Let’s set the scene. It’s 2009. I’m a bright-eyed educator with big ideas, a rolling cart of chart paper, and an inbox full of forwarded PDFs with images and questionable fonts. Professional development back then? A hodgepodge of PowerPoints, binders, and long-winded speakers who have never met a single one of my students. Feedback came twice a year, and classroom support felt more like an observation than a collaboration. And let’s not even talk about culturally responsive teaching resources, which were almost non-existent but very desirable.
Fast forward to today. I am now an administrator blessed to coach, collaborate with, and champion a powerful team of new and veteran teachers. And thanks to Teaching Channel’s Empower Platform, I finally have a professional learning tool I wish I had fifteen years ago. A tool that not only meets teachers where they are, but is designed to walk with them, laptop in hand, on their journey to growth.
I call Empower “YouTube for Educators…but with standards.” If you’re a school leader or administrator wondering where you should schedule a demo, let me do you one better: here are my top 3 favorite features that will have you clicking “Learn More” before your next lunch break.
1. The Video Library
YouTube, but Make It Pedagogically Approved
Picture this: A searchable, categorized library of videos on every topic imaginable from educator wellness to literacy centers. I’m almost positive they have a similar video on how to gracefully transition 20 squirrelly third graders from recess to reading block in one of the classroom management videos. If not, and if that’s your expertise, you can make a video and submit that to the platform! Empower is like having a staff of master teachers and thought leaders on-call, no full PD required.
But what really sold me? The wealth of content that supports and celebrates teaching students from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Finally, a platform that reflects the beautifully complex classrooms we actually teach in. Oh, and did I mention it’s user-friendly? Even my most tech-less educators give it a great review.
2. The Assignment Maker
Because Differentiation Isn’t Just for Students
As a school leader who thrives on relationships, I’ve spent enough time in classrooms to know my teachers’ strengths and those areas where they silently whisper, “I could use a little help here.” Empower’s Assignment Maker is my not-so-secret coaching superpower. It lets me hand-pick videos and activities based on their unique needs.
Let’s say I’ve got a novice teacher who’s a rockstar with content, but is still figuring out their rhythm with classroom culture. Boom, I assign a quick video on restorative practices, and we debrief during our check-in. Or maybe a seasoned teacher wants to try something new with small group instruction. I found a video on differentiated guided reading, and we quickly have a common text to ground our coaching conversation. The Empower Platform supports a “let’s reflect on this together” coaching strategy that shifts the vibe from evaluation to empowerment. That’s the vibe that every educator deserves.
3. The Learning Center
PD Hours That Actually Feel Worth the Time
Raise your hand if you’ve ever attended a PD that left you wondering, “How is this helping me help my students?” (I see you.) One of the gems of the coaching and learning platform is the Learning Center, which is a collection of self-paced, online PD courses that actually help you learn new strategies that accelerate student growth. Even better, all courses in the Learning Center have received the ISTE Seal of approval!
Imagine several of your educators mid-cycle for recertification, unsure how they’ll finish those last few hours without booking a weekend at a Hilton Conference Center. Empower can give them an accessible, high-quality, and highly relevant alternative. One that they can work through at their own pace, with content they can immediately bring back to the classroom. Empower is a grow-your-practice platform — it’s rigorous and responsive.
So, fellow leaders, should you request a demo? If you believe in meeting educators where they are and walking alongside them as they grow, the answer is YES. If you’ve ever typed “classroom management strategies” into YouTube at 11:00pm, the answer is an emphatic, soul-saving, YES.
The Empower Platform is about reimagining PD as something relevant, personalized, and ongoing. It’s about empowering educators in practice. When you’ve got Empower, every click counts and every teacher wins! Request the demo today so you can recommend PD courses tomorrow.
About the Author
Dr. Leah Nelson (she/her) is a dynamic School Administrator, Arts Integration Specialist, and Educational Consultant dedicated to transforming learning spaces for students and the educators who serve them. With an MBA and an Ed.D. in School Leadership, Dr. Nelson brings over 15 years of experience in education. Her expertise spans instructional coaching, family-school partnerships, arts integration, and leadership development. She is especially passionate about building school cultures where student identity is honored, families are true partners, and educators are empowered to lead with purpose and equity.
