Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

What does it mean to be a leader in education? Leadership doesn’t always come with a title—it can happen in the classroom, in conversations with colleagues, and in the everyday choices teachers make to support their students and school communities. In this episode, we explore the journey from teacher to trailblazer and how educators can build leadership into their everyday practice. We’ll discuss what it looks like to recognize your influence, lead with intention, and create meaningful change without waiting for a formal leadership position. Quotables "Leadership does not require perfection.""People notice patterns.""You do want people to be more knowledgeable than you, but it doesn’t mean you offer nothing to the table." Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected]: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: 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.’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 podcastClick ‘Send’

Teaching is about more than delivering content—it’s about being present with students, noticing their needs, and working alongside colleagues to create meaningful learning experiences. In this episode, Doug Fisher shares insights into what it means to be truly present in teaching and how educators can be more intentional about the way they connect, collaborate, and respond to the people around them. From building strong relationships with students to working as a team with colleagues, this conversation highlights how teaching becomes more powerful when educators learn and grow together. Quotables "When a team feels efficient and effective, and we feel like we’re making a difference together, that brings us joy.""Putting good systems in place, I think is really important.""The more time teachers spend in each others classroom, the more benefit it has academically for the outcome of students." About Doug Fisher Doug Fisher went from working at KFC and riding ambulances to pay his way through college to becoming a Professor of Education at San Diego State and writing a whole shelf of books on how learning actually happens. But here's the part that makes him different: he never left the classroom. He co-founded a school in 2007 and still teaches there today. Over the past 20 years, he has helped more than 100,000 educators improve how they teach. Through these experiences, he realized something that drives him CRAZY: education has never had more experts—and less advice that actually survives a real classroom. Because of this, teachers sit through endless PD sessions, nod along... and NOTHING changes for their students on Monday morning. So he decided to start helping educators the RIGHT way—with evidence-based practices like teacher clarity, gradual release of responsibility, and PLC+ that actually survive contact with real students. Connect with Doug Fisher WebsiteEmail:[email protected] on XLinkedin Student Engagement Resources from Doug Fisher PLTogether Student Engagement Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected]: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: 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.’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 podcastClick ‘Send’  

Professional learning is a common part of education, but not all professional development leads to meaningful change in the classroom. In this episode, we take a closer look at what makes professional learning effective, relevant, and worth teachers’ time. We explore the difference between simply attending a training and engaging in learning that actually changes practice. From relevance and collaboration to follow-up and opportunities for implementation, effective professional learning should empower educators rather than overwhelm them. Quotables "Reflection is where ideas become more personal.""Learning doesn’t stick with people until they process it.""Every professional learning session needs at least one meaningful learning move." Resources from this Episode Instructional Leaders Library Membership Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected]: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: 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.’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 podcastClick ‘Send’

Teaching is more than delivering content—it is a craft that requires intention, reflection, relationships, and a commitment to continually growing as an educator. In this episode, Dr. Anthony Richiez joins us for a conversation about the Craft of Teaching and what it truly means to develop the skills, mindset, and practices that make a lasting impact on students. Quotables "We’re expected that we know everything, and I think sometimes the brain stops and we don’t focus on the craft of teaching.""It’s not content, it’s context.""You have to find out why you're doing this [teaching]." About Dr. Anthony Richiez Dr. Anthony Richiez specializes in transforming classrooms from low engagement and disconnectedness to a high-achieving and comprehension-rich learning environment.Understanding what it takes to transform low-performing students into excelling scholars is the journey and system audiences will learn, experience, and implement. "I Teach Teachers How To Teach Better".-Dr. Richiez Connect with Dr. Anthony Richiez Website: https://www.anthonyrichiez.com/ https://myteachcraft.com/ Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lsx-eeZ_f4 Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/TeachCraftLearning https://www.linkedin.com/in/arichiez/ https://www.instagram.com/anthonyrichiez/ Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected]: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: 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.’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 podcastClick ‘Send’

What happens when a child grows up feeling unseen? In this heartfelt episode, our guest shares her personal story of navigating childhood without feeling noticed and how those experiences shaped her confidence, relationships, and perspective on education. Through vulnerability and reflection, she explains why being truly present for children can change the trajectory of their lives. This conversation is a powerful reminder for educators that while lesson plans are important, students often remember the adults who made them feel valued. Every greeting, encouraging word, and intentional interaction has the potential to make a lasting difference. Quotables **All quotes are from the interviewee** "No matter what their [students] mistake is,they are welcome back and they are forgiven for whatever they have done.""We need to honor the dignity of students with every interaction that we make.""Every child deserves to be treated with unconditional positive regard." About Julianna Burmesch Julianna Burmesch is a former school principal, speech pathologist, early brain development trainer, parent educator, and child advocate. In writing her memoir, “Life with Less of Me” (Books Fluent, June 23, 2026), she wants to help people understand the effects of adverse childhood experiences and unresolved trauma on one's long-term physical and mental health. Julianna is a mother, grandmother, potter, and occasional jewelry artist. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, John, and her beautiful dogs, Bella and Ruby. Connect with Julianna Book-Life with Less of MevisitJuliannaBurmesch.comFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/people/Julianna-Burmesch-Author/61568035880501/LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianna-burmesch-69476674/ Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: [email protected]: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: 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.’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 podcastClick ‘Send’