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A Quick Note to Listeners:
Before each week’s episode Jen Schwanke and I answer a listener question. This week’s question is:
I had so many important intentions and priorities for this school year, but my day-to-day still feels like mostly putting out fires. How do I get back to the priorities we said this year would be about?
Listen in to hear our response!
Systems Coaching with Matt Renwick:
In this week’s episode of Principal Matters, Jen Schwanke has the pleasure of catching up with her long-time colleague, author, and former award-winning elementary school principal, Matt Renwick. Currently a systems coach for CESA #3 in Wisconsin and a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Matt has spent time sitting in nearly every seat in education. They explore how his extensive background informed his transition into system-level coaching.
The conversation centers on the profound shift from building principal to instructional coach, highlighting the delicate balance between structural management and human connection. Matt openly shared that transitioning out of an authority role wasn’t automatic, requiring humility, deep listening, and a commitment to earning trust within the districts he supports. We tackled the inherent paradox of modern school leadership—how striving for systemic change can inadvertently distance leaders from the very classrooms they want to impact—and explored actionable ways to reclaim that vital proximity to teaching and learning.
Key Takeaways:
- Shifting from Authority to Partnership: Transitioning from the principal’s office to systems coaching requires a foundation of humility and active listening. True instructional coaching is built on earning the right to partner with teachers through consistency, visibility, and supportive, non-evaluative feedback.
- De-Siloing Student Support via MTSS: Effective systems coaching focuses on the whole child by breaking down traditional barriers between academics and behavior. By evaluating systemic hurdles rather than attempting to “fix” individual students, schools can uncover gaps in professional learning and data usage.
- The Power of Distributive Leadership: School leaders face a direct path to burnout if they try to shoulder every burden alone. True systemic impact happens when principals empower teacher-led instructional teams and cultivate student voice, giving everyone ownership over the school’s culture and environment.
- Navigating Modern Tools with Integrity: While structural policies and rigid regulations move too slowly to keep pace with rapid innovations like AI, leaders can focus on protecting professional growth. The priority must remain on teaching students and staff how to use modern tools ethically while keeping core human learning and authentic thinking at the center of education.
Final Thoughts:
Managing the modern school building can easily become an isolating endeavor, trapping well-intentioned leaders in the constant firefighting of daily administrative demands. Matt’s closing perspective serves as an essential reminder that we must intentionally build networks of professional community—whether through formal coaching or authentic local mastermind groups—to pull ourselves up to the “balcony level” for a clearer view. By anchoring our practice in clear, shared beliefs, prioritizing human connections, and pacing our leadership with intention, we can protect our well-being and stay focused on the purpose that brought us to education in the first place.
Staying Connected:
If you would like to learn more about Matt Renwick, you can connect with him on Substack or Linkedin.
