Still We Rise: When Growth Feels Hard, Bloom Anyway

S.N.A.P. Coaching Framework

About the S.N.A.P. Method™ : The S.N.A.P. Method™ is a reflective framework created for teachers navigating the real world.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 

Before I became a writer and supporter of educators, I was a classroom teacher. Later, as an instructional coach, the most inspiring part of the role was helping teachers look beyond the surface, beyond a behavior, a test score, or a missing assignment.

I found purpose in helping educators focus on the whole child and the full context, not just what was visible but also what lay beneath the surface.

When a student shuts down, acts out, or misses a deadline, our first instinct is often to correct the behavior or manage the situation.

But more often than not, it’s not just about the students.

Sometimes, the tension comes from outside the classroom:

• A new curriculum mandate that doesn’t align with our instincts

• A last-minute testing requirement

• A policy that feels disconnected from what we know is best

These moments not only test our skills but also challenge our patience, purpose, and peace.

That’s exactly why I created the S.N.A.P. Method™. It's a reflective coaching model designed to help teachers slow down, process what’s happening, and respond from a place of wisdom rather than weariness.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about making room to pause, reflect, and stay grounded in what truly matters.

What is the S.N.A.P. Method™?

S.N.A.P. is a four-step reflective framework that helps educators manage tough moments with intention and clarity.

It stands for:

S — STOP
Pause before reacting. What just happened? What’s the real challenge here?

N — NOTICE
Go deeper. What might be happening beneath the behavior? Is it fatigue? Fear? Frustration?

A — ACT
Respond purposefully, not reactively. What action aligns with your values and supports your students?

P — PLAN
Think forward. What’s the best path to long-term growth for the student, for the classroom, and for yourself?

Why It Works

S.N.A.P. is not about control or compliance.
It’s about curiosity and compassion.

It invites us to:

• Zoom out and see the whole child, not just the issue

• Reflect instead of react

• Honor both structure and story

• Make space for grace and growth

Whether the challenge is academic refusal, constant talking, emotional outbursts, or disengagement, the S.N.A.P. Method™ helps bring peace to the chaos and purpose to response.

Let’s Be Honest: Teaching Has Changed

Teaching today isn’t what it was twenty or even ten years ago.

Students engage differently. Families are juggling more. Support systems have shifted.
And expectations on educators have grown heavier than ever.

Yes, so much has changed. But that doesn’t mean we should let go of our why.

You didn’t enter this profession to check boxes. You came because you believed in potential. In progress. In people.

And even now, with all the new demands and changing dynamics, that mission still matters.

In order for a flower to bloom and break through concrete, it must first be rooted deep, reach toward the light, and trust that growth is still possible even under pressure.

You are that flower.
You are that light.
And your classroom can be the garden where growth takes root, regardless of how dry or cracked the soil is.

Encouragement

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

This verse is not just a gentle reminder.
It’s a declaration of hope.

Even on the days that feel heavy...
Even when the systems feel broken...
Even when the wins are small and the weariness is real...
There is a harvest coming.

If you keep sowing seeds of grace, kindness, and consistency, you will see the fruit.

So take a moment to reflect:

• What will keep you rooted this year?

• Where do you need light, support, encouragement, or perspective?

• How will you water your own growth while helping others bloom?

Let this be the year you teach from a place of restoration, not just survive through routine.

The students may not always say it.
The systems may not always show it.
But your work matters.

And you were never meant to do it alone.