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A growing community of educators, mentors, and lifelong learners who believe in the power of connection, shared stories, and showing up for one another - again and again
You're listening to the Bridge where
real educators share real stories of
career pivots professional growth in the
moments that make all the difference.
I'm your host, Cate Tolnai, and every
episode is a reminder that we're
not meant to figure this out alone.
So if you're navigating change
in your career or you just need
a little inspiration to keep
going, you are in the right place.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hi.
Jornea Armant: Hey, Cate,
Cate Tolnai (she/her):
Welcome to the Bridge.
I'm so excited to have
Jornéa Armant with us.
Did I say that correctly?
Jornea Armant: yes, you
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Good.
It is so important to me to make
sure we are saying each other's
names and acknowledging that.
And I am just so excited to have you here.
Jornéa and I have, had the pleasure
of being in your circle for, for a
long time, but I don't, I mean, this
is like first time we're like getting
to talk, which I'm so excited about.
Jornea Armant: one on one.
for sure.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Exactly,
and I couldn't, you know, when I,
when I was thinking about people,
that I thought have some pretty
ex, just impactful stories around
community and, life and like, love of.
educators, I thought you would be
a wonderful person, a wonderful
voice to bring to the conversation.
And really the bridge is about, you
know, breathing life into educators
and making sure they feel connected and
supported and, using stories to do that.
And so let's start there.
Like what does, what does
that all mean to you?
Like you have had such a rich story.
So I'm gonna let you jump in
and just kind of speak to.
You know what the bridge
and those ideas mean.
Jornea Armant: Oh my gosh.
I read, just about the podcast,
it just warmed my heart because
community is everything, to me
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: as an educator.
I've definitely been empowered and
supported by fellow educators, and
I take that with me as my mission
every single day to just pour back
into, my fellow educator community.
thank you.
For, providing the space, to not
only share about like wonderful
ideas, but also those stories.
And you know, the thing about
stories is that stories are
not always perfect, right?
Like there's a lesson to be learned
in every story that we have.
And so I'm happy to be able to share some
of my stories, with your community today.
I hope that not only do they
learn a little bit more about
me, but also, can reflect back
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: and, think about ways
that, give themselves kudos for,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: showing up every day
for what they do as an educator.
and to think about ways that they
also can empower the next educator.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I love it.
Okay, well let's dive into that.
Like how, how do you, your background
as far as being an educator is
really rich and I don't know how
many people know all of that.
So do you wanna start with
just that background piece
and, and we'll go from there.
Jornea Armant: Yeah, sure.
so my journey in education started
way before that first full-time
job right out of college in 2003.
I come from a family where I have,
a couple of, educators in my family.
My two aunts are educators,
administrators, et cetera.
And so I.
Saw firsthand, work that
they did and the impact
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: they were making.
And I would be the, the little girl going
to the school, volunteering and, you
know, working side by side, with students.
while I was at university, I,
you know, my initial plan was.
I was gonna be in the
medical field, I was gonna
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh
Jornea Armant: yeah, a physical therapist.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): All right.
Jornea Armant: and then I had this biology
class that just like hit me in the face
and was like, you know what, Jornéa, you
are not really passionate about this.
might really wanna reconsider.
you know, I think a lot of times in
life we have this idea of what success.
Might look
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: be like, and we have
like this internal struggle a lot.
Like, okay, I should be doing this,
but I really wanna be doing that
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah,
Jornea Armant: Right.
And so, you know, I made that
switch, to focus on education,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Wow.
Jornea Armant: during my,
like, I wanna say the second
semester of my sophomore year of
Cate Tolnai (she/her): that's
kind of far in like you had
taken some classes by that point.
Okay.
Jornea Armant: Oh yeah, definitely.
and it was the best decision of my life.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Nice.
Jornea Armant: you know,
I couldn't be happier.
But, in 2003, once I graduated,
I immediately started working,
at a local school in St.
Charles Parish public schools.
I'm gonna give them a shout out
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: they are critical
to the foundation that I've had.
They are a very incredible.
School district that has, leadership
and love in the forefront.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Okay.
Jornea Armant: to, to this day, 20
something years later, I remember
the motto, you and I, we are St.
Charles Parish public schools.
And so that sense of
belonging was always there.
It was seen and felt in every
role I had at that district.
so transitioning from a second
grade teacher, shout out to
all the second grade teachers.
you know, it's a special grade level.
