Transformative Principal

On this episode we talk about the Move Up Workshop , where you will learn how to show up, lead up and level up so you can move up. Are you ready to move up? Take the 2-minute assessment here and see for yourself. Shaun Cornwall is a seasoned educator and administrator dedicated to delivering top-notch education to all learners. Shaun embraces a well-rounded approach to education, focusing on acade...

Ben Ziegler started his teaching career in SW Washington back in 2009. For a decade now, he has been a part of the Battle Ground School District, and for the past four years, he has been serving as an administrator. Throughout his tenure, Ben has held various positions, including a Dean for Students at the high school level, three years as an elementary AP, and currently, he is an AP at the middle...

Take our free quiz to see if you’re ready to become a principal! Get personalized feedback and actionable steps for improvement. Start your journey to educational leadership success today! In this episode, we are continuing our coaching conversations with Eric. Please check in our previous episodes 523 519 514 , 510 , 506 , and 501 We are talking about how we finally met in person! We have known e...

In this episode, we’re bringing you a conversation from The Authority Podcast, part of the Be Podcast Network.  Today’s guest is international best-selling author and business leader Mark Miller, Vice President of High Performance Leadership for Chick-Fil-A.  Culture Rules: The Leader's Guide to Creating the Ultimate Competitive Advantage is Mark’s 11th book. He currently has over one million book...

This week on Transformative Principal, Jethro Jones shares a special episode where he was on a panel to discuss the current teacher shortage and what can be done. This was recorded for the Better Learning Podcast In this podcast, we discussed the following: - teachers that are leaving or doing really well. - How education has been a pink collar job and the impact that has on our day today - Empowe...

Dr. Karen Dudek Brannan spent 14 years as a school speech-language pathologist (SLP) while working on her doctorate in special education and Director of Special Education credential. In 2015, she launched a business focused on helping IEP teams design services that support language, literacy, and executive functioning, as well as helping all team members be better leaders. She brings a valuable pe...

How Eric Taught a student to write a better email. Write better emails How to prioritize problems. Keeping a focus What’s keeping you from focusing on your 1 thing in your school? 1 thing: getting into classrooms. Master schedule - Is this even in the top ten list? Got into his 1 thing within a month every year. Priorities - getting prepared for state testing, getting prepared for next year’s sche...

Tina Curry, Ed. D is currently Lead Coach at Fernwood Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools and an adjunct professor at DePaul University and National-Louis University. She was one of the contributors to the book Teaching for Racial Equity, which was recently named an Excellence in Equity Award Winner. She is an expert in equity in education and has trained educators in culturally responsive...

Johnathan Cranford is an in-school suspension teacher in Houston, TX and author of The Art of In-School Suspension: A Discipline Program that Benefits Staff and Students.  On today’s episode we dive into Johnathan’s passion project, making ISS effective.  He emphasizes the importance of having an educator in the room, focusing on a system of doing your work, and building in SEL instruction.  The b...

Chad Lang is an assistant superintendent of HR and school improvement in Glenwood Iowa.  He is passionate about grading, curriculum, and professional development.    On today’s episode we discuss the importance of curriculum and grading when preparing students for the “real world”.  He clarifies the difference between curriculum and resources, and explains why textbooks and companies should never...

Last time we talked about evaluation. What has changed? Put into practice - new frame of reference and mindset. Talking about blindspots that a teacher has is what makes the evaluation meeting meaningful. What are some things you want my perspective on in the classroom? In this episode we discuss: - How to help the evaluation process be successful. - What if they don’t want feedback? - Ask what th...

Darrin Peppard is a school district superintendent, speaker, author, publisher and consultant focused on what matters most in leadership. Darrin’s an expert in school culture and climate as well as coaching and growing emerging leaders. He is known for his keen insight, culture-first leadership style, and dynamic personality. In 2016, Darrin was named Wyoming Secondary School Principal of the Year...

PLCs in a Small School with Jeff Makelky Transformative Principal 516 Jeff Makelky has spent 41 years in public education and is currently the principal of Big Piney High School in Wyoming. He graduated from Dickinson State and Montana State, was recognized as the Wyoming Secondary Principal of the Year in 2020, and has published articles in Principal Leadership. His email address is jmakelky@subl...

