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

In this episode, I wanted to share some feedback from another Mastermind group I’ve met with in 2024-25. These leaders include: Julieta R. Flowers – Principal, Discovery Community School, Toledo, OH Kelly Brodzenski – Principal, Beacon Academy, Canton, OH Laura Krulik – Assistant Superintendent & Title II/Civil Rights Coordinator, Utica Shale Academy (Southern Local Schools), Salineville, OH Sherwin Ealy – Principal/Administrator, A+ Arts Academy – Maybury Campus, Columbus, OH Dr. Kenneth Goodrum – Principal, PBIS Coordinator & Title IX Investigator, Dayton Business Technology High School, Dayton, OH In this conversation, each leader shares feedback on the following: What motivated you to become part of the Mastermind? What are some common challenges you have shared with fellow Mastermind members? In what ways have content discussions contributed to your leadership development? What reasons would you give someone else to consider joining a Mastermind? A big thank you to these leaders for their service to their schools and for their commitment to collaborate! If you’d like to learn more about becoming a part of a Mastermind, reach out to Will at will@williamdparker.com The post MONDAY MATTERS BONUS with Ohio Academy Grads Mastermind appeared first on Principal Matters.

Happy Monday, Principal Matters listeners! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about chapter 12 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The premise of this chapter is on something I like to call “life liturgies”: practices, routines, and rituals that define a person and their beliefs. Defining one’s life liturgy can be hard, so Jen and I discuss practices that listeners can employ to help the definition process. Intentionally reflecting on factors like health, mindset, movement, and personal relationships can help one regain focus on what truly matters.  School administrators often spend their time at work managing craziness. Amidst all the craziness, it is extremely valuable for school leaders to spend time each week being quiet and present. Previously, I have shared the story of becoming a shell of who I once was when starting out as an administrator. Figuring out my life liturgy through intentional reflection helped bring me back to life and allowed me to be both the school administrator and the father that I needed to be. Sometimes, staying present means putting away your phone and taking control of your mind. Other times, it means ending a habit that is detrimental to your well-being. Whatever intentionally staying present looks like for you, it will take an enormous amount of self-discipline. If you would like to learn more about life liturgies, or just want to spend some time reflecting with another person, Jen and I would love to hear from you! You can reach us via email at jenschwanke@gmail.com or will@williamdparker.com. Thanks for listening in today and, as always, thank you for doing what matters! The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Life Liturgies  appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke spend some time talking about Jen’s upcoming book: Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. Listen in to hear more about this book, as well as where you can pre-order it. Thank you for doing what matters! Meet Mike Fitzpatrick:   Mike Fitzpatrick is the Founder and CEO of NCX Group, a leader in cybersecurity solutions. With over 25 years of experience in Information Technology Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, and Privacy Legislation, Mike has built a reputation as a trusted expert in the field.  Throughout his career, Mike has collaborated with Fortune 50 and Fortune 2000 companies, developing innovative strategies to protect sensitive data and maintain business continuity. His expertise in cybersecurity has led him to serve as an advisor to influential policymakers, including Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Mary Bono, contributing to critical NORPDA and DATA legislation.   Mike is also a distinguished fellow at the Ponemon Institute, where he continues to shape the conversation on privacy and data protection. Known nationally as an engaging speaker, he regularly shares his insights at prominent forums, helping organizations understand and mitigate cyber risks.   Passionate about advancing cybersecurity, Mike leads a dedicated team at NCX Group, providing services like risk assessments, compliance reviews, and penetration testing to businesses of all sizes. His relentless commitment to keeping organizations secure has earned him and NCX Group an unparalleled reputation in the industry. Cybersecurity in Schools: For principals, learning about the very real risks to cybersecurity— and how we might proactively prevent a cyber attack— is an important learning opportunity and a critical issue to the health of our students, staff, and school data. Mike Fitzpatrick, CEO of Ncx Group, joins Jen Schwanke on Principal Matters to discuss the growing cybersecurity threat facing schools.  