PMP193: Taking a Music Break from COVID-19
: Play in new window | DownloadI don’t know about you, but it seems like every waking hour has been spent adjusting to a new normal, and the idea of relaxing almost seems unkind when you think of all the…
Tag school leadership
Read MorePMP193: Taking a Music Break from COVID-19
PMP192: Leading from a Distance, Part 2 with Jen Schwanke
: Play in new window | DownloadWhen storms roll across my home state of Oklahoma, residents here have a few common reactions. First, we listen to the weather station. Oklahoma has the best storm-tracking radar systems in the world. Second,…
PMP191: Reflections on Leading from a Distance
: Play in new window | DownloadIf you’re like me, you’re probably still adjusting to a new normal. Each morning I still wake up, walk the dog, or go for a run around the neighborhood. I login to my email…
PMP190: 5 Tips for Running the Uncertain Leadership Roads Ahead
: Play in new window | DownloadThis morning I was running a three-mile track around my neighborhood. As I passed the houses and occasional drivers, I felt a sudden kinship to my neighbors I’m not sure I’ve felt before. We…
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…
PMP186: Reboot for Principals with Jen Schwanke
: Play in new window | DownloadThroughout the world, schools are managing the challenges of school closures in response to news of the spreading corona virus or COVID-19. As a school leader, you are expected to manage difficulties, but sometimes…
PMP185: The Power of Sharing Your Own Story
: Play in new window | DownloadWhat stories have shaped your own leadership journey? I recently finished reading, Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. If you’re unfamiliar with the book, Tara Westover grew up in a rural Idaho with parents…
PMPEncore150: Hiring High Quality Educators, Part 1
: Play in new window | DownloadOne day the teachers at Indian Run Elementary, in Dublin, Ohio, organized a “Flash TACO bar” – a spontaneous buffet meal where they shared great food and fun together. As principal of the school,…
PMP182: Generation Z Unfiltered with Andrew McPeak
: Play in new window | DownloadStudents today face newer and different challenges than students of the past. Although many of the skills or values they need to be successful remain the same regardless of time and place, they also…
Encore099: Collaborating for Results – Interview with Dr. Judi Barber
: Play in new window | DownloadI am digging into the archives of Principal Matters to bring you an episode from January 2018, when I had the privilege to interview Dr. Judi Barber. First, let me tell you a story.…
PMP180: Tipping Points and Why Small Things Matter
: Play in new window | DownloadWhat does it take for small actions to produce big results? Over Christmas break, I listened to the audio-version of Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and learned…
PMP177: Cha Cha’s for Making Learning Stick with LeAnn Nickelsen
: Play in new window | DownloadA few weeks ago, I was sharing with a group of principals one of my favorite video-clips from the movie, The Incredibles. It’s the scene where Lucius, aka the superhero, Frozone, is watching as…
Encore146: Balancing Priorities with Jen Schwanke
Thank you @JenSchwanke for the great takeaways in this encore episode! #principalmatters #edleadership
PMP174: 10 Areas to Focus on for Growth as a Leader with Chris Legleiter
: Play in new window | DownloadEvery person in your school is at a different level of growth. Not just students, but teachers are also at stages of growth. Leadership is not any different. Some educators are just beginning the…
PMP172: Learning and Leading with John Wink
Thank you @johnwink90 for sharing these great takeaways for teachers and school leaders! #principalmatters @SolutionTree
PMP:170 Four Lessons in Teamwork from my Son’s Hospital Stay
: Play in new window | DownloadSix years ago, on October 31, 2013, my son Jack was eight years old. We had just finished an amazing day of trick-or-treating, and he asked if he could change back into his normal…
PMP169: Leading into the Wind – Lessons from Dave Sandowich
: Play in new window | DownloadA few weeks ago, I had the privilege to spend a few hours sailing on the Chesapeake Bay with Dave Sandowich. He commanded his 42-foot sailboat, Charis, with the skill of a man who…
PMP165: Three Lessons in Decision Making from Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink
: Play in new window | DownloadSeveral years ago, I was standing in our school lunchroom watching hundreds of students eat breakfast. I was positioned in the middle section of the room, and the front doors of the school were…
PMP162: Go! Community – How to Harness the Power of the Room with Danny Bauer
: Play in new window | DownloadAuthor David Weinberger once said: “The smartest person in the room is the room itself.” In other words, the collective power of our thinking is always more powerful than working in isolation. By connecting…
