Be The Leader You Deserve

In this episode I check in with all of you, share updates and discuss the importance of leaders giving themself grace.

In this episode I chat with Connor Kem, principal of Lake Mills Elementary School, located in Lake Mills, Iowa. Connor is a relationship driven, high energy, and goal focused principal who understands the importance of high expectations for his students, staff and himself. Connor discusses the importance of SEL for staff and shares ideas for how to build resiliency, including Full Value Contracts and High Five Fridays.

In this episode I chat with Dr. Kristal Pollard Epting principal of Flowood Elementary School located in Flowood Mississippi.  Kristal is a transformational leader & change agent and is fiercely committed to “Move In Excellence.”  She reminds us about the importance of inspecting what we expect and discusses ways to engage all stakeholders in understanding the common language of excellence.

In this episode I chat with Dr. Jenni Hayes, proud principal of Grandview Elementary School located in Higginsville, Missouri. Jenni’s passion for leading and learning are contagious as she shares so many amazing strategies and resources for effective and impactful leadership.  Jenni discusses the importance of knowing yourself as a leader and implications for what to do with that knowledge. Jenni also reminds us that the best ideas are the stolen ones and shares lots of ways to connect with others through professional networking.

In this episode I chat with Shena Ivory Brown or “Principal IB” as her students of  Harper Park Middle School located in Leesburg, Virginia call her.  We discuss the importance of being an active, present listener and the impact it has on coaching conversations. Shena also shares time management tips and provides ideas for ways leaders can “share their sunshine.”

In this episode I chat with Dr. Tyler Cook, principal of Klein Elementary located in Erie, Pennsylvania who shares valuable insights about creating and maintaining a school culture that protects relationships and is grounded in core values.  Tyler reminds us that our response is always our responsibility and provides insight about how to make decisions about what is right versus what is easy.

In this episode I chat with Dr. Dennis Williams Jr, principal of Hatboro-Horsham High School located in Horsham, PA.  We talk about the importance of access and opportunity and steps leaders can take to ensure they aren’t unintentionally asking students to leave their culture at the door. Dennis also shares strategies and resources for advancing equity and measuring impact.

In this episode I chat with Mike Astudillo, principal of Columbia Elementary located in Annadale, Va who shares his journey of how he became the principal of the school he attended as an elementary student.  Mike discusses ways he showcases his school so that the entire community understands their mission of being a “small school with a big heart.”  Mike also discusses the importance of seeing the greatness in every student and shares lots of great take-aways for helping all students succeed at the game of school.

In this episode I chat with Jenny Cunneen, Principal of  Forestdale Elementary School located in Springfield, VA who shares so many amazing take-aways that help support a school culture of We See You, We Welcome You, You Belong Here.  Jenny shares strategies for building capacity with staff in order to move from intention to impact and so much more.  You will not want to miss this conversation.

In this episode I chat with Jay Billy, Principal of  Ben Franklin Elementary School located in Lawrenceville who discusses the role trust and transparency play in an effective school culture. Jay also shares highlights from his book, Lead with Culture: What Really Matters in our Schools and provides tips for staying passionate as a school leader, even in the most demanding times.

In this episode I chat with Ryan Smith, Principal of Dieck Elementary located in Swartz Creek, Michigan who prides himself on being a Restorative Minded & Trauma Informed Leader. Ryan shares his journey as a new principal and important moves all new administrators must take to be successful. Ryan also shares insight about ways to engage in continuous growth as a leader including ideas he gained from The Cultures of Thinking.

In this episode I reflect upon some of the greatest leadership takeaways I have gotten from my guests in season 7 and set intentions for a new year full of gratitude and abundance. Which of the take-aways will you implement in the new year?

In this episode I chat with Dr. Ryan Eckart, Principal of Walton Elementary School in Cedar Lake, Indiana who talks about the importance of being visible and present with students and staff and shares strategies for establishing priorities so that you can be in classrooms every day. Ryan also discusses the impact that occurs when you empower students and shares strategies for planting seeds that can have a life changing impact.

In this episode I chat with Danielle Randle, Principal of Semple Elementary, located in Louisville, Kentucky. We talk about the importance of identifying your gaps as a leader and the growth that comes from being vulnerable enough to ask for and receive open and honest feedback from your staff without getting defensive about what they have to say. Danielle also reflects on the multiple roles we play as school leaders and the heaviness that comes with trying to be everything to everybody.

