Edupreneur Spotlight: Gretchen Bridgers of Always a Lesson
From playing teacher with Christmas gifts as a child to becoming a nationally recognized educational leader, Gretchen Schultek Bridgers has dedicated her career to one powerful mission: empowering teachers to transform education from the inside out.
A Journey From Classroom to Educational Leadership
As a former elementary school teacher turned instructional coach, Gretchen earned National Board Certification and two Teacher of the Year nominations. But her most valuable insights came from a surprising realization: great teaching isn't about replication—it's about amplification.
"I used to believe that being a nationally board certified teacher meant I should just tell people what to do," she reflects. "My greatest growth came when I learned that empowering teachers means enhancing their unique strengths rather than creating duplicates of myself."
Building a Movement for Teacher Excellence
Today, Gretchen channels her expertise into multiple platforms designed to meet teachers where they are:
Books That Bridge Theory and Practice
Her most impactful work, "Elementary EDUC 101," addresses the critical gap between teacher preparation and classroom reality. Drawing from her own experience, she provides the practical strategies often missing from traditional education programs.
Professional Development Reimagined
Gretchen's approach to teacher development focuses on three core principles:
Enhancing individual teaching styles rather than enforcing a single method
Providing immediately applicable strategies
Building sustainable professional growth pathways
Why Her Work Matters
In an era of increasing teacher burnout and turnover, Gretchen's work addresses a critical need: providing educators with practical, sustainable paths to excellence. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: "When teachers know better, they can do better. When an entire building of teachers improves in one area of instruction, an entire student body benefits."
Resources for Your Professional Growth
For Classroom Teachers
Weekly podcast episodes focusing on practical teaching strategies
Books offering step-by-step guidance for classroom success
Blog with resources for immediate implementation
For Teacher Leaders
Leadership development programs
Coach training and strategies
Professional learning community guidance
For Administrators
School-wide instructional coaching, professional development, and speaking engagements
Teacher support systems
Cultural transformation strategies
The Impact
Through her work, Gretchen has helped thousands of educators:
Develop confidence in their teaching style
Navigate leadership transitions successfully
Create sustainable professional growth plans
Build collaborative learning communities
Her vision extends beyond individual classrooms to entire school systems, where she sees professional development as a collaborative journey toward educational excellence.
For more information about working with Gretchen or accessing her resources, visit her website or tune into the "Always a Lesson" podcast. Join the movement of educators who are transforming education through intentional growth and empowered teaching.
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
Together, let's build the future of education through empowered, excellent teaching.
