PMP489: Leading with Heart and Strategy with Blaine Wise

A Quick Note to Listeners:

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is particularly loaded, so it will be answered in two parts, with part two coming out next week. The question is:

I’m a longtime listener and am reaching out because I’m struggling with burnout.  I’d love to hear how you’ve navigated the most difficult stretches of your career. What helped you persevere? Are there particular podcast episodes or conversations you’d recommend for someone trying to regain perspective and resilience?

Listen in to hear their response!

Meet Blaine Wise:

Blaine Wise is a passionate and dedicated educational leader with 17 years of experience in Oklahoma public schools. Since 2021, he’s served as principal of Glenpool Middle School, where he’s led with purpose, building a high-performing, positive school culture that’s earned statewide recognition. In 2025, he was named the OASSP/OMLEA Middle Level Principal of the Year.

Blaine began his career as a classroom teacher at Glenpool High School, later serving as a teacher and assistant principal at Charles Page High School and Charles Page Freshman Academy. With a strong foundation in instruction and leadership, he leads with both heart and strategy.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Haskell Indian Nations University and a master’s from Southern Nazarene University. Known for his collaborative, student-centered approach, Blaine serves in multiple leadership roles through CCOSA, OMLEA, and NASSP—including as OASSP President-Elect.

In 2025, he launched his website to share actionable leadership strategies that ignite purpose in educators and inspire excellence in students. Blaine Wise leads with gratitude, models excellence, and is committed to supporting students, staff, and the broader school community.

Interview takeaways:

Blaine Wise’s journey into the profession began unexpectedly after a closed door to a job opportunity opened the door to teaching. A proud member of the Seminole Nation, Blaine holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies. He initially explored career paths with that degree outside of education. However, once he began teaching, he found his calling and has never looked back.

Blaine believes that effective leadership requires a strong commitment to building and sustaining school culture. He emphasizes that culture does not happen by accident—it must be intentional and consistently cultivated through daily interactions and leadership practices.

• Culture is intentional. It is shaped through the way leaders conduct meetings, interact with staff, and communicate one-on-one.
• Leadership interactions matter. “We can’t control how people feel, but we’re responsible for how we interact with them,” he explains.
• A guiding principle: Support in public and correct in private.
  

When offering advice to new leaders, Blaine highlights the importance of humility, action, and collective wisdom:

• Build a trusted network of mentors for guidance and support.
• Remember, “It’s not your school—it’s our school.”
• Take action on good ideas; leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility.
• “The smartest person in the room is the room”—use collective knowledge to guide decisions.
• Learn through trial and error, and commit to intentional reflection.
• Share school-wide plans and maps in advance to foster clarity and trust.
  

For veteran leaders, Blaine encourages replacing the word motivated with inspired or committed. He believes staying inspired comes from returning to cycles of reflection and remembering why you lead in the first place.

• Take time to pause before making major decisions.
• Revisit your “why” by being the kind of teacher and principal you once needed.
• Protect your time for thoughtful decision-making by sometimes closing the door or asking for a moment to think.

Blaine draws inspiration from other educational leaders, including Baruti Kafele, and continually asks himself, “Is my school better because I lead it?” He even wears a whistle daily to remind himself that, at his core, he is the coach of his school.

In addition to his work as a principal, Blaine shares leadership insights through his website. He also loves to speak to schools and welcomes opportunities to collaborate with other leaders.

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