The Empowered Principal™ Podcast | Why You Have an Office

This week’s topic might seem a little frivolous, but I promise, it’s not. The purpose of having an office is actually a big deal, and we need to unveil some belief systems baked into education that are hindering your ability to get stuff done, stop being interrupted all the time, and stop overworking so you can accomplish what you need to.

If, like many of my clients, you’re looking high and low for nooks and crannies around campus so you can be productive for half an hour, listen in. You might have been told you should be out on campus, in classrooms, or on yard duty, and shouldn’t just be a principal sitting in their office. But you have been provided an office for a reason, and we’re diving into it today. 

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The Empowered Principal™ Podcast | Asking Your District for PD Funding

This is the time of year when professional development starts coming up more and more. Teachers are rolling their eyes when they think about participating in PD because they typically experience the same thing year after year. So, in this episode, we’re discussing how you can approach PD in a way that gets your teachers hyped.

It’s common among teachers to think that professional development training is something they have to endure as part of returning for a new school year. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be this way. Right now, they have a set of thoughts about PD, as does your district, and I’m sure you have some of your own thoughts about all of it. So, it’s time to try something new.

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The Empowered Principal™ Podcast | Bonus: Starting the Year Not Fully Staffed

The reality of the teacher shortage we’re experiencing right now is a topic I wasn’t planning on addressing. However, this has been coming up in conversations with clients, on social media platforms, and even in consults with school leaders who are considering coaching purely because of this very challenge. 

Whether it’s classroom teachers, support staff like custodians, office staff, mental health staff, or instructional coaches, there are so many positions different schools have that are currently understaffed. If this high-pressure, high-stakes situation is leaving you feeling stressed, you are most definitely not alone. However, even though it might not seem like it right now, there are solutions available to you. 

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The Empowered Principal™ Podcast | The Power of Celebration with 4 of My Incredible Clients

Today’s episode is very special because we’re honoring and celebrating the end of the year. I’m joined by a few of my clients this week, and they’re here to celebrate everything they’ve accomplished over the past school year, acknowledging their successes big and small, and reflecting on how they got there.

Celebrating and honoring yourself is an incredibly valuable practice. Your job is not easy and nobody around you is going to appreciate exactly what you’ve been through, so it’s time to take the lead and celebrate everything you are, and Amy, Erika, Jena, and Wendy are here to show you how.

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The Empowered Principal™ Podcast | Setting Up Your Instructional Coach for Success

I recently had a call with a client all about her instructional coach. She’d had some directives from her district regarding instructional coaches in the classroom, so we discussed her relationship with this instructional coach, and how she can set this instructional coach up for success. During this conversation, I realized something: I love coaching on this topic.

When I was a principal, we developed a very successful process for our instructional coaches, so I’m sharing that with you on today’s show. If you are a school leader with an instructional coach on your site and you want to make sure they have all the tools they need to be effective in their role, this episode is for you.

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The Empowered Principal™ Podcast | The Value of Trust

This month, I’m taking some time to talk to you about coaching your teachers and coachability in general, and I want to set you up for success in creating your vision for the start of the next school year. So this week, I’m going to help you set the tone for the year by discussing the value of trust.

Having trust in your teachers is so important, and them trusting you is vital in creating the best environment for your students. Trust is an essential muscle that you as the leader of your school need to build up, both trusting others and trusting yourself. Believe me, when you do the work I’m sharing today, the impact it will have on your leadership and results will be truly mind-blowing.

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