Posts by Gretchen Schultek Bridgers

Switching curriculum is commonplace in schools. Sometimes funding or a contract runs out, new best practices force a change in direction for how to instruct students, or schools just want to try something new. Regardless of the reason, switching curriculum occurs on average every few years. This can be a frustrating process for both teachers…

The most common piece of advice from leadership is for teachers to build relationships with their students. The same advice is true of how the leadership team should prioritize building relationships with their staff and vise versa. Those in leadership positions often feel isolated because there are not many staff members in their role. It’s…

In the height of cold and flu season, student absences are inevitable. Especially in the post Covid era, numerous days of absences among students are common. Therefore, educators need a thorough plan for meeting curriculum expectations even while student attendance is inconsistent. The following steps are two fold. First, it will help students not get…

A coaching strategy that shifts with the seasons helps teacher leaders deliver strong support to teachers. If we only ever use one strategy for the entire year, we miss out on the opportunity to respond to the unique needs of teachers as they change throughout the school year. The previous posts in the series described:…

Teacher leaders need a coaching strategy when working with teachers in the classroom. For their support to grow the instructional skill level of a teacher, a strategy should be in place first. This ensures alignment between state/district goals, school curriculum, and teacher needs and wants. Being responsive with a coaching strategy means you cannot have…