The Empowered Principal® Podcast Angela Kelly | Executive Function Strategies for Leaders, Teachers, and Students with Candace Heiken

You could probably think of one student right now who seems to demonstrate lazy or defiant classroom behavior. Maybe they just can’t get started on a simple worksheet, can’t get their desk organized, or turn in their homework on time. What’s going on here? And what does executive functioning have to do with it?

To illuminate what’s really going on behind challenging classroom behaviors, this week, 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 she’s here to share why prioritizing executive function instruction leads to an all-round win for everyone in your school community.

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The Empowered Principal® Podcast Angela Kelly | Coaching Up

I recently had a conversation with a client who was feeling out of alignment with her district leadership’s decisions and actions. This is a common experience for many school leaders, where you’re given instructions that don’t sit right with you, you feel disagreement and frustration percolating, and you don’t understand their thought process.

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 the secret to igniting awareness and getting everyone on the same page.

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The Empowered Principal® Podcast Angela Kelly | Dad Principals

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 supporting their families, and I’m sharing my insights with you this week.

It’s common to feel trapped being both a school leader and a parent, and it can be challenging to ask for space to fulfill your individual desires. Your brain may offer that you simply don’t have the time or permission to play, have fun, and do things that bring you joy when you have other priorities, but balance is possible and I’m showing you how.

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The Empowered Principal® Podcast Angela Kelly |

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?

These are some of the questions principals and district leaders are asking themselves and presenting to me as their coach. Our brains love to stay swimming in questions, but in coaching, we don’t let questions go unanswered. That’s why this week, I’m showing you how to deconstruct and actually answer the questions you’re asking yourself right now.

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