The School Leader's Podcast

School leadership is rewarding — and relentless. In this energizing episode, I walk listeners through 23 practical habits and mindset shifts that strengthen influence, improve decision-making, and protect leaders from burnout. Drawing on leadership research and everyday school leadership realities, I cover tactical… Read more

In this episode, I explore the 8 essential traits that distinguish the most effective principals and educational leaders. Backed by research from the Wallace Foundation, Education Development Trust, and insights from thought leaders like Todd Whitaker and Michael Fullan, you will discover: What makes a successful… Read more

As the academic year wraps up, K–12 school leaders and share principals face a critical opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and prepare. In this episode, I shares 8 practical strategies for school principals and administrators to successfully close out the school year and lay the groundwork for a strong start to next… Read more

In this episode, I explore the critical issue of teacher and staff morale. With teacher burnout at an all-time high, I provide actionable strategies for school leaders to cultivate a positive, supportive, and high-morale school community. You will discover how boosting teacher and staff morale directly impacts student… Read more

In this episode, we explore eight strategies for school leaders to create more margin in their day. According to a report from Education Support, 78% of teachers have reported feeling stressed or experiencing burnout. Recent research indicates that 87% of knowledge workers work two hours more each day compared to… Read more

In this episode, we dive into seven impactful strategies to help you stand out in your school or workplace and capture the attention of your principal or leadership team. What does it really mean to “get noticed” at work? It goes beyond simply being seen – it’s about being recognized for the unique strengths and… Read more

In this episode, I discuss 7 Things Effective School Leaders Do Over the Summer. Summer is here. While schools are closed for the summer, most school leaders and principals are working over the summer. It is important then to catch your breath and recharge your leadership battery. Although the work never stops,… Read more

In this episode, I discuss 5 Mini Habits to Become a Better Leader. James Clear, Atomic Habits, says change doesn’t have to be huge, dramatic, or instantaneous. James explained that if you “get just 1% better each day, you’ll end up with results that are nearly 37x better after one year.” As leaders, we can cultivate… Read more

In this episode, I discuss how to Unlock Your Leadership Potential by focusing on 10 Strategies for Growth. John Maxwell, 15 Laws of Growth, stated that the 1st Law of Growth is The Law of Intentionality – Growth doesn’t happen by chance. You must make it happen. To grow as a leader, you must make it happen. You must… Read more

In this episode, I discuss 5 Things to Stop Doing as a Leader. The late great management thinker Peter Drucker said: “We spend a lot of time teaching our leaders what to do. We don’t spend enough time teaching them what to stop.” As you write down your new year resolutions, goals, and ideas for growth to strengthen… Read more

In this episode, I discuss Focus: Tips to Eliminate Distractions. I will share three tips to reduce or eliminate distractions and focus on what you want more this year. For many leaders, the problem isn’t a lack of time. The problem is a lack of focus. As you listen, pay close attention to how to refocus on what… Read more

In this episode, I discuss Leading with Gratitude. As you listen, pay close attention to the benefits of living a grateful life and 5 habits that will help you lead with gratitude. To lead with gratitude, every leader should practice these 5 habits: Regularly practice giving thanks Express gratitude regardless of the… Read more

In this episode, I shared Leadership Landmines and How to Avoid Them. As you listen, pay close attention to each leadership landmine and strategies to avoid stepping on them. These are the landmines every school leader should avoid. Today’s Success Failure to Adapt Losing trust Being Indecisive Refusing to Delegate I… Read more

In this episode, I shared 6 Tips for Aspiring School Leaders. As you listen, examine yourself and consider these tips and areas for improvement. As you start on your leadership journey, consider these tips. Make Your Intentions Known Be Good at Your Job Seek Growth opportunities Solve a Problem Have a Growth Mindset… Read more

In this episode, I shared 10 Tips for New Principals. If you are a newly appointed principal, Congratulations! I am proud of you. I know you are excited and ready to lead your school to make it a better learning environment for students. As you start your 1st year as a new principal or a veteran principal in a new… Read more

In this episode, I shared 10 Tips for New Assistant Principals. If you are a newly appointed assistant principal, Congratulations! I am proud of you. I know you are excited and ready to work alongside your principal to turn your school around or scale it up to a make it a better learning environment for students. As… Read more

In this episode, I shared How to Increase Your Influence. These tips will help you increase your influence in every direction—up, down, and across your organization. You must be able to influence or manage up, down, and across our organization if you are going to increase your influence and effectiveness. These tips… Read more

In this episode, I shared Self-Care Tips for Educators. These self-care tips are intended as reminders for educators, school leaders, and principals as they enter the summer months and throughout the new school year to refill and rejuvenate. As you enter the summer and throughout the new school year, consider or… Read more

In this episode, I interview Dr. Joseph Williams III. As an experienced educator, Dr. Joseph Williams III recognizes that an excellent and equitable education is the key to a world of opportunities for all children. He grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Strong teachers, quality educational… Read more

In this episode, I interview Charle Peck. She is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. With over 20 years of education and mental health leadership experience, she has the unique lens of both a certified teacher and a licensed clinical… Read more

In this episode, I interview Dr. Zach Groshell. Zach is an instructional coach in the Seattle area and an experienced elementary teacher. Zach holds a PhD in Education and presents often about cognitive science and education research. Zach’s recent contributions include evidence-based presentations for Think Forward… Read more

In this episode, I interview Fedrick Cohens. Mr. Cohens is the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction (Elementary Schools) at Georgetown County School District, where he supports all elementary school leaders and principals. He provides technical assistance to early learning centers, supervises elementary… Read more

