From Teacher to CEO: 8 Questions with Kelly Tenkely

Teaching abroad can be an exciting way to take your skills as an instructor outside the classroom and out on the road. But with great adventure comes a lot of uncertainty--what to pack? Where to work for? How to have a safe and happy experience? We asked ESL/TESOL teacher and world traveler Phil Stott to share the kind of wisdom on these issues that can only come from experience. Here's what he had to say.

So you’ve decided to take the plunge. You’ve gained your certification, researched the country of your choice, found a school, sorted out your visa and are all set to take your first teaching job overseas. All you need to do now is pack.

No matter how long your contract is, there’s no way you’ll be able to pack up everything you’ll need and brin…

As the 2016 presidential ballot becomes more and more like a clown car (with 22 candidates at the date this post was published!) politics is a hot national topic. And since education issues will be at the forefront in August 6th's first Republican presidential debate, we were wondering: what topics do Teach100 Mentors hope will get some air time? Here's what a few of our favorite contributors had to say.

(And as for the candidates? A little birdie, AKA our survey, tells us that Hilary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Mike Huckabee, and Carly Fiorina are favorites among our teachers.)

TODD BLOCH, SWEAT TO INSPIRE

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Mom and my sister--both teachers--find it funny that I ended up working for a website called Teach.com. “You just couldn’t escape,” my mom likes to laugh. A love of sharing information is in our blood. But I try to do more listening than talking around my mom. When she talks, I always learn something.

While waiting for the fireworks to start on Independence Day this year, my mom and I were discussing, of all things, word problems. My mom complained that her students hated them, which never made much sense to her.

“Saying that you like fractions or that you like algebra, but you don’t like word problems... that's basically saying you like having a box full of tools, but you don't like fixing anything with them.”

My mom re…

8 QUESTIONS is a series of interviews with teachers who have effectively transitioned their classroom skills into new and exciting careers in the field of education. We at Teach.com believe that teaching is a rigorous and diverse classroom in and of itself; the skills learned “in the trenches” can translate into an exciting portfolio of professional options. From education tech to consulting, the only “X factor” is where you want to go — our interviews hope to shine a light on the steps it takes to get there.

1. What's your name, location and current career path?

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Many children look forward to going to school and are excited by learning new things. When it comes to summer, kids are ready to head outdoors and get in some serious play time. It can be difficult to maintain the same level of attention from children around summer time, but that is when you get to put on your own thinking cap and get creative! Every child loves to play with toys, so if you can incorporate learning with playing, you have a recipe for success.

Go with the Flow and Head Outdoors

If you are able to, enjoy the warm weather and take your lessons outside, or bring the outdoors into your classroom. Introduce your young students to a kid-friendly microscope and let them investigate everyday objects up close. Set up an “exploration station” for students to use on their own through…