Meet Miriam Burlakovsky Correia | Founder & President, The Association for the Wellbeing of Educators

We had the good fortune of connecting with Miriam Burlakovsky Correia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Miriam, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Did you know that teachers have the highest burnout rate of all occupations in the US (52%)?

Did you know that research shows that teacher turnover adversely affects all student’s achievement?

As a school psychologist, I witnessed first-hand the toll that chronic stress and burnout takes on educators, especially special education teachers. I have teachers in my office on a weekly basis: venting, crying, hanging on by a thread, wanting to quit or going out on stress leave. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

Motivated to make a difference, I dove into the research on the adverse effects of toxic stress, as well as what we can do about it. Employee burnout, motivation, satisfaction, and work/life balance are hot topics in the news. Building on the latest leadership books, stress management literature, resilience-informed practices, and Self-Determination Theory, I focused in on teachers’ and other educators’ unique challenges and needs, including factors in teacher turnover and retention, the role of personality differences, and the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors influencing resilience in education.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I LIVE to awaken insights in others. Everything I do and learn is intended to be shared to benefit others and I curate the information to each audience. I have lectured on the Holocaust and Civil Rights Movement, cleaned toilets, managed gym operations, trained others in fitness, taught yoga and meditation, taught mindfulness practices, closed mortgage loans, guided people out of debt, tutored students for the SAT and AP exams, taught children with autism new skills, trained parents to improve their child’s behavior, assessed for disabilities (including autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, ADHD, mood disorders, and other neurodiverse conditions and disorders), developed academic and behavioral interventions, provided counseling services, designed and presented professional development to educators, coached and trained teachers in equitable, inclusive, and resilience-informed evidence-based practices, started a nonprofit, started a podcast, wrote a course promoting body positivity, and so much more.

My greatest strengths lie in my empathy, work ethic, and relationship skills. I sense other people’s feelings, easily taking on their perspective. I love hearing people’s stories, learning about other cultures, experiences, languages, and passions.
I continuously aim to build their skill capacity and help them achieve their potential.

I thought that graduate school would be difficult, but I thrived under the rigor and clear expectations. Instead, starting a business and a nonprofit has been even more challenging. I’m great at doing school: there is a clear roadmap with checkpoints, models, and a discrete beginning and end. But developing a business is much less clear or formulaic. There is so much information out there and so many business coaches giving contradicting advice and promising amazing outcomes, it’s hard to know where to start or which is the right next step. I also hate the idea of “selling” a product. I want to leave people better in one way or another: by guiding them, solving a problem, or connecting them to a resource. I struggle with the idea of people paying me for my work. But if I don’t get paid, I won’t be able to make an impact, so I need to focus on tasks that will fund the nonprofit, not just on things I enjoy or that make me feel productive.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1: Explore Downtown Denver

Start your day with a coffee from a local favorite like Huckleberry Roasters or Little Owl Coffee.
Visit the Denver Central Market for a variety of local food vendors.
Walk along the 16th Street Mall for shopping and street performances.
Check out the street art in the RiNo (River North) Art District.
Evening: Dinner in Larimer Square – try a restaurant like Rioja for a taste of local cuisine.
Day 2: Outdoor Adventure

Morning: Head to Confluence Park for a morning jog or a stroll along the Platte River.
Rent a bike and explore the Cherry Creek Bike Path.
Afternoon: Pack a picnic and relax at Washington Park.
Evening: Grab dinner in the quirky and historic Baker neighborhood. Try a local brewery like TRVE Brewing or a trendy eatery like The Bindery.
Day 3: Cultural Day

Morning: Visit the Denver Art Museum, renowned for its Native American art collection.
Afternoon: Explore the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art.
Visit the Clyfford Still Museum for a unique artistic experience.
Evening: Catch a show at the historic Bluebird Theater or Ogden Theatre.
Day 4: Day Trip to Red Rocks

Morning: Drive to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre for a morning hike or yoga session.
Afternoon: Visit the Colorado Music Hall of Fame at Red Rocks.
Evening: Attend a concert or enjoy the breathtaking views of Denver from the amphitheater.
Day 5: Foodie Day

Morning: Explore the South Pearl Street Farmer’s Market (on weekends).
Visit the historic Union Station for brunch at Snooze an A.M. Eatery.
Afternoon: Stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Evening: Have dinner in the Highlands neighborhood. Try Linger, housed in a former mortuary, for a unique dining experience.
Day 6: Craft Beer Tour

Morning: Visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Afternoon: Embark on a craft beer tour in the RiNo Art District. Visit breweries like Great Divide Brewing Co., Ratio Beerworks, and Epic Brewing Company.
Evening: Explore the nightlife on South Broadway. Grab a bite at one of the eclectic restaurants and catch live music at a local venue.
Day 7: Mountain Views

Morning: Drive to Lookout Mountain for panoramic views of the city.
Visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave.
Afternoon: Head to Golden and tour the Coors Brewery.
Evening: Wrap up your trip with dinner in Olde Town Arvada.
This local’s guide offers a mix of cultural experiences, outdoor activities, and a taste of Denver’s vibrant food and drink scene.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As a school psychologist, I witnessed first-hand the toll that chronic stress and burnout takes on educators, especially special education teachers. I have teachers in my office on a weekly basis: venting, crying, hanging on by a thread, wanting to quit or going out on stress leave. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. I dedicate this shoutout to everyone in education who is nurturing our future leaders and citizens.

Website: https://www.awesomeeducators.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awesomeeducators/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/awesomeeducators/

Other: https://mindfulmiri.com/podcast

Image Credits
Bonni Pacheco