PMP485: Preventing Trauma Before it Happens with Dr. Jan Harrell
Jan 28, 2026
A Quick Note to Listeners:
Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question.
—- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.
Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —-
This week’s question is:
It’s very difficult to change one’s mind. When was the last time you were surprised to learn something new? How did this new learning make you feel?
Listen in to hear their response!
Meet Jan Harrell:
Dr. Jan Harrell is the creator of emotional education curricula now used in schools and prisons, with materials also accepted for use in both U.S. and Canadian federal prison systems—programs that help prevent bullying, build empathy, and transform communities. Her curricula bring students and inmates together by highlighting the shared human experience and transcending cultural, ethnic, and racial divides. Passionate about advancing human understanding, Dr. Harrell offers her programs to schools and juvenile justice/corrections at no cost, driven by a vision of preventing trauma before it happens and empowering young people with lifelong emotional wisdom.
Addressing Student Anxiety:
Jan has a long history in clinical psychology, but she is on this week’s episode of Principal Matters Podcast because of her outreach to schools. When addressing how school leaders should think about addressing the painful anxiety of students in schools, Jan talks about how a revolution in education is missing. Throughout the history of education, schools have focused on teaching human survival, through teaching problem solving abilities and teaching students about physical well-being. According to Jan, what is missing is education on emotional well-being. We are taught how to take care of our body, but not how to take care of our emotional well-being. Jan gives the example of a fire alarm going off. If a fire alarm goes off, we immediately know what to do. If an emotional alarm goes off and we do not know what to do about it, we go into a reactive state. Students need to be given the opportunity to learn what to do when their emotional alarm goes off.
Success of the Curriculum:
Jan shares that her curriculum originated because of a friend who was the Dean of Students at a local high school. This friend would often talk to her about how her students suffered from anxiety. This friend piloted Jan’s program in her high school, and through this experience Jan learned that the issues of being a human being transcended every difference between us. The students in her program were brought together into an intimate family-like situation in which they felt comfortable being vulnerable and sharing their trauma and anxiety with each other. This same framework has been utilized in prisons with both juveniles and adults, with the same results. Through teaching the concept of understanding the self and learning how to work through issues with other people, Jan’s curriculum allows people to free themselves from the cycle of being in an emotionally reactive state.
Helping Students Avoid being Sabotaged by the Emotions:
Towards the end of the episode, Jan offers teachers and principals some strategies to help students avoid being sabotaged by their own emotions. She talks about how students often come to school feeling tortured and are filled with reactive emotions. Teachers and principals can try to suppress or judge their reaction, or they can view it as a gift that creates a teaching moment and helps students connect with their own wisdom. It is important to give students the rightness of their own feelings, not the wrongness. Equally important is teaching students that they can figure things out within themselves and between themselves. Helping students learn to guide the worst emotions the mind has to offer provides them with the tools to break out of an emotionally reactive state.
Staying Connected:
If you are interested in learning more about Jan’s curriculum, she is currently offering it and her consultation for free. The only strings attached are that she wants to know that it’s being used and that it does not get fed into AI. You can reach out to her at janharrell.now@outlook.com or on Linkedin.
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Keeping Challenges in Perspective
Jan 26, 2026
This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about the challenges and emotional burdens faced everyday by school leaders. They highlight the importance of self-reflection practices and finding hope in trying times, and emphasize the importance of keeping challenges in perspective. This post was inspired by a blog post written by Will, you can read it below.
Every One of Them Is Worth It
The first time I ever saw a student banging his head against a locker, I was completely perplexed. Even with eleven years of teaching, I had never seen a student engage in self-harm in such a public way. This was my first year as an assistant principal. The boy had been placed in the hallway for disciplinary reasons and, for reasons unknown to me at the time, was so distraught that his way of coping with being in trouble was to hit his head over and over again against a metal locker.
Thankfully, my assistant principal partner at the time was well-trained in trauma and had a background working as a mental-health professional. She helped guide the student back to a place of calm and reason. It was an eye-opener for me. Moving out of the classroom and into an entire school setting would confront me with situations that were novel, different, and far more challenging than anything I had seen in my own classroom.
The first time I met a student with schizophrenia, I was also perplexed. He began pulling his hair out while sitting in my office and admitted to me that he could see someone sitting in a chair nearby. After consulting with his parents and getting to know him more personally, he would open up about the times he was frightened–scared of others appearing in rooms and unsure whether they were real or not.
Then there was the time a student became so upset after an argument at lunch that he slammed his head into the window frame of a door, shattering the glass and bleeding from his head. He lay on the office floor, growling and angry. When he was finally able to regain control, the residual effects of his meltdown were felt deeply by other students and staff. Even though my responsibility was to define an appropriate disciplinary response, that behavior still perplexes me to this day.
There was also a student I didn’t work with directly, but one of my assistant-principal friends did. She learned his story over time: during his traumatic early years, his father abused him by locking him in a cage throughout the day when he didn’t want to tend to him. The emotional scars from those memories made it incredibly difficult for him to cope with the everyday dramas he encountered at school. Over time, he learned better self-control–but it came from a place of deep pain.
As I think about these things today, I am sometimes amazed that educators can teach math, reading, and science–or coach sports–never knowing the underlying situations children face. Even students from well-adjusted families, or those who seem to have all the support they need, I have seen end up in facilities needing inpatient therapy because of self-harm or suicidal ideation.
The statistics around trauma for young people–especially in my own state–are pretty compelling. Psychologists use a measurement called ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), and Oklahoma is among the states with high numbers of children who have experienced significant trauma. Because of that, they come to school desperately needing stability, consistency, and predictability. They need a place that holds them to high expectations while also providing high support.
A good teacher knows this. But if a teacher has a classroom with multiple students who may melt down, over-respond, or lack the coping skills needed to regulate their emotions, it can be overwhelming. Even one student with those needs can make a classroom difficult–now imagine if half or more of your students came in with those kinds of backgrounds.
This is why teachers, to me, are heroes. You can’t predict what kinds of students you will get. Some schools can try–those with placement applications or tuition-based enrollment can deny students whose needs they know they cannot meet. But public schools, in particular, take them all. That should be even more reason for every community to want their public schools fully resourced, well-trained, and staffed with teachers who are supported to meet children wherever they come from.
The idea of creating a school where no bad things happen, where students never see others in crisis, where children are never exposed to difficulty–that is a fallacy. It is only possible for those with enough resources to insulate their children in carefully constructed environments. And even those environments are no longer sealed off. Phones and social media have proven that outside forces can invade anywhere–often faster than parents or schools have the capacity to respond–especially when algorithms backed by billions of dollars are designed to capture the attention of our children, and of us adults.
So the question becomes: how do we create daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly routines that reintroduce the civility and consistency necessary for good learning, good outcomes, and healthy, flourishing lives?
This is why the best schools I work with understand that children are complex, adults are complex, and environments and communities are complex. And three things must be present for schools to succeed.
First: people. Schools must be full of people committed to high expectations and high support.
Second: systems. Schools must commit to creating policies, procedures, protocols, and curricula that guide students toward better outcomes while providing support along the way.
Third: belief. An unwavering commitment that all students are worth our investment–our time, our creativity, and our care. None of them is expendable. None is disposable.
For those of us who are veterans in education, these have become familiar refrains we must revisit again and again. For those new to education, the fresh perspective and vision quickly reveal the truth: the work is as hard as it has always been–but with the right people, systems, and beliefs, it is still deeply worth doing.
Because we also know the flip side of these stories.
There is the orphaned student who sat across from me one day, clutching a book to her chest–so excited to be reading, asking permission to take it home for the night. There are the bright voices of students discovering their talents in the school choir, standing for the first time in front of friends and family, singing at a Christmas concert. There is the amazement and awe in the eyes of students doing a science experiment for the first time. Or the pride of a young girl standing beside her groomed heifer, showing it for Future Farmers of America.
The list could go on and on: the exhilarating moments of watching children learn to read, listening to their curious questions, enjoying their laughter on the playground, watching them wrestle for the ball in athletics. No one goes into this profession without a love for kids. And over time, I think we all realize something else–everyone is still a kid at heart.
So whether you are working with a student, a fellow teacher, or a community member, we are all someone’s student in one way or another. How we treat the people right in front of us–whether they come from backgrounds of deep trauma or from more stable settings–matters. They all deserve the same attention, the same intention we would have wanted to receive at any age. The same grace and compassion. The same forgiveness and correction.
Humanity has been on this planet a long time, and the traumas of our present age are not always as new as we think. But they are still painful. Still profound.
So let’s keep perspective. Let’s be people who show up with high expectations and high support. Let’s build systems that provide students with the stability, consistency, and outcomes we know they deserve. And let’s hold firmly to the belief that every one of them is worth it.
Further Reading:
If you would like to read some of Jen’s thoughts on managing struggles, check out her newsletter, linked here. As always, thank you for doing what matters!
PMP484: Brain-Body Literacy with Trish Keiller
Jan 21, 2026
A Quick Note to Listeners:
Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question.
—- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.
Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —-
This week’s question is:
What is something you will never forget about school leadership? How did you learn it and how did it impact your career?
Listen in to hear their response!
Meet Trish Keiller:
Trish Keiller is an Emotional Intelligence Trainer, SEL Coach, and founder of Roots Education https://roots-education.com/. With more than 20 years in education and dual master’s degrees, her career spans from middle school teaching to pioneering wellness practices for schools. Trish is the creator of Brain-Body Literacy™, a framework that integrates mindfulness, neuroscience, yoga, nutrition, and leadership to help educators and students thrive. Drawing on her background as a teacher, administrator, and holistic health practitioner, she equips schools with practical tools to manage stress, build resilience, and foster authentic connection. Through her training and coaching, Trish empowers educators to transform school culture, showing that well-being is not an add-on, but the foundation for achievement and joy.
The Importance of Learning Readiness:
In her work, Trish promotes a “Learning Readiness” framework as an important way to talk about wellness with students, teachers, and school leaders. She based this framework on her experience as a middle school math teacher. As a young teacher, Trish utilized yoga as a way to help her deal with stress. She began practicing it in front of her students, who said that they wanted to try yoga too. Through this experience, Trish began to examine the disconnect that happens in modern teaching, saying that the whole child is being taught while neglecting the body. Thus the “Learning Readiness” framework was born. Through the use of yoga practices and other tools, the framework that Trish uses creates a sense of belonging and connection for students that allows for greater learning experiences. The “Learning Readiness” framework allows students to be more centered and feel less anxious.
Understanding the Brain and Body Connection:
Trish is passionate about educators gaining a deeper understanding of learning and brain and body connection. She reiterates that the body is not fully included in how we think about learning in modern teaching practices. “Learning Readiness” is about getting students’ minds and bodies ready to focus on learning. It is important for students to learn how to practice preparing to learn, so that those skills become subconscious. When educators want students to be able to self-regulate and remain calm in conflict, they first have to teach students those skills and allow them to practice them. Doing so helps these skills become part of the students’ subconscious and saves teachers time and energy in the future.
The Significance of Self-Forgiveness and Self-Compassion:
In her work as a coach, Trish spends a lot of time preaching self-forgiveness and self-compassion to school leaders. School leaders have to deal with a lot of stress, and approaching stress with self-forgiveness and self-compassion gives leaders space to acknowledge that their job is a lot. She uses a framework called the LOVE framework to help school leaders deal with stress and uncomfortable emotions. The LOVE framework stands for Lean in, Observe, Validate, and Embrace. Through this method, school leaders can really understand stress at a deep level.
Staying Connected:
Listeners can stay connected with Trish Keiller and her work via the following channels:
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Planning PD
Jan 19, 2026
This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to discuss second semester PD planning. This topic comes from this question: A common “Catch-22” is when the principal feels staff needs a particular PD, but staff says, “Just let me go to my room, close my door, and teach.” How can a principal reconcile these two perspectives? Will and Jen discuss this question and talk about building PD based on responses, successes, and challenges from first semester PD. They remind principals that, ultimately, if the goal is to create something that people will enjoy, then the solution is to include their voice. Listen in to hear the whole conversation!
A little more about them individually: Maureen Chapman loves school. As the co-founder of Cor Creative Partners, Maureen supports leadership development and student engagement through speaking, coaching, workshops, and PLCs. Maureen is a lifelong educator who taught for 15 years in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms and spent eight years in school leadership. As a curriculum director and the head of an instructional leadership team, Maureen oversaw curriculum, resources, student data, instructional coaching, professional development, new teacher induction, and career education. James Simons loves school. James is the co-founder of Cor Creative Partners, and supports leadership development and student engagement through consulting coaching, facilitating workshops and PLCs, delivering speeches, and producing videos. Prior to co-founding Cor Creative Partners, James served as a high school principal and dean of students, an instructional coach, a middle and high school English teacher, a video-based storyteller, and a writer.
In this episode, Dr. Jen Schwanke interviews a dynamic duo, James Simons and Maureen Chapman, co-founders of Core Creative Partners and co-authors of the Solution Tree book “Leaders of the Class.” Drawing from their combined experiences as teachers and school leaders, they discuss the parallel work of adults and students in building leadership skills. The conversation centers on a framework that emphasizes the importance of motivation, perseverance, communication, and collaboration as essential leadership competencies. They argue that leadership is not a fixed position, but rather a set of skills and a mindset that can and should be cultivated in everyone, from school administrators and teachers to students in the classroom.
Their discussion reveals a philosophy that sees leadership not as a top-down mandate, but as a collective endeavor fueled by a shared love for school and a belief in one another. By providing a practical framework for educators to teach and model these competencies, James and Maureen hope to empower every member of the school community to see themselves as a leader. Their work is a compelling call for a more empathetic, collaborative, and joyful approach to education, grounded in the belief that when adults and students work together to develop these essential human skills, everyone wins.
Staying Connected:
You can keep up with Maureen and James’ work via the channels linked below:
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Wellness for the New Year
Jan 12, 2026
Welcome back to this week’s episode of Monday Matters where Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are discussing the topic of wellness. Will shares some takeaways from a book he is reading called Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity by Dr. Eric Topol. The book highlights a study with 1400 participants called a ‘well-derly” study. Participants ages ranged from 85-102 years old who had no health problems and were not on any medications. When compared to a control group of ‘normal’ elderly people 85 and above, DNA samples revealed no significant differences in their genetics. Yet, they had higher immunity, better cognitive and cardiac functions.
“Long-term benefits are often worth the short-term commitments.”
The takeaway from this study highlighted by Dr. Topol is that prevention really is the best medicine. The way to stop heart attacks, Alzheimer’s, or cancer is twenty years before it has time to develop into a condition or disease through movement, rest, and nutrition. Will and Jen share some of their thoughts and practices about approaching wellness and talk about the importance of wellness for school leaders. Listen in to hear the entire conversation!
PMP482: Empowering Learning Through Physical Education with Charles Rizzuto
Jan 07, 2026
Meet Charles Rizzuto:
Charles Rizzuto currently serves as Assistant Principal at Islip High School, following 15 years as a health and physical education teacher at Oyster Bay High School. A nationally recognized speaker, he has presented across the country on high-quality instruction, leadership, school culture, cultural proficiency, and social and emotional wellness. His highly regarded keynote address, The Driver’s Seat, has been featured by numerous school districts and state organizations.
In addition to his school leadership role, Rizzuto teaches graduate courses at Adelphi University and Cambridge College, focusing on the influence of social issues in education, instructional technology, models-based instruction, and social-emotional literacy. His teaching excellence has been recognized by students and peers alike—he was nominated as a Professor of Excellence at Adelphi in 2021 and named National Teacher of the Year by SHAPE America in 2022.
Additionally, Charles was named Eastern District Physical Education Teacher of the Year, New York State Physical Education Teacher of the Year, New York State Health Education Amazing Person of the Year, and Drug-Free Hero. He was a contributing author of the New York State Physical Education Learning Standards, served as President of Health Education for New York State, and sat on the National Health Education Council.
Let’s Get Into the Episode:
In this episode of the Principal Matters Podcast, host Dr. Jen Schwanke welcomes guest Charles Rizzuto, an assistant principal at Islip High School in New York, former National Teacher of the Year, and a self-proclaimed “super fan” of the Principal Matters Podcast.
Rizzuto, who previously served 15 years as a decorated health and PE teacher at Oyster Bay High School, shares his extensive experience and insights into elevating health and physical education from mere “glorified recess” to an essential component of a school’s academic, social, and emotional framework. The conversation delves into the nuances of effective health and PE programs, Rizzuto’s transition into administration, and how his deep classroom experience shapes his current leadership role.
For any principal wondering why a high-quality health and PE program matters, and what school leaders can do to get one, here are a few things to consider.
“PA is not PE”:
Rizzuto emphasizes a critical distinction between physical activity (PA) and physical education (PE), stating that mere physical activity does not constitute a comprehensive PE program. Movement serves as the “text” in PE, acting as a vehicle for deeper, more meaningful learning across cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains. A quality PE program focuses on these learning outcomes, not just whether students are moving, sweating, or smiling.
Skills-Based Health Education:
Rizzuto asserts that a quality health education program is skills-based rather than solely content-driven. While content (like the recent addition of vaping education) changes, the essential life skills taught—such as analyzing influences, accessing valid information, goal setting, and decision-making—remain constant and are paramount for students’ transferrable learning.
Health and PE as a Central Engine for SEL:
Rizzuto highlights that health and physical education are the environments where social-emotional learning (SEL) and social-emotional literacy can surface most organically. Due to the nature of interactions in PE and the topics discussed in health, these subjects provide unique opportunities for students to develop conflict resolution, leadership, and emotional regulation skills, using frameworks like the Zones of Regulation. He shares a personal anecdote about building relationships with students by explicitly expressing care and love in his health classroom.
Elevating Health and PE Departments:
To truly support and elevate health and PE, school leaders should recognize the discipline’s nuances but not lower expectations for lesson structure, assessment, rigor, or participation. Feedback to health and PE teachers should be rooted in the same principles as feedback for other disciplines, including expectations for posting mastery objectives using a “what, why, how” framework. Leaders should also regularly communicate with health teachers to help them advocate for their curriculum with community members.
Addressing Reluctant PE Teachers:
Rizzuto advises principals to handle resistant PE teachers as they would any other resistant educator, but also to consider that the pushback might stem from feeling invisible or undervalued over time. Leaders should explicitly communicate their value to the staff, reflect on any unintentional messages (e.g., consistently using the gym for non-PE activities), and include them in building-wide professional development.
Fostering Inclusivity in PE:
For genuine inclusivity, Rizzuto recommends that educators embark on a journey of cultural proficiency, seeking to deeply understand their students beyond superficial surveys. Practical solutions include differentiating the scope and sequence of activities from year to year to keep students engaged and interested, and moving away from grading based on participation, as this can turn students off to physical activity altogether.
After all these critical conversations about Heath and PE, this episode concludes with Rizzuto sharing an item from his “if/when I become a principal” list: prioritizing a structured, intentional, and frequent meeting schedule for the leadership team. He proposes daily “What We Know” (WWK) and “What We Learned” (WWL) meetings, and weekly “Planning and Goal Setting” (PAGS) meetings to proactively address issues and foster shared leadership. This comprehensive discussion underscores the transformative potential of health and PE when viewed through an educational and leadership lens, and we know it will inspire principals to mirror Rizzuto’s dedication to expanding positive impact in our schools.
Staying Connected:
You can stay connected with Charles Rizzuto via Linkedin
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Reflections and Goal-Setting for the New Year
Jan 05, 2026
Happy New Year! This week on Monday Matters, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take some time to reflect on the past year through a series of questions. They talk about reaching major milestones, meeting personal and professional goals, overcoming challenges, and learning lessons. Reflecting back is an important step to growing forward. Will challenges listeners to take the questions asked in this episode and answer them on their own as they set their goals for the upcoming year. Listen in to hear the full conversation, and thank you for doing what matters!
PMP481: Think Remarkable with Guy Kawasaki
Dec 31, 2025
Note from Will about Guy:
Principal Matters listeners are primarily education leaders, so they may be surprised at first that today’s guest is a specialist in marketing and communication. But I’ve been an avid listener of Guy Kawasaki’s podcast and recently read his book Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference. His insights on making compelling presentations have been incredibly helpful to me personally.
What I appreciate most about Guy is how his spirit of curiosity, joy, and authenticity shines through in every episode and interaction. He has a gift for making complex ideas feel accessible and inspiring across all professions, including education. That’s why I’m so honored to have him join me on the show.
Meet Guy Kawasaki:
Guy Kawasaki is a marketing specialist, author, and Silicon Valley legend best known as Apple’s former Chief Evangelist. He played a key role in marketing the original Macintosh in the 1980s and later became a pioneer in evangelism marketing. Today, he’s the Chief Evangelist at Canva and host of the Remarkable People podcast. Guy is also the author of 15 books, including The Art of the Start and his most recent book, Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference. Guy has been inspiring entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide. His career blends tech, storytelling, and a passion for helping people change the world through bold ideas.
