually speak... or am able to speak to people that have taken the course and they give me their feedback and how much they enjoyed it and how different it was because, you know, the older generation doesn't necessarily... hasn't seen anything like this before. And so, to have them give me that feedback is excellent. I really enjoyed that with my students too. Seeing that light bulb moment, where something that I actually thought about, created, and executed, worked. And so, I think that's the biggest comparison between the two for me personally.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Yeah, that's great. So, if someone wanted to find a job like yours, like, where did you find this job? Where should they go? What should they do to ensure they land a role like yours, if that's what they're looking for?

 

Sarah Bainter 

I think LinkedIn is everything. And you know, before IDOL, my LinkedIn didn't exist. I don't even think I had my picture on LinkedIn.

 

Kristi Oliva 

I don't think I did either.

 

Sarah Bainter 

At all! So, to go through IDOL and learn how to build up your LinkedIn and really communicate to people is huge, and then to find all of the roles I ever applied for was through LinkedIn. And this job, actually, the recruiter contacted me through LinkedIn, you know, I almost fell off the couch when I saw that email, that little message in LinkedIn, wanting to interview me for the first time. So, I would definitely recommend everybody take a look at LinkedIn and really put in the filters, you know, I put in filters of what I wanted. And I desperately wanted remote because I work really well. I'm sort of an introverted extrovert. So, I put in all the filters and found the ones that popped up within the industries that I wanted. You know, medical was an industry, animals, working with animals, it was an industry that I really wanted too. So, I really had to think about all of that, before I started applying.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Well, that'd be fun to like, be producing training for like a zookeeper or something.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Or even thought like, you know...

 

Kristi Oliva 

Because if they have it, that's the thing, this whole world of training opens up and it's like, you really could be working to train anybody, after you learn how to do it. That's so cool.

 

Sarah Bainter 

A veterinary clinic.

 

Kristi Oliva 

That would be super fun.

 

Sarah Bainter 

My uncle was a veterinarian for 45 years, and I immediately thought of him and having to train his vet techs or, you know, his front person. Anything with animals and medical that's, that was my focus. And I just so happened to find one that was medical, and that was willing to call me.

 

Kristi Oliva 

So one of the most popular questions I get is like, what are the transferable skills of teachers? How do they find what they can do? So, if you had to pick three skills that teachers have, and you can just use your own experience, right, that just so easily transferred to the instructional design world or the nonprofit world or whatever. What would those three be? Top three.

 

Sarah Bainter 

I would say the first one would be project management, for sure. I mean, we, as teachers, we manage everything. We manage... and we manage everything at the same time. We're managing people and projects, then, you know, we're able to work independently and switch gears. And I mean...

 

Kristi Oliva 

And managing behavior on top of that, which project managers don't have to do typically.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Right! And you're managing communication and I mean, you manage your lessons from start to finish. I mean, it's just all the management things that we do are incredibly transferable.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Yeah.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Additionally, the second one, I would say would be our collaborative skills. I mean, we collaborate with literally everyone. I mean, we collaborate with our students, parent-teacher conferences, administration. We're mentors for people. I mean, it's... we collaborate with our team, we all...

 

Kristi Oliva 

We're resourceful, that's part of that.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Very resourceful. Yes, and just like, trying to put it all together, we take everything and then we develop from there. So, collaboration is huge and we do it every single day and we don't even realize we're doing it, I think. And then of course leadership skills. We are leaders, no matter how you cut it. I mean, we are role models for our students. We lead our parents. We lead our school districts; we communicate with administration and parents and students and we're mentors for other teachers. We lead professional development. So, that leadership and those decision-making skills that come along with that are huge and transferable to instructional design, and every company you can possibly think of. So, we've already developed all of those things, and had a multitude of practice with them. And so I think that that... all of those things are incredibly necessary, and they aid me and my job every single day.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Those are really good ones and I think they're also ones that if I said that to a teacher who was desperate to leave, but didn't know what to do, I think they would be super doubtful of themselves. Like I can't be a project manager, right? I can't be a people manager or a leader, but it's like you already are. You already are.

 

Sarah Bainter 

You do it every day, almost every second of every day. You know, and I think that society and people in general these days have imposed that impostor syndrome on us. I mean, they already tell us that we can't be teachers, or we're not good at it, or whatever, you know, and then we internalize that. And so, you know that imposter syndrome tends to follow us but confidence is key. Confidence is key. You know you're a great teacher. You know you can do the job. You do it every day. So, why is that any different than being an instructional designer? You can do it. We will make mistakes, we do it every day still but learning from those mistakes. Even in teaching, we had to learn from those mistakes. So... it really is...