In explaining the risk factors, Fitzpatrick emphasizes that cybersecurity is not just an IT issue, but a critical business process impacting every part of a school. He details the various ways cyberattacks occur, from simple vulnerabilities like weak passwords to sophisticated phishing attacks, often amplified by generative AI. He stresses the significant financial and operational impact of these attacks, citing average downtime of over three weeks and costs reaching millions of dollars. Fitzpatrick explains the vulnerability of schools due to their vast data holdings, placing them among the top at-risk sectors along with government and healthcare. He explains that cybercriminals, often operating from organized, sometimes state-sponsored groups, are highly skilled and resourceful, making it difficult for law enforcement to track them down. He urges schools to proactively assess their vulnerabilities, invest in cybersecurity awareness training for all staff, and implement robust security measures like password managers and multi-factor authentication. The conversation explores the challenges schools face, including limited resources, aging technology, and a cybersecurity talent shortage. Fitzpatrick offers solutions such as training existing staff and partnering with managed security service providers to gain access to expertise and affordable services. He also discusses the role of state and federal regulations, noting that they often lag behind the evolving threats. He encourages schools to prioritize technology refresh plans and consider bond measures to fund necessary upgrades.  Fitzpatrick uses the analogy of candy to illustrate the importance of a layered defense. He describes many organizations as having a “Skittle” structure – a hard outer shell but a soft, vulnerable core. He advocates for building a “jawbreaker” – a tough, layered defense that makes it challenging and unprofitable for attackers to penetrate. He stresses that proactive measures, rather than reactive responses after an attack, are crucial. He also touches upon the connection between cybersecurity and insurance costs, explaining how strong security practices can lead to significant savings. He concludes by offering his expertise and services to schools seeking to improve their cybersecurity systems. Staying Connected: You can stay connected with Mike Fitzpatrick via: ncxgroup.com (use the contact form to connect) LinkedIn: Mike Fitzpatrick Email:  mfitzpatrick@ncxgroup.com The post PMP455: Cybersecurity in Schools: Risks, Prevention, and Best Practices with Mike Fitzpatrick appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to another Monday Matters! I can’t believe it is already summer. This week, our Monday Matters Podcast is going to be a little different than usual. As listeners may already know, the focus of recent Monday Matters episodes have been on the chapters of my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The chapter we are covering this week is one on masterminds. However, instead of talking about the chapter, I wanted to give listeners the chance to hear what it is like to be a part of one of the masterminds I offer. The following seven leaders took part in a mastermind I offered in the previous school year:  Jacqueline Flaker, Director, Rittman Academy, Rittman, OH Gisele James, Superintendent, Par Excellence Stem Academy, Newark, OH Genesis Henderson, Deputy Superintendent, Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, Cincinnati, OH Anne Hyland, Superintendent, Franklinton High School, Columbus, OH Guyton Matthews, Superintendent, Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, Cincinnati, OH Maria Rodgers, Principal and Superintendent Designee, SCOPE Academy, Akron, OH Bill Watson, Superintendent, Utica Shale Academy, Salineville, OH Listen in to hear their answers to the following questions: What motivated you to be a part of the Mastermind? What are some common challenges you have shared along the way with Mastermind members? In what ways have content discussions enhanced your own leadership development? What reason(s) would you give someone else to consider joining a Mastermind? What are you hoping to achieve in the future as a part of this kind of collaboration? If you would like to learn more about the masterminds and other trainings I offer, visit my website to learn more! As always, thank you for doing what matters! The post MONDAY MATTERS Bonus Episode – Mastermind Lesson with Legacy Leaders appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: From your experience as a podcaster, what are the most compelling or surprising insights you’ve gained from other educational leaders regarding human capital management? (This question is asked by Brenna Cropper, a first grade teacher in Worthington, Ohio) Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet PJ Caposey: PJ Caposey is a dynamic speaker and a transformational leader and educator. PJ began his career as an award-winning teacher in the inner-city of Chicago and has subsequently led significant change in every administrative post he has held. PJ became a principal at the age of 28 and within three years was able to lead a small-town/rural school historically achieving near the bottom of its county to multiple national recognitions. After four years, PJ moved to his current district, Meridian CUSD 223, as superintendent and has led a similar turnaround leading to multiple national recognitions for multiple different efforts. He was the 2023 Illinois Superintendent of the Year, a finalist for 2023 National Superintendent of the Year, and a best-selling author. His latest book, coauthored with Bryan Wills, is Cracking the Coaching Code: Using Personality Archetypes to Maximize Performance (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023). Show Summary: In this episode of the Principal Matters podcast, Jen Schwanke interviews PJ Caposey, a superintendent overseeing two school districts and a prolific author and speaker. Caposey, a three-time cancer survivor, shares his unique perspective on time management and leadership, driven by a core belief in maximizing life’s finite resources. He emphasizes the importance of aligning personal ego demands, societal norms, and the inner drive for greatness to achieve focus and productivity. Caposey advocates for a critical approach to time management, encouraging listeners to challenge accepted norms and prioritize tasks that yield the greatest impact. He questions the effectiveness of open-door policies, suggesting open calendar policies as a more efficient alternative. Part of his success relies on setting boundaries between work