PMP161: Answers to Principal Matters Questions, Part 2
: Play in new window | DownloadLast week Jen Schwanke and I answered questions from podcast listeners. Listen to Part 1 here. This week we take three more questions from principals on parenting, women in leadership, and professional growth. Here’s…
PMP:Encore076 Messaging Matters – How to Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students and Reach Communities
: Play in new window | DownloadIn 2017, Justin Baeder, from Principal Center Radio, invited me as a guest on his show to talk to me about my book Messaging Matters: How to Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students, and Reach Communities. Justin was…
PMP157: Preparing for the Start-of-School Year
: Play in new window | DownloadJenny is a returning student at her high school. She has a part-time job which keeps her up late most nights. When she arrives late to school, she has already missed breakfast and she’s…
PMP156: 6 Tips for Managing School-Wide Changes
: Play in new window | DownloadWhen my family recently visited the Rocky Mountain National Park, we enjoyed drives through snow-peaked mountains. But my 13-year old son, Jack, was most excited about hiking and climbing. One morning, we gathered the…
PMPEncore028: Four Reasons Your Vacation Matters
: Play in new window | DownloadThis week’s post is an encore episode I shared a couple of years ago. Since I’m enjoying some vacation, I thought I would remind you why your time away from school may help you…
PMP:Encore090 Branding Your School with Marlena Gross-Taylor
: Play in new window | DownloadWhen I was in junior high school, everyone on my basketball team wore Converse high-tops. Yes, that means I’m officially from the 70’s! I’ll never forget mine: They were the color of golden-rod, and I…
PMP:150 Hiring High Quality Educators, Part 1
: Play in new window | DownloadRecently, the teachers at Indian Run Elementary, in Dublin, Ohio, organized a “Flash TACO bar” – a spontaneous buffet meal where they shared great food and fun together. As principal of the school, Jen…
PMPEncore109: The Power of One Caring Adult with Josh Shipp
: Play in new window | DownloadA few years ago, I sat across my desk from a student whose father had abandoned him and left the state. A family in our community had taken in the young man, and our…
PMP:149 Managing Adult Conflicts, Part 2
: Play in new window | DownloadSpring time is here, and the landscape is green with new growth. Ironically, my wife told me that by the spring of each school year, she has decided that our marriage is falling apart,…
PMP:148 The “Why’s” and “How’s” of Managing Adult Conflict
: Play in new window | DownloadOne of the biggest surprises for school new school leaders may be the conflicts that arise with adults. Whether you are encountering conflicts with parents, colleagues or community members, these situations can be difficult…
PMP:147 Providing Focused Professional Development
: Play in new window | DownloadWhen you think about providing professional development, do you feel stressed or excited? For many principals, providing professional development can be a daunting task. The good news is that professional development can become something…
PMP:146 Good Habits for Balancing Priorities
: Play in new window | DownloadHave you ever felt overwhelmed in trying to balance priorities? If you’re like me, you can probably think of more than once where student discipline, parent concerns, and teacher feedback provided you more tasks…
PMP:143 Learning for ALL with Dr. Garth Larson
: Play in new window | DownloadWhen Garth Larson was asked to move from secondary administration to become an elementary principal, he was curious if he could be an effective leader at that level. But his work in early-education combined…
PMP141: How Culture Drives Successful Learning Communities – Interview with Dr. Kyle Palmer
: Play in new window | DownloadRecently, I had the privilege of talking to Dr. Kyle Palmer about the lessons he has learned in his years as a teacher, principal and district leader. As we talked about the successful professional…
PMP:139 Building Stronger Collaboration – Interview with Diana Lebsack
: Play in new window | DownloadGreat teams understand the importance of depending on one another. With the many roles of a school leader, one of the biggest challenges is moving from independence to interdependence. In other words, how do…
PMP:137 Reaching and Teaching Students Exposed to Trauma with Dr. Barbara Sorrels
: Play in new window | DownloadOne day I was walking through one of my high school buildings when I heard the sound of a teacher yelling for help. I sprinted toward the sound, and I found a teacher trying…
PMP:136 Crucial Conversations for Reaching Targeted Destinations
