Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

Dr. Don Parker is a leading voice in professional development and educational transformation. Since beginning his educational journey in 1997, Dr. Parker has served in diverse roles, from teaching in Chicago’s inner-city schools to mentoring future educators as an Adjunct Professor at National-Louis University. As a former principal at both Posen School and Lincoln Avenue School, he made significant strides in areas like parent engagement, staff collaboration, and most importantly, student achievement. Known across the U.S. for his insights, Dr. Parker has presented at state and national conferences. His breadth of experience has allowed him to integrate evidence-based techniques to positively influence student behavior and learning outcomes. His book, ‘Building Bridges: Engaging Students Through the Power of Relationships’, underscores his philosophy on educational success. His newest book is Be the Driving Force: Leading Your School on the Road to Equity, from Solution Tree Press. Here’s a brief summary of this week’s episode: Dr. Don Parker was a previous guest on episode 189 in April 2020, and again for episodes 198 and 199 on Equity in Education with Marlena Gross Taylor and William Stubbs. We’ve also shared time together at state and national conferences. In this episode, he talks about his new book, Be the Driving Force: Leading Your School on the Road to Equity, you can find here. During this interview, Don first shares why he believes: “Principals either drive school equity or tap the brakes on it.” He talks about the power of what educators bring to student learning in the attitudes, beliefs and actions we each embrace about student potential. His quotes include: “It starts at the top. Belief drives attitude and action. Leaders must know you are the key to the motivation, environment, and potential for student and staff success.” In his own leadership, Don shares how he led a school that was initially plagued with racial inequality and staff division. He taught his teachers the principle of what he calls the Q-Tip: Quit Taking it Personal, when it comes to the ways students or parents respond to learning. He also teaches how our policies must reflect our beliefs and why restorative practices only work when educators connect relationships to outcomes. Finally, he shares a powerful and personal story about his daughter, Rhonda Rene, who suffers from FOXP1 syndrome, and how Don has learned as a father and a leader that change first begins with us.  Listen to the entire recording for amazing takeaways and stories!You can connect with Don’s new book to find out more about the importance of leaders being the driving force behind the principles, vision, climate, equity, policies, procedures, communication, and responsive learning necessary for stronger student outcomes. Find Dr. Don Parker and his resources at https://drdonparker.com/about/ The post PMP362: Be The Driving Force with Dr. Don Parker appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week Jen Schwanke turns the tables on Will Parker to place him in the hot seat as an example of reflective coaching. A few weeks ago, in episode 355, Will placed Jen in the hot seat of a conversation using questions from The Coaching Habit, by Michael Bungay Stanier.  Now, it’s Jen’s turn to ask Will the Bungay’s coaching questions: The Kickstart Question: What’s on your mind? The Awe Question: And what else? The Focus Question: What’s the real challenge here for you? The Foundation Question: What do you want? The Lazy Question: How can I help? The Strategic Question: If you’re saying yes to this, what are you saying no to? The Learning Question: What was most useful to you? Here are some of Will’s responses: Will has been struggling with running a new business, especially in the area of technology support. Specifically, he has a website update where the podcast RSS feed needs to be transferred to a new website host that uses a different feed. The risk is: if the transition is not done correctly, setting up a new feed could result in losing subscribers to various podcast apps that have relied on the old feed for the past 5 years.  Jen asks Will, ‘What do you want?” This question prompts him to reflect on the purpose of his work: supporting and equipping education leaders with content, resources and reflection on their own work. He wants to make sure that any solution keeps this priority front and center. When asked what he is willing to say ‘no’ to in order to say ‘yes’ to finding a solution, Will admits he has only relied on one other person for technical support, and he needs to reach out for targeted support. This won’t happen unless he schedules time in his schedule for these solutions just as he schedules time for other tasks. In fact, one area he may need to say ‘no’ to for a while is more podcast recordings as he already has recordings banked through the end of the year. When asked, “What has been the most helpful for you?” Will admits the concentrated reflection time helped him have an ‘aha’ moment – he must prioritize time to work on the solution by reaching out for more help, scheduling time for addressing the problem, and realizing that time invested now results in better outcomes and results later. What are the benefits of reflective sessions like this for leaders? Often we don’t have time or opportunity for someone to help us focus or reflect on the challenges we are facing with guided questions. How may reflecting help you better focus on solutions in your own work? If you’d like an opportunity to reflect with Jen or Will, or if you have ongoing questions in your practice as an education leader, please reach out at will@williamdparker.com. Thank you again for doing what matters! Principal Parry’s Pithy Proverbs Lisa Parry is a K-12 Principal in Arlington, South Dakota, and a professional development speaker and consultant. As a Principal Matters Associate, she also regularly contributes to our newsletter subscribers. You can follow her work at: principalparry.com. Enjoy this thoughtful post from Lisa: 7 Reasons to Stop Forcing Apologies These coerced, hollow statements often: 1️⃣ ignore the root issues behind a behavior. 2️⃣ breed resentment & lead to grudges. 3️⃣ result in stunted personal growth. 4️⃣ do little to repair a relationship. 5️⃣ dismiss context & perspective. 6️⃣ reek of insincerity. 7️⃣ lead to escalation. Instead of making apologizing an obligation, frame it as an invitation. Something to be done in one’s own time & on one’s own terms. Because if it is anything other, what is the point? The only answers: control & shame. And if our goal is to help another grow, this practice is, at best, ineffective…and at worst, destructive. The post PMP361: Coaching Questions for Leaders with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker appeared first on Principal Matters.

