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

Note from Will about Guy: Principal Matters listeners are primarily education leaders, so they may be surprised at first that today’s guest is a specialist in marketing and communication. But I’ve been an avid listener of Guy Kawasaki’s podcast and recently read his book Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference. His insights on making compelling presentations have been incredibly helpful to me personally. What I appreciate most about Guy is how his spirit of curiosity, joy, and authenticity shines through in every episode and interaction. He has a gift for making complex ideas feel accessible and inspiring across all professions, including education. That’s why I’m so honored to have him join me on the show. Meet Guy Kawasaki: Guy Kawasaki is a marketing specialist, author, and Silicon Valley legend best known as Apple’s former Chief Evangelist. He played a key role in marketing the original Macintosh in the 1980s and later became a pioneer in evangelism marketing. Today, he’s the Chief Evangelist at Canva and host of the Remarkable People podcast. Guy is also the author of 15 books, including The Art of the Start and his most recent book, Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference. Guy has been inspiring entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide. His career blends tech, storytelling, and a passion for helping people change the world through bold ideas. The Impact of Education: Guy Kawasaki shares that he thinks educators are the unsung heroes of society. Part of why he feels this way is because of a 6th grade teacher who saw potential in him. Guy grew up poor in Hawaii, and in 6th grade, his teacher told his parents that he should be in a college prep school. Attending this prep school is what got him into Stanford, and Stanford got him his job at Apple. He says that in many ways, he can attribute the success in his life to that 6th grade teacher who believed in him. Guy is a huge proponent of higher education, and pushes back against the myth that people do not need a college degree to be successful. He challenges listeners not to focus on people who became successful without a college degree, but rather to focus on how many people who do not have a college degree and are not successful. Guy also believes that college can broaden the horizon for students and can be useful in helping them explore the world. What Makes People Remarkable: In his podcast “Remarkable People”, Guy Kawasaki interviews people he believes are remarkable, not necessarily rich or famous people. To him, what makes someone remarkable is the difference they make in the world. Guy says that what makes someone remarkable is hard to define, but it is not correlated with wealth or power. His mindset around what makes someone remarkable was greatly influenced by Carol Dweck’s book The Growth Mindset. While defining what makes someone remarkable is hard, Guy shares that he considers a person’s grit, growth, and grace when determining remarkability. Tips on Public Speaking: On top of being Canva and Apple’s top evangelist, Guy shares a lot of feedback on speaking or presenting in public. So, he graciously offers some advice to listeners who want to make the most impact when speaking publicly. One tip he shares is the 10-20-30 rule, which says that presenters should never have more than ten slides, those slides should be presented in twenty minutes, and the smallest font size that should be used is 30. The second tip he shares is the glance test. When making slides, presenters should make sure that people can glance at their slide and then look back at them. The glance test helps presenters make sure they do not lose their audience. Guy’s third tip on presenting is to use a light colored font on a dark background. This makes slides easier for the audience to read. His final tip is to not start a presentation with a joke, because if the joke does not land then you have to fight to get the audience back. He says that this final tip is the only tip he does not follow; he tries to start every presentation with a joke for the sheer challenge of it.  Advice for Educators: Educators feel a lot of tension in today’s climate and culture of trying to serve the needs of their school community while also sometimes being the punching bag of politics and outrage. When asked what advice he has for teachers who want to be remarkable in today’s climate, Guy tells listeners to keep their students’ best interests at heart. When people in your community can see that you care about your students and truly want to make the world a better place, they will often agree with you even if you do not share all the same politics. To reiterate how important education is to him, Guy says that education is what got America to where it is, and is what is going to save us. Parting Words and Staying Connected: To wrap up the interview, Guy says that he wants listeners to know that at least one person in Silicon Valley appreciates what educators do. To stay connected with Guy Kawasaki, check out his podcast, Remarkable People.  The post PMP481: Think Remarkable with Guy Kawasaki appeared first on Principal Matters.

John Boyd is the Principal of Ste. Genevieve High School in Missouri, where he leads with a passion for innovation, efficiency, and creating memorable experiences for students and staff. A proud SGHS alum, he returned to teach for seven years, served three years as Assistant Principal, and is now in his fourth year as Principal. Named Missouri’s 2023 Jim L. King High School Principal of the Year, John also serves as President-Elect of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals.  John has a passion for integrating AI, coding, and automation. He’s developed tools from digital hall passes to real-time dashboards that streamline operations and enhance communication. With over 30 years connected to Ste. Genevieve, John is committed to reimagining possibilities for learning and staff empowerment. He and his wife, Sierra, are the proud parents of their children, J.B. and Emery. Previous episode https://williamdparker.com/2023/pmp357-leading-your-hometown-school-with-john-boyd/ Thinking Outside the Box: John often utilizes AI to help him think outside the box and solve problems in completely new ways. He shares how, as an assistant principal, his principal and mentor, Chris Hoehne, took pride in thinking through problems analytically. This mentor inspired John to develop the skills he uses now to integrate coding into their systems. One way that John has integrated these skills into the systems at his school is by using them for attendance reports, a task that used to take hours to complete. Typically, John takes time each summer to build these pipelines. While the front-end work takes time, the systems that John builds end up saving him and his team a lot of time.  Practical Uses: One way that John utilizes AI in his school is through a digital hall pass system, a system that John built himself. His process for building these tools starts by thinking about what he wants the tool to do. In the case of the digital hall passes, John used AI to create a form that takes data and processes it on a Google Sheet. Each classroom in his school now has a kiosk in it that allows students to fill out a hall pass request before they leave, and it is where they check in when they get back to the classroom. The hall pass system is set up so that administrators are notified if a student has been out of class for more than 15 minutes, and meet-up notifications for students who should not be in the same place at the same time. John finds that this hall pass system is very helpful for his school. Another way he utilizes this technology is for scheduling sports physicals, which has saved his secretaries and support staff a lot of time.  Navigating AI with Students and Teachers: Although John embraces using AI as a tool, he acknowledges that it is a topic that requires nuance. Recently, John, along with his staff, has begun having conversations about the need for consistent language regarding AI for students and teachers. It is important for teachers and administrators to have consistent messaging about AI so that students know when it is appropriate to use and when it is not. Without that messaging, it can be confusing for students. There is a definite need for teachers to be able to monitor whether AI is being used or not. The best solution to this is for teachers to know their students and to build relationships with them. Through intentionality, teachers, principals, and students can navigate these new technologies with confidence. Staying Connected: You can stay connected with John Boyd via email at jboyd@sgdragons.org.  The post PMP480: Maximizing Your Systems with John Boyd appeared first on Principal Matters.

