Posts by Gretchen Schultek Bridgers

One of the hardest obstacles to overcome as a teacher leader is to set boundaries. It’s uncomfortable and often frowned upon. However, it is the most powerful leadership tool one can employ. It’s no secret that the role of teacher leadership is ever evolving, and sometimes not quite articulated or planned out. This leads to…

Virtual connections are becoming more important by the day as schools are forced to move to distance learning models. Traditional in-person parent communication methods (conferences, open houses, school events etc.) are no longer at an educator’s disposal due to COVID-19 precautions. This doesn’t mean parent communication halts; rather, it’s time to reinvent the way parent…

Virtual classroom management is becoming the new teacher superpower as schools pivot to online learning environments. Luckily, the skills teachers use to manage a classroom in-person can easily translate to virtual instruction. However, there are a few additional skills to acquire that specifically will apply to successfully managing a virtual classroom. Both aspects will be…

Going for an interview in education is an exciting endeavor! It can also bring up some anxiety as you wonder what to expect from the experience. As someone who has completed an interview in education for countless teachers and administrators in various districts, I can tell you that there are certain trends that appear in…

A reading list specifically for instructional coaches is one way teacher leaders can continue their own learning and hone their craft. The suggested reading list below are all titles recommended by teacher leaders in the field. By no means do you need to read all of these books. This list is simply a way to…

If you don’t have an entry plan going into your role as an instructional coach then the first thirty days on the job can be taxing. This post will provide a roadmap for those who have recently been hired as an instructional coach, are switching campuses or are looking for a stronger way to begin…

A data chat with a professional learning community can be a powerful tool to increase teacher proficiency and student achievement. Having a process in place to lead a productive and successful discussion is imperative to achieving the change you desire.   Get Ready for a Data Chat Before diving into a data chat, there are…

Becoming an instructional coach is exciting, but when you are moving into a leadership role on the same campus where you were a teacher, it can bring forward mixed emotions. There are certainly benefits and drawbacks from being promoted within the same organizational structure. Before diving into the list of benefits and drawbacks, I first…

Great teachers will remain in the field of education if they are supported. One way to do this is through onboarding. One of the duties for teacher leaders, specifically instructional coaches, is onboarding new staff to the school. This means that the teacher leader is in charge of helping that new hire acclimate into the…

If you have a student teacher or a new teaching colleague joining the staff, you might be wondering about new teacher gift ideas. This post will give you plenty of options for how to support a new teacher while showing appreciation and encouragement for their new journey into the educational profession. New Teacher Gift Ideas…