Leaning into Leadership

What if the real cause of educator burnout isn’t a lack of resilience or self-care—but the workplace itself? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Darrin is joined by longtime friend and national thought leader  Nathan Eklund , founder of  Vital Network , to explore how schools can reimagine themselves as vibrant, sustainable workplaces for educators. With over 20 years in educ...

Episode 210 – Schools That Give an F: Clarity, Culture, and Contribution with Rob McLeod In this episode, Darrin is joined by international educator and podcast host  Rob McLeod  to explore a critical leadership conversation: school alignment. Drawing from his own career across three countries and multiple school systems, Rob shares how he rediscovered his passion by finding alignment be...

In this special midweek crossover episode with the Teach Better Podcast, Darrin sits down with Teach Better CEO and Co-founder Chad Ostrowski to dive deep into one of the most important leadership tasks schools face: planning professional development that actually moves the needle. Darrin and Chad unpack the mistakes too many schools make—like treating PD as a day, not a movement—and offer a pract...

What if your biggest mistakes became the very stories that helped others succeed? In this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Kevin Mecchella — former class clown turned classical musician, educator, and nationally recognized student speaker — to talk about the power of decision-making and how schools can equip students with tools to choose better every day...

In this inspiring episode, Darrin sits down with Ronn Nozoe, lifelong educator and Chief Executive Officer of NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals). Together, they explore the current landscape of school leadership, the importance of supporting new leaders, and how educators can take ownership of their professional growth. Ronn shares reflections from his journey — from a cla...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Brandi Kelly—author, speaker, coach, and founder of  Spark Hope EDU —to explore what it truly means to  Lead with Hope . Dr. Kelly shares her deeply personal story that led her to develop the HOPE framework: Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence. Through her new book and nationwide work with leaders, Brandi cha...

In this episode, I’m joined by Jimmy Casas —best-selling author, leadership coach, and former award-winning principal. Jimmy and I dive into his incredible journey from bar manager to one of the most recognized school leaders in the country. We unpack the power of origin stories, the traps of superhero leadership, and why leaders must know who they want to be in order to lead effectively. Jimmy sh...

In this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with the brilliant William D. Parker—an award-winning former principal, author, speaker, and executive coach. Will is the founder of Principal Matters, LLC and the host of  Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast , with over 1.5 million downloads. Through his coaching, books, and virtual leadership academie...

Mid-Month Edition with Todd Bloomer & Dominic Armano This month, the Three Amigos—Darrin Peppard, Todd Bloomer, and Dominic Armano—are back with an episode that dives headfirst into one of the most common questions they get: “How do I land that principal job?” From the nerves of the interview to that surreal moment when you finally kick your feet up in the principal’s chair (even if it only la...

Dr. Frank Rudnesky is a professional speaker, author, and educational leader known for his contagious energy and passion for leadership. He has penned several books, including  Fired Up Leadership ,  Fired Up Student Leadership , and  50 Great Things Leaders Do: Let’s Get Fired Up . Dr. Rudnesky draws on his extensive experience as a teacher and award-winning middle school principal...

On this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin welcomes Chris Dormer , Superintendent of Norristown Area School District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Chris brings nearly three decades of educational experience from diverse settings, including roles as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. Chris shares powerful insights into shifting school leadership from crisis mode—s...

In this milestone 200th episode of the  Leaning Into Leadership  podcast, host Dr. Darrin Peppard reflects deeply on the theme of commitment. Darrin shares personal insights and impactful stories highlighting how his commitment to delivering weekly episodes since January 2022 has shaped the podcast and his journey as a leadership speaker, coach, and author. He celebrates the community of...

Grab your copy of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools from your favorite vendor: Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get your autographed copy here . In this episode, Darrin Peppard sits down with Rae Hughart , educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Teachers Deserve It (TDI) movement. Rae is passionate about empowering educators to reclaim thei...

In this special encore presentation, we revisit one of our most inspiring conversations with educator and author Katie Kinder . Katie is the celebrated author of  Untold Teaching Truths,   Hallway Leadership , and now co-author of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools . She is an award-winning educator, and a dynamic professional develo...

Get Your Copy of Culture First Classrooms! Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools   launches tomorrow, March 17! This book is packed with insights from educators across the country on how to build a thriving school culture. Don’t miss out! Get it NOW on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get an autographed copy here In This Episode, We Cover: Ho...

In this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , host Darrin Peppard welcomes back David James, a 7th-grade social studies teacher at Harold E. Winkler Middle School in Concord, North Carolina. Known for his leadership both in the classroom and through his work with the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education (NCMLE), David shares powerful insights into what it takes to lead effect...

In this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin sits down with  Bobby Canosa-Carr , a leadership coach, former principal, mindfulness teacher, and author of  Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School. They dive deep into  how disempowerment impacts school leaders, teachers, and students —and what we can do about it. Bobby shares his journey fro...

In this powerful episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with longtime friend and educational thought leader  Bradlee W. Skinner  to discuss the journey through failure, teacher retention, and the importance of empowering educators. Bradlee opens up about his personal struggles with burnout, stepping away from education, and the pivotal moments that brough...

In this episode, returning guest  Katie Kinder  joins Dr. Darrin Peppard for a  behind-the-scenes look  at their upcoming book,  Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools . They dive into the journey of co-authoring a book, the power of classroom culture, and how fostering strong relationships  transforms schools. Katie...

In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the journey of writing  Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools , my upcoming book co-authored with Katie Kinder! We dive into: ✅ The writing process—what it’s like to co-author a book and how it differs from writing solo ✅ How we identified the 21 incredible educators who contributed the...

📢  Connect with Dr. Darrin Peppard: Looking for leadership coaching, professional development, or support for your leadership team? Let’s connect! Reach out via my website at  roadtoawesome.net  or connect with me on  LinkedIn ,  Twitter/X , or  Facebook . I’d love to support you on your leadership journey! Episode Summary: In this episode of  Leaning Into Leade...

In this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with  Dr. Joe Famularo , a veteran educator and superintendent, to explore his  IOU Leadership  framework. Dr. Famularo shares his journey from classroom teacher to district leader, the principles that guide his leadership, and how the  IOU model — Inward, Outward, and Upward Leadership —helps leade...

In this episode of the  Leaning Into Leadership  podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard is joined by Barb Flowers, Principal of the U.S. Elementary Division at Eastwood Global and a certified life coach specializing in leadership development for principals. Barb shares her journey from being a brick-and-mortar school leader to helping launch an innovative online school and homeschooling program whi...

Welcome to episode 188 of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast! In this mid-month episode, Darrin is joined once again by his recurring guests, Todd Bloomer, a high school principal from San Antonio, TX, and Dominic Armano, an elementary principal from Long Island, NY. Together, they dive into the human side of leadership, sharing stories, challenges, and practical insights for leaders at every lev...

Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course,  Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leade...