Happy holidays, Principal Matters listeners! This week Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to reminisce about the year and share some of holiday traditions that they are looking forward to. Listen in to hear the full conversation, or read the post below to learn more about what we are thankful for this holiday season! A Year in Review from Principal Matters (2025) As I look back on the past year, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside school leaders across the country through Principal Matters. Whether through districts, state agencies, professional organizations, or individual coaching, the goal has remained the same: helping leaders lead with clarity, confidence, and sustainability during a time when the work feels heavier than ever. Instead of one-time sessions, much of our work this year focused on ongoing partnerships. Through executive coaching, cohort-based leadership programs, in-person learning, and keynote experiences, we created space for leaders to pause, reflect, and grow together — while building trusted relationships with peers who truly understand the challenges of the role. By the Numbers 300+ school and district leaders supported 20+ districts, state agencies, and school networks served 10+ states represented 250+ executive coaching sessions delivered 50+ cohort sessions, workshops, and professional learning experiences More than anything, these numbers represent relationships built over time and a continued shift toward sustained, retainer-style leadership support. Grateful for Our Partners I’m especially thankful for the trust and collaboration of the districts, organizations, and partners we had the privilege of serving this year, including: Districts, Schools, & State Agencies Archdiocese of Louisville Catholic Schools, Louisville, KY State of Ohio (Ohio Department of Education & Workforce) & Adkins Consulting Palo Alto Unified School District / Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto, CA Springfield Local School District, OH Joplin High School, Joplin, MO Brazosport Independent School District, Clute, TX Pecos Barstow Toyah Independent School District, Pecos, TX South Umpqua School District, OR Owasso Public Schools, OK Burlington Schools, OK Holdenville Public Schools, OK Utica Shale Academy, Salineville, OH Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School, Cincinnati, OH Leigh High School, Campbell Union High School District (CUHSD), San Jose, CA Alfred G. Waters Middle School, Appoquinimink School District, Odessa, DE Woodland Middle School, Woodland Public Schools, Woodland, WA Ste. Genevieve High School, Ste. Genevieve, MO Professional Associations & Conferences School Administrators of New York State (SAANYS), virtual & in-person (Lake George, NY) School Administration Manager (SAM) National Innovation Conference, Miami, FL Louisiana Principals Association, Baton Rouge, LA CLAS (Alabama Assistant Principal Conferences) Apptegy Conference (School CEO), Little Rock, AR Southeast Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (SEMoASSP) Regional Meeting National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Organizations & Strategic Partners IXL Learning DigiCoach EduSkills Alpaca Better Learning / Summer Pops Grateful for Our Team I cannot do this work alone, and I’m incredibly thankful for the people who make Principal Matters possible: Missy Parker — my wife and the CFO of our company Emily Parker-Eaton — Executive Assistant and Editor/Copywriter for the podcast, social media, and client relations Jen Schwanke — Co-host of the podcast, prolific author, and weekly contributor whose insight and energy shape the show Aaron Fulbright — Designer and manager of the Principal Matters website Grateful for Helpful Friends My most recent book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?: An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love, was made stronger through the thoughtful proofreading and editing of Megan Doyle. I’m also thankful for our partnership with ConnectEDD Publishing, including Jimmy and Kheila Casas, as well as the outstanding editorial support of Jeff Zoul. New Podcast Music: If you are a frequent listener, you may have noticed our new music for intros, outros, and sponsorships as well as sound clips like, “You’re listening to Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast.” All of these are thanks to the creative skills of my younger brother, Samuel Parker. You can find more of his work on Sam’s YouTube channel. New Branding: This year also marked a complete rebrand for Principal Matters. I’m deeply grateful to MollyKeleneDesigns.com. Molly designed our new logos and brand identity. She captured the heart of this work and gave us a fresh, professional look that truly reflects our mission. New Headshots: Also, I want to give a shout-out to my friend Brian Killian, a master craftsman and photographer at Peters Photography in Dublin, Ohio. Jen Schwanke has had her headshots taken at Peters Photography for years. Then we discovered we have a mutual friend in Brian, who is a childhood friend from my growing-up years in West Tennessee. We met him at the studio when I was doing work in Columbus, as he offered to do new headshots for our website. Here are a few extras we enjoyed from his wonderful hospitality: Looking Ahead to 2026–27? If you’re starting to think about next year’s professional learning, have ideas for guests, episode topics, or sponsorships—or you simply want space to reflect on your leadership—I’d love to connect. I’m offering a complimentary Zoom reflection session to help you think, plan, and clarify next steps. Grateful for Our Guests Finally, 2025 was also another banner year for Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast, now available on YouTube as well as wherever you listen to podcasts. I’m deeply thankful for the many guests who shared their stories, insights, and leadership lessons with our listeners this year.  We also launched a Monday Matters show, where Jen Schwanke and I provide updates on current happenings in our work with leaders, as well as a shorter show for weekly inspiration. With deep gratitude, we would like to thank all the incredible guests who shared their time, insights, and leadership on Principal Matters in 2025. Your voices, stories, and expertise continue to shape meaningful conversations for school leaders everywhere.  