The Impact of Education:
Guy Kawasaki shares that he thinks educators are the unsung heroes of society. Part of why he feels this way is because of a 6th grade teacher who saw potential in him. Guy grew up poor in Hawaii, and in 6th grade, his teacher told his parents that he should be in a college prep school. Attending this prep school is what got him into Stanford, and Stanford got him his job at Apple. He says that in many ways, he can attribute the success in his life to that 6th grade teacher who believed in him. Guy is a huge proponent of higher education, and pushes back against the myth that people do not need a college degree to be successful. He challenges listeners not to focus on people who became successful without a college degree, but rather to focus on how many people who do not have a college degree and are not successful. Guy also believes that college can broaden the horizon for students and can be useful in helping them explore the world.
What Makes People Remarkable:
In his podcast “Remarkable People”, Guy Kawasaki interviews people he believes are remarkable, not necessarily rich or famous people. To him, what makes someone remarkable is the difference they make in the world. Guy says that what makes someone remarkable is hard to define, but it is not correlated with wealth or power. His mindset around what makes someone remarkable was greatly influenced by Carol Dweck’s book The Growth Mindset. While defining what makes someone remarkable is hard, Guy shares that he considers a person’s grit, growth, and grace when determining remarkability.
Tips on Public Speaking:
On top of being Canva and Apple’s top evangelist, Guy shares a lot of feedback on speaking or presenting in public. So, he graciously offers some advice to listeners who want to make the most impact when speaking publicly. One tip he shares is the 10-20-30 rule, which says that presenters should never have more than ten slides, those slides should be presented in twenty minutes, and the smallest font size that should be used is 30. The second tip he shares is the glance test. When making slides, presenters should make sure that people can glance at their slide and then look back at them. The glance test helps presenters make sure they do not lose their audience. Guy’s third tip on presenting is to use a light colored font on a dark background. This makes slides easier for the audience to read. His final tip is to not start a presentation with a joke, because if the joke does not land then you have to fight to get the audience back. He says that this final tip is the only tip he does not follow; he tries to start every presentation with a joke for the sheer challenge of it.
Advice for Educators:
Educators feel a lot of tension in today’s climate and culture of trying to serve the needs of their school community while also sometimes being the punching bag of politics and outrage. When asked what advice he has for teachers who want to be remarkable in today’s climate, Guy tells listeners to keep their students’ best interests at heart. When people in your community can see that you care about your students and truly want to make the world a better place, they will often agree with you even if you do not share all the same politics. To reiterate how important education is to him, Guy says that education is what got America to where it is, and is what is going to save us.
Parting Words and Staying Connected:
To wrap up the interview, Guy says that he wants listeners to know that at least one person in Silicon Valley appreciates what educators do.
To stay connected with Guy Kawasaki, check out his podcast, Remarkable People.
PMP480: Maximizing Your Systems with John Boyd
Dec 24, 2025
John Boyd is the Principal of Ste. Genevieve High School in Missouri, where he leads with a passion for innovation, efficiency, and creating memorable experiences for students and staff. A proud SGHS alum, he returned to teach for seven years, served three years as Assistant Principal, and is now in his fourth year as Principal.
Named Missouri’s 2023 Jim L. King High School Principal of the Year, John also serves as President-Elect of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals.
John has a passion for integrating AI, coding, and automation. He’s developed tools from digital hall passes to real-time dashboards that streamline operations and enhance communication.
With over 30 years connected to Ste. Genevieve, John is committed to reimagining possibilities for learning and staff empowerment. He and his wife, Sierra, are the proud parents of their children, J.B. and Emery.
John often utilizes AI to help him think outside the box and solve problems in completely new ways. He shares how, as an assistant principal, his principal and mentor, Chris Hoehne, took pride in thinking through problems analytically. This mentor inspired John to develop the skills he uses now to integrate coding into their systems. One way that John has integrated these skills into the systems at his school is by using them for attendance reports, a task that used to take hours to complete. Typically, John takes time each summer to build these pipelines. While the front-end work takes time, the systems that John builds end up saving him and his team a lot of time.
Practical Uses:
One way that John utilizes AI in his school is through a digital hall pass system, a system that John built himself. His process for building these tools starts by thinking about what he wants the tool to do. In the case of the digital hall passes, John used AI to create a form that takes data and processes it on a Google Sheet. Each classroom in his school now has a kiosk in it that allows students to fill out a hall pass request before they leave, and it is where they check in when they get back to the classroom. The hall pass system is set up so that administrators are notified if a student has been out of class for more than 15 minutes, and meet-up notifications for students who should not be in the same place at the same time. John finds that this hall pass system is very helpful for his school. Another way he utilizes this technology is for scheduling sports physicals, which has saved his secretaries and support staff a lot of time.
Navigating AI with Students and Teachers:
Although John embraces using AI as a tool, he acknowledges that it is a topic that requires nuance. Recently, John, along with his staff, has begun having conversations about the need for consistent language regarding AI for students and teachers. It is important for teachers and administrators to have consistent messaging about AI so that students know when it is appropriate to use and when it is not. Without that messaging, it can be confusing for students. There is a definite need for teachers to be able to monitor whether AI is being used or not. The best solution to this is for teachers to know their students and to build relationships with them. Through intentionality, teachers, principals, and students can navigate these new technologies with confidence.
Staying Connected:
You can stay connected with John Boyd via email at jboyd@sgdragons.org.
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – A Year in Review
Dec 22, 2025
Happy holidays, Principal Matters listeners! This week Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to reminisce about the year and share some of holiday traditions that they are looking forward to. Listen in to hear the full conversation, or read the post below to learn more about what we are thankful for this holiday […]
PMP479: The Instructional Leader in You with Danny Steele
Dec 17, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: What are your practices for writing a book? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Danny Steele: Danny Steele worked for 31 years in education as a principal, assistant […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Not the Place
Dec 15, 2025
This week on Monday Matters Will Parker and Jen Schwanke share some thoughts on addressing the political landscape that educators face. They discuss how educators, particularly school leaders, are often asked to weigh in on culture war issues. Taking sides on political issues is not what school leaders are paid to do, and in doing […]
PMP478: From Classroom to Crisis and Beyond with Dr. Greg Johnson
Dec 10, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: How can we build and sustain trust with staff, students, and parents? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Dr. Greg Johnson: Greg Johnson is the high school principal […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Who Are You Without A Title?
Dec 08, 2025
Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will and Jen tackle the topic of understanding your identity outside of your career. They discuss how this can be particularly challenging for mothers, who often carry the mental load of running their households on top of having a career. Jen shares some insights into how she has […]
PMP477: Lessons from Transition with Beau Brannon
Dec 03, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: What are the common pitfalls that keep principals from effectively leading instructional communities? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Beau Brannon: Beau Brannon is the Principal of Union […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Responsive vs. Reactive Leadership
Dec 01, 2025
Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about the difference between responsive vs. reactive leadership. This conversation was inspired by a thoughtful post written by Will, you can read it below. As always, thank you for doing what matters! Responsive, not Reactive, Leadership During a […]
PMP476: Leading a Community of Educators with Steve Ventura
Nov 26, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: I’m struggling with a new teacher responding to constructive feedback. Suggestions? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Steve Ventura: Steve Ventura is the founder and president of Advanced […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Curiosity and Cracking the Code
Nov 24, 2025
This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about how curiosity leads to discovery. Sometimes, school leaders can get so caught up in their work that they forget to be curious, forgetting that curiosity is the engine of learning. As leaders, we need to intentionally seek out the […]
PMP475: Lessons from the First Year with Dr. Robert Kaiser
Nov 19, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: What are some strategies for my own professional growth while managing so many daily responsibilities? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Robert Kaiser: Dr. Robert “Rob” Kaiser brings […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Less is More
Nov 17, 2025
Principals often juggle a multitude of tasks and responsibilities, and they are constantly being asked to add more to their plate. Sometimes, you have to say “no” to say “yes” to something else. This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke discuss the never-ending todo lists that many principals face. They talk about […]
PMP474: Radically Excellent School Improvement with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley
Nov 12, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: How do we balance the expectations and challenges of system-wide leadership vs. site-specific leadership? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Kate Anderson Foley, Ph.D. Kate Anderson Foley, Founder […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Addressing AI
Nov 10, 2025
Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to have a conversation about the use of AI in public schools. They talk about how AI has blown up and the ways that it is impacting education. One concern about AI that is often cited is […]
PMP473: Road to Awesome with Darrin Peppard
Nov 05, 2025
Meet Darrin Peppard: Dr. Darrin Peppard is a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership expert, and consultant with a passion for transforming organizational culture and developing the next generation of leaders. A former award-winning principal, Darrin draws from nearly 30 years of experience in education to inspire leaders to embrace clarity, purpose, and joy in their work. […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Being a Swiss Army Knife
Nov 03, 2025
In this week’s episode of Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to highlight the extraordinary skills of school leaders. Using the image of a Swiss Army Knife, Will and Jen tie that image to the image of the job description of a school principal. The job of a principal often requires […]
PMP472: Elemental Educator with Tyler Comeau
Oct 29, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s episode, Will and Jen take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: How do I face a team of teachers who resist collaborating and like to “admire the problems” more than look for solutions? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Tyler Comeau: […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Leading Through the Ordinary
Oct 27, 2025
In this week’s episode of Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke discuss the challenges that school leaders face as they navigate both the mundane and complex aspects of their job. They offer advice on how to lead through the ordinary and fight boredom in the job of a school leader by reconnecting to one’s […]
PMP471: Lead with H.O.P.E with Dr. Brandi Kelly
Oct 22, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: Do I HAVE to appease parents? How can I shut down a cycle of unproductive conversation? (I’m referring to the most unreasonable situations) Listen in to hear their response! […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Staff Meeting Glow-Up
Oct 20, 2025
Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about a post Jen wrote for her newsletter about staff meetings. Running a staff meeting can be a daunting task! We hope that this episode will provide principals with ideas to run staff meetings in a way that makes […]
PMP470: Staying Committed to Inclusivity with Tim Villegas
Oct 15, 2025
A Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: What tips do you have for someone transitioning to a support role without specifically defined responsibilities? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Tim Villegas: Tim Villegas is the Director […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Left Brain and Right Brain Leadership
Oct 13, 2025
This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke discuss the article below written by Will about left brain and right brain leadership. Listen in to hear their conversation! Left Brain and Right Brain Leadership, by William D. Parker There’s an old ad from Mercedes-Benz that shows an illustration of the human brain divided […]
PMP469: Instructional Coaching with Crystal Williams
Oct 08, 2025
Meet Crystal Williams: Crystal Williams is a dedicated instructional leader with 20 years of experience, currently serving as a District Literacy Coach in Houston, Texas. Originally from Albuquerque, NM, she holds a BA in Psychology and MA in Elementary Education. Now in her sixth year as an instructional coach, Crystal is passionate about equity, justice, […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Random Moments, Major Outcomes
Oct 06, 2025
This week on Monday Matters, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker discuss a post written by Will. Check out the post below and listen in to hear their thoughts on it! Random Moments, Major Outcomes by Will Parker I recently listened to an insightful episode of Hidden Brain that really provoked my thinking. In the interview, […]
PMP468: AI with Intention with Tony Frontier
Oct 01, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s episode, Will and Jen take some time to answer the following listener question: Is achievement only dependent on the perfect leader happening along at the perfect time? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Tony Frontier: Tony Frontier, PhD, is an award-winning educator, author, and consultant who […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Whose Happiness Are You Responsible For?
Sep 29, 2025
This week on Monday Matters, Jen Schwanke and I discuss happiness among educators. We cover an article by Elizabeth Dampf, The Cost of Happiness, and Jen talks about some articles she has written about joy in educators. School leaders face a lot of stress on the job. We spend a lot of time pouring into […]
PMP467: Being a Ruckus Maker with Danny Bauer
Sep 24, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What is missing that keeps every school from moving forward at high levels all the time? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Danny Bauer: Daniel Bauer is the founder of Better […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Self-Trust and Beyond
Sep 22, 2025
Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, join Will Parker and Jen Schwanke for the final discussion about Jen’s new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. Chapter 7 is about self-trust for principals. The work of a principal is inherently very self critical. When a principal […]
PMP466: Leading Collaboratively with LaDonna Chancellor
Sep 17, 2025
LaDonna Chancellor is the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning for Bartlesville Public Schools in Oklahoma. With over 25 years in education, she began as a special education teacher, later serving as assistant principal and principal at Central Middle School and Bartlesville High School. As a high school principal, she led major transitions, expanded STEM […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Trust with Students
Sep 15, 2025
This week on Monday Matters, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker are talking about building trust with students. Their conversation is a follow-up to last week’s episode, where they talk about what kills trust with students. If you haven’t already listened to that episode, go back and give it a listen! Building trust with students is the […]
PMP465: Better Together with Derek Cantrell
Sep 10, 2025
Derek is the principal of Alleghany High School in Covington, Virginia, where he led the merger of two rival schools into a unified school community. Instead of allowing division to define the transition, he focused on building culture first, ensuring students, staff, and the community had a voice in shaping a new identity under a […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trust Killers with Students
Sep 08, 2025
Happy Monday Principal Matters listeners! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are discussing a topic from Jen Schwanke’s new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. Today’s conversation is part one of a two part conversation about building trust with students. Building trust with students is an essential skill […]
PMP464: Human Capital Management with OSU Graduate Students
Sep 03, 2025
Welcome back to another episode of Principal Matters Podcast! This week’s episode is a little different than our regularly scheduled content. A few months ago, Will Parker joined Dr. Jen Schwanke’s class on human capital management at Ohio State University to answer their questions about school leadership. This class is made up of students who […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Trust with Parents
Sep 01, 2025
This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke talk more about a concept from Jen’s new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. The topic of conversation this week is building trust with parents. Jen shares several components that are key to schools building a trusting relationship with […]
PMP463: Leaning into Leadership with Darrin Peppard
Aug 27, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What feedback do you have for an AP who feels like they are carrying all the weight of the Principal? Listen in to hear their response! Leaning into Leadership with Darrin Peppard: […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trust with Teachers
Aug 25, 2025
Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are talking about building trust with teachers. Competency, openness, and honesty are three key building blocks to building trust with teachers. Teachers feeling that their principal is competent is key to having a trusting relationship between teachers and principals. Staying […]
PMP462: Supporting New Teachers, Part 2, with Jenn David-Lang and Kim Marshall
Aug 20, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to share some feedback that Will has recently received after a PD session with teachers and staff. Listen in to hear their conversation! Meet Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang: Kim Marshall is a veteran educator and writer […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trust Pillars and Trust Killers
Aug 18, 2025
Welcome back, Principal Matters listeners! This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are talking about trust pillars and trust killers, a concept covered in Jen’s new book. When it comes to school trust, there are a number of methods school leaders can employ to build organizational trust among teachers and staff members. […]
PMP461: Supporting New Teachers with Jenn David-Lang and Kim Marshall
Aug 13, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What would a spouse tell a principal stepping into their first year on the job? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang: Kim Marshall is a veteran […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trustworthy vs. Trust-willing
Aug 11, 2025
Hello, Principal Matters Listeners! Welcome back to another conversation about Jen’s new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools, available August 17th. Pre-order your copy now! Today, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker will be talking about what sets this book apart from a lecture on how to be trustworthy. Their […]
PMP460: Digital for Good with Richard Culatta
Aug 06, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following listener question: What other practical ways (like your student handbook) can you rethink for sending positive messaging to your students and school community? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Richard Culatta: As […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trusted: A New Book by Jen Schwanke
Aug 04, 2025
Hi, friends. Jen Schwanke is excited to announce that her new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools, will be released on the 17th of this month! Over the next several weeks, Jen and I will be using the Monday Matters episodes to dive into each of the chapters of […]
PMP459: Unlocking Academic Achievement with David Young
Jul 30, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following listener question: As I step into a new role at a new school, how can I make a difference in a school that is struggling with disengaged teachers without being seen as a […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Lessons From Climbing Mt. Massive
Jul 28, 2025
Lessons from Climbing Mt. Massive On June 26, 2025, my son Jack and I summited Mt Massive, at 14,429 feet, the 2nd tallest peak in Colorado. That one sentence sums up an impossibly difficult-to-describe one-day adventure that he and I have dreamed about for a long time. The day began at 4:30 AM, when we […]
PMP458: Permission to S.H.I.N.E. with LaVonna Roth
Jul 23, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What should I be thinking as I step into the school year, especially if I am starting a new role? Listen in to hear their response! Meet LaVonna Roth: With almost 20 […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Your Greatest Joy Is Not What You May Think
Jul 21, 2025
Welcome back to another installment of Monday Matters! This week, Dr. Jen Schwanke and I are discussing chapter 13 from my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The focus of chapter 13 is based on avoiding the mindset that our greatest joy has to be […]
PMP457: Listening To Your Teachers with Karen Borchert
Jul 16, 2025
Meet Karen Borchert: Karen Borchert is the founder and CEO of Alpaca, a company with a mission to make it easier to support teachers. Karen started off in secondary education, but most of her career is as an entrepreneur, helping to grow high trust, highly aligned teams. Karen started Alpaca to combine her passion for […]
MONDAY MATTERS BONUS with Ohio Academy Grads Mastermind
Jul 14, 2025
In this episode, I wanted to share some feedback from another Mastermind group I’ve met with in 2024-25. These leaders include: Julieta R. Flowers – Principal, Discovery Community School, Toledo, OH Kelly Brodzenski – Principal, Beacon Academy, Canton, OH Laura Krulik – Assistant Superintendent & Title II/Civil Rights Coordinator, Utica Shale Academy (Southern Local Schools), […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Life Liturgies
Jul 07, 2025
Happy Monday, Principal Matters listeners! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about chapter 12 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The premise of this chapter is on something I like to call “life liturgies”: practices, routines, and rituals that define a […]
PMP455: Cybersecurity in Schools: Risks, Prevention, and Best Practices with Mike Fitzpatrick
Jul 02, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke spend some time talking about Jen’s upcoming book: Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. Listen in to hear more about this book, as well as where you can pre-order it. Thank you for doing what matters! […]
MONDAY MATTERS Bonus Episode – Mastermind Lesson with Legacy Leaders
Jun 30, 2025
Welcome back to another Monday Matters! I can’t believe it is already summer. This week, our Monday Matters Podcast is going to be a little different than usual. As listeners may already know, the focus of recent Monday Matters episodes have been on the chapters of my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? […]
PMP454: Maximizing Systems, Focus, and Impact with PJ Caposey
Jun 25, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: From your experience as a podcaster, what are the most compelling or surprising insights you’ve gained from other educational leaders regarding human capital management? (This question is asked […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Value of Coaching
Jun 23, 2025
Welcome back to another Monday Matters. As school leaders across the country are wrapping up their school years, Jen and I are wishing everyone a happy summer! This week’s episode is a discussion of a chapter on coaching from my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. […]
PMP453: Leading with Wellness in Mind with Dr. Angela Diggs
Jun 18, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: Through your consulting work, what common human capital challenges do you see schools facing and how can principals proactively address them? (Question from Madeline Platfoot, 6th grade math […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Cycles of Reflection
Jun 16, 2025
Hi, Principal Matters listeners! Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Monday Matters. This week, Jen Schanke and I are talking about chapter 10 from my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. Before we jump into that discussion, Jen announces all of the places […]
PMP452: Reaching Every Student with Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley
Jun 11, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: How did you ensure equity and fairness in staff evaluations, promotions, and leadership opportunities? (Question from Diona Ross, High School Intervention Specialist from Columbus, Ohio) Listen in to […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Systems That Produce Outcomes You Want
Jun 09, 2025
Hi, Principal Matters listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about building systems that produce the outcome you want (Chapter 8 in Whose Permission). I want to talk about systems on Monday Matters because Jen Schwanke has helped me understand systems better. Jen shares […]
PMP451: What is My Value Instructionally with Baruti Kafele
Jun 04, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: What practical strategies did you use to boost staff morale and prevent burnout, especially during times of high stress or change? (Question from Cameron Carter, first grade teacher […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Let’s Talk About Money
Jun 02, 2025
It’s Monday, so that means it’s time for another Monday Matters episode! This week, Jen and I are continuing a series of conversations that revolve around the chapters from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The chapter we’re discussing this week is called “Let’s […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP287: Chasing the Show with Pete Hall
May 30, 2025
Happy Friday, Principal Matters listeners! This week’s encore episode is a conversation between myself and Pete Hall from 2022. Pete is a veteran school administrator and education consultant who has authored many books and articles on leadership. In this episode, we talk about his book Chasing the Show, a YA novel. Listen in to hear […]
PMP450: Instructional Excellence with Michelle Steingart
May 28, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Will It Fly?
