Be The Leader You Deserve: Recent Episodes
Jill Handley
Being a school leader can be challenging, demanding, and oftentimes lonely. Achieving excellence through high standards and a positive culture is something we all strive to accomplish. Throughout our journey, we have all had that one leader who inspired us to be the best we can be. The mission of this podcast is to inspire you to ask yourself, "Are YOU the leader YOU deserve, and what are you doing about it?"
In this episode I check in with all of you, share updates and discuss the importance of leaders giving themself grace.
In this episode I chat with Connor Kem, principal of Lake Mills Elementary School, located in Lake Mills, Iowa. Connor is a relationship driven, high energy, and goal focused principal who understands the importance of high expectations for his students, staff and himself. Connor discusses the importance of SEL for staff and shares ideas for how to build resiliency, including Full Value Contracts and High Five Fridays.
In this episode I chat with Dr. Kristal Pollard Epting principal of Flowood Elementary School located in Flowood Mississippi. Kristal is a transformational leader & change agent and is fiercely committed to “Move In Excellence.” She reminds us about the importance of inspecting what we expect and discusses ways to engage all stakeholders in understanding the common language of excellence.
In this episode I chat with Dr. Jenni Hayes, proud principal of Grandview Elementary School located in Higginsville, Missouri. Jenni’s passion for leading and learning are contagious as she shares so many amazing strategies and resources for effective and impactful leadership. Jenni discusses the importance of knowing yourself as a leader and implications for what to do with that knowledge. Jenni also reminds us that the best ideas are the stolen ones and shares lots of ways to connect with others through professional networking.
In this episode I chat with Shena Ivory Brown or “Principal IB” as her students of Harper Park Middle School located in Leesburg, Virginia call her. We discuss the importance of being an active, present listener and the impact it has on coaching conversations. Shena also shares time management tips and provides ideas for ways leaders can “share their sunshine.”
In this episode I chat with Dr. Tyler Cook, principal of Klein Elementary located in Erie, Pennsylvania who shares valuable insights about creating and maintaining a school culture that protects relationships and is grounded in core values. Tyler reminds us that our response is always our responsibility and provides insight about how to make decisions about what is right versus what is easy.
In this episode I chat with Dr. Dennis Williams Jr, principal of Hatboro-Horsham High School located in Horsham, PA. We talk about the importance of access and opportunity and steps leaders can take to ensure they aren’t unintentionally asking students to leave their culture at the door. Dennis also shares strategies and resources for advancing equity and measuring impact.
In this episode I chat with Mike Astudillo, principal of Columbia Elementary located in Annadale, Va who shares his journey of how he became the principal of the school he attended as an elementary student. Mike discusses ways he showcases his school so that the entire community understands their mission of being a “small school with a big heart.” Mike also discusses the importance of seeing the greatness in every student and shares lots of great take-aways for helping all students succeed at the game of school.
In this episode I chat with Jenny Cunneen, Principal of Forestdale Elementary School located in Springfield, VA who shares so many amazing take-aways that help support a school culture of We See You, We Welcome You, You Belong Here. Jenny shares strategies for building capacity with staff in order to move from intention to impact and so much more. You will not want to miss this conversation.
In this episode I chat with Jay Billy, Principal of Ben Franklin Elementary School located in Lawrenceville who discusses the role trust and transparency play in an effective school culture. Jay also shares highlights from his book, Lead with Culture: What Really Matters in our Schools and provides tips for staying passionate as a school leader, even in the most demanding times.
In this episode I chat with Ryan Smith, Principal of Dieck Elementary located in Swartz Creek, Michigan who prides himself on being a Restorative Minded & Trauma Informed Leader. Ryan shares his journey as a new principal and important moves all new administrators must take to be successful. Ryan also shares insight about ways to engage in continuous growth as a leader including ideas he gained from The Cultures of Thinking.
In this episode I reflect upon some of the greatest leadership takeaways I have gotten from my guests in season 7 and set intentions for a new year full of gratitude and abundance. Which of the take-aways will you implement in the new year?
In this episode I chat with Dr. Ryan Eckart, Principal of Walton Elementary School in Cedar Lake, Indiana who talks about the importance of being visible and present with students and staff and shares strategies for establishing priorities so that you can be in classrooms every day. Ryan also discusses the impact that occurs when you empower students and shares strategies for planting seeds that can have a life changing impact.
In this episode I chat with Danielle Randle, Principal of Semple Elementary, located in Louisville, Kentucky. We talk about the importance of identifying your gaps as a leader and the growth that comes from being vulnerable enough to ask for and receive open and honest feedback from your staff without getting defensive about what they have to say. Danielle also reflects on the multiple roles we play as school leaders and the heaviness that comes with trying to be everything to everybody.
In this episode I chat with Jameelah Henderson, Assistant Principal of Kenwood Elementary and author of It’s Working for Your Good. Jameelah talks about the importance of showing up unapologetically as her true self and the impact it has for students. We talk about the role representation plays in leadership and tips for having crucial conversations. You will not want to miss it.
