Teacher burnout is real, but what if the solution isn’t working harder—it’s building a culture where educators feel genuinely supported? In this episode, we sit down with Jessie Thomas, Special Education Supervisor at Lancaster City Schools, to explore how a fundamental mindset shift transformed retention and created an environment where teachers don’t just survive, they thrive.
Guest Introduction
Jessie Thomas brings years of frontline teaching experience and proven leadership to her role as Special Education Supervisor at Lancaster City Schools. As someone who has navigated the unique challenges of special education while building meaningful relationships with students and staff, Jessie understands what it takes to create sustainable systems that actually work for people—not just on paper.
What You’ll Learn
This episode dives deep into Lancaster’s innovative approach to addressing the teacher retention crisis. You’ll discover how reframing education as a lifestyle rather than a career changes everything—from onboarding practices to how we recognize teacher humanity. We’ll explore practical strategies for supporting new educators, creating spaces where teachers feel valued beyond their job descriptions, and—most importantly—unlocking the hidden potential in every student by celebrating strengths that fall outside traditional academic metrics.
If you’re grappling with turnover, staff morale, or wondering how to build a team that genuinely wants to show up, this conversation is for you.
Key Takeaways
- Reframe the narrative: Positioning education as a lifestyle creates buy-in and resilience that a traditional career mindset cannot
- Support the whole person: Teachers who feel seen and valued—bad hair days and all—are more committed and effective
- Embrace continuous learning: New educators who approach their role as “sponges” absorb wisdom from colleagues, students, and experience itself
- Unlock student genius beyond academics: When we create opportunities for students to showcase strengths outside traditional categories, we help them discover who they really are
- Build on solid foundations: A strong, understanding team isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation that allows leaders and teachers to grow
Notable Quotes
“Education is hard. It is a lifestyle, I say. It is not a career. It is a lifestyle.”
“You just want to support people and make people feel seen and valued. Because sometimes, yes, exactly, you’re exactly right. We’re still people and we still don’t get good sleep and wake up and have bad hair days. It makes jobs hard sometimes.”
“I think my most valuable bit of advice was to be a sponge. I absorbed everything that I could. I learned from the kids. I learned from my teachers. I learned from my peers.”
“There are so many cool things that kids can do and skills that they possess that don’t fall in those categories. So giving them those opportunities to share their genius is really powerful and really helps our kiddos struggle to find who they are.”
Ready to transform your approach to teacher retention and student support? Listen now to hear Jessie’s inspiring story and actionable insights from Lancaster City Schools. Subscribe so you never miss an episode—because great leadership starts with great conversations.
FULL PODCAST Transcript
Lighthouse Therapy (00:01.201)
Hello everyone and welcome to the brighter together podcast. My name is Janet Courtney and my special guest today is Jesse Thomas. Jesse is a special education supervisor and she is at Lancaster city school districts and that’s in Lancaster, Ohio. Jesse, thank you so much for being here today.
Jessie Thomas (00:22.53)
Thank you so much for having me. This is wonderful opportunity.
Lighthouse Therapy (00:26.131)
Awesome. So tell our listeners a little bit about you and your journey to becoming a special education supervisor and a little bit about Lancaster City Schools.
Jessie Thomas (00:35.416)
So this is my 14th year in education. I have spent most of those in middle school. So I have really great stories. I spent 10 years in the classroom. I was primarily an eighth grade English and science teacher at my alma mater. So that was awesome. And then four years ago, I was recruited by one of my wonderful mentors.
Lighthouse Therapy (00:43.536)
I bet.
Jessie Thomas (01:00.174)
to come to Lancaster and start my admin journey. So I started and spent a year at Lancaster High School as the MTSS coordinator. And then I was asked to move to the position I hold now, which is the special education supervisor at one of our middle schools. And I absolutely love it. Throughout that time, I have also gotten my superintendent’s license and began teaching at a high estate.
Lighthouse Therapy (01:08.875)
nice.
