Posts by Gretchen Schultek Bridgers

Onboarding is essential for staff be able to do their role effectively. Onboarding establishes expectations and offers support. Dictionary.com defines onboarding as “the action or process of integrating a new employee into an organization or familiarizing a new customer or client with one’s products or services.” Onboarding should be the entry point from which all…

Switching positions or grade levels as an educator can feel overwhelming. Change can be scary because it is unknown, but the tips shared in this blog post will help make the transition in position or grade level easier. Researching If you are ready for a change in your career as an educator, researching options for…

Teacher mentorship is essential for the growth and development of staff. Oftentimes, mentorship is an afterthought and poorly executed. This leaves teachers struggling to make an impact in the classroom. Before designing a mentorship process or program, it’s important to hand pick the perfect candidates to perform the mentor duties. They are the ones that…

Moving from a school to district instructional coach can be an adjustment for educators. There are many similarities and differences between the roles. This post will outline those as well as provide overall tips for making the transition successfully. Similarities in Roles Purpose– Instructional coaching, whether at a school building or district level, is the…

Being an instructional coach looks different based on the needs of your school and/or district. This post will outline my experience coaching new teachers in a large urban district in Charlotte, NC. Vision– Coaching was so new that many leaders didn’t know exactly how to use a coach. Not understanding how you want to utilize…