Urban Principal: Leadership Lessons: Recent Episodes
Bret Anderson
This podcast is based upon lessons learned in my 31 years of experience in education--21 as a principal. I spent 10 years turning around a high poverty school, and left to start Nebraska's first focus school--a year-round extended day program centered on leadership, technology and communication. It was named by Harvard's One Nation, Indivisible publication as one of the most innovative and successful schools in the country.
A vision is a powerful tool for an organization. It can also be a motivator for a leader. What is your personal vision? What drives you and keeps you going as a leader?
This episode recaps a presentation I recently did at a conference on “What Schools Need” and the marks of effective schools.
This episode talks about The Empowerment Network and the upcoming rebuilding the village conference. It highlights the school we started that has become a model for the Cradle to Career initiative.
This episode continues the discussion around relationships and making strong connections with students. This can in turn, increase engagement and interest in school.
This episode discusses the key factor of relationships with students and the role strong connections make. Staff can build, maintain and restore relationships to keep school engagement high.
This episode stresses the power of a leader’s words and how compliments can help your positive culture.
This episode discusses the importance of having difficult conversations and addressing issues at the onset. Leaders can make these situations as opportunities to make connections.
The episode talks about having the power to bounce back after setbacks. Being able to see a positive path and seeing obstacles as growth opportunities can make the difference!
This episode is a quick reminder about our resilience and ability to stay positive as we get into the final stretch of the school year.
This episode talks about the changes schools may need to make to reach all students and create an atmosphere conducive to growth.
This episode discusses how leading with emotional intelligence can bring more joy and positivity to your culture.
This episode announces the new release of my book, Urban Principal Leadership Lessons. It gives a quick review of the chapters and information provided to inspire leaders.
Principals can improve their leadership with these four skills identified by GALLUP in a study on what employees need.
This episode wraps up our insights from Don Shula and Ken Blanchard ‘s book “Everyone’s a Coach: You Can Inspire Anyone to be a Winner.” Principals can apply these techniques to motivate staff.
This episode continues to look at tips from Don Shula and Ken Blanchard’s book a “Everyone’s A Coach.” Principals can apply these leadership principles to inspire staff!
This episode looks at tips from Don Shula and Ken Blanchard in “Everyone’s A Coach.” Principals can apply these leadership principles to inspire their staff.
This episode continues our quick look at the summary of research done by the Wallace Foundation on “How Principals Affect Students and Schools.” There are many implications for principals,
This episode does a quick summary of the research done by the Wallace Foundation on “How Principals Affect Students and Schools…” What are the implications for principals.
This episode sites the recent evidence showing the need for students to feel connected to school. Autonomy is one way to empower not only adults, but students and help mental health.
This episode looks at the impact of positivity ratios on teams and your culture. Leaders can push for the ideal mix!
This episode looks at the power of positivity and various aspects of promoting positivity as a leader.
This episode discusses the importance of being approachable as a leader while supporting a positive collaborative culture.
This episode highlights some of the leadership principles of MLK, Jr. looking at the book by Donald T. Phillips on MLK, Jr. on Leadership: Inspiration and Wisdom for Challenging Times.
This episode highlights the importance of getting real experience in leadership. The role of the principal is rigorous and requires ongoing training and mentoring in the realities of the job.
This episode is about getting ready for the new year with hope and purpose. Leaders continue to follow dreams and live with courage as they impact others.
This episode talks about the use of artificial intelligence and changing our ways for students to demonstrate knowledge,
This episode reviews our past year of sharing effective leadership skills. We review some of our wrap up statistics and reflect on our purpose as we thank listeners.
This episode reflects on a safety award received at my first school. Stressing the importance of having courage as a leader and how it can help in risk-taking while maintaining safety.
This episode discusses the recent release of 2022-2023 state testing data. Pointers about the various variables school districts face are addressed as the data is relayed to the public.
Leaders it is important to understand your staff, develop emotional intelligence and remember everyone is different.
This episode looks at ways leaders handle conflict with staff while moving positive growth. We reflect on an article on the conflict agility of leaders.