I transitioned into administrator
role after a few years.
loved being an administrator, but I
also learned during that timeframe that.
I really wasn't passionate
about the ins and outs in the
day-to-day operations of a school.
if you've never been an administrator,
it is much more than just teaching
and learning at that point.
I mean, you are dealing with,
you know, buildings opening and,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my God.
Jornea Armant: happening that you know
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Codes
and parents and Oh my gosh.
Jornea Armant: the things.
And so it really took away
the reason why I was there.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: so I found my
love with instructional coaching.
I was always a mentor to other
teachers, and so, instructional
coaching kind of became my jam.
I moved to, Alabama, became
an instructional coach,
during that timeframe.
That's the brink of when like
Google apps for education came
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: so it was in.
Exciting time, between 2011, 2012, that
I just embraced technology and, you
know, started getting into various,
communities, sharing my knowledge
not only with the educators that
were in my school district, but in.
Other capacities.
Then I started working for the State
Department of Education in Alabama as
an instructional technology specialist.
So then I had, a region of educators.
It was 12 different school districts
that, I provided the professional
development centered around
instructional technology for.
And, at that time I also, joined
an, a beautiful project called
the Dynamic Learning Project.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Okay.
Jornea Armant: that was a
Google project, to really.
Put in the forefront,
coaches in these schools.
And so I'll take that, that experience
with me wherever I go because it not
only allowed me to take a passion that I
had, but really helped to devise what's
now called the Google Coaching Program.
So if you are a
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my gosh.
That's amazing.
Jornea Armant: was a precursor to that.
So, yeah, so that's something
that will always resonate with me.
from that point, I'm, I'm just out doing
my thing, presenting at conferences and I
was sharing about this little tool called
Flipgrid and lo and behold, there's a guy
sitting in my session and it just happened
to be the founder of the tool, Flipgrid.
and so that's Dr.
Charlie Miller.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Wait, what year?
Yeah, what year is this?
Jornea Armant: Yeah.
So this is 2017.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Okay.
Okay, so
Jornea Armant: is 2017.
So, at this time I have the founder
of a tool that I'm talking about
sitting right in front of me.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): crazy.
Jornea Armant: actually, you
know, had dinner that night.
he called me up and was like, we would
love for you to do a webinar for us.
I flew to Minneapolis, I did that
webinar, and a few weeks later
he asked me, you know, if I would
join the team and he kind of laid
Cate Tolnai (she/her): What?
Jornea Armant: it out for me.
He's like, this is a startup,
so I'm just letting you know.
Either we'll do good
for, you know, a while.
We could be here today or going tomorrow,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: be acquired.
Right?
Like that's.
That's the options.
Are you willing to take that risk?
And so what's so funny is I
sent him this long email about
my passion and purpose in life.
'cause one thing if you know me, I am
not gonna do anything that does not align
with my values and like the way that I
work and the things that I believe in.
And so anyway, I put the,
these Ike circles in the email.
I still have the email to this day.
And so he replied back, when, not
so long of an email, but basically
like, we're on the same page, right?
And so that's when
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Wow.
Jornea Armant: I was like,
okay, I am making this shift,
because this shift is going to.
Evolve me in
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: ways.
Right?
and it was one of the best
decisions I ever made.
It, you know, at first I was
thinking, you know, am I saying
goodbye to something that
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: loved and believed in?
But it was like, no, like this is a
new door that now I can help to empower
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: around the world versus
just in the state that I was working in.
So,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my gosh.
Jornea Armant: definitely
a beautiful journey.
and as you all know, the tool Flip had its
sunset, in July of, well, in June of 2024.
And so, unfortunately
our team was laid off.
But once again, you know, when
one door closes, that just means
there's another bigger grander
door, you know, ready to explore.
and so I know a lot of times
we focus on that closed door
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: not really
see what has opened for us.
So, you know, I spent a lot
of time like looking towards
like, okay, this has happened.
Like,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: it's nothing to be
taken away from this experience,
even though it felt like, a chapter
of a book that, you know, ended
that I didn't want to finish yet.
You know, if you've,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: and you
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yes.
Jornea Armant: oh,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my gosh.
Sometimes I don't even finish reading
the book seriously, because I'm
like, I'm not ready to say goodbye.
I have two books like
that on my bookshelf.
Okay.
