Ep #179: The Value of Alignment

The Empowered Principal Podcast with Angela Kelly | The Value of Alignment

We are officially in the last month of the school year. You have made it! I know that so many of you felt like you weren’t going to make it, but now that you have, I’ve got some treats for you in the month of June. And the first of these is this month’s topic: creating value as a school leader. And this episode is all about the value of alignment.

One of the first things I teach my clients is to align themselves to their leadership values. Alignment is really about being honest with yourself. There are no one-size-fits-all leadership values, so I’m diving into how to define what those values are for you, and then crucially, how to act in alignment with them at every turn.

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Ep #178: The Reality of Positivity

The Empowered Principal Podcast with Angela Kelly | The Reality of Positivity

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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Ep #177: Authentic Positivity

The Empowered Principal Podcast with Angela Kelly | Authentic Positivity

In the world of education, mindfulness and positivity have become big trends, and this is something I absolutely love that we are embracing. These are things I’ve spent years dedicating myself to and I hope that they last and create real change in our school system. But just talking about positivity isn’t enough.

The truth is that being 100% positive all of the time is impossible. School leadership is a tough job in the real world, and faking it until you make it and forcing a smile just isn’t going to cut it. So, how can you train your brain to focus on authentic positivity? That’s what I’m unpacking today.

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Ep #176: The Science of Happiness with Kim Strobel

The Empowered Principal Podcast with Angela Kelly | The Science of Happiness with Kim Strobel

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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Ep #175: The Value of Positivity with The Modern Principal

The Empowered Principal Podcast with Angela Kelly | The Value of Positivity with The Modern Principal

This week, I have two very special guests to kick off the month of May, Christy Lamb and Karen Hile! I’ve been following both of these ladies for a while now, and when I saw that they were starting a podcast, I knew I had to get them on my show to speak to all of you.

Karen and Christy are both elementary principals and the brains behind The Modern Principal, founded with the mission to help fellow leaders with the real problems they face in their schools today and to redefine the role of school leadership in our nation’s schools.

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Ep #174: Onboarding Teachers

The Empowered Principal Podcast with Angela Kelly | Onboarding Teachers

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

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Ep #173: Attracting Ideal Teachers

The Empowered Principal Podcast with Angela Kelly | Attracting Ideal Teachers

I know many of you are in the hiring process right now, thinking about the positions you need to fill. Do you believe that there are amazing people out in the world who are dying to work with you? Or are you feeling like that there aren’t enough good teachers out there and you have to take what you can get?

The truth is that if you want to hire your ideal teachers, the people who have the kind of skillset, mindset, and energy you need, you have to be an attractive employer. While identifying traits we don’t want in our teachers is easy, thinking deeply about what you do want and why requires more thought and attention, and this is what I’m inviting you to do this week.

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Ep #172: Holding Space for Non-Returning Teachers

The Empowered Principal Podcast with Angela Kelly | Holding Space for Non-Returning Teachers

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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Ep #171: Landing Your First Principalship

We have arrived at a brand new month, and that means a brand new topic for the podcast to cover. So, throughout April, we’re discussing HR issues: hiring new faces and gracefully letting old ones go. And if you are an aspiring principal, today’s episode is exactly what you need to hear.

Landing your first job as a principal is an incredibly exciting time. You have all kinds of thoughts and ideas about how you’re going to be the best school leader you can possibly be. And while this is a fun and anticipatory time, thinking about how you’re going to make an impact and leave a legacy, it’s also incredibly challenging. But don’t worry, because what I’m sharing today will be a revelation.

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Ep #170: Generating Connection in 2 Steps with Erika Gutierrez

The Empowered Principal Podcast with Angela Kelly | Generating Connection in 2 Steps with Erika Gutierrez

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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