May 26, 2025
Hi, Friends! Welcome back to another installment of Monday Matters! This week, I am joined by Jen Schwanke to talk about a chapter called “Will It Fly?” in my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. When I wrote this chapter, I wanted to share with […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP291: Growing Leadership Teams with Dr. Keri Launius
May 23, 2025
Happy Friday! We’re back this week with another encore episode. This one is an interview from 2022 with Dr. Keri Launius, an administrator who has served in various roles throughout her education career. At the time of this interview, I was working alongside her team to facilitate learning and growing for her team of aspiring […]
PMP449: Inclusive and Supportive Schools for Every Learner with Dr. Eric Mace
May 21, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?
May 19, 2025
Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen and I are talking about chapter 6 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. But before we jump into that discussion, we would like to share some details about some upcoming conferences we […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP274: 6 Literacy Levers with Brad Gustafson
May 16, 2025
Happy Friday! We’re back this week with another encore episode. This week’s pick is from 2022, when I talked with Brad Gustafson about his book The 6 Literacy Levers. Our conversation is filled with great advice for school leaders to rethink literacy through the use of Brad’s six literacy levers: We also discuss questions about […]
PMP448: The Antiracist School Leader with Dr. Daman Harris
May 14, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Value of Consistency
May 12, 2025
Hi, friends, and welcome back to Monday Matters! Today Jen and I are discussing the value of consistency, which is one of the chapters in my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. To start out the conversation, Jen shares the heartwarming story of a nurse, […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP279: Support, Empower, Engage with Chris Jones
May 09, 2025
Happy Friday! This week’s Encore Episode is one from 2022, a dynamic interview with Dr. Chris Jones. We discuss teacher-centric leading and supporting teachers, to name a few discussion areas. I feel like this is the perfect encore episode to wrap up teacher appreciation week. Listen in to hear our conversation or check out the […]
PMP447: The Blueprint for Administrators with Todd Bloomer
May 07, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Curiosity Plus Inquiry Equals Discovery
May 05, 2025
Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Will and Jen are talking about another chapter from Will’s new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. Throughout their conversation, Will and Jen discuss how important it is for school leaders to stay curious. One of […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP278: Encouraging & Motivating Staff with Jen Schwanke
May 02, 2025
Happy Friday! This week our encore episode is a conversation between Jen Schwanke and I, focused on encouraging and motivating staff. Listen in to hear us discuss the following reminders for education leaders: Tune in to hear the full conversation or check out the original blog post to learn more. Thank you doing what matters!
PMP446: Recovering After Fire with Lana Penley & Jen Schwanke
Apr 30, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Avoiding the Binary
Apr 28, 2025
Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are discussing a chapter from Will’s new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The chapter is on avoiding the binary, and discusses innovative ways for readers to approach decision making in their work through […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP271: Answering Questions on School Discipline with Jen Schwanke
Apr 25, 2025
Happy Friday! This week’s encore episode is one from 2021, a conversation between Will Parker and Jen Schwanke about school discipline. Listen in to hear them talk about several different ways to approach consequences for student discipline, as well as some great advice and practical applications to approaching discipline. You can learn more by tuning […]
PMP445: Powerful Voices in Education with Donna Hayward and Jen Schwanke
Apr 23, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Professional Pathways for Educators
Apr 21, 2025
This week on Monday Matters, Will and Jen talk about professional pathways for educators and getting through the end of the school year. They discuss strategies for powering through what Will and Jen call the “slog” at the end of the school year, and share how they have each adjusted their mindset to have a […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP253: 10 Lessons from a First Year Assistant Principal with D.J. Klein
Apr 18, 2025
Happy Friday! Our encore episode this week is one from 2021, another interview with D.J. Klein. His interviews on this show are popular for a reason; he always has sage advice to offer listeners! Check out this interview to hear him share ten lessons he learned in his first year as an assistant principal. Listen […]
PMP444: Leading with Simplicity and Harmony with John Marinucci
Apr 16, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Catching Up
Apr 14, 2025
Happy Monday, friends! This week for Monday Matters, Jen and Will are taking some time to catch up and talk about the exciting work we have been doing recently. Jen talks about a presentation she gave recently. By the time this recording comes out, she will have returned from speaking at national school boards association […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP270: Gaining Buy-In & Building Leadership Teams with Jen Schwanke
Apr 11, 2025
Welcome back to Encore Friday! This week’s episode is one from 2021, a conversation with Jen Schwanke about gaining buy-in and building leadership teams. Tune in to hear us answer the following questions from principals: Listen in to hear the entire episode, or follow this link to read the original blog post. Thank you for […]
PMP443: Why Every Student Deserves a Pathway with Dr. T.J. Vari
Apr 09, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Introducing a New PD Offering from Jen Schwanke
Apr 07, 2025
Hi, friends. This week for Monday Matters, Jen and I are taking some time to talk about an exciting new offering from Principal Matters, led by Jen Schwanke! Based on her book, The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management, Jen will be leading a 3-hour masterclass on June 3rd, 2025, at 11 am EDT. This dynamic […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP299: 10 Lessons from a 2nd Year in School Admin with DJ Klein
Apr 04, 2025
Happy Friday, friends! This week, we are re-releasing an episode from 2022, an interview with a rockstar leader DJ Klein. DJ Klein has been featured on the podcast several times throughout the years and he is still doing the same phenomenal work in 2025 that he was doing in 2022. Listen in to hear the […]
PMP442: Keys to Successful Schools with John Mihalyo
Apr 02, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Tips on Maintaining Sanity
Mar 31, 2025
Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week Jen Schwanke and Will Parker are sharing some lessons learned from doing PD with school leaders. They talk about some of the strengths that leaders who are women bring to the table, as well as strengths that leaders who are men bring to the table. During their conversation, […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP292: The Profile of a School Leader with Garth Larson
Mar 28, 2025
Happy Friday! This week’s encore episode is one from 2022 with Garth Larson. He chats with Will Parker about guiding leaders and helping them build their leadership. Listen in to hear the full conversation or check out the original blog post to learn more!
PMP441: Ease the Pain – Guidance for Safety and Regulation with Dr. Bethany Bilodeau
Mar 26, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Dear Colleague Letter
Mar 24, 2025
This week on Monday Matters, Jen and I talk about some of the responses to the “Dear Colleague” letter sent out by the US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. Sent to educators across the country, this letter has generated a multitude of responses from teachers, principals, and superintendents alike. If you would like […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP303: Intro to the Teacher’s Principal with Jen Schwanke
Mar 21, 2025
Happy Friday! This week’s encore episode is one from 2022, in which I interview Jen Schwanke about her book The Teacher’s Principal: How School Leaders can Support and Motivate Their Teachers. Jen shares a ton of great takeaways in this episode; I learned a lot from her as I listened back to this it! Give […]
PMP440: TRUST Principles for Professionalism with Dr. Nason Lollar
Mar 19, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Remembering Faces
Mar 17, 2025
On this week’s installment of Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke have a conversation about leaving your legacy and making your mark. Some topics covered in the conversation are: Listen in to hear the full conversation! Below is a piece written by William D. Parker about the topics discussed in this episode: Remembering Faces […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP268: Equity, Equality and Systems with Enid Lee
Mar 14, 2025
“These are the times for stepping forward with courage.” – Enid Lee. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are three things that make our country and our schools strong. I believe that it is vital to engage in conversations about these things in a time when our government in the US is cracking down on DEI. For […]
PMP439: Rebel Educator – Classrooms of Imagination and Impact with Tanya Sheckley
Mar 12, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Reflections
Mar 10, 2025
This week on Monday Matters, Will and Jen are doing something they have not done before: talking about books they’re currently reading. Will talks about reading the book, The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. Jen recently finished a book called Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. Listen […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP281: Paradoxes of Leadership with Dr. Tim Elmore
Mar 07, 2025
Welcome back to Encore Friday! This week’s episode from the archives is PMP281: Paradoxes of Leadership with Dr. Tim Elmore, originally released in 2022. In it we discuss his book, The 8 Paradoxes of Great Leadership: Embracing the Conflicting Demands of Today’s Workplace. Listen in to hear Dr. Elmore talk about the complexities of leadership […]
PMP438: Living on the Leadership Edge with Margaret Coates
Mar 05, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker- Decision Making
Mar 03, 2025
Happy Monday! This week, Jen and I cover the topic of decision making for school leaders. Specifically, we consider the question: What goes in to the thought process when a leader has to make a decision? Some of the pieces of the decision making process we cover are: Listen in to hear our full answer […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP321: Lessons in the Leadership Journey with Shenita Perry
Feb 28, 2025
Happy Friday! This week’s encore episode is one from 2022. In it, Will Parker interviews Shenita Perry about her unique leadership experiences and the lessons she learned along the way. Listen in to hear the full conversation or check out the original blog post here!
PMP437: Partners in School Innovation with Dr. Derek Mitchell
Feb 26, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS – Warming Your Hands and Learning Lessons
Feb 24, 2025
By William D. Parker When we lived in the basement, Daddy would wake up long before the rest of us. He would stir the remaining coals in the wood stove, adding fresh sticks to the barrel-sized belly and stoking it until the new wood caught fire. As we crawled out of our beds, we would […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP368: Buildership with Robyn Jackson and Jen Schwanke
Feb 21, 2025
It’s Encore Friday! This week’s episode is an interview from 2023 with Jen Schwanke and Robyn Jackson. Listen in to hear them discuss topics like: You can also check out the original blog post for this episode here. Thank you for doing what matters!
PMP436: Achieving Remarkable Outcomes with Dr. Amanda Austin
Feb 19, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – AI in Schools
Feb 17, 2025
For this week’s Monday Matters topic, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke talk about AI in schools. While neither of them are experts on the subject, they acknowledge that AI is something that impacts everyone in the education world. Some of the points they address in this conversation are: Now It’s Your Turn: What are some […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP358: Inspired to Be Faithful with Timothy Alexander
Feb 14, 2025
It’s Friday and that means it’s time for another encore episode! This week’s episode from the archives is PMP358, an interview with my friend Timothy Alexander. Timothy’s story is moving and inspirational. Give this episode a listen or check out the original blog post from 2023 to learn more about him!
PMP435: Empowering Teen Learners with Dr. Wilnic Gideon
Feb 12, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS – What is your one word for 2025?
Feb 10, 2025
In this week’s Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke talk about their word for 2025. Upcoming Events If you’re going to be in St George, Utah, February 12-14, 2025, let Jen know as she’s speaking at the Utah Association of Elementary School Principals. Word for 2025: Jen’s word for 2025 is equanimity – defined […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP202: Transforming School Cultures with Dr. Anthony Muhammad
Feb 07, 2025
It’s Friday and that means it is time for an encore episode! This week’s encore episode is on from 2020, featuring Dr. Anthony Muhammad. Check out the original post here, or listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts! This episode is full of great advice for leaders and is as relevant today as […]
PMP434: Power Engage with Carlos Johnson
Feb 05, 2025
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […]
MONDAY MATTERS – Time Spent and 5 Areas of Trust
Feb 03, 2025
In this week’s episode of Monday Matters, Will and Jen talk about time spent and 5 areas of trust. Upcoming Events: If you’re going to be in St George, Utah, February 12-14, 2025, let Jen know as she’s speaking at the Utah Association of Elementary School Principals. Will has some upcoming PD in Columbus, Ohio. […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP273: How to Manage When Someone is ‘Stirring the Pot’
Jan 31, 2025
Happy Friday! This week I am sharing out an old episode from 2021. In it, Jen and I answer a listener question about managing people who ‘stir the pot’ – teachers or faculty who gossip or cause drama. Check out the original blog post now to learn more about the episode! Thank you for doing […]
PMP433: The Benefits of Building Trust with Brent Jaco
Jan 29, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A […]
MONDAY MATTERS – Your Well-Being and Meet Cherith Aven, OKED Run Club
Jan 27, 2025
In this week’s check-in, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker discuss habits and intentions surrounding commitments to your well-being as a leader. Both of them share reflections on seasons in life, challenges we face in our personal and professional lives, and ways to stay present in our mindsets and practices. You can stay connected with our […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP283: How to Be a Transformative Principal with Jethro Jones
Jan 24, 2025
Happy Friday! This week, the episode I have chosen to share from the Principal Matters archive is PMP283: How to be a Transformative Principal with Jethro Jones. We talk about self-care and growth for leaders, along with the challenges that school leaders face on a day-to-day basis. Click on the link above to read the […]
PMP432: Be the Shift with Joshua Yeager
Jan 22, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Crucial Conversations vs. Super Star Phrasing
Jan 20, 2025
I’ve been thinking about some of the tensions leaders feel when trying to guide improvement among students and teachers. In a recent interview with David Yeager, author of 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People: A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation―And Making Your Own Life Easier, we discussed how good classroom […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP304: You’re the Principal, Now What? Revisited Part 1
Jan 17, 2025
Happy Friday! This week we are re-releasing an archival episode, from 2022, where Jen Schwanke joins me to discuss her book, You’re the Principal, Now What? Check out this link to read the original blog post about PMP304 or listen in wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for doing what matters!
PMP431: Connecting Leaders with Ross Romano and Jen Schwanke
Jan 15, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen and Will – Impact vs Impression
Jan 13, 2025
In this week’s Monday Matters, Jen and Will talk about the challenge of the work of any educator, in knowing you are making a meaningful impact, not just a good impression. Upcoming Events If you’re going to be in St George, Utah, February 12-14, 2025, let Jen know as she’s speaking at the Utah Association […]
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP197: 10 Tips for New Assistant Principals
Jan 10, 2025
Hello listeners! This Friday marks the first Friday that Principal Matters is starting to share out some archival content. We have over 400 episodes worth of content! That is a lot of content for listeners to work through, so we are sharing some old episodes in hopes that new and old listeners alike will find […]
PMP430: Culturizing for Impact with Cale Birk
Jan 08, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How can leaders feel heard and ensure that responses lead to meaningful change, rather than seeming like a waste of time? Listen in for our response and thank you for […]
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen and Will – What is Monday Matters?
Jan 06, 2025
In this week’s episode, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker discuss the new weekly show providing listeners some current updates on professional development they are offering to educators. They also discuss topics they come across when coaching or serving education leaders. In the weeks ahead, they plan to talk about topics like: What’s Coming Up in […]
PMP429: Finding Solutions with Jeff Jones
Jan 01, 2025
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: What strategies help maintain focus on long-term vision and direction in the face of daily challenges? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet Jeff […]
PMP428: What’s Happened in 2024 and What’s Next for Principal Matters?
Dec 23, 2024
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! We are sharing our weekly episode early this week to avoid intruding on your holidays. In this episode, Will and Jen both share some favorite Christmas memories. Listen to the end, however, for some heartfelt aspirations and hopes for the New Year. We would love to hear from you. […]
PMP427: The Fulcrum Position in Education with Olina Banerji
Dec 18, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How do leaders know when to protect staff from initiatives (buffer) and when to connect to initiatives that are handed down to them? Listen in for our response and thank […]
PMP426: What Makes a Great Principal with George Couros
Dec 11, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How do you navigate bureaucracy, especially with frequent shifts in focus that make previous efforts seem irrelevant? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet […]
PMP425: The Power of Engagement with Dr. Kenny Rodrequez
Dec 04, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How do you handle the tendency to catastrophize, which can drain energy and focus? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet Kenny Rodrequez Dr. […]
PMP424: Principal as Mentor and Coach with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Nov 27, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: What strategies work best when dealing with others who are resistant to growth? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! The Principal as a Mentor […]
PMP423: Extinguishing Fires Within Assessment and Grading Reform with Garth Larson
Nov 20, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: What are the best practices for improving communication and fostering a sense of ownership among staff? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet Garth […]
PMP422: Pathway for Mindful Teachers with Danielle Nuhfer
Nov 13, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How can I use time effectively while also making time for self-care? Here’s a free resource Will refers to by Michael Hyatt: https://assessments.fullfocus.co/lifescore/ Also, check out Will’s book, Pause. Breathe. […]
PMP421: Smarter Budgets, Smarter Schools with Nate Levenson and Jen Schwanke
Nov 06, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How can I exercise my voice as a ‘guardian’ without coming off as ‘challenging’? Will refers to a resource The 5 Voices: How to Communicate Effectively with Everyone You Lead […]
PMP420: Mentoring Mindset with David Yeager
Oct 30, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How do you help teachers keep their ‘Why’ in the forefront of their minds? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! David Yeager, PhD, is a […]
PMP419: Energy Bus for Schools with Dr. Jim Van Allan and Will Parker
Oct 23, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How do you create schedules for observing teachers in advance? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet Dr. Jim Van Allan Dr. Jim Van […]
PMP418: Maintaining Your Passion with Wes Cottongim
Oct 16, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: What are some best practices in other school buildings to “flatten the walls of the school”? Where did you start on this journey/process? [The idea of flattening the walls means […]
PMP417: How To Design Smarter Schedules with David James
Oct 09, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How do you manage displacement conversations after teachers find out they are not returning? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet David James David […]
PMP416: Every Student Has a Name with Will Parker and Jen Schwanke
Oct 02, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: What’s the best way to find a ‘balanced’ leadership team when interviewing? It’s hard sometimes to go ‘deep’ and really see who people are in a formal interview. Will mentions […]
PMP415: Reclaiming Purpose with Frederick Buskey
Sep 25, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: We are entering a new quarter. If boundaries need to be reset, what do you suggest? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet Frederick […]
PMP414: Managing Your Priorities with Mark Shellinger
Sep 18, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How do you drill down the big buckets in assigning key responsibility areas to the individual involvement of the team? Example: Testing can be led by 1 but is a […]
PMP413: The Art of Transformational Coaching with Elena Aguilar
Sep 11, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How do I identify the people I can trust to support me or assign positions of management? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet […]
PMP412: The Principal’s Journey with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket
Sep 04, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered another listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: What would you say is the most high-leverage action new principals can take when they begin? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Dr. Rachel […]
PMP411: Collaborative Response with Kurtis Hewson
Aug 28, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered another listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: I’d love to know more about how to set boundaries that help with individual self-care. Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Kurtis Hewson is […]
PMP410: Innovation in Leadership with Bobby Dodd
Aug 21, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered an exit-ticket question in a 5-minute response. The question is: Reflection on my own leadership strengths and weaknesses: How do they correlate with my current team? Additional ways to grow as a leader. Listen in for our response and thank […]
PMP409: Ready for Real Life with Andrew McPeak
Aug 14, 2024
A quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response. The question is: How do I coach a veteran (relatively) effective teacher who is reluctant to implement something new? Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters! Andrew McPeak […]
PMP408: De Facto Leadership with Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan and Dr. Jen Schwanke
Aug 07, 2024
Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan is the founder and owner/operator of Dr. Karen, LLC, a company focused on empowering therapists and educators to design interventions that support language, literacy, and executive functioning. She has a doctorate in Special Education and Director of Special Education and Assistive Technology credentials from Illinois State University, as well as a master’s […]
PMP407: Supporting Teacher Growth with Justin Baeder and Jen Schwanke
Jul 31, 2024
This week Jen Schwanke hosts guest educator Justin Baeder, author and veteran instructional leader, and takeaways from his newest book Mapping Professional Practice: How to Develop Instructional Frameworks to Support Teacher Growth (2022), a book co-authored with Heather Bell-Williams. Justin shares his practical takes on accountability and the careful dance of driving school improvement. Discover […]
PMP406: Thinking Inclusive with Tim Villegas
Jul 24, 2024
Tim Villegas is the Director of Communications for the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education. He is also the founder of Think Inclusive, which is the blog, podcast, and social media handle of MCIE. He has 16 years of experience in public education as a teacher and district support specialist. His focus now is on how […]
PMP405: Building Capacity in Your Leadership with Anne-Marie Maw
Jul 17, 2024
Anne-Marie Maw is an educator who has worked in schools for over 25 years as a classroom teacher and school leader across a range of schools in Australia. Currently, she is the principal of St. Agatha’s Primary School in the northeast suburbs of Brisbane which is the capital city of the state of Queensland in […]
PMP404: Managing Expectations and Accountability with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Jul 10, 2024
This week, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker tackle a question from an education leader: “As a principal, how can you monitor and ensure adherence to expected standards and outcomes in a way that is supportive rather than punitive, and fosters a culture of accountability?” Key Points from Jen Schwanke: Insights from Will Parker: Practical Systems […]
PMP403: Be the Change with Principal Baruti Kafele and Dr. Jen Schwanke
Jul 03, 2024
If you’ve not yet heard of Principal Kafele, this podcast captures him in a conversation with Dr. Jen Schwanke—a conversation that gets to the heart of why he is one of the most distinguished and transformational speakers and leaders of our generation. A highly-regarded urban educator in New Jersey for over twenty years, Principal Baruti […]
PMP402: Building Trust with Dr. Todd Dain
Jun 26, 2024
Dr. Todd Dain has significantly shaped education over a 30-year career, currently leading Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, Kansas, since 2015. With a foundation in education from Emporia State and Baker University, he’s held roles as a teacher, coach, and administrator. His leadership is acknowledged beyond the school through his involvement in […]
PMP401: Inspiring and Developing Others with Northwest Rankin High School Admin Team
Jun 19, 2024
In this week’s episode, I talk to Lewis Bradford and three of his administrative team members, Jessica Hodges, Benny Bullock, and David Jones at Northwest Rankin High School in Flowood, Mississippi. On October 23, 2023, I was privileged to visit Northwest Rankin High School. Afterward, I invited Lewis to record a podcast episode together, and […]
PMP400: Celebrating 10+ Years of Principal Matters
Jun 12, 2024
In this week’s episode, Dr. Jen Schwanke and I celebrate 400 episodes of the Principal Matters Podcast. We stroll down memory lane, reminiscing about 10-plus years of producing Principal Matters content. This podcast was created as an outlet for lessons I learned as an assistant principal and principal. Over the years, it has become a […]
PMP399: Boundary Setting for Leaders and Educators with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Jun 05, 2024
Hello, Friends! It’s Will Parker here from Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast. We’re excited to announce that we’re approaching our 400th episode! Can you believe it? To make this milestone even more special, we’d love to hear from you. If this podcast has inspired, helped, or encouraged you, would you consider sharing your thoughts […]
PMP398: Leveraging Executive Internal Communication for Stronger Brands with Brittany Keil
May 29, 2024
Hello, Friends! It’s Will Parker here from Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast. We’re excited to announce that we’re approaching our 400th episode! Can you believe it? To make this milestone even more special, we’d love to hear from you. If this podcast has inspired, helped, or encouraged you, would you consider sharing your thoughts […]
PMP397: Maximizing Feedback to Teachers with Molly Dexter, Brandon Mawhorter, and Kathleen Beckham
May 22, 2024
Hello, Friends! It’s Will Parker here from Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast. We’re excited to announce that we’re approaching our 400th episode! Can you believe it? To make this milestone even more special, we’d love to hear from you. If this podcast has inspired, helped, or encouraged you, would you consider sharing your thoughts […]
PMP396: Leadership Approaches to Conflict Resolution with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
May 15, 2024
Will You Help Us Celebrate?? Hello, Friends! It’s Will Parker here from Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast. We’re excited to announce that we’re approaching our 400th episode! Can you believe it? To make this milestone even more special, we’d love to hear from you. If this podcast has inspired, helped, or encouraged you, would […]
PMP395: Embracing MESSY Leadership with Alyssa Gallagher and Jen Schwanke
May 08, 2024
A few words from William D. Parker Hey everyone, William D. Parker here from Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast. With over 1.4 million downloads and a decade of content for school leaders, our resources are always available for you at williamdparker.com. As we dive into May 2024, I’m reminded of the craziness this time […]
PMP394: Lessons from a First Year Principal with Tomas Macaluso
May 01, 2024
In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Tomas, principal of North Valleys High School in Reno, Nevada. Beginning his career as a CTE teacher, Tomas spent a decade before transitioning into administration. His path is one of dedication and innovation, marked by achievements like establishing a signature academy and leading as the Past President of NACTE. Discover how Tomas's four pillars - self-care, high expectations, student connection, and personal growth - shape the culture at North Valleys. Join us as we uncover his leadership philosophy, centered on creating a school environment reminiscent of Disneyland, where every student feels valued and eager to learn.
