PMP451: What is My Value Instructionally with Baruti Kafele

A Quick Note to Listeners:

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU.

The question is: What practical strategies did you use to boost staff morale and prevent burnout, especially during times of high stress or change? (Question from Cameron Carter, first grade teacher from Worthington, Ohio)

Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters!

Meet Baruti Kafele:

Hi, Friends! Jen Schwanke here, hosting Principal Matters Podcast this week. We are so excited to bring Principal Kafele back to this podcast episode, where we discuss the importance of a principal’s confidence, ability, and belief in themselves— and a whole lot more. Before we dive into the content of today’s episode, I’d like to share a short bio describing Principal Kafele and the work he has done as an educator and an author:

A highly-regarded urban educator in New Jersey for over twenty years, Principal Baruti Kafele served as an elementary teacher, assistant principal, and high school principal before becoming the author and renowned speaker he is today. His latest book, What is My Value Instructionally to the Teachers I Supervise? was recently released. Kafele’s website highlights this and the other of his thirteen books, including seven ASCD best sellers – Motivating Black Males to Achieve in School & in Life, Closing the Attitude Gap, Is My School a Better School BECAUSE I Lead It?, The Teacher 50, The Principal 50, The Assistant Principal 50 and The Equity & Social Justice Education 50. Principal Kafele is also the creator and host of the popular AP & New Principals Academy, streamed live every Saturday morning on his AP & New Principals Academy YouTube channel at 10:55 ET. He has been awarded the coveted Milken Educator Award as well as various other distinguished awards for his work.

My conversation with Principal Kafele starts with a discussion of his new book, “What is My Value Instructionally to the Teachers I Supervise?” We discuss the importance of instructional leadership and how it can impact students, particularly those who may be overlooked. Kafele is a living example of the importance of instructing all students, and he openly shares his personal story of struggling in high school before finding a passion for reading and education in college.

That passion transferred into a passion for instructional leadership. He emphasizes that principals should prioritize being instructional leaders and coaches rather than being bogged down by administrative tasks. He stresses that leaders should focus on pedagogy rather than trying to be experts in all content areas, and encourages leaders to utilize their central office supervisors and department heads for content-specific expertise. He also highlights the significance of starting each day with a positive message to students, creating a culture of belief and high expectations. A leader’s words matter to the students, and teachers should reinforce the messages of leadership throughout their day. Empowerment comes when we all focus on teaching and learning, school climate, and culture, rather than administrative minutiae.

At my prompting, Principal Kafele shares one of my favorite stories— the one that started his journey as an author—when he self-published his first book, “A Black Parent’s Handbook to Educating Your Children (Outside of the Classroom.” He sold it out of his car, contacted Black bookstores and radio stations to promote the book, and eventually found his hard work and hustle lead to his success with ASCD .

Above all, Principal Kafele emphasizes that instructional leadership is fueled by the power of belief and collective efficacy in schools, and encourages educators to believe in their ability to elevate their students.