Mindfulness, Resilience, and Joyful Journeys — A Conversation with Stefanie Lachenauer
In this episode of Teacher Show Me the World, I sit down with Stefanie Lachenauer, middle school educator, author, mindfulness teacher, and the 2025 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. Stefanie’s work centers on helping both students and educators cultivate mindfulness, resilience, and emotional regulation—skills that are essential in today’s classrooms.
We talk about her neuroscience-based approach to learning, the power of presence in teaching, and how mindfulness practices can help students manage stress, build confidence, and thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
What truly stands out is how Stefanie extends learning beyond the school walls. As the founder of the Joyful Journeys Travel and Adventure Club, she takes students on global service-learning trips that combine travel, compassion, and leadership. Much like I believe travel transforms students’ perspectives, Stefanie shows how mindfulness and adventure together help young people discover who they are and what they’re capable of.
You’ll hear:
How mindfulness supports emotional regulation and student engagement
Practical ways educators can integrate mindfulness and wellness into their classrooms and while traveling with their students.
What neuroscience reveals about learning, stress, and resilience
How travel and service experiences build empathy and leadership
The inspiration behind her bestselling book, Let the Glitter Settle: Mindfulness for Teens
Stefanie’s story is a powerful reminder that teaching is both heart work and brain work—and that our calm presence as educators helps students find their own center.
Learn more about Stefanie Lachenauer:
www.stefanielachenauer.com
Let the Glitter Settle: Mindfulness for Teens — Available on Amazon
Instagram: @NJSTOY2025 | @stefaniealachenauer | @LetTheGlitterSettle
Facebook: Stefanie Lachenauer, 2025 NJ State Teacher of the Year
✨ “Mindfulness gives our students the tools to navigate the noise, find calm in the chaos, and let their own glitter settle.” — Stefanie Lachenauer
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