Adult learning expert Dr. Julie Ressler joins us to unpack imposter phenomenon—why some of the most competent, caring educators still feel like they’re faking it. Drawing on her research with high-achieving professionals (including school-trained musicians and leaders), Julie explains why she prefers “phenomenon” over “syndrome,” how IP shows up in teachers as overpreparing, perfectionism, and fear of being “found out,” and why it often hits hardest when we step into new roles or high-pressure schools. From there, we explore practical strategies K–12 music teachers can use right away: reframing negative self-talk with a growth mindset, recognizing the difference between healthy stretch and toxic self-doubt, using “evidence files” to counter distorted beliefs, and modeling for students what it looks like to pursue excellence without pretending to be perfect.
About Dr. Julie C. Ressler
Julie Ressler decided early on, around the age of 9, that she wanted to be a teacher, however exactly what kind of a teacher wasn’t established until later in life. Raised in northeast Iowa, her passion for education and helping people grow and learn was influenced by her parent’s chosen professions of high school teacher and business owner. Observing these two amazing role models encouraged her to pursue a career as a teacher of adults-which in her words are “little kids” in bigger bodies.
Over the past thirty years, she has been a proud member of the Des Moines community working in banking and insurance in various corporate training roles. She is currently the AVP-Insurance Operations Training at Athene USA, where she leads a talented team of performance improvement professionals.
She earned a B.S. from Iowa State University and a master’s degree from Drake University, both in adult education. She’s certified in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Prosci Change Management. Julie completed her doctorate degree in educational leadership from Drake University, May of 2024. Her greatest accomplishments include raising two daughters and a son. Lauren (30) is a school psychologist with the Englewood, CO school district, Madelyn (29), a graphic designer at Equi Trust in Des Moines, and her 24-year-old son, CJ served as an Army Ranger and is currently pursuing a degree in disaster recovery.
Links:
- Dr. Pauline Rose Clance / Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale & Scoring Instructions
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck, Ph.D.
- NEEDTOBREATHE
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