Teacher Side Hustles That Actually Last: A Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) Success StoryHave you ever wished your teacher business could simply cover one meaningful expense, without pressure to quit your job or chase unrealistic income goals?In this episode of the Teacher Business School podcast, Lindsay sits down with long-time Teacher Resource Academy member Robin Cornecki to talk about steady growth, skill building, and what’s possible when you focus on progress instead of perfection. Robin shares how she went from slowly creating her first Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) freebie to building hundreds of resources, paying for her daughters’ competitive dance lessons, and eventually expanding into tutoring and Praxis prep. This conversation is a powerful reminder that sustainable teacher businesses are built one skill, one resource, and one decision at a time.Key Discussion Points:[00:00:41] Meet Robin Cornecki and her teaching backgroundRobin shares her 23-year journey as a secondary math teacher in a small rural district and explains how teaching multiple preps shaped her need for efficient, differentiated resources.[00:01:49] Starting a Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store without a business planRobin talks about opening her Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store in December 2019, uploading her first freebie, and learning everything through trial and error.[00:04:47] Making resources before Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) and why it matteredHow creating materials by hand, on index cards and in Word, laid the foundation for turning classroom resources into sellable products later.[00:08:44] The struggle with slow, perfection-driven creationRobin explains how it once took weeks to finish a single resource and how perfectionism and lack of digital skills slowed her progress.[00:12:44] Discovering Math Resource AcademyA Pinterest search led Robin to Lindsay’s blog, email list, and eventually enrolling in Math Resource Academy as a birthday gift to herself.[00:17:23] Learning digital skills that changed everythingHow step-by-step tutorials, templates, and community support helped Robin confidently use PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Forms to create resources faster.[00:21:39] Going from 10 resources to over 200Robin shares how improving her systems allowed her to consistently publish new resources and dramatically grow her Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store.[00:24:49] Creating and selling a full math curriculumWhy Robin focused on building an eighth-grade curriculum, how she priced it strategically, and why it continues to sell years later.[00:28:04] Using Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) income to pay for real lifeRobin reflects on the moment her Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) income fully covered her daughters’ competitive dance expenses and what that financial relief meant for her family.[00:32:53] Expanding beyond Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) into tutoringHow tutoring during the pandemic opened Robin’s eyes to new income opportunities and led her toward Praxis exam support.[00:35:48] Building Praxis prep courses and study guidesRobin explains how she turned her teaching expertise into Praxis Core and Middle School Math study materials, including books published through Amazon KDP.[00:39:00] Balancing multiple income streams as a teacherWhy having Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT), tutoring, and digital products together creates more stability and flexibility than relying on a single platform.[00:41:59] Leading with generosity in the classroomRobin shares how she supports students in her small rural school through supplies, food, and simply being a trusted adult.Resources Mentioned:robincornecki.com/studylindsaybowden.com/starthttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/robin-cornecki-round-robin-math https://www.instagram.com/robin.cornecki/Connect further:Download my TPT Income Report: https://www.lindsaybowden.com/incomeEarn 3-4 figures per month on TPT | https://lindsaybowden.com/startStart or grow your TPT email list | https://lindsaybowden.com/emailAnd make sure to follow me! http://instagram.com/lindsaybowdenWatch full episodes on Youtube + Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@Lindsay.Bowden?sub_confirmation=1Resources mentioned may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and resources I truly love and use myself.