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

This morning I read a gripping opinion post in Education Week by Lisa Mead, a principal in upstate New York, whose piece titled A Principal’s Assessment: ‘We’re Not OK’. She shared what I’ve heard from many principals this past year: 2021 was in many ways harder than 2020. Among the many important ideas she shared, she included the following: “We are not only in a COVID pandemic, but we are also struggling to survive in an emotionally devoid epidemic. Grace and forgiveness are scarce. The stresses and mental health of students, teachers, and leaders are high. We can’t rely on routine as there isn’t much of one left, and our hopes about finally returning to a typical school year this year have evaporated.” With this sobering truth in mind, I’ve been amazed at the obstacles school leaders have faced this past year. In addition, I’ve been encouraged by the innovation, determination, and commitment among education leaders to continue serving students, teachers and communities – no matter what. Somehow you keep serving while inspiring others to do the same. At the same time, school leaders are tired, and it’s OK to say ‘We’re Not Ok.” I’ll never forget in 2012 when I attended my first national principal meeting. As a part of being recognized as Oklahoma’s Assistant Principal of the Year, I met principals from across the states who shared stories from their schools.  I remember looking around the room and thinking, ‘Wow, this is a room full of people who also represent unsung heroes in schools across the nation I’ve never met. People who hear heartbreaking and heartwarming stories of students and families. How can I better connect with their stories?‘ It was then the idea for starting a blog for school leaders began to germinate in my thoughts. My blogging journey began in February 2013, and later in December 2015, I transitioned that work to a podcast as well. This February will mark the 8th anniversary of the Principal Matters blog and this past month marked the 6th anniversary of the podcast.   Each year, I like to take time to review the year past and set goals for the New Year.  2021 in Review for Principal Matters, LLC. Here are several milestones we reached in 2021: Podcast Guests This year I interviewed 28 guests. Jen Schwanke, co-hosted 12 episodes throughout the year. The other 27 guests included: Samantha Bartrom TJ Warren Emily Paschall Toirdealbhach Ó Lionáird Ann-Marie Maw Andrew O’Farrell Jessica Wee Britainy Harris Paul Wendler Loredana Borello Seán Óg Ó Duinnín Kimberly Miles Sam Fuller Eric Hoops Cynthia Winchester Joy Kelly Marita Diffenbaugh Erin Igoe Latrese D. Younger Trevor Goertzen Eric Sheniger Daniel Bauer Enid Lee Janelle McLauhglin Chris Zervas DJ Klein Brad Gustafson PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS POST FOR LINKS TO ALL 2021 EPISODES BY THESE GREAT GUESTS! Website/Podcast Stats As of the end of December 2021, the Principal Matters Website has had 400,300 visits.  The Principal Matters podcast episodes have been downloaded 636,006 times. Together that is more than 1 million times content has been accessed to help education leaders! Events for 2021 This was the biggest year yet for invitations to present on content from my books with 4 in-person keynote events and 25 virtual presentations. These included the following: January 31, 2021, MASSP AP & Dean Summit, Pause. Breathe. Flourish. Michigan Virtual Keynote. February 18, 2021, National SAM Innovation Webinar, Louisville, Kentucky, Virtual Presentation. January – April 2021, Ongoing Virtual Education Leadership Series with Ohio School Sponsorship, Columbus, Ohio. January – June 2021, Principal Matters Mastermind Meetings with Yolanda Dawson, Erin Igoe, Samantha Bartrom and Jeff Springer June 11, 2021, Educator Self-Care, End of School Year Training, Archdiocese of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky June 16, 2021, Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals, Summer Conference, Breezy Point Resort, Minnesota, Keynote on Pause. Breathe. Flourish. June 17, 2021, Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, Summer Conference, Virtual Presentation of Pause. Breathe. Flourish. August 12, 2021, Welcome Back Teachers, Archdiocese of