Épisodes

  • 348: Opening Worlds Through Words with Pam Allyn

    348: Opening Worlds Through Words with Pam Allyn
    Jul 21 2025
    In this inspiring episode, we dive into the heart of literacy and its life-changing impact with renowned literacy advocate, educator, and CEO Pam Allyn. Pam shares powerful insights into why reading is not just a fundamental skill, but a gateway to equity, empowerment, and lifelong success. Quotables ** All quotes are from the interviewee **
    • "I really want the world to be a better place for children and young adults to be able to be comfortable learning to read and write."
    • "Reading a story to a child isn’t just something you do on the side...It’s actually something that can be central to who I am as an educator. "
    • "Reading is breathing in and writing is breathing out."

    About Pam Allyn

    Pam Allyn is the founder and CEO of Dewey, a groundbreaking learning platform designed to support the wellbeing of families and caregivers at the powerful intersection of home, work, and learning.

    A lifelong educator, curriculum developer, and literacy advocate — and a proud grandparent — Pam has dedicated her career to helping young children learn to read and develop a lasting love for reading and writing. Through Dewey, she’s on a mission to make learning joyful and accessible by introducing playful, engaging tools that ease the fear and anxiety often associated with school. Since its launch, Dewey has positively impacted over 100,000 children, offering a wide range of educational products for parents, caregivers, and educators in both English and Spanish, with more languages on the way.

    Connect with Pam Allyn
    • https://www.deweycommunity.com
    • https://pamallyn.com/
    • https://medium.com/@pam_90412
    • https://www.instagram.com/deweycommunity/

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    34 min
  • 347: H.O.P.E. with Superintendent Dr. Brandi Kelly

    347: H.O.P.E. with Superintendent Dr. Brandi Kelly
    Jul 7 2025

    In this powerful episode, Superintendent Dr. Brandi Kelly joins us to share the story behind her transformative system of H.O.P.E. She breaks down what H.O.P.E. stands for, how it came to be, and how it’s changing the way educators and leaders approach their work in schools and communities.

    Dr. Kelly dives into the importance of strong, uplifting relationships—connecting with the right people who challenge and support you—as a foundation for authentic leadership. She also shares how her system not only supports teachers and leaders, but also empowers students to rise and thrive.

    Whether you're in education or leadership in any form, this conversation will leave you with practical tools, heartfelt encouragement, and a renewed sense of purpose.

    Quotables
    • "We need community and we need to lift each other up."
    • "My mission is just to help those leaders and educators create systems that support thriving communities rooted in my system of H.O.P.E."
    • "Change starts from the inside out."

    About Dr. Brandi Kelly Dr. Brandi Kelly is an accomplished author, speaker, and consultant with over 20 years of experience dedicated to empowering leaders to inspire growth, drive positive change, and cultivate environments where success thrives. Known for her passion and purpose, Dr. Kelly believes in the transformational power of hope—and the courage it takes to lead with it. Dr. Kelly’s mission is simple yet powerful: to spark hope in every individual and organization she serves. Through her signature System of H.O.P.E., she equips others to foster strong leadership, build supportive cultures, and achieve sustainable, hope-driven success. Resources from this Episode www.sparkhopeedu.com Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter
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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: 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.”
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    28 min
  • 346: Teach and Lead with Pablo Munoz

    346: Teach and Lead with Pablo Munoz
    Jun 23 2025
    In this episode, we sit down with educational leader Pablo Munoz to explore the heart of effective teaching and leadership. Pablo emphasizes that loving children is the foundation of successful teaching, sharing how genuine care and connection pave the way for impactful learning. He dives into what true educational leadership looks like—leading with purpose, integrity, and a deep belief in student potential. Throughout the conversation, Pablo reflects on how great teaching isn’t just about strategy, but about showing up with compassion, commitment, and the drive to help every child thrive. Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned leader, this episode offers powerful reminders of why we teach and how love and leadership go hand-in-hand for lasting success. Quotables **All quotes are from the interviewee**
    • "You really have to be intentional when you start moving up to get into schools."
    • "Task predicts performance."
    • "The most important part about a leader is that your actions actually match your written and spoken words."

    About Pablo Munoz Pablo Muñoz is the managing director of Muñoz & Company, an educational and leadership consulting organization. He is a leadership coach, teacher, trainer, and speaker with the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team; the author of The Leader’s Algorithm; and the host and producer of Latino Leaders podcast. Pablo has 30 years of public education experience as a teacher and administrator, including 16 years as a superintendent of schools. He was recognized as the 2008 Union County School Superintendent of the Year by the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce in New Jersey and named as one of the George Lucas Educational Foundation’s 2008 Daring Dozen – a prestigious group of twelve educators “who are reshaping the future of education.” Pablo graduated from Yale University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Ivy League pitching honors. A lifelong athlete and sports fan, he has coached baseball at all levels from little league to professional, having been a minor league pitching coach with the Chicago Cubs. After Yale, Pablo continued his education at Teachers College, Columbia University where he earned a Master of Arts in educational administration in 1996. Resources from this episode:
    • https://www.themunozcompany.com/
    • linkedin.com/in/pablo-muñoz-b30b2ab1
    • https://www.themunozcompany.com/the-leaders-algorithm https://www.themunozcompany.com/latino-leaders-podcast

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    46 min
  • Bonus: Empowering Educators Podcast 10th Birthday

    Bonus: Empowering Educators Podcast 10th Birthday
    Jun 14 2025
    Let's celebrate together as Always a Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast turns 10! Tune in on this live recording in celebration of all things over the past ten years. Throughout the episode, Gretchen talks past and present about the experience, the fun, and the amazing educators she's been able to meet along the way. Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter
    • Join here and grab a freebie!

