PMP450: Instructional Excellence with Michelle Steingart
May 28, 2025
Show notes
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 week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU.
The question is: In your work as an educational consultant, what current trends in human capital management do you believe future principals need to be aware of? (Question from Steph Rush, Intervention Specialist, Student in Education Master’s program at the Ohio State University)
Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters!
Meet Michelle Steingart:
Michelle Steingart is a dynamic and student-focused educational leader with over 20 years of experience in secondary education, including roles as assistant principal, teacher-leader, and classroom teacher. She has a proven record in fostering instructional excellence, cultivating collaborative relationships, and driving school-wide initiatives that enhance academic achievement, equity, and student well-being. As Assistant Principal of Palo Alto High School, in Palo Alto California, she is adept at leading large teams, managing complex programs, and aligning operations with a strategic vision for high school success. In her free time, she enjoys trying to talk with her teenage children and convincing them to spend time with her, reading, as well as exercising (running and weight lifting) to help keep her sane. Currently, Michelle is training for a trail half marathon. She enjoys finding sparks of JOY in everyday life.
The Importance of Scheduling:
Michelle shares with listeners her personal philosophy: If it’s important to you, schedule it. School leaders’ calendars fill up very quickly, and blocking out time in her calendar helps her prioritize aspects of her work that would otherwise be neglected. For example, Michelle says she wanted to make classroom visits a habit. She starts working on her calendar for the next school year before she goes on summer break and blocks out time she wants to be in classrooms. This time is made up of 3-4 fifteen minute intervals that she is going to classrooms throughout the week.
Being a Teacher Coach:
As Michelle considers some lessons from her experience that listeners can apply to their leadership, she reflects on being a teacher coach. One of the skills that she considers extremely important for school leaders to learn is how to observe and give information to teachers in a manner that is not opinionated. It took her years of practice to learn how to share facts without also sharing her opinion. Being a teacher coach helps build trust with teachers and allows them to grow in their craft. Furthermore, Michelle emphasizes that she tries to help teachers think about the intentions behind their practices when having coaching conversations.
Advice for New Leaders:
While considering what advice she would give to a new or aspiring leader, Michelle reflects on her first year as an administrator. She first became an administrator during the pandemic, and she shares that she had a hard time building trust with her school community during that time. Building trust is vital for new leaders, and Michelle says that is done best by listening with empathy and understanding. Additionally, she shares that finding a team to work with that trusts and supports each other is important for new leaders. Having that support system in your life will help leaders grow and become stronger school leaders.
Advice for Veteran Leaders:
After spending five years in school administration, Michelle is now considered a veteran leader. Her advice to other veteran leaders on how they can stay motivated for their work in the long haul is as follows: take care of yourself, and stay reminded of your larger purpose. Leaders must take care of themselves if they are going to take care of everything else. Finding sparks of joy every day helps Michelle stay reminded of her larger purpose. She shares that she knew she wanted to be in education since middle school, and she reminds herself of this on days that her work feels overwhelming.
Staying connected:
You can stay connected with Michelle via linkedin or email.
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Will It Fly?
May 26, 2025
Show notes
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 readers advices on the following themes:
Giving yourself permission to try something new, even if you might fail
Learning comes from failure
When considering big changes, it might be your permission that you are waiting for
Throughout the episode, Jen and I reflect on a conversation we had in 2020. I had shared with her that I wanted to start offering masterminds, and she encouraged me to try it, even if I ended up not being able to make them work. Five years later, I am doing this work full-time. Jen also shares with listeners some examples on how this advice applies to building principals. Listen in to hear the entire conversation! Thanks for listening and thank you for doing what matters!
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP291: Growing Leadership Teams with Dr. Keri Launius
May 23, 2025
Show notes
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 and assistant principals. Keri shares how her team has benefitted from learning lessons on the following topics:
Building Healthy Cultures
Coaching as Leaders
Listening to and Counseling Others
Managing effective systems
Accountability through Reflection
Chief Communication or Cheerleader
Importance of Servant-Leadership
Listen in to hear the full conversation or read the original blog post if you would like to learn more!
Interested in learning more about my professional development offerings? Check out this link.