Louisville, Pause. Breathe. Flourish. Keynote, Louisville, Kentucky August – December 2021, Ongoing Virtual Education Leadership Series with Ohio School Sponsorship, Columbus, Ohio August – November 2021, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Assistant & Aspiring Principal Academy, Virtual Presentations September & November 2021, Principal Matters Hats of Leadership with Archdiocese of Louisville Principals, Virtual Sessions November 8, 2021, Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals with CLAS, Pause. Breathe. Flourish. Keynote, Clear Brook Conference Center, Mobile Alabama Executive Coaching In addition, I enjoyed offering weekly executive coaching sessions throughout the summer and fall semester, with five different school or district leaders. Books Update I try to keep a running tally on book sales.  To date, Principal Matters: The Courage, Action, Motivation for School Leaders has sold 1,596 copies. Messaging Matters: How School Leaders Can Motivate Students, Inspire Teachers and Reach Communities has sold 1,806 copies. Pause. Breathe. Flourish.: Living Your Best Life as an Educator has sold 1,107 copies. I’m extremely grateful for every guest, listener, reader, mastermind member as well as those I’ve been able to connect with through my presentations, coaching and trainings. Your constant feedback, ideas, challenges and questions keep me motivated in finding and sharing solutions for school leaders. Setting Goals for 2022 One tool I use for self-reflection is a free online assessment, called Life Score, a product from Michael Hyatt you can find here: https://assessments.michaelhyatt.com/lifescore/ The Life Score Assessment allows you to reflect on ten areas, including: Intellectual Emotional Physical Marital Parental Social Vocational Avocational Financial Spiritual You can select all or some of the options, depending on which areas you care to analyze. Each area includes both positive and negative statements, and you choose where you may fall on the spectrum using a 1-7 rating.  For instance, to assess your Intellectual Growth, you choose between the following statements: EXAMPLE: I am more or less content with what I know. I don’t really read or listen to podcasts and can’t recall the last time I attended a conference. I don’t budget for ongoing education or training. OR I’m a voracious learner – always consuming books, podcasts and other content. I love taking courses and attending conferences. I budget for education and consider it an investment in my growth and success. I gave myself a score of 6. After completing ten areas of self-reflection, you receive a pie graph and a domain chart for feedback on your results.  Michael Hyatt also sells a Full Focus Planner, which I purchased couple of years ago. I use it as a template for my own personal goal setting.  For instance, in the area of Intellectual Growth, I set a monthly reading list, choosing a different title of classical literature I have yet to read but want to add to my learning. Years ago I read the book The Well-Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer. Bauer includes lists of recommended books by historical periods and genre. I subsequently found a great blog post at the website: https://www.tlinwright.com/well-educated-mind-reading-list/ From the list, my personal reading choices for 2022 include: (January) Laurel Thatcher Ulrich – A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on her Diary, 1785-1812 (1990) (February) Harriet Jacobs – Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written By Herself (1861) (March) Carl Sandburg Poems (1878-1967) (April) Frederich Nietzsche – Ecce Homo: How One Becomes What One Is (1908) (May) George Bernard Shaw – Saint Joan (1924) (June) Richard Wright – Native Son (1940) (July) Saul Bellow – Seize the Day (1956) (August) James D. Watson – The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of DNA (1968) (September) Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn – The Gulag Archipelago (1973) (October) Toni Morrison – Song of Solomon (1977) (November) Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein – All The President’s Men (1987) (December) Elie Wiesel – All Rivers Run to the Sea: A Memoir (1995) Over Christmas break, I downloaded the audio version of A Midwife’s Tale and am already half finished with it. It’s been an amazing read/listen! Reviewing the 10 Life Goals Domains has allowed me to set SMART goals for each area as I step into 2022. I highly recommend taking time to reflect on your past year and set goals for the coming months. Even if you only reach half your goals, you’ve hit a higher target than you may reach otherwise. 