Jessie Thomas (01:27.01)
which is also my alma mater. So a lot of full circle moments in my career and it’s just very rewarding to be able to give back. Lancaster is a pretty significantly large district. We are just shy of about 7,000 students. Five elementaries, two middle schools, one large high school. We are very, very proud of our district. We’re about 25 minutes southeast of Columbus.
Lighthouse Therapy (01:34.983)
awesome.
Jessie Thomas (01:55.722)
rural but still have some city life in there. And our high school is actually very well known because we are a comprehensive high school, which means that we have our own CareerTech program within our district. So our kiddos have so many opportunities. And when they graduate, we have so many that are ready to hit the ground running for the workforce, prepped for the military, obviously, you know, then the college route as well.
So we’re a pretty awesome place. Yeah.
Lighthouse Therapy (02:25.551)
Nice. Yeah. And MTSS is multi-tiered system of support. Most of our listeners will know that, but in case you don’t know, that’s what that is. So, yeah, I told you we do that, don’t we? We don’t even realize we’re doing it. We don’t even realize we’re doing it. Yeah.
Jessie Thomas (02:35.597)
Yes.
We do. So many meetings I send in and I always tell people I’m like, if I say an acronym that you don’t understand, please stop me because it just rolls off your tongue after so long and you don’t even think about it. And then you’re like, wait, yeah. Let me, let me back up for a second. Yeah.
Lighthouse Therapy (02:49.755)
Mm-hmm. It does. Mm-hmm.
Lighthouse Therapy (02:55.631)
It took me minute. It took me a minute. was like, I remember we had a school come to us and they’re like, we’re starting an MTSS program. Can you guys help us out? And I was like, what’s MTSS? I had to look it up. We’ve been doing it for several years now, but you know, it’s just like, wow, that’s awesome. I knew RTI, response to intervention, but I was like.
Jessie Thomas (03:08.493)
Right.
Yeah, right. Exactly. When I first took this position, I would like make a list and ask my my friend I’d be like, what what does that mean? And so like, I created my own little dictionary to keep up. So yeah.
Lighthouse Therapy (03:27.639)
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Awesome. Awesome. So you talked a little bit about, about Lancaster city school districts, but you guys have some really cool programs going on in special education. Tell us about those.
Jessie Thomas (03:39.532)
We do, we do. So within our district, we are very, very blessed. We have co-teaching, which means that we have the general education teacher, but then we also have an intervention specialist in all core areas, which is not common. Most schools only have math and language arts, but we are blessed to be able to branch out into the science and social studies world as well, which is very, beneficial for our kids.
Lighthouse Therapy (04:09.385)
yeah.
Jessie Thomas (04:09.389)
We have a lot of resources. We have a lot of RTI programs, response to intervention, support systems. All of our kiddos that are identified in special education have specific time with their intervention specialists that they get to have their one-on-one tutoring and work on their SDI, which is their specially designed instruction that’s defined in their IEPs.
And we just are a really proud district. We have a lot of career tech programs at the middle school level. Also, we have Woodshop and Family and Consumer Science, which is kind of like a home ec type of situation, robotics, medical detectives. We have so many opportunities for our kids to show their genius outside of the typical classroom, which is really powerful for our kids.
Lighthouse Therapy (05:03.205)
Yeah, and I love that about schools. They are really starting significantly and it seems to be a wave I’m hearing over and over again is individualized education plans, IEPs is what they were, but it’s starting to become individualized plans for general education students as well.
Jessie Thomas (05:16.962)
Right.
Jessie Thomas (05:21.995)
Yes, yes, you’re exactly right. And you know, so often we only focus on, you know, reading, writing, math and science social studies. But there are so many cool things that kids can do and skills that they possess that don’t fall in those categories. So giving them those opportunities to share their genius is really powerful and really, really helps our kiddos struggle to find find who they are. So.
Lighthouse Therapy (05:44.102)
Yeah.
For sure, yeah. And it’s important that they have a place of, know, and that they’re doing things that they like, they, because they can carry that over into wherever. Yeah. Yeah.