PMP449: Inclusive and Supportive Schools for Every Learner with Dr. Eric Mace
May 21, 2025
Show notes
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 week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU.
The question is: What role did coaching and ongoing professional development play in improving staff performance and morale at your school? (Elizabeth Warvel, Teacher, Student in Education Master’s program at the Ohio State University)
Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters!
Meet Eric Mace:
Eric Mace, Ed.D., is the proud principal of Manorhaven Elementary, a diverse K-5 school on Long Island. His leadership journey began in the Marines, where he learned the value of teamwork, service, and resilience. After earning degrees in education and leadership, including a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Liberty University, Mace spent a decade in middle school before transitioning to Manorhaven, where he focuses on opportunity, innovation, and community. Outside of school, he is a husband and dad of two, and enjoys coaching, cooking, and exploring historical sites with his family.
Jen Schwanke Interviews Dr. Eric Mace:
Dr. Eric Mace, the principal of Maynor Haven Elementary, a diverse K-5 school on Long Island, shares his leadership journey and some of the things that excite him most about the future. His path to education was non-traditional, beginning with his service in the Marines. He credits his military experience with instilling in him the values of teamwork, service, and resilience, skills he now applies in his role as an educator and leader. The GI Bill provided him the financial means to pursue higher education, leading him to earn multiple degrees, including a doctorate in educational leadership.
Mace’s passion for history and his desire to make a difference led him to teaching. He spent a decade teaching middle school social studies, where he learned the importance of prioritizing relationships and student engagement over curriculum. He emphasizes that middle school is a critical period for students to explore their passions and discover different avenues for success. He encourages educators to offer a wide variety of programs, including athletics, clubs, technology, and the arts, to help students find their interests.
Mace’s transition to elementary education was inspired by his daughter starting kindergarten. He was drawn to the energy and enthusiasm of younger students and saw an opportunity to make a greater impact on their early learning experiences. He became the interim principal at Manorhaven and was quickly appointed to the permanent position. He describes the school as having a diverse student body with a significant percentage of students from low-income families and English language learners.
One of Mace’s key initiatives at Manorhaven is fostering an inclusive learning community. He believes in providing all students with equal access to resources and opportunities. Recognizing the importance of literacy, he worked with the PTA to implement two impactful programs: ensuring every child received at least two books from the book fair, and introducing a book vending machine where students can earn tokens for positive behavior and redeem them for books. These initiatives aim to promote a love of reading and provide students with a valuable resource for learning and enjoyment.
Mace’s commitment to continuous improvement is evident in his approach to leadership. He emphasizes the importance of ongoing learning through podcasts, audiobooks, conferences, and collaborating with his experienced teaching staff. He recognizes the value of seeking diverse perspectives and being open to new ideas. His leadership style is characterized by transparency, communication, and a genuine desire to support both his staff and students in reaching their full potential. He aims to create a school culture that is inclusive, supportive, and focused on the growth and well-being of every learner.
Stay Connected with Dr. Eric Mace:
On Twitter/X : @Eric__Mace
On Instagram: Manorhavenpw
Thank you for learning together and for doing what matters!
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?
May 19, 2025
Show notes
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 will be attending and other exciting work we are doing.
Jen talks about attending:
ITSE/ASCD conference in San Antonio
United conference in Seattle
Upcoming travel with ITSE/ASCD
Will talks about attending:
Upcoming travel to Utica Shale Academy in Ohio for in-person PD
United conference in Seattle
Next, Jen and I talk about chapter 6 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? The point that we try to get across to listeners is that sometimes, the biggest barrier to doing what you love is yourself. Listen in to hear the full conversation!
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP274: 6 Literacy Levers with Brad Gustafson
May 16, 2025
Show notes
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:
The Compass
The Invitation
The Walking Stick
The Utility Knife
The Catapult
The Collage
We also discuss questions about whether or not authentic literacy is happening and how to reach every student. Tune in to hear the full conversation or read the original blog post to learn more!
PMP448: The Antiracist School Leader with Dr. Daman Harris
May 14, 2025
Show notes
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 week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU.
