Category Interviews

PMP322: Lessons in Leadership Transition with Dr. Lute Croy

This week, Will Parker and Dr. Lute Croy will be discussing ways that leaders can transition in administration roles.

PMP321: Lessons in the Leadership Journey with Shenita Perry

Will Parker and Shenita Perry share with listeners one leader’s lessons in the journey of finding the right fit in leadership in this weeks episode.

PMP320: Tips for Seeking an New Education Position With Jen Schwanke (Part 2)

This week, Will and Jen discuss six more tips and practical ways to plan for a job transition.

PMP318: Returning the joy to teaching, learning and leading with Jen Schwanke

This week Will Parker is joined by Jen Schwanke to talk about returning the joy to teaching in learning and leading. As the year winds down,

PMP317: Discipline with Dignity with Jen Schwanke

This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke tackle the topic of discipline in schools. Specifically, they discuss how to discipline with dignity as school leaders.

PMP316: Recalibrate Your Culture with Jimmy Casas (Part 2)

This week, Will Parker and Jimmy Casas continue their conversation about Jimmy’s newest book, Recalibrate the Culture: Our Why...Our Work...Our Values.

PMP315: Recalibrate Your Culture with Jimmy Casas

In this weeks episode of Principal Matters Podcast, Will and Jimmy Casas discuss Casas' newest book is Recalibrate the Culture: Our Why...Our Work...Our Values.

PMP314: A New Kind of Diversity with Dr. Tim Elmore

This week Will discusses the book A New Kind of Diversity: Making Different Generations on Your Team a Competitive Advantage with author Tim Elmore.

PMP 313: Ideas for Teacher Recruitment and Retention with Kristi Kirschner and Danny Massey (Part 2)

This week Kristi and Danny share more ideas about teacher recruitment with Will as well as ways they are working for retention of highly effective teachers.

PMP312: Ideas for Teacher Recruitment and Retention with Kristi Kirschner and Danny Massey

: Play in new window | DownloadSchools across the U.S. continue to respond to teacher shortages. On September 1, the White House announced recruitment partnerships to addresses the challenges. Groups like the National Center for Grow have partnered with states…

PMP311: Politics and Advocacy for School Leaders with Jen Schwanke

In this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke share some thoughts on how to remain focused on service to your school communities while also remaining aware of what is happening in politics and advocacy that may also be affecting your school.

PMP310: Questions from Listeners on Teacher Shortage and Staff Development with Jen Schwanke

Will Parker and Jen Schwanke tackle questions from listeners in this weeks episode of the Principal Matters Podcast.

PMP309: Leadership that Matters with Jordan Master

As a long-time listener of Principal Matters, Jordan reached out to me this summer after reading a copy of my first book.

PMP308: Leading with a Humble Heart with Zac Bauermaster

Zac Bauermaster currently serves as principal at Kissel Hill Elementary School, located in the Warwick School District in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

PMP307: The Stolen Year with Anya Kamenetz

Will Parker interviews Anya Kamenetz on this weeks episode of the Principal Matters Podcast.

PMP306: Courageous Leadership with Sapna Hopkins

: Play in new window | DownloadThis week, Will interviews Principal Sapna Hopkins. Listen to the entire show for her inspiring personal story and journey in education. Plus, learn ways she is engaging her new school community that can motivate…

PMP304: You’re the Principal, Now What? Revisited Part 1

: Play in new window | DownloadWhat priorities must you keep in mind as you start a new school year? In this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke draw on years of experience to provide ideas and takeaways –…

PMP298: 5 Sticky Core Values for Leaders with Daniel Bauer

: Play in new window | DownloadIn this week’s episode, I am joined again by my friend Daniel Bauer, education leader, podcaster and author of the book Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader. We explore how he applies his 5…

PMP297: Applying the Strangest Secret with Daniel Bauer

: Play in new window | DownloadA couple of weeks ago, I was on a call with my friend Daniel Bauer, education leader, podcaster and author of the book Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader. He had included me…

PMP292: The Profile of a School Leader with Dr. Garth Larson

: Play in new window | DownloadGarth Larson, Ed.D is the Co-Founder and CEO of FIRST Educational Resources. Garth has previously worked as the Director of Learning for the Winneconne Community School District in northeast Wisconsin, was an elementary principal…

