085: From Teacher to TPT Success Story: How Ashlee Built a Thriving Store While Teaching Full-Time
From Teacher to TPT Success Story: How Ashlee Built a Thriving Store While Teaching Full-TimeIn this inspiring episode, Lindsay chats with Ashlee, a full-time fourth grade teacher, single mom, and powerhouse TPT seller behind Ms Gamification. Ashlee shares how she turned her passion for creating fun, standards-aligned resources into a growing online business - all while juggling teaching, motherhood, and building her store late at night.You’ll hear how Ashlee overcame her fears about copyright, found her niche with gifted learners, made her first four-figure month, and why joining The Resource Academy was the game-changer she didn’t know she needed. This episode is packed with encouragement, strategy, and motivation for every teacher dreaming of building a business on their own terms!Key Discussion Points:(1:49) Ashlee’s Background & Teaching JourneyMeet Ashlee - fourth grade ELA teacher, mentor, and creative mind behind Ms Gamification. She shares how she keeps reading fun in her classroom and why gamification became her niche.(4:22) Finding Her TPT Niche with Gifted StudentsAshlee explains the market gap she noticed - lack of engaging, standards-based activities for gifted early finishers - and how that insight fueled her store’s success.(5:21) Her First Attempt at TPT (and What Stopped Her)Hear the honest story of how confusion around copyright and flattening stalled Ashlee’s first TPT effort - and what finally helped her move past it.(7:56) Why She Joined the Challenge & Invested in HerselfAfter becoming a new mom and facing financial pressure, Ashlee took a leap and joined Lindsay’s challenge. Her mindset? “There’s no other option. I will make this work.”(11:17) Her First 3-Figure Month & Color by Number Best-SellerDiscover how a single resource created during Lindsay’s challenge turned into a top seller, and how Ashlee made $200 her very first month with real strategy.(15:41) Growing Her Store with Monthly ChallengesLearn how The Resource Academy’s monthly product challenges helped Ashlee create some of her most popular resources - including ELA choice boards that sell daily!(18:56) Hitting Her First 4-Figure Month (Thanks, Easter!)Surprise! Ashlee’s Easter-themed resources led to her first $1,000+ month. She talks pricing, bundling, and why teachers do buy high-value products.(21:54) Stats That Show Her Store’s GrowthAshlee shares the numbers: from 2,000 to 6,000+ views in a year, constant cha-chings, and higher-performing previews thanks to Lindsay’s course updates.(24:46) How She Balances TPT with Full-Time Teaching & MotherhoodGet a peek into Ashlee’s real-life schedule as a teacher and single mom - working after bedtime and staying up late to build her dream. No excuses, just consistency.(28:54) Ashlee’s Heart for MentorshipLearn how Ashlee gives back by mentoring new teachers - impacting not just her students, but classrooms all across her school.Resources Mentioned:Check out my free teacher training Check out Ashlee’s TPT store - Ms Gamification...