This episode looks at the power of a mindful leader to create an innovative, positive culture with staff collaboration.
This episode wraps up motivation and completes our quick look at John Baldoni’s book-Great Motivation Secrets of Great Leaders. We also get some excellent questions for leaders to self-reflect on.
This episode continues our look at John Baldoni’s Great Motivation Secrets of Great Leaders and review another big area leaders can develop to motivate staff.
This episode continues our dive into John Baldoni’s book, Great Motivation Secrets of Great Leaders.
How do leaders motivate staff? It’s all about working with people. In this episode we dive into the book Great Motivation Secrets of Great Leaders by John Baldoni.
This episode talks about the recent National Center for Education Statistics on principal turnover.
This episode references the Wallace Foundation’s report on How Principals Affect Students and Schools. It looks at the big three skills leaders need to be successful.
This episode discusses the ability of staff to have open conversations about behavior and academic data. Keeping communication open and problem-solving.
Principals have the power to encourage staff and bring out the best in others. What are you doing daily to build a positive culture?
This episode reviews and summarizes the 2023 PDK poll on the attitude toward Public Schools.
This episode discusses the impact of staying on point while giving teachers time back. Try simplifying and sticking to key initiatives to destress everyone creating a healthy staff.
This episode looks at a recent school district policy to prohibit cell phones in the classroom to increase engagement.
This episode looks at starting the school year on a positive note while building relationships for a successful year!
This episode continues our discussion on leadership/superbosses and how they find and keep talent.
This episode continues our discussion on what makes a superboss and the character traits these effective leaders exhibit.
This episode looks at effective leadership and research done on what makes a Superboss and looks at the work of Sydney Finkelstein.
Relationships are the cornerstone of being an effective leader. Build relationships, build unity!
The words your organization uses can help to invite school success. It is important to think about the messages you are sending.
Leaders are in the best position to support others. Developing the potential within each staff member can have a tremendous impact on your culture.
This episode looks at a recent state law change prohibiting the suspension of students pre-k to second grade.
Music is an excellent tool to motivate staff, increase creativity and stimulate the right side of the brain. Principals can use music many ways to increase the positivity of the culture.
As principals start planning for a new year don’t underestimate the power of simplifying as a school. Limiting initiatives, and priorities and ensuring everything integrates together can make a smoother year.
This episode discusses some of the ways for leaders to grow staff, use strengths and keep the best people.
This is the team of year that we again have teachers exiting in large numbers. What is the cause and what can we do?
As a principal it is important to celebrate successes, empower staff and make a positive ripple effect ending the year.
This episode looks at some of the needs in developing effective principals in moving leadership forward.
This episode reflects on the leadership of Warren Buffett and the parallels to other successful leaders.
Leaders constantly are problem-solving and facing issues. It is easier to handle if you have a positive culture that empowers staff and teams to help carry the load.
This episode looks at the power of determination in moving a leader forward. Anything is possible if you are determined.
This episode talks about addressing negativity with the power of shared experiences, positivity and gratitude.
This episode talks about providing professional growth opportunities through professional conferences for you and your staff.
This episode reminds us to be a positive influence as we complete the year strong making the decisions of a pack leader.
This episode looks at making a paradigm shift on the time needed to create change. Principals can move the organization in a new positive direction.
This episode looks at the importance of creating a classroom and school environment which gives everyone the base to excel.
Leaders need to give themselves permission to take a break and reboot your body, mind and spirit, so you can be the leader your staff deserves.
On daily basis your words have the power to impact others. As a leader you can choose to intentionally impact others with your words and build a better culture.
This episode talks about staying positive and focused while being able to control your thoughts.
This episode is a tribute to my dad, who recently passed, Dr. Fred Eldon Anderson. He was an educator who became a leader of action and influenced my career trajectory,
This episode wraps up our discussion on supporting failing schools. Leadership does matter and us the key to pulling everything together.
Our discussion continues with solutions for failing schools and finding leaders with the courage to make a change.