Keep going.
Jornea Armant: Yes, yes.
You know, but what I learned is that.
The story of connection
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: the story of
community doesn't end or even
begin with this tool, right?
it's the people who are a part
of it and it evolves over time.
You know, tools are gonna be here
today, gone tomorrow, et cetera, but
the mindset will always be, and I
think as
an
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: educator, when we talk
about those 21st century learning skills,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: that.
Critical thinking, creativity, the
problem solving, all the wonderful
things, we want to impart on our students.
That's something that no
one can take away from them.
Right?
so anyway, yeah, that, that has been my
journey and now after 10 months of many
things, I can give a a, quick rundown
Cate Tolnai (she/her):
better because I'm dying.
I wanna know it all.
Jornea Armant: Well, people
know me as, the Savvy Educator.
and so I launched a business,
called Savvy Creations.
There's a lot of savvy things that I
do, and one is that educator aspect of
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: but then I also
launched an online, platform,
called Schools Out Cocktails,
which basically talks about like.
Ideas and education, and a cocktail
is crafted based upon those ideas.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my God.
I love it.
Jornea Armant: yeah, I was really
just having fun, just blending
my love of education, technology
and cocktails all into one.
And for me to really be able to do that
well, I actually took, a bartending class.
I have my like responsible vendor's
license now and everything.
And if I had a full-time job, I
would've never explored that, right?
So.
Once again, it's kind of like life doesn't
happen to you, it happens for you and
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I love it.
Jornea Armant: to the journey.
So, so yeah, that's what I've been up to.
And in May of 2025, I actually,
did receive an opportunity
for a full-time contract role
through Milestone Technologies in
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Okay.
Jornea Armant: of Google's
global education impact team.
So,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Wow.
Jornea Armant: building.
Programs and course
lots of AI Gemini work,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: so that's really exciting.
And then I get to connect with the
community that embraced me so much, back
in my early days of educational technology
through, the Google educator communities.
So shout out to all the
innovators, trainers,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: that are out there.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Okay.
Jornéa, you have shared so many
things that I need to go back to.
Okay.
First of all, first of all, and I
don't wanna forget 'em, I should
have been, I'm gonna, I should
write, I'm gonna write 'em down.
okay.
First of all.
This email and your values.
Okay, let's go there.
Because that to me, like struck a nerve
and, and I've also been on a journey
to find like my next chapter, and I'm
getting closer and closer and closer, and
I feel like I'm, I'm like 95% landed, but.
To your point, like it was not,
it was not just going to be a job,
you know, like we, it was worth
the work and the waiting and the
criticality to wait it, wait this out.
And yet through that journey, I feel
like I've uncovered so much about myself.
Kinda like what you were saying, but
what has held true are my values.
And so what, like what are some,
what were some of those elements
you included in that email?
Like, I'm just curious.
Jornea Armant: Oh yeah.
So, like this Japanese,
like mindset called Ikigai.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: basically it is, thinking
about what your purpose in life is.
And so, I've always been drawn to
that was a part of the email that
I sent before saying yes, to the
opportunity with Flipgrid back in 2017.
And it's something that I revisited
after, you know, that sunset, thinking
about what is it that I truly love?
I have a passion for what is my purpose
in life, you know, what is my profession?
What can I get paid for, you
know, and when all those things.
you just wake up and
feel good because you're
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: and
you're doing things that
Cate Tolnai (she/her): my gosh.
Jornea Armant: fulfilling to you, right?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: so me, at the center of
those circles, that purpose learning.
I know I'm smiling big time right now,
but you know, learning unlocks so much.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: matter if you're two,
or you're 22 or you're 52, right?
The moments where you
have this learning moment.
It becomes the world to you
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: and it
is such a good feeling.
and for me, you know, learning
comes in various capacities.
but, you know, learning through
experiences is what I truly focus on
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: and one of the
greatest experiences that we
can give as teachers is a high
quality education to all students
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: What does that mean?
Right.
because, you know, I think people can
sit around a round table and debate
like, what is high quality education?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: And it, it
may look different across the
board to different people.
But like for me, a high quality
education really considers, the person
who is learning, and their experiences.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: it is a
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: together.
It's not one thing that needs
to be imparted on someone else.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: reflecting, recently
about like learning in general.
So like at the age of five,
I knew my phone number.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: We all did.
Right.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: like that was a thing.