PMP289: Supporting School Communities District-Wide with Jen Schwanke

: Play in new window | DownloadIn Jen Schwanke’s new role as an Deputy Superintendent and in dissertation work, she has been learning a lot about supporting school communities district-wide. In this week’s episode, she explains some of the main…

PMP288: Better Strategies for Drop-Out Recovery with Dr. Warren Glen

: Play in new window | DownloadWarren J. Glen has twenty years of experience in post-secondary education. His journey in higher education has enhanced his expertise to administer grants, manage deliverables, and mentor and motivate young scholars. Currently, he is…

PMP286: We’re Not Broken with Eric Garcia

: Play in new window | DownloadEric Garcia is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist focused on politics and policy and currently the senior Washington correspondent for The Independent. His first book We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, which the Washington…

PMP284: Triumph over Tragedy with Timothy Alexander

: Play in new window | DownloadTimothy Alexander is a bestselling writer, award-winning speaker, and life coach who thrives at the intersection of character development, counseling, and mentorship. After a life changing car accident in 2006 left him paralyzed from…

PMP282: Building ‘Parentships’ with Dr. Kyle Palmer

: Play in new window | DownloadKyle Palmer is currently Executive Director of Human Resources for the Center School District of South Kansas City, MO. Before this transition, Dr. Palmer spent the previous ten years as principal of nationally recognized…

PMP268: Equity, Equality and Systems with Enid Lee

: Play in new window | DownloadEnid Lee is a front-line educator, an anti-racist professional development specialist, leadership coach, writer and community builder. She began her joyful journey as a teacher on the Caribbean island of Antigua about 5 decades…

PMP265: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader with Daniel Bauer, Part 2

: Play in new window | DownloadThis week I have the privilege of sharing Part 2 of a conversation with Daniel Bauer about his new book, His new book, Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader. Danny’s new book reimagines what…

PMP253: 10 Lessons from a First Year Assistant Principal with D.J. Klein

: Play in new window | DownloadOne year ago, June 4, 2020, D.J. Klein was a guest on the Principal Matters podcast when we shared advice for his first year as a school administrator. You can hear the 10 Tips…

PMP250: Principal Reboot, Part 2 with Jen Schwanke and Mastermind Members

: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, Jen Schwanke, principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, and author of two books on school leadership, joined me for a conversation with two principals from the Principal Matters Mastermind…

PMP249: Principal Reboot with Jen Schwanke and Mastermind Members

: Play in new window | DownloadOn May 27, 2021, Jen Schwanke, principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, and author of two books on school leadership, joined me for a conversation with two principals from the Principal Matters…

PMP248: Inspiring and Leading Learning with Latrese D. Younger

: Play in new window | DownloadLatrese D. Younger is an instructional lead learner in Virginia. Her passion is English language arts and she believes that she will always be a teacher at heart. Latrese has a servant mindset, spirit,…

PMP245: Handling Schools with Care with Joy Kelly

: Play in new window | DownloadJoy Kelly is the co-author of the new book, Handle with Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools with Dignity and Respect, co-authored with Jimmy Casas. Joy has more than twenty-five years of educational experience…

PMP244: Being a Hope Giver with Marita Diffenbaugh

: Play in new window | DownloadMarita Diffenbaugh is honored to serve as principal of Elevate Academy North, a public Career Technical charter school for students in 6th-12th grades. She has served as a teacher, administrator, and has provided leadership…

PMP243: Grace in the Journey with Jessica Wee

: Play in new window | DownloadJessica Wee is the Principal of Rainbow Centre Yishun Park School in Singapore. She has previously served in the school as Vice Principal before taking over principalship six years ago. Rainbow Centre School serves…

PMP242: Leading from Xi’an International School with Brittainy Harris and Paul Wendler

: Play in new window | DownloadBrittainy Harris has been working at Xi’an International School, located in China, since 2010. With her undergraduate degree in education, she landed at this American-based international school (that was founded in 1996 with the…

PMP241: Lessons from an All Girls School with Loredana Borello

: Play in new window | DownloadLoredana Borello is the Principal of Brescia House Secondary School in Johannesburg, South Africa. Brescia House School is a Catholic Ursuline All Girls Independent School from K-12. As a principal, she is passionate about…

