Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

Latest Episodes:

324: Reality of Work-Life Balance Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever felt like your work-life balance just isn't enough? This episode is for you! Tune in as Gretchen shares a practical story about the reality of her work-life balance, and the tips and tricks she uses to make it that much easier. Quotables

"Balance means we're doing enough of work, and enough of life that we actually feel both sides receive time spent equally."
"Prevention is EVERYTHING!"
"Sometimes the pendulum swings on one side a bit, but the good news it's not gonna stay that way forever so stay focused on that end goal, and push through when you're out of balance and then recoup as necessary after."

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Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
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Twitter: @gschultek
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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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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

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323: Student Language with Michael Grande Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

Join us as we dive into the importance of understanding student language and how beneficial it can be in the classroom with Michael Grande. With his expertise in coaching, he has touched the lives of many educators across the world. Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee

"I finally found someone who taught me how I wanted to be taught and found my learning language which is what interested me. If we could do that with our students, we'd have a whole new universe."
"I work with them [students]. I talk to them, not at them."
"Every single time something comes to me, I never say no. I think about it and say where is the opportunity? Not the obstacle. Where is the opportunity?"

About Michael Grande

After spending time in Rwanda teaching music Teachers how to become Coaches, Michael quickly learned that Coaching is not cultural, rather it is universal. After the Minister of Education of Rwanda agreed to incorporate Michael’s Coaching techniques and strategies, he felt it was time to share his methods of Coaching with others. In September 2023 Michael released his self-published book; From Teacher to Coach (And why you would NEVER want to be a Teacher).

Connect with Michael Grande

http://TheGrandeMan.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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322: Going All In with Dr. Jim Van Allan Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

Join us as we go all in with Dr. Jim Van Allan, President of The Energy Bus for Schools. With experience in creating a positive school culture using his framework, Dr. Van Allan's insights have impacted the lives of leaders and educators across the nation. Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee

"All in is what comes to mind...That's what I've seen that inspires me... The ability for these schools to go all in and truly commit to being a positive campus."
You can love people by communicating effectively with them...by doing more one on one meetings."
"I believe in that...I believe in putting in the work to make sure it's [PD] specific and relevant to the people sitting there because if it's not, they will not listen or they will not get a lot out of it."

About Dr. Jim:

Dr. Jim Van Allan is President of The Energy Bus for Schools. He runs The Energy Bus for Schools program which gives schools the blueprint and framework to create a positive school culture. He coaches school leaders and superintendents on mindset, teamwork, communication, and culture-building. Additionally, Jim speaks to schools and districts across the country with keynotes, trainings, workshops, and student assemblies. He is the co-author of the book, The Energy Bus for Schools, with Jon Gordon. Jim is also a Professor of Communication Studies and Lead Speech Instructor with Keiser University, which is based in Florida. He teaches Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, and Business Communication. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida and a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from Florida Atlantic University. He also earned his Ph.D in Education Leadership from Keiser University. Jim studied the impact of an early version of The Energy Bus for Schools program on a model school in Ohio. Much of his research centered around the impact of sustainable professional development for schools. He lives in Palm City, Florida, with his wife and three children, Brady, Brenden, and Brinley.

Connect with Dr. Jim:

Follow him on all social media @JimVanAllan
Email him: Jim@JonGordon.com
The Energy Bus for Schools Book
The Energy Bus for Schools Program
The Energy Bus for Schools on You Tube

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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.

Leave a Rating and Review:

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321: Artificial Intelligence with Vicki Davis Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

Join us as we immerse in Vicki Davis's journey as an educator, author, and host. With over 20+ years of experience in education, specializing in technology and her vast understanding of artificial intelligence, Vicki has touched the life of many students and educators throughout her career. Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee

"I would never say every single teacher has to embrace technology, but we have to embrace children. We have to embrace the nobility of teaching and we do have to embrace learning."
"All that our kids are going to know is massive change...So we need to educate ourselves about how we can learn."
"You have to relate to educate."