In this episode I chat with Verle Gilbert, principal of Hahn Intermediate School and 2018 MEMSPA Principal of the Year. Verle shares his insights about WIN time and collective teacher efficacy to maximize impact on student achievement. Verle also discusses how to manage the requests of others in a way that builds capacity and empowers without consuming all of your time as a leader. Verle also discusses the impact Breakthrough Coaching has had on his leadership.
In this episode I chat with Haines City High School Principal Adam Lane who is also Florida’s NASSP Principal of the Year and President of the Florida Association of Secondary School Principals. Adam shares so many golden nuggets of wisdom about how to create a school culture that establishes clear expectations, provides support, and holds staff accountable to be the best they can be. Adam also talks about the importance of honoring differences and the empowerment that comes when your staff and students feel comfortable questioning you as a leader.
In this episode I chat with National Distinguished Principal of Urbana Elementary School, Tracy Hilliard, who shares her wisdom for creating and empowering teacher leaders. Tracy talks about the importance of leaders focusing on “grow you” not “got you” when conducting instructional walkthroughs and shares strategies for helping teachers find their voice.
In this episode I chat with Krissy Jennette, the National Distinguished Principal of Blades Elementary located in Seaford, Delaware. Krissy shares her secrets for creating a culture of inclusion that turned around her school from low performing to becoming an ESEA National Distinguished School.
As leaders we must place as much value on adult learning as we do student learning. In this episode I chat with Vicki Wilson, principal of Monroe Elementary School located in Wyandotte, Michigan and author of Lead with Instructional Rounds. Vicki shares insights about the importance of change leadership and discusses highlights from her book to help leaders get started with and/or refine instructional rounds in their building. Vicki also shares insights she gained by overcoming intense challenges which equipped her with warrior leadership. This episode is packed with golden nuggets you will not want to miss.
In this episode I chat with Liz Garden, MSAA (Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association) President and principal of Henry P. Clough Elementary located in Mendon, Massachusetts, as she discusses the importance of transparent leadership. Liz also discusses the critical element of human connection as a leader and shares strategies for making teachers feel seen and heard.
In this episode I talk with California State Principal of the Year and turnaround leader, Dr. Shana Henry as she discusses ways to engage in change work that makes the status quo uncomfortable for those who like to stay there. Her words of wisdom will help you understand why it is essential that you become the chief storyteller of your school and reclaim the opportunity to change the narrative.
In this episode I chat with Joe Reimann, principal of Moraine Elementary, a Leader in Me Lighthouse School located in Northville, Michigan as he shares so many golden nuggets of wisdom about how to approach leadership decisions through the lens of abundance versus scarcity. Joe also shares strategies for leading in a way that increases sense of belonging and brings out the greatness in all of your staff.
In this episode I chat with Zac Bauermaster, principal of Kissel Hill Elementary and author of Leading With a Humble Heart as he shares strategies for creating a culture of healthy people through servant leadership. Zac discusses ways to control the uncontrollable, operate patiently, and establish boundaries for ourselves so that our family can get the best of us instead of what’s left of us.
Knowing how much of yourself you should share with your staff, students and families can be tricky. In this episode I chat with one of my favorite leaders, Ed Paris, principal of Avery Elementary School located in Dedham, Massachusetts as we discuss the importance of leaning into your most authentic self as a leader. We discuss the courage it takes, dangers that come from avoidance, and the most important factor when making tough decisions as a leader. You will not want to miss this conversation packed full of energy and passion.
Are you looking for ways to enhance your coaching and feedback sessions to ensure you give every teacher what he/she needs to grow? You will not want to miss this episode in which I chat with Principal Gina Rivera from Charter Oak International Academy located in West Hartford Connecticut. Gina shares a variety of strategies and resources for creating equitable conditions for teachers, students, and families. Here is a link for a resource mentioned in the episode: https://bit.ly/3A8EFvj
In this episode I chat with Carol Leveillee, National Distinguished Principal of Frederick Douglass Elementary School located in Seaford, Delaware. Carol shares the strategies she used to turnaround her school from being one of the lowest performing in the state on the brink of state takeover to being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, National Distinguished ESEA School and a school of Continued Excellence. This is a must-listen episode for all school leaders.
Returning to school post-pandemic required that we reimagine school in a way that accommodated for “the new normal” which included, among other things, additional supports for the trauma students experienced. While we made plans and secured resources to support student needs we underestimated the resources we would need to support our staff. In this episode I chat with Principal Samantha Hamilton from Goodman Elementary part of the Neosho school district located in Goodman Missouri who was able to anticipate the needs because of traumatic challenges her school experienced pre-pandemic. Samantha shares lots of strategies and resources for creating a school culture that supports teachers both personally and professionally so they can move beyond their comfort zones and take risks in teaching and learning.
In this episode I chat with 2018 Minnesota National Distinguished Principal of the Year, speaker and consultant for TILL360, Curtis Slater as he shares his leadership insight about how to make leadership decisions through the eyes of a student. Curtis talks about ways to avoid initiative fatigue, how to create professional learning opportunities that empower all staff members, and how to quit taking things personally when working with adults.