Opie Blackwell is the current principal of Ridgeview Charter Middle School in Atlanta, GA.  Ridgeview Charter Middle School is an inaugural recipient of the Association of Middle Level Education's (AMLE) prestigious Schools to Watch designation, a nationally recognized 2022-2025 elite "Lighthouse School to Watch" from the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, is a southeast recognized...

In this episode, Jethro and Damon Hargraves talk about ChatGPT. This is from a Twitter Spaces that they did in early January. And this has led to some pretty interesting conversations. Jethro has been contracting with a startup to do user research interviews about how we could use AI in schools. If you are intersected in this and would like to chat with us, please schedule a time here . We’ve done...

In this episode, we are continuing our coaching conversations with Eric. Please check in our previous episodes 510 , 506 , and 501 trying to make it a focus to be aware of people What’s on your mind? What’s the challenge you’re facing today. Today we focus on teacher evaluations. For New Teachers 5 informal observations 2 formal observations 2 formal observation post-conferences 2 summative confer...

Ryan Mackey is the principal of Douglas High School and is beginning his ninth year as a school administrator. Wyoming Principal of the Year 2022–2023.  He is also a certified McGrath Solutions TRUE-SPEAK trainer that allows him to work with other school administrators and frontline staff on communication within various organizations. He has been in education for 16 years and began his career teac...

Brad Gregorich is a proud alum of Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT.  He earned both his undergraduate and master’s degree in educational leadership as a Battlin’ Bear.  He has been a classroom teacher, junior high assistant principal, and elementary principal.  Brad is currently the principal of Hillcrest Elementary School in Gillette, WY.  On today’s episode Brad discusses how he prioritize...

Eric Bransteter is a former 5th grade teacher, media specialist, and building-level administrator. Eric has always had a passion for technology integration in the classroom, which led to him co-founding the EdTech company iAspire. Eric now hosts The Employee Experience in Education podcast where he speaks with educational leaders, former educators, and industry experts to better understand the emp...

In this episode, we are continuing our coaching conversations with Eric. Please check in our previous episodes 506 and 501 This week we check in on what Eric has going on, and talk about how to be a people leader instead of an instructional leader. Checking back in on Eric: - Canned responses going so well, I’ve shared it with teachers - Email war: the war that you’ll never win! - Didn’t talk with...

Dr. Erika Garcia-Niles  is a principal in MIssouri. Erika Garcia on Twitter  we don't remember our impact but they sure do. behind the scenes at new district better than I could have imagined. Focus on people - It's all about the people. People by day, paperwork by night. It's about surrounding yourself with the right people. Leave before you're ready. Don't find the next thing, find the right thi...

Dr. Henry J. Turner is an award-winning high school principal, author, and nationally renowned speaker.  He is most proud of the collaborative community he works within to empower students to fight hate and bigotry in their school. Pointing to his unwavering commitment to equity and a student-centered culture, Henry was named 2020 K12 Principal of the Year by K–12 Dive. Henry is the author of the...

Al Kingsley has spent the last 30 years in the EdTech space and 20 of those as a school trustee and governor. He is co-chair of Workstream 4 at the Foundation for Educational Development, an organization developing a framework for long-term vision and sustainable planning in England. Al is Group CEO of NetSupport Ltd, an internationally acclaimed EdTech vendor. As a firm supporter of lifelong lear...

This week is our next installment of seeing how Eric is doing in his new school. As a refresher, here is  last month’s update . Last time, we gave him three strategies: - Strategy 1: add 15–30 minutes to however long you think each meeting will be. - Strategy 2: You seem upset, what’s the best way to contact you when he gets back at X? - Strategy 3: intentional Drive-bys - Schedule time to go be v...

Ami Shah is the Co-Founder and CEO of Peekapak , an award-winning social-emotional learning platform that engages elementary and middle school students to learn skills like self-regulation, empathy and teamwork and reaches over 450,000 educators and students. Peekapak does this using stories, evidence-based lessons, and game-based learning. Behind-the-scenes, teachers, and administrators receive r...