The Assistant Principal Podcast

You’ve heard me talk about the flywheel. It is the process of providing professional development, following it up with targeted observations, and using observation data to drive the next round of professional development. As with so many things, while the concept is simple, execution is difficult. The flywheel will look different in different schools, and today’s guest shares with us a highly deve...

I had a lot of fun writing this week’s emails. Last week I met and worked with some incredible people, and it just made the whole week special. I hope that positivity radiates through this week’s messages. Today’s episode of Five for Friday recaps the strategic leadership emails for the week of March 27-31, 2023.

You’ve heard me talk about the flywheel. It is the process of providing professional development, following it up with targeted observations, and using observation data to drive the next round of professional development. As with so many things, while the concept is simple, execution is difficult. The flywheel will look different in different schools, and today’s guest shares with us a highly deve...

Simple fences, small wins, and three tips for interviewing. But wait, there’s more! Today’s episode of Five for Friday recaps the strategic leadership emails for the week of March 20-24, 2023. 

So many teachers to coach but so little time! A simple coaching cycle might consist of a Five minute pre-conference, 30-minute observation, 10-minute post conference, and 30 minutes of professional development. Most APs don’t have 75 minutes to invest in a single coaching cycle. But what if there was a form of coaching that would allow you to do 15 coaching sessions in the same amount of time as a...

Today’s episode of Five for Friday recaps the strategic leadership emails for the week of March 13-17, 2023. 

Are the keys to being a great teacher the same as the keys to being a great principal? And are those keys the same for being a great assistant principal? We will unlock the answers to those questions today, with a very special guest.

This week I took a break from the daily emails. Mara did a great job filling in, but rather than try and tell her story today, I thought I’d share a bit about what waterfalls can teach us about school change.   I often think about leadership, and the prevalence of water in the Smoky’s almost guarantees that it will feature prominently in my thoughts, so here are some things we can learn about scho...

Do you work too many hours? Do you feel like there is never enough time? Do you ever miss your family and friends? Today, my guest, Danny Bauer and myself will explore some keys to a mindshift that will help you rethink how you approach your work and, more importantly, your own health.

Today’s episode of Five for Friday recaps the strategic leadership emails for the week of February 27-March 3, 2023.

Leadership is a journey and although I talk about it being a journey of five stages, we never truly arrive, and this is a great thing! A never-ending leadership journey is good news because it means we are never done growing, and we can always be getting better. Every day I have an opportunity to do better, to be better, and so do you – how cool is that!?! Register for the webinar: https://www.fre...

For about three weeks we had a tight focus on mentoring. I hope you embraced the three core messages: Spend more time with and show more appreciation for your mentor If you don’t have a mentor, find one Be intentional about mentoring others Beginning this week we pivoted to our next big theme: traveling the five stages from being an urgent leader to a strategic one. This week’s big idea: You can’t...

 Part two of our incredible interview with Dr. Jan Osborn. This week we learn more life lessons and hear more good stories from Jan!

One of the beauties of life is that over time we collect special ideas from cherished people. Through deep connections with friends, colleagues, and mentors, we become better people. Some of us even become referred to as wise. Wisdom is not something mysterious. Wisdom does not come from contemplating life on a mountaintop. Real wisdom comes from a unique combination of thievery and sharing. Wise...

In my junior year of college Dr. Bob Kelly said to me, “I predict that someday you will earn your doctorate.” His statement planted the seed of an idea that had not been there before. In 1994 I enrolled in a Special Education course at the University of Findlay. That course was taught by Dr. Jan Osborn, who not only pushed me to get that doctorate, but supported me every step of the way, and conti...

None of this week’s messages were earth shattering or focused on big changes, but that is the whole point. It is the small changes that matter. Making one or two small changes today lets us invest an extra minute or two in supporting someone who needs it – and that is where the big change happens. Today’s episode of Five for Friday recaps the strategic leadership emails for the week of February 6-...

Show Notes, Episode 97: Every building, every class, every day! About this show: Unless you are a first-time listener, you have heard me talk about the flywheel – the core set of instructional practices that drive continual teacher growth. But what does this flywheel look like in practice, in a real school? We explore the answer today with a special principal who has a reputation for supporting an...

Five for Friday Show Notes Teaser: This week was all about leadership as a concept. What is leadership? Beyond what leadership is, we looked out how leaders gain power, and the ability they have to build – or destroy. In today’s episode I will deviate significantly from the short messages of the week and expand on these important themes. This week’s big idea: Real leadership is about people Hello...

Show Notes, Episode 95: All Other Duties as Assigned with Dr. Ryan Donlan About this show:  There are a couple of closely related questions I am frequently asked:As an AP, what’s my role in helping to support the principal’s vision? How do I lead if my principal and I have different leadership styles? How do I practice instructional and/or visionary leadership if I’m stuck doing butts, buses, and...

Five for Friday Show Notes Teaser: Outside of Monday, the theme running through this week’s emails is care. We look at care from a couple of different perspectives that include increasing attention, decreasing attention, and giving some love to the second principle of leverage – working A-B. Hello colleagues and welcome to The Assistant Principal Podcast, I’m your host Dr. Frederick Buskey.  I’ve...

Show Notes, Episode 93: Cultivating Motivation with Mike Anderson About this show:  There once was an old man who didn’t like baseball. He likes quiet and solitude. But every day all summer long, the neighborhood kids would gather at the empty field next to the man’s house and play ball all day long, yelling, screaming, and sometimes crying. The man put up with the noisy kids for years, until fina...

Five for Friday Show Notes Teaser: Today’s Five for Friday will be a bit different. Leading off we will talk about the best pot to use for cooking oatmeal. I bet you didn’t see that coming! After the brief cooking lesson, we’ll invest the rest of our time exploring a question I received from a reader last week. This week’s big idea: Strategies for coaching up Hello colleagues and welcome to The As...

Show Notes, Episode 91: Meet the New Principal with Dr. Sam Sircey Part 2 About this show:  I’m working with three new principals this year. They are all first-year principals in new schools, two of them in a new district. Going to a new school is never easy, not for a new principal, not for a new assistant principal. However, most of you listening have either gone through that experience or will...

Five for Friday Show Notes Teaser:   This week’s big idea: We are here to support people, and the first step in supporting is listening.   Hello colleagues and welcome to The Assistant Principal Podcast, I’m your host Dr. Frederick Buskey.  I’ve been growing leaders and future leaders for over 30 years. Through my own experiences, and through working with hundreds of other leaders, I’ve learned th...

Outline Guest: Sam Sircey Preferred name/title? Relax and laugh Will be video recording and may use small or big pieces Small things won’t be edited If there is a gaff – long pause Intro-interview-outro Questions for me? FB hit record Show Description: I’m working with three new principals this year. They are all first-year principals in new schools, two of them in a new district. Going to a new s...