Meet Theresa Copeland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa Copeland. 

Hi Theresa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?

I dreamed of being a teacher since I was a little girl. I used to line up my stuffed animals, along with my little brother, and teach them whatever I was learning in school. When people ask me to share why I became a teacher, I usually tell them I didn’t choose to become a teacher…teaching chose me, and I’ve been teaching in elementary schools since 2010.

I know this is going to shock a lot of people, but teaching isn’t as glamorous as it seems (ha!) and I quickly realized that the materials I was provided with didn’t usually match what my students needed. Or if they did, they were boring. So, I got creative and started making my own resources for my students. Another teacher saw what I was doing, and convinced me other teachers would pay for the resources. What started as a way to make a few dollars to buy supplies for my classroom, turned into running a website and Instagram account dedicated to sharing ideas, tips, and resources for other teachers.

The thing about teaching is that we don’t get the chance to see what other teachers are doing or using in their classroom. So being able to share what’s working, what’s not, and everything in between is really fun, and ultimately makes me a better teacher, and hopefully helps other teachers too.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Absolutely not. But does anyone really ever have a smooth road?

I sort of consider myself I’m accidental business owner, and I’ve essentially been “building the plane while flying.”

I never thought sharing teaching resources would lead to a full-time business (in addition to being a full-time classroom teacher). Finding the balance between the two has been tricky.

Running a small business means I’m the owner, manager, customer service, marketing, content creator, and so on.

When I first started sharing my resources, social media wasn’t even a thing. Like not even Pinterest. So “sharing” resources was pretty limited. But with social media came a whole new way to share, but figuring out what, how, and when to share has been its own journey. A deep dive through Instagram will lead you to some pretty cringy posts that remind me how much I’ve learned.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I use a platform called Teachers Pay Teachers, which is best compared to selling on Etsy. Except I sell classroom resources that teachers can purchase and download immediately to use in their own classrooms.

Currently, I’m a second-grade teacher, so I specialize in resources I use with my own students. But I also have a variety of positive classroom management resources that teachers in a various grade levels can use to create happy, caring classrooms.

I’m most proud of the brand I’ve created from the ground up. The thought that something I created is now helping thousands of other teachers, who in turn are helping their class of 25…it’s humbling to think of the impact.

Instagram has really played a huge role in connecting me with other teachers from all over the world, which is still mind-blowing to me. I frequently get messages from teachers sharing how they appreciate my honesty and willingness to share my wins and failures in the classroom. They appreciate that I’m not some huge textbook company, but a regular teacher, in the trenches, doing the work alongside them.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?

Do it. Seriously. Just start. It’s okay to not have every detail figured out.

Self-doubt and comparison will kill the vibe reaaaaallly quickly. And it takes the fun and excitement out of it. Think of the grocery store, and how many brands and varieties of cereal there are. Whatever you’re doing, even if there’s a million other people doing the same thing…no one is doing it the way YOU would.

Start small. Be consistent. Be authentic. Have fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.truelifeimateacher.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truelifeimateacher/