PMP393: Turnaround Leadership with Dr. Tameka Hyland
Apr 24, 2024
Dr. Tameka D. Hyland is a transformative educational leader. As principal of Sherman Avenue Elementary, she and her team raised its grade from D to C and scored the second highest reading scores in Mississippi within two years. As the executive principal at Vicksburg High School, her team not only increased the graduation rate to […]
PMP392: Small Steps to Big Joy with Kim Strobel and Jen Schwanke
Apr 17, 2024
Hi, Friends. William D. Parker here. As you listen to this week’s show, you’re going to hear a powerful conversation Dr. Jen Schwanke has interviewing author and educator Kim Strobel. Kim Strobel is a motivational powerhouse, inspiring lives and organizations as a keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and happiness coach. Overcoming personal adversities, she embarked on […]
PMP391: Hiring Tips from the Field with Principal Beau Brannon
Apr 10, 2024
Beau Brannon has served as principal of Union High School Freshman Academy, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since the summer of 2022. Previously, he served four years as its assistant principal. A 2008 Muldrow High School alum, he ventured into college football at the University of Tulsa, then pursued his passion for education, earning a bachelor’s in […]
PMP390: Mindshifts for Leaders with Dr. T.J. Vari
Apr 03, 2024
Dr. T.J. Vari is the Deputy Superintendent of the Appoquinimink School District. T.J. is a former middle school assistant principal and principal and former high school English teacher. His master’s degree is in School Leadership and his doctorate is in Innovation and Leadership. He holds several honors and distinctions, including his past appointment as President […]
PMP389: Building a Systems Transformation Pathway with Naheed Bardai
Mar 27, 2024
Naheed Bardai is the Principal of UWC Atlantic and arrived in south Wales in August 2021 from Upper Canada College in Toronto, where he was head of upper school for six years. Before that, he served as dean of students and senior school principal during his 10 years at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, […]
PMP388: How Do You Know if You’re Making the Right Decision? – with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Mar 20, 2024
In this week’s episode, Dr. Jen Schwanke and William D. Parker delve into the complexities of decision-making, particularly in leadership roles. Both share insights and strategies to navigate the often murky waters of making the “right” decisions. Continuous Learning and Humility Will emphasizes the importance of humility in leadership, advocating for a mindset of constant […]
PMP387: Accountability – A Dirty Word or Essential? with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Mar 13, 2024
In this week’s episode, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker talk about the word accountability. In education, this word can be perceived as both positive and negative. On the negative side, education has been the target of a lot of political discourse, beginning for many modern U.S. educators in the 1980’s with the report a Nation […]
PMP386: Connecting Every Student to Caring Adults with Melissa Barlow
Mar 06, 2024
Melissa Barlow is in her eleventh year as Principal of Yukon High School in Yukon, Oklahoma. In her past two decades as an educator, she has taught both middle-level and high school science and math, as well as serving in the role of assistant principal. Barlow obtained her bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and […]
PMP385: Capturing Kids Hearts with Flip Flippen
Feb 28, 2024
Flip Flippen is a New York Times best-selling author, social entrepreneur, psychotherapist, and the founder and chairman of Capturing Kids’ Hearts, one of the largest educator training and team development companies in North America. Flip and his wife Susan were named Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year, making them the first couple to ever […]
PMP384: Anticipate, Analyze, and Act with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Feb 21, 2024
In this week’s episode Will Parker and Jen Schwanke discuss more about Dr. Schwanke’s new book, The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management. Jen asked leaders to consider a circle to anticipate, analyze and act as an ongoing movement – a way to visualize how approaching conflict. Anticipate Anticipate the adult, student, parent and self conflict […]
PMP383: The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management – Jen’s new book!
Feb 14, 2024
Conflicts are inevitable. The question is how do you manage them in healthy ways with the appropriate mindset, anticipation, analysis, and action? This week, Dr. Jen Schwanke shares takeaways with William D. Parker from Jen’s new book, The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management. Listen-in as Jen explains how to approach conflict with courage. Learn the […]
PMP382: Profoundly Impacting Learning Culture with Dan Kelley
Feb 07, 2024
Daniel Kelley is an Associate Teaching Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Rhode Island. He previously served as the principal of Smithfield High School in Smithfield, RI. During his tenure, he successfully implemented sustainable change initiatives that profoundly impacted the school’s learning culture. Dan’s contributions to education extend to national leadership […]
PMP381: Maximizing the Superpowers of each Individual with Jim Wichman
Jan 31, 2024
Jim Wichman is the founder of Inspired Edification, LLC, a seasoned educational administrator with over 25 years of experience. Jim has a rich history of service in both urban and rural public school settings. Coming from a background of poverty and even experiencing homelessness, Jim is a strong advocate for centered, respectful, and value-driven education. […]
PMP380: Dynamics of Building Leaders vs District Leaders with Will Parker and Jen Schwanke
Jan 24, 2024
This week Jen Schwanke and Will Parker discuss the dynamics involved in building leadership vs district leadership. Although still a principal at heart, Jen has served in the role of Deputy Superintendent now for three years. Will asked her to reflect on the following: A few highlights include: We also discuss some takeaways from Patrick […]
PMP379: Systems Leader vs People Leader with Will Parker and Jen Schwanke
Jan 17, 2024
In this week’s episode, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker discuss the difference between systems leadership and people leadership. Here’s a quick summary: Leaders need to understand both. As one of Jen’s advisors told her, “If there is no route for the bus, it doesn’t really matter what people are on it.” In other words, we […]
PMP378: Surfing the Crest of New Waves with Mark Geraets
Jan 10, 2024
Mark Geraets, is an education leader with a career spanning 40 impactful years. Born in New Zealand as the youngest of seven to Dutch immigrant parents, Mark’s university education journey began at 16, as the youngest student at Teacher’s College. By 30, he assumed his first principal role in Whakatane, NZ. Venturing abroad, he taught […]
PMP377: Conversations that Matter with Jennifer Abrams
Jan 03, 2024
Jennifer Abrams is an international educational and communications consultant for public and independent schools, universities, and nonprofits. She trains and coaches teachers, administrators, and others on new teacher/employee support, having hard conversations, collaboration skills, and being your best adult self at work. In her over two decades at Palo Alto Unified School District (Palo Alto, […]
PMP376: Year in Review – Where Are You Growing? with Will Parker and Jen Schwanke
Dec 27, 2023
In this week’s episode, Will and Jen flip the mic, and Jen interviews Will about his experiences with Principal Matters as his full time work in the past six months of 2023. They discuss the emotional ups and downs of the new work, the stats from the previous year, and lessons learned in goal setting […]
PMP375: She Leads with Dr. Rachael George and Dr. Jen Schwanke
Dec 20, 2023
A few quick words from Will Parker: Hi, Friends! You’re going to be listening to an interview hosted by Jen Schwanke with our guest, Rachel George, the author of the book, She Leads: The Woman’s Guide to a Career in Educational Leadership, co-authored with Majalise Tolan. You’re going to love this conversation about Rachel’s background […]
PMP374: Accelerating Student Voice with Dr. James Flynn
Dec 13, 2023
Dr. James Flynn has been a teacher, coach, Assistant Principal, Principal of the Grades 3-6 Intermediate School in Burlington City, Principal of Burlington City High School, and is currently the Director of Planning/Research, Evaluation, Operations, and State and Federal Programs for the Burlington City School District, Burlington, New Jersey. Jim’s principal practice included a number […]
PMP373: Increasing Your Impact with Donna Hayward
Dec 06, 2023
Donna Hayward began her professional career as a high school mathematics teacher after earning her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Smith College. Inspired by her own high school principal, Donna completed her Sixth Year through UCONN and served as Assistant Principal/ Principal of Rocky Hill High School for a decade. During this time, she markedly […]
PMP372: The Power of Principal Mindfulness with Dr. Rob Russell and Dr. Dustin Miller
Nov 29, 2023
In this week’s episode, Dr. Jen Schwanke hosts an episode interviewing Drs. Rob Russell and Dustin Miller, with lessons from a recent article they authored on The Power of Principal Mindfulness. Rob Russell, Ed. D., is an assistant principal at New Albany High School in New Albany, Ohio. He is a former science teacher. His […]
PMP371: Simplicity in Leadership Does Not Equal Easier with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Nov 22, 2023
As a child, I had the privilege of observing my grandparent’s farming responsibilities, so this week’s conversation with Jen Schwanke is important to me personally and professionally. In it, we discuss a documentary about traditional farming methods, and we draw connections between producing healthy soil and cultivating strong school cultures. How might the story of […]
PMP370: Middle School Superpowers with Phyllis Fagell
Nov 15, 2023
Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC, is a school counselor in Washington, DC, a therapist who works with children and teens in private practice, and an author and journalist. She is the author of Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond – and How Parents Can Help, and […]
PMP369: Connecting Through Conversation with Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns
Nov 08, 2023
Erika Bare has been an educator for over 20 years, currently serving as the Assistant Superintendent in the Ashland School District in Oregon. A special education teacher by training, she is passionate about supporting all students through individual supports to reach their limitless potential. Tiffany Burns loves working with kids. In her two decades in […]
PMP368: Buildership with Robyn Jackson and Jen Schwanke
Nov 01, 2023
Hi, Friends. Will Parker here. A quick shout-out to Dr. Jen Schwanke and Dr. Robyn Jackson who agreed to record this special edition of Principal Matters where Jen hosts the show. In this conversation, you’ll find helpful lessons for your leadership as they discuss topics like: I heard Robyn Jackson present this summer at the […]
PMP367: Head and Heart, A Principal’s Tools with Jen Schwanke
Oct 25, 2023
In this episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke, talk about her recent article, “Heart and head: A Principal’s Essential Tools,” written for the ASCD Education Leadership magazine. Check it out here. Jen started the conversation by sharing a piece she read about chefs and their essential tools. Many chefs pointed to gadgets, but one chef’s […]
PMP366: Navigating Leadership Drift with Cale Birk
Oct 18, 2023
Cale Birk is a former teacher, high school principal, and District Head of Innovation from British Columbia, Canada. In 2015, one of his schools was named one of the first Model PLC Schools in Canada. Feeling like he was only scratching the surface with collaboration, Cale wrote the book PLC 2.0 – Collaborating for Observable […]
PMP365: Likable Leadership with Lisa Parry
Oct 11, 2023
Lisa Parry is a veteran English teacher (1994-present) and K-12 principal (2018-present) who is proud to lead a 2021 National Blue Ribbon Elementary School and a 2020 ESEA Distinguished Elementary School. In 2022, her colleagues recognized her as South Dakota Region 1 Principal of the Year. Some of the most gratifying work she has done […]
PMP364: Not Missing Out on Your Best Kept Secrets with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Oct 04, 2023
In today’s episode, Will Parker shares poignant takeaways from a summer hiking trip with his son, Jack, applying those insights to the realm of school leadership. The discussion centers on the importance of being present, connecting with students, and celebrating even the small moments. Afterward, Will and co-host Jen Schwanke talk about applying those lessons […]
PMP363: Building Stronger, Authentic Relationships with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Sep 27, 2023
This week Will Parker and Jen Schwanke respond to a listener question submitted several months ago but still relevant today for leaders: “I’ve been a loyal listener of the Principal Matters podcast and value the insights from both William and Jen. As a new principal of a small school with 125 students and 9 teachers, […]
PMP362: Be The Driving Force with Dr. Don Parker
Sep 20, 2023
Dr. Don Parker is a leading voice in professional development and educational transformation. Since beginning his educational journey in 1997, Dr. Parker has served in diverse roles, from teaching in Chicago’s inner-city schools to mentoring future educators as an Adjunct Professor at National-Louis University. As a former principal at both Posen School and Lincoln Avenue […]
Bonus: Principal Matters Update from Will Parker
Aug 27, 2023
Hi, Friends. Will Parker here. I am sharing this bonus episode to inform Principal Matters listeners about some new updates. First of all, we have a new website. For 10 years, I have been using the same website, and this week we are excited to launch a new place where you can find all the […]
PMP356: Escaping the Black Hole of Urgency with Dr. Frederick Buskey
Aug 09, 2023
Frederick Buskey lives in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and helps assistant principals live and lead better by teaching them how to escape the black hole of urgency. Building on 32 years of K-12 and higher education leadership experience, Dr. Buskey provides simple frameworks and tools to help school leaders spend less time putting out fires and […]
PMP353: How to Provide Meaningful Feedback in Observations with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker
Jul 18, 2023
In this episode, Jen Schwanke shares insights from a new Quick Reference Guide she authored for ASCD on Teacher Observation and Feedback. You can find the resource here. As the author of this new guide, Jen explains why she chose to focus on growth, positivity and relationship building as motivations for better observation feedback. As […]
PMP350: T.E.A.M: Together Everyone Achieves More with Bryan Miltenberg & Gary Karlson
Jun 28, 2023
Bryan Miltenberg is the proud principal of Aquebogue Elementary School in Riverhead, New York. He’s been a teacher, dean, and middle school assistant principal, and has presented and published on topics including school climate and culture, instructional technology, self-aware leadership, inclusivity, time management, and co-teaching partnerships. Against all logic, he remains a suffering lifelong Mets […]
PMP348: Staying on the Path with Will Parker & Jen Schwanke
Jun 14, 2023
This week Jen Schwanke joins Will Parker as they explore what happens when we lose focus on the important goals and outcomes involved in serving others
PMP347: Becoming Better Leaders with Robyn Hamasaki
Jun 07, 2023
Will Parker and guest Robyn Hamasaki discuss ways that school principals can be better leaders to their school communities in this week's episode of the PMP.
PMP346: Equity for Multilingual Learners, Part 2 with Carlene Thomas
May 31, 2023
Last week, we met Carlene Thomas. This week, she returns to answer more questions from school leaders searching for solutions for Multilingual Learners. Carlene Thomas is the CEO and founder of an educational consulting company that advocates for equity for multilingual learners (MLs) and specializes in support for bilingual education and English as a second […]
PMP345: Equity for Multilingual Learners with Carlene Thomas
May 24, 2023
Carlene Thomas is the CEO and founder of an educational consulting company that advocates for equity for multilingual learners (MLs) and specializes in support for bilingual education and English as a second language (ESL) programs. Carlene also currently serves on the executive board for the National Association for English Learner Program Administrators (NAELPA), coordinating with […]
PMP339: Digging Deeper into the 3 R’s with Jen Schwanke
Apr 12, 2023
This week Will and Jen share updates from their work, travel, and lives. They also discuss lessons related to the three R's in this week's episode of the PMP.
PMP338: Supporting RTI with Jen Schwanke & Will Parker
Apr 05, 2023
This week’s discussion topic came to us in a question from a listener: As a prospective administrator (and someone who is coming from an elementary music background) what should I know about the RTI process and more specifically what should an assistant principal know about the RTI process? How would an AP go about overseeing this […]
How to Help Others Grow with Mary Beth Bowling and Amy Nall, Part 2 – PMP331
Feb 15, 2023
In this episode, Mary Beth and Amy continue to share ways they have engaged their teachers and leaders with ongoing learning, including with Principal Matters.
How do you set and reach goals? with Jen Schwanke – PMP329
Feb 01, 2023
Setting goals is a practice that I’ve used to help me grow in my own work. Not only is goal setting important in your professional life, but in your personal life as well. It helps you visualize where you want to be at the end of each year and gives you something to work towards […]
Peer Driven PD with Michael Alpert – PMP328
Jan 25, 2023
Michael Alpert is a Crystal Apple Award Winning educator, and has worked in both small, rural districts and large, suburban districts in the Portland metro area, even serving overseas as a teacher and Central Administrator in Prague, Czech Republic. Mike is also a founding board member of Ex Novo Brewing Co, a benefit corporation donating […]
The 7 Levels of Intimacy in Leading with Jason Jedamski – PMP 326
Jan 11, 2023
Will Parker discusses the seven levels of intimacy in leading and the importance of connectedness with guest Jason Jedamski in this weeks episode of PMP.
PMP324: How Do I Learn Subject Areas Not My Own? Listener Questions with Jen Schwanke
Dec 14, 2022
This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are tackling some listener questions. The question they are covering this week is: "Do you have any tips on becoming well versed in becoming knowledgeable about content areas other than my own and scheduling classroom observations?"
PMP317: Discipline with Dignity with Jen Schwanke
Oct 26, 2022
This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke tackle the topic of discipline in schools. Specifically, they discuss how to discipline with dignity as school leaders.
PMP316: Recalibrate Your Culture with Jimmy Casas (Part 2)
Oct 19, 2022
This week, Will Parker and Jimmy Casas continue their conversation about Jimmy’s newest book, Recalibrate the Culture: Our Why...Our Work...Our Values.
PMP315: Recalibrate Your Culture with Jimmy Casas
Oct 12, 2022
In this weeks episode of Principal Matters Podcast, Will and Jimmy Casas discuss Casas' newest book is Recalibrate the Culture: Our Why...Our Work...Our Values.