Thank you to Tracie Anderson Swilley, Amanda Austin, Danny Bauer, Bethany Bilodeau, Cale Birk, Todd Bloomer, Karen Borchert, Beau Brannon, Derek Cantrell, PJ Caposey, LaDonna Chancellor, Margaret Coates, Tyler Comeau, Jenn David-Lang, Angela Diggs, Mike Fitzpatrick, Kate Anderson Foley, Tony Frontier, Wilnic Gideon, Daman Harris, Donna Hayward, Brent Jaco, Carlos Johnson, Greg Johnson,  Jeff Jones, Baruti Kafele, Robert Kaiser, Brandi Kelly, Nason Lollar, Eric Mace, Kim Marshall, John Marinucci, John Mihalyo, Derek Mitchell, Mike Nicholson, Ohio State University Grad Students, Darrin Peppard, Lana Penley, Ross Romano, LaVonna Roth, Tanya Sheckley, Danny Steele, Michelle Steingart, T. J. Vari, Steve Ventura, Tim Villegas, and Crystal Williams. Your generosity and commitment to leadership and learning make this work possible, and we are truly grateful for each of you. Thank you for being a part of the Principal Matters Community. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas & Winter holiday, and Happy New Year. Thank you for doing what matters! With appreciation,William D. Parker P.S. Below is an entire list of our 2025 shows with links if you want to listen back or check them out for the first time: 2025 Podcast Shows & Guests 12/17/2025 – The Instructional Leader in You with Danny Steele 12/10/2025 – From Classroom to Crisis and Beyond with Dr. Greg Johnson 12/03/2025 – Lessons from Transition with Beau Brannon 11/26/2025 – Leading a Community of Educators with Steve Ventura 11/24/2025 – Subscriber Holiday Special 11/19/2025 – Lessons From the First Year with Dr. Robert Kaiser 11/12/2025 – Radically Excellent School Improvement with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley 11/05/2025 – Road to Awesome with Darrin Peppard 10/29/2025 – Elemental Educator with Tyler Comeau 10/22/2025 – Lead with H.O.P.E. with Dr. Brandi Kelly 10/15/2025 – Staying Committed to Inclusivity with Tim Villegas 10/08/2025 – Instructional Coaching with Crystal Williams 10/01/2025 – AI with Intention with Tony Frontier 09/24/2025 – Being a Ruckus Maker with Danny Bauer 09/17/2025 – Leading Collaboratively with LaDonna Chancellor 09/10/2025 – Better Together with Derek Cantrell 09/03/2025 – Human Capital Management with OSU Grad Students 08/27/2025 – Leaning into Leadership with Darrin Peppard 08/20/2025 – Supporting New Teachers, Part 2, with Jenn David-Lang and Kim Marshall 08/13/2025 – Supporting New Teachers with Jenn David-Land and Kim Marshall 07/23/2025 – Permission to S.H.I.N.E. with LaVonna Roth 07/16/2025 – Listening to Your Teachers with Karen Borchert 07/09/2025 – Empowering Student Agency with Dr. Mike Nicholson 07/02/2025 – Cybersecurity in Schools with Mike Fitzpatrick 06/25/2025 – Maximizing Systems, Focus, and Impact with PJ Caposey 06/18/2025 – Leading with Wellness in Mind with Dr. Angela Diggs 06/11/2025 – Reaching Every Student with Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley 06/04/2025 – What is my Value Instructionally with Baruti Kafele 05/28/2025 – Instructional Excellence with Michelle Steingart 05/21/2025 – Inclusive & Supportive Schools for Every Learner with Dr. Eric Mace 05/14/2025 – The Antiracist School Leader with Dr. Daman Harris 05/07/2025 – The Blueprint for Administrators with Todd Bloomer 04/30/2025 – Recovering After Fire with Lana Penley  04/23/2025 – Powerful Voices in Education with Donna Hayward  04/16/2025 – Leading with Simplicity and Harmony with John Marinucci 04/09/2025 – Why Every Student Deserves a Pathway with Dr. T.J. Vari 04/02/2025 – Keys to Successful Schools with John Mihalyo 03/26/2025 – Ease the Pain – Guidance for Safety and Regulation with Dr. Bethany Bilodeau 03/19/2025 – TRUST Principles for Professionalism with Dr. Nason Lollar 03/12/2025 – Rebel Educator – Classrooms of Imagination and Impact with Tanya Sheckley 03/05/2025 – Living on the Leadership Edge with Margaret Coates 02/26/2025 – Partners in School Innovation with Dr. Derek Mitchell 02/19/2025 – Achieving Remarkable Outcomes with Dr. Amanda Austin 02/12/2025 – Empowering Teen Learners with Dr. Wilnic Gideon 02/05/2025 – Power Engage with Carlos Johnson 01/29/2025 – The Benefits of Trust with Brent Jaco 01/22/2025 – Finding Solutions with Jeff Jones 01/15/2025 – Culturizing for Impact with Cale Birk 01/08/2025 –  Connecting Leaders with Ross Romano  01/01/2025 – Finding Solutions with Jeff Jones The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – A Year in Review appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: What are your practices for writing a book? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Danny Steele: Danny Steele worked for 31 years in education as a principal, assistant principal, teacher, coach, and assistant professor of Instructional Leadership. In 2005, Steele was recognized as the “Assistant Principal of the Year” for the state of Alabama. And in 2016, he was recognized as Alabama’s “Secondary Principal of the Year.” He has written six books, including two with Todd Whitaker, has presented at numerous state and national conferences, and has spoken in school districts around the country. Steele has an undergraduate degree in History from Covenant College; he has a Master’s in History from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Samford University. He is the father of three (mostly grown) children and resides with his wife in Birmingham, Alabama. Something that listeners may be surprised to learn about Danny is that he occasionally writes raps that he performs for his students and teachers. Current work: After spending 31 years in education, Danny retired from the principalship last summer. Even though he is retired, he still has a lot of passion for the work of teachers and principals. Currently, Danny channels that passion into leadership coaching and consulting. He realized that there was a need for coaching in instructional leadership after working with two young principals. These principals needed help building their instructional leadership capacity. This experience is what solidified Danny’s passion for instructional leadership and what inspired him to write his book. According to Danny, “Until something is learned, nothing is taught”. When a principal goes into a classroom, they should be more focused on what the students are doing than what the teachers are doing. The Instructional Leader in You: 10 Strategies for Every School Leader The Instructional Leader in You lays out 10 strategies that school leaders can use to increase their instructional leadership capacity. You can read the full list of 10 strategies below, and Will and Danny cover a couple of the strategies in the show. 1.  A Foundation of Curiosity   2. The Powerful Role of Visibility   3. The Surprising Strength of Vulnerability   4. Leading Without Relationships Isn’t Leading   5. Creating Opportunities for Growth   6. Delegating is Winning  7. Being Intentional   8. Prioritizing Learning, Not Teaching   9. Removing Barriers   10. Focusing on the Culture Being Visible: Danny discusses how “management by wandering around” is important for instructional leadership. School leaders who are walking around and staying visible to students and staff communicate what you value. When you pop into classrooms, your presence communicates to teachers that you care about the work they are doing, and, to the students, that you care about their experiences in the classroom. Staying visible throughout the school day reinforces your priorities as an instructional leader.  