 

Sarah Bainter 

I don't know how many times I've heard, I'm so grateful you found us. You know, I mean, just...

 

Kristi Oliva 

The difference is we sometimes would get belittled for making those mistakes and I loved that you talked about how your current role, how patient they are with you. I've experienced that in all three companies I've worked with so far. Nobody.... and they all knew I was a teacher. I didn't hide that. They knew I was a previous teacher, in fact, they still to this day will say, Oh, well, coming from your education background, we would love your insight on this. And it's just, it's like, Oh, really? Like, I mean, that's valuable information for you? And I think... I don't think teachers realize that. So... And they... I don't think teachers also know that you don't have to hide that you're a teacher, that those skills... When you find the right company, they're going to be so thankful to have you and that outside perspective. That's the other thing I hear all the time is we are so thankful to have your outside perspective, as somebody who hasn't been in corporate or hasn't been in corporate very long. That the right company will value every piece of your former teacher hood that you bring to the table.

 

Kristi Oliva 

That makes me want to cry. Oh, my God, that's so amazing, Sarah.

 

Sarah Bainter 

I know! I have heard that and I have seen that in writing from my superiors so many times and I just, I never thought of it that way. You know?

 

Kristi Oliva 

You probably got more praise in the past several months than you did in years as a teacher.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Years, years. It has surpassed... It has definitely surpassed the praise that I've gotten over the last six months.

 

Kristi Oliva 

And you know what? That's actually one of the number one things that workers look for is just acknowledgement. And so if the education system simply did that one thing different, their retention of teachers would skyrocket, but because teachers just don't even feel like they're seen by anyone. It's just crazy! That I mean, I'm still baffled by it all the time that it's like, just take that list of 10 top things that workers look for. Fix one of them education, fix one of them!

 

Sarah Bainter 

For sure. Recognition is free.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Why are they not willing to fix one? I don't get it!

 

Sarah Bainter 

I know, and recognition is free! You know, I mean, they wouldn't have to spend a dime. Just recognize them, something. Something huge, you know, put their name in lights somewhere.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Right, but then you see the type of recognition that teachers are getting. I don't know if you saw the posts from like teacher misery of like, the Christmas gifts, some of these teachers are getting from their admin. Like a book of Post-its or something, or like a whiteboard marker. And it's like, that negates the acknowledgement of whatever you said on the little note you accompanied that with. In fact, a handwritten note from your administrator listing out specific things that you've done well would top a monetary gift from the admin any day.

 

Sarah Bainter 

For sure, I would print it out and save it.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Oh, for sure. I still have one from when I first joined Amazon. It's not from teaching, but it was... I still have it because I was like, Oh my gosh, I don't... these are not familiar to me, getting these.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Right, right. I remember, you know, a year or two ago, last year, I think. We didn't even get an email as a thank you around Christmas. Not...

 

Kristi Oliva 

Oh true.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Not even... not even an email. Nothing. And so, you know, to do with ACLI and the incredible, abundant, like just gifts and recognition, and thank yous, and we're going to close the office early, go enjoy your family, you know? It just speaks volumes and I am constantly reminded of the right decision that I made and that the work actually paid off.

 

Kristi Oliva 

So...

 

Sarah Bainter 

It's just phenomenal.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Question of the day. Do you miss teaching?

 

Sarah Bainter 

Not one bit.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Me neither.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Not even a little.

 

Kristi Oliva 

No one has said they do. So, it's the group asking... not at all for me. I will never go back ever.

 

Sarah Bainter 

No, no.

 

Kristi Oliva 

I would rather work at a grocery store, I think, then go back to teaching.

 

Sarah Bainter 

For sure. I... you know, and it's just, it's... we're starting to get into like the winter and snow season in the Midwest and to be able to go get my coffee two steps away, whenever I want and in the flavor that I want, like, it's not burnt.

 

Kristi Oliva 

It's not day-old that got reheated.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Not day-old coffee. And you know, sit in my comfy chair in front of my work. Look out the windows with the snow falling. I don't have to clean a car. I don't... my feet don't get wet. I don't freeze.

 

Kristi Oliva 

You don't have to stand at bus duty in the snow.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Not bus duty.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Oh, that's one of the worst.

