Michelle Blanchet
Michelle is an educational consultant that infuses startup strategies into professional learning so that teachers are empowered to bring changemaking, social innovation, and SDGs into their work. After teaching social studies in both the U.S. and Switzerland, she co-founded the Educators’ Lab, which supports teacher-driven solutions to educational challenges. Michelle is the co-author of The Startup Teacher Playbook, and Preventing Polarization: 50 Strategies for Teaching Kids About Empathy, Politics, and Civic Responsibility. She has worked with organizations like Getting Smart, PBS Education and Ashoka, and occasionally blogs for Edutopia. A graduate of IE University in Madrid, she is part of the Global Shaper Community of the World Economic Forum and has presented at numerous events, including SXSWedu and TEDxLausanne. Her focus - agility in education, gamifying civics, and green career pathways.
Areas of Expertise
K-12 Ecosystem + Strategy
Green Skills + Career Pathways
Active Learning for Sustainability
Social Emotional Learning and Civic Engagement
Transformational Leadership in Education
-
![]()
Improving Your Practice Through A Self-Coaching Framework
Improving Your Practice Through A Self-Coaching Framework
-
![]()
Guiding Students to See Themselves as Changemakers
Students may see ways they can effect change if they break down big issues like climate change into smaller, more accessible challenges.
-
![]()
5 Ways Administrators Can Support Teachers
Encouraging teachers to focus on their strengths—while taking a few things off their plates and carving out time for catch-up work—can help them weather a difficult year.
-
![]()
How to Go Beyond Seat Time in Professional Development
When teachers have opportunities to earn renewal credits through self-directed PD, they often find the learning more engaging.
-
![]()
Teaching Debate Across the Curriculum
Debating helps students strengthen their communication and objective thinking skills, and practice patience and tolerance.
-
![]()
What Does It Mean To Bring Startup Principles Into Professional Learning?
Teachers are amazing problem solvers. They want - and need- a space where they can work through challenges and design solutions. What can we learn from the startup space to bring innovation and ingenuity into professional learning?
-
![]()
Bringing Students Into Professional Development
Instead of using PD workshop time making assumptions about students, we should get their input beforehand.
-
![]()
Using Themes to Give Young Students a Sense of Purpose
Weekly themes like Chef Week make school fun while giving students a way to connect all the things they’re learning.
