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

This school year I had the privilege of connecting with leaders from schools in the great state of Ohio through a series of Zoom meetings. We worked through twenty sessions together covering leadership content, including lessons from my newest book, Pause. Breathe. Flourish.: Living Your Best Life as an Educator.  In our final session for the school year, I shared ideas from the final chapter of the book on leaving a legacy. Afterwards, I reached back to five of the members to ask if I could share some of their comments as a part of this week’s podcast episode. As you listen, you will hear me share ideas on why school leaders must keep in mind what kind of legacy they are leaving.  Listen in for takeaways on: Why you are not as important as you think.Why you are more important than you think.Why you will both inspire and disappoint others as leader.Why you will always be constantly learning in leadership. You will also hear comments from the following school leaders: Ian Frank, Cinncinati College Preparatory AcademyRachel Smith, Youngston Community SchoolDr. Lisa Minor, Dayton Business Technology High SchoolGisele James, Par Excellence Academy, Newark, OhioNoah Campbell, Discovery Academy, Toledo, Ohio I want to taink each of these leaders and others who met regularly to learn and grow in accountability, reflection and encouragement with one another. If you are interested in how you can become a part of a Principal Matters Leadership Group or Mastermind, reach out to me at will@williamdparker.com. Just type “Mastermind” in the subject line, and I would to reach back with more information about opportunities for the 2022-2023 school year.  Thank you again for doing what matters! The post PMP295: A Mastermind on Leaving a Legacy appeared first on Principal Matters.

Brent Kline is Principal of Palo Alto High School, in Palo Alto, California. His previous administration roles include four years at Santa Cruz High School. He began his education career as a teacher in Clovis, California, and he served as a teacher and principal at Mariner High School, Everett, Washington for more than two decades. In 2013, he was the Washington State High School Principal of the Year and a 2014 finalist for NASSP’s National Principal of the Year Program.  As the Washingon State High School Principal of the Year, Kline’s commitment to literacy and academic excellence had resulted in a 10-year increase in the percentage of students meeting standards in reading and writing. Brent was named the principal of Palo Alto High School (Paly), beginning his new position in the fall of 2020.  Although his position began at the height of the pandemic and virtual learning, Brent continued the important task of including both student and staff voice to ensure the involvement of the entire school community with the immediate task of providing positive and relevant learning experiences throughout the challenges of the pandemic.  Beginning in January 2021, Brent began facilitating conversations and learning opportunities with his staff and students around equity, with a focus on equitable grading practices.  With the help of equity expert Enid Lee, Brent has led both the staff and students in a variety of conversations designed to unpack the effects of current grading practices, while exploring new and innovative practices that could be implemented to meet the needs of students in this ever-changing world.   He holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University at Hayward and a master’s degree from Western Washington University.  Brent has presented at conferences including:  Washington Educational Research Association, Coalition of Essential Schools, and Association of Washington School Principals.  He was awarded the Western Association of Secondary Administrators Outstanding Achievement Award (2008), Western Scholastic Conference Distinguished Principal Award (2008, 2012), and the Washington State High School Principal of the Year (2013).   Listen-in as Brent shares the traditions that his campus has embraced since its beginning in 1918 – ironically the same year the nation was experiencing a global pandemic. He also talks about the following: His partnership with Enid Lee who has facilitated conversations with staff and students on equity. (You can check out this interview with her for more information: https://williamdparker.com/tag/enid-lee/Ways his leadership team has invited staff and students to influence change at your high school.Outcomes or responses that have surprised him most when involving staff and student voice.Feedback from a student-created podcast with responses on conversations around equity. Why his students created this and how this has helped encourage student voice.How his school has used Joe Feldman’s Grading for Equity as a collaborative resource: https://gradingforequity.org We also talk about executive coaching as Brent has partnered with Principals Matters, LLC. this past year and the benefits of our weekly meetings. In addition, Brent explains the targets from staff/teachers produced from shared leadership: You can reach back to Mr. Brent Kline at his email address or via his school website: https://www.paly.net/about-us/leadership The post PMP294: Ensuring Staff and Student Voice with Brent Kline appeared first on Principal Matters.

