Leaning into Leadership

In this episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard is joined by  Dr. Kacy Shahid  and  Dr. Kevin Lein , members of NASSP’s  Principal Recovery Network . They share their personal journeys through tragedy, the lessons they’ve learned, and the hope they bring to school leaders everywhere. Key Themes Leading through crisis and recovery The role of empathy, vulnerability, and preparation How the&...

In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard dives into the leadership buzzwords we all hear — and probably use — without stopping to define. Words like  collaboration, accountability, engagement, data-driven,  and  professional development  can either sharpen our work or blur it entirely, depending on how leaders frame them. Darrin shares Webster’s definitions of 10 powerful words...

Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Jason Williamson—speaker, author, and creator of the  Second Mile Mentality —to explore how leaders move beyond minimum expectations and build cultures where presence becomes proof. From a tiny Arkansas town to college athletics and the principal’s office, Jason’s journey shaped a practical framework for resilience, excellence, and intentional service. He...

In Episode 233 of the  Leaning Into Leadership  podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard welcomes Brad Waid — award-winning Emerging Technology Leader, international keynote speaker, and global futurist. Brad shares insights from his forthcoming book  Racing the Future: How Industry 4.0 Is Shaping the World of Work, Business, and Education . They explore the intersection of AI, Industry 4.0, and...

In this solo episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard dives into the heartbeat of every great school: its culture. Drawing from personal experiences as a principal and superintendent, as well as insights from his writing and coaching, Darrin unpacks six essential elements of school culture and how leaders can directly influence each one. From clarity of vision to the importanc...

This week on the  Leaning Into Leadership  podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jen Schwanke, a seasoned educator, author, and deputy superintendent with nearly three decades of experience. Together, we explore the history of public education and why times of societal unrest so often result in schools being placed under the spotlight. Dr. Schwanke shares insights from her doctoral research, her...

What if your approach to leadership could be defined by just six words:  Be brave, and care about people ? Julia Bialeski has lived those words throughout her 20+ year career in public education, serving as a teacher, instructional specialist, assistant principal, elementary principal, and now Coordinator of Recruitment and Hiring for the Howard County Public School System in Maryland. She’s...

The energy of a new school year is electric — but how do you make sure it lasts past the first bell in August? In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares five intentional leadership moves to keep your momentum alive from day one to the final bell. Drawing from his own experience as a principal, superintendent, and leadership coach, Darrin gives practical, actionable strategies you can start u...

In this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Chad Dumas—PLC expert, consultant, and author of the new book  The Teacher Team Leader Handbook . Together, they unpack what it takes to build highly effective PLCs in schools, with a strong focus on clarity, trust, and the role of teacher team leaders. 🔑 Topics covered: Why PLCs often get stuck—and how...

In this special joint episode of  Leaning Into Leadership  and  Aspire to Lead , Darrin Peppard and Joshua Stamper team up once again for their annual back-to-school leadership conversation. As educators and leaders gear up for a new year, Darrin and Joshua dive deep into: What clarity looks like at the start of the school year How new leaders can define success before the chaos beg...

Too many school leaders wear burnout like a badge of honor. Dan Stecken was one of them—until he hit a wall. In this episode, Dan, the Superintendent of Seneca Township High School in Illinois, joins Darrin to share his powerful journey from overwhelmed and unhealthy to intentional and empowered. Dan opens up about the toll leadership took on his health, the fallacy of servant leadership without s...

In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares the framework and mindset behind truly effective leadership teams. Drawing on his work from coast to coast, including a recent workshop at the Innovative Schools Summit in Nashville, Darrin explains why high-performing leadership teams don’t happen by accident—they’re built with clarity, trust, and purpose. Through powerful stories and practical take...

In Episode 224 , Dr. Chris Fuzie joins Darrin for a fascinating conversation on behavior-based leadership and the concept of “liminal space”—the space where individuals lead and follow simultaneously. Drawing from his 28 years in law enforcement and extensive leadership consulting experience, Chris breaks down how leadership is not a position but a behavior, and how great leaders also embrace the...

