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 be an extremely scary experience.

We are wired for connection and belonging as humans, and being publicly scrutinized can make us feel like we’re being ostracized and isolated. I want to reassure you this week that it’s okay to be a human who makes mistakes and show you what you can do when nothing in your external world feels safe.

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As a school leader, you may find yourself in a constant cycle of giving endlessly. Do you believe you haven’t done enough for your school, even if you feel like you have nothing left to give? Whether it’s your staff, students, the district, school board, or state, are you telling yourself it’s always someone else’s turn to be seen and heard before you? 

Women leaders, and especially women leaders of color, tend to feel less seen, heard, and taken seriously as leaders. 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 conversation about taking back control over your mental, physical, and emotional needs.

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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 this episode, I’m sharing the art of processing your emotions.

Your emotions are your internal compass. It’s the only way your body can communicate with your brain, and you should listen to what it has to say. It makes sense if you find yourself chasing pleasure by trying to extinguish all negative emotion. However, I want to offer that there is a valid reason for any intense emotion being present, and I’m showing you how to get intimate with it.

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What systems do you need in place to be your efficient and effective version of a school leader? Where do you start? And how can you think about systems you create as a leader in a way that is forward-facing for all learners?

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 Novak Education: an organization renowned for designing and delivering professional development on UDL, MTSS, and leadership practices. Kristan is the founder of Commonwealth Consulting Agency LLC: an organization dedicated to providing professional development, training, and consulting services to educational organizations and agencies.

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This week, I’m sharing an exercise that I developed with one of my clients at the end of last year. In our conversation about her plans for the upcoming school year, she shared that one of the key aspects she wanted to learn, moving forward, was the skill of coaching her teachers the same way I coached her.

 

And with that goal in mind for all of you, we came together to create an exercise you can use with your staff at the beginning of the school year to set the tone for what’s to come. The purpose of this exercise is to bring your focus back on who you’re here to serve: your students. You have to consider what needs to be in place for them to be successful, and I’m breaking it all down for you on this episode.

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