Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

It’s easy to slow down when you get close to the end. But, elite educators don’t slow down, they ramp it up. Tune in to hear how to keep your energy tank on full throttle so that you can provide engaging, rigorous instruction up until the last minute of the school year. Quotables You can’t be amazing ¾ of the way. Kids deserve a quality education and not just on Tuesdays or in September or at 8 am. They deserve engaging, top notch instruction on Fridays at 3 pm in June. Its called character and work ethic. We gotta do better and be better. Forget the busy work, get to work. Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

The environment that we work in can help or hinder us. In fact, we have more to do with our environment than we may initially think. Tune in to hear how you might contribute or contaminate your own working environment and how you can correct yourself when you go off course! Quotables Contributors are magnets Just because it wasn’t helpful or exciting for me didn’t mean it wasn’t exactly what they needed and that would ultimately benefit our team in the end Action Steps Tip 1- Take a mental note Tip 2- Put up bumpers Tip 3- Prevent the triggers Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Oftentimes educators bring emotional baggage to work that doesn’t belong and isn’t healthy for teacher effectiveness and student achievement. It’s important to check that baggage and then unpack it so that all negative emotions are dealt with, leaving space for happiness and contentment in teaching. Tune in to hear the simple four step solution to unpacking your baggage so that you can become your best for your kids! Quotables Whether our emotional baggage is work related or not it comes with us to work You cant outrun your own baggage-It goes with you EVERYWHERE. Suggested Method STEP 1: Take stock of what’s in the bags STEP 2: Unload the heaviest items first STEP 3: See it for what it is STEP 4: Hang it up or put it away Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

It’s easy to miss out on the amazing developments in our life and career when our eyes are pressed forward to the horizon rather than keeping our feet in the boat. Tune in to hear how you can still set long term goals but enjoy the journey along the way! Quotables There’s no point in holding out until the destination before stopping to smell the roses. Please don’t keep setting goals and setting goals and setting goals without ever really enjoying life Miserable accomplished people are boring and unrealistic. No one wants a friend who is amazing at their job but sucks at real life. Don’t become so obsessed with getting better that you stop living You can’t be a great you tomorrow, if you aren’t a great you today Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Dr. Fredericks is an educator and international business professional with more than 30 years of management experience and academic achievements in the United States, Europe and China. His professional education career began as an elementary school teacher in the Fort Apache section of the South Bronx, New York. In addition to his teaching duties during regular school hours, he also created and ran all of the after school programs. In addition to his work during the day, he attended the Graduate School of the New School for Social Research where he received a Master’s Degree in Political Science. He was then recruited to help run an urban education graduate program at Indiana University where he also pursued and received a doctorate in Education. Dr. Fredericks then joined the Graduate Faculty of the Bank Street College of Education where he was the Chairman of the History, Principles and Philosophy Department and Professor of Ethics and Educational Philosophy. During his tenure at Bank Street, he also consulted with the government of Venezuela in creating the curriculum for the state run universities.During this phase of his career, Dr. Fredericks enrolled in an MBA program at New York University and received an MBA in Finance, at which time he was recruited by IBM, where he began a long and varied career in business, eventually spanning industries ranging from technology to Hollywood film making to internet start-ups to advertising. Of note, he worked in Paris as the head of Financial Planning and Analysis for IBM Headquarters responsible for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Additionally, after IBM, he helped start and operate Digital Domain which became the largest digital visual effects studio in the world and received Oscar awards, Grammy awards and nominations  for work on movies including Titanic, music videos and television commercials. He then proceeded to lead a variety of companies as the Chief Executive Officer and was an Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Finance at New York University at which point he was recruited to, in a sense, return to his roots in the field of Education by the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation.Dr. Fredericks has been particularly effective in engaging financial, technical, and marketing organizations to conceptualize and achieve complex business parameters both strategically and tactically. He has delivered speeches and made presentations around the world on a variety of topics including an invitation by the Chinese Ministry of Trade to address business and educational leaders on the potential for the Chinese film making industry to both train and eventually compete on a world class basis. This presentation resulted in Dr. Fredericks being named to the Board of the Center for Creative Media at the City University of Hong Kong. He also, during his tenure as CEO at TNS Media Intelligence, authored a book titled, StraDegy, Advertising in the Digital Age which was extremely well received as it argued that unless industries engaged in, and adapted to, emerging digital technologies, they would find themselves falling further and further behind their new competitors who wholly embraced the digital age.The Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF) has, under Dr. Fredericks’ direction as Executive Director, become the largest provider of after school activities spanning sports, arts and academics in the United States. It provides these activities in the schools, Kindergarten through High School, to over 25,000 students annually. Dr. Fredericks was asked to join SASF in order to professionalize and grow the organization. He very successfully achieved this and it currently employs over 4000 paid staff annually and has revenue of over $40M. In addition to his duties at SASF, he also serves on the Board of Advisors of the School of Education at Indiana University and has consulted with educators and academic researchers at Indiana University, Harvard University, University of Connecticut and Johns Hopkins University.Finally, it should be noted that Dr. Fredericks has achieved the following distinctions: named Man of the Year at Indiana University; President of his Fraternity, Delta Upsilon; elected to lifetime membership in the Indiana University Foundation; 2nd Lt. U.S. Army; named to Top 100 BtoB Marketers by BtoB Magazine (2005/2006/2007); author of articles on the Future of Advertising, Educational Policy and Values Education; and solicited for a variety of Keynote Speeches and Media appearances.QuotablesYou can’t run away from the public school systemIf you are going to be a teacher, you need to know what your subject matter isCan everybody become a teacher?Not everybody is charismaticIf its a bad experience, its almost impossible to eraseWe cant assume we are solving one problemAs an educator, there is never and end gameBuzz Words & ConceptsRisk takingThinking outside the boxExcellence gapsDream with your eyes wide openConnect with Dr. Fr

