Control+Shift+Lead: The Education Leadership Podcast

Is your school culture defined by your mission statement or your daily actions? In this conversation, Jim, Adam, and Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket explore the complex and essential role of trust in school improvement. Together we examine how small, consistent acts build a dependable leadership presence and why unpredictable behavior quickly destabilizes a building environment. We sit down with Dr. Rachel...

Why do clear school initiatives stall six months after everyone nods along in your staff meeting? It’s because positional authority can only mandate basic compliance—it can never cultivate true commitment. If your plan is "clearly communicated" but your educators aren't moving, you don't have a communication problem; you have an influence challenge. In this special one-year anniversary episode of...

Are you and your staff just "crawling to the finish line"? 🏃‍♂️ The "May Slide" can drain the energy out of even the best school cultures. Discover how to stay present, celebrate the journey, and finish the year with purpose. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Control+Shift+Lead, hosts Adam Busch and Jim Wichman host a leadership roundtable with Dr. Jeremy Braden and Dr. Jill Urich. We tackle the...

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹'𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆? ⚾️Dr. Chad Lang joins us to explain why "tightening the strike zone" on assessment is the only way to prepare students for a globalized world where competency is king. In this episode of Control+Shift+Lead, hosts Jim Wichman and Adam Busch talk with Dr. Chad Lang about the intersection of leadership, assessment, and the "real world." Dr....

Is your feedback building professional capacity or simply creating anxiety? In this episode of Control Shift Lead, hosts Jim Wichman and Adam Busch sit down with school administrator Kanika Dorsey to dismantle the "gotcha" culture of school observations. Kanika shares her powerful framework for moving toward non-evaluative feedback, emphasizing that the most impactful leadership happens when you l...

In the mid-winter stretch of the school year, it’s easy for leaders to feel the weight of "the woes"—that heavy, gray season where the list of tasks grows faster than the daylight. In this episode, 32-year veteran educator Bob Long joins us to discuss a simple but transformative leadership standard: being exactly where your feet are. Designed for school administrators and lead learners, this conve...

Welcome to the first show of 2026! We are kicking off the New Year with a "heavy hitter" in the world of education. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Matt Townsley, an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Northern Iowa and the acclaimed author of Making Grades Matter. If you have ever felt that traditional grading systems—driven by points, percentages, and "extra...

Are you just counting down the days until winter break, or are you actively building energy to carry your staff through it? In this episode of Control Shift Lead, we are joined by Jim Dutrow, Principal of Lake Ridge Middle School in Prince William County. Together, we explore how to shift the December mindset from "survival mode" to "thriving mode." We discuss the power of being mentally present a...

The pace of AI and EdTech evolution can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be a source of fear—it's a core leadership opportunity. Join the Control, Shift, Lead team as they welcome recognized educational technology leader and sought-after speaker, Amy Wichman . Amy, an administrator actively helping districts manage rapidly evolving technology, helps us re-frame the challenge: Control the...

In this episode of Control Shift Lead, hosts Jim Wichman and Adam Busch welcome Scott Jarvis, an expert in athletic administration and leadership. The conversation explores the importance of controlling one's time, shifting perspectives in leadership, and leading with love and vulnerability. Scott emphasizes that everyone has the potential to be a leader and that building relationships and trust i...

Welcome back to Control Shift Lead! In this episode, hosts Jim Wichman and Adam Busch dive into the back-to-school reality, sharing their personal experiences with the exhaustion and excitement of the first few days. They reflect on the differences between starting the school year on a Monday versus a Wednesday and share some great stories, including Jim's recent travels and speaking engagements i...

Welcome back to Control Shift Lead! In this August episode, Jim Wichman and Adam Busch dive into "The Power of Simple," reminding ourselves how often we overlook its profound impact. Get ready for actionable insights you can implement immediately. First, under "Control," we explore "Optimizing Your First Staff Meeting Agendas." Discover how streamlining your initial meetings can set a positive and...

This sneak peek from Control-Shift-Lead, with hosts Jim Wichman and Adam Busch, highlights how powerful leadership principles enhance loyalty and trust in any community, especially in education. Get a glimpse of insights on effective communication and development among leaders.  This offers a taste of the practical advice from the full episode, designed to help you lead your school or district. Le...

Join Jim Wichman from Inspired Edification and Adam Busch from AWB Education on Control Shift Lead as they explore empowered leadership, especially for educators during the summer. This episode covers crucial aspects of planning effective evaluation schedules, moving beyond checklist exercises to intentional, high-value processes. Jim and Adam share insights on shifting to an energy-giving leaders...

In this episode of Control Shift Lead, hosts Jim Wichman and Adam Busch explore the critical leadership demands of June, a pivotal month for school leaders. They discuss how to regain control through personal well-being and strong team connections, offering communication protocols and suggestions that encourage prioritizing human connection over digital overload. Discover how to transform August m...

With the school year down to its final stretch, join Jim Wichman and Adam Busch on CTRL+SHIFT+LEAD as they navigate the crucial art of finishing strong with both grace and understanding. In this debut episode, Jim and Adam explore the two sides of the end-of-year coin: the urge to simply count down the days versus the power of making a lasting positive impact right up to the very last bell. Discov...