PMP235: Leading Re-Entry in a Pandemic with Andrew O’Farrell

: Play in new window | DownloadAndrew O’Farrell has been the Principal of Beach Street Middle School in West Islip, New York since 2009. Prior to becoming a principal, Andrew was an assistant principal of Lindenhurst Middle School. Andrew began…

PMP234: Connecting Students to Caring Adults with TJ Warren

: Play in new window | DownloadThis week, I had the privilege to interview TJ Warren, Director of Programs for Stand in the Gap Ministries. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Stand in the Gap is an organization committed to impacting the…

PMP233: Multiplying Excellence in Your School with Emily Paschall

: Play in new window | DownloadThis week I have the privilege of interviewing Emily Paschall about her new book, Eyes on Culture: Multiply Excellence in Your School. As you know, culture drives the outcomes of your school, and Emily…

PMP230: Managing Decision-Fatigue with Jen Schwanke

: Play in new window | DownloadWhat do you do when every decision is a new one? How do you keep perspective amidst decision-fatigue? This week, Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, joins me for a…

PMP223: A Fighter Pilot’s Lessons for Leaders, Part 2

: Play in new window | DownloadIn last week’s episode, Colonel Brad Ruttman shared lessons from his military experience that may also apply to education leaders. This week, he unpacks more of his “Pocket-List for Leading a New Command” as…

PMP222: A Fighter Pilot’s Lessons for Leaders

: Play in new window | DownloadLeadership is tactical, operational and strategic. These are three words Colonel Brad Ruttman has learned as the framework for understanding how to help others accomplish their goals. In this week’s episode, I had the…

PMP221: Designing Leadership Outcomes with Jethro Jones

: Play in new window | DownloadThis week I’m honored to talk to Jethro Jones about his new book, SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves. Five years ago, I had the…

PMP216: A Principal’s Toolbox with Justin Thomas

: Play in new window | DownloadAlthough it is so important to understand your “why” in leadership, it is also imperative to understand “how” to effectively do your work. This week’s guest, Dr. Justin Thomas, provides practical feedback from his…

PMP215: Reflections from Pause. Breathe. Flourish. with Sonia Lopez-Morales

: Play in new window | DownloadDuring the summer, several principals from across the nation joined me for a Re-Opening Mastermind to collaborate, explore, brainstorm and support one another during the difficult days of planning for a new school year.…

PMP214: Pause. Breathe. Flourish. Part 2, Review with Dr. Jeff Springer

: Play in new window | DownloadThis week I was interviewed again by Dr. Jeff A. Springer, Ed.D., Educational Leadership Coach – Spring Strategies, LLC, and 2013 TASSP Texas State Principal of the Year, as we explored the final chapters…

PMP209: Supporting Students from Immigrant Families in a Pandemic

: Play in new window | DownloadLast week I talked a high school principal who told me she has already referred more students than normal to therapists and counselors for social emotional supports for this time of year. I imagine…

PMP189: Building Bridges to Reach Students with Dr. Don Parker

: Play in new window | DownloadWhen Don Parker was a Dean of Students, he knew his students were struggling – especially those with high risk factors. Don’s passion became simple and challenging: Find the best ways to help students…

PMP188: COVID-19 Update, Principal Reboot, Finding Balance Continued

: Play in new window | DownloadThis week I had the privilege of capturing a few minutes with Chris Legleiter, Principal of Leawood Middle School, Blue Valley Schools, just outside Kansas City, Missouri. The state of Kansas has closed buildings…

PMP187: Reboot for Principals, Part 2

: Play in new window | DownloadAs schools across the nation continue closures because of the Coronavirus pandemic, this week’s episode includes an update from listener, Terrence Simmons, Assistant Principal at Floyd Elementary, in Nye County, Nevada. Their team has…

PMP184: 5 Voices for Leading Teams with Jeremie Kubicek

: Play in new window | DownloadIt goes without saying that in order to lead you must have followers. But taking others to a destination doesn’t just mean accomplishing all the to-do’s on your checklist. Leadership requires relationships. And meaningful…

PMP183: Gen Z Unfiltered, Part 2 with Andrew McPeak

: Play in new window | Download“When is a time you have used grit, and what lesson did you learn?” This is just one of 100 questions you find included in the Table Talk Cards that come as a bonus…