297: Empowering Students with Laura Williams

Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

Gretchen interviews Laura Williams in this special Summer Series episode. Laura shares about her journey into the field of education. Laura has a passion for creativity in the classroom and a desire to help teachers empower students to think more deeply.

Quotables

*All quotables are from the interviewee

• When you’re a yes person and you’re a go getter and you do things, opportunities just come your way.

• Be a motivator.

• We’re trying to move the bar and we are going to move it a lot further if we move it together.

About Laura:

Laura Williams (MAT, M.ED ELPS) is your resident authentic learning expert, co-facilitates the Iowa Authentic Learning Network for the Iowa AEAs, and is the founder of the Authentic Learning Alliance. She also is a Project Manager on a statewide project board for PK-12 Students across Iowa as part of her AEA role. Her educational background includes: B.A. in Interdepartmental Health Studies: Emphasis on Multidisciplinary Sciences, M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education, and Principal Licensure and M.A. in Ed. Leadership and Policy Studies and is currently a doctoral student. Laura is a certified Scrum Master, Product Owner and Agile Classrooms Trainer. Over the past 10 years, she’s dedicated herself to transforming education through incorporating authentic learning experiences with area partnerships into PK-12 classrooms as an educator, consultant, and 21st Century Learning Specialist. She believes that education can be “the great equalizer” if we can leverage our student’s interests and passions. “We have ~6.5 instructional hours a day and I believe we can be the difference. We just have to dedicate the time, space, and connections to "up the ante" for students. I believe we can help each learner find their superpowers and help them develop 21st Century skills to be successful in living, learning, and working. We can help students develop a mindset that they can be and do whatever they want in order to find their greatest human potential and live in their element.”

Resources mentioned:

• Agile Classrooms Live Event
• Sir Ken Robinson

Connect with Laura:

• Website: https://www.authenticlearningalliance.org/
• Twitter: @mrswilliams21c
• Email: [e-mail]

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Connect with Gretchen

• Email: [e-mail]
• 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

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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

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