The Principal's Handbook

Ever wonder why certain times of the year turn your school into an emotional pressure cooker? In this essential episode, we dive into the heart of one of education's most challenging aspects - managing the complex web of emotions that flow through your school building. Whether you're dealing with resistance to new initiatives, supporting staff through personal crises, or trying to maintain your ow...

Can grassroots efforts and trained volunteers be the missing piece in solving America's literacy crisis? Join us as we sit down with Leah Galeon, founder of Peak Literacy, who shares her innovative approach to tackling reading challenges through community-powered interventions. In this episode, we explore: The compelling story behind Peak Literacy's founding, sparked by Florida's largest racial di...

Are you constantly comparing yourself to other school principals and feeling like you're not measuring up? In this episode of The Principal's Handbook we explore: Why our brains naturally default to negative comparisons and how this impacts school leadership The hidden costs of comparison - from rushed decision-making to decreased staff morale Practical strategies for breaking free from the "perfe...

Are you feeling like your role as a principal is unsustainable? In this episode, discover common traps that lead to burnout in school leadership, including perfectionism, poor delegation, and neglecting self-care. Learn practical strategies to assess your current work-life balance and create more sustainable leadership practices that benefit both you and your school community. Plus, get reflection...

Are those Sunday evening jitters taking over your weekend?  Here's what this episode reveals about the "Sunday Scaries": The Sunday Scaries are a form of anxiety that often affects educators and other professionals, typically appearing as the weekend winds down and work thoughts creep in. This anxiety isn't necessarily a sign of job dissatisfaction or burnout - it's often just your brain's protect...

Are you looking for ways to be be more organized and systematize your success? In this episode we will talk about 5 of my top hacks for organizing yourself.  We will talk about: Proven strategies from an experienced elementary principal to streamline daily operations and enhance productivity Time-saving digital and analog tools that help you stay on top of tasks, meetings, and follow-ups Practical...

What does it take to create effective systems in a school that support both teachers and students while building a positive culture? Nicole Baker, an experienced educator and administrator, shares insights on creating organizational systems that work. Drawing from her experience across multiple states and roles, including superintendent-principal, she discusses: Teacher observation and support str...

Are your school's collaborative efforts truly making a difference for every student? Join us as we sit down with Kurtis Hewson, an education veteran with 30 years of experience, to explore the transformative Collaborative Response framework. Kurtis shares how this systematic approach helps schools move beyond isolated teaching practices to create intentional, layered support systems for all studen...

Ever wonder if you should take that next step on the education leadership ladder - or maybe even step off completely? This episode explores the complex world of career transitions in education, challenging the traditional notion that educators must follow a predetermined career path. Through personal stories and practical advice, listeners learn about navigating moves from teaching to administrati...

Are you struggling to balance the many initiatives and responsibilities of school leadership? In this insightful conversation, leadership coach and former educator Darrin Peppard discusses essential organizational systems for school principals. Drawing from his 26 years of experience in education, Peppard shares strategies across three key areas: Teacher Support and Development: Emphasizes the imp...

How can schools move beyond crisis response to prevention in mental health? In this episode, Dr. Hayley Watson, a clinical psychologist from Open Parachute, discusses comprehensive approaches to mental health education in schools. She emphasizes the importance of preventative mental health skills and making these resources accessible to entire school communities.  Key points include: The value of...

Are you a school principal feeling overwhelmed by unmet goals and initiatives as you head into the second semester? In this episode we discuss why January is the perfect time for a leadership reset and how to do it.  The episode emphasizes the importance of reflection without self-judgment and encourages principals to maintain the same supportive attitude toward themselves that they show their sta...

Learn more about Dr. Stephanie DuGuid HERE . *FREE DOWNLOADS* Decisive Leadership - Free Workshop The Principal's Email Detox Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School *RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS* Get The Confident Principal Reset : A 14-Day Action Plan and Mini-Course Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System The Principal's...

This episode explores how school leaders can transform their school culture through optimistic leadership. In this episode we discuss the "TEA Cycle" concept - demonstrating how thoughts create emotions, which drive actions - and illustrates its impact on interactions with teachers and parents.  The episode covers practical strategies for maintaining positivity, including: Implementing staff recog...

In this episode of The Principal's Handbook,  Dr. Nick Davies (2024 Washington Assistant Principal of the Year) who shares strategies for maintaining wellbeing while serving as a school leader. Dr. Davies emphasizes two key areas for preventing burnout: maximizing work effectiveness through clear systems and priorities, and disconnecting from work to maintain personal wellness. He introduces a pow...

Do you spend enough time thinking about your own health and well-being? In this episode guest, Bonnie Finnerty joins us and shares how she transformed her stress-induced health crisis into a mission to help school leaders balance their work and well-being. In this eye-opening podcast, Finnerty shares practical strategies for administrators to improve their health, productivity, and school culture,...

In this episode, we dive into the world of Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) with guest Christina Hidek, founder of PTO Answers. Christina shares her extensive experience as a PTO leader and professional organizer, offering valuable insights on how to strengthen the collaboration between schools and parent groups. Listeners will learn: The differences betwe...

Dealing with ongoing stress and overwhelm in your role as a school leader? In this episode, we dive deep into the world of principal burnout. You'll learn: What burnout really is and its root causes My personal journey through burnout and how I overcame it Practical strategies to prevent and overcome burnout in your leadership role Whether you're on the brink of burnout or looking to build your re...

Do you often struggle with criticizing yourself? As a principal, your leadership decisions can weigh heavily on your mind. You may find yourself critiquing how you handled situations and ruminating on them long after the school day ends. In this must-listen episode for educational leaders, I delve into: Three common ways we judge ourselves in high-stakes environments The surprising effects of self...

Are you struggling with conflict in your school? In this must-listen episode, guest Jen Schwanke, author of 'The Principal's Guide to Conflict', joins to tackle one of the most challenging aspects of school leadership. Discover why conflict isn't always bad, learn a practical three-step process for managing disagreements, and gain invaluable insights on maintaining your cool when tensions run high...

Do you struggle to connect with one or more of the teachers you work with? In this episode of The Principal's Handbook, we will tackle a common challenge faced by school leaders: connecting with teachers who seem difficult to reach.  Key points covered: Recognizing and managing your own biases and assumptions The importance of spending more time with challenging staff members Tailoring your suppor...

In this episode of the Principal's Handbook podcast, guest Will Parker joins the show,  an experienced educator, author, and podcast host. They discuss Will's book "Pause, Breathe, Flourish: Living Your Best Life as an Educator" and explore strategies for maintaining work-life balance in educational leadership roles. Click HERE to get my Free Guide for Setting Boundaries Check out my instagram @Ba...

Do you struggle to set boundaries as a principal? Do you find that you can't set boundaries because everything seems like an emergency? I get it; I've been there.  In this episode, we'll discuss: How to handle situations when you can't set a boundary due to a genuine emergency Who you should set boundaries with Examples of effective boundaries The importance of principals modeling boundary-setting...

In this episode of the Principal's Handbook podcast, guest Brian Callahan, an experienced educator and state support team consultant. Brian shares insights on using data to inform decisions in schools, with a focus on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and school climate. Key points discussed include: The importance of easy-to-use data collection systems Focusing on acknowledgin...

This episode is part of the 2024 “National Literacy Month with RIF” campaign, a partnership between the BE Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental . Do you feel uncertain about leading literacy instruction? Are you looking to enhance your knowledge of teaching literacy skills? In this episode, I'll share three valuable tips for spearheading literacy initiatives—even if you're not an expert (yet...