The 100 Percent Principal Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Real Talk: The State of Our Profession Has Me Worried Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

This isn't a typical episode about frameworks or strategies. Instead, I'm stepping back to talk honestly about what I see happening in our profession right now—and why it has me concerned. There are quiet forces at work, shaping how we think, how we create, and even what we believe is possible. In this episode, I share the patterns I've been noticing, why they matter, and what we can do to resist slipping into survival mode and protect the space for possibility, creativity, and a belief in 100% #LikeABuilder.

The Hidden Pattern Already Pulling Your School Off Track Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Every school drifts, but drift isn't random—it's a hidden pattern that quietly reroutes your plans, scatters your staff's energy, and erodes your influence if you don't catch it in time. In this episode, I break down the Drift Pattern and show you how to spot it before it takes over, so you can reset your clarity, realign your team, and reclaim the year you meant to build. The difference between reacting to drift and breaking it comes down to whether you choose to lead by default or Build on purpose #LikeABuilder.

Rewind: How to Avoid the "October Drift" Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

If you're like most school administrators, this is the time of year that we, without even realizing it, are already starting to drift ever so slightly from the resolutions and plans we made at the beginning of the school year. We're not off track exactly, but things have started to slip a little. And, we're not too worried yet, because after all, it's only October.

Which is exactly why October is such a dangerous month. It's early enough in the school year where we still feel like we have time to meet our goals so we're often lulled into a false sense of complacency. But what we don't realize is that it is the work we do now that determines whether we will actually meet our goals this school year.

So on today's episode, I'm going to share with you 5 simple shifts you need to make now to keep you from drifting away from your plans and goals and finding yourself off course in January. Take these simple steps and you can get refocused, make real progress before the holidays, and set yourself up for true success this school year #LikeABuilder.

The Hidden Feedback Loop Running Your School Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

What if your school has been giving you feedback all along and you just haven't been listening in the right way? In this episode, we'll look beyond surveys and suggestion boxes and explore the real feedback loops at play: what people say, what they do, and the results they produce. You'll learn how to read these signals like a Builder, diagnose where your systems are breaking down, and turn every interaction (even non-implementation) into useful data that moves your school closer to 100% success #LikeABuilder.

The Feedback Habits That Hurt (And the Myths That Made Them Seem Like a Good Idea) Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

We've all been handed the same tired feedback advice: "Start with a compliment." "Ask a reflective question." "Get into 10 classrooms a week." It sounds good on paper, but in practice, it's leaving school leaders frustrated and teachers unchanged. In this episode, I'm calling out the most common feedback myths we've been told, unpacking why they don't work, and showing you how to break free from them. If you've ever felt like your feedback was landing flat—or worse, backfiring—this episode will help you see why, and what to do instead. Let's bust some myths and start giving feedback that actually makes a difference #LikeABuilder.

Why Some Teachers Ignore Your Feedback (even when you're right) Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

You give teachers feedback because it's your job, but deep down, you're not sure it's making a difference. Maybe they nod politely. Maybe they push back. Or maybe they just… do nothing. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on why some teachers ignore your feedback even when you're right. We'll unpack the three hidden reasons your feedback doesn't land, why it's not your fault, and what has to shift if you want your feedback to spark real change. If your feedback conversations feel more like a checklist than a catalyst for real change, then it's time to stop wasting words and start making feedback matter #LikeABuilder.

Start the Year Aligned: How to Bring a Fractured Staff Together Fast Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

This week, I'm tackling one of the biggest challenges principals face at the start of the school year: how to align a fractured staff. Whether you're dealing with a wave of new hires, lingering resistance, or a team that just doesn't feel cohesive yet, I'll show you how to quickly get everyone moving in the same direction—not through team-building gimmicks or compliance measures, but by anchoring your team in a shared vision, mission, and core values. If you want practical, powerful ways to turn fragmentation into focus and confusion into clarity, this episode will help you start the year #LikeABuilder.

School Year Resolutions Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Every August, we make "school year resolutions"—we're going to give better feedback, protect our time, stop doing so much. But most of those resolutions fall apart by September, not because we're undisciplined, but because we made them in a vacuum. In this episode, discover why even good principals find themselves slipping back into old habits, and how one shift makes resolutions unnecessary. If you want this year's goals to actually stick, don't make another resolution. Build a 100% Vision #LikeABuilder.

Summer Rewind: The Secret to an Amazing School Year Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

The secret to a successful school year is to F.O.C.U.S. - Follow One Course Until Successful. And while that may ring true, HOW do you determine which course to follow? And, how can you stay the course in the midst of so many demands on your time, energy, and attention. We'll tackle these questions today on this episode and I'll share a really simple ONE plan you can use to identify the right things on which to focus, and drown out the other distractions #LikeABuilder.

What if you're doing the right work but the wrong way? Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

If you've been doing everything they told you to do—giving feedback, supporting teachers, holding people accountable, working on culture—and still not seeing real change in your school, I made this episode for you. I'm breaking down why it feels like you're doing all the right things and nothing's moving and showing you the hidden trap that's keeping you stuck. So, if you've been feeling tired, discouraged, or like nothing's moving no matter how hard you work, this episode will help you see what's really going on and how to shift. You don't need to do more. You need to do it differently. It's time to stop doing leadership chores and start doing the work that actually moves your school #LikeABuilder.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The 100 Percent Principal Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected