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

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.

This week I’m taking a break from posting so that I can enjoy more time with family during Spring Break. I hope you are doing the same if you are on break this time of year. I’d also love to hear updates from listeners, so please send me an email at will@williamdparker.com or find me on Twitter via my handle @williamdp and share updates on your school or life! In the meantime, please enjoy posts from the archives of Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast! The post PMP: Spring Break Update 2022 appeared first on Principal Matters.

How do you transform school culture so that you keep high quality teachers? Today’s guest include three education leaders: Dr. Salome Thomas-EL, Dr. TJ Vari and Dr. Joseph Jones. These men are school and district leaders in Delaware, and have keynoted and provided professional development at many state and national conferences.  Their team has been honored with providing ​state-wide training for ​new assistant principals and principals ​through the Deleware Dept. of Education. They have authored or co-authored 6 books on leadership, feedback for teachers and leaders, influence, school culture, equity, recruiting and retaining teachers, and so much more.  Their newest book is Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture. Dr. Salome Thomas-EL, also known as Principal EL, is a former long-time lead in Philadelphia public schools and is currently principal of a two-time National Chess Champion K-8 Charter School.  Dr. Joseph Jones is a former H.S. Principal and currently the Superintendent of a nationally recognized CTE school district in Deleware. Dr. T.J. Vari is a former Middle School award-winning principal and currently Assistant Superintendent of the fastet growing school district in Deleware. In this episode, the authors discuss: What compelled them to write this new book, Retention for a Change.Key ideas education leaders should keep in mind for finding and retaining high quality teachers.Tips and ideas for developing and supporting teachers and staff for the long-term.Suggestions for principals or leaders who also need ideas for encouraging tired teachers or staff in the day-to-day work of school. You can connect with the new book and more resources from these great leaders at http://www.theschoolhouse302.com The post PMP285: Retention for a Change with Principal EL, Dr. TJ Vari and Dr. Joseph Jones appeared first on Principal Matters.

Timothy Alexander is a bestselling writer, award-winning speaker, and life coach who thrives at the intersection of character development, counseling, and mentorship. After a life changing car accident in 2006 left him paralyzed from the neck down, Timothy has embodied a “never give up” spirit that inspires educators to do the impossible in their schools and lives.  Currently, Alexander serves as the character coach for UAB Football and Women’s Basketball. He travels across the country sharing his story of resiliency in an effort to motivate and inspire student athletes to live life to the fullest.  In this week’s episode, Timothy Alexander addresses how painful experiences and adversity breed resilience in students and educators. He also discusses the three questions he uses to develop leadership in others, including asking: Who are you?Why are you here?Who do you do it for? Timothy shares how to stay centered in your leadership so that you continue serving with integrity. In addition, he tells a moving story about how to show compassionate responses to hard questions from students. Finally, he explains why leaders must model what they expect others to deliver. Find out more about Timothy Alexander’s resources or brining him to your school at his website: https://www.inspiredbyta.com or through his work with Growing Leaders at https://growingleaders.com/about/keynote-speakers/timothy-alexander/ The post PMP284: Triumph over Tragedy with Timothy Alexander appeared first on Principal Matters.

Jethro Jones is the founder of Transformative Principal, which provides leadership development, weekly masterminds, and one-on-one coaching for school leaders across the nation and internationally. In 2017, he was recognized as Digital Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He has turned his years of experience and learning into books, an award winning podcast, and an annual event for leaders just like you.   He shares his transformative leadership plans and his secret weapon, a mastermind group built specifically for principals so that principals like you can lead your schools to your best year ever.  He is also the author of the new book, How to Be a Transformative Principal, releasing in March 2022. In this episode, Jethro lays out the challenges that principals face with test scores, student behavior, mental-health issues, etc. And he provides a surprising solution for leaders: self-care. With 487 podcast episodes of his own, Jethro relies on feedback from hundreds of leaders to show the attributes of tranformative principals. He talks about the importance of delegating to people, not to tasks. Plus, he describes the domino effect that happens when leaders are committed to growth in the following areas: Self-care SupportStrengths & DelegationVision Observations & Feedback Communication RelationshipsHiringCulture Finally, principals have the opportunity to be a part of a virtual book launch by going to: Jethrojones.com/how2be When you do, you can join other leaders to write responses live and online to add whole new additional chapters to the qualitative feedback Jethro is collecting from principals. The post PMP283: How to Be a Transformative Principal with Jethro Jones appeared first on Principal Matters.