Jessie Thomas (05:54.925)
Thank you.
Jessie Thomas (06:00.525)
Absolutely. And so many of our professions, you know, our kiddos go off into the real world and they maybe don’t have a job that pertains to those four cores, you know, but they do have things that could pertain to some of these electives and outside courses that really kind of change their lives. And that’s really powerful. Yeah.
Lighthouse Therapy (06:21.031)
Yeah, for sure, for sure. All right, this is bugging me. I’m gonna 622, I gotta fix my phone, because I didn’t mute it and it’s buzzing in my ear. It’s driving, it’s driving me crazy. I’m not kidding. I’m like, I can reach over and I can mute my work phone, because I forgot to do it, but I didn’t do it on myself. It’s not like making noise, but I can hear it. And I know it’s not even, it’s not even.
Jessie Thomas (06:27.885)
You’re good.
Jessie Thomas (06:35.538)
Short.
Jessie Thomas (06:44.341)
It’s like when they light up and you’re like, I can see it. Uh-huh, exactly. You’re exactly right.
Lighthouse Therapy (06:47.279)
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So what do you want to talk about next? Let’s, let’s, and then we’ll, I’ll have them cut this out. So where do you, what, what kind of things do you want me to go to? Where do you want me to go to next?
Jessie Thomas (06:54.571)
Okay. So one thing I am really, really proud of that I started in my superintendent’s program is we have an onboarding for our new employees. you know, sorry, Okay. Got it.
Lighthouse Therapy (07:08.339)
okay. Okay, let me ask the question. No, no, you’re okay. Let me just ask the question and then they’ll have a good place to stop. So one of the things that you and I have talked about is what you’re doing for your employees. Give us some more information about how that’s working and it sounds like it’s pretty cool.
Jessie Thomas (07:27.659)
Yeah, it is actually very, very cool. in the state of Ohio, when our teacher candidates graduate from their four year college, they go into a program called REZA, which is a resident educator program, very similar to a medical doctor having a residency. So it’s intended that they have a mentor and really are shaped to kind of just have somebody to help them through those beginning years of their profession. But in addition to that,
Lighthouse Therapy (07:43.879)
All
Jessie Thomas (07:55.938)
we have seen areas where there is more support needed. So I have created a program, I call it New Gales because we’re a Gale. So the New Gales program is for our new employees and we meet monthly on just kind of the whole gambit of things that could pop up in a new employee’s mind. know, the beginning of the year, they get a very detailed binder with things from calendars to how to put in for leave to things as simple as like,
where do I park? Where should I be during class transitions? Things that we as veterans kind of take for granted and we don’t even think about it, but as a new person, that can be very intimidating to ask those kinds of questions. And then we move into things like helping them work through the teacher evaluation system and how do we handle things that are kind of bigger deals like lockdowns and fire drills? Things that really kind of
just spread the world of our job. And we really focus on them as individuals. Being a teacher is very hard and teacher burnout rate is very real. And we want to make sure that we are supporting our new employees from day one as a professional, but also as a human as well. So we really kind of tailor just working with them.
Lighthouse Therapy (09:04.377)
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Jessie Thomas (09:20.117)
and making sure they feel supported and empowered, helping them see their different options. It’s kind of hard to think down the line and about the future when you’re brand new to the profession, but that’s the time that you start thinking about where you would want to advance to and different things of that nature. So this is our first year doing it, and we are very proud of that.
Lighthouse Therapy (09:44.601)
and what kinds of results are you seeing?
Jessie Thomas (09:47.374)
So such good ones. They are creating a bond within their cohort. So as new teachers and they are all different grade levels, they are different, complete different ends of the campus and people that would never interact naturally. So they are not, there would not really be a reason for them to speak to each other. But this kind of is for socialization in a sense, but gives them
this safe space to be with people that are going through similar things like them and to lean on each other and really learn from one another. So it’s been, it’s been really, really powerful and beautiful.
Lighthouse Therapy (10:27.207)
So how do you make that happen? Like what are some of the, the, did you set it up and how do you make that happen?
