We recently connected with Brittany Jeltema and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brittany thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

As a way of giving back to educators, I flip classrooms around the United States to give teachers and students a space that feels inviting, inclusive and safe. My team and I fund the project and replace everything from the furniture to the floors. Recently, in Florida, we flipped an LGBTQ+ youth center to provide an environment that is welcoming after the devastatingly homophobic and transphobic “Don’t Say Gay” bill was passed. For this particular project, it was my mission to ensure that everyone was seen, heard and represented in the space.

Brittany, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Brittany Jeltema, also known as The SuperHERO Teacher, and I’m a curriculum designer and classroom flipper. The world of education was always my calling. Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. Through my incredible journey of teaching, I discovered my true love– designing resources and inclusive spaces for teachers and students.

After leaving the classroom to focus on my curriculum business, I knew I was going to miss creating safe spaces for students, which is why I started doing giveaways on my social media platforms for classroom makeovers. I’ve now flipped more than fifteen classrooms, student lounges, and staff rooms from Florida to California.

My classroom makeovers have evolved into a form of activism for me over time. It’s my goal now to create more than just a pretty place. I want students to feel accepted and represented in the spaces that I design. Whether I’m creating a place for students to heal after a tragic school shooting where innocent lives were lost or designing an area where teens can be authentically themselves without judgment, it’s always done with purpose and with the end goal of inclusion in mind.

Outside of flipping classrooms, I am in love with life. My wife, MJ, and I have two gorgeous babies together, and we hope to raise them to create change and good in the world. When I’m not creating resources, I’m spending time strengthening relationships with those who support and lift me up on a daily basis. Whether we are hiking or traveling, we’re always on an adventure… and my goal is to never stop doing what I love.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Growing up, I didn’t feel represented in school. I grew up in an area of Texas where being gay simply wasn’t an option and it drastically impacted how I went about life after graduating. After finally gaining the courage to live authentically and come out after college, my entire mindset shifted. I knew that I no longer wanted to just live for me, but I wanted to help others feel safe and represented too.

Being in the classroom and working with teens on a daily basis was amazing, but I felt like I hadn’t fulfilled my true goal of helping as many people as possible. At the time, I didn’t know what that looked like, but I discovered a way to sell my teaching curriculum that I design, and my business quickly grew into a dream come true.

Because of my curriculum business, I’ve been able to fund a large majority of the classroom makeovers I do and my reach has multiplied.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media has surprisingly played a large role in what I do for a living. Originally, I started my accounts as a way to share and learn about ideas in the classroom, but it has shifted into a platform where I can use my voice to speak out for the LGBTQ+ community and provide representation.

My audience is largely made up of teachers, parents, and LGBTQ+ folx and this growth has come largely from my classroom makeovers going viral or posts about my family. Similarly to my curriculum business providing funding for makeovers, collaborating with brands has given me the opportunity to give back to teachers and parents, too.

To be completely honest, every time I post something related to my family, activism, or politics, I lose hundreds of followers. And it has taken me 10+ years to be completely okay with that… because I continue to strengthen my relationship with existing followers and I know that the waves I’m creating now will have a positive impact in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thesuperheroteacher.com
• Instagram: @brittanyjeltema
• Other: TikTok: @brittanyjeltema

Image Credits
Stephanie from SLP Studios IG: @slpstudios