PMP 313: Ideas for Teacher Recruitment and Retention with Kristi Kirschner and Danny Massey (Part 2)
Sep 28, 2022
This week Kristi and Danny share more ideas about teacher recruitment with Will as well as ways they are working for retention of highly effective teachers.
PMP312: Ideas for Teacher Recruitment and Retention with Kristi Kirschner and Danny Massey
Sep 21, 2022
Schools across the U.S. continue to respond to teacher shortages. On September 1, the White House announced recruitment partnerships to addresses the challenges. Groups like the National Center for Grow have partnered with states including California, Florida, Missouri, North Dakota, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming, to design apprenticeship programs to help shape policy and provide […]
PMP311: Politics and Advocacy for School Leaders with Jen Schwanke
Sep 14, 2022
In this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke share some thoughts on how to remain focused on service to your school communities while also remaining aware of what is happening in politics and advocacy that may also be affecting your school.
PMP308: Leading with a Humble Heart with Zac Bauermaster
Aug 24, 2022
Zac Bauermaster currently serves as principal at Kissel Hill Elementary School, located in the Warwick School District in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
PMP306: Courageous Leadership with Sapna Hopkins
Aug 10, 2022
This week, Will interviews Principal Sapna Hopkins. Listen to the entire show for her inspiring personal story and journey in education. Plus, learn ways she is engaging her new school community that can motivate any school leader with ideas for connecting your story with your core values and school mission. Sapna Hopkins is the principal […]
PMP305: You’re the Principal, Now What? Revisited Part 2
Aug 03, 2022
This week Jen Schwanke and Will Parker continue conversations about ways school leaders can prepare for the school year – especially those who may be early career education leaders. Relying on strategies from her book You’re the Principal! Now What?: Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders, Jen shares how to tackle the most common […]
PMP304: You’re the Principal, Now What? Revisited Part 1
Jul 27, 2022
What priorities must you keep in mind as you start a new school year? In this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke draw on years of experience to provide ideas and takeaways – especially with new principals in mind. Relying on lessons from her book You’re the Principal! Now What?: Strategies and Solutions for […]
PMP303: Intro to The Teacher’s Principal: How School Leaders Can Support and Motivate Their Teachers
Jul 20, 2022
This week Jen Schwanke gives a sneak-peek into her newest book, The Teacher’s Principal: How School Leaders Can Support and Motivate Their Teachers, coming out this summer. Jen explains: Why she wrote the book The importance of purpose, priorities, patterns Negatives and positives and responses External threats to teacher motivators We also discuss why one-size […]
PMP302: Ideas for Principal Reboot Over Break
Jul 13, 2022
In this episode, Jen Schwanke and I discuss ways that principals can reflect over summer break. We begin with the questions: What makes you anxious? Is your anxiety about the coming school year because of lack of knowledge? If so, breaks are important times to dig deeper into some of the areas you may not […]
PMP301: How to Respond to Negativity with Jen Schwanke
Jul 06, 2022
Jen Schwanke, ASCD author and veteran educator, joins me in this episode to answer listener questions. Question #1 “How do you or would you mediate negative relationships between staff members in your building and the county/district office personnel to ensure it does not negatively impact the students/programs/initiatives in your school building?” Jen’s response: When a […]
PMP300: Celebrating a Milestone & Lessons Learned with Dr. Jeff Springer
Jun 29, 2022
In December 2015, Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast began from my home on my laptop with a borrowed microphone during a Christmas Break when I had time to research how to start a podcast. Six years later, we have reached the milestone of 300 episodes with more than 750,000 downloads to date. In this […]
PMP299: 10 Lessons from a 2nd Year in School Admin with DJ Klein
Jun 22, 2022
Daniel (DJ) Klein is an Assistant Principal at Ocean Springs High School, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. For longtime Principal Matters listeners, you may recognize the name DJ Klein from two previous episodes: First, on June 4, 2020, DJ joined me when for PMP197 when we recorded an episode discussing ideas to keep in mind as […]
PMP298: 5 Sticky Core Values for Leaders with Daniel Bauer
Jun 15, 2022
In this week’s episode, I am joined again by my friend Daniel Bauer, education leader, podcaster and author of the book Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader. We explore how he applies his 5 “sticky” core values and how these can help leaders achieve goals and outcomes. Danny has built an incredibly successful organization supporting […]
PMP297: Applying the Strangest Secret with Daniel Bauer
Jun 08, 2022
A couple of weeks ago, I was on a call with my friend Daniel Bauer, education leader, podcaster and author of the book Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader. He had included me in an email sharing about his favorite recording of all times: The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbBHR_CD56M I had taken […]
PMP296: The Post I Didn’t Want To Write
Jun 01, 2022
I enjoy the sounds of morning. Yesterday, as I sat on my back porch sipping coffee, I could hear the patt-pattering of a woodpecker in the Cottonwood tree. Three squirrels were scampering along the back fence, chasing each other with furtive jumps from fence to tree limbs. A cardinal sang out his morning song with […]
PMP295: A Mastermind on Leaving a Legacy
May 25, 2022
This school year I had the privilege of connecting with leaders from schools in the great state of Ohio through a series of Zoom meetings. We worked through twenty sessions together covering leadership content, including lessons from my newest book, Pause. Breathe. Flourish.: Living Your Best Life as an Educator. In our final session for […]
PMP294: Ensuring Staff and Student Voice with Brent Kline
May 18, 2022
Brent Kline is Principal of Palo Alto High School, in Palo Alto, California. His previous administration roles include four years at Santa Cruz High School. He began his education career as a teacher in Clovis, California, and he served as a teacher and principal at Mariner High School, Everett, Washington for more than two decades. […]
PMP293: Lessons in Change, Bonus Episode with Garth Larson
May 11, 2022
Last week Garth Larson was a guest on episode 292 as he shared the Profile of a School Leader. During our pre-show conversation, we reflected on the lessons both of us had learned in our work during the pandemic. Afterwards, I asked Garth if I could share the back-and-forth as a bonus episode for a […]
PMP292: The Profile of a School Leader with Dr. Garth Larson
May 04, 2022
Garth Larson, Ed.D is the Co-Founder and CEO of FIRST Educational Resources. Garth has previously worked as the Director of Learning for the Winneconne Community School District in northeast Wisconsin, was an elementary principal in two separate buildings and started his career in education as a high school speech and English teacher. In 2011, Garth […]
PMP291: Growing Leadership Teams with Dr. Keri Launius
Apr 27, 2022
Dr. Keri Launius has worked in PreK-16 education for over 22 years. With experiences from classroom teacher, campus principal and district administration, she has had ample opportunities to learn and grow as an educator. She began her career as a high school teacher and spent close to a decade teaching in Texas Public Schools. Working […]
PMP290: Teacher Pipeline Ideas & Solutions with Jen Schwanke
Apr 20, 2022
This week Jen Schwanke and William D. Parker talk about how principals and education leaders can recruit and retain high quality teachers: Learn about efforts school districts are using involving supporting employment funnels from local universities, substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, and student-teacher interns. Discover how you can leverage duty stipends and arrival/departure times as incentives for […]
PMP289: Supporting School Communities District-Wide with Jen Schwanke
Apr 13, 2022
In Jen Schwanke’s new role as an Deputy Superintendent and in dissertation work, she has been learning a lot about supporting school communities district-wide. In this week’s episode, she explains some of the main responsibilities important to embrace in supporting educators: Why you cannot forget what it feels like to be a teacher or principal. […]
PMP288: Better Strategies for Drop-Out Recovery with Dr. Warren Glen
Apr 06, 2022
Warren J. Glen has twenty years of experience in post-secondary education. His journey in higher education has enhanced his expertise to administer grants, manage deliverables, and mentor and motivate young scholars. Currently, he is the area sponsor for the Ohio Department of Education community schools of northeast Ohio. Dr. Glen previously oversaw the Northeast Region […]
PMP287: Chasing the Show with Pete Hall
Mar 30, 2022
Veteran school administrator and educational consultant Pete Hall channels his experiences as a school principal, life coach, and small-business owner into manageable lessons for continuous growth, personal improvement, and positive mindset. Hall served 12 years as a principal in three schools, each earning awards for academic performance, growth, and student achievement. He currently works as […]
PMP286: We’re Not Broken with Eric Garcia
Mar 23, 2022
Eric Garcia is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist focused on politics and policy and currently the senior Washington correspondent for The Independent. His first book We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, which the Washington Post called “outstanding,” was published August 3, 2021. He previously worked as an editor at the Washington Post and the Hill […]
This week I’m taking a break from posting so that I can enjoy more time with family during Spring Break. I hope you are doing the same if you are on break this time of year. I’d also love to hear updates from listeners, so please send me an email at will@williamdparker.com or find me […]
PMP285: Retention for a Change with Principal EL, Dr. TJ Vari and Dr. Joseph Jones
Mar 09, 2022
How do you transform school culture so that you keep high quality teachers? Today’s guest include three education leaders: Dr. Salome Thomas-EL, Dr. TJ Vari and Dr. Joseph Jones. These men are school and district leaders in Delaware, and have keynoted and provided professional development at many state and national conferences. Their team has been […]
PMP284: Triumph over Tragedy with Timothy Alexander
Mar 02, 2022
Timothy Alexander is a bestselling writer, award-winning speaker, and life coach who thrives at the intersection of character development, counseling, and mentorship. After a life changing car accident in 2006 left him paralyzed from the neck down, Timothy has embodied a “never give up” spirit that inspires educators to do the impossible in their schools […]
PMP283: How to Be a Transformative Principal with Jethro Jones
Feb 23, 2022
Jethro Jones is the founder of Transformative Principal, which provides leadership development, weekly masterminds, and one-on-one coaching for school leaders across the nation and internationally. In 2017, he was recognized as Digital Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He has turned his years of experience and learning into books, […]
PMP282: Building ‘Parentships’ with Dr. Kyle Palmer
Feb 16, 2022
Kyle Palmer is currently Executive Director of Human Resources for the Center School District of South Kansas City, MO. Before this transition, Dr. Palmer spent the previous ten years as principal of nationally recognized Lewis and Clark Elementary in Liberty, MO. Kyle began his career as a 4th grade teacher in Ankeny, Iowa in 2000. […]
PMP281: Paradoxes of Leadership with Dr. Tim Elmore
Feb 09, 2022
Dr. Tim Elmore is the founder and CEO of Growing Leaders. His work grew out of 20 years of serving alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell. Elmore has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, USA Today, Psychology Today and he’s been featured on CNN’s Headline News and Fox and Friends. Tim has written […]
Last month I had the privilege of presenting in a virtual event to a group of assistant principals and aspiring school leaders at Pecos Barstow Toyah ISD in Pecos, Texas. As part of a series we have been doing together this school year, I shared a session on the ‘Hat of Communication’ that is so […]
PMP279: Support, Empower, Engage with Chris Jones
Jan 26, 2022
Dr. Christopher Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. He has just finished his 14th year as a building administrator. True to his “why” of improving the educational experience for as many people as possible, he is currently the Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Massachusetts. Chris is passionate about […]
PMP278: Encouraging & Motivating Staff with Jen Schwanke
Jan 19, 2022
In a recent article Jen Schwanke published with ASCD, First Engage Teachers: A Principal’s Role in Cultivating Staff Motivation, Jen makes the following assertion: “When principals foster a staff’s collective belief in themselves, their staff will incorporate that positive esteem toward their own motivation and engagement to work with students.” How does this looks when […]
PMP277: Lessons in Leadership from a Colonial Midwife
Jan 12, 2022
Last week a principal wrote to tell me he was short 25 teachers or staff as he ended his first week back in the new semester. Another principal wrote that he spent his first morning back from Christmas break finding coverage for 9 classes without teachers. Just today in my own community, one of our […]
PMP276: 2021 Year in Review & 2022 Goal Setting
Jan 05, 2022
This morning I read a gripping opinion post in Education Week by Lisa Mead, a principal in upstate New York, whose piece titled A Principal’s Assessment: ‘We’re Not OK’. She shared what I’ve heard from many principals this past year: 2021 was in many ways harder than 2020. Among the many important ideas she shared, […]
PMP275: 6 Literacy Levers, Part 2 with Brad Gustafson
Dec 22, 2021
What would happen if you asked your team, ‘What question would you predict I’m going to ask in a meeting?’ Brad Gustafson poses this scenario in Part 2 of our conversation about literacy. Educators know literacy is essential to student learning. Brad reminds principals what role school leaders play in helping grow a culture of […]
PMP274: 6 Literacy Levers with Brad Gustafson
Dec 15, 2021
This week we share the first of a two-part series with Dr. Brad Gustafson. Listen-in as we discuss rethinking leadership perspectives on literacy, helpful tips and questions principals should be using, and helpful feedback on Brad’s own struggles and successes as a lead learner for his school. Brad Gustafson is an award-winning principal, best-selling author, […]
PMPEncore197: 10 Tips for New Assistant Principals
Dec 08, 2021
This week I’m sharing one of the most popular episodes from the Principal Matters archives. If you know a new or aspiring assistant principal, please pass this along. These tips are also good reminders for anyone leading others. – Thank you for doing what matters! ~ Will Here’s a recap… June 4, 2020: A couple […]
PMP273: How to Manage When Someone is ‘Stirring the Pot’
Dec 01, 2021
This week William D. Parker and Jen Schwanke answer the question: What do you do about a teacher who likes to ‘stir the pot’ about other teachers? Feedback includes suggestions on: Having open, honest, clear communication Addressing ‘stirring the pot’ for what it is Distinguishing between stirring and asking good questions Addressing resistance, gossip, tattling, […]
PMP272: Thankfulness & Answers about Emotional and Behavior Supports for Students
Nov 24, 2021
This week Jen Schwanke joins Will Parker to discuss stories of gratitude from former teachers and educators in their lives. Will references this recent video from the singer Adele paying tribute to her teacher that will warm your heart: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hfb6CSDkWYQ Also, they address these questions from a principal: “How do I provide resources for kids with […]
PMP271: Answering Questions on School Discipline with Jen Schwanke
Nov 17, 2021
This week Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answer the principal question: “How do you structure discipline so that punishments fit the crime?” We talk about how the word discipline, instead of punishment, carries an important distinction for how we approach consequences for students. In addition, we provide feedback on several areas, including: 1. Set high […]
PMP270: Gaining Buy-In & Building Leadership Teams with Jen Schwanke
Nov 10, 2021
This week Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answer principal questions: How do you gain ‘buy-in’ among staff vs just ‘setting expectations’ when it comes to structuring or implementing new programs to support student learning? How do you start a leadership team? Ask for volunteers? Invite specific people?? Listen in for feedback on building trust, building […]
PMP269: Leadership at Every Level with Janelle McLaughlin
Nov 03, 2021
Janelle McLaughlin, is an Education Consultant for Advanced Learning Partnerships working with districts all across the United States. She is a former curriculum director for Manchester Community Schools in Indiana. Prior to that role, Ms. McLaughlin spent 14 years as a classroom teacher. Her experiences range from job-embedded coaching for teachers and administrators, to leading […]
PMP268: Equity, Equality and Systems with Enid Lee
Oct 27, 2021
Enid Lee is a front-line educator, an anti-racist professional development specialist, leadership coach, writer and community builder. She began her joyful journey as a teacher on the Caribbean island of Antigua about 5 decades ago. She has taught in Canada and the United States. Today Enid consults internationally on equitable education with particular emphasis on […]
PMP267: Answering Questions on Grief and Behavior with Jen Schwanke
Oct 20, 2021
This week, Jen Schwanke, joins me as we respond to more listener questions. Jen Schwanke is an author and education leader from Dublin City Schools in Dublin, Ohio. Question: How do you manage leading a school through the grief of losing a teacher to COVID? Here are some of the points we cover in response: […]
PMP266: Principal Questions on Curriculum and Goals with Jen Schwanke
Oct 13, 2021
Jen Schwanke joins me this week as we respond to listener questions. Jen Schwanke is an author and education leader from Dublin City Schools in Dublin, Ohio. We have two questions from a listener who wrote for feedback as an opportunity is opening to apply for a site principal position. LISTENER QUESTION 1: “After several years […]
PMP265: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader with Daniel Bauer, Part 2
Oct 06, 2021
This week I have the privilege of sharing Part 2 of a conversation with Daniel Bauer about his new book, His new book, Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader. Danny’s new book reimagines what professional development for school administrators looks like in order to meet the needs of all school leaders who currently feel isolated […]
PMP264: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader with Daniel Bauer
Sep 29, 2021
This week I have the privilege of sharing a conversation with Daniel Bauer about his new book, His new book, Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader. Danny’s new book reimagines what professional development for school administrators looks like in order to meet the needs of all school leaders who currently feel isolated and overwhelmed. […]
PMP263: Cycles of Self-Reflection in Leadership
Sep 22, 2021
This past month, we sent our third daughter to college. More than a year ago, she began to explore the possibility of studying abroad. As a result of months of apply to schools, virtual meet-ups, and 5,000 miles of travel, she is now a student at Aberystwyth University in Wales. Sending off another Parker child […]
PMP262: Revisiting the Hats You Wear in School Leadership
Sep 15, 2021
A few weeks ago, I was invited to provide some virtual professional learning with a wonderful group of aspiring and assistant principals from Pecos Barstow-Toyah Independent School District, in Pecos, Texas. As a part of our time together, I shared content from my book Principal Matters, including “8 Hats” that school leaders wear. For the […]
PMP261: Your Friendships, Legacy, Laughter and Well-Being
Sep 08, 2021
In last week’s podcast episode, I shared the second part of a keynote presentation I provided on August 12, 2021, to the Archdiocese of Louisville for a welcome-back ceremony of educators from thirty nine Pre/K-8 elementary schools and nine high schools collectively serving 18,000 students. In Part 3 of this keynote series, you will learn […]
PMP260: Reflecting on Your Influence – Keynote Series #2
Sep 01, 2021
In last week’s podcast episode, I shared the first part of a keynote presentation I provided on August 12, 2021, to the Archdiocese of Louisville for a welcome-back ceremony of educators from thirty-nine Pre/K-8 elementary schools and nine high schools collectively serving 18,000 students in six counties. In Part 2 of this keynote series, you […]
PMP259: 10 Areas of Self-Care in the School Year Ahead
Aug 25, 2021
On Thursday, August 12, 2021, I had the privilege of providing a keynote from my book Pause. Breathe. Flourish.: Living Your Best Life as an Educator at the Archdiocese of Louisville welcomed back ceremony for the new school year. Although my teaching and administration work has been for public schools, Superintendent Mary Beth Bowling, invited […]
PMP258: Bridging Academic and Social Gaps with Trevor Goertzen
Aug 18, 2021
Trevor Goertzen was recognized in 2020 as a National Digital Principal of the Year. He currently serves as the Principal of Spring Hill Middle School in Spring Hill, Kansas, and is an adjunct professor of Educational Technology for Harding University. Trevor recognizes the personal impact that technology can provide by bridging academic and social gaps […]