This episode continues to look at what we can do to help failing schools be successful.
How can we help failing schools? What is needed for them to succeed? In this episode we discuss what is really needed for support.
Most districts and organizations teach about their systems and really set up compliance, not leadership. More effective leadership training is needed to grow successful leaders.
As a leader how do we keep ourselves and others motivated? How can we continue to move our team forward? This episode gives some tips to keep the positivity going!
This episode looks at cultivating a positive culture that protects and builds staff up.
This episode reflects on the time of year and looks at a recent study on the importance of relationships and rigor.
This episode continues our discussion around the impact of ACEs on the brain and how restorative practices can help students in school.
This episode looks at the effect adverse childhood experiences have on the brain and how using restorative practices can help students in school.
This episode pays tribute to Mark Sundermeier. I knew him as a police captain who worked tirelessly to help us clean up the area around one of my schools.
This episode looks at leaders starting the day with the best attitude possible. Each day is a fresh start with new facts.
It is often hard for students to go to special areas, like art, music and PE. Teachers can assist this transition and prepare students for success with clear procedures and routines.
This episode talks about the importance of developing an understanding of the student handbook and using student friendly language.
A quick review of the 2022 NAEP, Nation’s Report Card and encouragement to stay the course!
This episode reviews some of the leadership recommendations of Warren Bennis and John Wooden.
Teachers are leaving at an alarming rate. This is a time when more encouragement is needed to help define our purpose and keep staff.
This episode looks at using inclusive leadership practices to build a positive, collaborative culture that keeps staff.
This episode takes a quick look at the 54th annual PDK poll on the public’s attitudes toward public schools.
This episode starts us thinking about how we can rework family engagement and create effective partnerships.
This episode looks at the increasing emotional needs students are having and how connections and restorative practices can help them grow.
This episode talks about the importance of creating a partnership through coaching and building effective dialogue.
This episode talks about true teams and how effective teacher teams can build collaboration to assist students.
This episode talks about the story of thirteen lives and how true leadership pulls people that together.
This episode talks about two recent school visits and the ability of leaders to motivate staff.
This episode discusses bringing your enthusiasm as a leader as you provide the resources for success!
This episode looks at the open door policy and the importance of giving staff access for communication and ownership within a positive culture.
This episode talks about the benefits of laughter, and adding value to people for a positive culture.
This episode takes a quick look at the Wallace Foundations research on Developing Effective Principals.
This episode congratulates those moving into new leadership positions and gives some reminders as the journey begins.
This episode reminds districts to empower and encourage principals as the leadership at the forefront of learning. .
This episode looks at the need for leaders to be resilient to keep moving forward and succeed.
This episode looks at the small things that can impact your staff and your culture. Giving ownership and empowering makes a difference!
This episode refers to a teacher letter about an excellent principal she had and the need for more effective leaders.
This episode looks at how it’s ok to be an incomplete leader if you collaborate and allow others to use their strengths.
This episode talks about the need for leaders to look at new ways of developing the culture under current challenges.
This episode challenges leaders to take time to make connections with staff and check the pulse of your culture.
This episode looks at being an adaptive leader and how empowering others can strengthen Your ability to overcome challenges.
This episode wraps up our discussion around restorative practices and how you can move positive behavior into a culture of belonging and success!
This episode continues to review strategies to implement restorative practices into your culture.
This episode continues our look into restorative practices and starts to look at strategies to develop problem-solving skills.
This episode continues to review restorative practices and establishes relationships and a growth mindset as the base for your restorative culture.
This episode looks at integrating restorative practices to develop positive student behavior.
This episode looks at some of the lessons from “It’s Being Done Schools” in making sure everyone is learning.
This episode looks at increasing productive dialogue to make appraisals more effective.
This episode discusses how true leaders must be secure enough with their leadership to help other people excel and grow.
This episode looks at the recent National Education Association poll describing the number of teachers at the door of leaving the profession.
This episode looks at leading with empathy and compassion and working with the perspective of your staff.
