How I went from Teacher to TPT Seller
Like every other teacher I knew, there was never enough time for planning. Even with PLCs and shared responsibilities, those last-minute “uh oh” moments always showed up. That’s exactly why I’m passionate about creating teacher-created resources and print-and-go classroom resources—the kind I always wished I had ready when time was short and the pressure was high. Yes, we had our PLCs and we divided up the workload. Some would research, some would print, some would sort, and some would be the creative brain behind it all.
But in the end, there was always that last-minute moment of panic:
Uh oh… I need something quick!
I need something for a sub!
I forgot to change out my centers!
And on and on it went.
I don’t even remember when I discovered TPT, but all I know is that it was a game changer for me. It was the one site I could go to, search for exactly what I needed, and—lo and behold—I would find it. Every single time.
I couldn’t even tell you how much money I spent out of my own pocket on TPT resources over the years, but it was a lot. Enough to claim as a teacher expense on my taxes! And honestly, it was worth every penny.
When I recently retired from teaching—after teaching 5th grade (best grade ever!)—I found myself with a little too much free time. I twiddled my thumbs for a bit, then got bored and realized I needed to do something again.
I started a blog for moms because I wanted to share my insights and adventures from motherhood. Unfortunately, it didn’t gain much traction. My 14-year-old son suggested I hop on TikTok and make crazy mom videos… but I passed on that idea. 😉
Then my husband had a brilliant thought: Why not use what you already know and love and turn that into your hobby? And just like that, I found my way back to teaching—just in a different form. I became a retired teacher turned TPT seller.
I opened my TPT store in May of 2025 and began dedicating real time to it, treating it like my “work-from-home teacher” job. I made a couple of sales in the first month, but then summer rolled around and I put it on pause for a bit.
In August, I jumped back in with a few Back-to-School resources and created time-saving teaching resources, and that’s when things started to grow. My little TPT store began making sales almost daily, or at least three out of five days a week. Mondays and Fridays quickly became my best days, which makes sense—those are the “I need something quick” days for teachers.
Since then, I’ve created nearly 100 resources, launched an active newsletter, and have grown a steadily increasing email subscriber list.
If you’re a teacher who’s ever had one of those last-minute “uh oh” moments, I’d love for you to check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Every resource is created with real classrooms in mind—designed to save time, reduce stress, and help you feel confident walking into your day.
✨ Because teachers deserve support made by teachers. ✨
