In our latest Behind the Community spotlight, we sat down with Rebekah Schipper, M.Ed. , Executive Director of Opportunity Thrive, to discuss a sobering reality: 80% of educators experience toxic levels of stress daily.

While many organizations focus on keeping teachers in the classroom, Rebekah’s mission is more profound. She isn’t just looking for retention; she’s looking for restoration. By leveraging Networked, Opportunity Thrive is transforming from a traditional coaching nonprofit into a 24/7 digital sanctuary where educators can move from isolation to community.

Watch The Full Conversation

The “15 Cigarettes a Day” Reality

We often talk about teacher burnout as a byproduct of a heavy workload, but Rebekah points to a deeper, more dangerous culprit: loneliness.

“Research shows that loneliness can be as bad for your well-being as smoking 15 cigarettes a day,” Rebekah explains. In an industry that is inherently a “work of the heart,” the emotional labor can be crushing when done in a vacuum. Opportunity Thrive’s move to a digital community is a direct response to this urgency, creating a space where educators realize they are not alone in their struggle.

Normalizing “Not Being Okay”

One of the most powerful shifts in the Opportunity Thrive model is the move toward asynchronous support. In the middle of a chaotic school day, an educator might not have time for a formal coaching session, but they do have time to pick up their phone.

Rebekah emphasizes that simply typing “I’m having a bad day” into a confidential, safe space can actually help regulate the nervous system.

            “The externalization of that stress into the app allows the body to calm back down,” Rebekah says. “We want to normalize the process of not being okay in the context of receiving support.”

Building the “Front Door” of Psychological Safety

For a community of educators, privacy isn’t just a feature, it’s a requirement. Traditional social media platforms often feel too exposed for the level of vulnerability required to heal from burnout.

By building on Networked, Opportunity Thrive has created a “walled garden.” This safe dynamic allows for:

• 🛡️ Confidentiality: A secure space away from district eyes or public scrutiny.
• 📈 Scalable Group Coaching: Moving beyond 1-on-1 sessions to support larger cohorts of educators simultaneously.

🛠️ Real-Time Resources: Accessing mindfulness and restorative practices the moment they are needed, not just during scheduled PD days.

The Mission to “Work Out of a Job”

Rebekah’s ultimate vision is as bold as it is selfless. As a nonprofit leader, her goal is to eventually work herself out of a job.

“When we get to a spot where healthy educator cultures are the natural, embedded fabric of our schools, our mission becomes everyone’s mission,” she shares. Until then, Opportunity Thrive is using Networked to scale a vision of education where who you are is finally more important than what you do .

Watch the full conversation to hear Rebekah Schipper discuss the looming educator crisis, the power of group norms, and why hope is the first thing we lose, and the first thing we must reclaim.

Discover Opportunity Thrive and join their mission to build healthier school systems here.