Kyle Palmer is currently Executive Director of Human Resources for the Center School District of South Kansas City, MO. Before this transition, Dr. Palmer spent the previous ten years as principal of nationally recognized Lewis and Clark Elementary in Liberty, MO. Kyle began his career as a 4th grade teacher in Ankeny, Iowa in 2000. In 2013, he was named the Distinguished Principal for the Clay-Platte region of Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals in 2013. Under his leadership, Lewis and Clark Elementary was designated as an “National Model PLC School” by Solution Tree in 2013 and 2015 as well as an “ICLE Model School” in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In his “spare time” Kyle consults with the ICLE (International Center for Leadership in Education), Solution Tree, and as a certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, and Coach. He is the author of the new book, Parentships in a PLC at Work®: Forming and Sustaining School-Home Relationships With Families: https://www.solutiontree.com/parentships-in-a-plc.html Parents and guardians can be a powerful resource for teachers, but it takes skill and confidence to build partnerships, or parentships, and proactively engage in a positive way. Kyle Palmer draws from his experience as both principal of a model PLC school and as a parent to offer practical strategies for including parents or guardians as part of your collaborative culture focused on student learning. Understand the basics of PLCs and parentships.Learn how parentships can integrate into and enhance the PLC process.Create mission and vision statements for parentships in a PLC.Use specific strategies to enhance your parentship and engage effectively with parents.Maintain an effective parentship into the future. Dr. Palmer was a previous guest on PMP141 in February 2019. You can hear that interview here: https://williamdparker.com/2019/02/06/pmp141-how-culture-drives-successful-learning-communities-interview-with-dr-kyle-palmer/ In this week’s episode, Dr. Palmer answers covers several topics: What motivated him to write this new bookWays education leaders embed “parentships” into their own learning communitiesStrategies he has seen work that other leaders could consider implementing Finally, he discusses how politics create an “us versus them” mentality with schools and parents, and Dr. Palmer offers advice for leaders to overcome this divide. Listen-in as he explains how we must seek parent engagement versus parent “enragement” by setting norms with parent advisories, asking for more targeted feedback, assigning leaders to guide parent groups, and leveraging parent expertise to help motivate and guide student exploration. You can connect with Dr. Palmer on Twitter via @DrKylePalmer and pre-order his new book at https://www.solutiontree.com/parentships-in-a-plc.html The post PMP282: Building ‘Parentships’ with Dr. Kyle Palmer appeared first on Principal Matters.

Dr. Tim Elmore is the founder and CEO of Growing Leaders. His work grew out of 20 years of serving alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell. Elmore has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, USA Today, Psychology Today and he’s been featured on CNN’s Headline News and Fox and Friends. Tim has written over 35 books, including Habitudes: Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes. Today we are discussing his recent book, The 8 Paradoxes of Great Leadership: Embracing the Conflicting Demands of Today’s Workplace. Tim Elmore, returns to the Principal Matters podcast after being a guest on PMP134, in November 2018. In this week’s episode, he answers the following questions about his new book: 1. What drove you to write this book?  2. You started your career in leadership over 40 years ago. What is it about today that makes these “paradoxes” relevant? 3. We live in an “either / or”world. Parents, educators and administrators feel they’re caught in the middle of a culture war on masks, vaccines and politics. How does this book address this? 4. Can you highlight a few of the paradoxes that would be relevant for a school administrator? 5. How can educational leaders use the principles in this book to mentor and train their next level leadership? 6. How can Growing Leaders and you partner with school leaders to teach these principles? Listen-in as Dr. Elmore explains why leadership sometimes grows harder, not easier, as we understand its paradoxes. Why? Because leaders are encountering higher levels of exposure, higher levels of emotion, and higher levels of entitlement.  Dr. Elmore explains how uncommon leaders are both confident and humble. He talks about how great leaders “leverage their vision as well as their blind spots.” Every chapter in his book includes a case study as well as a personal study. For instance, Tim discusses why leaders must “read them before we lead them,” and “how leaders must be both visible and invisible,” using Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as an example of this kind of leadership. As well, he explains why leaders must “speak as though you are right but listen as if you may be wrong.”  Take time to listen-in to the entire conversation for great takeaways and inspiration for understanding the complexities and important paradoxes influencing your ability to influence others. Check out his new book at: https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Paradoxes-Great-Leadership-Conflicting/dp/1400228298 Now It’s Your Turn Do you find yourself pushing against the paradoxes of leadership instead of embracing them? How might understanding the competing narratives involved in leadership help you move forward instead of becoming stuck in frustration? Find all of Tim Elmore’s resources at https://growingleaders.com. The post PMP281: Paradoxes of Leadership with Dr. Tim Elmore appeared first on Principal Matters.

Last month I had the privilege of presenting in a virtual event to a group of assistant principals and aspiring school leaders at Pecos Barstow Toyah ISD in Pecos, Texas. As part of a series we have been doing together this school year, I shared a session on the ‘Hat of Communication’ that is so important in school leadership. We explored the question: How can education leaders influence the perspectives others have about their schools? Much of the content comes from ideas also shared in my book, Messaging Matters: How School Leaders Can Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students, and Reach Communities. This book helps you foster stronger culture and improve communication strategies. Listen in to this summary for ideas to… Comprehend the power of messaging and public relations in school.Gain tips for how to best use available technology tools, including online platforms, for messaging purposes.Inspect scenarios and real anecdotes that show communication strategies and messaging tactics in action in schools.Learn how to implement positive communication with parents and students from the start of the school year.Explore special strategies for communicating with challenging students or in difficult school climates. We also shared ideas from a great book by Rick DuFour, In Praise of American Educators: And How They Can Become Even Better. And later in the episode, I share ideas from a short but powerful video by Josh Shipp on the Power of One Caring Adult. As you do the important of work of communicating to students, teachers and communities, remember that showing others a more comprehensive perspective of your school allows them to become better invested in its outcomes. I call this ability ‘showing them the other side of the moon.’ Listen in to this week’s episode for more context, examples and tips for being the chief cheerleader and messenger for your school! The post PMP280: The Power of Your Messaging appeared first on Principal Matters.