Right I am 44 years old.
You asked me what my daughter's
phone number is and I don't know
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I.
Jornea Armant: Okay.
Right.
Does that take anything away from us?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): No,
Jornea Armant: Right, because the whole
purpose is to get in contact with someone.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right, right,
Jornea Armant: we didn't have the
tools to be able to just call, so
Cate Tolnai (she/her): right.
Jornea Armant: we had to use
some muscle memory to remember.
You know, numbers in
order to make that happen.
But now technology has evolved.
We
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: work as hard in our
brain to remember all of these phone
numbers, which thankfully we don't
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Right.
Jornea Armant: so I think like
sometimes we get lost in the
shuffle of like, what's really.
Important
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: right now, like
even the conversation around AI
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: should we use
it, should we not use it?
It is another tool to help us
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: learn better
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: and allow for that
exploration of, know, of creativity.
You know, a lot of people
like me, I am an ideas person.
I am, I'm the person that will stay up
all night because I can't get this idea.
Out of my head.
Right.
because I'm also a leader and I've
worked with teams, I'm really good at,
of pointing out like the, the skills
and, best qualities in other people
to make those things happen, right?
Like I can put a great team together
to make something happen, right?
I'm the visionary.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): huh.
Jornea Armant: you know,
I have those ideas.
So I think for a lot of people
too, like if you are, let's say.
Have a heightened sense of
one thing and not the other.
AI can kind of help you fill that gap,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right.
Jornea Armant: So if
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Interesting.
Okay.
Jornea Armant: detailed oriented
person, I'm the visionary, I give it
the vision, ask it to break it down into
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: manageable steps for me.
Now I can get from point A to point
B without abandoning that idea.
'cause I think a lot of
people, they abandon things
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: they don't either
have the knowledge or the skills or.
sometimes the will,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: make something
happen or fear, you know, steps in.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: so once again, in order
to combat fear, you have to face it.
You have to see what's possible.
And when you see that's possibility
happening over and over again,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: fear it
like you're conquering it.
So, I think, you know, that's, that's
what I think learning is all about.
So whether it is through.
Textbook or websites
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: or AI or
going on a learning walk or a
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: you know, it is about
just being in tune to what's in front
of you, asking those questions, being
curious, you know, collaborating
with other people, and then thinking
about like the innovations, that can
come about from those conversations.
So,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
And it makes me think like, how
often do educators get a chance
to learn so freely, you know?
And then we wonder why classrooms
look and feel the same today as they
did when we were in them, you know?
And that.
You know, I feel very, like what
makes me tick is really thinking about
professional learning and, and like,
if we don't give it to the teachers,
it will never get to the kids if we
don't change the way we educate and
engage with the educators, right?
Like, what is, what is it's, you know, we
can't hope for change in the classroom.
And so it's interesting when you
were talking about, The way that
you first engaged with Google
back when it, before it was full
blown, the coaching program and like
Jornea Armant: like
Cate Tolnai (she/her): you found
a way to, connect your passion
and connect your interest and, and
leverage what was happening at the
time and turn that into an opportunity.
And now it's like.
Jornea Armant: it's like,
Cate Tolnai (she/her):
You're, you're doing it again.
It's like, I feel like you've been
doing it, listening to your story.
You keep doing that, and so like, how
do you like, like when other educators
ask you like, how did you do that?
I got like, what do you tell them?
What, like, how do you get It's not luck.
It's luck.
Jornea Armant: It's hard
to see it in the moment.
I won't say it's luck because
when you have this passion,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: preparation in place and
that opportunity comes, alignment, right?
So, you know, there may be instances
where someone may find themselves, you
know, maybe wanting a certain opportunity.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: I hear educators all
the time, I wanna know how do, how
do I, you know, leave the classroom.
I'm like
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right.
Jornea Armant: the goal is
not to leave the classroom
Cate Tolnai (she/her): No.
Jornea Armant: The goal is to
make the classroom better, right?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Love that.
It
Jornea Armant: starts with the mindset,
what are you trying to achieve?
I want equitable learning experiences
for all students no matter what.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right?
Jornea Armant: whether I
was a classroom teacher.
an administrator for a short time.
When I moved from Louisiana to
Alabama, I took a part-time role as
an interventionist making minimum wage
because I could not be away from a school,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: I was
still looking for a full-time, job role.