2021 Podcast Episodes In case you missed (or want to revisit) any content from the past year, below is a list of episodes from the past year: PMP275: 6 Literacy Levers, Part 2 with Brad Gustafson PMP274: 6 Literacy Levers with Brad Gustafson PMPEncore197: 10 Tips for New Assistant Principals PMP273: How to Manage When Someone is ‘Stirring the Pot PMP272: Thankfulness & Answers about Emotional and Behavior Supports for Students PMP271: Answering Questions on School Discipline with Jen Schwanke PMP270: Gaining Buy-In & Building Leadership Teams with Jen Schwanke PMP269: Leadership at Every Level with Janelle McLaughlin PMP268: Equity, Equality and Systems with Enid Lee PMP267: Answering Questions on Grief and Behavior with Jen Schwanke PMP266: Principal Questions on Curriculum and Goals with Jen Schwanke PMP265: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader with Daniel Bauer, Part 2 PMP264: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader with Daniel Bauer PMP263: Cycles of Self-Reflection in Leadership PMP262: Revisiting the Hats You Wear in School Leadership PMP261: Your Friendships, Legacy, Laughter and Well-Being PMP260: Reflecting on Your Influence – Keynote Series #2 PMP259: 10 Areas of Self-Care in the School Year Ahead PMP258: Bridging Academic and Social Gaps with Trevor Goertzen PMP257: Leading with SOUL for the New School Year PMP 256: Disruptive Thinking with Eric Sheninger PMP255: Reconstructing Place and Space, Part 2 with Jen Schwanke PMP254: Reconstructing Place and Space with Jen Schwanke PMP253: 10 Lessons from a First Year Assistant Principal with D.J. Klein PMP252: Bomb-Proof Constructive Feedback with Chris Zervas PMP251: You Can Do Hard Things, featuring Samantha Bartrom PMP250: Principal Reboot, Part 2 with Jen Schwanke and Mastermind Members PMPEncore028: Four Reasons Your Vacation Matters PMP249: Principal Reboot with Jen Schwanke and Mastermind Members PMP248: Inspiring and Leading Learning with Latrese D. Younger PMP247: Leading Through ‘Unfinished Learning’ with Kimberly Miles PMP246: Challenges and Solutions Leading Post-Pandemic PMP245: Handling Schools with Care with Joy Kelly PMP244: Being a Hope Giver with Marita Diffenbaugh PMP243: Grace in the Journey with Jessica Wee PMP242: Leading from Xi’an International School with Brittainy Harris and Paul Wendler PMP241: Lessons from an All Girls School with Loredana Borello PMP240: Self-Care Lessons with Seán Óg Ó Duinnín PMP239: The Principal Experience Here & Abroad with Toirdealbhach Ó Lionáird PMP238: Lessons from an Australian Primary School with Anne-Marie Maw PMP237: Tips for Finding the Right Fit in Your Leadership PMP236: What to do When You Feel Restless in Leadership PMP235: Leading Re-Entry in a Pandemic with Andrew O’Farrell PMP234: Connecting Students to Caring Adults with TJ Warren PMP233: Multiplying Excellence in Your School with Emily Paschall PMP232: Looking for a New Education Position PMP231: Keeping Your Promises on Your Anti-Racism Journey PMP230: Managing Decision-Fatigue with Jen Schwanke PMP229: Facing Your Giants with Samantha Bartrom PMP228: Strategic Leadership During Times of Uncertainty PMP227: Me, Myself and Bob. 7 Lessons from the Rise and Fall of VeggieTales Let’s Wrap This Up Looking back is helpful when looking forward. If you haven’t had time to reflect on past successes/challenges, let me encourage you to consider doing so. If you’d like more feedback on setting goals or if you’re interested in some executive coaching to help you think through your own professional growth, please reach out anytime.  Now It’s Your Turn What goals are you setting for the New Year? I’d honored to hear more about them. I’m looking forward to growing together with you in the year ahead. Thank you again for doing what matters! The post PMP276: 2021 Year in Review & 2022 Goal Setting appeared first on Principal Matters.