Delegating is Winning:  When asked to summarize the delegating is winning strategy, Danny talks about how, as a principal, you sometimes feel inadequate because you feel like you need to be everything to everyone. Principals burn out really quickly like that. Part of delegation is about letting go and being okay with not being in control of everything. Delegating some of the management pieces of the principal job frees you up to visit classrooms and be an instructional leader. Delegation can also improve your relationship with the rest of your leadership team. When you begin to delegate tasks to your colleagues, it shows you value them and their expertise. New leaders tend to struggle the most with delegation because they feel insecure giving up authority, but learning to do so is essential to being successful in leadership. Revisiting Your “Why”:  Near the end of the conversation, Will asks Danny to share some advice he would give to principals. Danny tells listeners to revisit your “why”, and references a sign above his door that reads, “I am the difference”. He had this sign above his door when he was an AP and a principal to remind him of the role he plays. Most leaders get into education because they love kids and want to make a difference for them. When you become an admin, the mission changes. You have to win over the adults in the building and make them feel loved and appreciated. Danny shares how he learned to redefine his lightbulb moment to be anytime he could support a staff member and lighten their load. Making a difference for his staff became his “why” and helped him stay motivated.  Staying Connected: Listeners can stay connected to Danny Steele via the following channels: Danny’s website @steelthoughts on X or Instagram Linkedin The post PMP479: The Instructional Leader in You with Danny Steele appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week on Monday Matters Will Parker and Jen Schwanke share some thoughts on addressing the political landscape that educators face. They discuss how educators, particularly school leaders, are often asked to weigh in on culture war issues. Taking sides on political issues is not what school leaders are paid to do, and in doing so you run the risk of alienating a significant portion of your school community. School leaders are paid to keep students safe, follow the law, and do what is best at any given time. Speaking publicly about politics as a school or district leader often requires a lot of nuance, since those leaders are representing an entire community. Still, it is important to be an advocate for your school based on the facts and what is best for your community. Sometimes it is better to protect your position rather than speaking on every issue so that you lose out on the ability to make a bigger impact through creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students. Principals should ask themselves: “How am I going to love and serve every student in this school? How do I make sure that every student feels valued and protected and that they belong? How do I make sure all my teachers know that I am here for them?”. Through creating an environment where students and teachers feel safe and protected, you can do far more than you would if you spoke about every political issue. Listen in to the episode to hear all of Will and Jen’s thoughts on the subject! This episode was inspired by a post in Jen’s newsletter. You can read her post here. The podcast episode referenced in the show can be found here.  The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Not the Place appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: How can we build and sustain trust with staff, students, and parents? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Dr. Greg Johnson: Greg Johnson is the high school principal at West Liberty-Salem High School in West Liberty, Ohio. He was first hired as a middle school social studies teacher in 1997 and recently completed his twentieth year as principal, marking his twenty-eighth year in education – all at the same school. Greg enjoys the small rural school setting and appreciates the family atmosphere and collaborative spirit of his K-12 building. Greg serves on the NASSP Board of Directors. His involvement with NASSP can be traced back to the school shooting that he and his school experienced in 2017. This event and the extensive recovery period that followed let to Greg’s involvement in the establishment of the NASSP Principal Recovery Network in 2019. While serving as a co-facilitator of this group, Greg gained a deeper understanding of the vision, mission, and work of NASSP. Greg joined the Board of Directors in 2024. Sharing his experience and educating others about school leadership during and after a shooting as well as the long and difficult road of recovery has been a passion of Greg’s since 2017. This passion has allowed him to speak at conferences across the country, often accompanied by his wife, three children, and son-in-law. All members of the family were in the school the day of the shooting and each experienced the event and its aftermath differently. Greg brings a thoughtful, authentic, and compassionate approach to speaking on school safety as well as to his work as a school leader. Greg’s greatest passion is his family. He has been married to his wife Crystal for 28 years and they are the proud parents of three adult children. Additionally, he is also passionate about his Ohio State Buckeyes. Greg and Crystal met at Ohio State. All three children are graduates or current students at OSU. In addition to his bachelor’s and master’s from OSU, Greg accomplished a life-long goal of earning his Doctor of Education from Ohio State in 2024. As their youngest follows her two older siblings to OSU, Greg looks forward to tailgating on campus with his wife and kids as often as possible. Go Bucks! Episode Highlights: A Call to Leadership: Dr. Johnson initially considered a career in engineering but found his calling in education through a mentor. He began teaching social studies and coaching at West Liberty Salem in 1997. Witnessing a “revolving door” of five principals in seven years, he felt a strong pull to provide stability. A dean of students role served as a stepping stone to his principalship 20 years ago. Despite missing the daily joy of teaching, his commitment to consistency for his school community remained paramount. In his rural setting, he deeply values the opportunity to know all students and their families, often before they even reach high school. A significant challenge, however, is the limited support for specialized services and the necessity of wearing many hats due to smaller staff, particularly during his 16 years as both middle and high school principal (grades 6-12). Greg’s positivity and commitment to his school have kept him rooted to his community, where he and his wife— who, by the way, is Jen’s longtime best childhood friend— have raised three children.  