The Empowered Principal® Podcast

Have you ever found yourself stuck in childlike energy, acting from a place of immaturity instead of mature empowerment, when starting something new? As aspiring or new school leaders, we can experience moments when we feel like we're operating from a place of fear, insecurity, or emotional reactivity rather than from true, aligned power.      In this episode, I break down what childlike energy is...

What if the way we've been thinking about student behavior, engagement, and learning is missing a critical piece: the brain itself?   In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lisa Riegel, a former educator and expert in brain science, to explore how understanding neuroscience can completely shift the way you lead your school, support your teachers, and respond to your students. We dive into her work a...

What if preparing students for life after high school felt less overwhelming for both families and school leaders?   In this episode, I sit down with Warren Buck, founder of Future Finders, to explore how we can better support students and families through the college admissions process. Warren brings a unique perspective as a former teacher and principal who now works directly with families to he...

Have you ever wondered how to stay in your power when everything around you feels uncertain or out of your control?   As leaders, we talk about empowerment all the time, but the truth is, we naturally move in and out of it. Whether it's a difficult conversation, a challenging staff situation, or something happening outside your school, it's easy to feel thrown off and pulled into fear. In this epi...

What happens when staff movement brings up both excitement and disappointment at the same time?   In the spring season of school leadership, the movement of staff members becomes part of the HR landscape. Retirements, leaves, resignations, internal transfers, and district reassignments can all create a ripple effect across your campus, and those changes can bring up a mix of emotions that leaders...

What makes holding some staff members accountable feel easy while others make your stomach turn?   As leaders, we often notice that accountability conversations feel very different depending on the person involved. Some staff naturally hold themselves accountable and welcome feedback. Others are eager to grow and see accountability as a collaborative process. And then there are the situations that...

Dual language education is one of the most powerful ways schools can honor students' identities while strengthening academic outcomes, and this week's conversation makes that crystal clear.   I'm joined by Instructional Superintendent at District of Columbia Public Schools Eric Bethel and Executive Director of The Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation Dr. Maggie Marcus for a rich discussion on bil...

Have you ever reached the end of a season and realized you're busy, productive… and completely out of rhythm?   As winter wraps up and spring begins in the school year, it's easy to slip from proactive leadership into reactive mode. Evaluations, HR decisions, IEP meetings, staffing conversations, and mounting expectations can create a snowball effect that leaves you feeling overwhelmed, even if yo...

As a school leader, how do you navigate the constant pressure and stress of the job without losing sight of your own well-being?   Leadership can often feel like an emotional balancing act: trying to manage expectations, navigate difficult situations, and balance your professional and personal life. And in this episode, we'll explore how to handle the pressure, stress, and emotional turbulence tha...

As a school leader, you don't stop being human just because you carry a title, yet many leaders feel pressure to compartmentalize their emotions in order to keep going. When the events happening in our communities and across the nation feel overwhelming, it can become harder to lead with clarity, presence, and compassion.   In this episode, I'm speaking directly to the humanity of education and th...

Feeling shame as a leader is a common experience, but it doesn't have to hold you back.   Whether you're grappling with a moment of emotional reaction or procrastination, it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling inadequate or disconnected from your true leadership potential. But what if I told you that shame could actually be a powerful tool to redirect you towards greater alignment and personal...

Do you ever feel guilty about wanting nicer things for your school?   Maybe it's fresh carpet in the office, a wellness room, or simply air fresheners to combat that musty smell. But then that voice creeps in: "Who am I to want this? We should be grateful for what we have." Here's what I've learned after years of coaching school leaders: When you resist luxury, you're not just denying yourself - y...

Have you ever felt guilty for wanting things to be easier at your school... and then immediately felt selfish for wanting these things? What does it truly mean to experience luxury as a school leader?   In part two of the Leadership Luxury Series, I explore the idea that luxury isn't about having all the things at your fingertips. It's about the energetic experience you have as a human walking on...

What if luxury isn't about wealth, exclusivity, or expensive experiences at all?   In this episode, the first of a three-part series, I explore the energetics of leadership and the empowerment we want to embody as school leaders. This isn't another "how-to" leadership training. This is an exploration of who you're being versus what you're doing .   Join me today to hear how education itself is bot...

As we step into 2026, I want you to imagine something powerful…   What if you woke up every morning knowing that your leadership energy has the power to transform the educational experience for everyone in your school community? Not just hoping. Not just wishing. But knowing it in your soul.   This week, I'm talking about what tapping into leadership energetics is about, and why it has the power t...

As we wrap up 2025 and settle into the holiday season, I have a special gift for you.   Instead of adding to your already full plate, I've curated the most powerful moments, insights, and conversations from the past year of The Empowered Principal ® Podcast. Think of it as your personal highlight reel, wrapped up with a bow.   This best-of collection brings together transformative concepts that ha...

Do you find yourself dreading the holidays instead of enjoying them?   Maybe it's the pressure of sending hundreds of greeting cards, hosting the perfect party, or dealing with difficult family conversations. The truth is, most of us are trying so hard to meet everyone else's expectations that we forget to ask ourselves what we actually want. And once you fall into this pattern, the holidays becom...

Have you noticed an uptick in complaining at your school lately?   Maybe it's the constant venting about broken technology, construction delays, or just the general "heaviness" of the year. We've all been there, nodding along as someone vents, secretly agreeing with their frustrations. But when we jump in the pool with complainers, nobody's left on the sidelines to throw a life preserver.   Tune i...

Have you ever noticed how kids approach new experiences?   My 10-year-old niece came over the other night to bake brownies. When I asked if she'd found the recipe online, she said, "No, I just created it. I made it up and I want to try it." Her confidence in her creative ability stopped me in my tracks. Because here's what I realized: We're all born creators, but somewhere along the way, we forget...

Have you ever been in a relationship where you know something's wrong, but you're too afraid to talk about it because you don't want it to end? That's exactly what's happening in education right now.   We're clinging to the old paradigm where we're the authority figures, students comply without question, and everyone understands the value of school. Deep down, we school leaders know that world doe...

Have you noticed how the value of education is being questioned by everyone - students, parents, even some of your staff?   Since the pandemic, there's been an explosion of change in how people view school. Students question why they need to attend. Parents wonder if the curriculum still matters. And you're caught in the middle, trying to uphold standards while the ground shifts beneath your feet....

Have you ever felt so exhausted that even a full night's sleep doesn't help? Maybe you're dragging yourself to school each morning, fighting back tears in the parking lot. Or sitting in your car for an hour after work because you just can't face going inside yet. I get it. As educators, we give everything to our students… often at the expense of our own wellbeing.   This week, I'm joined by Dr. Mi...

Veteran principals sometimes share a secret that newer leaders might not expect: the work can feel repetitive, uninspiring, even boring. When you've mastered the routines of observation cycles, behavior investigations, and IEP meetings, when you've successfully calmed the chaos and created systems that work, you might find yourself wondering if this is all there is to school leadership.   If you'r...

Have you ever lost sleep over that one teacher who seems to disagree with everything you do? Or found yourself obsessing over why certain staff members just don't seem to like you? I get it. I've been there.   In fact, I remember spending countless hours trying to win over teachers who didn't like me. Stewing over their eye rolls, analyzing their non-verbals, and desperately trying to figure out w...

Does your heart rate spike when your superintendent's name pops up in your inbox?   As an educational leadership coach, I've noticed a universal pattern - that nervous feeling around authority figures. Whether it's a fear of criticism, worry about disappointing them, or anxiety about being micromanaged, these physical reactions to authority figures in education aren't just about the present moment...