What would happen if you asked your team, ‘What question would you predict I’m going to ask in a meeting?’ Brad Gustafson poses this scenario in Part 2 of our conversation about literacy. Educators know literacy is essential to student learning. Brad reminds principals what role school leaders play in helping grow a culture of reading. And he shares how these concepts have helped him navigate and grow a culture of reading. Listen-in as we discuss rethinking leadership perspectives on literacy, helpful tips and questions principals should be using, and helpful feedback on Brad’s own struggles and successes as a lead learner for his school. Brad Gustafson is an award-winning principal, best-selling author, speaker, and avid reader. He understands the critical role leaders play in creating the conditions where everyone in a school can be successful. Brad’s newest book The 6 Literacy Levers, is a practitioner-friendly guide to leading a culture of reading–from anywhere in your school or organization. He also wrote Reclaiming Our Callingand Renegade Leadership. All of Brad’s books are built on the belief that everything we do starts with relationships and connectedness. Brad co-hosts a weekly web series called Read This Now where he talks about literacy and shares book recommendations with fellow literacy leaders. He has served on the Scholastic Principal Advisory Board and been a national advisor with Future Ready Schools for several years. ​Brad was also named Minnesota’s Principal of the Year in 2016. His school has been recognized at the local, state, and national level. From classrooms to the boardroom (and everywhere in between), Brad is helping educators own their influence. Discover ways to rethink literacy with Brad’s six levers: The Compass The Invitation The Walking Stick The Utility Knife The Catapult The Collage Now It’s Your Turn What ways are you helping shape the kinds of questions teachers are asking about student learning? Thanks again for doing what matters! The post PMP275: 6 Literacy Levers, Part 2 with Brad Gustafson appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week we share the first of a two-part series with Dr. Brad Gustafson. Listen-in as we discuss rethinking leadership perspectives on literacy, helpful tips and questions principals should be using, and helpful feedback on Brad’s own struggles and successes as a lead learner for his school. Brad Gustafson is an award-winning principal, best-selling author, speaker, and avid reader. He understands the critical role leaders play in creating the conditions where everyone in a school can be successful. Brad’s newest book The 6 Literacy Levers, is a practitioner-friendly guide to leading a culture of reading–from anywhere in your school or organization. He also wrote Reclaiming Our Calling and Renegade Leadership. All of Brad’s books are built on the belief that everything we do starts with relationships and connectedness. Brad co-hosts a weekly web series called Read This Now where he talks about literacy and shares book recommendations with fellow literacy leaders. He has served on the Scholastic Principal Advisory Board and been a national advisor with Future Ready Schools for several years. ​Brad was also named Minnesota’s Principal of the Year in 2016. His school has been recognized at the local, state, and national level. From classrooms to the boardroom (and everywhere in between), Brad is helping educators own their influence. Discover ways to rethink literacy with Brad’s six levers: The Compass The Invitation The Walking Stick The Utility Knife The Catapult The Collage The walking stick questions include: Is authentic learning happening? Are we serving each and every reader?  Now It’s Your Turn What ideas or questions would you include for ensuring all students are being served through literacy efforts? You can find all Brad’s resources at: https://www.bradgustafson.com/ The post PMP274: 6 Literacy Levers with Brad Gustafson appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week I’m sharing one of the most popular episodes from the Principal Matters archives. If you know a new or aspiring assistant principal, please pass this along. These tips are also good reminders for anyone leading others. – Thank you for doing what matters! ~ Will Here’s a recap… June 4, 2020: A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by a listener, D.J. Klein, from Jackson, Mississippi. He had just accepted his first position as an Assistant Principal and emailed me the following (that I’m sharing with permission): May 20, 2020: Good evening Mr. Parker, I hope all is well. I started listening to your podcast about a year ago and just wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work and insight. I wanted to reach out to you to ask your advice. I am about to start my first full time administrative role as an assistant principal at a local high school. I was wondering if you have any resources or tips for my first year? I have started Jen Schwanke’s book “You’re the Principal [Now What?]