Navigating a School Shooting: In January 2017, West Liberty Salem High School faced an unimaginable crisis. Dr. Johnson recounted the chaotic morning when he received the call about a shooting in the high school wing. Upon entering, he and his assistant principal discovered shell casings and located a student, Logan, who had been shot twice by another junior. Remarkably, Logan’s presence and his ability to talk to the shooter disrupted the perpetrator’s plan. The school’s ALICE training proved invaluable, empowering students and teachers to make independent decisions; many high school classrooms self-evacuated through windows minutes before any official announcement. In a moment of incredible composure, Dr. Johnson immediately called Logan’s family— who were personal family friends— to inform them of the incident and their son’s injury. The Unseen Wounds of Trauma and the Power of Connection: Dr. Johnson emphasized the profound and often underestimated traumatic impact of the event on students, staff, and the wider community. He realized that while the immediate threat ended with the shooter’s containment, students evacuating through cornfields endured agonizing hours of not knowing if their friends and family were safe. Initially, he felt compelled to project an image of “Tiger Strong” as a leader, inadvertently leading teachers and students to suppress their own suffering. A school counselor’s intervention helped him recognize his own need for support, prompting him to process the event emotionally. This experience was foundational to the formation of the NASSP Principal Recovery Network, an informal group initiated by Frank Deangelis (Columbine High School) and Greg Waples of NASSP. This network provides vital peer support, advocates for school safety, and has developed a “guide to recovery” for principals facing similar tragedies. In a poignant twist, Logan (the shooting victim) and Addie (Dr. Johnson’s oldest daughter), who was a sophomore in the same wing during the shooting, began dating during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now married. This unique detail, along with the fact that many students, including Dr. Johnson’s own children, chose to enter the field of education after the event, powerfully underscores the resilience and positive legacy that can emerge even from profound tragedy. Listening to this episode will restore your faith in the power of community, leadership, and the hearts of principals like Dr. Johnson. His story stands as a powerful testament to the enduring and transformative impact of steadfast leadership in the face of adversity. The post PMP478: From Classroom to Crisis and Beyond with Dr. Greg Johnson appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will and Jen tackle the topic of understanding your identity outside of your career. They discuss how this can be particularly challenging for mothers, who often carry the mental load of running their households on top of having a career. Jen shares some insights into how she has learned to describe herself apart from her titles, and the toll that carrying the mental load can take on working moms. Will challenges listeners to learn to describe themselves in ways that align with their core values, and to align your decisions with those values. Listen in to hear the whole conversation! This post is based on a thoughtful post by Will Parker. You can read it below: Who Are You Without A Title? This morning, I was in a meeting with a Mastermind group when a superintendent told me she asked her husband a question from a chapter in my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The question: If you had to define yourself without a title or position, or even the label of parent, spouse, or partner, how would you define yourself? She told me she was surprised by how hard the question was to answer. Eventually, he said he was a problem-solver, and he described her as pragmatic.  The conversation reminded me of how difficult it can be to describe ourselves. In particular, I learned recently that this can be a significant challenge for moms. I learned this at a conference I attended in the fall of 2025, when two speakers, Katherine Wintsch and Lauren  Fitzgerald, founders of The Mom Complex, reported five commonalities among most mothers they interview: Moms are filled with doubt. There are no such things as experienced moms (every stage is new and different). Moms today are rejecting perfection. Parenting is a team sport. Moms carry a heavy mental load and are just trying to survive (Wintsch, Fitzgerald, public comments, 09/25/25, check out their website here: https://momcomplex.com). Most interestingly, they have found that women tend to self-doubt and engage in negative self-talk more often than men in their surveys and work.  With those thoughts in mind, I wanted to ask the group of Mastermind members (both women and men) in my recent meeting how they would describe themselves in a positive way instead of a negative way if they could do so without relying on their own work or home titles. As a way to encourage this activity, I introduced the following words as ways I would describe them from the interactions we’ve had over the past five years of meeting together. Words like… Courageous Tenacious Committed Brave Thoughtful Inspiring Gritty Resilient Problem-Solver As we talked, they introduced other words of their own, including: Wise Confident Insightful Funny Fun-loving Forgiving Gracious Nurturing The challenge with an activity like this is to find a practical application. So, I wanted to make a simple one:  When you apply your most important core values to the goals you’ve set for yourself or your work, the chances are you’ll see outcomes that better reflect those values. The inverse is true as well: When we step into our fears or ego-driven identities, or if we simply move forward based on our titles (at work or home), we either fail to experience the values we most cherish or we simply play a role without actually living into the best version of ourselves. I know that’s a lot to think about in one sentence, but