In today’s episode, Will is joined by Cheryl Step, an authority on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and the profound influence they can have throughout a person’s life. Cheryl Step has extensive knowledge regarding the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences. She has experience training and coaching others about the impact of trauma and a framework of strategies that build a foundation to respond to and empower people; this helps create an environment of collective well-being. She also consults with leadership to use these strategies and build trauma-informed schools and agencies. Cheryl brings real-world experience and stories to her training from her 17 years of experience working in Oklahoma public schools as a counselor.  She is certified in Traumatic Stress Studies by The Trauma Center and The Trauma Research Foundation and in ARC Trauma Treatment for Children and Adolescents.  She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Board-Certified Counselor and School Counselor.  She has established her own training and consulting company, Creating Resilience.          Cheryl delves deep into her vast knowledge pool to share: The effect of trauma on learning and how a structured framework can pave the way to empower individuals. The importance of fostering an environment that promotes collective well-being. Insights from her training and consulting company, Creating Resilience. Key Takeaways: Introduction & Connection: Cheryl’s association with Oklahoma State University’s Center for Family Resilience and collaborations with experts like Dr. Brooke Tuttle provide deeper insights into trauma-informed care. Check out previous episodes for more:    PMP343 with Dr. Brooke Tuttle    PMP137 with Dr. Barb Sorrels Cheryl’s Journey: From training horses and riders to becoming an experienced educator and counselor, Cheryl’s path is both unique and inspiring. While training a psychologist, Cheryl was encouraged by him to pursue a career in counseling, launching her transition from horse trainer to where she is today. Working at TraumaSmart in Kansas City for two years was what really helped Cheryl start doing the work that she does today. The Importance of a Safe Environment: Discover the crucial role attachment, regulation, and competency play in learning. Cheryl draws an analogy to different parts of a car, highlighting the importance of the prefrontal cortex in the learning process and why educators need to create regulated, connected environments conducive to learning. Insightful Discussions: Cheryl and Will dive deep into:  Practical strategies schools can implement for fostering responsible behaviors. Tips and techniques for leaders to integrate trauma-informed strategies into staff management and their personal self-care routines. Resource Highlight: Explore the “Collective Well-Being Tree” on Creating Resilience. For more, you can connect directly with Cheryl Step and delve deeper into her impactful work through her website: Creating Resilience. Listen to the full episode to gain invaluable insights, stories, and strategies to bolster resilience in both learning and leadership environments. Don’t miss out, and thank you for doing what matters! The post PMP360: Creating Resilience in Learning and Leadership with Cheryl Step appeared first on Principal Matters.

