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

When Don Parker was a Dean of Students, he knew his students were struggling – especially those with high risk factors. Photo by Anders Jildén – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@andersjilden?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Don’s passion became simple and challenging: Find the best ways to help students be mo...

This week I had the privilege of capturing a few minutes with Chris Legleiter, Principal of Leawood Middle School, Blue Valley Schools, just outside Kansas City, Missouri.  Photo by Amelie & Niklas Ohlrogge – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@pirye?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit The state of Kansas has closed...

As schools across the nation continue closures because of the Coronavirus pandemic, this week’s episode includes an update from listener, Terrence Simmons , Assistant Principal at Floyd Elementary, in Nye County, Nevada. Photo by UW-Colleges / UW-Extension – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License https://www.flickr.com/photos/95808258@N00 Their team has already launche...

Throughout the world, schools are managing the challenges of school closures in response to news of the spreading corona virus or COVID-19. Photo by Chris Benson – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@lordmaui?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As a school leader, you are expected to manage difficulties, but sometimes yo...

What stories have shaped your own leadership journey? Photo by photo-nic.co.uk nic – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@chiro?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit I recently finished reading, Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover . If you’re unfamiliar with the book, Tara Westover grew up in a rural Idaho with parents...

Why is hiring such an important part of your responsibility as a principal? Photo by Jony Ariadi – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@joniastin?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit First and foremost, because the students, teachers, and community members deserve high quality education experiences. And secondly, because t...

One day the teachers at Indian Run Elementary, in Dublin, Ohio, organized a “Flash TACO bar” – a spontaneous buffet meal where they shared great food and fun together. Photo by rawpixel – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@rawpixel?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As principal of the school, Jen Schwanke reflected on the j...

It goes without saying that in order to lead you must have followers. Photo by Luke Porter – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@lukeporter?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit But taking others to a destination doesn’t just mean accomplishing all the to-do’s on your checklist. Leadership requires relationship...

“When is a time you have used grit, and what lesson did you learn?” Photo by Adrian Pereira – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@adrianluisp10?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit This is just one of 100 questions you find included in the Table Talk Cards that come as a bonus with the book Generation Z U...

Students today face newer and different challenges than students of the past. Photo by Joaquin VillaverdePhotography – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlikeLicense  https://www.flickr.com/photos/46078235@N03 Although many of the skills or values they need to be successful remain the same regardless of time and place, they also have unique challenges that make t...

I am digging into the archives of Principal Matters to bring you an episode from January 2018, when I had the privilege to interview Dr. Judi Barber. Photo by Craig  Whitehead – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@sixstreetunder?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit First, let me tell you a story. During the...

This week I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with a team of new assistant principals. Photo by Matteo Vistocco – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@mrsunflower94?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As we talked about their first semester, they shared the lessons they’ve learned in time management, communi...

What does it take for small actions to produce big results? Photo by Blake Lisk – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@blakeliskphoto?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Over Christmas break, I listened to the audio-version of Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and learned s...

Last week my family and I traveled back to Tennessee to see my parents and extended family. Photo by Kelly Sikkema – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@kellysikkema?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit My parents both turned 79 this past year. Life has slowed down a lot for them now. One of my mother’s favorit...

Just like you, I can think of many reasons to worry about the future or raise concerns about trends that have developed over the past decade. Photo by Kelsey Knight – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions  ://unsplash.com/@kelsoknight?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credithttps Whether that includes increases in school shootings, soaring...

A few weeks ago, I was sharing with a group of principals one of my favorite video-clips from the movie, The Incredibles . It’s the scene where Lucius, aka the superhero, Frozone, is watching as his city is under attack from his apartment window. He pushes a button on his remote control to open a wall in his living room. When the secret compartment opens, the space is empty where his supersuit sho...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed in trying to balance priorities? Photo by Stephen Leonardi – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@stephenleo1982?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit If you’re like me, you can probably think of more than once where student discipline, parent concerns, and teacher feedback provided you more tasks t...

In October 2018, William Stubbs, an instructional leadership director at Oklahoma City Public Schools at the time, entered and won the Teach for America’s Shark Tank OKC as a contestant in the city’s Shark Tank competition. Photo by Got Credit – Creative Commons Attribution License  https://www.flickr.com/photos/144008357@N08 He was awarded $10,000 to implement stronger partnerships an...

Do you remember what is was like to be a middle school student? For many people, memories of those years often bring back stories filled with anxiety and awkward physical, emotional, and social changes. According to Phyllis Fagell, however, those years can be good ones. “Probably what people might be most surprised to know is that I actually had a positive middle school experience, and I was reall...

Every person in your school is at a different level of growth. Not just students, but teachers are also at stages of growth. Leadership is not any different. Photo by mikecohen1872 – Creative Commons Attribution License  https://www.flickr.com/photos/143106192@N03 Some educators are just beginning the journey. Others are finishing their first few years, and some are experiencing years of mas...

When I was in college, I had a blue 1981 Toyota Celica that overheated on the long trip to Oklahoma, and the engine burned up. Photo by Mantas Hesthaven – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@mantashesthaven?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit It was my first car. I had bought it with the money I earned over summers...

Whenever you think about your best teachers, I’m sure you think about the ones who make learning engaging, meaningful and memorable. Photo by Mervyn Chan – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@mervynckw?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit I often call these “magic teachers” because it seems they can...

Six years ago, on October 31, 2013, my son Jack was eight years old. Photo by Will Montague – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License  https://www.flickr.com/photos/36607441@N05 We had just finished an amazing day of trick-or-treating, and he asked if he could change back into his normal clothes. This was a big deal because he had been wearing a hosptial gown for almost...

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to spend a few hours sailing on the Chesapeake Bay with Dave Sandowich. Photo by Bobby Burch – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions  https://unsplash.com/@bobbyburchphotography?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit He commanded his 42-foot sailboat, Charis, with the skill of a man who has spent the past...

If you are like most school leaders, time management can be one of the most difficult parts of your work. Most new school leaders I meet explain how overwhelming the list of to-do’s can be. What are the solutions? Well, Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang provide a wealth of information on resources and practices that work in managing your time. Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang are the authors...