Last week Garth Larson was a guest on episode 292 as he shared the Profile of a School Leader. During our pre-show conversation, we reflected on the lessons both of us had learned in our work during the pandemic. Afterwards, I asked Garth if I could share the back-and-forth as a bonus episode for a few lessons, including: The way work environments have changed, and how we have tried to adjust our service and support accordingly.The lessons learned through shifting to hybrid deliveries with both virtual and in-person options to connect with even more people.The importance of reflection, resilience and application of new practices in order to maximize lessons learned. I hope you find this a valuable opportunity to hear about the work Garth and I both do in service to others that may help you think about how the changes you have experienced will be ones you can carry on in the work you do. Garth Larson, Ed.D is the Co-Founder and CEO of FIRST Educational Resources. Garth has previously worked as the Director of Learning for the Winneconne Community School District in northeast Wisconsin, was an elementary principal in two separate buildings and started his career in education as a high school speech and English teacher. Want more learning this summer? I’ll be joining Garth Larson as a breakout speaker for an upcoming virtual summit: Check out the Learner First Leadership Summit June 21-22, 2022 at https://www.firsteducation-us.com/. Stay connected with Garth via email: garth@firsteducation-us.com. The post PMP293: Lessons in Change, Bonus Episode with Garth Larson appeared first on Principal Matters.

Garth Larson, Ed.D is the Co-Founder and CEO of FIRST Educational Resources. Garth has previously worked as the Director of Learning for the Winneconne Community School District in northeast Wisconsin, was an elementary principal in two separate buildings and started his career in education as a high school speech and English teacher. In 2011, Garth formed Wisconsin Educational Resources (now FIRST) with a focus on improving student achievement across the United States. Since 2011, over 2000 school districts throughout the globe have become partnership districts with his company. Garth currently consults with school districts around the world and provides customized professional development around a variety of topics, mainly Professional Learning Communities 2.0, Learning-Centered Grading Practices, Leadership and School Improvement. Garth is also the author of Collaborative Systems of Support: Learning for ALL with co-authors Tom Hierck and Chris Weber, Target-Based Grading in Collaborative Teams: 13 Steps to Moving Beyond Standards with co-author Tom Hierck, Grading for Impact: Raising Student Achievement through a Target-Based Assessment and Learning System and PLC 2.0: Collaborating for Observable Impact in Today’s Schools with co-author Cale Birk. Garth has a Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (WI), Master’s of Arts in Educational Leadership from Marian University in Fond du Lac, WI and a Bachelors of Science in Education (English and Speech Communications) from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (WI).  Something Garth has really been focusing on with schools lately is helping to create a profile of a school leader. Many schools do this so often with creating a portrait of a graduate in our schools, we may fail to understand the teachers and leaders we wish to cultivate in our buildings. In this episode, he talks about that in relation to the question, “What is the Observable Impact in my building as a result of my leadership?” Listen-in as we discuss: Why it is important for leaders to consider creating their own profileSuggestions when guiding leaders through this practiceWhat ways this practice may be transferable to teachers or others on your school teamsHow leaders can measure or access the observable impact they are having as a result of their leadership We also discuss a recent NPR/Ipsos poll of parents and what they think about schools that you can find here: https://www.npr.org/2022/04/29/1094782769/parent-poll-school-culture-wars Want more learning this summer? I’ll be joining Garth Larson as a breakout speaker for an upcoming virtual summit: Check out the Learner First Leadership Summit June 21-22, 2022 at https://www.firsteducation-us.com/leadership-summit. Stay connected with Garth via email: garth@firsteducation-us.com. The post PMP292: The Profile of a School Leader with Dr. Garth Larson appeared first on Principal Matters.