Updates for Principal Matters Listeners New Website Hi, Friends. Will Parker here. I want to share a few updates before today’s show. First of all, Principal Matters has a new website. For 10 years, I have been using the same website, and this week we are excited to launch a new place where you can find all the previous podcasts and blog posts, links to my books, as well as offerings and services like the Principal Matters Grow Academy, Impact Masterminds, Executive Coaching, and Keynote opportunities.  Please take a moment to check it out. If you know someone who would benefit from subscribing to our weekly newsletter, they can use the subscribe link at williamdparker.com to sign up. Grow Academy Also, I want you to know we have opened a Principal Matters Grow Academy https://www.williamdparker.com/services/ for the new school year. The Grow Academy is a monthly virtual leadership meeting where I facilitate discussion on a different hat for school leaders including decision-making, organizational management, effective communication, and more. Our first meeting is September 13 and we will meet each 2nd Wednesday of the month through June 2023. This is a limited registration in order to maintain a small number for collaboration so reach out soon if you’re interested at will@williamdparker.com. Learn with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker at Ignite+ In addition, I want to encourage you to register for a virtual series that Jen Schwanke and I are providing for the National Association of Secondary School Principals this semester, called Ignite#. When you register, you will have direct access to four live virtual meetings that Jen and I will be facilitating on Whole School Wellness, on September 14, October 12, November 16, and December 14. We will be using content from both of our books to guide the conversation, including feedback from participants like you. You will also have access to other sessions led by great leaders like Robyn Jackson, Principal EL, and Jimmy Casas. Don’t miss out. Register today at https://nassp.org/igniteplus Virtual Training with Dr. Helen Kelly Next, I want to give a shout-out to a friend of mine, Dr. Helen Kelly. Dr. Kelly is an administrator from the UK who wrote the book School Leaders Matter, and she was a previous guest on PMP337 where she shared some powerful lessons on how to prevent burnout. Dr. Kelly is offering a virtual workshop on October 12, 2023, called Maximizing Your Work Recovery. You can find out more and register at https://drhelenkelly.com/workshops/05MYWR.php or go to the link on my website accompanying this post to find out more. Complimentary Reflection Session Finally, we want to hear from you. Recently, Jen Schwanke and I shared an episode of reflective questions. We had feedback from several listeners who wanted an opportunity to have a conversation where they could reflect with guided questions and coaching. As a result, I’ve made some new friendships and learned a lot from the experiences of other leaders. I want to extend this complimentary invitation to listeners if you are interested in connecting for a 30-minute touch-base where I can ask you questions to help you reflect on your own leadership. Email me at will@williamdparker.com with the subject line “Reflect” and I can reach back to schedule a time. If you are a regular listener, thank you, and please check out the new website at www.williamdparker.com, and tell us what you think. Wishing you a great week ahead, and thank you again for doing what matters! Now This Week’s Show-notes This week Jen Schwanke and Will Parker reflect on a question from an assistant principal. Join us as we dive into a thoughtful question from one of our listeners. Here’s the listener question: “… my principal retired and we have a new principal this year… I just wanted to pick your brain to get suggestions for building and maintaining trust with my new principal along with tips for being the best assistant principal I can be. I value your insight (and Jen’s) and wanted to reach out.” Jen Tips on Building & Maintaining Trust: Listen Actively: Understand the vision of your new principal. Seek to understand before seeking to be understood. Loyalty is Key: Be steadfast in your support and demonstrate reliability. Be Mindful of Perceptions: People form opinions based on what you say and do. Prepare for leading questions like, “So… what do you think?!” Rethink Phrases: Avoid: “This is how we’ve always done it.” Instead: “Let me tell you why it’s been done this way” or “Let me share staff/parent feelings on this.” Will’s Additional Insights for Assistant Principals: Discover Vision & Values: Align with the head principal’s vision and determine how best to support them. Know Your Role: Understand the administrative divisions and your specific job description. Introduce Yourself: Engage with everyone from teachers to students, ensuring a holistic connection. Master the Art of Listening: At first, prioritize listening over speaking to truly gauge the environment. Guard Trust: Trust is earned. Be cautious initially and determine who is truly trustworthy. School Policies are Crucial: Familiarize yourself with both district and school-specific policies. Consistency is Key: Especially when starting, adhere strictly to policies until you fully grasp the school’s culture. Plan Ahead: Schedule tasks for the entire year, ensuring important events remain a priority. Self-Care: Even amidst chaos, prioritize self-care. This is vital for long-term effectiveness. Grace Upon Grace: Recognize this is a learning curve. Pace yourself and remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Wrapping Up: For more in-depth advice, real-life stories, and additional insights, ensure you listen to the entire episode. A huge thank you to our community for such great questions. Your questions inspire our content. Remember, you can catch all episodes, valuable resources, and more at www.williamdparker.com. Subscribe and share with fellow educators and school leaders! The post PMP359: Building Trust & Thriving as an Assistant Principal with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker appeared first on Principal Matters.

