The 100 Percent Principal Podcast

It's go-time. The halls are getting decorated, the PD agendas are set, and you're knee-deep in first-day prep. But here's the hard truth: all that effort? It won't build alignment. And if you're not intentionally building alignment from Day 1, the best you can hope for is short-term compliance—and even that fades by fall. In this episode, I'll unpack: Why alignment feels impossible during the back...

Preservice week comes with a lot of pressure. You're expected to set the tone, cast the vision, get everyone excited—and somehow make it all stick. But if you've ever walked into the year full of energy only to feel it unravel by October, this episode will show you why. I'm breaking down the three subtle mistakes that quietly sabotage alignment before the school year even begins, and how to avoid...

For years, I believed that staff buy-in was the key to real school transformation. I thought that if I could just get everyone excited, inspired, and on board, the work would take care of itself. But I was wrong. In this episode, I'm breaking down why buy-in isn't just ineffective, it's actually a trap. Because if someone can buy in, they can also sell out. And that's exactly what's happening in s...

We tend to treat people problems as if they are all different and require different solutions for each situation. But in today's episode, I'm going to make the case that every people problem you face -- whether it's a resistant teacher, a toxic culture, or a broken relationship with your team -- are all different versions of the exact same problem: A lack of Alignment. And, I'm also going to show...

At their best, PLCs are a space where teachers solve real instructional problems, grow together, and make a measurable difference for students. But for too many schools, PLCs have become rigid, compliance-driven meetings that leave teachers disengaged and frustrated. In this episode, we unpack why most PLCs have lost their way—and what it takes to bring them back to life. You'll discover the one t...

It's here! Our annual Summer Reading List episode, and it's one of our most popular for a reason. This year, I'm sharing five non-education books every educator should read -- smart, practical, thought-provoking titles that weren't written for school administrators but offer powerful insights every Builder can use. From rethinking professional development to designing systems that actually work, t...

You've got the vision. You've listened to the podcast. You've even started trying some Buildership moves in your school. But if you're still piecing things together without a real plan or support, you're not building—you're borrowing. And borrowing might be the very thing holding you back. In this episode, we're getting honest about what it really takes to go from "inspired" to in motion —and why...

If you're always the one carrying the plan—chasing the deadlines, keeping the vision alive, and pushing things forward while your team drifts—this episode is for you. In this episode, I'm sharing the moment I realized traditional summer planning was setting school leaders up to fail. I'll tell you the story that changed everything for me, why most SIPs fall apart by October, and how you can shift...

You're probably wrapping up the school year and already planning for next year, believing better plans mean better results. But what if that belief is fundamentally flawed? In this episode, discover why even your best plans fall apart without a compelling vision. Learn why Builders spend their summers differently—crafting visions that truly align and energize their teams. Stop wasting time on tact...

You've written your 100% Vision, embraced the language of Buildership, and maybe even started using some of the tools, but if you're still making decisions, managing your team, and approaching your work like a leader, you're going to stay stuck. In this episode, we're unpacking the subtle ways leadership habits sneak back in, even when you believe in the vision, and why you can't build a 100% scho...

Everyone focuses on getting teachers to stay. Almost no one asks what we can learn when they leave. That's why this week, we're doing a replay of one of our most talked-about episodes. You'll discover a deceptively simple but deeply powerful strategy that most school leaders overlook, and why skipping it could be costing you insight, trust, and long-term alignment. Even if you've heard it before,...

It's that time of year when everyone's quietly tapping out. Teachers, students, even your best systems seem to be running on fumes. But what if the real problem isn't burnout… it's cultural drift? In this episode, we're digging into why the usual end-of-year leadership advice falls flat and what Builders do differently to keep staff meaningfully engaged in May. If you're ready to finish the year w...

