Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

As schools re-open across the globe, Principal Matters listeners have been sharing common experiences and lessons learned, including in Ireland. Toirdealbhach Ó Lionáird  serves a principal of Coláiste Ghobnatan, a second level high school in southwest Ireland. With 235 students, he has been the Principal there since 2017 and Deputy there since 2012. In addition, he teaches classes in French...

“Students are at the heart of all we do,” says Principal Anne-Marie Maw. “If you’re ever struggling with what to do, put the students at the heart of your decision, and it will always make the decision easier.” This week I’m sharing the beginning of a new series on lessons from principals across the globe, beginning with an interview with Anne-Marie Maw, principal of St. Agatha&#...

As co-host and Principal Jen Schwanke explains, the system we live in requires us to make some of the biggest decisions of life with our gut feelings. Photo by kenteegardin – Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License  https://www.flickr.com/photos/26373139@N08 The good news is that you do not have to rely on gut feeling to find the right fit in leadership. What are steps you...

Spring time brings new opportunities. For some educators, it is a time of year when you may start feeling a little restless. Photo by Ravi Roshan – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@ravi_roshan_inc?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Perhaps you will be considering new candidates for openings at your school. Or ma...

Andrew O’Farrell has been the Principal of Beach Street Middle School in West Islip, New York since 2009. Prior to becoming a principal, Andrew was an assistant principal of Lindenhurst Middle School.  Andrew began his journey in education as a Social Studies teacher and then became the Dean of Students at Dyker Heights Intermediate School I.S. 201 in Brooklyn NY.  Andrew has been married to his w...

This week, I had the privilege to interview TJ Warren, Director of Programs for Stand in the Gap Ministries. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Stand in the Gap is an organization committed to impacting the lives of orphans, widows and prisoners in partnership with generous donations from individuals, churches and businesses as well as various foundations. Specifically, he has been directly involved with...

This week I have the privilege of interviewing Emily Paschall about her new book, Eyes on Culture: Multiply Excellence in Your School . As you know, culture drives the outcomes of your school, and Emily unpacks ways to not only live your own excellence, but to multiply excellence in others. In her book, you will learn: How to use your lived experiences to help someone else How to unlock the key to...

Winter is a time of year for frigid temperatures across much of the U.S. It is also a time of year when principals look ahead. Photo by mostafa meraji – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@mostafa_meraji?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Many education leaders may also be considering new positions as they think about t...

When I was a little boy, I remember sitting in a small theater with my family where we watched the 1977 release of the first  Star Wars movie. Photo by Tobias Cornille – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@tobiasc?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit It was a pivotal moment. The visual effects and music were like nothing...

What do you do when every decision is a new one? How do you keep perspective amidst decision-fatigue? Photo by Laura Chouette – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@laurachouette?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit This week, Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, joins me for a conversatio...

In the book David and Goliath (Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants) by Malcolm Gladwell, the author presents two ideas in the introduction of his book. First, he says that much of what we consider valuable in our world arises out of ‘lop-sided’ conflicts – the act of facing overwhelming odds creates moments of greatness and beauty. Second, he says that we consistently get thes...

Years ago, when I was transitioning from assistant principal to high school principal, my superintendent gave me an assignment to map out goals for the next three years of my school. Photo by shixart1985 – Creative Commons Attribution License  https://www.flickr.com/photos/156445661@N02 What was helpful about this assignment was the long-term planning required. Determining where I...

Have you ever had a dream you’ve been unable to fulfill? Phil Vischer was born in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1967. He grew up mesmerized by Disney films, Star Wars, and later by MTV. Phil also came from a family that was deeply religious. As he grew up, he longed to see media created that would portray his Christian values in ways that were both appealing and entertaining. Phil Vischer was a technology w...

This past semester, Dr. Jeff Springer has helped me facilitate the weekly book study portion of our Principal Matters Mastermind. In this week’s podcast episode, we share Part 2 of a conversation about the benefits of Masterminds for education leaders. Dr. Springer’s dissertation was on the power of play at the secondary level. As we planned for this show, Jeff asked me, “What if we took each tene...

As you are wrapping up the semester, I wanted to send this note of encouragement. Photo by Brooke Lark – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@brookelark?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit This semester you have managed school in ways you never have before. Some of you have served students who have been at home all semest...

This past semester, I had the honor of leading a Mastermind with principals from across the U.S. Photo by Viviana Rishe – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@vivirishe?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Like eating a meal with family members each week, a Mastermind is a way for consistent growth with people you trust an...

In last week’s episode , Colonel Brad Ruttman shared lessons from his military experience that may also apply to education leaders. Oklahoma Air National Guard photo  by Master Sgt. C.T. Michael This week, he unpacks more of his “Pocket-List for Leading a New Command” as well as some of his favorite leadership quotes. Meet Colonel Brad Ruttman  Col. Brad Ruttman is a 21-year veter...

Leadership is tactical, operational and strategic. These are three words Colonel Brad Ruttman has learned as the framework for understanding how to help others accomplish their goals. In this week’s episode, I had the privilege of learning lessons from a fighter pilot that also apply for all leaders, including in education. Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. C.T. Michael Meet Colonel...

This week I’m honored to talk to Jethro Jones about his new book,  SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves . Five years ago, I had the privilege to talk to Jethro Jones, host of the Transformative Principal Podcast , about my first book. That conversation began a friendship that we have enjoyed since then. Jethro...

This week I had the privilege of being interviewed by Joshua Stamper for his podcast, Aspire: The Leadership Development Podcast.   When our mutual friend, Jimmy Casas, from ConnectEdd.org , encouraged us to talk about my new book, I was in for a real treat. Not only did we discuss Pause. Breathe. Flourish.: Living Your Best Life as an Educator , but also, we unpacked several other topics tog...

This week Jen Schwanke continues asking me questions about my new book Pause. Breathe. Flourish. Living Your Best Life as an Educator. Jen Schwanke is the principal of Indian Run Elementary and author of two books,  You’re The Principal, Now What?  and  The Principal Re-Boot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership . Photo by Andrew Neel – Creative Commons No known copyrig...

When Jen Schwanke and I sat down to talk about my new book this week, Jen turned the microphone to ask me some questions. Photo by Jonathan Farber – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@farber?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Jen Schwanke is the principal of Indian Run Elementary and author of two books, You’re Th...

This year’s pandemic has made it difficult to see my parents as they live a long distance and are both in a vulnerable age group. Instead of posting about education this week, I want to share some personal reflections here instead. It was Sunday, October 27, 1963, 57 years ago at the time of this writing. Polly Kathryn & J.D. Parker, 1963 My mother, Polly Kathryn Carter, with wispy brown...

Although it is so important to understand your “why” in leadership, it is also imperative to understand “how” to effectively do your work. This week’s guest, Dr. Justin Thomas, provides practical feedback from his years as an elementary principal with several takeaways from his new book, A Principal’s Toolbox: Real Talk on Tackling School Leadership (2020) . The Principal’s Toolb...

During the summer, several principals from across the nation joined me for a Re-Opening Mastermind to collaborate, explore, brainstorm and support one another during the difficult days of planning for a new school year. Photo by Ben White – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@benwhitephotography?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=...