Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

‘Work Life Balance’ seems to be the new craze, but it’s unrealistic to think that work and life can be equally balanced on a scale. Inevitably, one takes over more time and energy than the other. But if we can learn to keep work and life living in harmony with each other, then we might just have found the secret to success. Tune in to hear more about the term ‘Work Life Harmony’ from the great min...

Burn out can happen to anyone and teachers are no exception. But, burn out is taking too many great teachers out of the classroom and into other professions. Our nations’ students deserve the best to be in front of them everyday. Tune in to hear 8 ways to acknowledge and prepare for burned out moments so that they do not become catapults relocating teachers to other professions. Quotables Elite ed...

Daniel  Jones  is a middle school social studies and reading/ language arts teacher. He is a Master Flip Educator and has been teaching in the classroom for the past 13 years. Project Based Learning (PBL) has been at the forefront of  Dan ‘s instruction for the past seven years. When  Dan  began flipping his class five years ago, he took PBL and combined it with Flipped Learning to create a dynami...

Every career choice has a daily grind. Unfortunately, some daily grinds are a lot more difficult than others and the daily grind of a teacher falls into that category. Teacher leaders can partner with teachers to unveil the value in the daily grind so that these tasks not only get completed but the passion for teaching doesn’t get lost in the day-to-day job requirements. Tune in to hear how to hel...

Students have the insight into how they learn best. It’s up to the educator to tap into this insight when designing lessons so that potential isn’t wasted in a child. There is always a reason behind a student behavior and when educators know their kids in and out, they can uncover these motivations and preferences prior to a learning experience so that the time is used productively and successfull...

Teaching can be a challenge when balance is lacking in the classroom, whether academic or behavior related. By evening out the ingredients of the classroom composition, teachers can sustain balance, sanity and happiness for all. Tune in to hear multiple strategies for problem solving the lack of balance in your classroom. Quotables I grew through pain and built up my game When our life is crazy an...

Change is inevitable. It happens to the best of us. But, when change happens to us, it can be challenging to make the most of the opportunity because our emotions get in the way. Tune in to hear 4 tips for how to control the change happening to you so that you can still become your very best. Quotables It’s a blip on the screen; it’s not a forever thing It’s a temporary setback that will lead to a...

Cole graduated from the University of Houston – Downtown with a bachelor’s degree in Urban Education. She spent the last 7 years teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten in Title 1 schools in Houston, Texas and the last two years teaching in the STEAM lab in an Early Childhood Center. Cole is passionate about giving students hands-on learning experiences and differentiating instruction. When she is not tea...

Effective leaders lead people from a place of grace not from an agenda. Everyone faces stressors on the job and being able to acknowledge the timing and size of such stressors in order to lead others towards effective change requires intention and grace. Tune in to hear how to meet your job requirements while leading others towards beneficial change during the Back-to-School mayhem. Quotables Grac...

The hardest thing to do is become better on your own when no one is watching. Staying motivated and clear on your purpose without the pressure of a deadline or request from a member of influence is harder than imaginable. Tune in to hear how you can make a significant upgrade to your edu-self so that you maximize your potential and student achievement for the upcoming school year. Quotables When I...

The technological myth in classrooms today is a trifecta: 1) if students aren’t learning on a technological device, then they aren’t learning at all 2) if teachers aren’t incorporating technology into a lesson, then they aren’t effective 3) if schools aren’t outfitted with the latest technology devices then they are behind, broke or operating on an old-school mentality. These assumptions couldn’t...

There are moments throughout the day where kids reach out to an adult hoping to make a connection. Oftentimes, these attempts are not recognized by busy adults and in the end opportunities go unnoticed for a child to fulfill their potential. Tune in to hear a powerful story about Les Brown who defied all odds to become his best self all because of a special teacher in his life. Quotables We as edu...