As leaders we all want a school where the students and teachers are beating down the door to get in the door. In this episode I chat with Principal Ross Braun from Monroe Central Elementary in Parker City, Indiana as he shares so many tips for infusing appreciation and fun into school culture. If you are looking for ways to change the mindset of teachers from “I have to go to work” to “I get to come to school” then you will not want to miss this episode.
Whether you are a new leader, an experienced leader taking on a new assignment, or an experienced leader looking to affirm your school culture, this episode is for you. In this episode I chat with Principal Jon Wennstrom from Riley Upper Elementary School, in Livonia, Michigan who shares his strategies for creating a culture that honors traditions and inspires buy-in for new initiatives. Jon discusses strategies for making all of your staff feel valued and heard. You will not want to miss it.
In this episode I chat with Ronda Cosby, principal of Grace James Academy of Excellence located in Louisville, KY. Grace James is an all girl public middle school with a focus on STEAM through an Afrocentric lens. Ronda shares her wisdom about ways to create a culture that focuses on honoring student voice and decision. She also shares tips about how to lead as your most authentic self and handle tough decisions as she discusses ways to “coach up or coach out.” With over 30 years of educational experience Ronda’s tips are ones you will not want to miss.
In this episode I chat with Principal Beth Palmer from Medora Elementary located in Louisville, Kentucky. Beth shares tips for dealing with difficult conversations and strategies for addressing other difficult situations. You will not want to miss Beth's leadership guidance about leading a school even in the most challenging times.
In this episode I chat with Principal Courtney Grace from Hazelwood Elementary located in Louisville, Kentucky. Courtney shares strategies and think-abouts for creating a culture that gets teachers out of silos to provide them more time to teach and the students more time to learn. You won't want to miss all of the nuggets of greatness in this episode.
After a few weeks off refilling my own cup I was able to come back refreshed, refocused and refueled which allowed me to be in the best place mentally and emotionally I could be to get ready to start the new school year. Along the way, a few things tried to derail my journey. In this episode I discuss what those things are and share how I avoided derailment to make sure I stayed on track to being the leader my staff, students, and families deserve.
In last week's episode I talked about the important things principals do in the summer to ensure they start the new school year with intentionality and purpose; but I forgot one of the most important things! In this episode I talk about the one thing that should be at the very top of your to-do list to make sure you are ready to start the new school year.
As a school leader you probably get asked the question, "What do you do all summer when no one is in the building?" In this episode we discuss the answer to that question and talk about the principal's summer must do's to maximize success for students, staff, families, and themselves.
As you finish up the school year are you taking time to celebrate or are you just trying to put this year behind you? It's been a long, hard, heavy year in the field of education. This year, more than ever, it is critical that you take time to celebrate with your staff. In this episode I talk about NSV's and why they are often times the most important thing to celebrate.
As school leaders, supporting others (students, staff, families) is what we do. We work tirelessly to ensure systems and structures are established and maintained so that our schools run smoothly. We work to remove barriers for others and work hard to shield our staff from the outside pressures. This job is NOT for the faint of heart because there is a lot of heavy lifting. In this episode I highlight the top take-aways from season 6 that help leaders focus on taking care of themselves.
As educators we know how much trauma students experienced during the pandemic and how much mental health support they have needed since returning to in person learning. We also know how much support teachers need because of the burnout they are experiencing due to the secondary and tertiary trauma they experience. School counselors are instrumental in supporting students, staff, and families, but who supports the counselors? Each day they leave school carrying a bag full of everyone else's trauma. In this episode I talk with Dr. Lara Donnelly about strategies counselors can use to combat feeling so depleted and strategies building leaders can use to better support their counselors.
Do others often commend you on your abilities, expertise, and accomplishments? Think about the last time you were recognized for an achievement, invited to present something, or join a group. Did you acknowledge the role your leadership played in that opportunity or did you downplay your abilities? Do you set unrealistic goals and then get upset with yourself when you don't reach them? Are you overly sensitive to constructive criticism? If so you will not want to miss this episode as I talk about imposter syndrome and ways to combat it.
As leaders we all want to achieve greatness but sometimes get derailed on our journey to reach it. We must have high expectations for ourselves and others and demonstrate actions that are grounded in servant leadership. When we are realistic about the fact that despite how great things are in our building we WILL face challenges, then we can establish strategies and approaches to successfully deal with them when they happen. In this episode we discuss additional take-aways from Jon Gordon's The Power of Positive Leadership that will support your desire to have a positive impact in your pursuit of excellence.
Last week we talked about the importance of being approachable as a leader and I gave tips and considerations to think about. We know now more than ever how important it is for teachers to have a leader they can trust and feel comfortable approaching.
In addition to being approachable, leaders always have to be mindful of their words and actions (unless they are in their office by themselves) because the truth is, someone IS always watching. We are the barometer for our school. Our staff takes our lead about how to react and approach things. In this episode I discuss the importance of positive leadership and provide strategies from Jon Gordon's The Power of Positive Leadership that will enhance your leadership capabilities and put your positive leadership into action.
