A New Chapter: How Retired Educators Find Purpose at ValuTeachers

When Sandra Ingram retired after 29 years in the classroom, she found herself wondering what came next. That's when she discovered ValuTeachers through a LinkedIn advertisement—a decision that would transform her retirement into what she now calls a "journey."

Sandra at ValuTeachers Kickoff 2025

From Lesson Plans to Life Plans

"I'm a retired teacher. I know a lot of teachers. I know the school systems. I felt like, hey, this would be an opportunity for me and I would fit right in," Sandra shares.

What shocked Sandra most was how much financial information educators aren't provided during their careers: "No one ever told me about a 403(b). 29 years I taught, I never knew what a 403(b) was."

This revelation became her mission: "It enlightened me and I felt the need that these teachers to know about this. The word needs to get out."

Today, Sandra services the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which she describes as "an open field right now" with "a huge market, huge opportunity." Her goal is to recruit more people to join the team and expand their reach.

Service, Not Sales: The Educator's Advantage

While ValuTeachers ideally seeks retired educators, Sandra emphasizes that the most important qualification is a service mindset: "We're there to serve people. We're not there to sell a product per se. We're there to help them with their retirement and their financial plans."

Sandra's background in education and training development has proven invaluable: "I have a degree in business education and a master's degree in training and development," she explains. This expertise allows her to excel at helping others understand complex financial concepts.

Fall Travels and Fresh Starts: Life After the Bell

Since joining ValuTeachers, Sandra has discovered new freedoms and opportunities. "I actually got to take a trip in the fall for the first time ever. I began teaching right out of college, and so I always worked during the fall, so I finally got to go see the fall leaves  in the east."

Beyond personal benefits, Sandra finds deep satisfaction in helping fellow educators: "I'm meeting new people every day. I'm helping people every day... We're enlightening them and giving them the opportunity to open their eyes and see that there is a need."

Surrounding Yourself with Success - at Any Age

Sandra draws inspiration from the ValuTeachers community, particularly from founder Paula: "Paula has been such an inspiration to me... I want to see myself like her, working and feeling successful and feel like I've made a difference in my life and in other people's lives."

The supportive environment keeps Sandra motivated: "Everyone is such a positive influence on what we do."

 Calling all Self-Starters: Could This Be Your Next Chapter?

Success in this role requires self-motivation and determination. As Sandra explains, "I'm very goal-oriented, so if I have a goal in mind, I'm going to accomplish that goal."

She acknowledges that "there's many days you're on your own and you have to be self-motivated. Intrinsic motivation is what gets you going with this job. You have to wake up and say, 'You know what? Today's a good day to get out and work and meet some people and help."

At ValuTeachers, we provide a platform where educators like Sandra can continue to serve their communities in meaningful ways. We understand that teachers are natural helpers and relationship-builders—skills that transfer beautifully to helping fellow educators plan for secure financial futures.