In this episode, I interview Heilange Porcena. Mrs. Porcena is a servant leader and elementary turnaround principal. She has been an educator for 28 years and 12 years as a school-based administrator. She is a phenomenal leader. She has been instrumental in improving student achievement and moved her school from an F… Read more

In this episode, I interview Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan. Dr. Dudek-Brannan is the founder and CEO of Dr. Karen, LLC, a company focused on empowering educators to support language, literacy, executive functioning, and cognitive wellness. She currently offers online professional development focused on helping K-12… Read more

Episode 19 – Strategies for Scaling Up STEM Initiatives with Ms. Osas Guis-Obaseki In this episode, I interview Ms. Osas Gauis-Obaseki. Ms. Osas is an engineer, STEM, and Computer Science Teacher. As a current programmer and engineer, he has been instrumental in scaling up her school's STEM and Computer Science… Read more

In this episode, I interview Dr. Shanessa Fenner. Dr. Fenner is an elementary principal, writer, a print model, motivational speaker, actress, and has her own TV show “The Bronco Exchange” on channel 7. She is a former radio personality on KISS 107.7 FM and had her own radio show entitled “Real Talk with Dr. Shanessa… Read more

In this episode, I interview Jessica Lander. Jessica Lander is a teacher, author and advocate. She teaches history and civics to recent immigrant students in an urban Massachusetts public high school and has won several teaching awards, including being named a Top 50 Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize in 2021,… Read more

In this episode, I shared ideas and thoughts on Steps to be a Better Leader. Before we talk about what you will want to do in the New Year, let’s start with who you want to become. So many people make “do” goals. I encourage you to start with “who” goals. Who do you want to be as a leader? Based on who you want to… Read more

In this episode, I shared ideas and tips for Setting New Year’s Goals. These five (5) essential guidelines for your goals are intended as reminders as you create and write down your SMART goals. You should also set goals for seven (7) areas of life. As you enter the New Year, you should use these guidelines as… Read more

In this episode, I shared 5 Leadership Self-Care Tips. These self-care tips are intended as reminders for school leaders and principals as they enter the holiday season and throughout New Year to refill and rejuvenate. As you enter the holiday season and throughout New Year consider or ponder on these 5 leadership… Read more

In this episode, I interview Steve Frazier. Steve Frazier is a former Principal and South Florida Manager for Jostens. He is also the Executive Director of the Florida League of Middle Schools. He is a phenomenal leader and has been instrumental in improving student achievement at his school. He also shared tips and… Read more

In this episode, I interview Vince Dawes. Vince Dawes is a current Principal at Richardson Independent School District. As a Turnaround Principal, he was instrumental in transforming and improving student achievement in several schools in both Florida and Texas. He also shared tips and strategies for emerging leaders,… Read more

In this episode, I interview Jackson Self. Jackson Self is a former Principal and Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at Invo Healthcare. As a former Principal and Turn Around Leader, he was instrumental in working with school leaders and principals to transform low-performing schools to improve student… Read more

In this episode, I shared Strategies to Deal with Challenging Students’ Behaviors. Coming out of the pandemic across our state and throughout the United States, I have noticed students' misbehaviors have worsened. While we had students' misbehaviors before the pandemic, it appears the pandemic has negatively… Read more

In this episode, I interview Janet D. Jackson. Ms. Jackson is an Assistant Principal in Broward County Public Schools, FL. As a veteran Assistant Principal, she shared tips and strategies for emerging and new Assistant Principals. Listen in to the entire conversation for takeaways for new assistant principals and… Read more

In this episode, I shared Tips for New Assistant Principals. If you are a newly appointed assistant principal, Congratulations! I am proud of you. I know you are excited and ready to work alongside your principal to turn your school around or scale up to make it better. As you start your 1st year as an assistant… Read more

In this episode, I interview the transformational leader and mentor, Dr. William Valmyr. Dr. Valmyr is a teacher, educational leader, author, coach, and speaker who speaks across the country and globally. He is also the CEO of Transformational Leadership. He shared tips and nuggets for how school leaders can scale up… Read more

In the last episode, I shared some of the strategies you can use to reinvent and rebuild the culture of your school. How would you define your school or department culture? How is your school culture? What is your department culture? Is it positive? Is it toxic? Even if it is a good and positive culture, I think you… Read more

Episode 5 – Reinvent and rebuild the culture of your school Part 1 In today’s episode, I shared some of the strategies you can use to reinvent and rebuild the culture of your school. I hope you can take one or two tips to embed and apply to your school or department culture. How would you define your school or… Read more

In this episode, I shared Tips for New Principals. If you are a newly appointed principal, Congratulations! I am proud of you. I know you are excited and ready to turn your school or scale up to make it better. As you start your 1st year as a principal, I would you to consider or ponder on these tips. They are: Get to… Read more

Episode 3 – Principal Leadership: Lessons Learned Part 2 In the last episode, I shared some of the lessons learned during my first few years as a principal. In the 1st episode, I shared a little background about my school and our journey to becoming a premier center. I also shared 3 lessons, which are: · Relationship… Read more

In today’s episode, I shared some of the lessons learned and challenges during my first few years as a principal. I hope that you can glean one or two tips to apply to your leadership repertoire and practices. For some of you, it might be a remainder of some things you have done or learned during your first years. How… Read more

Several weeks ago, I read an article about ways to recharge your leadership battery. I also spent the last few months sharing ways to recharge mentally, spiritually, financially, and physically. In today’s episode, I share ideas and tips to recharge your leadership batteries. The following questions are what I will… Read more

The School Leaders’ Podcast is a podcast for current and aspiring school leaders on a mission to create a school of excellence. On this episode, I share my purpose for this podcast.  We will explore the challenges, strategies, and successes of the school leader's journey. Listeners will hear from fellow school… Read more