and personal life, sharing his personal strategy of achieving a “zero inbox” to fully engage with family. Caposey believes in giving his all to each aspect of his life, whether it’s work or family time, and encourages listeners to find what works best for them. Jen and Caposey dive into a conversation, dear to Jen’s heart, about systems and people. Caposey draws from his experience with the Baldrige framework in solidifying his belief that simplifying and streamlining systems can empower teachers and leaders by reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency. He encourages principals to connect the dots between various initiatives and focus on a few core values to drive school improvement efforts, noting the power of language and consistent messaging in aligning actions with values, citing examples from his own district. Caposey acknowledges that not all principals have the support of a systems-focused superintendent and offers strategies for simplifying systems at the building level. He suggests conducting an initiative purge to identify and group related efforts, reducing feelings of disjointedness. He also encourages principals to identify their strengths and build a team that complements those strengths, rather than striving to be a generalist. For all school leaders, an ongoing focus on  continuous improvement and self-awareness will be an important component in success. Staying Connected: You can connect with PJ Caposey via the following: Website:  pjcaposey.com LinkedIn:  PJ Caposey Instagram:  @pjacaposey    Email: pcaposey@gmail.com  The post PMP454: Maximizing Systems, Focus, and Impact with PJ Caposey appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to another Monday Matters. As school leaders across the country are wrapping up their school years, Jen and I are wishing everyone a happy summer! This week’s episode is a discussion of a chapter on coaching from my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. Coaching is a reflective activity that is extremely valuable to people across different walks of life, and it is particularly valuable to those working in education. Jen shares a story she read about coaching fifteen years ago that really opened her eyes to the benefit of coaching. She also shares her experience of some complementary coaching she received from me a few weeks ago. Furthermore, there are many different types of coaching available to leaders. Coaching is something that has benefitted both Jen and myself greatly. If you would like to learn more about coaching or want to set up some coaching with Jen or myself at jenschwanke@gmail.com or will@williamdparker.com. Thanks for listening to our conversation and thank you for doing what matters! The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Value of Coaching appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: Through your consulting work, what common human capital challenges do you see schools facing and how can principals proactively address them? (Question from Madeline Platfoot, 6th grade math teacher from Columbus, Ohio) Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet Angela Diggs Dr. Angela Diggs is an educational consultant with a background in special education, school administration, and school psychology. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Kentucky State University, a Masters Degree in School Psychology from Governors State University; and a Doctorate in Education in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University. Dr. Diggs is known for her strong work ethic as well as her personable and down-to-earth leadership style. In addition to her work as an educational consultant, Dr. Diggs is a real estate agent, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a mom to three children. Interview:  In this week’s episode of Principal Matters, Dr. Jen Schwanke speaks with Dr. Angela Diggs, a leader who has a background in special education, school administration, and school psychology— and even real estate. She is currently a director of special services at an elementary school district.  The interview opens with Jen highlighting multiple hashtags that Dr. Diggs used on her LinkedIn profile. Each hashtag represents Dr. Diggs’s values and passions, including education as a gateway to success, the excellence and resilience fostered by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and the importance of women in leadership, She also touches on leadership coaching and the significance of a growth mindset, as well as the need for mental health awareness and overcoming imposter syndrome. As a Black woman in educational leadership, Dr. Diggs has faced unique challenges, including being seen and heard, dealing with microaggressions, and ensuring psychological safety . She learned to be more vocal and direct while remaining respectful . Dr. Diggs also stresses the importance of principals understanding special education law to advocate for students’ rights and navigate discipline issues effectively. To maintain well-being, Dr. Diggs advises paying attention to the body’s signals and recognizing the importance of social and emotional intelligence in leadership. She shares her personal journey of recognizing and addressing stress, which led her to prioritize self-care and gamify the process of beating stress. She emphasizes the importance of balancing work with personal life, including family, exercise, and healthy eating. She encourages leaders to value diversity, prioritize relationships and trust, and see themselves as lifelong learners. Thank you for listening to the entire conversation and for doing what matters! Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-angela-diggs-332672201/ Website: https://www.leadingwell.online/ The post PMP453: Leading with Wellness in Mind with Dr. Angela Diggs appeared first on Principal Matters.