 

Sarah Bainter 

It's just... And you know, my little coworkers, my two cats are... I call, you know, they're little cat beds are right next to me. My coworkers are in their cubicles asleep. It's just the most calming, peaceful, and productive way that I've ever found in my life to work. So, it is just invaluable. It's just, it.... I can't even put it into words how great it is.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Well, I'm just so thrilled for you, Sarah. You definitely did the work. So, I don't want to make it seem like Sarah just joined IDOL and then she got that job. Keep in mind that there is a lot of work involved because it's not simply entering the course and learning some things. You do have to prove, if you want to be an instructional designer, that you have the skills and there is new tech. That's what IDOL does for you. Now, Sara, I bet you soon enough, you are going to become someone that now is going to be hiring their own team. I can just see it. So, with that in mind, I bet you there are going to be so many people who want to get in touch with you and be on that list for when that happens. So, what's the best way to get in touch with you, learn more about your role, how you liked IDOL. People ask me all the time, but I know a variety of opinions about IDOL and the journey would be helpful. So how can they find you?

 

Sarah Bainter 

They can certainly find me on LinkedIn. Connect with me on LinkedIn, send me a message. I watch that regularly. And I am so happy to help anybody do what I've done. It's... I'm so grateful to IDOL. I'm so grateful to you, Kristi, you were definitely a huge part of my journey, and a part of getting me to where I am. So yeah, definitely, contact me through LinkedIn.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Are you going to start mentoring for IDOL anytime soon?

 

Sarah Bainter 

I would love that! I mean, I really....

 

Kristi Oliva 

You would make an excellent mentor.

 

Sarah Bainter 

I really want to give back. You know, I want to give back what was given to me.

 

Kristi Oliva 

I think that's exactly why I did it is I just felt this like pull. I was like how could I not go back and help these other teachers? It's almost like if you like... a burning building is not the best illustration because I don't recommend people run back into a burning building but you know, I'm thinking of like, I watched Survivor. I don't know if any of you watch Survivor, but I watched Survivor and they always have an obstacle in one of the obstacle courses where the whole team or tribe has to get up this ramp. And it's... sometimes it's just completely vertical. So, there's no way for everyone to get up individually, they have to do it as a team. And I always think of IDOL when this happens because one person gets up there first and they could just be like, done! And like come on guys, but then they're always reaching back. Because they can't... In that case, they can't win without it. But for me, that's what it felt like for me. I was like, how can I just move on without turning back? And looking back to these other teachers who are still stuck. So...

 

Sarah Bainter 

Exactly, and that's one of the amazing...

 

Kristi Oliva 

I would be thrilled if you became a mentor.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Thank you, that would be awesome. And you know, I always looked at it too as in teaching, I found so many people that were not willing to help each other. You know, there was a lot of I don't know, imagine competition, animosity? I don't know. And so, I definitely don't want to be that way. I found through IDOL that so many teachers in IDOL, and that were becoming instructional designers, everyone helps each other. And that's the environment that I want to be a part of again. And so, even after the support that IDOL gives, continues after you get a job. I mean, I don't know how many times that I've reached back out to a mentor and said, Okay, so this is not working. Why isn't this working? When it comes to something I've created or something in Storyline, I still get advice. I still get all of that from IDOLs. So it doesn't just end. I want people to know that it doesn't just end after you graduate or after you get a job. That support continues and I think that's incredibly important for people to understand too. It's not like one and done. You definitely have the support that continues.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Well, and I think that's what's so fun about the learning and development space in general. But now that I'm like out in corporate, like, I just feel like the world is my oyster. And so like you said, I am definitely not going to stay stagnant. Like I already have moved roles to a program manager. I'm not even in the L&D space anymore. And so it just... I think, once you get out of teaching, you really can just decide for yourself, what's next? Do you want to just continue down that L&D route and dig deeper and deeper and deeper? Or do you want to find something else? And I... it's just so exciting!

 

Sarah Bainter 

It is.

 

Kristi Oliva 

All right. Well, thank you so much for joining me today, Sarah. I'm so grateful to you and just so happy for you.

 

Sarah Bainter 

Thank you so much.

 

Kristi Oliva 

Do you want to leave the classroom and become an ID like Sarah? You're not alone and I have launched a new resume formula and template that is just for you. In order to get that please visit idolcourses.com/leavingtheclassroom to download your FREE resume template. It's time to take control and make the career change that will change your life. It changed mine. See you next time.

 

Kristi Oliva 

That's all for this episode, but you can find more at idolcourses.com or subscribe to the podcast. And if you are ready to leave the classroom, use my code classroom100 And get $100 off enrollment to IDOL courses Academy.

 

Send your stories or questions to [email protected] or share them with me on Instagram @leavingtheclassroom.