Hi, Friends. Will Parker here. I am sharing this bonus episode to inform Principal Matters listeners about some new updates. First of all, we have a new website. For 10 years, I have been using the same website, and this week we are excited to launch a new place where you can find all the previous podcasts and blog posts, links to my books, as well as offerings and services like the Principal Matters Grow Academy, Impact Masterminds, Executive Coaching, and Keynote opportunities.  Please take a moment to check it out. If you know someone who would benefit from subscribing to our weekly newsletter, they can use the subscribe button at williamdparker.com to sign up. Also, I want to encourage you to register for a virtual series that Jen Schwanke and I are providing for the National Association of Secondary School Principals this semester, called Ignite#. When you register, you will have direct access to four live virtual meetings that Jen and I will be facilitating on Whole School Wellness, on September 14, October 12, November 16, and December 14. We will be using content from both of our books to guide the conversation, including feedback from participants like you. You will also have access to other sessions led by great leaders like Robyn Jackson, Principal EL, and Jimmy Casas. Don’t miss out. Register today at https://nassp.org/igniteplus Next, I want to give a shout-out to a friend of mine, Dr. Helen Kelly. Dr. Kelly is an administrator from the UK who wrote the book School Leaders Matter, and she was a previous guest on PMP337 where she shared some powerful lessons on how to prevent burnout. Dr. Kelly is offering a virtual workshop on October 12, 2023, called Maximizing Your Work Recovery. You can find out more and register at https://drhelenkelly.com/workshops/05MYWR.php or go to the link on my website accompanying this post to find out more. Finally, we want to hear from you. Recently, Jen Schwanke and I shared an episode of reflective questions. We had feedback from several listeners who wanted an opportunity to have a conversation where they could reflect with guided questions and coaching. As a result, I’ve made some new friendships and learned a lot from the experiences of other leaders. I want to extend this complimentary invitation to listeners if you are interested in connecting for a 30-minute touch-base where I can ask you questions to help you reflect on your own leadership. Email me at will@williamdparker.com with the subject line “Reflect” and I can reach back to schedule a time. That’s it. If you are a regular listener, thank you, and expect to hear our next regularly scheduled episode in just a few days.  Please check out the new website at www.williamdparker.com, and tell us what you think. Wishing you a great week ahead, and thank you again for doing what matters! The post Bonus: Principal Matters Update from Will Parker appeared first on Principal Matters.

Timothy Alexander, a faith-driven leader from Birmingham, Alabama, has become a symbol of resilience and inspiration. Ranked the #8 high school football player in the state during his time at Erwin High School, his life was dramatically altered by a car accident in 2006 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Despite the incident, Timothy pursued his education at Wallace State Community College and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), double majoring in Criminal Justice and Communication Management. His strong spirit allowed him to make history at UAB as the first paraplegic to receive a football scholarship. In addition to his academic achievements, Timothy led a movement that successfully reinstated UAB’s terminated Football, Bowling, and Rifle programs, raising over $40 million in support. He is also the recipient of the Student of Excellence Award for his outstanding academic and athletic performance. A pillar of his community, he is known for sharing his story with students and educators across the nation. Key Discussion Highlights: Your Connection with Schools: The essence of purpose aids students in self-identification. It’s the ‘who’ that holds prominence over the ‘what’. Guiding and inspiring them remains crucial, underscoring the significance of perspective and guidance. Telling the truth to the students helps them feel related to and disrupts their thinking in a positive way. No one truly gets them more than someone who has been in their shoes.  Expectations when Schools Engage You:  Authenticity, forging connections, resonating narratives, and constructive disruption of thought processes.  Encourage challenging traditional norms. Make students challenge the status quo  Insights from Student Feedback: The yearning for recognition stands out. Students feel seen when adults spend time to truly get to know them. Queries arise, questioning educators’ cognizance of students’ familial struggles. Principals ought to earmark time for student interactions. Take two minutes to connect with students. It can be transformational.   The need to momentarily veer from curricular mandates, investing in forging connections is highlighted. Value lies in conducting exit interviews with both outgoing seniors and incoming freshmen. Personal Habits for Aspiring Leaders: Slow down and listen to yourself. If you don’t listen to yourself, how will you be able to listen to anyone else? Emphasis on attentive listening, extending genuine concern for others.  Prioritizing self-care and showcasing vulnerability by sharing personal challenges. Reflecting on the philosophy of Pause, Breathe, Flourish: “To hasten, sometimes one must decelerate.” How leaders can practice holding others accountable while also maintaining trusting relationships: Remind them of what they signed up for. We say to students, “Oh well” because we don’t need it to be easy, we just need it to be possible. Remind students, “If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.”  Listening to whatever struggles students are having, and holding them accountable to work through them.  Have a story that connects with them. Academics first. Focus on the small things. Major in the minors. It goes back to perspective. Remind them in that moment of what they truly signed up for.  Hold yourself accountable.  Hang up your titles.  Avoid Stinkin Thinkin: the negative thoughts that hold you back.  Don’t be a Titanic story. You lose your people because you don’t have any relationships. How can listeners stay connected with you and find out more about inviting you to their school? Use this link to connect with Timothy Alexander or schedule a follow-up: https://www.inspiredbyta.com/will-parker Listen into the entire conversation for great takeaways! The post PMP358: Inspired to Be Faithful with Timothy Alexander appeared first on Principal Matters.

