The Empowered Principal® Podcast

In this episode, we'll explore why change is essential and how it can lead to innovation, creativity, and evolution in our schools. I share my own personal journey with change and how I've learned to embrace it rather than resist it.   Get ready to shift your mindset and see change in a whole new light. We'll discuss practical strategies for not only accepting change but actually celebrating it. B...

In this episode, I'm diving deep into the root causes of the Sunday Scaries and offering practical strategies to shift your mindset and approach the week ahead with confidence and clarity. As a school leader, your mental and emotional well-being is crucial to your success and the success of your school. It's time to break free from the cycle of worry and embrace a more empowered way of leading.  ...

As a principal, it's easy to swing between being too nice and too strict in an attempt to avoid conflict or prove your authority. But what if there was a better way to respond to criticism and lead with confidence? Join me as we unpack the layers of defensiveness and discover how to communicate more effectively, even in challenging situations.   By the end of this episode, you'll have a new perspe...

The last few years have brought significant shifts in my personal life, and I'm so grateful to have had the support of coaching to navigate the intense emotions and challenges that came with it. Coaching has been an absolute game-changer for me, allowing me to rewrite the script, find joy amidst the pain, and come out stronger on the other side.   I dive into the power of shifting our focus from t...

In this powerful episode, I share the game-changing concept of "The Solution Cycle" - a framework that has transformed the way I approach leadership challenges. By shifting your mindset and focusing on generating solutions rather than dwelling on problems, you can tap into a newfound sense of clarity, confidence, and momentum.   Join me this week as I walk you through the steps of The Solution Cyc...

In this episode, I share insights from a recent coaching call with one of my amazing clients who is a first-year principal. Through her example, I explore how to create next level results for your school by focusing on enhancing the quality of the experience for everyone within your community, and it goes beyond more than just academics.   Learn how to create a vision for your school that goes bey...

I'm here this week to tell you that there is a way to silence the overwhelm - or at least turn down its volume. My guess is that you're currently trying to outrun the overwhelm by working harder and faster, but the truth is it's only leading to even more of it. The key is to stop, take a breath, and listen to what your emotions are trying to tell you, and I guide you through this process in this e...

I sit down with Andra Bostic and Sarah Murphy, the founders of The Principal Exchange, to discuss how their platform is revolutionizing the way principals access support and resources. Andra and Sarah bring a wealth of experience to the table, having worked as classroom teachers, reading specialists, instructional coaches, and administrators in public education. Through their work, they've travele...

If you find yourself stressed out about walkthroughs, it's an indication that you have some internal work to do as a principal around your thoughts about yourself and your work. The great news is that when you learn how to create psychological safety for yourself around the walkthrough process, you can do the same for your teachers. And in this episode, I show you how to banish walkthrough anxiety...

"Equal value but different" is a powerful concept that has transformed the way I think about my work as a school leader and my relationships in my personal life. It's the idea that every person has inherent worth and value to offer, even if it looks different from what we typically prioritize or celebrate.   Learn what the concept of "equal value but different" means, how you can apply this concep...

As an educator and school leader, it's easy to get caught up in the endless demands of the job - pleasing your staff, students, parents, and district, putting out fires, and chasing external metrics of success. We think experiencing pleasure and delight in our work is irresponsible, but this week, I challenge the deeply ingrained belief that feeling good is at odds with being a committed, effectiv...

Leaders are often obsessed with "doing," and this approach comes with a certain kind of hustling or forcing energy. People forcefully create results in their lives all the time, but is that the way you want the experience of school leadership to feel?    Join me this week as I explore the concept of "feel good goals" and how balancing masculine and feminine energy can help you create a more fulfil...

In this episode, I'm joined by Nicola Soares, president of Kelly Education: a company that specializes in providing talent services to school districts across the United States. With a background as a public school social studies teacher, Nicola understands the challenges that principals face when it comes to finding qualified substitute teachers. She's here to debunk the myth that there's a short...

Many educators struggle with the decision to stay or go, feeling a profound sense of commitment to their work even when it's no longer serving them. That's why this week, I explore the concept of retirement resistance and how it can keep principals trapped in a cycle of burnout and dissatisfaction.   Whether you're considering retirement or a career change, this episode will help you gain clarity...

Do you ever feel discouraged or distraught by your school's performance score? As a principal, it's easy to take these ratings very personally and let them define your sense of success or failure as a leader. If you find yourself getting caught up in the trap of chasing perfection or letting a low score define your worth as a leader, this episode is for you.    I provide some perspective on school...

This week, I sit down with Dr. Jamay Fisher who brings a unique perspective to the topic of public image and school leadership. As an academic advisor and branding expert who has worked in both education and politics, Dr. Jamay sheds light on the importance of intentionally shaping your reputation and legacy to make a bigger impact in education, and what it takes to be a top-class leader.   Hear h...

Whether you're in the midst of the fall dip, dealing with a challenging situation, or simply feeling the weight of your responsibilities, empowered school leadership is all about the ability to regulate your emotions. That's why, this week, I share a powerful practice for grounding yourself and guide you through the skill of emotional regulation.   Join me in this short and sweet episode as I show...

In this episode, I explore the three different hats you wear as a leader: the leader, the teacher, and the student. By understanding and embracing these roles, you can expand your capacity to handle everything that comes your way and inspire others to develop their own empowerment.   Learn why we slip out of empowerment when we're mentally, physically, or emotionally exhausted, and the importance...

The fear of insufficiency is a universal emotion that plagues everyone from leaders to students. The good news is that while our brains love to seek evidence for all the ways we're insufficient in both school leadership and our lives outside of work, we get to redirect and reframe our thoughts, and I show you how in this episode.    Learn what it means to feel insufficient and how we can overcome...

In this episode, I talk with my long-time client Wendy Cohen, an assistant principal in New York City, about her journey of becoming a runner and how it accelerated her growth as a school leader. Coaching has taught her many lessons that have helped her navigate the ups and downs of training for a 25K trail race. But the biggest one is the power of celebrating small wins, reframing challenges as o...

Do you ever feel like you're constantly chasing organization but never quite achieving it? How often do you catch yourself saying, "I need to get organized"? If you're ready to finally break free from the endless cycle of chasing organization and step into your most organized self yet, you're in the right place.   Learn what it really means to be an organized principal and leader, and how one subt...

A conversation with a parent about a classroom assignment change doesn't have to be contentious, anxiety-ridden, or reflect negatively on you as a principal. It's not about your expertise, professionalism, or ability to make decisions. It's about a parent who wants the best for their child, and in this episode, you'll learn how to respond to these requests with intention rather than reaction.   Le...

Today, I share my journey from feeling completely powerless in my early years as a principal to founding a program that helps school leaders reconnect with their personal power. The truth is, the current education system leaves most principals feeling burned out, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled. But it doesn't have to be this way.   Discover how expanding your mind to what's possible and rewriting th...

Planning is an essential element of leadership, but too often, we develop a negative relationship with the process. We set goals that feel constrictive, scary, or disconnected from what we truly want to create. But what if instead of planning from a place of fear and doubt, we planned as though we were guaranteed to succeed?   I share a powerful framework for valuable planning that will transform...

As a school leader, it's easy to get caught up in what others are doing and feel like you're not measuring up. But the truth is, their path is different from yours, and it's important to focus on your own journey. If you're struggling with compare and despair triggers, you're in the right place because in this episode, I show you how your feelings of insufficiency are just thought errors, not real...