Hi, Principal Matters listeners! Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Monday Matters. This week, Jen Schanke and I are talking about chapter 10 from my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. Before we jump into that discussion, Jen announces all of the places she will be at the ASCD/ITSE annual conference. Listen in to hear all of the details. If any listeners are planning to attend the ASCD/ITSE conference, Jen would love to connect with you! Next, Jen and I discuss how summer is a great time for school leaders to take some time to reflect. We talk about scheduling reflection and engaging in both proactive reflection and reactive reflection. Additionally, we remind leaders of the benefit of reflecting with another person. Summer is often a good time for school leaders to do this as well, because there is more room on their schedules to connect with colleagues. At the end of the show, Jen and I share some reflection questions for listeners who may want to try reflecting, but are unsure where to start. The questions are: What are some of the biggest milestones you experienced this past year? What’s something you’re really happy to celebrate from this past year? What were some of the most difficult challenges you faced? What were the lessons you learned along the way? Our challenge to listeners this week is to try to connect with a colleague and work through these questions together. If you would like to reflect with Jen or I, reach out to us via email at jenschwanke@gmail.com or will@williamdparker.com. We would love to hear from you! The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Cycles of Reflection appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: How did you ensure equity and fairness in staff evaluations, promotions, and leadership opportunities? (Question from Diona Ross, High School Intervention Specialist from Columbus, Ohio) Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters! Meet Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley: Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley, principal of Fairfield Central High School, in Winnsboro, South Carolina, was named the 2025 National Principal of the Year, a testament to her 12 years of inspiring leadership. Originally a biology major, she discovered her passion for education through mathematics and began her journey as a high school math teacher before becoming dean of students, assistant principal of curriculum and instruction, and a principal. Under her leadership, Fairfield Central has achieved remarkable student success despite economic challenges. Dr. Swilley credits her team and students for their resilience, emphasizing that circumstances do not define potential. Known for her unwavering belief in her staff and students, she continues to shape a culture of growth, confidence, and achievement. Something the audience may be surprised to know about Dr. Swilley is that she has the opportunity to be the dean of students and assistant principal at the school she graduated from. She actually ended up being the supervisor to people who taught her! The How and Why of Getting Into Education:  Tracie Swilley graciously shares her story with me and the rest of Principal Matters listeners. Growing up, Tracie says that she always knew she wanted to work with children and young people. The impetus that propelled her into a career in education was an interaction with a college professor who helped Tracie understand the “why” of mathematics. This interaction made Tracie realize that she wanted to teach other people what she had learned about math. Additionally, Dr. Swilley says that her passion comes from lived experience, having grown up in a community that is economically challenged.  Next, Tracie shares some of the outcomes she is most proud of at Fairfield Central High School. Her favorite day of every year is graduation. At Fairfield Central High School, the graduation rate is 91 and their school report card is exceeding state standards. Dr. Swilley and her staff are dedicated to making sure that students are able to graduate within 4 years, and that they are leaving high school with enough credentials to go into the workforce. Furthermore, Dr. Swilley discusses why she feels it is so important for her to stay in her position at Fairfield Central High School for so long. It’s about showing students that they are important enough for someone to stick around. Lessons from Leadership Experience: As Dr. Swilley considers what she wants to share with listeners regarding lessons in leadership that can be gained from her experience, she says she first wants to focus on what she did wrong. Tracie says that when she first stepped into a leadership role, she thought she had to be a superwoman and get everything done herself. This mindset led to her becoming a workaholic. Dr. Swilley also shares that something that helps leaders get out of the workaholic mindset is connecting with other leaders. Learning how to build the right team for your school is another skill that Tracie suggests new leaders acquire. Finally, Dr. Swilley reminds listeners to stay true to themselves. She spent a long time trying to be like other people, and has found the most success as herself. Lessons for New Leaders: Dr. Swilley tells me that if she could talk to a new or aspiring leader, she would offer the following advice: There should be nothing you’re not willing to assist or do You can’t prepare for the principalship before you’re in the principalship  Be at events so that you understand the hours that go in to the job  You do not have to be an expert but you should know who to go to to find out the information you need when you have questions  Advice for Veteran Leaders: At the end of our conversation, Tracie reflects on what keeps her motivated in her work for the long haul. She does not deny that leadership can be an extremely difficult job, and it can be hard to stay motivated. By surrounding herself with younger leaders, Dr. Swilley is able to stay motivated. Kids also help her get her motivation back. She recommends befriending an elementary school principal to learn the innovative ways they are working with kids. Tricks that work for elementary school students work for high school students too, and seeing a student light up will help bring back motivation. To wrap up the conversation, Dr. Swilly tells Principal Matters listeners “Be the best version of you every day”.  Staying Connected:  You can find out more about Dr. Tracie Swilley via: X: @principaltswill  Linkedin Her website The post PMP452: Reaching Every Student with Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley  appeared first on Principal Matters.

Hi, Principal Matters listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about building systems that produce the outcome you want (Chapter 8 in Whose Permission). I want to talk about systems on Monday Matters because Jen Schwanke has helped me understand systems better. Jen shares that systems is something she is really passionate about in her leadership and encourages listeners to experiment using systems in their work. We discuss considering the difference between a systems problem versus a peoplWe also talk about how good systems are often what will lead to someone finally achieving their goals. Systems are so important when it comes to achieving your goals and growing as an individual and a leader. Some questions Jen and I ask listeners to consider are: “What are the things you really want to achieve?” and “What are some systems that you have put in place to achieve those goals?”. If you keep having the same outcomes over and over again, and they’re not the ones you desire, then maybe you need to examine the systems that are creating those outcomes. Listen in to hear the whole conversation. Thank you for tuning in to Monday Matters and thank you for doing what matters! The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Systems That Produce Outcomes You Want appeared first on Principal Matters.