A few thoughts from Will before this week’s show: Hi, Friends. Will Parker here. A few remarks before we jump into today’s episode. First, many of you know Principal Matters is now my full-time venture. Beyond my collaborations with districts across the U.S., I’m thrilled to introduce the Principal Matters Grow Academy, tailor-made for dedicated listeners who want to develop capacity as decision-makers, communicators, team-builders, and more. Starting September 11th, 2023, and continuing every 2nd Wednesday through May, we’re offering 8 specialized 70-minute virtual sessions for leaders like you in various U.S. time zones. Spaces are limited to ensure quality interaction, so if you’re eager to join, drop me an email at will@williamdparker.com with the subject ‘Grow’ or go to the Services link on my website to fill out an application by the end of this month. Also, don’t miss the Ignite+ virtual series by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Jen Schwanke and I will dive deep into whole-school wellness over four sessions starting September 14th. You can register and access additional sessions with presenters Robyn Jackson, Principal EL, and Jimmy Casas at nassp.org/igniteplus. Finally, a heartfelt shout-out to the wonderful school leaders with the Ohio School Sponsorship program, especially Sheila Vitale. It was an honor to facilitate a convocation day for them. Also, thank you to my friend Superintendent Justin Kana and the Morrision Public School faculty for hosting me to present on Pause. Breathe. Flourish. – as a part of their teacher professional development. If you want similar experiences, please reach out! Thank you for your dedication to doing what matters. Now, let’s dive into the episode! Let’s Meet John Boyd: This week we have the pleasure of talking with John Boyd, a seasoned educator, dedicated community member, and avid runner. John’s journey began as a middle school social studies teacher and has since blossomed into an illustrious career that led him back to his roots, Ste. Genevieve High School. Here, he spent seven years educating young minds before taking on the mantle of Assistant Principal. After three years in that role, John embarked on his current position as Principal, concluding his second year. John’s investment in his school community spans over 27 years in various capacities, from being a student himself to becoming an administrator. On top of his work at the school, John holds a spot on the Missouri State Principal’s Association Board of Directors. His exceptional leadership skills were recognized this year when he was awarded Missouri’s Jim L. King High School Principal of the Year Award. Outside of his career, John shares a joyful family life with his wife, Sierra, and their two children, J.B. and Emery. Here’s a snapshot of what we discussed: The Runner’s Life John shares his running journey that began in high school and college and eventually became a catalyst for his career in education. He reminisces about his participation in the 2019 Boston Marathon and his attempt at a 50-mile race. Ste. Genevieve – A Community’s Story John talks about life in Ste. Genevieve, the oldest town west of the Mississippi River. He praises the town’s close-knit community and his proud work at Ste. Genevieve High School, a National Banner School for Inclusive Practices. Leading Your Hometown School John discusses the unique challenges and rewards of leading in his hometown school. He speaks about managing expectations, knowing the traditions and people, and his unwavering commitment to his community. Sustaining Leadership Over the Long Term John emphasizes the importance of finding a personal outlet, having an accountability partner, loving what you do, and the role of a supportive family in enduring leadership. Advice for Fellow Leaders As a leader, John highlights the importance of relationships, celebrating all achievements, modeling effective classroom strategies, and fostering a caring culture. The Importance of Ongoing Learning Discussing executive coaching, John stresses the danger of complacency and the significance of continuous growth for himself, his students, staff, and the community. Final Thoughts and Contact In conclusion, John reiterates his passion for education and leadership. He extends an open invitation for others to connect with him via email at jboyd@sgdragons.org. For all this and more, tune in to the entire conversation. You won’t want to miss these insightful takeaways from John Boyd! Will Parker and guest John Boyd discuss school management and leading your hometown high school in this week’s episode of PMP. Will Parker and guest John Boyd discuss school management and leading your hometown high school in this week’s episode of PMP. Three Leadership Takeaways with Dr. Nick Principal Matters is proud to include contributing posts from Dr. Nick Davies, an elementary associate principal for Vancouver Public Schools. He is a Principal Matters Associate and posts his own weekly podcast version of the following content at “Monday Mornings with Dr. Nick” which can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-davies-education/ “Be Humble and Don’t be a Jerk!” by Dr. Nick Davies I met with Kim Marshall two separate times a few months ago. I normally don’t meet with leaders during the school day, but the way our schedules matched up, it was one of the only times we could make it work. Well, that serves me right! Within minutes I was called out to address a major student