Hi there, friends!
If you're reading this, you might be wondering, What made a 24-year teaching veteran suddenly decide to start a business? Was it a midlife crisis? A wild dream involving glittery teacher tees? The desperate need for a creative outlet before my brain turned to dry-erase dust? Well, buckle up, because I’ve got answers!
Let’s start at the beginning. For 22 years, I lived the teacher life. I was armed with lesson plans, infinite patience (most days), and a never-ending supply of Expo markers. Teaching was my world, my passion, and yes, occasionally, the thing that made me fantasize about napping in the supply closet. But after two decades of working magic in the classroom, I felt it was time for something new. Enter: instructional coaching.
I’m two years into my role as an instructional coach, and let me tell you—I love it! It’s like being a teacher, but now I get to help other teachers grow their skills and solve problems, all while avoiding the terrifying reality of trying to answer questions from 28 sixth graders simultaneously. It’s a great gig, but there’s a tiny catch: coaching doesn’t come with the same built-in creative outlets as teaching.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I love spreadsheets and PD PowerPoints as much as the next coach. But I realized something was missing. My classroom had always been my canvas, and without bulletin boards to decorate or themes to dream up, I felt a little, well, uncreative.
And then came the a-ha! moment. One day, while Googling “instructional coach t-shirts” (because what coach doesn’t want to rock a witty slogan like Coachin’ and Approaching Proficient?), I came up empty-handed. No shirts. No mugs. No stickers. It was a desert of instructional coach swag, and let’s be honest, folks—I wasn’t about to survive without a t-shirt that screamed, Ask me about your learning objectives!
That’s when it hit me: If no one else was going to make this stuff, maybe I should. I mean, I’ve spent years getting creative on a dime—turning cereal boxes into art projects and using duct tape to save the day more times than I can count. Why not channel that same energy into something teachers and coaches alike could actually use and love?
So, I rolled up my sleeves (which were, unfortunately, not attached to a custom instructional coach sweatshirt... yet) and got to work. Bright Minds Marketplace was born out of my love for education, my passion for creativity, and my burning desire for coach and teacher-themed apparel that doesn’t make me look like I raided a middle school spirit week. There's also some things for those of you who don't teach, because there has to be something for everyone!
Here’s the heart of it: I started this business because I believe educators and coaches deserve to feel seen, celebrated, and supported—whether that’s with a motivational mug, a comfy sweatshirt, or a t-shirt that makes them laugh. Bright Minds Marketplace is my way of giving back to the education world, while finally letting my creative side come out to play again.
So here I am, two years into coaching, one year into running Bright Minds Marketplace, and eternally grateful for this wild new adventure. Whether you’re a teacher, a coach, or someone who just loves great merch, I hope you’ll find something here that makes you smile.
Thanks for reading, and remember: You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can’t take the classroom out of the teacher. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a coffee mug design to finish—it’s going to say, Feedback is my love language. Catchy, right?
Stay bright,
Hope
Founder of Bright Minds Marketplace
Teacher at heart, creative always