We do it for teachers.
Our mission is to provide instruction, guidance & encouragement to teachers. We want to amplify educators stories and provide a clear picture of what the classroom is and what it can be.
Teachers everywhere are invited to share their experiences, both for their benefit and for the edification of new and prospective educators.
Get in touch.
We’d love to hear from you. Send us a note with a little about what you’re working on, what you need, when you need it, how we can help, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Don’t be shy…do it today.
Meet our people.
We’re a group of former teachers who love and appreciate our fellow educators. Our passion is to support, encourage, and help young teachers to have a better understanding of what the classroom is and what it could be.
Rick Holmes
Founder
Rick Holmes is the founder of Relate, Then Educate and a twenty-year veteran classroom teacher and high school basketball coach. He's got a degree in Education and a master's degree in School Counseling. His favorite thing to do is help people see how valuable they are, using storytelling, psychology, and empathy. He loves his team and knows that none of this would be possible without them.
Andrea Avey
Writer & Editor
Andrea Avey is RTE's writer and a former secondary school educator who arrived in the classroom by way of Teach for America and alternative certification. Earning a degree in English and Spanish, Andrea has taught in both public and private school settings and is the daughter of a lifelong educator. Andrea is committed to promoting literacy, great literature, and an appreciation for language in all its forms.
Erin Patton
Speaker & Social Media Director
Erin Patton is both the Social Media Director and a speaker for RTE. She spent fifteen years in elementary classrooms teaching Science, History, and STEM. Connecting with her students has always been the most important thing in her classroom. Erin is inherently curious and knows that by listening and having a willingness to understand others, we have the invaluable opportunity to learn and truly grow..
Katie Kinder
Author & Speaker
Katie Kinder has been an educator since 2006. She believes that life is fun, and learning should most definitely be fun. A teacher of the year, top five district finalist, OKC Rotary Teacher of the Month, professional development leader, and a top 100 educator in Oklahoma on Twitter, Katie has learned a trick or two in the classroom.
Jo Lein
Author & Speaker
Dr. Jo Lein is the founder of the Teaching and Leading Initiative of Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization that brings instructional coaching to under-resourced districts and trains existing leaders in areas of instructional leadership. She is also an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and a Leadership Coach at Tulsa Public Schools.