085: From Teacher to TPT Success Story: How Ashlee Built a Thriving Store While Teaching Full-Time

Teacher Business School: TPT, Homeschool, & Beyond

From Teacher to TPT Success Story: How Ashlee Built a Thriving Store While Teaching Full-Time

In 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 Journey

Meet 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 Students

Ashlee 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 Herself

After 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-Seller

Discover 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 Challenges

Learn 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 Growth

Ashlee 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 & Motherhood

Get 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 Mentorship

Learn 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
• Check out Ashlee’s Instagram

Connect further:

• Earn 3-4 figures per month on TPT | https://lindsaybowden.com/start
• Start or grow your TPT email list | https://lindsaybowden.com/email
• And make sure to follow me! http://instagram.com/lindsaybowden
• Watch full episodes on Youtube + Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@Lindsay.Bowden?sub_confirmation=1

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