The School Leadership Show

In this episode I interview political reporter, television pundit, and author Eleanor Clift. Eleanor is a regular contributor to The Daily Beast and has a long history covering national politics - every presidential election since 1976.  Many people know Eleanor as a perennial panelist on the syndicated talk show, " The McLaughlin Group ."  I started watching "The Group" as a high school student i...

In this episode I interview writer, speaker, and broadcaster Merlin Mann. We talk about managing all of the inputs that come your way.  We go into great depth on managing email and working toward what Merlin has coined "inbox zero."  We also talk about strategies for managing your time and attention in order to set yourself up for doing your best, most creative work.  To learn more about Merlin an...

In this episode I interview two fantastic attorneys whom I've known for several years about special education law.  Joyce Berkowitz has a practice representing parents, and Dave Oakes works for the Harris Beach Law Firm and represents school districts.  Our lively discussion centers on what school administrators need to know about special education law.  We get into mistakes to avoid, how to stay...

We all know how to implement, right?  It's not as easy as it sounds.  In this episode I interview Caryn Ward.  Caryn works with the National Implementation Research Network or NIRN ( http://nirn.fpg.unc.edu/ ).  She is an expert on implementation science the research that supports it.  We talk about the Five Implementation Frameworks, how they apply to education, and what they mean for school lead...

In this episode I interview Professional Office Organizing Consultant Kacy Paide.  We talk about how much more productive and focused you can be when your environment is organized.  It sounds so simple.  Why aren't more of us there already?  We get into practical tips, where to start, and mistakes to avoid.  Kacy mentioned the following resources during the interview:   Evernote software to organi...

In this episode I interview Jenn David-Lang.  Jenn produces The Main Idea ( http://www.themainidea.net/ ), a monthly summary of a current education book.  Jenn has over 30,000 subscribers and has an incredible perspective on where we've been, where we are, and where we're headed in education.  We talk about the importance of building relationships, mistakes for administrators to avoid, tips for pe...

  In this episode I go another round with educator and author Kim Marshall.  This time we talk in detail about teacher observation and evaluation and ways to make the process meaningful and doable for everyone involved.  Kim shares several resources including a tool that districts might consider using to help streamline the paperwork involved with the observation process ( https://www.t-eval.com/...

In this episode I interview Justin Murphy.  Justin is a seasoned journalist who reports on education both in print and online.  We talk about how school administrators can build positive relationships with the media, mistakes to avoid when working with the press, and how to figure out the real story when you have conflicting information from different sources.  We also get into a couple of product...

In this episode I interview Dan White.  Dan has been a school counselor, a high school principal, and a school district superintendent.  He is currently the superintendent of a large educational service agency.  We talk mainly about decision making, specifically how not to let another person's crisis become your crisis, using the time you have to make decisions, not hitting flies with sledgehammer...

In this episode I interview Dr. Stephanie Evergreen, author of the book Presenting Data Effectively .  She has worked across all sectors, including education, teaching and coaching people about how to communicate using data.  We talk about what great presenters do, tips on creating good slides, how your visuals should complement your personality when you present, and more.  We barely scratch the s...

In this episode I interview productivity expert Erik Fisher.  His podcast, Beyond the To-Do List, is essential listening for anyone looking to increase their personal productivity and improve their work-life balance.  We talk about priorities, rituals, multi-tasking, getting control of your email, tools to help you stay focused, and much more. You can learn more about Erik, follow him on Twitter @...

In this episode I interview Jill Pancoast from The Breakthrough Coach.  The training that she describes in the interview has helped tens of thousands of school administrators all over the world get out of their offices and spend more time in classrooms where the real work of school is going on.  We talk about the characteristics of effective school administrators, developing a results orientation,...

In this episode I interview productivity author and podcaster Jeff Sanders.  His wildly popular podcast The 5 AM Miracle changed my life, and I'm sure you'll enjoy this conversation with Jeff.  We talk about the idea of intentionality when it comes to scheduling your day, the importance of developing anchor habits, what school administrators can do to be more efficient and effective, tips to incre...

  In this episode I interview author and communications coach Dr. Nick Morgan.  Dr. Morgan is the author of many books about public speaking and communications.  We talk about what makes great communicators stand out, rookie mistakes to avoid, how to communicate effectively with social media, what to do when you have to talk to a reporter, how to give clear concise "say a few words" speeches, and...

In this episode I interview Dr. Charlie Shaw, a chiropractor and wellness expert, about what school administrators can do to increase their energy and improve their overall health.  Charlie and I get into the impact of movement, hydration, and nutrition on productivity and wellness.  While you may have heard some of the advice before, it's affirming to have it come from an expert in the field.  We...

In this episode I interview educator and author Kim Marshall.  You can access much of Kim Marshall's work for free at www.marshallmemo.com .  His weekly Marshall Memo helps countless educators stay current on what's happening in K-12 education.  We talk about how he creates and publishes the Marshall Memo, where education is headed in the next decade, best practices in teacher evaluation, how to s...

In this interview with veteran technology director and CIO Dr. Jeff Cimmerer, we explore the past, present, and future of instructional technology.   We also get into the traps and mistakes that school leaders can avoid to maximize the impact of technology and data in improving teaching and learning.  Contact Dr. Jeff Cimmerer at  drjpc21@gmail.com

In this interview with educator and author Cheryl Dobbertin, we talk about how school leaders can support teaching and learning in their buildings.  With public debate over standards, curriculum, and assessment at an unprecedented and fevered pitch, we get into how administrators can manage all of the competing interests while still focusing on good instruction.  Enjoy this one with Cheryl Dobbert...

In this first episode I lay out the purpose for the show - to fill a void.   There are no podcasts out there dedicated to helping practicing and aspiring school leaders improve their craft.