While I was there, I'm there
actually coaching teachers.
the principal was like, wait, you're
doing more than what I needed.
And I love that.
But I need to find you a job where
your skills can really be utilized.
But once again, it's in you,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Yeah,
Jornea Armant: it's in
you, nobody can take that
Cate Tolnai (she/her): yeah.
Jornea Armant: people can see it,
they can view it, they can feel it,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: so I think, know, my
advice to teachers who's looking for
like, kind of like those next steps,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: like.
Not only your, your passion and
purpose, but are you living that
truly right now, everyday when
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: you wake up?
Right.
if you can honestly say,
yes, I am waking up.
I am happy to go to school every
day, and I am learning so that I
can give my kids better experiences,
then those things are gonna be seen
and felt and recognized, et cetera.
And opportunities that come your way,
either, you know, like in my case.
I didn't seek out those opportunities,
those opportunities came to me
of, you know, with people sharing,
you know, well I know this person
who does this, that and the other.
You may wanna talk to them.
You know?
And to me, your network is your network.
Right?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh, I love that.
Jornea Armant: You know, not only
sharing with other people, but pouring
into other people you know, as well.
and so yeah, that would be my
advice to, teachers who's looking
for maybe the, the what next, you
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Sure.
Jornea Armant: you know, you
never know that what next might be
teaching a team of professionals in
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: different
discipline, right?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right.
Jornea Armant: have a passion for,
learning development or curriculum
development or whatever the case might be,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Yeah.
Jornea Armant: spend some time
really thinking about, those circles.
Like, you know, as an I guess
an activity like just going
through, like what brings you joy.
Every day.
Like what makes you smile?
Like when, you know, when people
start talking to you, what is the
one thing that you always like,
bring up in those conversations?
Right?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): oh.
Jornea Armant: start to
be in tune with yourself.
and then, you know, I'm gonna say
once again, like, leverage ai, right?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: know, so sometimes like
we don't know what we don't know, right?
So.
you know, leverage AI saying, okay,
these are the things I absolutely love.
These are the skills
that I have currently.
I'm an educator.
What other professions can utilize, can
best utilize my skills for a job role.
You know what I mean?
And
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
you
Jornea Armant: would be
surprised at the possibilities.
actually did this activity with,
people who was actually trying to get.
In tech roles.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Okay.
Jornea Armant: you know, and so, what was
interesting, like they didn't realize that
they had skills that were transferable
to various disciplines, right?
So as educators, we are true
leaders in our classroom.
We have to communicate daily to various.
Stakeholders,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: We have to plan.
So, you know, once again, you
might be great as a program
manager or, you know what I mean?
Or a communications manager.
if you are posting what you're doing in
your classroom on social media and you're
making connections with other companies,
you might be great in partnerships or,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Totally.
Jornea Armant: Or fundraising.
I mean, there's.
The possibilities are
truly limitless, right?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: but one, you know, spend
that time with yourself first and, and
truly figuring out, really who you are.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
And it's like we get so caught up with
the minutia of the day that, like,
that's the thing about education, right?
Like there's never a break.
There's, there's just
this cycle of go, go, go.
And as soon as the year ends in
July or June then we're just
getting ready for the next cycle.
And it's, and it gets to the point
where you can get caught up in that.
And I, and I, and there's, like what, what
you're making me think is like, that's.
In a way kinda dangerous because?
Because if you don't pause to
go like, what made me smile?
I love that.
Like something so simple, like what
do you talk about a lot that makes
you smile when it comes to your work?
Like maybe start there.
And that is like, that's such
a simple like tangible thing.
An advice you can give any educator.
I love that.
And, and then double down on that,
you know, like smile more and then
see how that works into your cycle.
yeah, and, and I've been thinking a
lot over the last couple of years,
like which is, which is where the
bridge really was born, was out of,
out of my observation of these teachers
specifically, like the, the teachers that
were taking the risks and, and doing like.
The amazing teachers that work so hard,
but don't necessarily, they get recognized
by, by given, by being given more to do.
Like, I don't know if you know those
teachers or you were probably that
teacher actually I think you were, I
was that teacher of like, oh, Cate,
you know, you integrate techs so well.
Do you mind leading?
Like, can we bring all the parents
by and can you be that room that we
show all the prospective families?
Can, can you just.
Be ready to show off at any point.
And I was like, absolutely.