…,” and it has been great so far. Thank you in advance! When I reached back to D.J. to share ideas, I asked him if I could record our conversation to share with other potentially new administrators. For the next 35 minutes, we talked through several ideas that may be helpful for you or someone you know who is stepping into his or her first year as an assistant principal: Book recommendations First I shared a few book suggestions. Although I haven’t read the newest book by Principal Kafele, I’m hearing great things about it. The Assistant Principal 50: Critical Questions for Meaningful Leadership and Professional Growth by Baruti K. Kafele is a popular read among many new assistant principals I follow online. And based on the feedback I’m hearing, you should also check out his free weekly virtual meetings discussing the book. I also sent D.J. a complimentary copy of my book, Principal Matters (Updated & Expanded): The Motivation, Action, Courage and Teamwork Needed for School Leaders 2nd Edition by William D. Parker, with new school leaders. Although I cannot give it away to everyone, I like sharing it with many of the principals I coach. I began this book as I was finishing my ninth year as an assistant principal and was stepping into my first year as a high school principal. It’s a practical reflection on the meaning behind leadership plus practical how-to lessons. In addition, here are two non-education reads that may help you re-think approaches to organizational leadership: Good to Great : Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t  by James C. Collins is a study of the common traits among highly successful leaders – what they focused to lead successful organization and what they did not allow to distract them. EntreLeadership: A Step-by-Step Guide for Leading Your Business to Success by Dave Ramsey is another book I found helpful. This book looks at how to organize a team of professionals in reaching shared goals. The applications to school leadership helped me develop my first “KRA’s”, or Key Results Areas, with my teams. 10 Tips for Your First Year as an Assistant Principal Finally, I shared with D.J. ten ideas to keep in mind the first year as an Assistant Principal. I unpack them in this podcast episode with follow-up to several questions for D.J. afterwards, but here’s the short summary: Discover the vision and values of your head principal and consider how you can support him or her.Figure out the administrative structural divisions and expectations. In other words, know your job description.Be friendly and introduce yourself to everyone: Everyone means teachers, parents, community groups, custodians, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, counselors, nurses, upper admin, and of course, students.Listen a lot. Speak little at first (except to be friendly and courteous). This way you learn to know the lay of the land.Expect the best but guard your trust until you know who is trustworthy.Understand and follow your school policies. Your student handbook should reflect district policies. Be familiar with both, and make your handbook your new Bible.Follow those policies and procedures consistently, fairly, and firmly. Until you’ve learned the full context of your climate and culture, it’s best to avoid gray areas. If unsure, ask a trusted, experienced admin.Schedule the entire year in advance with priority tasks. Whether you chunk your calendar with observations/evaluation meetings, team meetings, or student activities, plan ahead. This way what is important remains a priority around which you can manage your other urgent to-do’s.Commit to personal self-care habits now and continue them even when you’re so overwhelmed you don’t think you have time to exercise, eat or sleep.Give yourself lots of grace! This first year is the hardest as every “first-year” is. Ask yourself what you’ve done during other new seasons to find your groove, and take similar steps in this one. Take one step at a time, don’t expect to finish your race in a sprint. It is a marathon. Let’s Wrap This Up In our conversation, D.J. mentions when I was named Oklahoma’s Assistant Principal of the year in 2012. As grateful as I was to receive the state award from the National Association of Secondary Principals, I was also aware of something more important: Enjoying your work as an assistant principal only happens when you take time to appreciate others, relish the small moments, and recognize the importance of the journey and people that will shape you along the way. As hard as any new position may be, let me encourage you to make the most of small moments and celebrate wins as they come. Learn from times you make mistakes. And keep growing – just like you did before you stepped into this new position. That cycle of reflection, growth, and application is what helped you grow to this point, and it will help you grow into any position ahead. And one more thing: Pass those lessons along to others because we are not alone in this important journey of education. Now It’s Your Turn Maybe you know someone who is taking their first position in school administration as an assistant principal or otherwise. Or maybe this will be your first year. If you could add to the list above, what other books or tip(s) would you provide? What questions do you still have? Reach back in the comments or email me at will@williamdparker.com. Think about another leader who may benefit from these takeaways, and share this post and episode with someone. Thanks again for doing what matters! The post PMPEncore197: 10 Tips for New Assistant Principals appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week