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Ayesis Clay | Educator Resilience Consultant

@sculptedclay

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The Class of 2006 got the version of me that didn’t know how to stop.

Twenty years. That’s how long it’s been since they walked out of my classroom at Suitland.

I was 27 when they got me. Still figuring myself out, still carrying the students I’d lost before I ever got to that building. I thought I was the one doing the teaching.

What I understand now is that the habits I built those first few years came with a cost I couldn’t see yet. Staying past dark. Taking their worries home with me. Answering the phone at 11pm because who else would. From the outside it looked like dedication — and honestly, it felt like dedication to me too.

I don’t regret one hour of it. I’d give it again.

But I want a different deal for the teachers coming up behind me. The ones who love this work the way I loved it, who are right now learning the same lesson I learned the hard way — that caring deeply and sacrificing yourself are somehow supposed to be the same thing.

They’re not supposed to be the same thing.

Sitting across from those grown faces last night, I kept thinking about how much beauty is still in this work. We just have to stop treating a teacher’s disappearance as the cost of doing it well.

Class of 2006 — thank you for growing up with me. 🖤

If there’s a teacher in your building who gives like this, send them this post.

Andif you’re a leader watching your strongest people run on fumes, comment UNICORN and i’ll share what we actually do about it. by @sculptedclay

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a month ago

Comment UNICORN for more info on how to bring creative strategies to help to your school/district! by @sculptedclay

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10 months ago

Share with an amazing TEACHER in your life!! 🦄💜

Teachers are truly some of the most amazing people I know! Yet the world needs to understand that if they are not supporting these amazing people, they are going to lose them…US.

I create experiences for educators to help combat the emotional weight of teaching—because we all know that we can’t be the teacher we want to be without community, compassion, and support.

Follow me here on IG for more tips and strategies on how to use creative reflection, the Arts, and play to help keep you JOYFUL in the classroom!

#teachertribe #educatorsofinstagram #teacherstress #teacherburnout #joyfulteaching #teachersofinstagram #teachercommunity #teacherwriter #writetoheal taken in Washington, DC by @sculptedclay

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4 years ago

In case you needed a reminder— not everything requires your immediate attention or response! ✋🏽

As a teacher, there will always be another email to answer, a lesson to prepare, a student who needs your attention, or a deadline approaching. 😅 That’s just what comes with it!

You can be intentional without being in a hurry. And you can absolutely be productive without being overwhelmed.

This week, give yourself permission to move at a pace that PROTECTS your energy. 💙 #teachermentalhealth #educatorwellness #teachermindfulness #teacherselfcare #educatorsupport by @sculptedclay

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9 hours ago

Ever get enough sleep and still feel tired?

Teacher tired can run deeper than needing an earlier bedtime. Sometimes your mind needs a break from making decisions. Emotional rest might mean time when nobody needs you to hold everything together. Sensory rest could look like stepping away from screens and the constant noise of a school day.

And sometimes, you need to get outside.

Feel a little sunshine on your skin. Sit somewhere you can hear water. Let your eyes wander beyond the next thing on your to-do list.

We can get so focused on making it through the week that we overlook how good those small moments can feel. Even a few minutes outside can give us room to exhale.

You may not have a waterfall nearby, but a park bench or a sunny spot on your front steps counts, too. 🌿

What kind of rest are you craving right now? by @sculptedclay

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21 hours ago

October has a way of humbling teachers! 😩

But before you convince yourself that you just need to push through until the next break, I want you to check in with YOU.

The first step toward a better school year is understanding what you actually need to thrive… not just survive!

That’s why I’m giving away a FREE teacher resource designed to help you reflect on where you are, recognize what you need, and make intentional changes before exhaustion takes over.

✨ Comment MAGIC below, and I’ll send it straight to you! Because there’s still plenty of school year left, and you deserve to enjoy it! 💕 #teacherresources #educatorsupport #teachermentalhealth #professionaldevelopment #teachertools by @sculptedclay

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3 days ago

Is a teacher’s to-do list EVER really done? 🤔😂

There’s always another lesson to plan, paper to grade, email to answer, or task waiting for your attention.

Let this be your reminder: You don’t have to finish everything to deserve a break!

While that to-do list might be calling your name, give yourself permission to pause. Rest without guilt. Enjoy your day without thinking about everything waiting for you tomorrow.

Save this reminder for the next time you feel guilty about slowing down. 💕 #educatorwellness #teachertips #teachertools #teachermentalhealth #teacherburnout by @sculptedclay

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7 days ago

Sometimes you have to brainwash yourself into having a good day in the classroom! 😆

After 24+ years in education, I’ve learned that being a joyful teacher doesn’t mean every day is sunshine and rainbows. Some days are HARD, and finding the good takes a little extra effort.

But here’s what I’ve learned: Joy isn’t always something you find. Sometimes, it’s something you have to intentionally create. 💕

That’s where the M.A.G.I.C. Method®️comes in! Mindfulness. Authentic connection. Gratitude. Intentional self-care. Creativity.

If your teacher joy has been running a little low lately, save this post for a day when you need a little M.A.G.I.C. ✨#teachertips #educatorwellness #teachermentalhealth #teacherburnout #educatorsupport by @sculptedclay

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11 days ago

Gratitude doesn’t mean every day has to be a perfect day!

Sometimes, it’s simply choosing to notice the small wins throughout the day. 😌 There is always something worth celebrating, even if you have to look a little harder to find it… it’s still there!

This Monday, take a moment to pause and ask yourself: What’s one thing you’re grateful for in this season of teaching?

Share yours below. 👇🏾 #teachertips #teachermentalhealth #educatorwellness #mondayreset #teacherssupportingteachers by @sculptedclay

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14 days ago

You know when the energy in the classroom is just… off?

Everyone’s distracted. The room feels heavy. You’re repeating yourself. And honestly, you might be feeling it too.

The lesson doesn’t need to be pushed harder. The room needs a RESET. ✨

And no—shaking it out isn’t just for the little kids! Your middle and high school students might give you the look 😂, but movement can be a great way to break the tension and bring everyone back into the moment.

Save this for the next time your classroom energy feels a little off! #classroomtips #teachertools #classroommanagement #teacherlife #positiveclassroom by @sculptedclay

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20 days ago

Both can be true: this is hard AND there is still good here. ✨

You can acknowledge that today feels hard without letting it erase what’s still going right. You’ll find that the good outweighs the bad by a long shot!

Notice the small wins, the student who made you smile, or the lesson that clicked. 😌 What’s one good thing you’re choosing to notice today? 👇🏽 #teachermentalhealth #teachertips #teacherburnoutprevention #mondayreset #educatorwellness by @sculptedclay

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21 days ago

The goal is never to pretend the day went perfectly. It’s to stop letting one frustrating moment convince you that everything went wrong.

A small shift in perspective can help you see the parts of the day that frustration makes easy to overlook.

Maybe you didn’t finish your entire to-do list, but guess what? You handled what mattered most. You showed up.

You don’t have to call it a perfect day. Just don’t forget to give yourself credit for the small wins, too! 🏆

What’s one small win you had today? 👇🏽 No win is too small… that’s YOUR win! #teachermentalhealth #educatormentalhealth #classroomtips #teachermotivation #teachertools by @sculptedclay

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a month ago