I’d like to you to take a moment and read that aloud. If it helps, say it in first-person:  When I step in my fear or ego-driven identities, or if I simly move forward based on my titles (at work or home), I either fail to experience the values I most cherish, or I simply play a role without actually living into the best version of myself. At the time of this writing, we just wrapped up the Thanksgiving holiday. My dad, who passed last year, would have been 85 this month. One time, I asked him how he wanted to be remembered. He said he hoped he would be remembered as a man who had loved and supported his wife and family. It was a simple statement and one that beautifully summed up his values and character. To be who we truly are may be less difficult than describing it. I guess I’d rather make the mistake of living out beautiful values like the ones above than simply identifying myself by titles or misunderstanding my true character. As you step into your day, I’d like to remind you of something another leader said in our meeting this morning. I didn’t write it down word for word, but here’s my best attempt:  “Leadership requires bravery, honesty, and hard conversations. We must be teachers or teachers. If someone isn’t willing to embrace these virtues, they should choose another profession.” It may not be a warm or fuzzy moment to be reminded to live into your best values and qualities. But it may be helpful to realize those whom you serve know when you do. Now It’s Your Turn  If you described yourself without using your job title or your roles at home, what words or qualities would you choose? In what practical ways do you keep your decisions (at work or in life) aligned with your core commitments and values? The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Who Are You Without A Title? appeared first on Principal Matters.

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: What are the common pitfalls that keep principals from effectively leading instructional communities? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Beau Brannon: Beau Brannon is the Principal of Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He previously led Union’s Freshman Academy as both assistant principal and principal. A Muldrow High School graduate and former college football player at the University of Tulsa, Beau followed his passion for education and earned degrees from the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Arkansas State, and Northeastern State University. He began his career teaching science and coaching football at Alma Public Schools, later becoming Teacher of the Year at Keys High School in 2015. Since joining Union in 2016, he’s taught Geometry, helped coach a state championship football team, and served in school administration since 2018. Beau and his wife, Caitlyn, have been married since 2013 and are proud parents of two children, Baker and Collins. A previous guest on episode 391, Beau returns to Principal Matters with lessons from his first year in leadership at a new level. Welcome back to Principal Matters!  School Culture and Students Outcomes: Each spring, Union High School partners with OU to give a survey to staff, students, and families. Over the last year, Brannon’s school has seen a 10% increase in “Faculty Trust in Principal” over the last year. 96.2% of respondents agree the principal at this school develops a team attitude and spirit amongst faculty & staff,94.3% agree the principal at this school commends me when I do a better than average job, and 98.1% agree that the admin team cares about them as a person. The emphasis on student relationships, student success, and providing real hope and pathways had led to improved student results in his school. Beau’s school has seen a 32.25% decrease in failed courses in semester one and a 21% decrease in failed courses in semester 2, totalling about 1300 courses that do not need to be recovered. All in all, Beau’s school is doing exceptionally well.  Challenges in Taking on a New Role: Moving from Union’s Freshman Academy to Union High School presented a fresh set of challenges to Beau. The size of Union High School is one of the challenges that Beau had to navigate. Union High School has about 3,500 students and 250 staff. Beau had to learn how to work amongst a bigger admin team and had to try to get to know 175 teachers as quickly as possible. Since he previously taught at Union High School, it took a lot of work for Beau to gain the trust of some of the teachers at his new school, since not all of them saw him in the leadership light right away. Hiring Process and Priorities: In his first year, Beau hired 42 new teachers and staff members, and hired 29 new teachers and staff members in year two. One hiring tip he recommends is to have a hiring waitlist or chart. Throughout the year, you will hear names of people who want to work at the school. Beau also recommends building partnerships with area colleges and universities and going to their job fairs. Another hiring recommendation he makes is to develop your own staff.  Too Big to do Alone: One lesson Beau Brannon has pulled for this past year is that the work of a principal is too big to do alone. Principals need to lean on their team’s strengths. Beau shares that his team just did the Clifton Strengths Finders from Gallup to learn each other’s strengths. Everyone has a passion, and they need to lean into them in order for leadership teams to be successful. Leaning into the collective intelligence that comes from working with a team means less stress for the individual.  Advice to Those Taking on New Roles: When asked what advice he would give those who are stepping into a new role, Beau reminds listeners to take care of themselves. He follows up that statement by saying that you aren’t as important as you think you are, and that you are a lot more important than you think you are. This means that you need to take your work seriously, but that you also need to remember to take care of yourself and your loved ones first.  You can stay connected with Beau Brannon via X or Linkedin.  