How My Teaching Experience Shaped My Current Role
Lauren Kelly
Associate Product Marketing Manager • National Geographic Learning | Cengage
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Journeys series is aimed to shed light on current career trends as they align to student career clusters. In this series installation, we have interviewed Chris Orr, a High School Principal in the Education & Training career cluster. Chris shares with us the career journey that lead her to his current role with Capital Christian High School. Chris dives what motivated him to pursue this career, milestones that lead to where he’s at today, how she stands out in her field and advice for others looking to pursue this career. This series also offers career outlook data collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As a 15-year veteran high school math teacher turned Associate Product Marketing Manager at National Geographic Learning | Cengage Group, I’ve had the privilege of channeling my passion for education in a new way. Here are some insights into how my teaching experience has shaped my current role:
Q: How has your experience as a K-12 teacher influenced your work at Cengage?
A: As a teacher, I honed my skills in creativity, organization, and communication – all vital components in the world of ed tech marketing. Producing engaging lessons for my students laid the groundwork for creating compelling content and collateral to promote our K–12 math solutions here at NGL | Cengage.
Q: Can you provide an example of how your teaching experience has helped you bring unique insights to your team?
A: One of my favorite aspects of teaching was finding creative ways to connect with my students and make math come alive. My ability to foster engagement seamlessly transitions into my role at Cengage. Whether it’s building sales tools or writing customer-facing content, I draw on my experience in the classroom to tell a compelling product story that resonates with our customers. After all, who better to understand the needs of educators than someone who has been in their shoes?
Q: Which transferable skills from your teaching experience have been the most helpful in your current role?
A: The transferable skills from my teaching experience that have been most helpful in my current role include:
• Communication: As a teacher, effective communication was crucial for explaining complex concepts to students and working with colleagues and parents. In my role at Cengage, I use these communication skills to create engaging marketing materials and work with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches.
• Organization: My experience as a teacher has sharpened my organizational abilities, allowing me to keep projects on track and deliverables on schedule.
• Creativity: Let’s not forget the importance of creativity – whether it’s designing a hands-on classroom activity or writing a compelling marketing message, creativity is key to success in both worlds.
• Empathy: My empathy for educators and students enables me to approach marketing strategies with a deep understanding of their needs and challenges, ensuring that our products truly meet their expectations
Q: Can you describe any challenges or obstacles you faced during the transition from teaching to your new career, and how you overcame them?
A: Transitioning from teaching to the ed tech industry presented several challenges, especially amid the shift to remote work. Learning the ins and outs of marketing while mastering digital tools required perseverance. I approached these challenges with the same resilience I instilled in my students.
One major obstacle was adapting to virtual communication. I missed face-to-face interactions and immediate feedback. Weekly check-ins with my manager, Amy Banko, are crucial for maintaining connection and clarity. Our team leader, Jamie Downey, does an incredible job fostering team cohesion with creative solutions like virtual team-building activities and informal check-ins, which help build rapport and a sense of camaraderie.
The challenge of working from home requires a high degree of self-discipline and time management. As a teacher, my schedule was dictated by the school day, but remote work offers flexibility that is both a blessing and a challenge. To maintain productivity, I created a structured daily routine, setting specific goals and deadlines for myself.
My teaching background, emphasizing adaptability and continuous learning, equipped me to tackle these challenges. With team support and a proactive mindset, I successfully navigated the career shift.
Q: What have you learned from your time as a teacher that you believe has had a positive impact on your current career trajectory?
A: My time as a teacher taught me the power of empathy, resilience, and the importance of continuous learning. Whether it’s navigating a classroom of diverse learners or collaborating with colleagues to drive marketing initiatives, these invaluable lessons have shaped my approach to both education and marketing. As a teacher, every day was a new adventure, filled with laughter, learning, and the occasional mishap. Amidst the chaos, I learned valuable lessons that have shaped my journey in the ed tech industry, such as the importance of adaptability, creativity, and above all, the power of making a positive impact on the lives of others.
Transitioning from teaching to the ed tech industry has been an exciting journey filled with growth, learning, and plenty of opportunities to make a difference. I’m grateful for the experiences that have brought me to where I am today, and I’m excited to continue making a difference at Cengage!
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