This episode looks at the importance of a leader’s ability to develop and maintain a positive attitude.
This episode talks about rekindling the passion you had when you started and stoking those fires for everyone.
This episode continues to dive into emotional intelligence and looks at five areas to develop as an effective leader.
This episode talks about emotional intelligence and how it can be a difference maker in effective high quality leadership.
This episode talks about how schools, individually are stepping up and principals, teachers and staff are rising to the occasion!
This episode discusses self-reflecting as a leader while moving forward with passion in the new year ahead.
This episode looks at some practices that actually hurt student progress and brings in SEL, restorative practices and the importance of relationships.
This episode looks at keeping a balance, maintaining yourself while being an authentic leader.
This episode talks about “crucibles” -experiences that help to develop you as a leader.
This episode continues to look at what leaders can do to keep teachers in the profession.
This episode talks about the rise of teachers leaving and how effective leaders need to look at ways to keep people energized and involved.
This episode talks about the importance of being clear as a leader and being more intentional in your communication.
As leaders it’s important to do what is necessary to help your organization, even if it’s not in your job description.
This episode honors the leadership of Colin Powell and looks at some of his effective leadership principles.
This episode looks at student behavior and ways you can get them to change the channel when they are disruptive.
This episode talks about using restorative practices and a leader’s role maintaining the student and teacher relationship.
This episode talks about ways of re-engaging students and keeping them connected to school.
This episode highlights the importance of being a positive leader and the impact you have on the culture.
This episode talks about making simple guidelines that are easy to remember and easy to teach around creating that common language.
This episode talks about the importance of constantly modeling and how young eyes are watching and learning.
This episode discusses the importance of developing consistency for more effective positive behavior supports.
This episode talks about the excitement of the first day and the work that goes into having a successful year!
This episode talks about the importance of having a culture of practice, trying and continuing to develop.
This episode talks about different ways to start the year off in a positive manner setting the course for success!
This episode talks about starting the year off right and the importance of valuing people.
This episode looks at the research around the ability of effective principals to change student learning.
This episode looks at how districts can be more self-reflective and looks at questions answered by Karin Chenoweth through her book “Districts That Succeed: Breaking the Correlation Between Race, Poverty, and Achievement.”
This episode discusses the practice of empowering your staff to strengthen the organization.
This episode discusses the high number of people leaving the workforce and the larger need for leaders to create a positive work culture.
This episode talks about when your abilities are underestimated you need to keep moving forward.
This episode discusses the difference an effective leader can make in an organization and how they can bring positive change.
This episode looks at the positive results of having strong enrichment and extracurricular activities.
This episode talks about the importance of encouragement and how everyone benefits from uplifting words.
This episode looks at the old attitudes around leadership and talks about the importance of empowering your staff.
This episode gives leaders some techniques to de-stress and get into a calm productive state.
This episode looks at the importance of finding the right teachers and managing talent.
This episode highlights the work of teachers and honors them during Teacher Appreciation Week.
This episode discusses the importance of addressing conflict as a leader and solving issues in a positive manner.
This episode continues to discuss how we can assist student success, help students move forward, assist learning and recover lost learning.
This episode talks about the need to help our students return and recover the needed credits to graduate and succeed.
This episode reminds us how positive our early students start out and the fact that we can help them stay positive into adulthood.
This episode wraps up our discussion around the Wallace Foundation research on How Principals Affect Students and Schools.
This episode continues our look at some of the recent research compiled by the Wallace Foundation on How Principals Affect Students and Schools.
This episode continues to look at the Wallace Foundation research on how Principals Affect Students and Schools.
This episode looks at the recent research report from the Wallace Foundation on How Principals Affect Students and Schools.
This episode discusses the importance of finding the silver lining in any situation as you work with staff.
This episode discusses the importance of supporting and understanding your staff instead of pushing compliance.
This episode discusses how important it is to lighten up during this time period and encourage,
This episode continues to talk about some of the things that made the Focus School an innovative successful model.