Dr. Keri Launius has worked in PreK-16 education for over 22 years. With experiences from classroom teacher, campus principal and district administration, she has had ample opportunities to learn and grow as an educator. She began her career as a high school teacher and spent close to a decade teaching in Texas Public Schools. Working as a district leader Dr. Launius has attended Harvard Graduate School of Education Principals Institute, has been nationally published, as well as presented on a national stage. Launius graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelors of Arts in Communication and a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She earned a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and holds both Superintendent and Principal certifications from Stephen F Austin State University. Away from the office, Launius enjoys her advocacy work as a Protege for TALAS (Texas Association for Latino Administrators and Superintendents) and as an Alumnus for Raise Your Hand Texas.  She serves alongside organizations including Kiwanis, Rotary, The West of The Pecos Rodeo Committee.  She spends her evenings and weekends cheering for youth sports with her husband John Launius, who is a high school football coach. The two of them have 3 children. This past school year, we have had the privilege of partnering together with Pecos-Barstow Toyah ISD and Principal Matters, LLC, to facilitate learning for your team of aspiring and assistant principals.  Our sessions together have covered several topics including: Building Healthy CulturesCoaching as LeadersListening to and Counseling OthersManaging effective systemsAccountability through ReflectionChief Communication or CheerleaderImportance of Servant-Leadership Among those topics, Kerry explains lessons her teams have benefitted in learning and applying in their leadership.  We talk  about growth among her district’s team members where she has seen leaders applying lessons they are learning from collaborating together. As a district level leader, she explains how she facilitates training with her teams and how a partnership with Principal Matters has assisted in important role of supporting and resourcing aspiring and current leaders. You can follow her at Twitter via @kerilaunius. The post PMP291: Growing Leadership Teams with Dr. Keri Launius appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week Jen Schwanke and William D. Parker talk about how principals and education leaders can recruit and retain high quality teachers: Learn about efforts school districts are using involving supporting employment funnels from local universities, substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, and student-teacher interns. Discover how you can leverage duty stipends and arrival/departure times as incentives for those who need differing start/end times. Brainstorm ways to balance work loads and provide solid coaching for teachers who need more support – especially in hard-to-find positions. Leaders can think outside the box, and keep investing in building relationships of trust and belonging to create places where people want to be. Listen-in to the conversation, and feel free to add your own thoughts or ideas by emailing will@williamdparker.com. The post PMP290: Teacher Pipeline Ideas & Solutions with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.

In Jen Schwanke’s new role as an Deputy Superintendent and in dissertation work, she has been learning a lot about supporting school communities district-wide. In this week’s episode, she explains some of the main responsibilities important to embrace in supporting educators: Why you cannot forget what it feels like to be a teacher or principal. Not just saying it, but meaning it.Some of the main challenges leaders face in serving from the district role versus the school siteLearning to say yes, and… Instead of yes, but…What research shows about the historic and systemic work of central office roles in their supports of schools and school leadersHow school law, and Supreme Court cases affect the way we do school Why we must communicate: you can make that decision for your children, but you cannot make it for other people’s childrenHow policy is guidance but not always rules As we wrapped up the interview, Jen also talked about supporting principals. Many principals feel a conflict with their central office admins. On the other hand, some appreciate the support and accountability. Jen explains how district leaders may be perceived as disconnected from the day-to-day grind and how they must navigate this complicated pathway to supporting principals and their schools. Listen-in the entire conversation. Stay connected with Jen via her website: jenschwanke.com. The post PMP289: Supporting School Communities District-Wide with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.

