by Jere Chang (Author)

Rediscover your passion for teaching and build the resilience to thrive in today's challenging classroom

Becoming the Teacher I Needed by Jere Chang (known as "Ms. Chang") offers a candid roadmap for educators struggling with burnout, disillusionment, and the mounting pressures of modern teaching. Drawing from her two decades in both general and gifted education classrooms, along with her childhood challenges in the classroom and experience as a social media sensation with over 4 million followers, Ms. Chang provides authentic insights into the realities teachers face daily. This isn't just another motivational book - it's a practical guide that acknowledges common teaching challenges while empowering educators to rediscover their purpose, prioritize their well-being, and continue making a meaningful impact on students' lives.

Ms. Chang honestly addresses the systemic issues and daily struggles that leave so many teachers feeling overwhelmed and undervalued, from behavioral challenges to unsustainable workloads. Rather than dwelling on problems, however, she offers actionable strategies for building resilience, maintaining work-life balance, and reconnecting with the profound reasons you became a teacher in the first place. The book culminates in a comprehensive framework that helps educators thrive in their calling.

• Authentic perspective from the trenches Written by an active classroom teacher who has navigated over 20 years of real-world challenges, not theoretical advice from someone who's never encountered today's students or classrooms
• Proven strategies for avoiding burnout Practical techniques for self-care, boundary-setting, and sustainable teaching practices that protect your mental health while maximizing your impact
• Relationship-building expertise Methods for creating meaningful connections with students that enhance learning outcomes and make teaching more rewarding
• Resilience-building framework A systematic approach to developing the mental toughness needed to navigate educational bureaucracy, difficult parents, and challenging student behaviors
• Community-tested wisdom Insights refined through engagement with millions of educators across Chang's social media platforms resulting in relevant, effective advice

This essential resource speaks directly to K-12 teachers who entered the profession with hope and passion but now find themselves questioning their career choice due to mounting pressures and systemic challenges. It will also prove invaluable to teacher leaders, administrators, and education advocates hoping to understand and address teacher retention issues. Whether you're a new teacher feeling overwhelmed, a veteran educator considering leaving the profession, or a school leader working to support your staff, Becoming the Teacher I Needed provides inspiration, validation, and practical tools that will reignite your love for teaching and build a sustainable, fulfilling career in education.

Front Jacket

Becoming the Teacher I Needed is an uncommonly readable, relatable, and practical book that will empower readers to step into authentic fulfillment.

Teaching has never been easy, and these days it's harder than ever. You're committed to helping students succeed and grow into good people, but you need someone to lean on, too--especially if you aren't one of those Pinterest-perfect teachers who seem to get everything right on the first try. In Becoming the Teacher I Needed, beloved influencer and 20+ year teaching veteran Jere Chang offers K-12 educators the support they need to bring joy into the classroom and create inclusive environments where students and teachers alike can feel like themselves.

Unlike many teachers-turned-authors, Jere Chang didn't enter the teaching profession with a deeply held feeling that this is where she belonged. She spent her childhood hating school, because the system wasn't set up to help a queer, disabled kid like her feel valued and safe. Then, her teaching career got off to a rocky start, and she wondered if she had chosen the wrong path. Part One of Becoming the Teacher I Needed tells the heartwarming story of how she discovered, through a series of small but meaningful moments, that she could give her students what she never had--a space where they truly belong.

In Part Two, readers get a practical roadmap for creating a classroom where kids of all backgrounds feel seen and honored--and where teachers feel seen and honored, too. It's full of research-backed strategies, reflection questions, classroom-tested wisdom, and real talk about burnout, boundaries, and joy. Chang covers relationship building, LGBTQ+ advocacy, gifted education, and how teachers can stop sacrificing themselves and create the careers they deserve.

Back Jacket

PRAISE FOR Becoming the Teacher I Needed

"Chang's journey from a student who hated school to an educator who transforms lives is both inspiring and instructional. Every teacher, administrator, and parent should read this."
--GERRY BROOKS, educator, administrator, social media influencer

"Jere Chang didn't just write a book--she handed teachers a permission slip. A reminder that teaching is layered, emotional, and way bigger than anything that fits on a data chart. Her stories speak to the heart of this work and whisper what we already know: the most important stuff can't be measured, boxed, or benchmarked."
--GREG SMEDLEY-WARREN, kindergarten teacher, The Kindergarten Smorgasboard

"With the authenticity, humility, and heart that we've come to expect, Jere Chang captures the magic of her legendary videos in book form. This work will probably make you laugh, think, and cry... and definitely help you do better for your students and yourself."
--DR. MATT ZAKRESKI, PsyD, clinical psychologist and professional speaker at The Neurodiversity Collective

"Jere Chang has written the teacher memoir that combines heart, humor, and hard truths in perfect measure. This book proves that our most powerful teaching comes from our own healing."
--JENNIFER CRAFT SEWELL, M.Ed., @ms.craft_kindergarten

"Jere's book stayed with me long after I turned the last page. Her voice is so brave, and every chapter feels like an invitation to see the world differently."
--AMANY ELGENDY

"Jere Chang reminds us that belonging is not a bonus--it is the blueprint. This book reinforces a truth I have long believed: schools rise and fall on relationships. Practical, courageous, and deeply affirming, it moves educators from compliance-driven teaching to connection-driven leadership."
--DR. BRAD JOHNSON

Author Biography

Jere Chang has spent over 20 years teaching in K-12 schools. Known for her humor, honesty, and radical kindness, Jere is known to her followers as Ms. Chang Gifted. She has been invited to the White House twice, she holds three master's degrees, and she has over 4 million followers on social media.
Visit https: //mschanggifted.com to learn more about Jere's work.