Hello (Again)! Welcome to Rooted Into Growth!

If you’re here, chances are you’re a teacher, aspiring teacher, , or maybe just someone who accidentally clicked a link and decided to stay. Either way, I’m glad you’re here.

Hi! I’m Amanda, a high school science teacher, Teacher Cadet instructor, soon-to-be Ed.D. graduate (just a few short months away!), and proud South Carolina resident. Most days, you’ll find me teaching biology, helping future educators discover their passion for teaching, grading things I definitely meant to grade three days ago, or wondering how my coffee got cold before I took more than two sips.

When I’m not in the classroom, life is wonderfully chaotic. I’m a stepmom to two young boys, navigating the beautiful mess that is family life while finishing a doctorate in Educational Innovation and Practice at the University of South Carolina. Go Cocks!

If you’ve ever felt like there aren’t enough hours in the day to teach, lesson plan, answer emails, fold laundry, finish a dissertation, make dinner, and remember where you put your keys, please know you’re in good company.

I often joke that I’m a “Type C” teacher and stepmom. You know Type A and Type B? I’m somewhere in the middle. I love organization, systems, planners, color-coding, and a good spreadsheet, but I’m also realistic enough to know that sometimes life happens, the laundry doesn’t get folded, and dinner comes from a drive-thru. Growth over perfection has become my unofficial life motto.

Speaking of growth, Rooted Into Growth has actually been around longer than you might think.

Several years ago, my best friend, Olivia, and I started this journey together. We shared a passion for supporting students and created an entire collection of social-emotional learning resources for middle and high school students. We spent countless hours brainstorming lessons, designing activities, and dreaming up ways to help teachers build stronger relationships with their students.

Then life did what life tends to do.

Careers evolved. Responsibilities grew. Graduate school happened. Families changed. Priorities shifted. While Olivia remains one of my closest friends, that particular season of life came to a close. Not because the vision wasn’t important, but because sometimes even good things need to be shelved for a while.

And that’s okay.

Now, years later, I’m finding my way back to something I’ve always loved: creating resources, sharing ideas, and helping teachers.

This version of Rooted Into Growth looks a little different than it did before. While you’ll still find resources and tools, you’ll also find practical teaching strategies, classroom organization ideas, first-year teacher support, classroom management tips, and ways to help students develop the communication, collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving skills they’ll need long after they leave our classrooms.

Everything you’ll find here is rooted in real classroom practice. No Pinterest-perfect classrooms. No impossible expectations. Just practical ideas from a teacher who is still learning, growing, and figuring things out right alongside you.

Whether you’re a brand new teacher trying to survive your first year, a veteran educator looking for fresh inspiration, or someone who simply believes that education can change lives, I’m excited you’re here.

Thank you for being part of this new chapter.

Let’s grow together.

Amanda