In episode 223, Darrin wraps up the special six-part NASSP Principal of the Year finalist series with an inspiring conversation with  Shauna Haney , Principal of Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah. Shauna shares her journey from teacher and coach to school leader, and how her coaching background helped shape her leadership philosophy. We dig into the systems she and her team have put in place t...

In this episode of the  Leaning Into Leadership  podcast, Darrin sits down with fellow high school principal and podcast host  Jeff Linden , Principal of Hastings High School in Nebraska. With a shared passion for culture and leadership, Jeff and Darrin dive into what it really takes to build a thriving school environment—especially for those stepping into leadership roles for the f...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with  Miguel Salazar , principal of Sundown Middle School and NASSP National Middle School Principal of the Year finalist. Miguel shares his deeply personal story—from growing up in poverty and facing multiple challenges as a youth to becoming a leader determined to give every student a chance at success. Miguel explains how a single teac...

In this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin sits down with Joe LaTorre, a middle school English teacher, team coordinator, and founder of the Bridges program in Long Island, NY. Joe shares how looping, relationship-building, and culturally responsive practices help him build classroom communities rooted in trust and student empowerment. They dive deep into the origin and impact of Br...

In this fourth installment of our special NASSP Principal of the Year series, Darrin sits down with  Terita Walker , principal of  Denver East High School  and one of three finalists for NASSP’s 2025 National High School Principal of the Year award. Walker has transformed East into a school where inclusivity, student empowerment, and academic excellence thrive. With nearly two decad...

In this third episode of our NASSP National Principal of the Year Finalist series, we head to Ketchikan, Alaska, where Sherilynn Boehlert serves as the principal of Schoenbar Middle School. Sheri shares her inspiring leadership journey—from growing up in a family of educators to leading a Blue Ribbon elementary school and now impacting lives at the middle level. With honesty and humor, Sheri unpac...

Episode Summary: Teacher evaluation has long been a source of frustration—for both educators and administrators. In this episode of the  Leaning Into Leadership  podcast, I sit down with  Craig Randall , the developer and author of  Trust-Based Observations , to reimagine what teacher observation can and should look like. Craig shares how shifting the focus from ratings to rela...

In this inspiring episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , we continue our NASSP National Principal of the Year series with Tony Cattani, a finalist for the 2025–2026 National High School Principal of the Year. For 18 years, Tony has led Lenape High School in Medford, NJ, where he's created a thriving school culture grounded in trust, reflection, and instructional growth. Tony shares how his lea...

In this powerful kickoff to our NASSP Principal of the Year finalist series, Dr. Damon Lewis of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy in Norwalk, CT shares his incredible leadership journey—from paraeducator to transformational middle school principal. Under his leadership, chronic absenteeism dropped from 31% to 8%, equity-driven initiatives expanded access to gifted and accelerated programs, and eighth-grad...

In this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Chris Culver brings the energy, insight, and authenticity that’s made him a rising national voice in school leadership and culture. A former principal and cabinet-level administrator, Chris now leads  Orange Sparrow , a consulting practice built on the Science of Kindness and a deep understanding of generational learning needs. Chris and...

In this episode, Darrin sits down with longtime education leader and author Todd Nesloney for a powerful conversation on leadership, culture, and hiring. Todd shares his journey from instructional aide to principal, and now as the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for TEPSA. They discuss actionable insights into how schools can improve hiring processes, retain great staff, and onboard n...

In this special joint episode of  Leaning Into Leadership  and  The Assistant Principal Podcast , Dr. Darrin Peppard teams up with Dr. Frederick Buskey to explore how school leaders can take a more strategic, sustainable approach to planning for the year ahead. Together, they walk through a four-phase leadership cycle —  Prepare, Perform, Refine, and Renew  — with clear ex...