The Edleadership Pair

The EdLeadership Pair: Real Conversations for Today’s School Leaders

Education EN ↓ 26 episodes

A Marzano Resources and Solution Tree podcast. As two long-time school leaders, we discuss contemporary issues that today's school leaders face. We offer insights and advice for leaders and share some of our favorite leadership experiences. You will also catch a few married couple jokes sprinkled throughout : )

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The Edleadership Pair

Episodes

What Principals are Really Facing Today | National Principal Panel - Ep 26 03.07.2026 1:17:23

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Overview In this special event episode, Mario and Courtney bring together a panel of principals from across the country for a raw, honest conversation about what school leadership feels like right now. From Iowa to Texas to North Dakota to Nevada to New Mexico, these leaders unpack the real weight of the principalship: crisis management public perception staff account...

The Clarity Your Team Craves | Summer Shorts Series - Ep 25 28.06.2026 23:13

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Overview Every school has job descriptions. But very few schools have true accountability frameworks. In this episode of the Summer Shorts Series , Mario and Courtney unpack one of the most overlooked leadership moves of the summer: building Pillars Documents . These are not just role descriptions. They are clarity systems. They define: Why each role exists What succ...

The Exaggerator's Playbook | Summer Shorts Series - Ep 24 21.06.2026 27:23

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Overview Every leader has encountered it: “Everyone is upset.” “Nobody likes this.” “The staff is furious.” But what if “everyone” is actually three people? In this episode of the Summer Shorts Series , Mario and Courtney unpack one of the most dangerous leadership traps in schools: the exaggerator . Exaggerators aren’t always malicious. Often, they are simply emotional...

Don’t Let One Exit Create Chaos | Summer Shorts Series - Ep 23 14.06.2026 25:06

Send us Fan Mail 🎙 The EdLeadership Pair Podcast Now brought to you by Marzano Resources & Solution Tree 🎧 Episode Overview A resignation from one key leader can create far more disruption than most school systems are prepared for. In the first installment of The EdLeadership Pair Summer Shorts Series , Courtney and Mario tackle one of the most overlooked leadership realities: transition plan...

The Expectations Leaders Are Trying to Rebuild | Rebuilding the Expectations Students Need – Ep 22 07.06.2026 47:29

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders Join our growing community of school leaders navigating today’s challenges together. Let us know what topics you want us to tackle next. Episode Overview Many school leaders are feeling the same pressure r...

Calling Out What Schools Lost | Reconnecting to What Matters Most - Ep 21 31.05.2026 45:41

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🎧 Episode Overview “Back to basics” can sound like criticism, but that is not what this episode is about. In this episode, Courtney and Mario talk about what schools lost when COVID forced leaders, teache...

The Leadership Work No One Sees | What Great Principals Do Before Summer Starts - Ep 20 24.05.2026 39:32

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🎧 Episode Overview The school year may be winding down, but for principals, the work is not slowing down. While teachers and students are counting down to summer, school leaders are carrying the pressure...

Don’t Let Weak Preparation Cost You the Job | How Great Leaders Actually Get Hired - Ep 19 17.05.2026 44:24

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🎧 Episode Overview Most leaders prepare for interviews the wrong way. They memorize questions. Practice polished answers. Study accountability ratings. Try to sound impressive. But the leaders who actual...

It’s Harder Than Ever to Hire Educators | Don’t Let Weak Systems Make It Worse – Ep 18 10.05.2026 45:14

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Overview A great interview does not guarantee a great hire. In this episode, Courtney and Mario break down one of the most overlooked leadership failures in education: how schools hire the wrong people and why it keeps happening. Most leaders think the problem is a weak candidate pool. But the truth is more uncomfortable: 👉 The problem is the hiring process. From hiri...

Rethinking How We Develop Beginning Teachers | The Leadership Moves That New Teachers Really Need with Dr. Tina H. Boogren – Ep 17 03.05.2026 37:46

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bio: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Guest: Tina H. Boogren https://www.tinaboogren.com/ 🎯 Episode Overview Keeping teachers in the profession is one of the biggest challenges facing schools today—but here’s the uncomfortable truth: 👉 Most schools aren’t losing teachers because they can’t teach… 👉 They’re losing them becaus...