issue. So, we met again a couple of weeks later (not during the school day). Kim writes the Marshall Memo, and he says in a given week he will read roughly 150 articles each week and then narrows it down to around 8 that he focuses on for his memo. He has been doing this for awhile now, and he has a wealth of information on best practices for schools! Kim was interviewed on the Principal Matters Podcast on Episode 168. Spread Your Net  When you are looking to do something new as a leader, where do you get your information? Do you have a go-to source or person? Kim encouraged me to always “spread your net” when it comes to information. “Good ideas are not all in once place.” One of the habits that has helped him across his career has been that he is a voracious reader. He follows interesting ideas and looks for whatever information he can find about that topic. Kim gave the example of a school leader who read about a strategy, Thinking Classrooms, in the Marshall Memo, expertly put it to use, and now kids are benefiting from it. Resources like the Marshall Memo take many ideas and many resources to save people time and expose them to great ideas.  What percentage of the time are you doing things that you like?  One of the things that I love about talking with leaders, particularly those who coach others as part of their job, is that they don’t just give me advice and answer questions. They often can’t help but ask me questions and then start asking coaching follow up questions. Kim asked me what percent of the time I do things I liked, and then we dove into what that means for being a sustainable principal. He is a veteran school administrator and talked about how the principal job is a 24/7 role. So much of the job can be challenging and often it is just trying to get the plane off of the runway, so to speak. How can you increase the percentage of time that you do things you enjoy while still getting the job done? The answer is different for everyone, but he had one piece of advice: Always teach when you are a principal! We all got into education to help students, and the best way to still be connected to the core of what we do is to be in the classroom with students. A principal’s schedule is never the same, so teaching can be challenging. His suggestion was something like Sex-Ed. Teachers don’t always want to teach it, and it is only a small part of the curriculum during a portion of the year.  The Power of Formative Assessments  Formative assessments are those in-the-moment adjustments that teachers make in the classroom. The best teachers do it instinctively, but Kim said that oftentimes it is the weakest thing seen in the classroom. The best formative assessments happen in the moment to make changes to what is currently going on. This means that exit tickets, although valuable, might be too late. This is an idea of constant adjustment and improvement, and it can extend to teachers as well. If teachers use common assessments, then they can meet and go over scores. The crucial part of this, however, is that you need a culture of sharing mistakes and teachers being willing to say, “You’re kids did better. What did you do?” Additionally, administrators need to be in classrooms and coach teachers along the way.  Thank you, Kim, for your time and advice!  Thank you for doing what matters! Sincerely, Dr. Nick The post PMP357: Leading Your Hometown School with John Boyd appeared first on Principal Matters.

Frederick Buskey lives in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and helps assistant principals live and lead better by teaching them how to escape the black hole of urgency. Building on 32 years of K-12 and higher education leadership experience, Dr. Buskey provides simple frameworks and tools to help school leaders spend less time putting out fires and invest more time in growing teachers. Dr. Buskey hosts The Assistant Principal Podcast, writes a daily leadership email, and supports assistant principals through APEx, an online group coaching and learning community. For the past 13 years, he has supported education leaders in building sustainability in their work.  In this conversation, Frederick explains how he has led principal licensure programs at two universities. Here are a few of the ideas Frederick shares: “Leadership is not making others like me, it is serving and trusting others.” He also shares the five stages for being unstuck in work as well as 4 principles for strategic leadership.  Understanding urgent vs important: Being driven by tasks instead of people causes leaders to misplace their priorities. Realization or the U-Turn: Priority management vs time management. We can’t do everything. We choose what gets done and does not get done. Our choices reflect our values. Transition to Intentional Leadership: sustainability happens when we move from tasks to systems – and move from actions to identifying non-actions. Investing Time Into Practice – when you ‘save’ time by how you use it, you become intentional in where that time is now focused. Strategic Leadership is supporting and growing people. Strategy happens when you understand people, purpose, problems and progress. Dr. Buskey also gave us permission to share the following images for these lessons: Listen in to the entire conversation for even more takeaways!  Read more about Dr. Buskey on his website and connect with him on LinkedIn. The post PMP356: Escaping the Black Hole of Urgency with Dr. Frederick Buskey appeared first on Principal Matters.