I would totally use a smart board
in front of anybody, but I'm like,
we don't pause and go, wait
a second, like, like being
excellent means I get to do more.
Like that kind of doesn't
work for me, you know?
And so goes this like perpetual, the
perpetuity of the do, do, do that we
don't stop, stop, stop for a minute.
And yeah.
Oh my gosh.
So you were that teacher?
Jornea Armant: Yeah.
But you know, I really think too,
believe as humans, we all have
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: and sometimes we don't
recognize the gifts that we possess.
but it makes it very easy for other
people to recognize those gifts too.
Right.
And so to kind of reframe
what you're saying,
It is not always like
something else to do.
And I get the feeling,
you know, I, I get it.
'cause I, you know, I was there
sometimes where I'm like, I don't
need another thing on my plate.
Like
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right.
Jornea Armant: is super duper full.
for someone to be able to recognize that,
hey, I know I can count on you because
you have shown up and you have done this
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: right.
Like, I, I see it as they're recognizing
a gift and can put that trust in me as a
person to make sure that that can happen.
Right?
So, you know, what they say is like,
you know, with great power comes great
responsibility, And so, When it comes
to leaders, it doesn't necessarily mean
that you have to do everything as a
leader, but you have a responsibility
to recognize those gifts in other
people and put that in the forefront.
So I'm saying that because if I never
said yes to the opportunity to maybe.
Lead, school leadership teams
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right, right.
Jornea Armant: not have been prepared
to become a school administrator,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right.
Jornea Armant: If I never said yes to
the opportunities of training, you know,
the educators within my building with the
knowledge that I learned at a conference,
I would not be ready and prepared to.
You know, do professional development
Cate Tolnai (she/her): You're right.
Jornea Armant: right?
So it's kind of like it's these
building blocks that happen over time.
Like we may not realize
it in that moment in time
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: be frustrated,
but I guarantee you when you
reflect back, you can say.
this didn't happen,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: this, and
that would not have happened
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: So I, I feel
like once again, everything
happens for us and not to
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: it's just the
way that we kind of embrace it.
And so, you know, I think.
This 10 months, of not working
to, allowed me to have the time
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm
Jornea Armant: and actually reflect.
And I've just made it a part
of like my every day now where,
you know, in the mornings.
You know, I say affirmations to
Cate Tolnai (she/her): mm.
Jornea Armant: know, I get my mind
prepared for whatever is ahead.
I know I can, you know, rise
to any challenge that's before
me because I've had challenges
before that were very difficult
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: I was
able to accomplish them.
Now, how I accomplished them and
the timing of which I accomplished
them, that might be different
depending on the challenge, but.
I know me because I'm spending
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: time with me and I
know I'm not gonna give up on myself.
I'm not gonna give up on my purpose.
I'm not gonna give up to a commitment
that I have, so I will figure out a way.
Right.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Totally.
Jornea Armant: just me.
I've.
I know myself.
and so, yeah, so I, I'll just say
that, you know, for educators,
who might feel under the pressure
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Mm-hmm.
Jornea Armant: you know, there's 200
people in my building, but every time
I am the one that's being asked, like.
You might be the chosen one for a reason.
There might be something
coming for you very, very soon
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I love it.
Jornea Armant: you know, and, and if it
is something that you truly can't take on.
Be honest about that
and speak up for that.
Say, I, I thank you for this opportunity.
At this time I don't
feel like I can, right?
But if you can, if you feel like you
have just a little bit more bandwidth to
give, that might be that indication of
like, something else is about to open for
you and this is the preparation for you.
So,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my God, that
just, that reframe is so beautiful
and, and that's exactly why I needed
you on this Bridge podcast because
you're, you're so spot on and, and
that we don't get to say things
like, educators don't hear this.
You know, you're right.
Like, what?
Maybe it's a signal that
something else is coming.
Like how exciting, you know, and when,
when you come across the teacher who's
like, you know, I just, I'm in my third
year teaching this one grade level
and I just found out they're switching
me to a new grade level and I don't
wanna switch the new grade level.
And that, you know, it's like, yes.
And.
What if, what if there's something
else happening that you don't know
about yet, and what a powerful reframe
that I think I'm gonna take with me.
Jornea Armant: we are our
own walking stories, right?
And you know, like when you read
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I,
Jornea Armant: and your main
character has this, thing that
they're going through, like it always
becomes better at the end, right?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right.