The question is: As a principal, how do you approach difficult conversations with under-performing staff while also maintaining dignity and fostering growth? (Question from Christina Mahan, Teacher, Student in Education Master’s program at the Ohio State University)
Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters!
Meet Daman Harris:
Daman Harris, Ph.D., is a trailblazing expert in educator retention and antiracist leadership. He is the co-founder and co-director of the Building Our Network of Diversity (BOND) Project, a nonprofit that supports the recruitment, development, retention, and empowerment of male educators of color. He is also the Senior Manager for Educator Advancement and Institutions of Higher Education Partnerships for a large Mid-Atlantic school district. During his 28 years as an educator, Dr. Harris has been a teacher, coach, principal, district administrator, adjunct professor, speaker, writer, and consultant. He is also the author of The Antiracist School Leader: What Know, Say, and Do, and he hosts the podcast BONDCast. I am honored to have him as a guest on Principal Matters Podcast. Below is a summary of our conversation.
BOND:
When asked about his work with BOND, Dr. Harris shared that he started BOND when he realized that Black and latino male educators need a support network. Upon creating the Building Our Network of Diversity (BOND) Project, Daman learned that male educators of color need an opportunity to write and share their content with the world, so they created a blog and a podcast. Another realization Daman shares is that male educators of color are consistently priced out of conferences, even ones targeted to their demographic. Therefore, BOND found it necessary to create their own annual conference and provide training for people to have their own presentations at conferences. All the work the BOND does has been a resounding success; the support and guidance they provide to male educators of color is unmatched.
The Antiracist School Leader:
Dr. Harris shares that he was inspired to write The Antiracist School Leader as a result of his involvement with the BOND project. When the BOND project created a writer’s room, some of the men who were a part of that room inspired Harris to write his book. The seeds of his book were planted when he was working in a school building, and from talking to his friends who work in schools. At one point, Harris was the principal of a school where students fit the mold of students who wouldn’t achieve. Another seed of inspiration for his book is the work he was doing with his staff during this time, trying to make sure that they were able to reach all their students. When he would share this story with other school leaders, they would ask him lots of questions about how to do that work with their staff, so he realized that he should write a book to help others do the work that he was doing with his staff.
How-to Tools:
Throughout The Antiracist School Leader, Daman Harris shares how-to tools for leaders, including:
“Educate Yourself and Commit”
“Cast an Antiracist Vision”
“Plan Professional Learning Experiences”
“Encourage and Embrace Resistance”
“Elevate Antiracist Curriculum and Instruction”
“Monitor Your Impact”
After discussing the points above in depth, Harris highlights a few lessons for leaders to keep in mind as they examine the best approaches for their school communities. First, he tells leaders to examine their data, and tease out the disparate impact on students from different demographics. If it has been like that at your school for years, then you need to dig into why that is happening. Systems are going to system; they are doing what they are supposed to do and will not change without an effort to change them. To emphasize this last point, Daman asks listeners, “How are you changing your inputs on the system so that your output changes?”. Second, Dr. Harris tells listeners to read the book The Power of Us, a book containing tools for identity leadership. Next, he offers advice to leaders on how to help others see the obstacles students of color face by relating racism to sexism and the patriarchy, for it can be hard for people to see obstacles that they do not face. Finally, Harris reminds listeners that it is important to meet your students and your communities needs, and it is equally important to follow district guidelines. He tells listeners that they need to learn to politely comply with district guidelines while still doing what is best for students.
Advice to New or Aspiring Leaders:
Dr. Harris tells new or aspiring leaders that they need to educate themselves on topics and content related to racism and how to be an antiracist school leader. He also advises them to get the lay of the land before taking action. They can do so through researching books, podcasts, and other avenues that will allow them to learn about leading through an antiracist lens. His last piece of advice to new or aspiring leaders is to get an accountability partner, telling listeners that they are only alone if they choose to be.
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Value of Consistency
May 12, 2025
Show notes
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, Grace, who helped care for her during a recent hospital stay. Jen recalls how Grace shared this story with her at 2:30 in the morning, and how she was very moved by the tale. Grace, who is from Kenya, shared with Jen that, in Kenya, people do not become nurses for the money, as they are paid very little. Rather, they become nurses because they genuinely enjoy caring for others. This story really resonated with Jen because, in a similar fashion, people in America only go into the education field because they genuinely enjoy caring for others.