Last week we talked about ways to support our teachers post pandemic. In addition to all of the things we talked about last week, we know that now, more than ever, our teachers need us to be available to them. With all of the additional paperwork and pressures we have as leaders, being available has become more challenging than ever before. In addition, as our secondary or tertiary trauma increases, we have to work harder to maintain our approachability. In this episode we talk about steps we can take to make sure we are approachable for our staff.
It's hard to believe it's been over two years since the pandemic began. Despite the lift on mask mandates and loosened restrictions around social distancing, schools are still struggling to find or establish their "new normal." So here we are as leaders, trying to navigate a new normal of post pandemic schooling. This includes trying to balance significant increases in student AND adult SEL needs with student learning loss, while at the same time juggling numerous mandates and still focus on school improvement. Balancing the culture of high expectations with the reduced stamina of students and adults, and the first hand and secondary trauma has become a very slippery slope. This episodes provides 10 tips for school leaders to help support the post pandemic needs of their staff and finish the year strong.
Triaging teacher burnout is a daily task for educational leaders, but what about leadership burnout? Who is helping combat that? During a recent presentation at the National ASCD Conference two things became apparently clear to me. In this episode I talk about those two things and share ways to take control of your school's narrative and combat toxic positivity.
If you are associated with any social media then you know you can’t spend any time scrolling without seeing how burned out teachers. You also know what a toll it is taking on leaders to create a culture that combats the negative narrative of being an educator. The truth is, as a school leader we are working to continue cultivating cultures that make our staff feel supported and appreciated, while at the same time leading the charge of supporting student learning loss. We are in a time when we have to balance the model of continuous improvement and high expectations with adult mental health needs and supports. Being a school leader has never been more challenging. This episode will feature real talk about the burnout that is plaguing school leaders.
Feeling overwhelmed at work and like you have no time for yourself? Are you still struggling to set healthy boundaries and find a better work/life balance? Are you still struggling to say no, even when you are already overextended with your time and commitments? This episode will provide you with assurances that you are not alone and equip you with resources to take back your life and establish healthy boundaries.
This season we have been focusing on things we as leaders need to do to make sure WE are ok. Every day so many people look to us to make decisions, put out fires, and provide support. If we aren’t careful, we will continuously give all we have to others and not save anything for ourselves. This season we have talked about being triggered by exceptionalism, being addicted to achievement, the importance of positive self dialogue, setting boundaries and ways to have more self-compassion. We have also discussed compassion fatigue and have spent a few episodes talking about how to apply the successful strategies we use with students to our personal lives. In this episode we discuss the importance being intentional about finding joy in all that you do, and how to go about making sure that happens both personally and professionally.
As leaders we often feel as though we must ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS carry the weight of our organization. While it is our job to lead our school/district with a shared vision and courage, it is not our job to try to be superhuman. If we are going to withstand the increasing demands of being an educational leader and create sustainability, we must understand the theory behind a wolf pack and decide who should be in ours. We discuss Abby Wambach's #1 New York Times Bestseller, Wolfpack, and how to apply the strategies she discusses into our roles as leaders.
As educators we make over 100 great decisions each day about how to positively impact the lives of our students and their future, but for some reason we fail to apply that same knowledge to our own lives. In this episode fellow educator, Jamie Crume, discusses how she started paying attention to what she was saying to her students and started applying it to her own life. If you are looking for ways to turn great teaching ideas with students into actionable steps with your goals for personal development, you won't want to miss this episode.
As educators we know what it takes to be successful with teaching and learning. We have spent years in college preparing and have engaged in thousands of hours of professional development refining our craft. Why then is "planning for life" so challenging? In this episode Jill continues her conversation with her guest Jamie Crume as she shares how she has taken what she does with The Fundamental Five (Sean Cain and Mike Laird) in the classroom and applied it to her daily life to reach her personal goals.
Many times when we attempt to develop new habits we sabotage our own success by establishing unrealistic goals. Does the mantra "Go big or go home" resonate with you? This episodes highlights ways in which we can apply successful habits of highly effective teaching and learning to our personal lives. Listen as Jill talks with fellow educator, Jamie Crume as she discusses the small steps you can take to achieve big wins.
The last few weeks we have spent a lot of time talking about self-compassion because it is one of the things that is critical to sustainability of leaders, especially in our current conditions. Last week we talked about the way that self-esteem, especially contingent self-esteem, can hijack self-compassion. We also talked about the notion that having self-compassion doesn’t mean you no longer experience negative things or challenges; rather it provides support when these things do happen.
In this episode I talk about a subject that is near and dear to every educators heart: compassion fatigue. I discuss the warning signs, what you can do about it for yourself, and ways to support your staff.
Here is a link the to a resource I talk about in this episode: The Professional Quality of Life Scale.
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.naswma.org/resource/resmgr/SocialWorkPractice/SWAN_ProQOLScale.pdf
Did you know that people who are more self-compassionate tend to be less anxious and depressed? I mean let’s face it, in a job that takes so much out of us I am open to all the strategies I can get, how about you?
Did you know that research has shown that our brains have a negativity bias?