About Vicki:

Vicki Davis is a classroom teacher, book publisher, mom, author of the Cool Cat Teacher Blog, and host of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast. With over 20+ years in education, Vicki has received many acknowledgments which include top education influencer awards, and a feature in USA Today. However, the award closest to her heart is being named STAR Teacher at her school and district this past school year. Over the years her blog has grown into a vibrant community of over 6000 posts, and her podcast has been recognized as a top podcast in education. Each post and episode is a fresh chapter in her shared adventure in education and technology. When the school bell rings, you can find Vicki juggling roles as an IT Director, Computer Science and Digital Technology teacher. Her classroom more than just a space; it’s a dynamic, fun learning community that extends beyond school walls, as they share and engage with the world. Vicki’s family includes her husband, three unique children, two of whom learn differently, (she never says the word “disability”), two dogs, and yes – Cheeto! Vicki’s varied educational journeys of her children ignite her drive to inspire every learner, celebrating their individuality. Vicki enjoys celebrating Cool Classrooms, explore Cool Apps and Technology, and share Cool Teaching Tips. When she is not immersed in a film project, assisting teachers, or fending off gnats in my hometown of Camilla, Georgia, she loves to spread her wings. Over the years, Vicki has conducted over 100 workshops, keynotes, and spotlight sessions globally, often with her students in tow!

Connect with Vicki:

Fb: https://www.facebook.com/coolcatteacher IG: https://www.instagram.com/coolcatteacher/ Website: https://www.coolcatteacher.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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Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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320: Positive School Climate with Matthew Ebert Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

Join us as we untangle the inspirational journey of Matthew Ebert, a powerhouse in education and expert in school leadership. With over twenty years of education experience, Matthew's transformational insights have touched the lives of millions of educators worldwide. Quotables

*All quotables are from the interviewee

"People are not robots. The investment in the adults... the operationalizing of this idea of care pays off in the long run even if it's messy."
It’s [winning] laughter. It’s joy. It’s people being happy to come to work, and kids being happy going to school.
"Winning [in education] is a long term strategy that comes from taking care of each other."

About Matthew:

Matthew Ebert is a human-centered leader with 20+ years of experience in education, primarily focused on school leadership in urban settings. Matthew’s consulting is grounded in his experiences as a teacher, director of academic innovation, academy leader, and a decade of successful leadership as a public charter school principal. Throughout his leadership tenure, Matthew has developed teams that exceed expectations, consistently achieving strong results. He is committed to cultivating healthy work and learning environments in which individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. In addition to helping team members consistently attain their personal and professional goals, Matthew has facilitated dramatic and consistent growth in student achievement in both Baltimore and Boston, in metrics focused on academic achievement and school climate. Matthew’s leadership is based in the idea that we are all here to take care of one another.

Connect with Matthew:

www.linkedin.com/in/matthewebert1982
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebert-educational-consulting
IG: eberteducationalconsulting
X: eberteducation

Published Works: EdWeek

Edutopia

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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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Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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Bonus Episode: Maximize Results with your Teacher Support Strategy Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Empowering Educators! In this episode, we delve into proven teacher support strategies that can significantly enhance student learning outcomes. Discover how to help educators improve their skills and foster a more effective learning environment! Quotables:

"Every classroom deserves a teacher who is growing in capacity so that students have the opportunity to become an even better version of themselves. "
"It's no longer enough to have a conversation about goals and dreams or to only check in on a colleague randomly when you have time. You've got to execute a support strategy consistently and with urgency."
"When things are working, we diagnose that magic so we can replicate it. "

Join the Teacher Leader Mastermind

Enroll in the current cohort here

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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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Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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319: Leadership in Education: Insights from Ryan Pelkey Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

Ryan Pelkey is an educator/speaker/writer and advocate of teacher mental health. With 25 years in education he has seen most, done most and been a part of some amazing schools and taught over 10,000 students. As a current administrator, he is active in restorative practices, instructional leadership and bringing the best out of his teachers, students and other stakeholders.

Listen to Episode 280 which is when we first interviewed Ryan in 2022!

Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee

"I want other people to know that it's okay to want more out of your career, or want more out of your life...and to be able to step up and step out is what it's all about..."
"A lot of times the focus is on the kids. The focus is on our students, and it should be...but if you treat your teachers well, you're gonna create those environments where the kids are gonna want to be there..."
"...I know my staff. I know my community and I know my kids and I've really adapted and grown as a leader and a person because of the people I'm surrounded with..."

About Ryan Pelkey Ryan is writing a new book called "...Just- The Dirtiest 4 letter word in a Growth Mindset" which is soon to be published on Amazon. His previous book The Boy Who Lost His Ears was a best seller on Amazon for students in grades 3-5. This SEL story shows the importance of listening skills and do we really need ears to hear/listen? Feel free to zoom him into your classrooms as a Pop Up Author! He has spoken at educational conferences from Virginia to Australia and Malaysia, hoping to make connections to help people anyway, anyhow and anywhere. Teachers need to be first in schools! He lives in Northern Virginia with his family and 2 amazing dogs. A big Yankee Fan, Eagles Fan and Carolina Basketball Fan. Find him on X and Instagram @mr_pelkey View Ryan's LinkedIn profile, too!

