Written by Lauren Girgash, Co-Founder of WTD
My journey as an educator began early. In my 4th grade “All About Me” book, I dedicated an entire chapter to why I wanted to be a teacher. Years later, on my very first day in the classroom, my heart raced with both excitement and fear as a 22-year-old standing in front of sophomores and juniors. That year I quickly learned what teaching was really about. Of course, it meant teaching content—but more importantly, it meant inspiring students to step outside their comfort zones, just as I had to do. I discovered levels of composure, creativity, and (just enough) sarcasm that I never knew I had.
Most recently, I taught at a Title I school in Manassas, VA, where many of my students had already faced challenges far beyond their years. The intensity of that role began to take a toll, bringing with it exhaustion and negativity. At the same time, what I was studying in my Curriculum and Instruction Master’s program didn’t match the realities of my classroom. Out of necessity, I enrolled in a Health Coach Training Program and began weaving well-being practices into my daily routines—for myself and for my students. Those small shifts created big changes.
From Spark to Something Bigger
That spark led me to leave a job I loved, launch Livable Learning LLC (DBA The Whole Teacher Company), self-publish The Whole Teacher Guidebook, and begin leading workshops and speaking at conferences across the country to encourage educator well-being.
But eventually, I recognized a deeper need. Across the country, I was meeting incredible professional development organizations creating thoughtful, intentional programs for teachers. Yet as an educator, I had no idea many of them even existed. I relied mostly on district offerings and wasn’t the type to search social media for support. It also became clear that not every educator in a school needed the same support—each had their own needs and challenges. Too often, this meant teachers sat through PD sessions that didn’t apply to them, zoning out while trying to catch up on the work already piled on their plate. Meanwhile, teachers were turning to social platforms for connection, but too often the conversations became scattered, unfiltered, and overwhelming.
What we truly needed was a centralized space where teachers could find meaningful, wide-ranging, human-centered support—not just scattered tips on Instagram or time-consuming PD sessions. That vision arrived, crystal clear, one morning in August 2024. I remember sharing it with my husband (and co-founder), and without a moment of hesitation, he saw it too.
That vision became WTD—the Whole Teacher Department. We kept “Whole Teacher” because it reflects the holistic support educators deserve. And we chose “Department” because it evokes camaraderie: a group of professionals collaborating, problem-solving, sharing, and planning together.
We began building full-time last August. With self-taught coding skills, Ryan built our MVP and we tested it with focus groups. Encouraged by their feedback, we partnered with a development team to make WTD scalable. Soon, 307 educators across 40 states had interacted with our prototype and shared detailed insights that shaped the platform. At the same time, Ryan’s MBA journey at UVA Darden opened the door to apply for the i.Lab Incubator. When we were accepted, we continued to pour everything into bringing WTD to life.
Looking back, “serendipitous” feels like the theme of this journey. Every choice, success or setback, has shaped where we are today—people we connected with (or didn’t connect with), programs we were accepted into (or not accepted into), and so much more. And the closer we get to launch, the clearer it all becomes.
Why WTD Matters Now
Teachers are the foundation of every classroom. They set the tone, drive learning, and shape futures. But that foundation cracks when teachers are burned out, unsupported, or leaving the profession—and when that happens, students lose the most.
We are in the middle of a teacher retention and burnout crisis.
WTD reimagines educator support by merging connection, learning, and inspiration. We’re a community and learning platform where educators can access practical, high-quality personal and professional learning—from classroom management to multilingual learners to stress management—offered by trusted partners. Teachers can also connect directly with each other in a safe, solution-focused space and earn PD hours for applying what they learn. In short, WTD is a one-stop, human-centered hub for educators seeking real support.
This is more than a platform—it’s a movement. Let’s reimagine educator support together. Join us today.