Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Goodrum.
Hi Anna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From as far back as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve always loved learning and hearing people’s stories. I was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and by third grade I was already telling my parents that teaching was my dream. Growing up, I had friends from all over the world and was endlessly fascinated by their cultures and family traditions.
My first solo trip came at age nine, when my mom put me on a plane to visit a friend in New Jersey. I still remember that mix of excitement and wonder as I looked out the window, heading somewhere new on my own. At fifteen, I took my first international trip, and that’s when the travel bug truly stuck. From then on, education and travel were forever intertwined for me.
After graduating from Appalachian State University with a degree in Elementary Education, I began teaching in Gaston County, North Carolina, in 1996. Those first years were truly transformative. I worked with families who faced many challenges but were deeply committed to their children’s success. Their resilience and dedication taught me what it really means to support others in reaching their dreams.
A few years later, I joined an International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme school in Charlotte and instantly connected with the IB philosophy of inquiry, reflection, and global-mindedness. When I moved to Raleigh in 2000, I found my home at Farmington Woods IB/PYP Magnet Elementary, which was just beginning its IB journey. Over the next 25 years, I served as a teacher, technology facilitator, magnet coordinator, and IB coordinator.
For the next few years, I trained as a school site visitor and workshop leader for the IB organization, working with educators across the country and beyond. I also traveled to places like Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, China, Russia, and Sweden through study abroad programs that deepened my understanding of global education and cultural connection. Those experiences expanded my worldview and reinforced my belief that learning should connect us to something bigger than ourselves.
In 2012, I earned my Master’s in Digital Learning and Teaching from NC State University, driven by a desire to bring the world to my students, even when we couldn’t physically go there. That degree allowed me to merge technology and global learning in creative, meaningful ways.
Travel has always been woven into my story, but so has connection. One of my former students was the daughter of Debbie Kaiser, founder of Bluprint Travel. Debbie became both a mentor and friend, and in 2019 she invited me to join her team. After retiring from education in 2025, I transitioned full-time into travel design. Now I get to blend my two greatest passions—teaching and travel—by helping others learn about the world, experience new cultures, and create memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think any road is ever completely smooth, but it’s the bumps and challenges along the way that shape who we become. In 2019, just after I became a travel designer with Bluprint Travel, my mom passed away. She was always my cheerleader and sounding board and I missed her dearly. After her passing, my siblings and I came together to care for our 90-year-old dad. He lived in another town, so we spent countless days on the road, coordinating visits and making sure he had everything he needed.
Not long after, the world changed with Covid. At the time, I was serving as the Technology Facilitator and Magnet Coordinator at my school, and suddenly, everything was different. It was an incredibly intense season. I was supporting teachers, students, and families through remote learning while keeping our IB program alive and connected. At the same time, my siblings and I were caring for our father and I was learning the ropes of a new career in travel. It was a lot to balance, and there were moments that tested every ounce of patience and resilience I had.
When my dad passed away in 2021, it was another turning point. Grief takes time, and navigating that while continuing to grow in a new profession wasn’t easy. But that period became one of deep growth and reflection. The pandemic completely changed the travel industry, bringing new restrictions, testing requirements, and constant uncertainty, but it also reminded me just how much people need connection and discovery. I found myself helping clients overcome their fears and slowly rediscover the joy of seeing the world again.
Looking back, those years taught me more than I could have imagined. They gave me empathy, perseverance, and a renewed sense of purpose. The challenges made me a stronger travel advisor and a more compassionate person. It wasn’t always a smooth road, but it led me exactly where I was meant to be.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, I’m an Associate Advisor with Bluprint Travel, and I’m preparing to take over the agency when its founder, Debbie Kaiser, retires. At Bluprint, we focus on sun-and-fun vacations that help people celebrate life’s milestones, whether it’s a honeymoon, anniversary, family getaway, or that long-awaited bucket list trip. I specialize in cruises, all-inclusives, and travel throughout Europe, helping clients find experiences that fit who they are and what they dream of most.
What sets me apart as an advisor is my background as an educator and school coordinator. Years in the classroom taught me how to truly listen, coordinate details, and personalize every experience. I spent my career making sure students, families, and teachers had the resources they needed to succeed, and that skill has translated seamlessly into travel planning.
Some of my favorite clients are those traveling overseas for the very first time. I love using my teaching background to calm their nerves, answer their questions, and guide them through each step until they feel confident and ready to go. As an International Baccalaureate teacher, I encouraged students to be curious and inquire about the world, and I see that same philosophy reflected in my business today. I always tell my clients, “There’s no such thing as a silly question…I am here for you.” My goal is for every client to feel supported, cared for, and excited from the first conversation to the moment they return home.
How do you define success?
To me, success is about loving what you do and finding purpose in it every day. It’s taking something you’re passionate about and turning it into something that not only fulfills you but also makes a difference for others. For me, that means helping people see the world, experience new cultures, and recognize just how much we all have in common as human beings.
I also don’t see success as something you achieve alone. My husband Mike has been my biggest cheerleader through every chapter, encouraging me to take leaps, supporting me through transitions, and reminding me to stop and celebrate the little victories along the way.
At the end of the day, when a client comes home with a deeper appreciation for the world and tells me that their trip changed the way they see things, that’s what fills my heart. Helping people’s travel dreams come true and watching those experiences open their eyes, and sometimes their hearts, is what success looks like to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bluprinttravel.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anna.bluprinttravel