: Play in new window | DownloadI’ve been on the road a lot lately. And as I travel, I often think about how to reach my destination while also making the experience a positive one. For me, that means trying…
PMP:135 Using FOMO for Positive School Culture with Kim Coody
: Play in new window | DownloadIn a recent conversation with author and generation expert Dr. Tim Elmore, he shared how many students are affected by “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out). For many young people, this condition is demonstrated by…
PMP:134 Creating Engaging Cultures with Dr. Tim Elmore
: Play in new window | DownloadHow do engage students while also understanding the unique challenges and strengths of Generation Z students? Several years ago, I was introduced to Dr. Tim Elmore through his curriculum and online resources for leadership.…
PMP:132 Frameworks for Managing Student Discipline
: Play in new window | DownloadDuring my second year as a high school assistant principal, I received notice one morning that a number of students were missing items from their lockers. Upon further investigation, we discovered that in one…
PMP:129 Why School Culture Matters – Interview with Heather Shaffery
: Play in new window | DownloadThis time of year, I’m on the road a lot visiting schools across my state. As I drive across Oklahoma, trees and fields have been brushed with the red and orange hues of fall.…
PMP:127 Why Social Emotional Learning Matters – Interview with Tamara Fyke
: Play in new window | DownloadEducators are talking a lot about students in trauma. Although you may not always know when students are stressed or facing a crises, research by the American Psychological Association, shows that today’s students have…
PMP:121 The Power of Play – 7 Tips for Education Leaders
: Play in new window | DownloadWhen I spotted the mud puddle, I thought it would be fun to jump it. The dirt road that ran along the edge of the field by our West Tennessee farmhouse was often traveled…
PMP:Encore06 – Essential Questions for a New School Year (& Predicting the Weather)
: Play in new window | DownloadHow are you anticipating the start of a new school year? This week I wanted to share some thoughts from a previous post as reminders for your new school year: Predicting Your School Climate Sometimes my…
PMP:120 A Leader’s Spiritual Growth – Four Reasons Your Faith Matters
: Play in new window | DownloadA few weeks ago, I was on an airplane with my oldest daughter, Emily, who just finished her first year of college and is enjoying summer break. Being with her brings back a lot…
PMP:118 Growing Leaders Takeaways – Crucial Conversations About Students
: Play in new window | DownloadThe other morning, I woke up early in a hotel room in Atlanta, Georgia. For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was. Then it dawned on me that I was presenting that morning…
PMP:117 Your Time – Are you Making the Most of Each Moment?
: Play in new window | DownloadBalance is a popular word among life coaches and leadership authors. As important as it is to remember to invest in the meaningful areas of your life, too many people place unrealistic expectations upon…
PMP:116 The Starbucks Story – Three Lessons for School Leaders
: Play in new window | DownloadRecently, Howard Schultz, the owner and CEO of Starbucks announced he will be retiring as CEO of the company. This news comes after several years of stunning success for a company whose stock price…
PMP:114 Reflections on Your Learning: What’s on Your Playlist?
: Play in new window | DownloadMy mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s. The condition began about ten years ago when we thought she was simply becoming more forgetful. But as her short-term memory declined, we realized she wasn’t just suffering from old…
PMP:113 Building Positive School Communities – Interview with Principal Mike Crase
: Play in new window | DownloadWhen I drove into the parking lot at East Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I was greeted by bright yellow arrows on the parking lot, pointing the direction for incoming and outgoing traffic.…
PMP:112 Reflections for Education Leaders – How Are You Tending Your Body?
: Play in new window | DownloadWhen I was little, I loved to stand in the garden as my grandparents tilled soil and put out spring tomatoes. The smell of freshly tilled dirt, the sun beating down on my back,…
PMP:110 Six Tips for Education Advocacy
: Play in new window | DownloadLast week I was walking back to my car from a visit to Oklahoma’s state capitol, when I saw a line of reporters, police, and education supporters stopped in front of me. I just…
PMP:108 Using Technology to Message with Parents, the Community, and Beyond
: Play in new window | DownloadIn 2016, a Pew Research report showed 62% of adults receive news via social media – a 49% increase from 2012. 70% of people in western countries use social networks like Facebook or Twitter.…