Episode #99: Spark Curiosity, Ignite Passion, Empower Voice with Elisabeth Bostwick

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Elisabeth Bostwick is a multi-award-winning educator who is passionate about creating the conditions to spark curiosity and unleash creativity to empower learning. She is the author of “Take the L.E.A.P.: Ignite a Culture of Innovation.†Driven to elevate education, Elisabeth speaks at both local and national conferences to support educators in their journey to foster cultures of innovation and authentic learning experiences for their students. Welcome, Lis (pronounced the same as Liz)!

Your background and family

I am and born and raised in the Finger Lakes version of New York. I grew up going to state parks and hiking. I have one sister who is five years older than me. My mom and dad still live nearby and my husband and I live close to where I grew up. My parents play a large role in our children’s lives.

We have two boys Julian and Nolan who are in their teens now are 28 months apart. We thought that would be perfect so they would be best friends. Anyone who is a parent knows there are ups and downs. My husband, Mike, is a principal at an intermediate school in his 8th year in administration. I’m so lucky to have married my best friend who I met in high school. Our boys keep us on our toes. It’s funny how two kids from the same family can be so different than one another. It’s always fun to see them grow and they have provided me a unique perspective of what education and learning really mean. I am learning through their eyes. We also have three pets: a 12-year-old cat named Arielle and two dogs, Bella and Choe who is our newest addition who we are training as a therapy dog.

What was it like for you as a student?

Looking back, I think I would know more than when I was a child on what I needed for my future. As long as I enjoyed certain aspects of learning, I found many subjects especially mathematics complicated. If I was put on the spot or ashamed that I didn’t understand it, I would just shut down or pull back. I found socializing with my peers more engaging at times. I really enjoyed sports and an avid athlete all through school and loved running, dancing, and things like that. I had a handful of teachers who made a big impact on me. They were the ones who fostered authentic relationships and a classroom culture that embraced every individual and provided choice.

On the flip side, I also had educators that created a culture involved around fear, what your grades were. As a child, I was very shy and afraid to speak out concerned about how it would be perceived. At the same time, I don’t think anyone knew I had those feelings. Every experience taught me something like what to do and what not to do as a teacher.

Launching the Maker Mindset

Your journey as a teacher

I changed my major several times. My real passion has always been around how the brain learns and psychology. I was able to connect the dots on why I didn’t understand certain things or why I may have felt the way I did. I saw it as an opportunity where I could do something different where I had an impact on kids. 

I started teaching in a long-term substitute position for a half year. Then the following year, I got hired and mostly taught in a 4th-grade teaching position. I’ve been a classroom teacher for 15 years with some experience in most elementary grade levels. Last year, I transitioned to the role of an instructional coach where I wore a lot of hats in that role. Some days I do instructional coaching. Sometimes it is more technology integration assistance. I also work on the side as an Innovative Teaching and Learning Consultant and speaker. At the heart of it all, I just believe that our children so much inner potential. My goal is to inspire educators to create conditions to empower learning.

[This is Barbara: I just love listening to Lis share her story. Please listen to the whole podcast and check out all of her resources and links she shares in this post.]

Author: Take the L.E.A.P.: Ignite a Culture of Innovation

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Elisabeth Bostwick is a multi-award-winning educator who is passionate about creating the conditions to spark curiosity and unleash creativity to empower learning.  She is the author of Take the L.E.A.P.: Ignite a Culture of Innovation and co-author of Education Write Now, Volume II: Top Strategies for Improving Relationships and Culture. Driven to elevate education, Elisabeth speaks at both local and national conferences to support educators in their journey to foster cultures of innovation and authentic learning experiences for their students. 

In addition to being a classroom practitioner and instructional coach, Elisabeth has also served as a grade-level chairperson. In these roles, she has worked alongside colleagues to support the integration of technology to deepen learning and has leveraged highly effective strategies to engage and empower all learners to maximize growth. Dedicated to making a long-lasting, positive impact on education, Elisabeth participates as a continuous learner to identify how we can support systemic change and develop essential success skills to ensure learners thrive to be future-ready. 

Elisabeth is also a co-author of Education Write Now, Volume II: Top Strategies for Improving Relationships and Culture. Recognized by PBS as a Digital Innovator All-Star and lead Digital Innovator for New York, Elisabeth regularly engages with other educators to bring professional learning experiences and contributes to individual and collaborative blogs in the PBS Teachers Lounge. She’s also been named the NextGen Young Professional Leader in Education and had the honor of being the recipient of the governor’s Empire State Excellence in Teaching award. Above all, Elisabeth strives to serve as a model for her children. She hopes to inspire them to be dedicated to developing their strengths and interests–leading them to their passions and fulfillment in life.

Contact information

Website: elisabethbostwick.com

Twitter: @ElisaBostwick #LEAPeffect

#LeadUpTeach Podcast – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwtlSoSxXMv9Ib9XznkdcfQ

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