The post PMP477: Lessons from Transition with Beau Brannon appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about the difference between responsive vs. reactive leadership. This conversation was inspired by a thoughtful post written by Will, you can read it below. As always, thank you for doing what matters! Responsive, not Reactive, Leadership During a Mastermind meeting today, a leader shared feedback about a team member who tends to be reactive versus responsive. In particular, situations involving student discipline or teacher behavior are often managed with what were described as “knee-jerk” reactions that make the matter worse rather than better. We’ve all been on the other side of reactionary situations. My wife once worked in a school setting where the assistant principal would come on the intercom system to yell at students to be on time to class. She and her fellow teachers would cringe every time his voice came across the speakers. Instead of directly addressing the students who were late to class, the administrator thought shouting at the entire student body (and teachers) would be more effective. He was wrong. The harder question for leaders to ask themselves: In what ways am I reacting instead of responding in my own position or service to others? Here are some other examples I’ve witnessed (or been guilty of not handling well) in the past: One teacher misses professional development by taking a sick day. You find out later that she was really on a family trip. You’re tempted to blast out a reminder to your entire staff about being honest and using integrity when reporting an absence from work. What do you do? The copy machine is broken again, and the backup machine is also out of ink. Teachers are lined up wanting a solution. You are tempted to shoot out an email or make an announcement to be patient as you try to replace the ink yourself or call for service repair. What do you do? Two students have a verbal altercation on a field trip that is witnessed by their teacher. He brings the students to your office when they return to school and would like you to assign discipline and call the parents to back up his concerns. You realize what has happened does not meet the threshold for an office referral. You are tempted to manage the situation as requested, although you know this is a situation that can be managed by the teacher just as he would have done if it had happened in his classroom. What do you do? In each of these situations, the quick fix may seem different to leaders depending on the size of their school, the systems they have in place for managing student or teacher behavior, or the temperament of the people involved. That is why a quick-fix suggestion for each scenario is normally not sufficient. Instead, consider first what would be the “responsive” rather than “reactive” way to move forward. Also, when you’re not in the middle of a scenario, consider running these situations by team members before they happen, and ask them for ideas and responses. Your collective feedback may or may not reveal how closely aligned your values are as a team for responding rather than reacting. Here are some principles to keep in mind: Responsive leaders plan in advance for scenarios and have basic protocols for follow-through. Reactive leaders put out fires as they arise without preset protocols or plans for follow-through. With that context in mind, here are a few suggestions for each of the above to keep in mind for responding rather than reacting: In the situation with the teacher who took a sick day but was really on vacation: Inquire with your Human Resources director or district policy on whether personal days can be taken during professional development. Meet with the teacher one-on-one and ask for feedback. Express your expectation that absences are handled with professionalism and integrity. At the least, let them know you are aware of the situation and that, in the future, they are expected to follow the same protocols as everyone else. In advance of facing problems with copiers: Establish a first-responder system with a protocol for who is supposed to be managing, repairing, and servicing your copiers. Follow that system. If it is not working, reach out directly to the person responsible for feedback. Have some backup printers available for small sets (or class sets) of copies that need to be made in lieu of the first-responder system not working as planned. When the teacher brings students to your office after the field trip: Acknowledge and support the teacher’s desire to have all students behave in ways that reflect the values and commitments of your school. Remind them that their classroom behavior norms are enforced both in and outside the classroom setting when on a school field trip. Remind them that the protocol will involve whatever classroom discipline the teacher believes is reasonable and that the teacher will follow up with parents accordingly. If the situation merits you also setting up a subsequent meeting, you will be happy to do so. Ensure the teacher immediately reaches out to parents with feedback and lets you know afterward so that you aren’t blindsided by a situation not handled correctly. Even in my three suggestions or responses, I am sure many other ideas or scenarios could be suggested that would also work; however, the point of the examples is that responsive leadership versus reactive leadership involves establishing protocols, holding people accountable for following them, and communicating clearly throughout the process to maintain fairness, firmness, and consistency. IDS (Identify, Discuss, and Solve) During my Mastermind meeting, another leader shared a practical way to address concerns with fellow teammates. She called it IDS (Identify, Discuss, and Solve). Using this quick outline, she invites other educators to conversations to address these three areas. They identify what the real challenge is, discuss what is working and what is not, and then search for solutions–not just admire the problem. Let’s Wrap This Up The next time you find yourself (or someone else) reacting rather than responding to a situation, pause long enough to ask: Do we have a system in place for this? How are we following that system? What can I do differently next time to ensure we have and follow a system that works? Whatever difficulties you’re managing in leadership today, be assured your students, teachers, and teammates respect your responses much more than your reactions. As tempting as it may be to jump into a situation and wrestle it back into control, remember that ultimately you create the best conditions for learning when you model what you expect from others. It is not fair to assume you will have answers to every scenario in advance. That is why leadership is also more than planning ahead for responsive feedback. Leadership also requires wisdom to know when to apply solutions, what to do when outcomes go awry, and the ability to give yourself and others the grace anyone deserves when managing difficult situations. For school leaders, your campus is your classroom. The same classroom norms, expectations, communication, and follow-through that work in strong (responsive) classrooms also work in strong (responsive) schools. The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Responsive vs. Reactive Leadership appeared first on Principal Matters.

