Meet Franchesca Thompson

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Franchesca Thompson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Franchesca, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

When I entered the field of education, I had many encounters with feeling like an imposter as a new teacher. This was my first year, and I did not enter the field traditionally because I came from corporate. Trading in my briefcase for a book bag was my new journey. The weight of impostor syndrome was heavy for me for the first few years. Even though I was very successful as a teacher, I always had a feeling of being “found out” or “I do not belong.” I started to keep a journal of my awards, accolades, highlights, and best practices as a way to overcome imposter syndrome. One of the ways to dismantle the belief that you do not belong is by celebrating your success. I understood how important it was for me to keep a record of my accomplishments, no matter how small, to remind myself of my capabilities.

I recently shared a message titled “You Belong” at my church with our youth about imposter syndrome.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My company, Thrive 12, is a platform to support educators serving marginalized students. One of our most significant accomplishments is our podcast “Everything But The Lesson Plan” to support teachers in and out of the classroom, focusing on diversity and inclusion, well-being, and health as a transformative resource for educators. As classrooms become increasingly diverse, teachers deliver academic content and address the varied needs of students from different cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds. This podcast tackles topics such as creating inclusive activities, addressing implicit biases, and fostering an equitable learning environment that can equip teachers with practical tools to navigate these challenges. The highest-rated episode is “Imposter Syndrome in Academia.” This is a hot topic because many teachers struggle to find ways to belong or fit in when they return to school for advanced degrees. This episode gives critical examples of how to navigate the road of imposter syndrome. Through expert interviews, real-world classroom stories, and discussions on best practices, the podcast offers strategies to help teachers build classrooms that celebrate diversity and allow all students to succeed. We were recently featured on the NPR show “How I Built This” with Guy Raz. I spoke about my company and my goal to create an education eco system for marginalized individuals. I genuinely enjoy advocating and supporting the underdog, giving them hope for a better future.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Persistence, creativity, and empathy have been the three qualities that have had the most impact on my journey.

Persistence has taught me to pursue my goals despite challenges, setbacks, or failures. I have learned to win by maintaining my effort and focus over time, even when progress seems slow or obstacles arise. I refuse to hear “ No” when advocating for students and teachers because I believe we will find a way to thrive, even if it means creating our own resources. I know the power of not giving up and learning from my mistakes. This skill has been vital to my long-term success.

Next, creativity has taken me a long way in my career. I have this pristine ability to think in new and original ways, using my imagination to solve problems or generate innovative ideas for education. The products I create for teachers to use in the classroom bring a different type of excitement to students. I am always looking beyond traditional approaches to find ways to disrupt the educational space in a positive way. One example of this was bringing 3D printing to the classroom as a form of fundraising. Students learned how to design using 3D printing and how to sell the products to make a profit. Now, I teach other teachers how to use this same technique. The benefit of having the skill of creativity is that it helps individuals adapt, innovate, and find unique solutions, making it a valuable skill for personal and professional growth. I would not be where I am today without my unique ability to hone in on the power of creativity.

Last, I have learned from the power of empathy, understanding, and sharing the feelings of others. Everyone needs to take the time to see situations from a different perspective. Empathy has allowed me to connect more emotionally, fostering compassion and building stronger relationships with my community and supporters. My company was born out of empathy, understating the struggle of educators around the world and wanting to find ways to contribute to their happiness. By being empathetic, you can respond to others with kindness and support, making it a critical skill for effective communication, leadership, and conflict resolution.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I always seek people to collaborate with and join me on my podcast “ Everything But The Lesson Plan.” If you have ideas in the areas of student development, teacher development, and health and wellness, please connect with me to be a guest host. Collaboration is a powerful way to bring diverse ideas and skills together to achieve something greater. I’m inviting people t to join me in working on supporting educators around the world. Their expertise and insights would be invaluable; together, we can accomplish more than we could alone.

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