PMP257: Leading with SOUL for the New School Year
Aug 11, 2021
Seven year ago, our son Jack was diagnosed with a rare disease. Kawasaki causes an inflammation of blood cells in young children. If untreated, it can lead to heart damage or death. He was hospitalized for two weeks. During that time, my wife and I sat many days watching medical teams work to bring down […]
PMP 256: Disruptive Thinking with Eric Sheninger
Aug 04, 2021
Eric Sheninger is an Associate Partner with the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE). Prior to this, he was the award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Under his leadership, his school became a globally recognized model for innovative practices. Eric oversaw the successful implementation of several sustainable change initiatives that radically transformed the […]
PMP255: Reconstructing Place and Space, Part 2 with Jen Schwanke
Jul 28, 2021
This week, Jen Schwanke, author and education leaders, shares the second half of a conversation on Reconstructing Place and Space. With credit to Dr. Miller, director of the EdD in Educational Administration and an assistant professor – clinical in the Department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University, Jen probes into several questions his […]
PMP254: Reconstructing Place and Space with Jen Schwanke
Jul 21, 2021
This week, Jen Schwanke, author and education leader, shares thoughts on why education leaders should consider how ‘place and space’ play a role in learning outcomes. With credit to Dr. Miller, director of the EdD in Educational Administration and an assistant professor – clinical in the Department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University, […]
PMP253: 10 Lessons from a First Year Assistant Principal with D.J. Klein
Jul 14, 2021
One year ago, June 4, 2020, D.J. Klein was a guest on the Principal Matters podcast when we shared advice for his first year as a school administrator. You can hear the 10 Tips for First Year Assistant Principals we discussed by listening to PMP:197. One year later, D.J. Klein has finished his first year […]
PMP252: Bomb-Proof Constructive Feedback with Chris Zervas
Jul 07, 2021
Leadership requires relationships, understanding others, and negotiating through conflicts. This week I am privileged to share a conversation from Chris Zervas about his book, Bomb-Proof Constructive Feedback. Chris Zervas helps busy leaders improve their communication, leadership and employee engagement to impact their organization’s bottom line. Chris’s trainings have helped organizations increase efficiencies, productivity, and retention […]
PMP251: You Can Do Hard Things, featuring Samantha Bartrom
Jun 30, 2021
This week marks the end of June 2021, and just today I heard from a principal friend, Andrew O’Farrell, West Islip Unified School District in Massapequa, New York, who is enjoying his first week of summer vacation. Other schools across the U.S. have been enjoying break since the end of May. Wherever you are, I […]
PMP250: Principal Reboot, Part 2 with Jen Schwanke and Mastermind Members
Jun 23, 2021
In this episode, Jen Schwanke, principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, and author of two books on school leadership, joined me for a conversation with two principals from the Principal Matters Mastermind community: Samantha Bartrom, Principal of Coastal Academy in Oceanside, California, and Erin Igoe, Assistant Principal at Piedmont High School in the […]
PMPEncore028: Four Reasons Your Vacation Matters
Jun 16, 2021
This week’s post is an encore episode I shared a few years ago. Since I’m hoping you can enjoy some well-deserved vacation this summer, I thought I would remind you why your time away from school may help you better serve your school. Regardless of whether someone is an educator or not, or whether your vacation […]
PMP249: Principal Reboot with Jen Schwanke and Mastermind Members
Jun 09, 2021
On May 27, 2021, Jen Schwanke, principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, and author of two books on school leadership, joined me for a conversation with two principals from the Principal Matters Mastermind community: Samantha Bartrom, Principal of Coastal Academy in Oceanside, California, and Erin Igoe, Assistant Principal at Piedmont High School in […]
PMP248: Inspiring and Leading Learning with Latrese D. Younger
Jun 02, 2021
Latrese D. Younger is an instructional lead learner in Virginia. Her passion is English language arts and she believes that she will always be a teacher at heart. Latrese has a servant mindset, spirit, and attitude that she believes helps keep her grounded. She resides with her son, husband, and English bulldog. In her spare […]
PMP247: Leading Through ‘Unfinished Learning’ with Kimberly Miles
May 26, 2021
Dr. Kimberly Miles is the Principal of East Gresham Elementary in Gresham, Oregon. A former elementary teacher and reading coach, she transitioned into a district instructional coach before becoming a principal. She has eleven years of experience in school leadership, and is a turnaround principal – having led a school community that has seen marked […]
PMP246: Challenges and Solutions Leading Post-Pandemic
May 19, 2021
During the fall semester, I invited listeners to some virtual meetings to share protocols for re-opening their schools. We formed a free Re-opening Mastermind and met once a week for six weeks to brainstorm and collaborate. Just a few days ago, I hosted a meeting to re-connect with some of these same leaders in a […]
PMP245: Handling Schools with Care with Joy Kelly
May 12, 2021
Joy Kelly is the co-author of the new book, Handle with Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools with Dignity and Respect, co-authored with Jimmy Casas. Joy has more than twenty-five years of educational experience in public and parochial schools as a teacher, coach, mentor, associate principal and principal. In 2015, she was named the Iowaa Associate […]
PMP244: Being a Hope Giver with Marita Diffenbaugh
May 05, 2021
Marita Diffenbaugh is honored to serve as principal of Elevate Academy North, a public Career Technical charter school for students in 6th-12th grades. She has served as a teacher, administrator, and has provided leadership support for districts, schools, and classrooms. As a partner with Elevate Academy Inc., Marita is connecting education with industry and community […]
PMP243: Grace in the Journey with Jessica Wee
Apr 28, 2021
Jessica Wee is the Principal of Rainbow Centre Yishun Park School in Singapore. She has previously served in the school as Vice Principal before taking over principalship six years ago. Rainbow Centre School serves 400 students with autism and multiple disabilities.The school aims to nurture young persons with disabilities (aged 7-18) into adults who are […]
PMP242: Leading from Xi’an International School with Brittainy Harris and Paul Wendler
Apr 21, 2021
Brittainy Harris has been working at Xi’an International School, located in China, since 2010. With her undergraduate degree in education, she landed at this American-based international school (that was founded in 1996 with the help of Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Education) and began to teach multicultural students in a 4th grade classroom for a total […]
PMP241: Lessons from an All Girls School with Loredana Borello
Apr 14, 2021
Loredana Borello is the Principal of Brescia House Secondary School in Johannesburg, South Africa. Brescia House School is a Catholic Ursuline All Girls Independent School from K-12. As a principal, she is passionate about empowering and educating girls to take up their place as leaders in society, equipped with courage and compassion. She also is […]
PMP240: Self-Care Lessons with Seán Óg Ó Duinnín
Apr 07, 2021
Seán Óg Ó Duinnín is Principal of Scoil Mhuire, a small Irish language medium school in Ballingeary, Co. Cork, Ireland since 2006. In his time there, he has seen many developments of physical facilities with the support of Cork Education and Training Board and implemented a Restorative Practices approach to school-based relationships. He recently completed […]
PMP239: The Principal Experience Here & Abroad with Toirdealbhach Ó Lionáird
Mar 31, 2021
As schools re-open across the globe, Principal Matters listeners have been sharing common experiences and lessons learned, including in Ireland. Toirdealbhach Ó Lionáird serves a principal of Coláiste Ghobnatan, a second level high school in southwest Ireland. With 235 students, he has been the Principal there since 2017 and Deputy there since 2012. In addition, […]
PMP238: Lessons from an Australian Primary School with Anne-Marie Maw
Mar 24, 2021
“Students are at the heart of all we do,” says Principal Anne-Marie Maw. “If you’re ever struggling with what to do, put the students at the heart of your decision, and it will always make the decision easier.” This week I’m sharing the beginning of a new series on lessons from principals across the globe, […]
PMP237: Tips for Finding the Right Fit in Your Leadership
Mar 17, 2021
As co-host and Principal Jen Schwanke explains, the system we live in requires us to make some of the biggest decisions of life with our gut feelings. The good news is that you do not have to rely on gut feeling to find the right fit in leadership. What are steps you can take to […]
PMP236: What to do When You Feel Restless in Leadership
Mar 10, 2021
Spring time brings new opportunities. For some educators, it is a time of year when you may start feeling a little restless. Perhaps you will be considering new candidates for openings at your school. Or maybe you will be looking at new possibilities for your own leadership journey. In a previous podcast episode, Jen Schwanke […]
PMP235: Leading Re-Entry in a Pandemic with Andrew O’Farrell
Mar 03, 2021
Andrew O’Farrell has been the Principal of Beach Street Middle School in West Islip, New York since 2009. Prior to becoming a principal, Andrew was an assistant principal of Lindenhurst Middle School. Andrew began his journey in education as a Social Studies teacher and then became the Dean of Students at Dyker Heights Intermediate School […]
PMP234: Connecting Students to Caring Adults with TJ Warren
Feb 24, 2021
This week, I had the privilege to interview TJ Warren, Director of Programs for Stand in the Gap Ministries. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Stand in the Gap is an organization committed to impacting the lives of orphans, widows and prisoners in partnership with generous donations from individuals, churches and businesses as well as various foundations. […]
PMP233: Multiplying Excellence in Your School with Emily Paschall
Feb 17, 2021
This week I have the privilege of interviewing Emily Paschall about her new book, Eyes on Culture: Multiply Excellence in Your School. As you know, culture drives the outcomes of your school, and Emily unpacks ways to not only live your own excellence, but to multiply excellence in others. In her book, you will learn: […]
PMP232: Looking for a New Education Position
Feb 10, 2021
Winter is a time of year for frigid temperatures across much of the U.S. It is also a time of year when principals look ahead. Many education leaders may also be considering new positions as they think about the final semester and plan for next school year. This week, Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run […]
PMP231: Keeping Your Promises on Your Anti-Racism Journey
Feb 03, 2021
When I was a little boy, I remember sitting in a small theater with my family where we watched the 1977 release of the first Star Wars movie. It was a pivotal moment. The visual effects and music were like nothing I had ever seen or heard. The characters were funny and endearing. Afterwards, I pretended […]
PMP230: Managing Decision-Fatigue with Jen Schwanke
Jan 27, 2021
What do you do when every decision is a new one? How do you keep perspective amidst decision-fatigue? This week, Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, joins me for a conversation about leading through a pandemic. Welcome back Jen! Jen Schwanke is the author two books on education leadership. She provides […]
PMP229: Facing Your Giants with Samantha Bartrom
Jan 20, 2021
In the book David and Goliath (Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants) by Malcolm Gladwell, the author presents two ideas in the introduction of his book. First, he says that much of what we consider valuable in our world arises out of ‘lop-sided’ conflicts – the act of facing overwhelming odds creates moments […]
PMP228: Strategic Leadership During Times of Uncertainty
Jan 13, 2021
Years ago, when I was transitioning from assistant principal to high school principal, my superintendent gave me an assignment to map out goals for the next three years of my school. What was helpful about this assignment was the long-term planning required. Determining where I wanted my school to grow in the next three years […]
PMP227: Me, Myself and Bob. 7 Lessons from the Rise and Fall of VeggieTales
Jan 06, 2021
Have you ever had a dream you’ve been unable to fulfill? Phil Vischer was born in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1967. He grew up mesmerized by Disney films, Star Wars, and later by MTV. Phil also came from a family that was deeply religious. As he grew up, he longed to see media created that would […]
PMP226: Year in Review and Power of Masterminds with Jeff Springer, Part 2
Dec 30, 2020
This past semester, Dr. Jeff Springer has helped me facilitate the weekly book study portion of our Principal Matters Mastermind. In this week’s podcast episode, we share Part 2 of a conversation about the benefits of Masterminds for education leaders. Dr. Springer’s dissertation was on the power of play at the secondary level. As we […]
PMP225: 4 Wishes for Your Much-Deserved Break (Plus Will’s Bonus Christmas Hymns)
Dec 22, 2020
As you are wrapping up the semester, I wanted to send this note of encouragement. This semester you have managed school in ways you never have before. Some of you have served students who have been at home all semester. Others have been in-person or in hybrid models. Whatever your circumstance, I have heard from […]
PMP224: The Power of a Mastermind with Jeff Springer
Dec 16, 2020
This past semester, I had the honor of leading a Mastermind with principals from across the U.S. Like eating a meal with family members each week, a Mastermind is a way for consistent growth with people you trust and admire. Dr. Jeff Springer has helped facilitate the Principal Matters Mastermind by leading our weekly book […]
PMP223: A Fighter Pilot’s Lessons for Leaders, Part 2
Dec 09, 2020
In last week’s episode, Colonel Brad Ruttman shared lessons from his military experience that may also apply to education leaders. This week, he unpacks more of his “Pocket-List for Leading a New Command” as well as some of his favorite leadership quotes. Meet Colonel Brad Ruttman Col. Brad Ruttman is a 21-year veteran of the […]
PMP222: A Fighter Pilot’s Lessons for Leaders
Dec 02, 2020
Leadership is tactical, operational and strategic. These are three words Colonel Brad Ruttman has learned as the framework for understanding how to help others accomplish their goals. In this week’s episode, I had the privilege of learning lessons from a fighter pilot that also apply for all leaders, including in education. Meet Colonel Brad Ruttman […]
PMP221: Designing Leadership Outcomes with Jethro Jones
Nov 25, 2020
This week I’m honored to talk to Jethro Jones about his new book, SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves. Five years ago, I had the privilege to talk to Jethro Jones, host of the Transformative Principal Podcast, about my first book. That conversation began a friendship […]
PMP220: Aspire in Leadership with Joshua Stamper
Nov 19, 2020
This week I had the privilege of being interviewed by Joshua Stamper for his podcast, Aspire: The Leadership Development Podcast. When our mutual friend, Jimmy Casas, from ConnectEdd.org, encouraged us to talk about my new book, I was in for a real treat. Not only did we discuss Pause. Breathe. Flourish.: Living Your Best Life […]
PMP219: Pause. Breathe. Flourish. Part 2 with Jen Schwanke
Nov 11, 2020
This week Jen Schwanke continues asking me questions about my new book Pause. Breathe. Flourish. Living Your Best Life as an Educator. Jen Schwanke is the principal of Indian Run Elementary and author of two books, You’re The Principal, Now What? and The Principal Re-Boot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership. In Part 2 of our conversation, […]
PMP218: Reflections on Pause. Breathe. Flourish. with Jen Schwanke
Nov 04, 2020
When Jen Schwanke and I sat down to talk about my new book this week, Jen turned the microphone to ask me some questions. Jen Schwanke is the principal of Indian Run Elementary and author of two books, You’re The Principal, Now What? and The Principal Re-Boot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership. Here […]
PMP217: 57 Years Together, A Tribute to My Parents
Oct 28, 2020
This year’s pandemic has made it difficult to see my parents as they live a long distance and are both in a vulnerable age group. Instead of posting about education this week, I want to share some personal reflections here instead. It was Sunday, October 27, 1963, 57 years ago at the time of this […]
PMP216: A Principal’s Toolbox with Justin Thomas
Oct 21, 2020
Although it is so important to understand your “why” in leadership, it is also imperative to understand “how” to effectively do your work. This week’s guest, Dr. Justin Thomas, provides practical feedback from his years as an elementary principal with several takeaways from his new book, A Principal’s Toolbox: Real Talk on Tackling School Leadership […]
PMP215: Reflections from Pause. Breathe. Flourish. with Sonia Lopez-Morales
Oct 14, 2020
During the summer, several principals from across the nation joined me for a Re-Opening Mastermind to collaborate, explore, brainstorm and support one another during the difficult days of planning for a new school year. As I was wrapping up the final content for my newest book, I shared an advance copy of my new book, […]
PMP214: Pause. Breathe. Flourish. Part 2, Review with Dr. Jeff Springer
Oct 07, 2020
This week I was interviewed again by Dr. Jeff A. Springer, Ed.D., Educational Leadership Coach – Spring Strategies, LLC, and 2013 TASSP Texas State Principal of the Year, as we explored the final chapters from my new book, Pause. Breathe. Flourish.: Living Your Best Life as an Educator. Listen to the podcast episode for more […]
PMP213: Pause. Breathe. Flourish. A Review with Dr. Jeff Springer
Sep 30, 2020
This week I talk with Jeff A. Springer, Ed.D., Educational Leadership Coach from Spring Strategies, LLC, and 2013 TASSP Texas State Principal of the Year. In this episode, Dr. Springer turns the table and interviews me about my new book, Pause. Breathe. Flourish. Living Your Best Life as an Educator. In his endorsement of the […]
PMP212: Strategies for Helping Gen Z Students with Dr. Tim Elmore
Sep 23, 2020
When this pandemic began, many of us were asking what lessons we may learn from something none of us ever experienced before. Dr. Tim Elmore began asking similar questions to survivors of the Great Depression and other crises experiences. The result? He has just published his latest book, The Pandemic Population: Eight Strategies to Help […]
PMP211: Reflections on Reopening Schools, Part 2, with Jen Schwanke
Sep 17, 2020
As you are re-engaging with your school community, what lessons are you learning as you walk through this new journey with your staff, students, parents and community? This week, Jen Schwanke joins me again to share what she’s been learning during re-opening school. Jen is the Principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio. She’s […]
PMP210: Re-opening Reflections with Jen Schwanke
Sep 10, 2020
This week I reconnected with Principal Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run Elementary, author and education consultant, for reflections on what re-opening has looked like for her school in Dublin, Ohio. Together we explored some lessons she’s already learning that may be helpful for your leadership. Listen to the entire podcast episode for even more […]
PMP209: Supporting Students from Immigrant Families in a Pandemic
Sep 03, 2020
Last week I talked a high school principal who told me she has already referred more students than normal to therapists and counselors for social emotional supports for this time of year. I imagine you are more aware than ever the anxiety surrounding the start of school for so many families. In addition, you have […]
PMP208: New School Year Celebrations and Challenges
Aug 27, 2020
This is the time of year when the green stalks of corn begin to brown and yellow, and the once moist kernels begin to harden into dry grain. If you’ve ever shucked corn, you may know the difference between the sweet smell of corn-on-the-cob versus the drier, dusty smell of corn harvested in the fall. When […]
PMP207: Equity in Education During a Pandemic
Aug 20, 2020
Last week I was in a conversation with a principal from South Carolina, a member of a Mastermind for Reopening Schools that I have been leading. Each week more than a dozen principals join me from across the U.S. to discuss the specific scenarios unique to their own school communities while beginning the new semester […]
PMP206: Growing Through a Mastermind with Anthony Fisher
Aug 13, 2020
Especially during difficult times, leaders need support from other leaders. Each week this past year, I have been hosting virtual one-hour conversations with select groups of school leaders through Principal Matters Masterminds. Together we have studied books, provided times for self-reflection, and allowed leaders to take turns in “hot-seat” opportunities. The result? I have built […]
PMP205: Preparing the Start-of-School Year in a Pandemic
Aug 06, 2020
Jenny is a returning student at her high school. She has a part-time job which keeps her up late most nights. When her school opens this fall, she knows remote-learning is the option until her building opens again. She calls the school but gets a busy signal. Then she uses her iPhone to log into […]
PMP204: We are all Pioneers and Tweeners this school year!