Good teachers know there is always room for improvement in their practice. But, choosing the right areas to improve can be more difficult than expected. Tune in to hear how to make small tweaks with a large impact in your classroom and beyond! Quotables Its unrealistic for me to expect myself to change so many things about my instructional practice and still remain effective It has to be the RIGHT pebble Catapult student learning in one easy tweak Simplicity is best We need to work smarter Techniques Mentioned Ask 3 Before Me No Opt Out (Teach Like a Champion) Leave a Rating and Review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Teaching is a calling, a career choice made by many. However, many teachers are getting discouraged quickly and exiting the profession without living out their passion. Tune in to hear how to answer the call without getting distracted by all the extraneous noise that comes along with the teaching territory. Inspiring Quote: “It doesn’t matter if the public doesn’t support you. It doesn’t matter if the policy makers don’t support you. What really matters is that you were called to teach. Your classroom is your second home and your students are a big part of your heart.” -TheWriteStuff_TpT Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

The end of the year doesn’t have to be dreaded by students and teachers alike. It can be positive and loads of fun with the right perspective. As adults we can unknowingly convey our attitudes to young minds, exposing them to stress they don’t need to be privy to yet. Tune in to hear what frustrated, overworked educators can do to protect their students from experiencing adult stressors. Quotables Protect your students from your adult stressors We are appointed to breathe life into our future If are so consumed with just surviving we aren’t inspiring them to new heights- we are putting a ceiling on their growth They will rise if you rise Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Effective leaders balance being in control and being a friend to those they lead. Teachers can struggle with managing their classrooms and helping students reach academic success. Tune in to learn how effective teachers lead from the side so that they can build relationships that last with their kids but also maintain order in the classroom. Quotables We gotta learn our own version of leading from the side Relationships are everything in education You can always tone things down but its almost impossible to stiffen up down the road Don’t be a dictator and don’t be a friend Leadership takes time to develop Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Joann is an educator of over 20 years. She began her career as a TA at an elementary school in Memphis, Tennessee. She was drawn to special education and worked with boys in the juvenile system as well as medically fragile students. Joann has experience at the middle school level in a self-contained life skills classroom, as well as both an inclusion K-5 and preschool classroom. She received her principal and superintendent certification while being a behavior instructional coach for her school district in charge of completing AYP analysis. Quickly after, she moved to an AP role at an elementary school before moving to Austin, Texas for her current role working for Region 13 Education Service Center as a Special Education Specialist supervising first year teacher interns and providing PD. Each day, she asks herself “How have you inspired potential today?” and every day, she can answer that question with evidence and confidence that she has made a positive impact no matter how big or small.QuotablesAll teachers need supportBecoming a great teacher didn’t happen overnightA great teacher is someone who cares that every student every day learns and grows and feels like a real human being- you’re teaching the whole child!Constantly remind your students and teach them and review your classrooms rules, procedures and expectationsStudents crave structure. Teachers crave support.Connect with JoannEmail: [email protected]: @region13Website:http://www.theteachertoolkit.com/http://www4.esc13.net/http://kids.esc13.net/Connect with GretchenEmail: [email protected]: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek  Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers  Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College  Leave a Rating and Reviewhttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2Why?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.How?Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in infoLeave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

It’s important to know how you as an individual need to be motivated in order to do your best so that you can a) locate the leader for you b) advocate for yourself. Tune in to hear how educators can succeed in the classroom by knowing their number 1 motivator and finding a leader, the shepherd, who can give it to them, the sheep, consistently. Quotables: I couldn’t understand how one year I was fantastic and the next year I was just average Depending who was leading me, I was the peak or I was the valley Its not the leader, it’s the leadership Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Teachers come in all shapes and sizes in terms of their style and personality. Some are loud and circulate the classroom constantly. Others are quiet and remain at the board to share their knowledge. The most important factor in a classroom is student learning and that is tied to teacher effectiveness. The truth is that teacher effectiveness doesn’t have to be cookie cutter. There are great teachers whose classrooms look and sound completely different. Tune in to hear how you can still be you AND be an effective teacher- even if its not by the current trends. Quotables Its so important to look beyond a checklist when looking at teachers and really look at the data of how kids are doing If we know that kids are learning in each room then all we have to do is tweak that teacher’s performance to be of optimal value in a way that fits their style rather than making them fit the box You don’t have to dress all in blue and wear a red hat to be a good teacher You can improve within your own style Your kids will learn best when you are your authentic self Listener Reviews: Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

The paper trap is a real thing in the world of education. Teachers often struggle with their mental health and the paper trap is one of the most popular reasons why. Tune in to hear strategies for how to unlock 5 typical paper traps all in a teacher’s day! Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Effective leaders are reflective in how the way they lead affects others. If you wouldn’t follow you, what makes you think others will? Tune in to hear how to self evaluate your leadership and make changes today that will have a positive impact tomorrow! Quotables I love leaders who have high expectations but sympathize I respect leaders who might not have done it before but are willing to roll up their sleeves, jump into the trenches with you and make it happen Whatever you ask of others be willing to do yourself Know what its like to be lead by yourself I cannot achieve my goals, if those I lead aren’t behind me Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected] Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’