William D. Parker and Jen Schwanke answer the question: What do you do about a teacher who likes to ‘stir the pot’ about other teachers? Feedback includes suggestions on: Having open, honest, clear communicationAddressing ‘stirring the pot’ for what it isDistinguishing between stirring and asking good questionsAddressing resistance, gossip, tattling, drama, insubordination or refusal to cooperateDeciding whether to fight back, sit in it, or let goReflecting on yourself — does this person disagree with me, or is it legitimately disruptive? Listen-in for more takeaways and ideas. What suggestions or advice would you add? Send your thoughts or questions to will@williamdparker.com. Planning Ahead for 2022-2023 More from Will… It may seem a strange time to be talking about next school year already, but I am already working on my calendar for the 2022-2023 school year. As Principal Matters listeners, I want to give you the heads up first as I only book a select number of days a year for virtual trainings and out-of-state travel. If you or your leadership team are interested in professional learning opportunities for the upcoming semester or next school year, now is the time to plan ahead! Principal Matters offerings include keynotes on any of my books, half-day, full-day and multiple day workshops on principal leadership development, Mastermind group offerings and executive coaching options. If you’d like to find out more, visit my website at williamdparker.com and click on the “Work with Will” tab. Or reach out to my by email at will@williamdparker.com. I’m glad to answer questions or set up a phone conference with you. If you’d like to find out more, please reach out soon as I consistently fill my calendar a year in advance. Thank you for learning together, and I hope you enjoy this week’s episode as Jen Schwanke and I answer the question from a principal about how to manage teachers who ‘stir the pot’ with others in the school! The post PMP273: How to Manage When Someone is ‘Stirring the Pot’ appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week Jen Schwanke joins Will Parker to discuss stories of gratitude from former teachers and educators in their lives. Will references this recent video from the singer Adele paying tribute to her teacher that will warm your heart: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hfb6CSDkWYQ Also, they address these questions from a principal: “How do I provide resources for kids with trauma and behavior issues? What if we don’t have a therapist or counselor? How do we still help students? Jen and Will cover several ideas, including: Partnering with local resourcesConsidering what may be “cut” in a proposal to bolster supportDeciding what is necessary to support students and identifying the root of the resistance Thinking outside the box about resources all students needFor those with counselors, supporting them in order to maximize their strengths Now It’s Your Turn What stories come to your mind of ways educators have inspired you in your own work? What suggestions would you add for education leaders who are wanting more supports for students? The post PMP272: Thankfulness & Answers about Emotional and Behavior Supports for Students appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answer the principal question: “How do you structure discipline so that punishments fit the crime?” We talk about how the word discipline, instead of punishment, carries an important distinction for how we approach consequences for students. In addition, we provide feedback on several areas, including: 1. Set high expectations. 2. Let the consequence fit the infraction. 3. Be consistent. 4. Be creative when necessary. 5. Be polite. 6. Be Specific and Document. 7. Serve and Teach. 8. Communicate Trust
. You can find a previous post Will shared with more feedback on how to Discipline with Dignity. Now It’s Your Turn Student discipline is both an art and science. What are some ways you have learned to discipline with dignity? What ideas would you add to this list? What are some new steps you can take to see the positive behaviors you would like to with your students? The post PMP271: Answering Questions on School Discipline with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answer principal questions: How do you gain ‘buy-in’ among staff vs just ‘setting expectations’ when it comes to structuring or implementing new programs to support student learning? How do you start a leadership team? Ask for volunteers? Invite specific people?? Listen in for feedback on building trust, building on strengths, identifying leaders through volunteers as well as targeting leadership input.  During the show, William also refers to positive school outcomes at Dimension Learning Academy in Norman, Oklahoma. You can find out more about the school here: https://www.normanpublicschools.org/dimensions Also, check out a new book by Solution Tree Press: Powerful Guiding Coalitions: How to Build and Sustain the Leadership Team in Your PLC at Work® by Bob Hall.  Now It’s Your Turn If you have questions or feedback, email will@williamdparker.com. You can find Jen Schwanke at her website: http://jenschwanke.com The post PMP270: Gaining Buy-In & Building Leadership Teams with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.