In this episode I chat with Jameelah Henderson, Assistant Principal of Kenwood Elementary and author of It’s Working for Your Good.  Jameelah talks about the importance of showing up unapologetically as her true self and the impact it has for students.  We talk about the role representation plays in leadership and tips for having crucial conversations.  You will not want to miss it.

In this episode I chat with Verle Gilbert, principal of Hahn Intermediate School and 2018 MEMSPA Principal of the Year. Verle shares his insights about WIN time and collective teacher efficacy to maximize impact on student achievement. Verle also discusses how to manage the requests of others in a way that builds capacity and empowers without consuming all of your time as a leader.  Verle also discusses the impact Breakthrough Coaching has had on his leadership.

In this episode I chat with Haines City High School Principal Adam Lane who is also Florida’s NASSP Principal of the Year and President of the Florida Association of Secondary School Principals.  Adam shares so many golden nuggets of wisdom about how to create a school culture that establishes clear expectations, provides support, and holds staff accountable to be the best they can be.  Adam also talks about the importance of honoring differences and the empowerment that comes when your staff and students feel comfortable questioning you as a leader.

In this episode I chat with National Distinguished Principal of Urbana Elementary School, Tracy Hilliard, who shares her wisdom for creating and empowering teacher leaders. Tracy talks about the importance of leaders focusing on “grow you” not “got you” when conducting instructional walkthroughs and shares strategies for helping teachers find their voice.

In this episode I chat with Krissy Jennette, the National Distinguished Principal of Blades Elementary located in Seaford, Delaware. Krissy shares her secrets for creating a culture of inclusion that turned around her school from low performing to becoming an ESEA National Distinguished School.

As leaders we must place as much value on adult learning as we do student learning. In this episode I chat with Vicki Wilson, principal of Monroe Elementary School located in Wyandotte, Michigan and author of Lead with Instructional Rounds. Vicki shares insights about the importance of change leadership and discusses highlights from her book to help leaders get started with and/or refine instructional rounds in their building. Vicki also shares insights she gained by overcoming intense challenges which equipped her with warrior leadership.  This episode is packed with golden nuggets you will not want to miss.

In this episode I chat with Liz Garden, MSAA (Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association) President and principal of Henry P. Clough Elementary located in Mendon, Massachusetts, as she discusses the importance of transparent leadership.  Liz also discusses the critical element of human connection as a leader and shares strategies for making teachers feel seen and heard.

In this episode I talk with California State Principal of the Year and turnaround leader, Dr. Shana Henry as she discusses ways to engage in change work that makes the status quo uncomfortable for those who like to stay there. Her words of wisdom will help you understand why it is essential that you become the chief storyteller of your school and reclaim the opportunity to change the narrative.

In this episode I chat with Joe Reimann, principal of Moraine Elementary, a Leader in Me Lighthouse School located in Northville, Michigan as he shares so many golden nuggets of wisdom about how to approach leadership decisions through the lens of abundance versus scarcity. Joe also shares strategies for leading in a way that increases sense of belonging and brings out the greatness in all of your staff.

In this episode I chat with Zac Bauermaster, principal of Kissel Hill Elementary and author of Leading With a Humble Heart as he shares strategies for creating a culture of healthy people through servant leadership.  Zac discusses ways to control the uncontrollable, operate patiently, and establish boundaries for ourselves so that our family can get the best of us instead of what’s left of us.

Knowing how much of yourself you should share with your staff, students and families can be tricky. In this episode I chat with one of my favorite leaders, Ed Paris, principal of Avery Elementary School located in Dedham, Massachusetts as we discuss the importance of leaning into your most authentic self as a leader.  We discuss the courage it takes, dangers that come from avoidance, and the most important factor when making tough decisions as a leader.  You will not want to miss this conversation packed full of energy and passion.

Are you looking for ways to enhance your coaching and feedback sessions to ensure you give every teacher what he/she needs to grow?  You will not want to miss this episode in which I chat with Principal Gina Rivera from Charter Oak International Academy located in West Hartford Connecticut. Gina shares a variety of strategies and resources for creating equitable conditions for teachers, students, and families.  Here is a link for a resource mentioned in the episode: https://bit.ly/3A8EFvj 

In this episode I chat with Carol Leveillee, National Distinguished Principal of Frederick Douglass Elementary School located in Seaford, Delaware.  Carol shares the strategies she used to turnaround her school from being one of the lowest performing in the state on the brink of state takeover to being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, National Distinguished ESEA School and a school of Continued Excellence.  This is a must-listen episode for all school leaders.