Don’t believe me? Let me ask you this, the last time you received feedback did you focus on the positive feedback or jump straight to “areas for growth?” How about your test scores? Did you take time to celebrate the growth and higher numbers or did you go straight to your lowest area and start thinking about what you need to do better to improve as a school? You might be asking yourself, "How does she know this about me?" Because I do the same thing! I can receive a glowing evaluation with 15 commendations and what do I do? Focus on the 1 area for growth. Sound familiar? Now that’s not to say we shouldn’t do this, but we MUST start allowing ourselves to spend some time focusing on the positives.
Because many of us are triggered by exceptionalism or have an achievement addiction, we also sometimes struggle with a contingent self-esteem. What is a contingent self-esteem you ask?
Check out this episode as I continue our discussion about self-compassion, focusing on the impact self-esteem has on our inner self-critic and our ability to show self-compassion. This is a critical topic for everyone, but especially important for leaders.
Welcome to the new year! A time when we declare resolutions, establish new boundaries, and work on solidifying new habits. For many of us those resolutions and habits are focused on our physical health, yet we often fail to think about establishing those same resolutions around our emotional health. Today we are going to continue diving into the work of Dr. Kristin Neff as we talk about the core components of self-compassion and the benefits we get from practicing it. This episode will provide you with exercises to strengthen your self-compassion without ever stepping foot inside the gym.
As leaders we know that we often fall into the cycle of saying yes to too much and saying no to others helping and supporting us. Whenever we start something new, we are often our own worst critic. This week I want to talk with you about another need we as leaders have, yet often lack in our quest for achievement, perfection, and badassery…and that something is self-compassion.
The perfectionist in us often struggles with learning how to bounce back and learn from failure and we are not always kind or compassionate in our own self talk. When I began to think about this season and what we really need as leaders, self-compassion kept coming back around over and over. In this episode I begin to share information and strategies from Dr. Kristin Neff’s book, Self-Compassion - The Proven Power of Being Kind To Yourself.
As we continue to lead in very trying times with unprecedented challenges, I would argue that we have never needed self-compassion more.
Dr. Neff's Self-Compassion assessment can be found at www.self-compassion.org
As leaders we get pressure from above us, below us, and beside us. Oftentimes however this doesn’t even begin to compare to the pressure we put on ourselves. Although we know that diamonds are formed from extreme pressure, we also know that pressure can cause many other great structures to collapse.
Many times that pressure is caused by being caught in the cycle of allowing the accomplishments of others to make us feel like we have to do more. We must stop trying to achieve perfectionism, stop saying yes to everything that comes across our desk (even when it may be a great opportunity), and stop putting literally everything ahead of ourselves.
In this episode I talk about strategies we can put in place to try to avoid our triggers and make sure we don’t fall prey to the unhealthy pressure of achievement addiction.
Do you struggle with turning down or saying no to opportunities? Do you have a hard time slowing down to lead in the moment? In this episode I discuss what it means to be triggered by exceptionalism and the detrimental impacts it can have. I also talk about my addiction to achievement and how that came about.
In this episode I discuss how fear attempts to sabotage our goals and our belief in ourselves and what we can do to overcome it. I also preview the upcoming season.
In this episode we discuss what it means to be true to your most authentic self and how to prioritize things that set your soul on fire. This episode also brings about a surprise for our listeners.
Living with gratitude can be life changing. In recognition of Thanksgiving and the gratitude that is being celebrated across our country, this week we take a moment to reflect upon our own gratitude both professionally and personally.
This has been such an incredible season. We have shared so many great strategies and think-abouts to help schools in their goal to engage every family. On today's episode we highlight what we consider to be the top 10 take-aways from this season that leaders need to consider for family engagement.
In today's episode we are joined by the Family Engagement District Specialist for Jefferson County Public Schools, Chrystal Hawkins. Chrystal shares her wealth of knowledge she has gained serving at the district level. You will find out what every district and school must do to increase family engagement and what pitfalls to avoid.
In today's episode we are joined by the president of The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL), Dr. Felicia Cummings-Smith. Dr. Cummings-Smith discusses the exciting things this organization is involved with and the benefits schools and districts experience as a result of partnering with NCFL. For additional information about NCFL check out https://www.familieslearning.org/
In today's episode we discuss ways to create sustainability with family engagement. We also share updates about our own family engagement journey and the grace we need to give ourselves as we continue with this important work.
In today's episode, we discussed Community Partnerships and strategies for building capacity within your families. There are so many practical applications that you won't want to miss this episode!
Today’s episode features Family Ambassador, Aimee McDonnell’s unique approach to engaging even the most challenging to engage families through a strategy we called “Equity to Engage.”
Today’s episode features our Family Ambassador, Aimee McDonnell, as she discusses how she builds relationships through home visits. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
In today’s episode, we discuss ways to engage families in a meaningful way through two-way communication. We give practical applications in our own work and the reason why two-way communication is so important.
In today's episode, we discussed ways to celebrate families in very intentional ways to create a sense of belonging where both the family and students see themselves as part of the school.
In today's episode, we discussed the last principle of Dr. Steven Constantino's book, Engage Every Family, which focuses on the greater community. Often, community stakeholders are the component of engagement that gets the least of our attention in schools. Instead, we propose take-aways that offer ways to engage the community and share some of the benefits our school received as a result of those efforts.
