Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

Are you wondering how to make your school culture better? This episode is for you! Tune in as Gretchen shares a practical story about her experience with a supportive school culture, and the tips and tricks she uses to make it that much better. Quotables "We as the educators had the choice for how we worked, and where. Just the flexibility made all the difference in finding enjoyment and slowing,...

Join us as we dive into the important of building trust and relationships with students, and how much of a difference small conversations can make. With Ashley Bendiksen's expertise in supporting at-risk youth, she has touched many lives of students and adults. Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee "Foster every opportunity for conversation for dialogue remind them that you’re there an...

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 EVERYTHIN...

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 interes...

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 t...

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 te...

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 t...

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...

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 w...

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 ac...

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...

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 str...

Don't miss this enlightening episode with Gretchen as she delves into the realm of tech integration in education. Discover invaluable tips for effectively assessing the level of student engagement versus mere compliance when utilizing tech tools in the classroom. In this episode, Gretchen shares practical planning strategies and essential considerations to enhance your instructional practices and...

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Naomi Hall, also known as The Recovering Educator, as she shares invaluable insights on navigating the challenges of being an educator. Naomi reminds us that while the teaching profession can be stressful, there are numerous factors within our control that can positively impact our well-being. In this episode, Naomi offers practical strategies for managin...

Let's talk TRANSFORMATION with Gretchen as she explores the art of leveraging student engagement through the integration of student voice. Uncover actionable tips and straightforward techniques that empower you to immediately enhance classroom dynamics and amplify student participation. Tune in now to discover the keys to unlocking greater engagement and fostering a dynamic learning environment! I...

Dive into an enlightening conversation with Gretchen as she unveils the keys to effective differentiation and personalized learning for optimal student engagement. Learn how to refine your teaching methods by eliminating inefficiencies and prioritizing strategies that deeply connect with your students. Tune in now to unlock powerful insights and transform your approach to teaching! In this episode...

Uncover actionable strategies, from fostering inclusivity to promoting collaboration, aimed at cultivating a supportive learning atmosphere that empowers students to excel. Gain 10 practical ideas for seamless implementation, ensuring immediate impact on your educational journey. Tune in now to ignite positivity and maximize student participation! Quotables: Explicitly teach the why behind the wha...

Join us as our listeners unveil groundbreaking teaching approaches to revolutionize student engagement. Dive into the realm of cutting-edge methods, from gamification to interactive technology, designed to captivate students' interest and deepen their learning experience. Tune in now and discover how to spark curiosity and elevate engagement in your classroom! In this episode, Gretchen reminds us...

Discover how to recognize and prevent burnout, explore its various types, and reignite your passion for teaching. Tune in now to empower your educational journey! Join Rebekah Shoaf as she delves into her journey in education, offering invaluable insights and lessons learned. Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee  Having a burn out is really a sense of having lost your purpose, your po...

Have you ever ran into a problem that you just can't seem to hack? This episode is for you! Tune in as Gretchen shares a practical story about a problem she had trouble hacking and how she overcame it. You'll walk away with tangible steps to hack your own problems and you'll leave this episode feeling empowered to take it on! Quotables Some problems aren’t meant to be solved by you. Say to yoursel...

It's a new year! Tune into this special episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast as Gretchen shares three ways to grow your potential in the upcoming year. You'll walk away from this podcast with a list of three tangible things you can do to level up your teaching whether you are working with students or coaching teachers. Quotables The only way we are going to become better is if we shift our...

It's the last podcast of the year! In this special episode, Gretchen reflects over the behind the scenes work of the podcast. She talks about who she intended the podcast for: new teachers, teachers in a slump and teacher leaders and how it has evolved over time. Gretchen shares how she has used the head, heart, hands strategy to plan every episode- a strategy that will serve you well in planning...

Do you have credibility with the teachers that you lead? It may just be the secret sauce that you are missing. In this episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast, Gretchen talks all about credibility and what that looks like. Lacking in the credibility area? No worries! Gretchen shares tips and tricks on how you can gain credibility with teachers. Quotables Credibility sets the tone. You can be s...

Meet and be empowered by Alissa Crabtree in this special interview episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast. Alissa shares great, tactile advice about how to effectively work with teachers as an instructional coach. She also discusses the importance of the instructional coach/administrator relationship and how that relationship can be a powerhouse for change within a district. Get your pen and...

When hardship arrives, it can be used as an opportunity to propel you forward. Tune into this episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast as Gretchen shares a personal story about hardship and then gives you practical steps that you can apply to your own hardships in order to use them as a stepping stone to move forward. You're not going to want to miss this one! Listen in and get ready to be empo...