Transformative Principal

Bob Sonju is the Director of K–12 Learning in Washington School District in Southern Utah. In this first part of the interview, we discuss the following: A little about Bob’s history and what he learned to help him become prepared for being a transformative principal. Bob focuses on making sure all students are doing their best, not just particular subgroups. What prepared Bob to be a principal: b...

This second part of the interview with Tom Whitford delves deeper into the great things he is doing. We discuss the following: Working with 3 different schools How he manages dealing with all that they have going on. Dealing with the new teacher evaluation system using the Danielson model What he has been focusing on as a leader in the three schools: PBIS and RTI. What RTI looks like on a day-to-d...

This week’s interview is with Tom Whitford, an amazing principal of 3(!) schools in Wisconsin. His mentor that taught him a lot about how to be a leader and how to push yourself and others to be better, book reads, and more. Professional Learning Communities in Tom’s ideal world. PLCs require a whole philosophy change to be effective. How to set the stage to be successful in having discussions wit...

My second part interview with the great Alice Peck. In this episode we focus on her new assignment as a principal of a Title I school in our district. What is Alice going to take with her to her new Title I school? What is Alice anxious about in going to her new school? Why Alice is excited about change. “If you’re not nervous, you probably shouldn’t be doing this!” How Alice is going to overcome...

Today, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Alice Peck, one of the best principals I have ever worked with. You’ll love to get to know her in this episode. How she came to be where she is at. What she noticed coming from Texas to Utah. What she really enjoys about how things have changed since she came to her current position. How she got her staff on board right from the beginning with PBIS....

Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Best Tools for Busy Administrators Survey How to manage time on social media with being a principal, doctoral student, etc. How to connect with others. It is about connections that is most beneficial. Connecting with Bill Ferriter and John Pederson It isn’t about the tech itself, it is about the real. Technology just...

Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Curt Rees Twitter is a tech-minded principal at Northern Hills Elementary School in Onalaska, WI. He is also one of the hosts of the Techlandia Podcast , a great education podcast. Experience as a principal and a teacher around the country. Why he has moved around so much. Doctoral Program and how he balances that wit...

William D. Parker is the principal of Skiatook High School. His web site and Twitter . He has also done some amazing interviews himself . I have learned a ton from reading those, and I am sure you will, as well. Due to technical difficulties, we recorded our phone conversation, so the quality is a little old school. But, I almost felt like a radio DJ with a call-in show. What he learned as the Ass...

Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Doug Robertson (Twitter) teaches 3rd grade in Southern Oregon. Here’s his blog or media empire homepage. Youtube Channel Facebook Fan page He is the author of “He’s the Weird Teacher” (paperback) (Kindle edition) . I interviewed Doug because I read his book and was really fascinated by it. I have learned that not ever...

  Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal In this second part of my interview with the amazing Chris Wejr, we go deeper into the ideas of student discipline and learning. We also discuss some other cool things that are happening at his school. Punishment. How to approach it correctly. How do we help students with disabilities. How to deal with parents of vi...

  Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal I was super excited to interview Chris Wejr. He is one of those principals that I have been following for a long time and his take on discipline and behavior is inspiring. Moving from a lower SES school to a higher SES school. If kids are driven by rewards, then they are across all areas. It is very easy to go too f...

Why are we going to let other people tell our story? What they believe in. Every choice they make is thoughtful. How Tony shares his story daily. Storify - An example of how Tony uses Storify. Cantiague Hashtag Video updates Touchcast app How he shifted brand management from him to the staff and the kids How to make sure the brand experience matches the brand promise. For example, here is an excha...

Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal A few weeks ago I had the great pleasure of interviewing Tony Sinanis. Little did I know, that he would be named the New York Elementary Principal of the Year ! So, I interviewed him before he was famous. Tony Twitter is a great principal and one who is eager to share what he is doing well. He is also incredibly humbl...

Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal I had the great pleasure to attend (and present ) the UCET (Utah Coalition for Educational Technology) Conference this last Thursday and Friday. While it was a lot of fun, it was also ver powerful and transformative for me. I solidified some educational philosophies and had some time to actually think about what I am...

Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Best Tools for Busy Administrators Survey I had the great pleasure of speaking with Dr. Fidel Montero, the principal of Alta High School ( Twitter ) in Sandy, Utah. Fidel is inspiring from the first moment that you speak with him. He is incredibly smart, very caring, and wants students to be the most successful people...

Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Best Tools for Busy Administrators Survey I had the great pleasure of speaking with Fidel Montero, the principal of Alta High School ( Twitter ) in Sandy, Utah. Fidel is inspiring from the first moment that you speak with him. He is incredibly smart, very caring, and wants students to be the most successful people the...

Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Best Tools for Busy Administrators Survey Follow @TrnFrmPrincipal on twitter! Like Transformative Principal on Facebook Show Notes Andy Greene is a transformative principal at Candlewood Middle School. We talk mostly about professional practice and professional development. Andy is a master at these two things. I lear...

  Sponsor: Sanebox      Transformative Principal on Stitcher   Refer A Principal   Best Tools for Busy Administrators Survey   In this second part interview, Sharyle and I discuss the following:   Community helping out those who need it. What the best parts are of having a new intern every year. She answers the question of how to be a transformative principal. Look at the big picture. She answers...

Sponsor:  Sanebox, erase email insanity!   Sharyle Karren has been a principal for the last 22 years! She has a lot of experience and this interview is a really great opportunity to learn from a great principal about how much she has helped students over the years. In this interview, we talk about the following: Her history as a principal and some of the trials she went through. The common theme t...

Sponsor:  Sanebox  Avoid email insanity. Start saving time by using Sanebox which acts as a personal secretary, keeping all the unimportant emails from interrupting my day. I get an email digest of all the emails that I missed during the day at a time when I choose. I love Sanebox and I think you will, too! I’m really excited about this interview with Eric Sheninger @NMHS_Principal . Eric goes ove...

In this episode I have the great opportunity to interview  Melinda Miller (@mmiller7571) . I have followed her for a long time on Twitter, and I loved the podcast she did with  @ScottElias  called Practical Principals. That great podcast partly inspired me to start this podcast. I still haven't found a podcast that talks about the real issues that are facing to Our conversation covers these topics...

In this episode I have the great opportunity to interview  Melinda Miller (@mmiller7571) . I have followed her for a long time on Twitter, and I loved the podcast she did with  @ScottElias  called Practical Principals. That great podcast partly inspired me to start this podcast. I still haven't found a podcast that talks about the real issues that are facing to Our conversation covers these topics...

In this second part of the interview, I am priveleged to talk with Doug Hallenbeck. Doug was recently named the  Assistant Principal of the year from the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals . Doug has worked under four really great principals and he shares some great insight about how to be an amazing assistant principal. I wanted to interview Doug because he has a great story. He is a...

In this episode, I am priveleged to interview Doug Hallenbeck. Doug was recently named the  Assistant Principal of the year from the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals . Doug has worked under four really great principals and he shares some great insight about how to be an amazing assistant principal. I wanted to interview Doug because he has a great story. He is a thoughtful, caring,...

In this second part of the interview with Jeff Paul, we will learn about: How he handles the stress of being a principal How you can be a transformative principal Why you should follow the people below on Twitter The special thing in his office Jeff says these are the twitter accounts to follow: @williamparker , @ KleinErin , @principalspage (MichaelSmithSupt), @ ToddWhitaker , @ educationweek , @...