In today's episode, we discussed what is likely the heaviest topic around family engagement barriers mentioned in Dr. Steven Constantino's book, Engage Every Family....hierarchial barriers within schools. Although it's heavy, it's a much needed consideration when discussing how to make families feel more welcome and open in the school building. This episode also features think abouts for the timeline of enganging families in decision making around policies and procedures...especially when there is change.
In today's epsiode, we discussed some of the guiding ideas about empowering families in meaningful ways from principle #3 in Dr. Steven Constantino's book, Engage Every Family. This episode is all about helping guide some of the engagement that we don't see...the engagement that happens outside of school time! Tune in for ideas to help support family conversations and meaningful engagement about the learning happening in school.
In this episode, we gave so many takeaways and nuggets of learning from Dr. Steven Constantino's book, Engage Every Family, that you can use to start implementing small changes to your family engagement practices now! There is so much for everyone regardless of where you are on your family engagement journey.
In today's episode, we discussed Dr. Steven Constantino's first principle to engage every family, culture! We discussed several resources in the book that can be found on his website here.
We know that we all have limited time as school leaders right now with the beginning of a new school year. So, we tried to keep this one short to honor your time. We hope that you've had an amazing return to school!
In today's episode, we discussed Dr. Steven Constantino's book Engage Every Family further to go more in depth about the barrier to engagement, the cycle of disengagement, and the number one thing we can do to address it all.
In this episode, we discussed our very favorite book on family engagement by Dr. Steven Constantino, Engage Every Family. This episode focused on the first chapter's title- "Would Every Family Choose You?" and all of the incredible thought provoking questions and ways we revamped our process of family engagement as a result.
In this episode, we discussed limited beliefs around family engagement and why there is a need for a mindset shift in education (one that we've been guilty of as well)! Listen to hear the real discussion of how we are challenging our own limited beliefs to move forward in our efforts to reimagine school.
In this episode, we discussed the difference between family engagement and family involvement and why that matters. We also discussed the article The Missing Piece of the Proficiency Puzzle, the final report by the Kentucky Department of Education's Commissioner's Parents Advisory Council, June 2007. It is linked here for your reference.
In this episode, we kick off season 5 by giving a preview of what we'll discuss around family engagement. Reach out to us on Twitter @BeTheLeaderYou1 or with #BeTheLeaderYouDeserve if there are topics you'd like us to discuss throughout this season!
In this episode, we celebrated a year of co-hosting this podcast and taking on this journey with you! To show a small token of our gratitude, we are offering the following giveaway to the first 10 people who do the following:
- Subscribe to the show on Apple podcast
- Leave a rating and review on Apple podcast
- Send us a message on Twitter @ BeTheLeaderYou1 with you biggest take-away from our first year
Those 10 people will receive free access to a component of their choice (appreciation, fun, self-care) to our wildly successful C3 webinar and a Starbucks gift card.
In this episode, we discussed our top 10 takeaways from the educational leaders across the nation that were featured in this season's episodes. If you have not listed to this entire season, this is a great sample with direct references to our guest and the corresponding episode.
In this episode, we discussed equity considerations for all students as we plan to reimagine school. This episode featured Dr. John Marshall, Chief Equity Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Poverty in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Kentucky.
Disclaimer: technology issues made some of this audio a little inaudible at times. The questions we asked were the most difficult to understand. So, we've listed them below to try and help. We apologize for the technology error!
- As leaders begin to reimagine schools what are some of the first things they need to think about or do as it relates to equity?
- How do we make sure systems and structures are equitable for all students?
- What are some things you see leaders doing that they think are supporting students of color but in actuality are further marginalizing students of color?
- We know how important it is to talk about race with staff and students. We also know that it can be hard to know where to start, especially as a white administrator. What advice do you have for building leaders to support their staff in this task? What advice do you have for teachers to support their students with this task?
- We recently talked with Heather Warrell, who was a previous guest, and she used the terms bold and unapologetic when discussing the moral imperative of reimagining schools. She told us she was inspired by your continuous use of these terms. Talk to us a little bit about what these terms mean to you and why fearless leadership is so important as the Chief Equity Officer.
- As leaders continue their work with equity, what are some of your favorite resources?
- Knowing what you know now as Chief Equity Officer, what advice would you give John Marshall as a new leader?
- What are three words that others who know you would use to describe you?
In this episode, we discussed how to balance your personal school vision and district initiatives, when to say no, and practical things you could be doing now (during the summer) to set yourself up for an incredible school year!
In this episode, we discussed stopped to give a brief update on the pulse of our own journey with Kenwood 2.0 and some of the ways we have adjusted our sails.
In this episode, we talked with Valentina Gonzalez about reimagining school with multilingual learners in mind. If you would like to connect with her, follow her on Twitter @ValentinaESL.
In this episode, we discussed blended learning with Dr. Catlin Tucker in our path to reimagining school. This episode is all about thinking big, getting excited, yet starting small with blended learning. If you would like to contact Dr. Tucker, her website is https://catlintucker.com/ and she is on Twitter @Catlin_Tucker.