Jessie Thomas (10:37.293)
So it really kind of just started from when I was doing my internship for my superintendent’s license, my professor asking like, what do you want to work on? Like, what is something you’re passionate about? And I am passionate about my people. I am passionate about supporting and growing our profession. And so that kind of just led to, how do I do that? And thinking about things that I wish I had had 14 years ago.
Lighthouse Therapy (10:50.907)
Mm-hmm.
Lighthouse Therapy (11:05.495)
there you go, yum.
Jessie Thomas (11:07.037)
You know, and remembering just the sheer fear you have of like, I don’t even know where the bathroom is. And then I have to go ask this question of these people that I’ve never met before. And you’re already so intimidated and overwhelmed. So that really kind of just started this snowball effect of things that I could think through. And then as I thought of something, I think about the next thing and, we better add that in. And so it’s really kind of just transformed from
Lighthouse Therapy (11:30.257)
Yeah.
Jessie Thomas (11:35.512)
from what I remember, from what I’ve seen with my colleagues. I’ve talked to some of my newer teachers that have been here for a few years, but are still new teachers of things of like, where did we miss the mark? What could we have done better for you? What do you wish you would have had here? And that has been so, so supportive and helpful. And we live and grow and…
Lighthouse Therapy (11:51.271)
Mm-hmm, right.
Jessie Thomas (12:02.763)
will continue to improve and refine it, but we’re really proud of it.
Lighthouse Therapy (12:07.451)
Yeah, it’s so hard to get teachers and to get them to stay and there’s never enough and there’s never enough funds and yeah.
Jessie Thomas (12:15.565)
There’s not. Yeah. And, you know, education is hard. It is a lifestyle, I say. It is not a career. It is a lifestyle. And it takes special people to handle that. And we are so rewarded, but sometimes those rewards and gratitudes are delayed. And so you’ve got to constantly be filling each other’s cups because it’s a high stress job. And so
You just want to support people and make people feel seen and valued. Because sometimes, yes, exactly, you’re exactly right. We’re still people and we still don’t get good sleep and wake up and have bad hair days. It makes jobs hard sometimes. So anything we can do to support and help our people is our mission.
Lighthouse Therapy (12:52.273)
Just like we do with the kids, yeah, yes.
Right?
Lighthouse Therapy (13:12.999)
For sure. Yeah, that’s fantastic. So what kind of advice would you give to a superintendent or well, not a superintendent, you’re gonna be there, I know you well, but a special education, you said superintendent, so that’s where my brain went. Language, hello, anyway. It’s so funny because you never stop. We talked a little bit before we went on camera that I’m an SLP.
Jessie Thomas (13:24.141)
Thank you.
Yeah. It’s okay.
Jessie Thomas (13:41.131)
Mm-hmm. Right. Right. Always. Always.
Lighthouse Therapy (13:41.208)
then I’m a CEO and a business owner, right? But you’re always a teacher first, you know, and you’re always a therapist first. It just is crazy. But that’s how we, you know, that’s where we’re gifted. But the question I had as a, as my brain went down that rabbit hole, is what would you say, what, what kind of advice would you give to somebody who’s going into a role as a special education director or supervisor as you are?
who, you know, I’ve been a special education teacher for say four years and I got offered this position and what do I do? Yeah, so, yeah.
Jessie Thomas (14:15.383)
So exciting. I think my most valuable bit of advice was to be a sponge. I absorbed everything that I could. I learned from the kids. I learned from my teachers. I learned from my peers. I am blessed that I am one of about nine special education supervisors in our district. So I had some really great knowledge to tap into.
Lighthouse Therapy (14:23.911)
Mmm.
Jessie Thomas (14:42.129)
but I’ve also been very blessed. My team is outstanding and they have helped me and like, they just are very understanding and it let me grow in this position and, they are, they are truly, truly my foundation and I appreciate them so much. I think telling somebody who would go into this position, learn as much as you can from the people around you. They are.
Lighthouse Therapy (15:10.279)
Yeah.