  Dr. James Davis has been an educator for the past 17 years, serving as a Professor, Principal, Assistant Principal of Instruction, and classroom teacher. He has his Ph. D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Urban Education. His areas of expertise include school turn-around, elementary education, middle grades education, increasing student achievement, and teacher effectiv...

No one arrives at greatness haphazardly. It takes time, dedication, patience and FEEDBACK. But, feedback can be hard to swallow, especially if it points out a weakness. It’s important to remember that even the best of the best receive feedback on a daily basis and because of that they are effective. Without the perspective and honesty of feedback, it is hard to perfect our craft. Tune in to hear 4...

There comes a time in your career when you need a respite in order to keep going, as if you are running a marathon and need a quick water or walk break. Too often the education profession loses great teachers because they do not get the respite they require to continue on in this career. Tune in to hear 4 tips to recharge your batteries so that you can continue using your talent to impact students...

Engagement and empowerment not only have different meaning, but they hold different values in the classroom as students become leaders of their own learning. Fine tune your definition of engagement and empowerment by listening to this episode as well as gain tips and tricks to upgrade your teaching efficacy in the classroom. Quotables The more I passed the baton to my kids, the better they did in...

It is easy to categorize student’s potential based on their misbehaviors, but we miss opportunities to help students develop critical skills in order to reflect, adjust and become their best selves. Burgess and Houf state, “separate the deed from the doer and work to change the deed.” Tune in for tips on how to do just this! Quotables Kids make mistakes and they shouldn’t be defined by them We hav...

ANGELA WATSON (formerly Powell)  has earned international recognition for her unique contributions to the field of education.  A  pioneer and trailblazer of modern teacher blogging , she was first known for  Ms. Powell’s Management Ideas for Teachers , a website she created in 2003 to share behavior management strategies, teaching techniques, and organizational tips. The site was expanded and rena...

Programs don’t teach kids, teachers do. We have to protect teaching talent by empowering teachers to take the important pieces of a curriculum and spend more time personalizing their lessons with their passion, talent, and creativity so that students can receive a personalized learning experience to become their best. Tune in to hear how teacher leaders can empower teachers so that their talent le...

Teachers are busy people and oftentimes don’t realize that every interaction they have with a child shapes the self-concept of their students. Regardless of intention, what teachers THINK about a child can be expressed as an expectation that can damage or restore a child’s passion and potential. Tune in to hear solutions for how all teachers can ensure every interaction with students communicates...

If you want to make a true impact on the teaching profession you need to adjust the way you lead others with a confidence that is silent but effective. Tune in to hear 5 tips on how the best teacher leaders personalize the learning experience of others to ensure they grow as professionals during their lifetime career as educators. Quotables: Let the learner do the leading [Leaders] don’t have much...

Leading a balanced professional and personal life is key to a long life of success and happiness. Tune in to hear how one unbalanced teacher took control of their life and enhanced all parts of it because of the big decision they were strong enough to make. Hear tips for new teachers, teachers in distress and transition and teacher leaders on how to win in life by being a balanced teacher. Quotabl...

Beckett Haight is a former student with special needs who went on to become a Special Educator.  After getting expelled from 6 th  grade he had an IEP and special education services stemming from ADHD and Oppositional Defiance Disorder until graduating high school.  This led him to becoming a volunteer in Special Needs classrooms in high school, then a Teacher Assistant for four years while in col...

Teachers have a tremendous opportunity to shape students into their potential so that their future is as bright as possible. A lot of the focus for teaching children is on the curriculum component, when in reality students need even more than that to become their best. Tune in to hear 8 characteristics teachers can employ into their instruction on a daily basis so that students can reach their pot...

New teachers often feel like they have to prove their ability to teach to students, parents, and colleagues. But it couldn’t be further from the truth. Just landing a job means you are qualified and capable. Learning that you don’t have to do it all in the classroom to showcase your control and ability is quite a freeing truth. Tune in to hear tips on how to pull back to gain control, sanity, and...