Don’t Lose Your Best Teachers (Part 2) | What To Do About Sprouts & Shadows - Ep 16 26.04.2026 27:22

Send us Fan Mail How to grow willing teachers and confront the ones destroying your culture 🎯 Episode Summary Supporting veteran teachers is one of the most complex and misunderstood responsibilities of school leadership. This episode breaks down Sprouts and Shadows and how to support or confront each to protect your culture. 🔥 Key Takeaway “If you don’t address shadows directly, they will infec...

Don't Lose Your Best Teachers | Leading the 4 Types of Veteran Teachers - Ep 15 19.04.2026 30:17

Send us Fan Mail Why experienced teachers aren’t one group—and how misunderstanding them leads to failed leadership, stalled culture, and lost influence. 🎤 Hosts & Show Info Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🎧 Episode Overview In this episode, Courtney and Mario break down one of the most misunders...

Why Your Instructional Program Is Broken | And How to Fix It – Ep 014 12.04.2026 38:18

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Overview In this episode, Courtney and Mario take on a hard truth that many schools still avoid: most campuses do not have an instructional strategy problem. They have an instructional leadership problem. When leaders fail to define what quality instruction actually looks like, teachers are left to guess, and students end up experiencing inconsistent learning from room...

Never Outgrow a Mentor | Why Experience Isn’t Enough - Ep 13 04.04.2026 32:26

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Overview If you’re a veteran leader, do you ever stop needing mentorship? In this episode, Courtney and Mario reflect on their conversation with longtime mentor Dr. Phil Warrick and unpack the leadership lessons that have shaped their careers for over 20 years. They explore how even experienced leaders still need guidance, how mentorship evolves over time, and why the...

The Mentor Every School Leader Needs | Lessons from Dr. Phil Warrick - Ep 012 29.03.2026 44:27

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Guest: Dr. Phil Warrick Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair 🎵 TikTok: @theedleadershippair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders naviga...

The Loneliness of Leadership | What Great Leaders Carry Alone – Ep 011 22.03.2026 32:50

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair Tik Tok: @theedleadershippair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders navigating today’s challenges together. Episode Overview Leadership...

Stop Driving Great Leaders Out | Why Great Leaders Leave – Ep 010 15.03.2026 32:11

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair Tik Tok: @theedleadershippair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders navigating today’s challenges together. Let us know what topics you want us to tackle next. Episode Overview Great leaders do not usually leave because the w...

Lead Well, Live Well | Tips to Avoid Leadership Burnout – Ep 009 08.03.2026 33:01

Send us Fan Mail Subtitle Daily habits, smarter priorities, and real boundaries that keep the job from taking over. Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🔗 Connect With Us 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pai...

Too Late to Intervene | Are We Already Failing Kids? – Ep 008 01.03.2026 29:48

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders navigatin...

Courage Over Comfort | Holding Adults Accountable - Ep 07 22.02.2026 33:57

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders naviga...

Progress Over Perfection | How Leaders Pilot, Sandbox, and Pivot – Ep 06 15.02.2026 26:48

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders navigating t...

Don't Be The Bottleneck | How Leaders Build Strong Teams - Ep05 08.02.2026 29:46

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders Host Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders navigating t...

AI and School Policy | Protecting Learning - Ep. 04 01.02.2026 33:44

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders navigating t...

AI in Schools | Leadership Decisions That Matter - Ep. 03 25.01.2026 33:49

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders navigating...

Developing School Leaders | The Books That Shaped Us – Ep. 02 19.01.2026 22:53

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Courtney Acosta & Mario Acosta Bios: https://www.theedleadershippair.com/about-us Podcast: The EdLeadership Pair – Unfiltered Conversations for Today’s School Leaders 🔗 Connect With Us 📸 Instagram: @edleadership_pair ▶️ YouTube: The EdLeadership Pair 🌐 Website & Newsletter: www.theedleadershippair.com Join our growing community of school leaders navigating today’...