Next week, schools everywhere are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week. But, what if we're celebrating the wrong things? In this episode, we explore how appreciation can unintentionally reinforce exhaustion, compliance, or martyrdom, and how Builders do it differently. You'll learn how to use Teacher Appreciation Week as a strategic moment to reinforce your school's vision, elevate your culture,...

What if one 15-minute conversation could give you more insight than a walkthrough, a post-observation conference, or a data meeting ever could? In this episode, I'm sharing how quarterly one-on-ones helped me build deeper alignment, spark authentic reflection, and finally understand what was really happening in classrooms. You'll hear how I used them, what shifted, and why they're the most powerfu...

When everything feels like it's falling apart—mandates shift, morale dips, and chaos creeps into the day-to-day—most principals scramble to hold things together. But Builders do something different. Instead of reacting, they anchor. In this episode, Discover how the Buildership Model isn't something you abandon in hard times—it's what carries you through them. In fact, when time's get tough, Build...

Ever had a boss shut down your work—not because it wasn't working, but because it wasn't  their  idea? In this episode, I'm talking about how to manage up like a Builder, especially when your boss is still stuck in traditional leadership thinking. I'll share five practical strategies to help you protect your vision, navigate resistance, and keep building—even when your supervisor doesn't see the v...

Most principals treat the master schedule like a logistical puzzle—but what if the real problem isn't the puzzle pieces, but the picture you're trying to build? In this episode, I unpack why master scheduling feels so frustrating, what fear is really driving all those revisions and pushbacks, and what it would look like to create a schedule that truly reflects your school's vision. If you're tired...

This week's episode is more personal than most. I just learned that one of my longtime mentors is dying, and it's made me pause and reflect on the profound impact mentorship has had on my journey. In this episode, I share what it really means to have a  mentor , not just someone who gives advice, but someone who sees who you're becoming and helps you grow into that vision. I also explore how the r...

Testing season is here, bringing intense pressure that can derail instruction, school culture, and teacher morale. With district mandates looming and high-stakes assessments weighing on students and staff, it's easy for schools to shift into panic mode. But Builders take a different approach—one that prioritizes real learning while still achieving strong results. In this episode, discover how to n...

Every spring, schools hit a slump—teachers check out, students lose focus, and principals feel like they're the only ones holding everything together. The typical response? Push harder, pile on accountability, and try to 'motivate' people back into action. But Builders know better. In this episode, we'll unpack why the Spring Slump isn't a motivation problem—it's a misalignment problem. Instead of...

Who you listen to matters more than you think. As a Builder, you're not just leading—you're transforming schools in ways that most people around you don't understand. But if the loudest voices in your ear are supervisors focused on compliance, colleagues who don't share your vision, or skeptics who think you're aiming too high, their doubts can start shaping your decisions without you even realizi...

In this episode, I break down the  5 In/5 Out Process —a simple but powerful strategy every principal should implement before the school year ends. You'll learn how this method helps eliminate learning gaps, reduces teacher overwhelm, and creates a seamless path for student success. Plus, I'll share an unexpected benefit: how it can strengthen your school culture and foster shared accountability....

We're hitting rewind on this episode because it couldn't be more relevant right now. With so many changes happening and looming, this is the perfect time to look at how to deal with district demands. If you've ever felt like district demands keep you from pursuing your 100% vision then today's episode is for you. Discover how to secure the support of your district for your 100% vision, and how to...

Is your staff truly aligned, or are you constantly chasing, checking, and correcting just to keep things moving? Hidden misalignment is one of the biggest reasons schools struggle to sustain momentum and most principals don't recognize it until it's too late. In this episode, we'll explore the three biggest ways misalignment is slowing you down, how to tell if your school has surface-level vs. tru...

If you're constantly chasing, checking, and correcting your staff, you don't have an unmotivated teacher problem—you have an alignment problem. The real reason teachers aren't fully committed isn't because they don't care, it's because they don't have the  feedback, support, culture, and accountability  needed to take full ownership of their work. In this episode, we're breaking down the  4 Staff...