The Principal's Desk Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Erich Bolz, Vice President of Research and District Engagement for The Center of Educational Effectiveness. Looking for ways to bolster: +   Attendance +   Progress for English learners +  English-language arts performance +   Mathematics performance +   Readiness for high school + High school course rigor (obtaining college credits) + Graduation rates The CEE ide...

AI is here to stay. Educators have the opportunity to either embrace this new frontier or to be fearful of it. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Levy discusses how to have conversations around AI in schools as well as how its use can help to create a culture of inquiry and experimentation. Contact Sarah here - SarahRubinsonCC.com Here are a couple of blogs for follow up reading: Assessment in the World o...

In this episode, we learn about the importance of teaching executive functions and learning to address the varied needs of students who often get identified as lazy, unmotivated, or defiant, when in reality, they simply don't know how to do what we expect them to do. Candace Heiken, M.Ed. combined her background in education and psychology with her passion for empowering students and founded L...

This week, we sit down with Mrs. Brianne Hudak, M. Ed., a sixteen-year veteran of education serving in public, private, and charter schools. She is a passionate advocate for the gifted, a certified gifted and talented educator, and supports gifted education through her professional memberships in the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC), the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children...

In this episode, Brian Miller, principal, writer, speaker, and podcaster, talks about renewing our educational vows in order to do great things. As educators, there are times that we all need to remember why we chose this profession, what is truly important, and how to be and additive to the education experience of our students and the work environment of our collegues. Your can learn more about B...

In this episode, we talk to Gerrett Spears, high school principal of Burlington High School in Northwest Oklahoma. As a former D1 basketball coach, Gerrett understands the importance of mental health programming for players to be at their best. Gerrett walks listeners through how to implement mental health programming for the overall wellness of the school to ensure mentally healthy students and s...

Lynn Hardin is a Certified Life Coach who works with Educators who want to unwind anxiety and lead or teach with confidence and purpose. She a retired principal who coached new administrators and lead three award winning elementary schools including America's Best Urban School 2019. She was honored with the  National Principal Certificate for Equity and Excellence from NCUST. Lynn's top...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Bunnie Claxton, Director of Applied Doctoral Research at Liberty University. Students are bombarded with ideas and arguments that they neglect to stop and analyze because the information is disguised and oftentimes deceitful. The result is that students believe false ideas they find on social media which may be hurtful to themselves and others. Dr. Claxton tak...

This week, we had the opportunity to sit down with Monte' Demars. At the age of 17 years old, Monte’ discovered his passion for purpose as an educator and worked his way from a substitute teacher, school bus driver, paraprofessional, teacher, mentor teacher, assistant principal, and principal. His inspirational story of walking through the ranks and “becoming” is rare. Demars understands the strug...

In this episode, we welcome Jon Konen, high school principal and freelance writer in Columbia Falls, Montana. He has been a superintendent and has taught most all grade levels K-6, and has been an instructional coach. In addition, he has been an elementary and middle principal. As a 5th grade teacher, in 2010 Jon won the Presidential Award for Elementary Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST). As...

In this episode, we get the opportunity to talk with Sheree Du Preez, Early Elementary Division Head at Trinity School in Atlanta, Georgia, about what makes an effective formative assessment and why they are so important in education.  Sheree has 35 years of experience in education, twenty-five of which are in leadership and has taught in and led schools in the US, Ghana, and Dubai.  She...

This week, we talk to Lydia Edmonds. Lydia is an educator from Mobile, AL.  She spent most of her 22 years as a high school math teacher and International Baccalaureate Coordinator and has, for the last two years, worked as the Middle School Director at St. Luke's Episcopal School.  With her formal education in math, business, and educational leadership, Lydia finds analyzing data, build...

In this episode, we sit down with Kurtis Hewson, Lead Leader and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning. Kurtis walks us through how to establish responsive relationships within schools to design collaborative frameworks for educators and develop leadership capacity at all levels. He will also introduce the concept of a collaborative team meeting, an essential meeting layer that is solutions-focused and ac...

In this episode, we get to hear from Andrea Bitner who is an is an educator, author, and speaker.  She lives in Philadelphia, PA. She has worked with students in grades K-12 throughout her twenty-two years in public education from all around the world.   Her first book, “Take Me Home,” was published by Austin Macauley in July of 2021. "Take Me Home" is the true story of 11 of her former...

The Principal's Desk is launching a podcast! Be on the lookout for upcoming episodes focused around the educational issues you want to talk about!