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:  I’m struggling with a new teacher responding to constructive feedback. Suggestions? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Steve Ventura: Steve Ventura is the founder and president of Advanced Collaborative Solutions (ACS), a movement dedicated to empowering educators and students through collaboration, innovation, and impactful professional learning. With a vision of ensuring every child—regardless of background—has access to highly effective teachers and leaders, Steve provides practical, research-based strategies to drive meaningful change in education. A dynamic and motivational speaker, Steve’s expertise stems from years of experience as a teacher (elementary, middle, and high school) and as an administrator, serving as an assistant principal, principal, director, and superintendent. His leadership insights have influenced countless educators through keynote presentations, professional development, and national conferences. Steve is the author of several influential books, including Achievement Teams: How a Better Approach to PLCs Can Improve Student Outcomes and Collective Efficacy (ASCD, 2022). His newest ASCD publication, Improving Instruction Together: Leading Achievement Teams and PLCs, was released in August. Now, let’s dive into the interview: Welcome to a fascinating and insightful conversation with Steve Ventura!  In this podcast, you will learn how to lead a community of educators— a very different task than merely managing a school. Ventura points out significant issues like the unethical and morale-destroying impact of ignoring substandard teaching, as well as the “overconfidence bias” among leaders who overestimate their progress, leading them to overlook crucial areas for improvement. He also notes that leaders are frequently pulled away from instructional focus by other tasks that don’t directly impact student learning. To address these challenges, Ventura champions specific approaches. He stresses that effective instructional leaders must embrace collaboration based on research-backed strategies and maintain a relentless focus on student achievement. His latest book, “Improving Instruction Together,” advocates for cultivating a culture of teamwork and shared responsibility, moving beyond individual principal efforts. He identifies three essential leadership characteristics: leadership clarity, leadership consistency, and leadership integrity. This foundation of relational trust significantly increases the likelihood of success with new initiatives. Ventura also highlights the importance of collective efficacy, defined as the shared belief within a group that they can positively affect the lives of those they serve. He notes that teachers with high collective efficacy are less likely to refer students to special education, as they believe they haven’t exhausted all efforts. A few additional insights you will find in this conversation: Instructional Leadership Mindset: Leaders should approach their role with curiosity and a relentless pursuit of excellence, focusing on high-impact actions over simply “more work.”  Continuous Improvement & Shared Leadership: A mindset of continuous improvement is crucial, alongside a willingness to share leadership rather than shouldering every problem alone.  Student Well-being & Engagement: Promote student well-being through three levels of engagement: Emotional Engagement: Giving students voice and choice in their learning. Cognitive Engagement: Providing challenging learning experiences where students must problem-solve when stuck. Behavioral Engagement: Seen as a positive outcome of strong emotional and cognitive engagement, leading to fewer issues. The Power of Goals: Setting clear, short-term goals (e.g., end of the month, not just end of the year) significantly boosts motivation and accelerates progress for both teachers and students.  Structured Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) / Achievement Teams: PLCs should be well-defined and structured, not merely rebranded staff meetings. Ventura outlines a four-step structure, and brings us back to a central question: “What do our students need us to learn before the end of this meeting?” PLCs should aim to acquire new knowledge and sensitively challenge current practices, not just maintain existing knowledge. Importance of Reflection: Meaningful reflection involves leaders openly sharing their own “missteps” or shifts in perspective to encourage similar introspection among staff. The ultimate goal is to learn from the work, not just do the work. Leaders as Learners: Leaders should learn with teachers, not just sponsor professional development for others. Any proposed change should be presented with a compelling case demonstrating its worth, as people will resist change if they don’t perceive its value. Staying Connected:  You can stay connected to Steve Ventura via the following channels: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-ventura-2773a91a9/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acsolutions.k12/ X: https://x.com/smventura Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.ventura.85333 The post PMP476: Leading a Community of Educators with Steve Ventura appeared first on Principal Matters.