Jul 30, 2020
This week I did my first in-person meeting with a group of fellow-school leaders as they plan for the beginning of a new school year. The team of administrators sat in a room with tables at appropriate distances, and we wore masks. Whenever I wear a mask, my glasses become foggy. So I held my […]
PMP203: Cultivating PLAY in Leadership with Jeff Springer
Jul 23, 2020
One of the biggest challenges for the a new school year is deciding how to mitigate concerns for safety while ensuring ways to still actively engage, support, and reach students. In this week’s podcast episode, Dr. Jeff Springer shares takeaways from his research on the power of P.L.A.Y. in schools and offers suggestions for school […]
PMP202: Transforming School Cultures with Dr. Anthony Muhammad
Jul 16, 2020
As you think about your own leadership, I’m curious if you give yourself the kind of scrutiny you may give your own team members? In other words, are you allowing the kind of self-reflection where you first identify your own areas of needed growth before asking others to grow? These are the thoughts and questions […]
PMP201: Rebooting for the Summer with Jen Schwanke
Jul 09, 2020
On March 17, 2020, many schools across the U.S. began responding to the global pandemic of COVID-19 with school closures. Most school leaders were scrambling to figure out how to keep school communities safe while adjusting to a new norm. Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, was no exception. While her […]
PMP200: Looking Back at Distance Learning with Jen Schwanke
Jun 25, 2020
Now that the dust has settled from distance learning, school leaders are asking: what worked, and what didn’t work? How did you stay connected to people, or what important milestones did you miss? In this week’s podcast episode, Principal Jen Schwanke shares reflections on ways school leaders can look back at lessons during distance or […]
PMP199: Panel Discussion on Equity & Racism, Part 2
Jun 18, 2020
Last week, my guests William Stubbs, Marlena Gross-Taylor, and Don Parker shared feedback on their personal and professional reflections around equity, racism, and inequalities. They each gave suggestions to help you decide how to respond in your own school community. In Part 2 of this discussion, they dive even deeper as they share several strategies, […]
PMP198: Panel Discussion on Equity and Racism, Part 1
Jun 11, 2020
No community has been immune to conversations surrounding equity, racism, and inequalities. As Marlena Gross-Taylor, one of the guests on this week’s podcast episode explains, these conversations have been going on for at least four hundred years. It seems this time, however, communities have reached a tipping point – with vast majorities of Americans expressing […]
PMP197: 10 Tips for New Assistant Principals
Jun 04, 2020
Starting a new school year is like preparing for a marathon. The journey begins with training long before the race begins. And once the race starts, you need a lot of endurance for the road ahead. School leadership is the same. As you enter summer, the ways you “condition” in the weeks ahead may help […]
PMP196: Generation Optimism with Juan David Campolargo
May 28, 2020
Even in uncertain times, it is good to remember that positive ideas can come from even the most difficult situations. Juan David Campolargo, a seventeen-year-old high school student from Chicago, is no stranger to difficulty. Immigranting to the U.S. from Venezuela at age 14, he began to learn English for the first time, and over […]
PMP195: Instruction from a Distance with Jena Nelson
May 21, 2020
During school closures and remote learning, maintaining connection with students has been an enormous puzzle to solve. When 8th grade teacher Jena Nelson, from Deer Creek Middle School in Edmond, Oklahoma, switched to online delivery, she looked at this new difficulty as a new opportunity. Digging into her arsenal of costumes from her previous years […]
PMP194: Lessons from Leading in New York with Principal Patrick McLaughlin
May 14, 2020
School leaders share a common bond – whether you lead in an urban, suburban or rural setting. During the last two months, I’ve also been thinking a lot about another common bond all school leaders now share: caring and serving from a distance. Whether your school is public, charter, or private – you wear many […]
PMP193: Taking a Music Break from COVID-19
May 07, 2020
I don’t know about you, but it seems like every waking hour has been spent adjusting to a new normal, and the idea of relaxing almost seems unkind when you think of all the sacrifices people are making during times like this. In Oklahoma, school leaders have been managing distance learning for more than a […]
PMP192: Leading from a Distance, Part 2 with Jen Schwanke
Apr 30, 2020
When storms roll across my home state of Oklahoma, residents here have a few common reactions. First, we listen to the weather station. Oklahoma has the best storm-tracking radar systems in the world. Second, we check our storm closets or shelters to make sure we have a good place to hide if severe weather turns […]
PMP191: Reflections on Leading from a Distance
Apr 23, 2020
If you’re like me, you’re probably still adjusting to a new normal. Each morning I still wake up, walk the dog, or go for a run around the neighborhood. I login to my email and check my calendar for the series of meetings via Zoom or Google Meets. But life still doesn’t feel normal yet. […]
PMP190: 5 Tips for Running the Uncertain Leadership Roads Ahead
Apr 16, 2020
This morning I was running a three-mile track around my neighborhood. As I passed the houses and occasional drivers, I felt a sudden kinship to my neighbors I’m not sure I’ve felt before. We don’t just share the same zip-code; we now share a common experience. And this experience spreads beyond our cities and states. […]
PMP189: Building Bridges to Reach Students with Dr. Don Parker
Apr 08, 2020
When Don Parker was a Dean of Students, he knew his students were struggling – especially those with high risk factors. Don’s passion became simple and challenging: Find the best ways to help students be more successful. Through his doctoral dissertation and his practice as a school administrator, he narrowed his focus to two approaches: […]
PMP188: COVID-19 Update, Principal Reboot, Finding Balance Continued
Apr 01, 2020
This week I had the privilege of capturing a few minutes with Chris Legleiter, Principal of Leawood Middle School, Blue Valley Schools, just outside Kansas City, Missouri. The state of Kansas has closed buildings for the rest of the school year, and like principals around the world, Chris is learning what it means to still […]
PMP187: Reboot for Principals, Part 2
Mar 25, 2020
As schools across the nation continue closures because of the Coronavirus pandemic, this week’s episode includes an update from listener, Terrence Simmons, Assistant Principal at Floyd Elementary, in Nye County, Nevada. Their team has already launched distance learning for their students, and the district website serves as a great resource for parents wanting guidance and […]
PMP186: Reboot for Principals with Jen Schwanke
Mar 18, 2020
Throughout the world, schools are managing the challenges of school closures in response to news of the spreading corona virus or COVID-19. As a school leader, you are expected to manage difficulties, but sometimes you are managing in uncharted territory. Also in the midst of helping others, what can you do to make sure you’re […]
PMP185: The Power of Sharing Your Own Story
Mar 11, 2020
What stories have shaped your own leadership journey? I recently finished reading, Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. If you’re unfamiliar with the book, Tara Westover grew up in a rural Idaho with parents who embraced radical ideologies, including not giving their daughter a birth certificate, not vaccinating her, and not providing her with any […]
PMPEncore151: Hiring High Quality Educators, Part 2
Mar 05, 2020
Why is hiring such an important part of your responsibility as a principal? First and foremost, because the students, teachers, and community members deserve high quality education experiences. And secondly, because the people in your school often reflect on your own leadership. Although we cannot judge ourselves by the way others behave, school leaders are […]
PMPEncore150: Hiring High Quality Educators, Part 1
Feb 27, 2020
One day the teachers at Indian Run Elementary, in Dublin, Ohio, organized a “Flash TACO bar” – a spontaneous buffet meal where they shared great food and fun together. As principal of the school, Jen Schwanke reflected on the joy and creativity of her teachers: they not only love teaching but they also enjoy working […]
PMP184: 5 Voices for Leading Teams with Jeremie Kubicek
Feb 20, 2020
It goes without saying that in order to lead you must have followers. But taking others to a destination doesn’t just mean accomplishing all the to-do’s on your checklist. Leadership requires relationships. And meaningful relationships do not happen by accident; they are intentional and purposeful. Part of building meaningful relationships involves understanding yourself and the […]
PMP183: Gen Z Unfiltered, Part 2 with Andrew McPeak
Feb 12, 2020
“When is a time you have used grit, and what lesson did you learn?” This is just one of 100 questions you find included in the Table Talk Cards that come as a bonus with the book Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most Anxious Population by Dr. Tim Elmore and Andrew […]
PMP182: Generation Z Unfiltered with Andrew McPeak
Feb 06, 2020
Students today face newer and different challenges than students of the past. Although many of the skills or values they need to be successful remain the same regardless of time and place, they also have unique challenges that make them one of the most anxious generations in history. If we “take the filters” off our […]
Encore099: Collaborating for Results – Interview with Dr. Judi Barber
Jan 30, 2020
I am digging into the archives of Principal Matters to bring you an episode from January 2018, when I had the privilege to interview Dr. Judi Barber. First, let me tell you a story. During the previous Christmas break of 2017, I had taken my family to see the newest Star Wars movie. In the […]
PMP181: Finding Your Swing – How Leadership & Teamwork Go Hand-in-Hand
Jan 23, 2020
This week I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with a team of new assistant principals. As we talked about their first semester, they shared the lessons they’ve learned in time management, communication, and problem solving. They are finding their unique places on new teams, understanding their new roles for the first time, and […]
PMP180: Tipping Points and Why Small Things Matter
Jan 16, 2020
What does it take for small actions to produce big results? Over Christmas break, I listened to the audio-version of Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and learned some value lessons we can apply to our schools. Let me quickly summarize by saying that Gladwell painstakingly details the phenomenon […]
PMP179: Special Edition – Principal Matters 2019 Year In Review
Jan 08, 2020
Last week my family and I traveled back to Tennessee to see my parents and extended family. My parents both turned 79 this past year. Life has slowed down a lot for them now. One of my mother’s favorite past times, for instance, is walking the woods — gathering treasures like small rocks or interesting […]
PMP178: 10 Positive Takeaways from the Past Decade
Dec 24, 2019
Just like you, I can think of many reasons to worry about the future or raise concerns about trends that have developed over the past decade. Whether that includes increases in school shootings, soaring health care costs, rises in the costs of education, the number of children experiencing trauma, growing concerns in climate change or […]
PMP177: Cha Cha’s for Making Learning Stick with LeAnn Nickelsen
Dec 18, 2019
A few weeks ago, I was sharing with a group of principals one of my favorite video-clips from the movie, The Incredibles. It’s the scene where Lucius, aka the superhero, Frozone, is watching as his city is under attack from his apartment window. He pushes a button on his remote control to open a wall […]
PMP176: Leading Through Equity with William Stubbs
Dec 04, 2019
In October 2018, William Stubbs, an instructional leadership director at Oklahoma City Public Schools at the time, entered and won the Teach for America’s Shark Tank OKC as a contestant in the city’s Shark Tank competition. He was awarded $10,000 to implement stronger partnerships and mentoring opportunties for the city’s young men of color with […]
PMP175: Middle School Matters with Phyllis Fagell
Nov 27, 2019
Do you remember what is was like to be a middle school student? For many people, memories of those years often bring back stories filled with anxiety and awkward physical, emotional, and social changes. According to Phyllis Fagell, however, those years can be good ones. “Probably what people might be most surprised to know is […]
PMP174: 10 Areas to Focus on for Growth as a Leader with Chris Legleiter
Nov 21, 2019
Every person in your school is at a different level of growth. Not just students, but teachers are also at stages of growth. Leadership is not any different. Some educators are just beginning the journey. Others are finishing their first few years, and some are experiencing years of mastery in certain strategies or subjects. Over […]
PMP173: Lessons in Leadership from Your Scars
Nov 13, 2019
When I was in college, I had a blue 1981 Toyota Celica that overheated on the long trip to Oklahoma, and the engine burned up. It was my first car. I had bought it with the money I earned over summers as a shell diver in the Kentucky Lake area. But now it was toast, […]
PMP:170 Four Lessons in Teamwork from my Son’s Hospital Stay
Oct 31, 2019
Six years ago, on October 31, 2013, my son Jack was eight years old. We had just finished an amazing day of trick-or-treating, and he asked if he could change back into his normal clothes. This was a big deal because he had been wearing a hosptial gown for almost ten days. On this Halloween, […]
PMP169: Leading into the Wind – Lessons from Dave Sandowich
Oct 24, 2019
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to spend a few hours sailing on the Chesapeake Bay with Dave Sandowich. He commanded his 42-foot sailboat, Charis, with the skill of a man who has spent the past forty years on the water anytime when he wasn’t leading his school or his family. Dave, a […]
PMP168: Managing Your Day with Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang
Oct 17, 2019
If you are like most school leaders, time management can be one of the most difficult parts of your work. Most new school leaders I meet explain how overwhelming the list of to-do’s can be. What are the solutions? Well, Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang provide a wealth of information on resources and practices that […]
PMP167: Keeping Your Leadership Focused on Service, Not Self
Oct 09, 2019
Last week was the first time (except for a rare Christmas holiday) that I have not shared a blog post or podcast episode update in almost five years. At first, I thought it was because I’ve been so busy. Last weekend I flew to Florida for my nephew’s wedding. Then on Monday, I flew from […]
PMP166: Unique Challenges of Rural Principals and Why Your Story Matters
Sep 25, 2019
This week I’m sharing another episode from the road as I have been traveling across my state, Oklahoma, visiting principals at schools or in regional meetings. Recently, I visited Texhoma, Oklahoma, with High School Principal Connie Miller. After touring her school that serves students grades 5-12, she drove me one mile across the community to […]
PMP165: Three Lessons in Decision Making from Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink
Sep 19, 2019
Several years ago, I was standing in our school lunchroom watching hundreds of students eat breakfast. I was positioned in the middle section of the room, and the front doors of the school were about one hundred feet across the room from me. Dozens of students were entering when I saw one high school boy […]
PMP164: On the Road – Thoughts for New School Leaders
Sep 12, 2019
These last couple of week, I’ve been on the road a lot visiting schools and principals across my state. For the next couple of weeks, I plan to share some thoughts from the road – literally. This week’s episode I recorded while driving (after safely cuing my recorder before starting a long drive). 5 Takeaways […]
PMP162: Go! Community – How to Harness the Power of the Room with Danny Bauer
Aug 28, 2019
Author David Weinberger once said: “The smartest person in the room is the room itself.” In other words, the collective power of our thinking is always more powerful than working in isolation. By connecting with others, we can stretch our thinking and be motivated to take new actions. This week I’m thrilled to bring back […]
PMP161: Answers to Principal Matters Questions, Part 2
Aug 15, 2019
Last week Jen Schwanke and I answered questions from podcast listeners. Listen to Part 1 here. This week we take three more questions from principals on parenting, women in leadership, and professional growth. Here’s our feedback, or you can listen to the entire conversation on the podcast: Question 1: How do you manage being a […]
PMP160: Answers to Principal Matters Questions, Part 1
Aug 08, 2019
Recently, several questions came from Principal Matters community members. This week, Jen Schwanke, principal and author, joined me to answer several questions from principals or aspiring principals. Here are a three questions we take time to discuss and respond to: Question 1: Finding my first principal position… Hello! I have just completed my masters program […]
PMP159: Engaging Students in Shaping Their Own Stories with Jesse Haynes
Aug 01, 2019
Jesse Haynes is one of those rare people you meet in life who has dared to make his dreams come true. He is a recent graduate from the University of Tulsa who has reached audacious personal goals, published multiple books, and created podcasts with millions of downloads – just while in high school and college. […]
PMP:Encore076 Messaging Matters – How to Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students and Reach Communities
Jul 25, 2019
In 2017, Justin Baeder, from Principal Center Radio, invited me as a guest on his show to talk to me about my book Messaging Matters: How to Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students, and Reach Communities. Justin was gracious enough to allow me to repost the interview with my readers and listeners. This week I want to share that […]
PMP158: Why Telling Your Own Story Matters
Jul 18, 2019
A few nights ago I was sitting in a theater with my wife watching the movie, Yesterday, starring Himesh Patel and Lily James. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I do want to say I was completely affected by the nostalgia and its focus on the legacy of Beatles music. In fact, […]
PMP157: Preparing for the Start-of-School Year
Jul 10, 2019
Jenny is a returning student at her high school. She has a part-time job which keeps her up late most nights. When she arrives late to school, she has already missed breakfast and she’s tardy. She stands in a long line at the counseling office until she is given her class schedule. She reads it […]
PMP156: 6 Tips for Managing School-Wide Changes
Jul 03, 2019
When my family recently visited the Rocky Mountain National Park, we enjoyed drives through snow-peaked mountains. But my 13-year old son, Jack, was most excited about hiking and climbing. One morning, we gathered the family by Shadow Mountain Lake, and began a hike along the lake that eventually led to a 3-mile ascent to a […]
PMPEncore077: Four Tips for Parents as Principals
Jun 26, 2019
Two years ago, my oldest daughter graduated from the high school where I was principal. When she headed off to college that fall, it was a mix of celebration and grief on my part. Recently, Jen Schwanke and I co-hosted two podcast episodes on Parenting as Principals. You can check them out here: Part 1 […]
PMPEncore028: Four Reasons Your Vacation Matters
Jun 19, 2019
This week’s post is an encore episode I shared a couple of years ago. Since I’m enjoying some vacation, I thought I would remind you why your time away from school may help you better serve your school. Regardless of whether someone is an educator or not, or whether your vacation time is long or […]
PMP:Encore090 Branding Your School with Marlena Gross-Taylor
Jun 12, 2019
When I was in junior high school, everyone on my basketball team wore Converse high-tops. Yes, that means I’m officially from the 70’s! I’ll never forget mine: They were the color of golden-rod, and I was so proud of them that I never wore them outside the gym because I didn’t want to scuff them up. […]
PMP155: Parenting as Principals – Do’s and Don’ts, Part 2
Jun 05, 2019
A few years ago, we had a lockdown drill at the high school where I was principal. Local police had called to say they were aware of a potential threat against our school on social media. They were locating the person of interest in a location outside the school community but wanted us to lockdown […]
PMP154: Parenting as Principals – Do’s and Don’ts, Part 1
May 30, 2019
Oklahoma has experienced its share of storms and severe weather this spring. The other day, our family was sitting in our storm closet as sirens were sounding at 6:30AM. Afterwards, I was driving my seventh-grade son, Jack, to school. As we approached the school, I began to predict how his principals would manage the morning. […]
PMP153: Maintaining Balance and Focusing on What Matters, Part 2
May 22, 2019
When Principal Jen Schwanke was talking to one of her teachers about the importance of balance, her teacher asked an honest question. “Why should I do this when you don’t?” Jen realized then that she had been modeling bad habits for her teachers. For instance, when she sent emails to teachers at 10:00 PM, she […]
PMP152: Maintaining Balance and Staying Focused on What Matters
May 15, 2019
We just celebrated Mother’s Day. This time of year is a good reminder that our families play such an important role in our lives outside of school. No matter how many principals I visit, one conversation comes up often: how to maintain balance and stay focused on what matters even while leading a school. Although […]
PMP151: Hiring & Retaining High Quality Teachers, Part 2
May 08, 2019
Several weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting Norman High School, in Norman, Oklahoma. Dr. Scott Beck was recently named Oklahoma’s High School Principal of the Year, and I wanted to touch-base with him and tour his school. From the moment I entered the building until I left, I was impressed – not just […]
PMP:150 Hiring High Quality Educators, Part 1
Apr 24, 2019
Recently, the teachers at Indian Run Elementary, in Dublin, Ohio, organized a “Flash TACO bar” – a spontaneous buffet meal where they shared great food and fun together. As principal of the school, Jen Schwanke reflects on the joy and creativity of her teachers: they not only love teaching but they also enjoy working together. […]
PMPEncore109: The Power of One Caring Adult with Josh Shipp
Apr 17, 2019
A few years ago, I sat across my desk from a student whose father had abandoned him and left the state. A family in our community had taken in the young man, and our school had been in contact with the Department of Human Services on what to do next. That morning I had been […]
PMP:149 Managing Adult Conflicts, Part 2
Apr 10, 2019
Spring time is here, and the landscape is green with new growth. Ironically, my wife told me that by the spring of each school year, she has decided that our marriage is falling apart, our kids all need counseling, and we have chosen to the wrong places to live, work, etc. In other words, […]
PMP:148 The “Why’s” and “How’s” of Managing Adult Conflict
Apr 03, 2019
One of the biggest surprises for school new school leaders may be the conflicts that arise with adults. Whether you are encountering conflicts with parents, colleagues or community members, these situations can be difficult to manage. Even experienced principals will tell you that managing conflicts is one of their most challenging but important responsibilities. In […]
PMP:147 Providing Focused Professional Development
Mar 27, 2019
When you think about providing professional development, do you feel stressed or excited? For many principals, providing professional development can be a daunting task. The good news is that professional development can become something that is meaningful and enjoyable when you realize you no longer have to be the expert. Instead, together with your school […]
PMP:146 Good Habits for Balancing Priorities
Mar 20, 2019
Have you ever felt overwhelmed in trying to balance priorities? If you’re like me, you can probably think of more than once where student discipline, parent concerns, and teacher feedback provided you more tasks than you could complete in a day. No matter whether you are a new principal or a veteran leader, here’s a […]
PMP:145 Promoting a Culture of Trust – Part 2
Mar 13, 2019
When is the last time you heard the following words? “We do what’s best for kids.” Of course, we want school leaders to do what is best for students. But we also want to provide a place where adults feels supported and encouraged in bringing joy to students. Those priorities are not in opposition to […]
PMP:144 Building and Maintaining Positive School Culture
Mar 06, 2019
Cultivating a positive school culture is a lot like tending a garden. When you have tilled the soil, pulled the weeds, and watered your plants, your work is not finished. You will need to take the same steps again soon in order to keep a healthy environment for growth. School culture requires the same care. […]
PMP:143 Learning for ALL with Dr. Garth Larson
Feb 27, 2019
When Garth Larson was asked to move from secondary administration to become an elementary principal, he was curious if he could be an effective leader at that level. But his work in early-education combined with his years in secondary education gave him a unique perspective of the K-12 experience. Later, when he moved into a […]
PMP:Encore027 Ten Tips for Interviewing for an Education Opening
Feb 21, 2019
It’s that time of year again for hiring and job searches! Whether you are conducting an interview or being interviewed, I have found some common expectations anyone should have when walking into an education interview. If you are looking for sample questions specific to principal interviews, let me encourage you to check out the post, […]
PMP:142 Preventing Student Athlete Injury or Sudden Death – Interview with Dr. Douglas Casa
Feb 13, 2019
Dr. Douglas Casa began his study of student athletic safety in 1985 when he suffered an exertional heat stroke while running a 10K race. As he explains, “I was fortunate to receive amazing care on-site from the athletic trainer; the EMT’s in the ambulance; and at the hospital from the emergency room physicians and nurses. […]
PMP141: How Culture Drives Successful Learning Communities – Interview with Dr. Kyle Palmer
Feb 06, 2019
Recently, I had the privilege of talking to Dr. Kyle Palmer about the lessons he has learned in his years as a teacher, principal and district leader. As we talked about the successful professional learning teams his teachers have led, Kyle commented that when our hearts hurts when students fail, then we are willing to […]
PMP:Encore079 Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?