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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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Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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318: Relationships in Education with Michael & Nita Creekmore May 27, 2024

Show notes

Dive into insightful conversations with Michael and Nita Creekmore, seasoned educators with over 35 years of combined experience. Join them as they explore the importance of relationships in education, drawing from Michael's counseling background and Nita's instructional coaching expertise. Get practical tips, personal anecdotes, and wisdom from their book, Every Connection Matters.Tune in for actionable strategies, balancing career and family life, and fostering meaningful connections in and out of the classroom.

Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee

“When you’re building relationships, you have to build trust, and the more you build trust, the more you can...get into [the] why. What is the root behind this?”
"...compartmentalize! That's one of the necessary tools to avoid burnout..."
”That’s one of the by-products of having the biggest hearts...we take a lot of stuff home.”

About Michael & Nita

Michael and NIta Creekmore are a married couple both with more than 35 years combined in the field of children and education. Micheal has been in the field of professional counseling for about 16+ years and in school counseling for 5+ years. Nita has been in education for 19+ years. She has been an Instructional Coach for 5+ years and facilitates learning experiences with other educators. Nita and Michael have 4 children and a pup. Together they have Creekmore Conversations in which they facilitate learning experiences around the importance building, maintaining and restoring relationships in education. Together they wrote, Every Connection Matters: Building, Maintaining and Restoring Relationships Inside the Classroom and Out. They have very productive life inside and outside of education. They love what they do. They love having a large family. And, they also believe that having a healthy balance of it all is so important.

Listen to Episode 218 which is when we first interviewed Nita in 2020!

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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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Bonus Episode: Maximizing Teacher Impact May 20, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Empowering Educators! In this episode, we discuss how to enhance student learning. Discover how to help educators improve their skills and foster a more effective learning environment! Quotables:

"Each district and school operates so differently and especially as to how they use a teacher leader, aim for, and their name for the role..."
"I teach the Triple A Method: aim, action, and achieve..."
"Most important is the evidence...how do you know that you're moving forward?"
"If you support the growth of teachers, you are a teacher leader and you can participate!"

Join the Teacher Leader Mastermind

Enroll in the current cohort here

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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.’
Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”
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317: AI with Angela Watson May 13, 2024

Show notes

Join us as we unravel the remarkable journey of Angela Watson, a powerhouse in education and expert in the incorporation of AI in the classroom. With over a decade of classroom experience, Angela's transformational insights have touched the lives of millions of educators worldwide.

Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee

[When we think about AI, we ask] “How is this going to help me streamline my workload? It’s not going to do everything, but how can I make it really useful and how can I do it in an ethical manner?”
"The trick to getting really good results from AI is to know how to give it good prompts."
”Productivity is something we all have to experiment with!”

About Angela:

Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 years of classroom experience and over a decade of experience as an instructional coach. Angela created this website as a young teacher in 2003 to share practical classroom ideas and help other educators build a positive mindset so they can truly enjoy their work. It was originally called “Ms. Powell’s Management Ideas for Teachers” until 2008, when it was renamed “The Cornerstone for Teachers” after her first book. Rebranded in November 2021 to Truth for Teachers, the site now impacts over 8 million educators annually. Angela’s ideas have been featured in thousands of magazine articles, newsletters, and internet resources, and utilized in teacher preparation and support programs throughout the nation. She has authored numerous printable curriculum resources, online courses, and six books. Her newest book is the second edition of “Awakened: Change Your Mindset to Transform Your Teaching,” which was released in November 2022. She is perhaps best known for her free Truth for Teachers podcast, which provides bi-weekly encouragement for educators and consistently ranks in the top K-12 podcasts in the world. Angela’s professional development on productivity is being used in over 45,000 schools through the 40 Hour Workweek program. First designed for teachers and then expanded to instructional coaches and administrators, 40 Hour helps educators become more intentional with their personal, contractual, and instructional time so they can focus on what really matters. Angela’s mission is to help teachers live a more purposeful and conscious life. Through her mentorship, countless teachers have learned to take charge of their time and energy so they can prevent burnout and stay in the profession they love for years to come.

Listen to Episode 155 which is when we first interviewed Angela in 2018!

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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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Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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Listen to Episode 280 which is when we first interviewed Ryan in 2022!

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About Michael & Nita

Listen to Episode 218 which is when we first interviewed Nita in 2020!

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Join the Teacher Leader Mastermind

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About Angela:

Listen to Episode 155 which is when we first interviewed Angela in 2018!

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