I’ve got something a little different for you this week. To close out this month’s topic, I’m offering you a variety of thoughts about positivity, all based on the real-life experiences of my current clients. These are school leaders in the throes of the end of the year just like you, and what they’re going through is going to offer you unprecedented insights.

It’s okay that you’re exhausted. The pandemic and everything that the past 18 months have thrown at you have worn your patience thinner than you ever thought it could go, and you’re not alone in wanting it to be over. Oozing positivity feels impossible right now, and what I’m sharing today is going to put all of this into perspective.

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Did you know that every human being, regardless of genetics and external circumstances, has the ability to increase their happiness levels by up to 40%? There is a science to happiness, and this week’s guest joins me to explain how understanding this can help us make emotional wellness a priority for staff and students in the education system.

Kim Strobel is a happiness coach and the Founder of Strobel Education. After suffering from a crippling bout of Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia, she uses her experiences to support schools in prioritizing happiness and wellbeing for their staff and leaders.

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Last week, we talked all about attracting your ideal teachers to your school. I know that you want to deliver at the highest level for your entire community as a school leader, and so the next step after getting these amazing people into your school is a crucial one you want to spend some time with, and I’m guiding you through it today.

As I reflect on my time as principal, I remember hiring such amazing people that I didn’t stop to consider their concerns, worries, and questions. I believed in them so deeply that I took an approach that truthfully wasn’t hands-on enough, and I want to offer that this is a mistake you want to avoid. Read more

Throughout this month, our topic of discussion is all things HR. And today, we’re talking about holding space for non-returning teachers, which is something that has come up for many of my clients recently. Telling somebody they don’t have a job next year is not pleasant for anyone involved, but hopefully, this podcast can give you a helping hand in this area.

This is a challenge really unique to school leaders because while we can make the decision to let a teacher go, they often don’t actually leave until months afterward. So, you can see why it’s important to talk about managing your mind around this situation for the benefit of the students, the other teachers, and your school as a whole.

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My guest this week is one of my favorite clients, Erika Gutierrez. She’s been in education for 13 years, and she’s a second-year lead principal for an elementary school. One of the first things I help my clients with is aligning their work to their values, and I’ve invited Erika on today because her primary leadership strategy is connection, and she’s done an amazing job of cultivating authentic relationships with her entire school, campus, and community.

If I had to assign Erika a superpower, it’s most definitely connection and relationship building. She holds so much capacity for vulnerability and embodies so much love, and this is truly how she shows up in everything she does. If creating connections is something that feels scary to you or something you don’t think you’re good at, you’re going to gain so much value from listening to Erika, who has beautiful thoughts about connection that help her approach everyone with love and compassion.

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