This episode continues our discussion around innovative schools and dives more into the development of the Focus School.
This episode discusses innovative schools and my eleven year adventure in leading and starting the first Focus School in Nebraska.
This episode continues the discussion around creating innovative schools and meeting the needs for all students.
This episode talks about the importance of developing innovative school leaders to create unique learning opportunities for all.
This episode continues to look at the ways to give schools more autonomy and develop more innovative schools.
This episode starts to look at innovative schools and how public schools can develop into more autonomous hybrid models.
This episode starts looking at how we can improve schools and what needs to happen for this change to take place.
This episode gives a brief thanks to all the educators who have worked hard to deliver instruction during this historic year.
This episode discusses the stress of being a principal/leader and how we can re-energize ourselves.
This episode continues to look at the power of praise and encouragement, as well as how you can be a cheerleader for your staff!
This episode talks about the importance of praise and encouragement in developing a positive culture.
This episode talks about the dip in morale and issues that pop up during the months of November and December.
This episode talks about homework and how it relates to our students during this time of hybrid learning.
It is a crucial time for leaders during COVID-19, what can leaders do to facilitate a positive culture.
This episode talks about how positivity can be toxic if it doesn’t allow people to be who they are. Also, how teachers put unneeded pressure on themselves.
This episode continues to discuss Trauma Informed Teaching and how we can take care of students and staff!
This episode continues talking about trauma informed teaching and how a mental health grant helped provide services in a high needs building.
This episode dives into the mental health issues students face and talks about how important it is for staff to have an understanding of Trauma Informed Teaching.
This episode talks about the impact of crisis on mental health and the importance of helping each other while providing avenues of assistance.
This episode discusses the importance of equity, understanding each other and the challenges students face in school.
This episode continues the discussion around team building and gives examples of how your organization can positively move forward with strong teams.
This podcast looks at the importance of building effective, collaborative teams within a positive culture.
This episode discusses the importance of a leader in developing positive relationships with staff.
This episode discusses the importance of developing positive relationships with students to help them succeed!
This episode wraps up our discussion on de-escalation while giving more strategies to improve behavior.
This episode continues our discussion on de-escalation and the importance of tone and tact when dealing with students.
This episode starts the discussion around de-escalation and avoiding power struggles within PBIS.
This episode continues our discussion around procedures and routines within Positive Behavior Intervention Supports.
This episode continues the conversation around PBIS and developing common language throughout the building.
This episode continues to build the groundwork around PBIS/MTSS-B and how supports can help students to succeed in school.
This episode looks at the need for PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) or MTSS-B (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Behavior) in schools.
This episode talks about how we can work with our students to promote an understanding of culture and diversity.
This episode discusses in light of the recent protests we need to turn our schools into courageous schools that are culturally proficient.
This episode talks about creating a “Community Compact” with your teachers, students and parents.
This episode talks about how principals are conducting most of their meetings through technology and the importance of still promoting a positive culture.
This episode talks about how you can develop your school into a “No Place for Hate” school while helping students understand each other.
This episode talks about a way to start your school day and how having your students recite a daily pride pledge can help create a positive culture.
This episode talks about moving beyond the Friday Focus and weekly “Look Fors” and adding instructional coaching visits to improve student achievement.
This episode gives some great strategies to motivate staff through a Friday Focus and weekly “Look Fors.”
This episode looks at what is happening in education right now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This episode continues the discussion on working with community partnerships and how they can help move your school forward.
Building a positive culture is also about building a partnership with your community. Working together makes all things possible!
This episode discusses the power of being an uplifting resonant leader. Leaders have the power to impact the emotional states of people around them.
This episode highlights the importance of bringing staff together to create a shared mission and vision.
This episode outlines the principal’s role in setting the tone for the culture, being a cheerleader for staff, and promoting positivity.
This episode dives into creating pockets of support for principals and developing more effective leaders.
This episode is about the longevity of a principal and the need to keep developing effective principals/leaders.
This episode outlines my purpose: to share helpful leadership tips learned over 21 years as a highly effective principal.