The Empowered Principal® Podcast

In this episode, I'm joined by Nicola Soares, president of Kelly Education: a company that specializes in providing talent services to school districts across the United States. With a background as a public school social studies teacher, Nicola understands the challenges that principals face when it comes to finding qualified substitute teachers. She's here to debunk the myth that there's a short...

Many educators struggle with the decision to stay or go, feeling a profound sense of commitment to their work even when it's no longer serving them. That's why this week, I explore the concept of retirement resistance and how it can keep principals trapped in a cycle of burnout and dissatisfaction.   Whether you're considering retirement or a career change, this episode will help you gain clarity...

Do you ever feel discouraged or distraught by your school's performance score? As a principal, it's easy to take these ratings very personally and let them define your sense of success or failure as a leader. If you find yourself getting caught up in the trap of chasing perfection or letting a low score define your worth as a leader, this episode is for you.    I provide some perspective on school...

This week, I sit down with Dr. Jamay Fisher who brings a unique perspective to the topic of public image and school leadership. As an academic advisor and branding expert who has worked in both education and politics, Dr. Jamay sheds light on the importance of intentionally shaping your reputation and legacy to make a bigger impact in education, and what it takes to be a top-class leader.   Hear h...

Whether you're in the midst of the fall dip, dealing with a challenging situation, or simply feeling the weight of your responsibilities, empowered school leadership is all about the ability to regulate your emotions. That's why, this week, I share a powerful practice for grounding yourself and guide you through the skill of emotional regulation.   Join me in this short and sweet episode as I show...

In this episode, I explore the three different hats you wear as a leader: the leader, the teacher, and the student. By understanding and embracing these roles, you can expand your capacity to handle everything that comes your way and inspire others to develop their own empowerment.   Learn why we slip out of empowerment when we're mentally, physically, or emotionally exhausted, and the importance...

The fear of insufficiency is a universal emotion that plagues everyone from leaders to students. The good news is that while our brains love to seek evidence for all the ways we're insufficient in both school leadership and our lives outside of work, we get to redirect and reframe our thoughts, and I show you how in this episode.    Learn what it means to feel insufficient and how we can overcome...

In this episode, I talk with my long-time client Wendy Cohen, an assistant principal in New York City, about her journey of becoming a runner and how it accelerated her growth as a school leader. Coaching has taught her many lessons that have helped her navigate the ups and downs of training for a 25K trail race. But the biggest one is the power of celebrating small wins, reframing challenges as o...

Do you ever feel like you're constantly chasing organization but never quite achieving it? How often do you catch yourself saying, "I need to get organized"? If you're ready to finally break free from the endless cycle of chasing organization and step into your most organized self yet, you're in the right place.   Learn what it really means to be an organized principal and leader, and how one subt...

A conversation with a parent about a classroom assignment change doesn't have to be contentious, anxiety-ridden, or reflect negatively on you as a principal. It's not about your expertise, professionalism, or ability to make decisions. It's about a parent who wants the best for their child, and in this episode, you'll learn how to respond to these requests with intention rather than reaction.   Le...

Today, I share my journey from feeling completely powerless in my early years as a principal to founding a program that helps school leaders reconnect with their personal power. The truth is, the current education system leaves most principals feeling burned out, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled. But it doesn't have to be this way.   Discover how expanding your mind to what's possible and rewriting th...

Planning is an essential element of leadership, but too often, we develop a negative relationship with the process. We set goals that feel constrictive, scary, or disconnected from what we truly want to create. But what if instead of planning from a place of fear and doubt, we planned as though we were guaranteed to succeed?   I share a powerful framework for valuable planning that will transform...

As a school leader, it's easy to get caught up in what others are doing and feel like you're not measuring up. But the truth is, their path is different from yours, and it's important to focus on your own journey. If you're struggling with compare and despair triggers, you're in the right place because in this episode, I show you how your feelings of insufficiency are just thought errors, not real...

Your identity is simply what you believe about yourself and what you're capable of learning, doing, experiencing, handling, creating, and having. You can hold firm to your identity if it's currently serving you well, but if you feel restless or stuck on repeat, it might be time for an identity shift. Today, you will learn how evolving your identity is the key to expanding your impact, productivity...

In this episode, I share my insights on radical empowerment - what it means, why it matters, and how to embody it as a school leader. Get ready for a perspective shift that will transform how you lead.   Discover how to balance being the boss with compassion, navigate difficult emotions, and see the potential in everyone on your campus. It's time to stop seeking external validation and step into y...

The school leader's job description often requires being an expert in it all while doing everything at once. Whether you're making the shift from good to great or great to exceptional, you are not alone if you feel like you don't know what you're doing. That's why it's my mission to make leadership development a mainstream practice in every school community, and I show you how I'm doing this in to...

In this episode, I'm diving deep into how you can define what truly matters to you as a leader… but it doesn't stop there. Consistently acting in accordance with the values you set out is the other half of the equation, and I'm showing you how to do that every step of the way.   I tackle a foundational element of school leadership: aligning yourself with your core values. Learn the power of knowin...

Whether your PD day happens at the end of July, August, or even in September, I encourage you to start thinking about it right now. Many of you are expected to facilitate PD days for your teachers, but it can often feel like you're being told what to do and how to do it by your district, which can be stressful. You want to lead a PD day that you believe in, and I'm showing you how.   Hear why you...

In this Back to Basics episode, you're hearing an interview with one of my clients that is so well-loved by The Empowered Principal podcast audience. Wendy Cohen has coached with me for several years, and in this conversation, you're hearing her journey from classroom teacher to first-year school principal.    Wendy shares her journey to becoming a school leader at 30 years old, and how our work t...

Today, I'm joined by two special guests with an important message to share. Shelly Wilfong and Ryan Donlan coauthored a powerful book, bringing hope and inspiration to school leaders everywhere. The book is called Ensuring Teachers Matter: Where to Focus First So Students Matter Most, and it's all about the topic of mattering.   Tune in this week to discover how to help your teachers feel energize...

There's no school leader on the planet who doesn't ever get it wrong, misspeak, or make a decision they later regret. We're all human, and spinning in guilt, avoiding your negative thoughts and feelings, or criticizing yourself endlessly doesn't help. If you want to go into the new school year feeling fresh and ready to go, you must let go of any past thoughts, memories, or decisions that are weig...

The reality of school leadership is that there's always too much to do and never enough time to do it. With countless projects, events, and instructional coaching sessions vying for attention, it's easy to get lost in the chaos. Instead of simply coaching you to manage your thoughts, I'll be sharing actionable steps on what to do when the pressure is on and everyone is looking to you for support....

The Summer of Fun 2024 is kicking off in the Empowered Principal Facebook group  right now! If you want to have fun at work and enjoy your life outside of it, but having fun feels unsafe, irresponsible, or unacceptable, this is a must-listen episode.   Learn what happens when you embrace having fun as a leader, and why sacrificing fun isn't helping you become the leader you want to be. Hear how pa...

I love when my clients come to me with an energy of deep desire and compelling urgency around their goals. While this lights me up, there's a dark side to our urge to rush, and it's causing you unnecessary pain and suffering.   Learn why we often have the urge to rush and how to stop so you can truly embrace the present moment. Hear why there is absolutely no need to rush, and what happens when yo...

In most cases, you're in meetings where everyone will likely have different opinions. There might be people who are for a decision while some are against it, and maybe there are lots of options or theories presented at the table. Your job, as a school leader, is to look at the common goal and come up with a decision-making protocol that leads to a productive solution.   If you find yourself in mee...