Returning to school post-pandemic required that we reimagine school in a way that accommodated for “the new normal” which included, among other things, additional supports for the trauma students experienced.  While we made plans and secured resources to support student needs we underestimated the resources we would need to support our staff.  In this episode I chat with Principal Samantha Hamilton from Goodman Elementary part of the Neosho school district located in Goodman Missouri who was able to anticipate the needs because of traumatic challenges her school experienced pre-pandemic.  Samantha shares lots of strategies and resources for creating a school culture that supports teachers both personally and professionally so they can move beyond their comfort zones and take risks in teaching and learning.

In this episode I chat with 2018 Minnesota National Distinguished Principal of the Year, speaker and consultant for TILL360, Curtis Slater as he shares his leadership insight about how to make leadership decisions through the eyes of a student. Curtis talks about ways to avoid initiative fatigue, how to create professional learning opportunities that empower all staff members, and how to quit taking things personally when working with adults.

As leaders we all want a school where the students and teachers are beating down the door to get in the door. In this episode I chat with Principal Ross Braun from Monroe Central Elementary in Parker City, Indiana as he shares so many tips for infusing appreciation and fun into school culture.  If you are looking for ways to change the mindset of teachers from “I have to go to work” to “I get to come to school” then you will not want to miss this episode.

Whether you are a new leader, an experienced leader taking on a new assignment, or an experienced leader looking to affirm your school culture, this episode is for you. In this episode I chat with Principal Jon Wennstrom from Riley Upper Elementary School, in Livonia, Michigan who shares his strategies for creating a culture that honors traditions and inspires buy-in for new initiatives.  Jon discusses strategies for making all of your staff feel valued and heard.  You will not want to miss it.

In this episode I chat with Ronda Cosby, principal of Grace James Academy of Excellence located in Louisville, KY.  Grace James is an all girl public middle school with a focus on STEAM through an Afrocentric lens.  Ronda shares her wisdom about ways to create a culture that focuses on honoring student voice and decision.  She also shares tips about how to lead as your most authentic self and handle tough decisions as she discusses ways to “coach up or coach out.”  With over 30 years of educational experience Ronda’s tips are ones you will not want to miss.

In this episode I chat with Principal Beth Palmer from Medora Elementary located in Louisville, Kentucky.  Beth shares tips for dealing with difficult conversations and strategies for addressing other difficult situations. You will not want to miss Beth's leadership guidance about leading a school even in the most challenging times. 

In this episode I chat with Principal Courtney Grace from Hazelwood Elementary located in Louisville, Kentucky.  Courtney shares strategies and think-abouts for creating a culture that gets teachers out of silos to provide them more time to teach and the students more time to learn.  You won't want to miss all of the nuggets of greatness in this episode.

After a few weeks off refilling my own cup I was able to come back refreshed, refocused and refueled which allowed me to be in the best place mentally and emotionally I could be to get ready to start the new school year.  Along the way, a few things tried to derail my journey.  In this episode I discuss what those things are and share how I avoided derailment to make sure I stayed on track to being the leader my staff, students, and families deserve. 

In last week's episode I talked about the important things principals do in the summer to ensure they start the new school year with intentionality and purpose; but I forgot one of the most important things!  In this episode I talk about the one thing that should be at the very top of your to-do list to make sure you are ready to start the new school year. 

As a school leader you probably get asked the question, "What do you do all summer when no one is in the building?"  In this episode we discuss the answer to that question and talk about the principal's summer must do's to maximize success for students, staff, families, and themselves. 

As you finish up the school year are you taking time to celebrate or are you just trying to put this year behind you?  It's been a long, hard, heavy year in the field of education.  This year, more than ever, it is critical that you take time to celebrate with your staff.  In this episode I talk about NSV's and why they are often times the most important thing to celebrate.

As school leaders, supporting others (students, staff, families) is what we do.  We work tirelessly to ensure systems and structures are established and maintained so that our schools run smoothly.  We work to remove barriers for others and work hard to shield our staff from the outside pressures. This job is NOT for the faint of heart because there is a lot of heavy lifting.  In this episode I highlight the top take-aways from season 6 that help leaders focus on taking care of themselves. 

As educators we know how much trauma students experienced during the pandemic and how much mental health support they have needed since returning to in person learning.  We also know how much support teachers need because of the burnout they are experiencing due to the secondary and tertiary trauma they experience.  School counselors are instrumental in supporting students, staff, and families, but who supports the counselors?  Each day they leave school carrying a bag full of everyone else's trauma.  In this episode I talk with Dr. Lara Donnelly about strategies counselors can use to combat feeling so depleted and strategies building leaders can use to better support their counselors. 