Jessie Thomas (15:11.285)
you know, our most valuable resources. And there’s a lot to learn and you’re not gonna learn it all in one day or a month or a year. So, you you find your rhythm and you sit down at the end of each year and you reflect and say, is what we need to improve for next year and then tackle that. so I think, yeah, just being a sponge was the best bit of advice.
Lighthouse Therapy (15:20.401)
Mm-hmm.
Lighthouse Therapy (15:37.326)
Awesome. Okay. So where should people go if they want to learn a little bit more about Lancaster city schools and Jesse Thompson? Thomas. want to say, that’s the second time I’ve, I, my, I fixed it the first time I fixed it the first time I didn’t fix it the second time. Jesse Thomas. Where do they want to go? If they want to learn more about Jesse Thomas, there we go. Good grief.
Jessie Thomas (15:45.869)
Hahaha
It’s okay. I got you.
Jessie Thomas (15:54.908)
yeah.
So the Lancaster City Schools website is a wonderful resource for our community and just for people who are interested in our district. Our motto is the place to be and that is very much what we feel and we work really, really hard to create an environment and a world where people want to be. Kids, adults, staff, know, everybody from…
Lighthouse Therapy (16:11.139)
nice.
Lighthouse Therapy (16:19.099)
Mm-hmm. Awesome.
Jessie Thomas (16:23.223)
from our superintendent to our kindergartners, we want them to be here. So we work really, really hard. We’re very connected with our community. Like the city of Lancaster is a huge supporter of our school district and vice versa. And we have some wonderful collaborations that are happening. So if you literally just go to the city of Lancaster, Ohio, you’re gonna see some really great stuff.
Lighthouse Therapy (16:51.951)
Awesome. I’m glad you said Ohio, cause I was gonna like put that in there. Not Pennsylvania guys, not Pennsylvania. Not Pennsylvania, Ohio. Buckeyes, yeah. Yeah, my husband’s a Buckeye. I’m unfortunately not a Buckeye. I wish I was more of a Buckeye because I love my corn huskers. I was born and raised in Nebraska and they haven’t done so well. Breaks my heart. But you know, it’s like, it’s kind of like a, yeah, yeah. I keep hoping they’ll get.
Jessie Thomas (16:55.809)
Yes, not Pennsylvania. We are Buckeyes. Yeah.
Jessie Thomas (17:14.593)
You still got some red in there.
Lighthouse Therapy (17:19.163)
The last time that they won a national championship, I was in the hospital giving birth to my daughter who is now 28 years old. Yeah, yeah. So anyway, yeah. Well, you guys had a couple of really good years. I mean, and I love, it’s funny because I have Ohio State shirts, I have a sweatshirt actually because I told my husband last year.
Jessie Thomas (17:25.453)
Thank
Their deal. Their deal.
But look at Indiana, Indiana had a beautiful season this year.
Lighthouse Therapy (17:44.209)
Not this, not this year where they didn’t make it, but the year before I said, if they win the national championship, I will buy you a national championship sweatshirt and I will get one for me. And I got one and it’s really cute, but, but I was like, so I have my Ohio state championships sweatshirt and I love that sweatshirt. Actually, it’s one of my favorites, but yeah, but I have lots of Nebraska sweatshirts too. So can take the girl out of the country. Yeah. So anyway.
Jessie Thomas (17:57.911)
There you go.
you
Jessie Thomas (18:07.949)
Fair enough.
Lighthouse Therapy (18:12.335)
All right, well, Jessie has, whoa, again, I went up, it’s a rabbit hole kind of day today. So thank you so much for being on here. I love your passion. I love what you guys are doing. You know, the therapist and the kids and the, and your team and the teachers are all benefiting from your passion and it definitely shines through. So thank you.
Jessie Thomas (18:17.517)
It’s okay.
Jessie Thomas (18:23.059)
Thank you.
Jessie Thomas (18:34.605)
Thank you, appreciate that. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Lighthouse Therapy (18:38.216)
Absolutely. All right.