Jornea Armant: It's like, you can
see that as you're reading the story.
So the same thing like with yourself,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: just think to yourself,
okay, like this is happening right now.
It feels like the end of the
world, but I can't wait to see.
What next, you know?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my gosh.
Jornea Armant: we are part of our own
story, so the choices we make every
day and the mindsets we have will also
impact how that story will turn out,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: so anyway, I,
I can talk about that all day.
I'm a person that likes
support into people.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): feel it.
Jornea Armant: I truly believe
like everybody is here on this
earth for a reason and a purpose.
And we all just need that time
to figure out what is that
gift that we were given so that
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: you know, give to
others in our own special ways
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: so that kid in your
classroom that drives you nuts
that only wants to talk about like.
Certain things like animals
or whatever the case may
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Right,
Jornea Armant: be, like
that's for a reason.
Like it, that kid is maybe uncovering
that one special gift that they
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh,
Jornea Armant: and we have a choice.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): I,
Jornea Armant: we gonna
shut that down or are
Cate Tolnai (she/her): yeah.
Jornea Armant: foster it?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: thing we
need to do for educators.
know, I pray for educators every day.
There's so many things that are
out of our control, but what's
in our control is how we show up.
for ourselves and for our students
each and every day, and for those who
support educators, you know, just as
educators, so-called unwrap the standards
so you can understand like what are the
knowledge and the skills that students
need in order to master something.
Same thing for adults, right?
You know, we might have the knowledge, the
pedagogy, we, we've took those classes,
but maybe we haven't put those skills into
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: So how do we best
put those skills into practice?
How do we get, how do we get
the feedback we need to improve
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: upon it?
You know, what are the structures
that are in place to ensure that?
we're having conversations and can
collaborate with others and can learn
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: others within
our school building and beyond.
Right?
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yeah.
Jornea Armant: so once again, you know,
there are certain things definitely that
we can control and how we show up for
ourselves in each other every day is one
thing that no one can take away from us.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my God.
Jornéa.
I can't think of a better way to wrap up.
This episode than what you just said.
Like, I wanted, I was
gonna say like, okay.
What's your advice for the, like
you just gave, you just like
dropped the mic on that advice.
And honestly, like, from the bottom of
my heart, we're so lucky to have you,
you know, and your story and your voice.
Like, like I, I hope you know, and I,
I think you do, but I hope you know,
like that your energy is contagious and,
And you brightened my day and I know
you're gonna brighten so many people,
so many other people who listen to this.
So thank you
Jornea Armant: Thank
Cate Tolnai (she/her): so much.
Jornea Armant: Thank you so much.
and for those who are listening,
I know we said a lot, I want you
to remember just three words.
It's my mission
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: that I live out
every day, love, grow, inspire.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: If you think about
those three words every single day.
Everything will be all right.
And I'm looking at Cate's background.
You have that rainbow.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Yep.
Jornea Armant: I shared with my team
early on, that every meeting that
we had together, we actually started
by sharing rainbows in our lives,
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh.
Jornea Armant: are just positive things.
It could be.
Anything centered around the job,
but it could be your personal life,
just anything that brought joy to
your life, you know, for a moment.
And, so I challenge each and every
one of you when you wake up or
when you go to bed at night, think
about those rainbows in your life
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Hmm.
Jornea Armant: and, and keep that
positivity in the forefront because
it's very easy in this world, to.
To focus on the things
that are not going so well.
but when we can focus on those rainbows
in our lives and we can see all these
positive aspects, you know, that
becomes kind of like our armor, you
Cate Tolnai (she/her): It totally does.
Jornea Armant: everything.
So
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Oh my God.
Jornea Armant: you reaching
out and being on this podcast.
And cheers to all the educators
who continue to do amazing things.
am here for you.
You can find me on social.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): Perfect.
I'm
Jornea Armant: known as Savvy Educator,
so you can find me there, or on
LinkedIn under my name Jornéa Armand.
And I am here for you.
Cate Tolnai (she/her): You are amazing.
Thank you my friend.
Jornea Armant: Oh, you're welcome.
Thanks for crossing the
bridge with us today.
If something you heard sparked a new
thought or gave you a little hope,
take a moment to share this episode
with a colleague or friend and connect
with our guests over social media.
Until next time, keep
building, keep growing.
And remember, you don't
have to do this alone.