In this episode of Not Working Right Now, we sit down with a grade school teacher Katie, who is also a mom, runner, yogi, and unofficial Christmas sweater influencer to dive into all things school and motherhood.

Katie joins us to pull back the curtain on what really happens inside a classroom—and let’s just say, it’s not what most parents imagine. From managing 30+ kids (with only 40 minutes of prep time a day!) to answering to “Mom,” “Mrs. Teacher,” and “Miss Mommy,” Katie shares hilarious, honest, and eye-opening stories about teaching in 2025.

We cover it all:

✨ The surprising overlaps between parenting and teaching

✨ Why patience, multitasking, and juggling mental to-do lists should all be Olympic sports

✨ The real challenges teachers face with oversized classrooms and limited resources

✨ What parents can actually do to help (hint: just reply to the email!)

✨ Why boredom matters, and how to help kids problem-solve instead of panic

✨ The best (and worst) teacher gifts ever received—yes, it involves Alfredo sauce in a Ziploc bag

If you’ve ever wondered what your child’s day at school actually looks like, or if you’re looking for ways to support your kid’s learning without another workbook, this episode is for you.