hi, I'm
holly garlow
After working as a high school teacher for 8 years, I was burned out. Making the decision to leave teaching without a plan for what came next was scary. But it was also incredibly freeing.
Leaving the teaching profession opened new doors for me, including the chance to relocate from Colorado to Austin—a place I had always dreamed of living. After taking on a few odd jobs to get settled, I eventually joined a corporate company where I could build a new revitalizing career in education.
I've worked as an instructional designer for four companies and have been doing it for almost as long as I taught in schools. Despite not teaching in schools any longer, I still get to work in education and make an impact on learners. I help employees at the companies I work for learn what they need to do in order to be successful in their role, grow professionally, and feel comfortable and confident at work.
I'm holly garlow
After working as a high school teacher for 8 years, I was burned out. Making the decision to leave teaching without a plan for what came next was scary. But it was also incredibly freeing.
Leaving the teaching profession opened new doors for me, including the chance to relocate from Colorado to Austin—a place I had always dreamed of living. After taking on a few odd jobs to get settled, I eventually joined a corporate company where I could build a new revitalizing career in education.
I've worked as an instructional designer for four companies and have been doing it for almost as long as I taught in schools. Despite not teaching in schools any longer, I still get to work in education and make an impact on learners. I help employees at the companies I work for learn what they need to do in order to be successful in their role, grow professionally, and feel comfortable and confident at work.
Why I Do It
By the time I left teaching, I hardly recognized myself.
Teachers are natural nurturers. Most of us teach because we are passionate about education, and we love our students. Yet, over time, the reality of low pay and untenable demands placed on school teachers starts to chip away at our quality of life. It's both easy and common to get stuck in a loop of resenting the job while still believing in the profession, making it very difficult to leave. We can easily feel guilty putting our own needs above our students. Teacher guilt is real!
The decision to leave teaching was incredibly difficult for me, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I have a better work-life balance, and I'm in a much healthier place.
I want other teachers who find themselves stuck in the resentment loop to know it's okay to put themselves first.
A less emotionally demanding career is possible — one where you can use your passion, skills, and expertise as an educator and still make an impact on learners.
educators as
d e s e r t
flora & fauna
I've always felt such a special connection to the desert. Its beautiful color palette of warm earth and cool sky. Its juxtaposition of hard and soft. The expansive sky that produces the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
What amazes me most when I'm in the desert is the resilience of life there. Teachers are like the resilient plants and animals of the desert, thriving in conditions that often seem harsh and unforgiving.
Like cacti that store water for dry seasons, teachers draw on reserves of patience and creativity to nurture their students. Like desert animals that adapt their routines to survive extreme heat, teachers develop innovative strategies to navigate limited resources and shifting demands.
And despite the challenges of their environment, both teachers and desert life don’t just survive—they bloom, create, and inspire in ways that prove beauty and strength can flourish even in the toughest conditions.
THE LEARNING PROFESSIONAL NEWSLETTER
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Changing careers is hard.
I know it feels like a huge mountain to climb, but I'm here to support your journey. I've done it myself and want to help you do it too.
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Why I Do It
By the time I left teaching, I hardly recognized myself.
Teachers are natural nurturers. Most of us teach because we are passionate about education, and we love our students. Yet, over time, the reality of low pay and untenable demands placed on school teachers starts to chip away at our quality of life. It's both easy and common to get stuck in a loop of resenting the job while still believing in the profession, making it very difficult to leave. We can easily feel guilty putting our own needs above our students. Teacher guilt is real!
The decision to leave teaching was incredibly difficult for me, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I have a better work-life balance, and I'm in a much healthier place.
I want other teachers who find themselves stuck in the resentment loop to know it's okay to put themselves first.
A less emotionally demanding career is possible — one where you can use your passion, skills, and expertise as an educator and still make an impact on learners.
I've always felt such a special connection to the desert. Its beautiful color palette of warm earth and cool sky. Its juxtaposition of hard and soft. The expansive sky that produces the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
What amazes me most when I'm in the desert is the resilience of life there. Teachers are like the resilient plants and animals of the desert, thriving in conditions that often seem harsh and unforgiving.
Like cacti that store water for dry seasons, teachers draw on reserves of patience and creativity to nurture their students. Like desert animals that adapt their routines to survive extreme heat, teachers develop innovative strategies to navigate limited resources and shifting demands.
And despite the challenges of their environment, both teachers and desert life don’t just survive—they bloom, create, and inspire in ways that prove beauty and strength can flourish even in the toughest conditions.
THE LEARNING PROFESSIONAL NEWSLETTER
Get CAREER SUPPORT
AS A LEARNING PROFESSIONAL
Changing careers is hard. I know it feels like a huge mountain to climb, but I'm here to support your journey. I've done it myself and want to help you do it too!
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