Warren J. Glen has twenty years of experience in post-secondary education. His journey in higher education has enhanced his expertise to administer grants, manage deliverables, and mentor and motivate young scholars.  Currently, he is the area sponsor for the Ohio Department of Education community schools of northeast Ohio. Dr. Glen previously oversaw the Northeast Region of Drop-Out recovery high schools for Oakmont Education. He recently received the degree of Doctor of Education with an emphasis in Community College Leadership from National American University. He earned his Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education, Social Studies, Sociology and Psychology from the University of Toledo (OH). He also earned a Master of Education degree in Education Administration, Secondary Administration from Cleveland State University, in Cleveland (OH). Dr. Glen is a bow-tie expert and enjoys mentoring young African American males in the art. A few of his volunteer efforts include mentoring scholars enrolled in the Black American Council and organizing the Books Brothers Engagement to Graduation Event which is a Black Male Initiative Program at Cuyahoga Community College. In this episode you will discover: What prompted Dr. Glen’s dissertation on the subject of drop-out recovery;Recommendations for school communities to provide stronger supports for students;The importance of creating stronger bridges for post-secondary experiences – not just for students but also for their families. In addition, Dr. Glen and I discuss the national crisis so many school are facing K-12 and post-secondary with teacher pipelines as well as powerful ideas might education leaders keep in mind for increasing the teacher pipeline. You can stay connected to Dr. Warren Glen’s work by finding him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/warren-j-glen-sr-ed-d-1b313636/ or reach out to him by email at Warren.Glen@education.ohio.gov The post PMP288: Better Strategies for Drop-Out Recovery with Dr. Warren Glen appeared first on Principal Matters.

Veteran school administrator and educational consultant Pete Hall channels his experiences as a school principal, life coach, and small-business owner into manageable lessons for continuous growth, personal improvement, and positive mindset.  Hall served 12 years as a principal in three schools, each earning awards for academic performance, growth, and student achievement. He currently works as an educational consultant through his two firms, EducationHall and Strive Success Solutions, and trains educators worldwide with a focus on the continuous improvement of our education systems.  Hall has authored over 20 articles on leadership and 11 books, including Lead On!, Motivational Lessons for School Leaders, Fostering Resilient Learners with Kristin Souers, and Teach, Reflect, Learn with Alisa Simeral. His latest book, Chasing the Show is a Young Adult Novel. Listen-in to this week’s episode as Pete shares great takeaways on the following: Lessons from his latest state championship in the senior long-jumpHow his book Teach, Reflect, Learn with Alisa Simeral has been helpful in showing educators why we must model the kind of learning we want to see happening in our schoolsHow a commitment to curiosity and reflection influence lifelong learningWhat concerns or advice is important for educators emerging from leading through a pandemicWhat inspired his new book, Chasing the Show, and what others gain from reading it Having come full circle in his education journey – Pete shares his passion of learning with young adults while inspiring those who work with them to keep them curious and growing.  You can find out more about Pete Hall and his resources at: https://educationhall.wordpress.com/petehall/ or find his new book at https://chasingtheshow.com The post PMP287: Chasing the Show with Pete Hall appeared first on Principal Matters.

Eric Garcia is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist focused on politics and policy and currently the senior Washington correspondent for The Independent. His first book We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, which the Washington Post called “outstanding,” was published August 3, 2021. He previously worked as an editor at the Washington Post and the Hill and as a reporter at Roll Call, National Journal and MarketWatch. His work has also been featured in The New Republic, The Daily Beast, Salon.com and Spectrum.  In his book, We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, Eric tells a gripping story of your own journey as an autistic person as well as his research on the history of autism and the varied stories of others who do not want to be seen as broken.  Listen in for great takeaways, including: Eric shares lessons from his story that can help educators better serve the unique needs of their students.Learn why it is important for others to understand Eric’s premise that autistic people are not broken. Although every autistic person is different, Eric explains what specific accommodations helped him throughout schooling. One of the most touching stories in the book was when Eric reached out for help with one of his college professors. Listen-in to the podcast episode as Eric retells this story as well as many other great takeaways! You can reach Eric by email at EMGarcia2009@gmail.com. Speaking inquiries media inquires can be directed to Kelly.Shi@harpercollins.com The post PMP286: We’re Not Broken with Eric Garcia appeared first on Principal Matters.