The Principal's Handbook

In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , Barb Flowers discusses the importance of reflecting on leadership to foster growth and self-awareness. She shares personal insights about how stepping back from the principal role allowed her to rediscover her passion for leadership and its challenges. Key Points: Reflection on leadership helps principals identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for g...

In this episode of The Principal's Handbook , Barb  dives into the importance of perspective shifting for school leaders. As principals, we often face overwhelming emotions and challenges—whether it’s dealing with stressed teachers, angry parents, or student behaviors. Barb shares how changing our mindset can transform these challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. Drawing on the t...

In this episode of The Principal's Handbook , Barb dives into the critical skill of delegation for principals. With firsthand experience, Barb shares how effective delegation can increase productivity, enhance leadership, and prevent burnout. She also explores common pitfalls, such as micromanagement and choosing the wrong people, and offers practical advice for delegating tasks that free up your...

Do you feel like office referrals are taking up all your time, leaving you with little to no opportunity to lead your school effectively? In this episode of The Principal's Handbook , Barb shares five actionable steps that can help reduce office referrals and give you more time in your day. She draws from her own experience as a principal, where she successfully decreased office referrals from 340...

Do you ever feel like you struggle to mentor an assistant principal? In this episode, Barb speaks with Principal Mark Schwarz about his journey from assistant principal to principal and how his experience mentoring assistant principals has shaped his leadership approach. Mark reflects on the lessons he learned as an assistant principal and the strategies he now uses to mentor his own assistant pri...

Do you feel like you’ve got one foot in this school year and the other in the next? If your to-do list feels like a juggling act between wrapping up and planning ahead, you’re not alone. In this episode, Barb shares three practical tips to help you finish the current school year strong—and three smart strategies to start preparing for next year with intention and clarity. *FREE DOWNLOADS* The Prin...

In this episode Barb is talking about if work-life balance is possible for principals. Barb also shares about her BETA membership that is only $17 for a limited time. Click HERE to join!  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.  IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school distric...

What if you could actually leave work every day at 4 p.m.? Have you ever wished for better work-life balance — but felt like it just isn’t possible as a principal? Maybe you’ve told yourself you have to be the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. But what if there’s another way? In this episode, we’re doing a powerful reflection on your school year. I’ll walk you through questions that h...

Do you feel the pressure of perfectionism taking over? You’re not alone. Many principals I coach struggle with the need to do everything right. In this episode, I dive into the hidden cost of perfectionism—also known as the stickler saboteur from Positive Intelligence—and how it can quietly sabotage your performance, relationships, and well-being. Plus, I share mindset shifts to help you start ref...

In this episode of The Principal's Handbook, Barb discussed the 'Principal's Email Detox,' a free resource designed to help school leaders manage email overload. Barb addresses the common challenge of email addiction among principals, highlighting the negative impact of constant email checking on wellbeing and productivity. She shares practical steps to detox from email, including removing email f...

Do you struggle with wanting to control situations as a principal? Is it hard for you to release control? In this episode we are exploring how principals can use Mel Robbins' Let Them Theory to release control and focus on what is in our direct circle of influence. Join us as we dive into why we often feel an anxiety-based need to take charge, the costs of excessive control on school culture, and...

Do you overthink everything as a principal? Do you overthink evaluations, discipline issues, dealing with teachers and parents? If that sounds like you, then this episode is for you.  In this episode we talk about: What overthinking is Common triggers for overthinking Negative impacts on your teaching Practical solutions *FREE DOWNLOADS* Decisive Leadership - Free Workshop The Principal's Email De...

Do you struggle with getting teachers onboard with RTI interventions? Do you have teachers who default students to special ed without any data? Join me on this episode where I have a conversation with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, an experienced educational consultant, about: Creating a more integrated approach to support all students, not just those with special needs Moving beyond traditional interve...

Do you wish you could be more proactive and less reactive as a principal? In this podcast episode we talk about the importance of a custom habit system for principals so they can be intentional with the things they want to be able to do in their building. We talk about the following: Benefits of Developing Leadership Habits Why Principals Struggle with Consistent Habits Factors That Influence Habi...

How can principals transform their Monday mornings from dreadful to energizing? Starting Monday strong requires intentional planning and clear boundaries to maintain sustainable leadership. By implementing strategic routines and energy management, principals can create a positive start to their week that sets them up for success. The Weekend Pitfall - What you do (or don't do) on weekends matters...

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...