In today's episode, we discussed reimagining school with Dave Burgess. Dave gave so many thoughtful and practical ways to challenge the status quo with passion at the core. If you would like to get in touch with him, his website is https://daveburgess.com/ and he is on social media @burgessdave.
In this episode, we discussed the essence of project based learning with Maddie Shepard. Maddie really helped reshape our perspective of the connection between personalized learning and PBL in this episode! If you're curious about PBL or take your understanding further, this is the episode for you!
In this episode, we discussed reimagining school with the amazing and dynamic leader Adam Welcome. Adam's leadership style and passion are contagious! This episode is packed full of practical strategies you can implement today! If you would like to connect with Adam, you can find him @mradamwelcome on Twitter and other social media sites as well as https://mradamwelcome.com/.
In this episode, we talked with Kate Sommerville about the misconceptions, beginning steps, and what personalized learning really is. Here are a few resources that Kate shared with us:
- Institute for Personalized Learning What and Why
- Institute for Personalized Learning Framework: the Honeycomb Model
- Institute for Personalized Learning: Look Fors
If you would like to get in touch with Kate, you can e-mail her at ksommerville@cesa1.k12.wi.us.
In today's episode, we talk with national digital innovation leader, Tony Vincent, about his creation of Shapegrams and other resources helpful to reimagine school. If you would like to get in touch with Tony, he is on Twitter @tonyvincent and his website is www.learninginhand.com.
In today's episode, we interviewed our first national school leader, Todd Nesloney, to begin discussing reimagining schools. If you would like to get in touch with Todd, you can find him on Twitter @TechNinjaTodd or at his website www.toddnesloney.com.
In this episode, we kick off season four as we begin to discuss our path in reimagining the way that we do school in our own building. This is a season you won't want to miss!
In today’s episode, we highlighted our top 10 strategies from this season for combating teacher burnout to make sure your highly effective teachers continue to feel appreciated, supported, and don’t become burned out. In this episode, we talked about a Google Slide with journal prompts to help your staff transition. Here is the link to make. your own copy.
In today’s episode, we discussed some of the negative impacts that have come from teaching in a pandemic, ways you can help combat Zoom Fatigue, and support your teachers from experiencing virtual burnout.
In today’s episode, we discussed one of the greatest gifts you can give your teachers...the gift of time. We also discussed systems and structures for effective coaching and feedback. For your convenience, we've also linked the book we mentioned, Coaching for Equity by Elena Aguilar, and the Feedback Please template.
In today’s episode, we discussed strategies for creating a work/life balance and the importance of making sure your words match your actions as a leader. Feel free to use this work/life balance graphic here.
In today’s episode, we revisited emotional intelligence and discussed the role it plays in teacher burnout. We also provided you with strategies to encourage and support self-care. For your convenience, we have linked the Emotional Intelligence 2.0 book and a self-care graphic to reference.
In today’s episode, we discussed the difference between being a manager versus a transformational leader and provided you with practical strategies to infuse fun in the workplace. For your convenience, we also linked the assessment we discussed in the show:
Manager vs. Transformational Leader Assessment
Also, check out our new release: C3- Creating and Cultivating the Culture You Deserve!
In today’s episode, we discussed the correlation between equity and teacher burnout and provided you with practical strategies to make sure your staff members feel appreciated. For your convenience, we have linked the following: Appreciation tag for St. Patrick's Day The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace C3: Creating and Cultivating the Culture You Deserve (Coming Monday 2/22)
In today’s episode, we discussed a variety of surveys and assessments you and your staff can use to determine the level of teacher burnout in your building to determine if you are lightly toasted or have 3rd degree burn. The first step is deciding on an assessment tool to use:
- Maslach Burnout Inventory
- Professional Quality of Life Scale (PROQOL)
- Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
- The Teacher Burnout Scale
- The PsyToolkit
- Teacher Burnout Survey
- Burned In Teacher Survey
In today’s episode, we discussed the warning signs of teacher burnout and provided you with strategies to help support teachers inside of the classroom. For your convenience, we have linked a Google Form for analyzing student behavior data here.
In this episode, we define teacher burnout from the perspective of school leaders and begin to highlight tips for prevention.
If you'd like to take a look at our vision, mission, and collective commitments, please click here.
Here are also links to access Dr. Brene Brown's copy of Dare to Lead, the workbook for leaders, and the assessment if you'd like to know where you stand.
In this episode, we will highlighted our top 10 leadership take-aways from Season 2 of the podcast. While it is not an all-inclusive list, it is a summary of ideas that really made an impact on our own leadership as we interviewed guests and read through some amazing books.
In today's episode, we interviewed Molley Rickets president and founder of Incipio Workforce Solutions about recruiting and retaining high quality staff. You won't want to miss some of the ideas she gave to tweak interviews and how to make sure the candidate is in alignment with the organization's core values!
If you would like to reach out to Mollie for consulting, you can reach her at Molley@incipioworks.comor https://incipioworks.com/.