In this episode, host Will Parker prompts guest Jen Schwanke with seven thought-provoking questions derived from the book, The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier. This reflective dialogue aims to explore leadership challenges and ways to overcome them. Buy the book here. Question Overview: The Kickstart Question: What’s on your mind? The Awe Question: And what else? The Focus Question: What’s the real challenge here for you? The Foundation Question: What do you want? The Lazy Question: How can I help? The Strategic Question: If you’re saying yes to this, what are you saying no to? The Learning Question: What was most useful to you? Key Discussion Points: Jen’s Leadership Struggles: She discusses her struggle with juggling many areas of life and work, expressing guilt about not being able to fully contribute to all of them. The Challenge of Expectations: Jen talks about the pressure of living up to others’ expectations or perceived expectations and the importance of giving herself permission to be herself. What Jen Really Wants: Her goal is to make a positive impact where she can, understanding that her contribution might look different from others. The Power of Conversation: In response to “How can I help?”, Jen emphasizes that conversations like this are instrumental in uplifting leaders. Strategic No’s: She expresses a desire to decline “dead ends and energy sucks”, focusing her energy more constructively. This episode encourages leaders to engage in reflective exercises. Use these seven questions in a journaling session or invite a friend for a discussion. If you’d like a personal reflection session with Will, reach out to him at will@williamdparker.com. Listen to the full episode to get a better understanding of these discussion points and more! A note from Will Parker Hi, Friends. Will Parker here. I wanted to give you a few updates. I just returned from speaking at an event in San Diego and enjoying some vacation time. My wife and I also celebrated our anniversary of 30 years! Many of you know that Principal Matters is now my full-time work, which means more opportunities for learning and growing with leaders like you. This week I’ll be traveling to Columbus, Ohio, to provide a keynote for the Ohio State Department of Education’s School Sponsorship Program. On August 8, I will lead professional development for Morrison Public Schools in Oklahoma. August 14, 17, and 21, we will launch Executive Coaching and Masterminds with two cohorts of Ohio leaders. August 22 begins ongoing Masterminds for the Palo Alto High School Administration Team. And August 29, I will be with the Archdiocese of Louisville admin team for in-person events with principals participating in this year’s Principal Matters Grow Academy and Impact Mastermind. If you’re interested in any of the offerings available for the coming school year, check out the services link at williamdparker.com or email me directly at will@williamdparker.com. We are also enhancing some content available through the Principal Matters weekly newsletter. Not only does the newsletter include a summary of the show notes, but also it includes helpful resources and updates from sponsors and Principal Matters Associates. For instance, beginning in August, the newsletter will include additional content provided twice a month by my friend, Dr. Nick Davies, an elementary associate principal for Vancouver Public Schools. Nick will share a written summary called Three Takeaways for Leaders, content based on his podcast “Monday Mornings with Dr. Nick.” You will want to read these helpful summaries by subscribing to the Principal Matters newsletter on my website at williamdparker.com. Also, this month SchoolCEO, one of our sponsors, is conducting a leadership survey to explore the dynamics involved in superintendent/principal relationships. Your feedback is crucial. Find out more in the Principal Matters newsletter. Go to williamdparker.com and click the subscribe link. Thank you for doing what matters, and I hope you enjoy today’s episode! Three Leadership Takeaways: “Drink A Lot of Water” by Dr. Nick Davies I met with Ted Howard, an assistant superintendent for Seattle Public Schools. Ted wasted no time giving me great advice and mentoring me in my personal leadership journey. Without prompting, Ted touched on all of the areas I always ask leaders about, so I just asked clarifying questions and took pages of notes! He emailed me articles and told me to check out the Conscious Leadership Group: https://conscious.is/. Ted’s passion and love for supporting students and anyone who works in the school system was extremely clear. His advice was so practical and useful right now that I titled the article after something he said at the end of our conversation: Don’t forget to drink a lot of water!  Find Sustainability as a Leader Ted and I spent a lot of our time together talking about the sustainability of being a school leader. He did not use those words, but that was a commonality with what he talked about. First, Ted mentioned the need to have a mentor in this work. When you have a good mentor, they have a huge impact on you. Take advantage of those mentors in your life and physically spend time with them (when possible). Additionally, talk with and connect with people from all over. Spend time in different schools with different leaders to learn what they are doing. You are only as strong as the mentors and people around you! Additionally, when it comes to sustainability, you need to be able to renew yourself and your body. It is so easy to forget about ourselves while we serve others all day. We all want to do great things in our buildings, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take the time to slow down at work and at home. Ted talked about how when he was a new principal he would get home and look for a project to finish because our work as school leaders takes so long to see the impact! The problem with this mentality is that your brain is a muscle, so when do you let it rest? How do you let it rest (without any digital tools!)