Do others often commend you on your abilities, expertise, and accomplishments? Think about the last time you were recognized for an achievement, invited to present something, or join a group.  Did you acknowledge the role your leadership played in that opportunity or did you downplay your abilities? Do you set unrealistic goals and then get upset with yourself when you don't reach them?  Are you overly sensitive to constructive criticism? If so you will not want to miss this episode as I talk about imposter syndrome and ways to combat it. 

As leaders we all want to achieve greatness but sometimes get derailed on our journey to reach it. We must have high expectations for ourselves and others and demonstrate actions that are grounded in servant leadership. When we are realistic about the fact that despite how great things are in our building we WILL face challenges, then we can establish strategies and approaches to successfully deal with them when they happen. In this episode we discuss additional take-aways from Jon Gordon's The Power of Positive Leadership that will support your desire to have a positive impact in your pursuit of excellence. 

Last week we talked about the importance of being approachable as a leader and I gave tips and considerations to think about.  We know now more than ever how important it is for teachers to have a leader they can trust and feel comfortable approaching.

In addition to being approachable, leaders always have to be mindful of their words and actions (unless they are in their office by themselves) because the truth is, someone IS always watching. We are the barometer for our school.  Our staff takes our lead about how to react and approach things. In this episode I discuss the importance of positive leadership and provide strategies from Jon Gordon's The Power of Positive Leadership that will enhance your leadership capabilities and put your positive leadership into action.

Last week we talked about ways to support our teachers post pandemic. In addition to all of the things we talked about last week, we know that now, more than ever, our teachers need us to be available to them. With all of the additional paperwork and pressures we have as leaders, being available has become more challenging than ever before.  In addition, as our secondary or tertiary trauma increases, we have to work harder to maintain our approachability. In this episode we talk about steps we can take to make sure we are approachable for our staff.

It's hard to believe it's been over two years since the pandemic began.  Despite the lift on mask mandates and loosened restrictions around social distancing, schools are still struggling to find or establish their "new normal." So here we are as leaders, trying to navigate a new normal of post pandemic schooling. This includes trying to balance significant increases in student AND adult SEL needs with student learning loss, while at the same time juggling numerous mandates and still focus on school improvement.  Balancing the culture of high expectations with the reduced stamina of students and adults, and the first hand and secondary trauma has become a very slippery slope. This episodes provides 10 tips for school leaders to help support the post pandemic needs of their staff and finish the year strong.

Triaging teacher burnout is a daily task for educational leaders, but what about leadership burnout? Who is helping combat that? During a recent presentation at the National ASCD Conference two things became apparently clear to me.  In this episode I talk about those two things and share ways to take control of your school's narrative and combat toxic positivity. 

If you are associated with any social media then you know you can’t spend any time scrolling without seeing how burned out teachers. You also know what a toll it is taking on leaders to create a culture that combats the negative narrative of being an educator. The truth is, as a school leader we are working to continue cultivating cultures that make our staff feel supported and appreciated, while at the same time leading the charge of supporting student learning loss.  We are in a time when we have to balance the model of continuous improvement and high expectations with adult mental health needs and supports. Being a school leader has never been more challenging. This episode will feature real talk about the burnout that is plaguing school leaders.

Feeling overwhelmed at work and like you have no time for yourself? Are you still struggling to set healthy boundaries and find a better work/life balance? Are you still struggling to say no, even when you are already overextended with your time and commitments?  This episode will provide you with assurances that you are not alone and equip you with resources to take back your life and establish healthy boundaries.

This season we have been focusing on things we as leaders need to do to make sure WE are ok.  Every day so many people look to us to make decisions, put out fires, and provide support.  If we aren’t careful, we will continuously give all we have to others and not save anything for ourselves.  This season we have talked about being triggered by exceptionalism, being addicted to achievement, the importance of positive self dialogue, setting boundaries and ways to have more self-compassion. We have also discussed compassion fatigue and have spent a few episodes talking about how to apply the successful strategies we use with students to our personal lives. In this episode we discuss the importance being intentional about finding joy in all that you do, and how to go about making sure that happens both personally and professionally. 

As leaders we often feel as though we must ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS carry the weight of our organization.  While it is our job to lead our school/district with a shared vision and courage, it is not our job to try to be superhuman. If we are going to withstand the increasing demands of being an educational leader and create sustainability, we must understand the theory behind a wolf pack and decide who should be in ours. We discuss Abby Wambach's #1 New York Times Bestseller, Wolfpack, and how to apply the strategies she discusses into our roles as leaders.