In an effort to understand how we got here (here being our careers in education), we reflect back on all of the various job and volunteer experiences we have had along our journeys towards education. First, Jordan and Helen share about their latest Halloween activities as well as an accidental soup-in-the-pantry incident. Jordan then dives into listing off the many jobs she has had since high school, which involved working with animals, kids, teen moms, and retail; she was even a tattoo artist (don’t worry, they weren’t permanent!). Helen also shares her work history that included umpiring softball, selling tickets in multiple box offices, leading activities at a nursing home, facilitating events at a state park, and leading tastings and tours at a winery. Jordan and Helen ultimately consider how the little choices led to big changes in their personal and professional lives.

Millennial Mom disclaimer: Jordan used AI to come up with this episode’s title. And coincidentally enough, we are talking about AI in our jobs for this episode! Jordan and Helen start off sharing their recent Halloween activities, and Helen finally reveals her fun, coordinated family costume. Helen shares her thoughts after viewing the Can’t Look Away documentary as Jordan prepares to do her second community screening. Helen then dives into a conversation on how AI is being utilized in education and how she connects with students through language, arts, and culture. She reflects on her teaching philosophy and shares thoughts on the book We Got This by Cornelius Minor, which discusses the trope of teachers being heroes. Jordan then shares her deep concerns after reading an article about a school counselor in Topeka, Kansas, who is creating AI chatbots for elementary school students dealing with “minor” social/emotional problems.

Helen starts out the episode blowing our minds (or at least Jordan’s) by sharing about the wild world of ultramarathoning. Jordan shares about her first experience with the community screening of the documentary, Can’t Look Away, and wrestling with feelings of disappointment, appreciation, frustration, and pride. But despite the low turnout for the first screening, a second screening has already been scheduled for this month. The documentary is an intense look into the devastating impact that social media is having on young people and why reform is needed. We talk about the current flaws with safety features promised on Instagram teen accounts that don’t actually keep adolescents safe. Jordan shares about an experience giving her kindergartener a chance to do something entirely on his own out in the real world. We end with a story of gaga ball and “confronting” junior high teens who were saying some not-so-appropriate things on the playground.

Link to the film: https://www.jolt.film/watch/cantlookaway