Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

Latest Episodes:

344: Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone with Robert Barnett May 26, 2025

Show notes

Often times teachers want to do what is comfortable for them, but what if the best way to help your students was to step out of your comfort zone and teach differently? Listen in as Robert Barnett tells his story about how he shifted his teaching style and stepped out of the norm for his students.

Quotables

** All quotes are by the interviewee **

"Learning should feel good. Students should build self esteem to build confidence when they learn something new."

"Every child deserves an excellent education no matter who they are or what their background is. "
“The more I got away from this sort of one lesson at a time approach, the more I just appreciated the incredible diversity of talent, interest, and potential that students bring to class. ”

About Robert Barnett

Robert Barnett co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project, which has empowered 80,000+ educators in 180+ countries to meet every learner’s needs. Before that he taught math, computer science, English, social studies, and law, from the middle-school to university levels, at public and private schools in the U.S. and abroad. He is the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs: Redesigning Instruction So All Learners Can Succeed and he hopes his children will learn in Modern Classrooms someday!

Resources from this episode:

1.meeteverylearnersneeds.org 2. https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-s-barnett/ 3. book 4. Book giveaway : https://meln-form.paperform.co/?podcast=aal 5. Modern Classrooms Project: https://www.modernclassrooms.org/

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Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
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Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

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343: Clarity in Schools with Casey Watts May 12, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever needed more clarity? Have you ever wondered what more clarity looked like in schools? Listen in as Casey Watts speaks on exactly that and gives insider tips on how to make your school successful in this practice.

Quotables

** All quotes are by the interviewee **

"Show up for yourself the way you want to show up."
"Pause, listen, question, and avoid making assumptions."
"Clarity precedes capacity every single time."

About Casey Watts

Casey Watts has spent 20 years in education—teaching, coaching, and leading—watching talented educators get stuck in silos, overwhelmed by initiatives, and frustrated by collaboration that felt more like chaos than progress. She knows the real problem isn’t a lack of effort or expertise. It’s a lack of clarity. Through her Clarity Cycle Framework, Casey helps instructional leaders cut through the noise, align their teams, and turn collaboration into something that actually works. Because without clarity, even the best teams stay stuck. Now, as the founder of Casey Watts Coaching & Consulting, and host of The Catching Up with Casey Podcast, she’s on a mission to help school leaders stop spinning their wheels and start leading with purpose. Whether speaking, coaching, or leading workshops, Casey equips leaders with the tools to create the kind of teams that don’t just function—they thrive.

Resources from this episode:

https://www.catchingupwithcasey.com/

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Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
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Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

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342: Achieving Growth Through Peer Collaboration Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Peer collaboration in education is so important and can bring so much growth to you as a professional. Listen in to this weeks episode as Gretchen dives deep into how peer collaboration can be beneficial, rewarding, and valuable.

Quotables

"It really builds a culture of collaboration when you can go watch a peer and build them up. "

"You don’t know what someone can bring to the table, so don’t assume. "
“Peer collaboration is a give and take among peers.”

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Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

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341: Success Secrets of Colleague Mentorship in Education Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Are you a mentor? Are you a beginning teacher? Listen in as Gretchen speaks on the importance of a successful mentor and mentee partnership. This partnership is highly important for beginning teachers as they navigate the profession. Throughout this episode, Gretchen shares a story and gives quality tips to help things run smoothly. Quotables

"When we can name what makes something successful, we can repeat it. "
"We want to grow the mindset and the skill set of educators."
“Implement the feedback you’re given. ”

Resources from this Episode:

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

Leave a Rating and Review:

Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher.
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340: School Partnerships with Christina Hidek Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

School partnerships between parents, teachers, and administration are so important. Listen in as Christina Hidek tells her story about leading the PTO in her district, and how it turned her passion of helping others into the work she does today. Quotables *All quotes are from the interviewee*

"Happy teachers make for happy kids which makes happy parents."
"It's a funny little thing when your passion lines up with what you can do to help others."
"If it doesn't work one time, that's not an excuse to not try again."

About Christina Hidek

Christina Hidek is a recovering attorney turned Professional Organizer and certified PTO volunteer nerd. She founded PTO Answers 7 years ago to boost family engagement in schools and empower parents to improve their child’s educational experience and school community through PTA/PTO involvement. She’s been an active PTO leader for the past 14 years and hosts the vibrant 8000 plus member Super Star PTO Leaders Facebook Group. When she’s not volunteering, you can find her in her garden, listening to the latest Katherine Center audiobook or walking the family dogs.