    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: 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 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’
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    40 min
  • 345: Stepping into STEM with Nichole Austion

    345: Stepping into STEM with Nichole Austion
    Jun 9 2025
    Step into the world of STEM when you listen to this weeks episode! Learn all about the benefits, different tips to take back to your own classroom, and how you can get involved yourself. Quotables ** All quotes are by the interviewee **
    • “A setback is when you learn from the mistake and you continue on.”
    • “Find role models and mentors.”
    • “We need to be more collaborative together as teaching teams.”

    About Nichole Austion Nichole Austion, MBA, has over 20 years of marketing success and has served as VP of public affairs for the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) since 2022. She leads government affairs, fostering relationships with federal and state entities. Nichole holds a B.S. in computer science and engineering from Howard University and an MBA from Texas McCombs (1995). An active member of the National Black MBA Association, she was named Innovator of the Year by the Women’s Empowerment Ministry in 2024. A passionate STEM advocate, she published Miles and the Math Monsters in 2024, a children’s book designed to make math fun and accessible. Resources from the Episode
    • www.nms.org
    • www.linkedin.com/in/nichole-austion/
    • www.nicholeaustionbooks.com/
    • National Math and Science Initiative website: nms.org

    • Nichole's email: naustion@nms.org
    • Nichole's author website: Nicholeaustionbooks.com

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    Connect with Gretchen
    • Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
    • Blog: Always A Lesson
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    32 min
  • 344: Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone with Robert Barnett

    344: Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone with Robert Barnett
    May 26 2025
    Often times teachers want to do what is comfortable for them, but what if the best way to help your students was to step out of your comfort zone and teach differently? Listen in as Robert Barnett tells his story about how he shifted his teaching style and stepped out of the norm for his students. Quotables ** All quotes are by the interviewee **
    • "Learning should feel good. Students should build self esteem to build confidence when they learn something new."

    • "Every child deserves an excellent education no matter who they are or what their background is. "
    • “The more I got away from this sort of one lesson at a time approach, the more I just appreciated the incredible diversity of talent, interest, and potential that students bring to class. ”

    About Robert Barnett Robert Barnett co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project, which has empowered 80,000+ educators in 180+ countries to meet every learner’s needs. Before that he taught math, computer science, English, social studies, and law, from the middle-school to university levels, at public and private schools in the U.S. and abroad. He is the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs: Redesigning Instruction So All Learners Can Succeed and he hopes his children will learn in Modern Classrooms someday! Resources from this episode: 1.meeteverylearnersneeds.org 2. https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-s-barnett/ 3. book 4. Book giveaway : https://meln-form.paperform.co/?podcast=aal
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    31 min
  • 343: Clarity in Schools with Casey Watts

    343: Clarity in Schools with Casey Watts
    May 12 2025
    Have you ever needed more clarity? Have you ever wondered what more clarity looked like in schools? Listen in as Casey Watts speaks on exactly that and gives insider tips on how to make your school successful in this practice. Quotables ** All quotes are by the interviewee **
    • "Show up for yourself the way you want to show up."
    • "Pause, listen, question, and avoid making assumptions."
    • "Clarity precedes capacity every single time."

    About Casey Watts Casey Watts has spent 20 years in education—teaching, coaching, and leading—watching talented educators get stuck in silos, overwhelmed by initiatives, and frustrated by collaboration that felt more like chaos than progress. She knows the real problem isn’t a lack of effort or expertise. It’s a lack of clarity. Through her Clarity Cycle Framework, Casey helps instructional leaders cut through the noise, align their teams, and turn collaboration into something that actually works. Because without clarity, even the best teams stay stuck. Now, as the founder of Casey Watts Coaching & Consulting, and host of The Catching Up with Casey Podcast, she’s on a mission to help school leaders stop spinning their wheels and start leading with purpose. Whether speaking, coaching, or leading workshops, Casey equips leaders with the tools to create the kind of teams that don’t just function—they thrive. Resources from this episode: https://www.catchingupwithcasey.com/ Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter
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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...
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    36 min
  • 342: Achieving Growth Through Peer Collaboration

    342: Achieving Growth Through Peer Collaboration
    Apr 28 2025
    Peer collaboration in education is so important and can bring so much growth to you as a professional. Listen in to this weeks episode as Gretchen dives deep into how peer collaboration can be beneficial, rewarding, and valuable. Quotables
    • "It really builds a culture of collaboration when you can go watch a peer and build them up. "

    • "You don’t know what someone can bring to the table, so don’t assume. "
    • “Peer collaboration is a give and take among peers.”

    Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter
    • Join here and grab a freebie!

    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: 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 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’

    Music from #Uppbeat:

    https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/your-way License code: QD3TG5UIS0LHILEL
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    31 min