In this episode, we discussed the culture of perfectionism, how it manifests both personally and professionally, and steps to take to embrace "failing forward." The following are two of the resources we discussed throughout the show. We hope that you will check them out!
https://www.ted.com/talks/reshma_saujani_teach_girls_bravery_not_perfection
https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/developing-growth-mindset-teachers-and-staff
In this episode, we discuss taking time to reflect on being your most authentic self personally, professionally, and within your organization and setting boundaries to flourish. We also discuss our word or intention for 2021 and setting intentional resolutions.
In this episode, we are going to have real talk about the ways turbulence has impacted us as leaders this week and what we are doing as a result.
In this episode, we have an amazing visionary leader, Dr. Carmen Coleman, joining us to discuss prioritizing and pushing past limitations to make her big picture ideas become a reality.
In this episode, we will be digging into Alicia Keys’ book More Myself and discussing the courage it takes to abandon what others think you should be and instead live into who you really are. If you would like to get your own copy of this amazing book, we have linked it here. Also, here is a link to the Authentic Leadership Reflection we mentioned in the podcast as well.
In this episode, we will discuss our journey reading the book The Magic by Rhonda Byrne and the impact it has had on our lives through giving thanks.
To join our facebook group focused on gratitude, click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/359309652018774/
To get your copy of The Magic, click here: https://amzn.to/3kNTCtd
In this episode, we will be interviewing another courageous female leader, Dr. Felicia Cummings Smith. Felicia is currently the Senior Director, U.S. Regions at National Geographic. Below is an article referenced in the podcast: https://www.the74million.org/article/analysis-in-schools-black-girls-confront-both-racial-and-gender-bias-what-the-research-shows-and-whats-being-done-to-stop-it/
In this episode, we will be interviewing another courageous female leader, Toni Konz Tatman. Toni is currently the Chief Communications Officer for the Kentucky Department of Education. Join our conversation to hear how core values help influence her courage in the world of educational reporting.
In this episode, we provide tips and strategies from the second half of Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead and our five main takeaways. Dare to Lead: https://amzn.to/3dvtCk2
In this episode, we are joined by Heather Warrell, Executive Administrator of digital innovation for Jefferson County Public Schools. Heather is a courageous female leader whose energy and innovation are both contagious. She is always so positive and inspires everyone to think outside of the box. Here are some of the books we discussed during the episode:
Dare to Lead: https://amzn.to/3dvtCk2
Herding Tigers: https://amzn.to/3mwwr7N
Leaders Eat Last: https://amzn.to/2GdPG6Q
Purple Cow: https://amzn.to/2HKqTYa
In this episode, we will be discussing key take-aways from Dr. Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead including the use of affirmations in honoring courage. The following are links to purchase your own copy of Dare to Lead and/or take the Daring Leadership assessment we discussed:
https://amzn.to/3dvtCk2
https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/assessment/
In this episode, we discuss the courage to be daring leaders in a collaborative team. Michelle Shory and Dr. Irina McGrath join us to discuss practical ideas of ways they push past fear to lead with courage. This episode is the epitome of Jen Sincero meeting Dr. Brene Brown at the coffee shop!
Here are the links to You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero, Dare to Lead by Dr. Brene Brown, and the Daring Leadership Assessment: https://amzn.to/30D1arl; https://amzn.to/3dvtCk2; https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/assessment/
In this episode, we will provide you with actionable steps you can take to start achieving your goals and take your leadership to the next level. Also, here is a link to the book, You Are A Badass, in the last few episodes: https://amzn.to/30D1arl
In this episode, we will chat with our first courageous female leader, Chrystal Hawkins, who is truly a badass. If you do not have a copy of You Are A Badass yet, click here to claim your own copy: https://amzn.to/30D1arl
In this episode, we will unveil our theme for this season and begin to spotlight one of our favorite books. Thank you to Dr. Marks-Johns for this resource: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H2I4Dp9am0S-70W-iEtn2-SEljtQFIOQ/view?usp=sharing
In this episode, we will continue with our discussion about courageous leadership. Joining us today is one of the most courageous leaders we know, JCPS Superintendent, Dr. Marty Pollio.
In this episode, we will reflect on the journey of our first season and discuss some of the episode highlights. We will also be discussing one of the core components every leader must have. Link for Wellness Wednesday.
In this episode, we will continue discussing the importance of knowing yourself and those around you, focusing specifically on Enneagrams. To take the free quiz, use this link: https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test
In this episode, we continue discussing emotional intelligence, focusing on personal and social competence. Last week we shared our results from a free EQ test and were both a little surprised by the outcome of our test.
In this episode, we discuss an overarching component that we feel is key to being an effective leader and working with others. Resources from this episode: EQ- https://globalleadershipfoundation.com/geit/eitest.html. Color- https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Documents/Leadership-and-management/well-led/Day-1-17/1.4.1-Colour-Personality-Test-FULL.pdf
Don’t mind the interference straight from the horse farm as you listen to our newest episode Almost Paradise!
In this episode, you’ll discover: -Practical ideas to build culture and climate -Ways to assess current leadership practices -Pitfalls to avoid in educational leadership
This podcast gives an overview of four strategies we have used to cultivate the culture with our staff.
Listen to how universal messages have connected the two of us and hear a few tips about ways you can be your best self.