Episodes

Megan Conklin received her master’s in teaching in 2001 and has been working as a teacher, an instructional specialist, and a substitute ever since. She participated in the creation of sub-communities to offer support to substitutes, and she’s...

The experience I’m hearing from my clients all over the country is that their teachers stress, worry, and freak out about district walkthroughs. There are several reasons most teachers dread this experience, which I’m diving into on this episode....

While our understanding of neuroscience has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, learning how to apply it in our daily lives is a whole other ballgame, and my guest today is here to fill the gap. Jessica Sinarski is an author, speaker, and...

Obstacles are part and parcel of your desire to create impact, have influence, and contribute to the world in bigger and bolder ways as a school leader. You’re likely facing obstacles you could only dream of at one point in your career, and now,...

Welcome to the third session of The Mid-Year Reboot for School Leaders! This is my favorite session of the entire class because we’re diving into the topic of generating momentum and how it’s a key element of the goal-setting process as a school...

This week, you’re hearing a clip from our second session of the Mid-Year Reboot that was centered around creating alignment. Alignment is the lens through which you make all of your decisions, and if your current school leadership experience looks...

While January is a fresh start for those following the calendar year, it marks the mid-point of the school year for educators. This is the perfect time to check in with yourself and to feel delighted in your work for the rest of the year, instead of...

I’m speaking to Candace Heiken: the founder of Lively Minds Institute and Cerebrate. With over 25 years in education, Candace is on a mission to cultivate independent, life-long learners through the development of executive function skills, and...

Coaching up is a tool that will help you navigate difficult conversations with anyone who has positional authority over you. If you want to advocate for your school community while reducing conflict with your superiors at the same time, coaching up is...

This episode goes out to all the dad principals out there navigating your roles as school leader, father, and spouse. I’ve spoken to a number of my male clients who are struggling to figure out how to experience joy while running a school and...

Why are student behaviors so intense this year? Why does pressure feel like it’s at an all-time high right now? Why are teachers and staff members so discontent? Why does this job feel harder than ever before? Why is this all happening?   This...

As a principal, you may be expected to fix everything, but it’s not actually your job to do so. If you feel called to attend to every problem that comes up, whether it’s with your staff, teachers, or students, listen in to hear how it’s having...

There is no amount of reassurance that other people can provide us with that will generate the feeling of appreciation. Feeling resentful for going the extra mile or like you’re being taken advantage of is an extremely disempowered way to lead your...

There’s an important distinction between allowing things to be hard, expecting things to be hard, and taking a break when something is too hard. I’ve been exploring this for myself in both my personal and professional life, and being able to...

If you’re having trouble dealing with a staff member who isn’t showing up the way you expect them to, today’s episode is for you. We often believe that the way our staff behaves is a reflection of us as a principal, and that doesn’t feel...

Do you think being in a leadership position means you must sacrifice yourself in favor of productivity and success? My clients often find themselves judging the things that bring them joy in their lives, whether big or small. They may believe it's too...

As a school leader, you are a public figure. As a public figure, people believe they have the right to scrutinize you for any misstep or mistake you make. This is something you may face at some point in your career if you haven’t already, and it can...

We’re already in October, but we still have time to establish and revisit norms in our schools. I’m giving you a strategy I use with my clients when it comes to planning out norms and getting others to follow them from a place of compassion....

My guest on the show this week is certified life coach and Integrative Pediatrician Dr. Payal Patel Ghayal, who is an expert in helping Brown women advocate for themselves. Her mission is one that speaks to me deeply, and we’re here to have a...

It’s October, which means it’s a beautiful month of colorful leaves, costumes, and candy, but for school leaders, it’s one of the most exhausting times of the year. Tune in this week to discover how to deal with the fall dip we experience as...

Our emotions are the hardest thing we have to navigate as school leaders and humans in general. What’s often difficult about anything we’re finding hard or challenging, whether in your career or personal life, is the way it feels. That’s why, on...

We’ve been led to believe that we need to have a combative relationship with time. We say things like, “I don’t have time,” or “Time slipped away from me,” and we use time as a scapegoat for why we’re unhappy or for not accomplishing the...

This week, I’m joined by Katie Novak and Kristan Rodriguez to have an important conversation about how leveraging systems can help you become a better school leader. Katie is the founder and executive director of : an organization renowned for...

As school leaders, you live in a world of meetings, whether that's with teachers, parents, stakeholders, or your district – the list goes on. Another pain point that many principals experience is spending time securing substitute teachers. While...