I appreciate Jen sharing Grace’s story with me because it ties in so perfectly with what we are talking about today on Monday Matters. In this chapter, I tackle the topic of outcomes and discuss how a person achieving outcomes is not nearly as important as whether or not those outcomes are meaningful. Committing time and effort towards doing something that is meaningful, and doing it very well, is what the best educators (and nurses) are doing. Therefore, giving yourself permission to intentionally engage in the thing that you know is going to create the best outcome for you.
I hope that you enjoy this rich conversation between Jen and me. We go into much more depth than I am going in this short post, so tune in to hear the full conversation! Thank you for listening and thank you for doing what matters!
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP279: Support, Empower, Engage with Chris Jones
May 09, 2025
Show notes
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 original blog post to learn more. Thank you for doing what matters!
PMP447: The Blueprint for Administrators with Todd Bloomer
May 07, 2025
Show notes
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 week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU.
The question is: What are the most effective strategies you’ve used or seen for retaining high-quality teachers, especially in challenging school environments? (Question from Emily Winship, 7th Grade Teacher, Student in Education Master’s program at the Ohio State University)
Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters!
Todd Bloomer, a New York native raised by educators, has dedicated his life to the field of education. After starting his career in Texas, he moved to San Antonio with his wife, Sharon, where they raised five children. Todd’s diverse experience in middle and high schools has shaped his unique perspective on education.
As principal of Bradley Middle School and later Winston Churchill High School, Todd built family-like atmospheres, championed student voices, and empowered teachers in their professional growth. An advocate for service-driven leadership, he is an active member of professional organizations like the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) and Raise Your Hand Texas.
One of the things that is so moving about Todd’s book is the authenticity in explaining what he has done right as well as wrong. When asked to share some of the lessons he learned moving from an experienced principal in one building to starting over in another, Todd explains that it is important to share your journey while you are currently in that journey. Furthermore, sharing his struggles was important to him so that readers could relate. Another reason Todd feels it is important to be authentic in sharing his experience is that he believes authentic stories help others become better leaders. Being authentic and vulnerable with his audience allows readers to connect with his story and builds rapport with his audience.
Commitment to Systems:
A commitment to systems is what Todd believes helps leaders focus on areas of their greatest strengths. Without a system, Todd states, leaders become the fireman of the campus, running around doing everything and nothing at the same time. Systems and structures put in place are what helped Todd survive his leadership journey. One way he says that leaders can implement systems into their work is through developing a relationship with your principal’s secretary and putting them in charge of your calendar. Then, have the person in charge of your calendar build in time for teacher observations and meetings with important teams and individuals throughout the work week. Todd emphasizes the importance of building a structure to have a family-like atmosphere at school. He shares how he sits on a red bench on the grounds of his school and works throughout the day. Students and teachers are able to approach him throughout the day. The bench enables him to increase visibility and build relationships with his students and staff. Finally, Todd talks about how putting physical well-being at the top of his structure is vital for him to maintain his sanity and keep up with the rigor of being a school leader.
Finding a “Tribe”:
In his book, Todd Bloomer talks about the importance of finding a tribe as a school leader. He explains that he defines tribe as people that he can seek out and get advice from as a leader. Throughout his career, he has purposefully sought out more experienced principals and picked their brains about what made them successful. Moreover, his tribe consists of a group of people he texts everyday to check in with. He encourages listeners to do the same, stating that the worst anyone can say is no. Todd also reveals that leaders’ tribes should come from within the district and outside of it. Additionally, he cautions leaders by stating that they will fail without a strong tribe.
Lightning Round:
At the end of the episode, Will asks Todd to answer some lightning round questions, answering in only a sentence or two. The topics covered in the lightning round are:
The best way to lead an effective faculty meeting
Managing email as a leader
Handling a hard conversation with someone who needs to be let go
Alert “Social Media Threat” to your school
Where you’d take a friend to eat in San Antonio and why
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