Podcast: Play in new window | Download
A quick note to listeners:
Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response.
—- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.
Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at https://summerpopsworkbooks.com/ —-
The question is: How can leaders address the issue of teachers expecting every office referral to lead to a disciplinary situation and improve classroom management?
Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters!
Meet Joshua Yeager
Principal Joshua Yeager, a graduate of Mississippi State University, is a dedicated researcher with over a decade of leadership experience. He is the principal of Perry Central High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which serves 400 students. In his third year as principal, Josh is proud to know every student by name. Under his leadership, the school has increased its graduation rate by 18% and raised its accountability scores by 100 points. The average daily attendance rate is 85%.
Principal Yeager has also directed public and private educational institutions throughout the South, including facilities for those with special needs. A turn-around principal, he uses innovation to maximize student and stakeholder potential. A Hattiesburg resident, he collaborates with Mississippi’s associations for school leaders, and he is actively writing his first book, “Turning Poverty into Riches: Rural Education At Best.”. In addition to being a principal, Joshua is the pastor of a local church within his community. He loves to coach people and maximize their greatness. He is the proud father of Makenlee Grace, a junior at Union High School in Mississippi.
Leading in a rural community:
When asked what he was most proud of in regard to the outcomes at Perry High School, Joshua talked about the rise in school spirit among his students. He noted that consistency is key for students, especially in rural communities. When Joshua first got to Perry High School, school spirit was really dry, but the students were eager to have pep rallies and engage in other forms of school spirit. Another outcome Joshua is proud of at Perry High School is how his school went from having a 70% graduation rate to a 90% graduation rate. As the graduation rate has increased, Joshua has seen parents becoming more active in the community through enrolling themselves in community college or by completing their GEDs. Overall, Joshua states that what he is most proud of are the smiles he gets to see on his students’ faces every day.
Flexible Schedules:
Joshua says that it is important for school leaders to view teachers as practitioners; the best teachers are good at “diagnosing” students. Therefore, one of the best tools that will help teachers achieve better outcomes is when teachers feel at liberty to teach. Additionally, Joshua reminds listeners that the most important factors that encourage students to learn and grow are their teachers and principals. When considering how to best utilize his position to encourage students to learn and grow, Joshua made the decision to add a 48-minute block to the daily calendar. Each of the blocks serves a different purpose each day:
- Monday is the social and emotional learning block
- Tuesdays are career planning
- Wednesdays are remediation days
- Thursdays are ACT prep
- Fridays are club Fridays
As a result of these daily blocks, Perry High School has seen growth in student outcomes.
Advice for New Leaders:
Joshua says that one piece of advice he would give a leader stepping into a new role is that every decision needs to be made with the worst-case scenario in mind. He also notes as a school leader, your decisions should never be selfish; it should always be about what is best for the people you are serving. Furthermore, Joshua says that leaders need to be honest with themselves about what they don’t know. Leadership is about humbling yourself and putting in the effort to surround yourself with people who really know what they’re doing.
Staying Connected:
You can stay connected with Joshua Yeager via:
- Twitter/X: @principalyeager
- Email : jyeager@pcs.us.org
Referenced research: https://wallacefoundation.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/the-school-principal-as-leader-guiding-schools-to-better-teaching-and-learning-2nd-ed.pdf