Janelle McLaughlin, is an Education Consultant for Advanced Learning Partnerships working with districts all across the United States. She is a former curriculum director for Manchester Community Schools in Indiana. Prior to that role, Ms. McLaughlin spent 14 years as a classroom teacher. Her experiences range from job-embedded coaching for teachers and administrators, to leading reflective collaborations and facilitating action-plan development.  Ms. McLaughlin has a strong belief in the power of education and the role leaders play in building a strong foundation for their organizations. She has worked with educational leaders in over thirty different states and two countries. She has presented on numerous topics at national and international events.  Ms. McLaughlin holds a B.S. and M.A. in elementary education from Ball State University. She has obtained further licenses in school leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University, and gifted/talented education from Manchester University. She’s the author of the new book: Leadership at Every Level: Five Qualities of Effective Classroom, Building, and District Leaders published by Solution Tree Press. In this week’s podcast conversation, Janelle answers the following questions: Can you share a brief overview of the five qualities needed for effective leadership?You talk about leading with both the head and the heart. Can you explain why that is essential to you for strong leadership?What are some of the suggestions you give to those who want to grow in their own path of leadership? Every educator has a different story. Can you a share why teaching on leadership has become an important part of your own education story?  Now It’s Your Turn Listen in to this week’s conversations for lessons from Janelle’s new book. You can find more about Janelle McLaughlin at her website www.innovativeeducationsolutions.net  or via Twitter: @Ms_Mac4 Check out the new book, available for preorder at: https://www.solutiontree.com/leadership-at-every-level.html Leadership at Every Level: Five Qualities of Effective Classroom, Building, and District Leaders: Leadership at Every Level melds research with practical application while maintaining transparency among the levels of leadership in education. This book was written for educators in every role, whether you are leading in the classroom, the building, or at the district level, you are a leader. Leadership is really about the head and the heart. This book was written for educators at every level—in the classroom, at the building level, and at the district level—to equip and empower them to lead from both the head and the heart. Every person deserves a strong and caring leader, and every leader can continue to grow and learn those lessons to serve well. The best part is that we don’t have to wait on someone to make a plan for us, hire the right keynote speaker, or send us to that specific conference. Each person can determine the path to their own leadership growth.   The post PMP269: Leadership at Every Level with Janelle McLaughlin appeared first on Principal Matters.

Enid Lee is a front-line educator, an anti-racist professional development specialist, leadership coach, writer and community builder. She began her joyful journey as a teacher on the Caribbean island of Antigua about 5 decades ago. She has taught in Canada and the United States. Today Enid consults internationally on equitable education with particular emphasis on language, race and culture and their roles in education. She engages members of school communities, families and community organizations in preparing all learners to create and experience a world with greater justice, joy and generosity. Her publications include Letters to Marcia: A Teachers’ Guide to Anti-Racist Education; Coaching for Equity; and Anti-Racist Teaching in the Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education. She is a co-editor of Beyond Heroes and Holidays: A Practical Guide to K-12 Anti-Racist Multicultural Education and Staff Development and the developer of an educational tool, Checking and Changing My Systems for Equity. Enid has been the recipient of several awards for her path-breaking work in antiracist education and community building among Black communities and immigrant parents. She received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Queen’s University, Canada, and holds an Interdisciplinary Masters of Arts in Sociolinguistics and Caribbean Literature. She is a Virtual Scholar with Teaching for Change in Washington, DC and in real time shares her time between Santa Cruz, California and Toronto, Ontario. In spare moments she enjoys sitting outdoors and nurturing the child within by reading books for youngsters of all ages. One of her favorite current children’s book is Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race by Megan Madison (Author), Jessica Ralli (Author), and Isabel Roxas (Illustrator). In this podcast conversation we cover the following questions: 1.  When you define equity, equality and systems, you encourage educators to “build on strengths.” Why is that an important distinction? 2.  Take us back to 1967 please. Most educators I work with today were either not born then or still in school themselves at the time. How has the work of anti-racist professional development evolved over the decades you have been in education? –          What changes have you observed in education at large? –          What challenges do you still see? 3.  Why do you focus on ‘systems’ when address equity and equity in learning? 4.  What keeps you motivated, involved, or ‘going’ for so long in this work with schools? Another book we reference in our conversation includes The Rough Patch by Brian Lies:  Now It’s Your Turn Listen-in to the conversation for valuable takeaways and perspectives. You can find more about Enid Lee and her resources for schools at https://www.enidlee.com/resources. The post PMP268: Equity, Equality and Systems with Enid Lee appeared first on Principal Matters.