Connect with Christina Hidek

Website: https://ptoanswers.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptoanswers PTO Super Star Leaders Facebook Group: https://ptoanswers.com/community Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ptoanswers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ptoanswers Freebie: PTO Family Engagement Opportunity Assessment: https://ptoanswers.com/principal/

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

Leave a Rating and Review:

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339: The Instructional Coaching Partnership Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Coaching can be seen differently depending on your school and district, but it doesn't have to be negative. By working side by side, the coach and the teacher can turn into a successful partnership where growth happens all around. Listen in as Gretchen explains different steps, tips, and tricks to make an instructional coaching partnership in your own school.

Quotables
"We create the vision with where we’re wanting to go, so that all the behavior that follows matches that. "
"The coaching partnership is a tremendous support tool when implemented as it is intended. "
“The role of a coach is originally designed to support the growth of a teacher.”

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

Leave a Rating and Review:

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher.
Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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338: To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever wondered if something in our schools should be celebrated more, less or not at all? Join in as Gretchen speaks about the importance of celebrations based on personal tangible performance, and tells personal stories from her own experiences.

Quotables
"We have to take that [best performance] into consideration and not just have a generic bar that everyone has to meet ."
“That [best performance] looks different for everyone.”
"We want to reward work ethic, but we also want to personalize what is considered best performance."

Links from today's episode:

Red Plate LinkJoin the Always A Lesson Newsletter

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

Leave a Rating and Review:

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher.
Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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337: Lessons Buried in Chaos Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

You never know when chaos will strike, but it's always good to have a system in place. Listen in as Gretchen talks about her experience with chaos during holiday break and how she is prepared and ready when it strikes again. Quotables:

"Things are going to happen. Chaos is going to come and sometimes it's for the better."
"Recalibrate often and assess needs."
"When you don't overuse your connections, people will move mountains."

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

Leave a Rating and Review:

Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher.
Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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Music from #Uppbeat:

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336: Crisis Response in Education Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Join Gretchen as she speaks about the Crisis Response in Education and what you can do to make it better. Throughout the episode, Gretchen gives you resources and tangible action steps to make your school more prepared in a crisis situation. Quotables

"We can't just prepare for crisis itself. We have to prepare for what happens after the crisis."
"You don’t have to be a leader in the school to have a game plan and bring it to the table. "
"Develop plans that are thorough enough to handle a lot of things."

Resources

332: Clear Communication: Effective com w/ Ss and Ps
207: From Crisis to Calm https://alwaysalesson.com/episodes/207-from-crisis-to-calm/
Office for victims of crime: https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/publications/bulletins/schoolcrisis/pg3.html
Office for victims of crime 2: https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/School-Crisis-Response-Initiative.pdf
PBIS: https://www.pbis.org/crisis-recovery
NEA: https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/NEA%20School%20Crisis%20Guide%202018.pdf
Office of State Superintendent of Education: https://osse.dc.gov/page/responding-school-crisis

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

Leave a Rating and Review:

Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher.
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335: Teaching Perspective with Miriam Plotinsky Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

Join us as we listen in to Miriam Plotinsky and all about her teaching perspective. Throughout this episode you will here how Miriam Plotinsky has used he knowledge in and out of the classroom in order to develop tips and tricks for teachers. Quotables *All quotes are from interviewee*

" The collective expertise that we all share for whatever our advantage point is what can get us the result that we want if we just learned to embrace that."
"If you hold yourself to this impossible standard you’re never going to be able to last in teaching."
"Anything you do with consistency will work you just have to keep doing it."

All about Miriam Plotinsky

Miriam Plotinsky is an instructional specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland and the author of several education books: Teach More, Hover Less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom, Lead Like a Teacher: How to Elevate Expertise in Your School and Writing Their Future Selves: Instructional Strategies to Affirm Student Identity (W.W. Norton), as well as the forthcoming Small but Mighty: How Everyday Habits Add Up to More Manageable and Confident Teaching (ASCD). She is also a National Board-certified teacher with additional certification in administration and supervision.

Connect with Miriam Plotinsky

@MirPloMCPS https://miriamplotinsky.com/

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Gretchen’s latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.

Leave a Rating and Review:

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Quotables

About Robert Barnett

Resources from this episode:

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Quotables

About Casey Watts

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Quotables

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Resources from this Episode:

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About Christina Hidek

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Links from today's episode:

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Resources

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All about Miriam Plotinsky

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