?  Be Interested and Really Curious  Ted told me that being really interested and really curious about everything has been a habit that has helped his career. He is always continuing to learn and grow and always asking questions. For example, if 99% of our teachers are proficient (common at least for the state of Washington), why do we have such a high failure rate in school? Do we not know how to evaluate teachers? Or is our system getting the results it is set up for? Additionally, many people do not truly know what their role is. Explicitly laying out what is expected of everyone in the building can relieve a lot of problems. Furthermore, Ted talked about how he likes talking with people who have a business mind. As educators, we have a huge buffer of time. There are 13 years to take a student from kindergarten to high school graduation! Businesses have to focus on the immediate and have a greater sense of urgency. Those different perspectives can be beneficial to what we are doing. If you love kids, you always give them chances  Since Ted is an assistant superintendent of the largest school district in the state of Washington, we talked a lot about systems and leading other leaders. He did, however, always bring his comments back to kids. Ted talked about how our business is to educate students, but we are really in the people business. When you are running low on energy, go to classrooms and be seen. When you are in the classroom, don’t forget how to be a kid! If students don’t energize you, then you might be in the wrong profession! Staff may say a lot of things about their leader, but they need to always remember that you care about kids. That said, adults can and do fail students. As a school leader, if we always give students chances, one of our blindspots can be giving the people we lead chances. We want to bring out the best in people. When they fail, help them get back up and encourage them in the moment.  I always ask leaders for book recommendations, and Ted had a couple which are below. He said, however, that leaders are often so pressed for time and energy that they need to find ways to continue to learn in a shorter format. I agree! So stay tuned for the next two weeks as I talk to Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang, who make books and articles more accessible to leaders!  The Power of Servant Leadership – Robert Greenleaf  Leading at a Higher Level – Ken Blanchard  Thank you, Ted, for your time and advice! — Dr. Nick Davies Dr. Nick Davies is an elementary associate principal for Vancouver Public Schools. He is a Principal Matters Associate and posts his own weekly podcast version of the following content at “Monday Mornings with Dr. Nick” which can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-davies-education/ The post PMP355: Using Reflective Questions with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker appeared first on Principal Matters.

On this week’s episode, we tackle listener queries about leadership and resource allocation. Jen Schwanke shares an enlightening conversation with a principal from a small, rural school in Iowa about how best to utilize allocated funding for a new staff position. Biggest Time Usage and Strengths: Jen discusses the principal’s most significant time usage and strengths, and his decision to hire an instructional coach to handle the academics while he manages sports and music. Proactive vs. Reactive Hiring: Jen challenges this approach, suggesting hiring a leader for Operations of Extracurriculars, thereby allowing the principal to focus on instruction. The Power of Intent: Jen emphasizes the importance of knowing your “why.” She advises hiring someone to handle what is already a community focus, ensuring the principal’s energy is directed towards the academic growth of students. Advice for One-Man Teams: If hiring additional staff is not possible, Jen’s advice remains the same – empower those in your team to step up to leadership roles. It’s about evaluating if they are deflecting problems your way due to your control issues or if they believe you can make them disappear. The Overwhelm Dilemma: Jen refers to Anne Lamott’s words, “Helping is the sunny side of control,” and urges leaders to reflect on their tendency to control. Additionally, if exhaustion sets in, it’s vital to investigate the root cause, as suggested by Brene Brown. Top Systems for School Administrators: Answering another listener question, Will and Jen list three key areas to focus on for increasing productivity – Self, Staff, and Community. They discuss identifying the key responsibility areas (KRAs) that align with your strengths, gifts, and passion. Practical Examples of KRAs: Will shares an extensive list of KRAs from a principal friend, Russell Tillery of Sallisaw High School. These responsibilities cover various roles within the school, such as Office Staff, Principal, and more, providing a comprehensive guide for other leaders to develop their own KRAs. You can email will@williamdparker.com for a complete list of KRA’s. Conclusion – Embrace Teamwork: As you consider how to allocate resources and support in your school community, remember the power of teamwork. The aim is not only to be action-oriented but also to be dedicated to realizing the potential in others. When principals discover and amplify the strengths in their staff, schools thrive. Listen to this episode for a deep dive into these topics and more! The post PMP354: Questions on Allocation of Support with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker appeared first on Principal Matters.