Jan 31, 2019
Next week, I have the privilege of gathering together with educators and school leaders for a Leadership & Learning Conference in Norman, Oklahoma. Guest speakers Jeff Zoul, Jack Berckemeyer, and Christine Handy will be on hand to share best practices. I’m looking forward to circling up with other educators who enjoy being life-long learners. Gearing […]
PMP:140 Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders – Interview with Jen Schwanke
Jan 25, 2019
I’ll never forget the semester I transitioned from assistant principal to principal. Even though I had been in school administration for nine years at the time, the move to a new position brought back the old feelings of isolation. I also felt the creep of anxiety I had experienced as a new administrator almost a […]
PMP:139 Building Stronger Collaboration – Interview with Diana Lebsack
Jan 17, 2019
Great teams understand the importance of depending on one another. With the many roles of a school leader, one of the biggest challenges is moving from independence to interdependence. In other words, how do you shift from a school culture with teachers isolated from one another to a place of shared ideas and teamwork – […]
PMP:138 Middle Level Kindness Challenge – Interview with Daniel O’Donnell
Jan 10, 2019
Recently, Education Week shared a post, A Look at How Principals Really Drive School Improvement, with a summary of a study conducted by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. Researchers studied over 600 elementary and secondary schools over seven years, comparing student test results with surveys from teachers and students about their experiences […]
PMP:137 Reaching and Teaching Students Exposed to Trauma with Dr. Barbara Sorrels
Dec 20, 2018
One day I was walking through one of my high school buildings when I heard the sound of a teacher yelling for help. I sprinted toward the sound, and I found a teacher trying to guide a student into the hallway. He was a special education student I knew – a teenage boy whose development […]
PMP:136 Crucial Conversations for Reaching Targeted Destinations
Dec 13, 2018
I’ve been on the road a lot lately. And as I travel, I often think about how to reach my destination while also making the experience a positive one. For me, that means trying to learn while I drive by listening to helpful podcasts, audio-books, or news programs. Or sometimes it means connecting with friends […]
PMP:135 Using FOMO for Positive School Culture with Kim Coody
Dec 05, 2018
In a recent conversation with author and generation expert Dr. Tim Elmore, he shared how many students are affected by “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out). For many young people, this condition is demonstrated by a preoccupation with wanting to constantly know what is happening with peers or social media contacts. FOMO can sometimes lead to […]
PMP:134 Creating Engaging Cultures with Dr. Tim Elmore
Nov 29, 2018
How do engage students while also understanding the unique challenges and strengths of Generation Z students? Several years ago, I was introduced to Dr. Tim Elmore through his curriculum and online resources for leadership. He is known as an expert in researching generational trends and is the author of dozens of books on developing leadership. […]
Five years ago this month, our son Jack was diagnosed with a rare disease called Kawasaki that brought our normal world to a stand still as we circled together searching for answers and praying for his healing. The disease inflames the blood vessel, and if untreated, it can be fatal. As I look back at […]
PMP:Encore043 What Can You Accomplish Together?
Nov 15, 2018
The European Space Agency’s historical comet landing of the spacecraft Rosetta in 2014 was an amazing feat. Imagine organizing a team of scientists and space engineers who design and launch a spacecraft with the goal of intersecting with a comet 500 million kilometers from Earth. Then imagine ten years later, your findings show the spacecraft […]
PMP:132 Frameworks for Managing Student Discipline
Nov 08, 2018
During my second year as a high school assistant principal, I received notice one morning that a number of students were missing items from their lockers. Upon further investigation, we discovered that in one hallway of the school, an entire row of lockers had broken into and contents were missing from several. Thankfully, we had […]
PMP:131 School Without Walls – Interview with Richard Trogisch
Nov 01, 2018
On Tuesday, September 25, 2018, I walked into a D.C. high school called School Without Walls, a four-story building interspersed with hallways full of art. I saw hand-built go-carts with bicycle parts lining a floor-way. Sky-lights hovering over walls of exposed brick created a sense of old and new. Expansions to the building allow School […]
PMP:130 Five Lessons in Resilience – Reflections from Unbroken
Oct 25, 2018
Several years ago, Oklahoma received one of the worst blizzards I had ever seen in a state that sometimes has no snow fall during winter. As our community was plunged into a blanket of white with drifts of 3-4 feet deep, roads were impassable, and schools were closed. With days of wintery weather, I finally […]
PMP:129 Why School Culture Matters – Interview with Heather Shaffery
Oct 17, 2018
This time of year, I’m on the road a lot visiting schools across my state. As I drive across Oklahoma, trees and fields have been brushed with the red and orange hues of fall. Rivers are swollen with much needed rains. And you can feel the first hints of winter’s chill in the strong prairie […]
PMP:128 Integrating Technology School-wide with Janalyn Taylor
Oct 10, 2018
How can schools integrate technology across all classrooms?Janalyn Taylor, Principal of Nance Elementary in Clinton, Oklahoma, believes that school leaders must be willing to model learning and teaching with technology in order to see teachers and students embracing its innovative uses. In a recent webinar conversation, Ms. Taylor explains how her school has embedded technology […]
PMP:Encore053 How Do You Respond Under Pressure?
Oct 04, 2018
When I was in high school and college, my brothers and I worked part-time diving for mussel shells in the Kentucky Lake area. We would sell them by the pound at local markets, and those shells would in turn be sold to Japanese markets. Apparently, the pearly-white cuts from those shells are unique implants for […]
PMP:127 Why Social Emotional Learning Matters – Interview with Tamara Fyke
Sep 26, 2018
Educators are talking a lot about students in trauma. Although you may not always know when students are stressed or facing a crises, research by the American Psychological Association, shows that today’s students have the same level of anxiety as psychiatric patients did in the 1950’s. Some of this anxiety is the result of increased […]
PMPEncore046: 5 Ways to Respond to Resistance
Sep 20, 2018
One of my favorite college education professors would often start class with a provoking question. As we would grapple with how to answer or support our positions, he would stand there with his large hands lifted in the air, his voice booming, “Disequilibrium is the beginning of education!” It took me a while to figure […]
PMP:125 Leaving A Legacy – What Will Others Say About You?
Sep 12, 2018
Recently, the United States mourned the passing of Arizona Senator John McCain. Before his death, Senator McCain was asked by a reporter what words he hoped to see on his tombstone. He replied, “I’ve been a small bit of American history, so I think if there’s something on my tombstone, it’ll be ‘He served his […]
PMP:124 Six Tips for Investing in Future Leaders
Sep 06, 2018
When I was a Language Arts teacher, I would walk my students through a series of practices on identifying their surroundings and writing down the details. You could try it right now. Take a moment and pause to consider the following: What are you seeing? Look up, down, around, and behind you. Are you seeing […]
PMP:123 Rowing Together – Why Your Marriage Matters for Your Leadership
Aug 30, 2018
This summer my wife and I enjoyed time away, celebrating our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. One afternoon, we drove to Emerald Bay, a cove nestled a mile below the mountain highway there. We hiked down the trail and rented a kayak. When we pushed away from shore, I was immediately struck by […]
PMP122: Packing Parachutes – Why Your Money Management Matters
Aug 23, 2018
The other day, I was talking to a friend of mine who ran track in high school. When he was at his fastest, he could run a mile in 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Even though he was naturally fast, he learned to increase his speed through a strong practice his coach required: wearing a […]
PMP:121 The Power of Play – 7 Tips for Education Leaders
Aug 16, 2018
When I spotted the mud puddle, I thought it would be fun to jump it. The dirt road that ran along the edge of the field by our West Tennessee farmhouse was often traveled by trucks or tractors. And the ruts in the sandy, red dirt would fill with rain and create long stretches of […]
PMP:Encore06 – Essential Questions for a New School Year (& Predicting the Weather)
Aug 08, 2018
How are you anticipating the start of a new school year? This week I wanted to share some thoughts from a previous post as reminders for your new school year: Predicting Your School Climate Sometimes my left elbow aches. I have a scar there from when I broke it falling from a horse almost twenty years ago. […]
PMP:120 A Leader’s Spiritual Growth – Four Reasons Your Faith Matters
Aug 01, 2018
A few weeks ago, I was on an airplane with my oldest daughter, Emily, who just finished her first year of college and is enjoying summer break. Being with her brings back a lot of memories. At the time, she was staring out the window into the landscape of clouds below while we flew to […]
PMP:Bonus03 – Answers to Listener Questions + Thoughts from the Road
Jul 19, 2018
I’ve been on the road (and in planes) a lot the summer, and I have been thinking about issues and ideas I’ve been wanting to share with Principal Matters readers and listeners. This week I was on a long road trip when I was pondering some questions a listener had emailed my way. After stopping […]
PMP:119 Your Friendships – Learning to Climb Together
Jul 04, 2018
When I was in college, I had my first experience in mountain climbing. I was traveling in Guatemala for a summer missions outreach when one morning, we woke up before dawn and rode a bus to the base of an active volcano. About twenty of us had decided to begin our climb in the dark […]
PMP:118 Growing Leaders Takeaways – Crucial Conversations About Students
Jun 27, 2018
The other morning, I woke up early in a hotel room in Atlanta, Georgia. For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was. Then it dawned on me that I was presenting that morning at a Growing Leaders Principal Roundtable event hosted by Dr. Tim Elmore. I dressed, grabbed my laptop bag and headed downstairs […]
PMP:117 Your Time – Are you Making the Most of Each Moment?
Jun 20, 2018
Balance is a popular word among life coaches and leadership authors. As important as it is to remember to invest in the meaningful areas of your life, too many people place unrealistic expectations upon themselves. Living a life of meaning does not mean being perfect. This is misperception is not only unrealistic, it is also […]
PMP:116 The Starbucks Story – Three Lessons for School Leaders
Jun 13, 2018
Recently, Howard Schultz, the owner and CEO of Starbucks announced he will be retiring as CEO of the company. This news comes after several years of stunning success for a company whose stock price rose from $7 a share during the recession to $56 a share this past week. As a part of my commute, […]
PMP:115 A Leader’s Influence – How is the Air You Breathe?
Jun 06, 2018
In 2010, I had the privilege of traveling to China for ten days on an education tour. One morning in Beijing, I headed outside the hotel before breakfast for a quick run. Later as I showered and dressed, I began to feel sick. I thought perhaps I was catching a cold or was just suffering […]
PMP:Encore027 Ten Tips for Interviewing for an Education Opening
May 30, 2018
Last week I was on the phone with a teacher who will soon be interviewing for an assistant principal opening. Just this past week, I have talked to two superintendents and a principal who have openings for principal or assistant principal positions at their schools. It’s that time of year again for hiring and job […]
PMP:114 Reflections on Your Learning: What’s on Your Playlist?
May 23, 2018
My mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s. The condition began about ten years ago when we thought she was simply becoming more forgetful. But as her short-term memory declined, we realized she wasn’t just suffering from old age. Over the years, she has lost the ability to recognize her own children and grandchildren, and she forgets whether or […]
PMP:113 Building Positive School Communities – Interview with Principal Mike Crase
May 16, 2018
When I drove into the parking lot at East Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I was greeted by bright yellow arrows on the parking lot, pointing the direction for incoming and outgoing traffic. A beautiful flower bed had been built in front of the school. A friendly security staff person met me at the […]
PMP:112 Reflections for Education Leaders – How Are You Tending Your Body?
May 09, 2018
When I was little, I loved to stand in the garden as my grandparents tilled soil and put out spring tomatoes. The smell of freshly tilled dirt, the sun beating down on my back, the brush of the ground with hoes and rakes—all these memories come back to me each spring. My grandparents didn’t just […]
PMP:111 Reflections for Education Leaders & Wearing Your Air Mask
May 02, 2018
I’m a frequent flyer. The more I fly, the harder I find it is to stay focused when flight attendants are reviewing safety procedures. They could be standing right in front of me with the safety cards in hand, but I’ve heard it so many times, I usually think about something else. On the other […]
PMPEncore065: Ending the School Year with Celebration
Apr 25, 2018
Last year my student council members came to see me about an idea they had for finishing the year with positivity. These student leaders wanted to end the year was by doing something to help others. They designed an amazing idea called “BARK” week. With the school mascot being a Bulldog, the theme fit perfectly. […]
PMP:110 Six Tips for Education Advocacy
Apr 18, 2018
Last week I was walking back to my car from a visit to Oklahoma’s state capitol, when I saw a line of reporters, police, and education supporters stopped in front of me. I just happened to be on the street where Tulsa Public School Superintendent Deborah Gist and others from her community were arriving from […]
PMP:109 The Power of One Caring Adult with Josh Shipp
Apr 11, 2018
Last year I sat across my desk from a student whose father had abandoned him and left the state. A family in our community had taken in the young man, and our school had been in contact with the Department of Human Services on what to do next. That morning I had been watching a […]
PMP:108 Using Technology to Message with Parents, the Community, and Beyond
Apr 04, 2018
In 2016, a Pew Research report showed 62% of adults receive news via social media – a 49% increase from 2012. 70% of people in western countries use social networks like Facebook or Twitter. Only 30% do not rely on social media in the U.S. and that percentage continues declining. Although access to information does […]
PMP:Encore045 “Teach Like Me” Interview with Shawn Sheehan
Mar 21, 2018
On November 30, 2016, I sat down for a conversation with Oklahoma’s 2016 Teacher of the Year, Shawn Sheehan. That conversation became episode 045 of Principal Matters. In today’s post, I want to replay that conversation. At the time, Shawn had just ended a campaign season in a failed attempt to win a state Senate […]
PMP:106 Rethinking How School Leaders Help Teachers Grow
Mar 14, 2018
What kind of school environment encourages teachers to race tricycles down the hallways while also engaging in deep conversations about student learning in PLC’s? Kenny Ward, this week’s special guest, discusses how schools like his own must keep exploring ways to create cultures of learning and fun at the same time. In our conversation, he […]
PMP:105 Using Technology to Message with Students
Mar 07, 2018
In Tim Elmore’s book Generation IY, he shares data from his 2015 research showing the following trends among youth. • 75 percent post on Facebook • 73 percent shop online • 49 percent Tweet • 43 percent read an e-book He also quotes a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation Report that “kids between eight and eighteen […]
PMP:104 Messaging with Students — Environment, Celebration, and Communication
Feb 28, 2018
Recently, Rachel Simmons wrote an article in the Washington Post called Perfectionism among teens is rampant (and we’re not helping). It is a good reminder how this generation of students faces challenges and opportunities different than ones we faced at their ages — sometimes with stress that we’ve created for them. Students today have never known […]
PMP:103 Standing Back Up When You Feel Knocked Down
Feb 21, 2018
Last Sunday my family and I were watching the Winter Olympics when the men’s 30km Skiathlon began. As the race started, Norway’s Simen Krueger fell. Snow was flying all around him as two other skiers and he crumbled into one another. As the other racers left them behind, Simen scrambled back on his feet. His […]
PMP:102 Four Essentials for Advancing in Your Leadership
Feb 14, 2018
Last week I was speaking to a group of Assistant Principals near Montgomery, Alabama, when I noticed a familiar face at a table near the back of the room. I saw a man whom I had met the day before on my ride from the airport to the conference center. Mr. Willie Lewis, a retired […]
PMP:101 Strategies for Messaging with Teachers
Feb 07, 2018
This summer my wife and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. For some reason, I’ve never thought of myself as older, but I realize now that I’m preparing for this anniversary, my children may categorize me that way. My wife, however, will forever be my young bride. This reminds me of a story: An […]
PMP:100 Celebrating One Hundred Episodes of Storytelling
Jan 31, 2018
When I was ten years old, I had an old tape cassette player. It was the kind that had a built-in speaker and looked like a radio the size of small book. You know, the kind with four square buttons on top: Rewind, Forward, Play, and Record. Sometimes I’d lay on the carpet and tape […]
PMP:099 Collaborating for Results – Interview with Dr. Judi Barber
Jan 24, 2018
This Christmas break, I took the family to see the newest Star Wars movie. If you haven’t seen it, please note the forthcoming spoiler alert. In the opening scene, Jedi-in-training, Rey, has journeyed to the planet where the retired Luke Skywalker, has hidden himself away from the universe and its troubles. She climbs the heights […]
PMP098: Messaging with Teachers – The Foundations, Models, and Framework for Strong Instructional Leadership
Jan 17, 2018
When I was in high school and college, I spent a lot of time diving for shells in the lakes near my home in West Tennessee. It wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds. Lake diving is work that requires you to spend a lot of time in depths too dark to see while crawling mud […]
PMP:097 Building a Community of Messaging with Entanglement, Engagement, and Mission
Jan 10, 2018
Last month I enjoyed some time away with family in West Tennessee. When I was there, my son Jack and I hiked the backwoods behind my parents’ farm. There is a winding creek that runs behind the house. It’s filled with lily pads in the summer, and on the back end of the creek is […]
PMP:096 Wrapping up Another Year of Principal Matters + Bonus Takeaways
Jan 03, 2018
Happy New Year! As I look at the past year I am grateful for the connections, relationships and opportunities to grow personally and professionally. I wanted to say a special thank you to those of you who check out posts, listen to podcast episodes, or have read my books Principal Matters or Messaging Matters and […]
PMP:095 Encouraging Childlike Wonder in Learning
Dec 20, 2017
A few years ago, I sat in a gymnasium with bleachers filled with middle schoolers while I watched high school student Jesse Haynes, one of my own Skiatook seniors at the time, share about his new novel he published that year. “This is one of my teammates and me after winning our first tournament of […]
PMP:094 Ten Takeaways on Communication & Lessons in Teamwork
Dec 13, 2017
Just a few days ago I was presenting to principals in Wichita, Kansas I was a little nervous because I had been having trouble with my voice from some bronchitis in my lungs. The doctor had given me some meds to combat the congestion, and my voice was returning. At the same time, I was […]
PMP:093 Why are You Leading? 4 Questions for Refocusing on Your Destination
Dec 06, 2017
When I was in college I climbed my first mountain which was an active volcano near Guatemala City. We loaded a bus the night before and arrived hours before sunrise to begin our hike in the dark. As we made it up the mountain, the pale colors of morning began to greet us. With the […]
PMP:092 Making ‘First Days’ Every Day, Using Key Responsibility Areas, and Helping Students Flourish
Nov 29, 2017
One of my favorite illustrations of the brain is not from a science magazine.It is from a Mercedes Benz advertisement. In it you see a painting of the brain with the left side showing scaffolds, numbers, and graphs–a sample of analytical thinking. The right side of the brain is painted with vivid colors, swirls, and […]
PMP:091 Reflecting on Lessons in Leadership
Nov 22, 2017
One of my favorite ways to enjoy a long drive is by listening to podcasts or audio-books. And I especially find biographies a helpful way to learn lessons about life and leadership. Two audiobooks that I’ve enjoyed in my drives may sound like they have nothing in common: Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Lauren Hillenbrand […]
PMP:090 Why You Should Brand Your School with Marlena Gross-Taylor
Nov 15, 2017
When I was in junior high school, everyone on my basketball team wore Converse high-tops. I’ll never forget mine: they were the color of golden-rod, and I was so proud of them that I never wore them outside the gym because I didn’t want to scuff them up. For a thirteen year-old boy at the […]
PMP:089 Marching off the Map with Andrew McPeak
Nov 08, 2017
Recently, on a trip to Philadelphia, I was sitting in airport gate seating area, which gave me a view of the ground crews prepping planes for departure. Workers were driving baggage trains, pulling fuel trucks in and out, and loading bags on runways into planes. While I watched them, I thought about how many people […]
PMP:088 Moving from Average to Excellence in School Relationships
Nov 01, 2017
When I was in college, I was a resident advisor in the dormitory where I lived. My dorm director, Scott Boss, was a graduate student who not only supervised all the resident advisors in my dorm but also taught us leadership lessons. One day Scott was talking to the R.A.’s about ways we could better […]
PMP:087 Reflections on Disciplining with Dignity, Remembering Teachers, and Maintaining Sanity During Stressful Times
Oct 25, 2017
Recently, my twelve-year-old son, Jack, and I took a long road trip from Oklahoma to West Tennessee to visit my parents. Gran and Grandaddy live in the country–so far out they receive no cell service. It was a weekend of being unplugged. It was also a weekend to be reminded that my life is more […]
PMP:086 Now We’re Talking – Interview with Justin Baeder
Oct 18, 2017
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you walked into your child’s room at home, looked around, gave him a quick nod, and then left him a walk-through-form listing the pros and cons of your short visit? None of us would ever think about building relationships by practices like that with our […]
PMP:085 Managing Demands, Dealing with Difficult People, and Promoting Positive Morale
Oct 11, 2017
When I was a boy, I loved to walk the garden where my grandparents grew summer vegetables. My grandfather had an interesting way of planting tomatoes. He would dig a deep hole, scatter a small handful of fertilizer in the bottom of the hole, and then place a tomato plant in while gathering the rich […]
PMP:084 Adapting to the Changing Winds of Education
Oct 04, 2017
I’ve been reading an excellent book by Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak, Marching Off the Map: Inspire Students to Navigate a Brand New World, and it has sparked a lot of thought. The first half of the book is what educators know intimately: the changing cultural trends in technology, relationships, politics, and information – and […]
PMP: 083 The Importance of Mindset, Motivation, and Modeling for Education Leaders
Sep 27, 2017
A few days ago I was at airport security when I ran into a parent from my previous school. We exchanged pleasantries, and I asked him about his children. As we said goodbyes, he commented, “We miss you.” I thanked him, and as I walked away I couldn’t help but be grateful. In my new […]
PMP:082 How Can You Accomplish a Mission?
Sep 20, 2017
This past weekend, NASA broadcasted the final transmission of the spacecraft, Cassini, as it plunged into the atmosphere of the planet Saturn that it had orbited and monitored for the past 13 years. Cassini’s mission actually began in 1997. It took six years for it to reach Saturn, an its exploratory orbiting mission began. The […]
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