Aspire to Lead

What does it feel like to be a student, staff member, or family walking into your school? And does that experience reflect the values your school says it stands for? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with educator, leadership consultant, and author Nathaniel Provencio to explore a question that deserves more attention in education. Is customer service and experience getting lost in our schools? Drawing from his book, Five Stars, Nathaniel explains why exceptional servi

Four hundred episodes. Countless connections. And plenty of lessons that never made it into principal school. In this special 400th episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper welcomes back two friends who have helped shape the podcast’s journey: Todd Nesloney and Sarah Johnson. From Todd’s encouragement to launch the show, and his appearance as the very first guest, to Sarah’s collaboration on Aspire to Rise, this celebration brings together the friendships, laughter, and shared learning behind

What does it say about your leadership if everything falls apart the moment you step out of the building? In this episode, Joshua Stamper sits down with educational leader, consultant, author, and Legacy 7 podcast host James M. Holloway to explore leadership as architecture rather than simply a position. James shares how adversity shaped his journey and why strong school leadership requires relationships, emotional regulation, and systems that do not depend on one person. Together, they discuss

What if compliance was not the finish line for special education services, but the starting point for providing every student with the instruction and support they deserve? In this episode, Joshua Stamper sits down with Korenne Wolken, Director of ANW Special Education Interlocal, to explore how leaders can create stronger, more collaborative, and student-centered special education programs. Korenne shares why Specially Designed Instruction must move beyond curriculum and paperwork to address ea

What changes when you stop waiting to feel motivated and start showing up with discipline, purpose, and presence? In this episode, Joshua Stamper is joined by speaker, coach, entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and leadership strategist Ronnel Blackman. Ronnel shares the P.R.E.S.E.N.C.E. framework, a practical approach to helping leaders show up more intentionally in their professional and personal lives. Ronnel explains why discipline is more reliable than motivation, especially when leaders are

How can school leaders give teachers ownership over their professional growth while still creating alignment around campus priorities? In this Aspire Mailbag episode, Joshua Stamper and Jeff Gargas tackle two timely questions from school leaders: How much autonomy should teachers have when setting professional-growth goals, and how can a school create communication systems that keep staff, students, and families informed? Joshua and Jeff discuss why teacher goals should be shaped through conve

What would shift in your leadership if you treated every interaction, observation, and moment of reflection as an opportunity to help someone grow? In this episode, Joshua Stamper welcomes back district leader, author, speaker, and educator Lauren Kaufman. Lauren shares how her journey from classroom teacher and literacy specialist to instructional coach, assistant principal, and district leader has been shaped by mentorship, intentional reflection, and a deep commitment to keeping students at

What if the challenges your child is having with homework, time management, organization, or emotional regulation are not about a lack of effort, but about skills that can be built? In this bonus episode, Joshua Stamper welcomes back executive function coach and former middle and high school teacher Carrie Bonnett to discuss her upcoming free audio event, Get the Brain on Board. Designed for parents and educators of school-age children, this event offers practical, on-the-go support for underst

What would change if more women stopped waiting to feel completely ready and began stepping into the leadership roles they are already capable of leading? In this episode, Joshua Stamper is joined by Dr. Carrie Mugridge and Dr. Jennifer Perez Bessolo, coauthors of Leading Without Apology: Empowering Women in Educational Leadership, From Aspiration to Advancement. Together, they unpack the internal doubts and external barriers that can keep talented women from pursuing school and district leader

What if feeling less tired and more inspired is not about waiting for life to slow down, but about making small, intentional choices in the middle of the chaos? In this episode, Joshua Stamper welcomes back former high school chemistry and physics teacher, keynote speaker, and author Phil Januszewski to discuss his new book, Too Damn Happy: Flourishing in a Tired and Uninspired World. After 20 years in the classroom, Phil left a career he loved to help educators and other adult givers build liv

What would change if educators treated joy, connection, and mental wellness as essential parts of the work instead of extras? In this episode, Joshua Stamper welcomes back educator, author, speaker, and Teach Class Off creator CJ Reynolds. CJ reflects on more than 20 years in education, from teaching in West Philadelphia to serving students in New Mexico, and shares why his purpose has remained rooted in one simple belief: kids come first. Joshua and CJ discuss building meaningful relationship

You have reflected on your leadership experiences, clarified your leadership identity, identified the people in your corner, and recognized the gaps you still need to fill. Now it is time to turn that insight into action. In the final episode of the Aspiring Leaders Bonus Series, Joshua Stamper shares a practical framework for creating an intentional leadership action plan. Learn how to choose a leadership focus, pursue one meaningful experience, connect with a person who can support your growt

Are you building meaningful leadership experience, or are you simply staying busy? In Part 4 of the Aspiring Leaders Bonus Series, Joshua Stamper helps aspiring leaders identify the experiences they still need before stepping into their next role. Saying yes to every committee, project, or extra duty may show initiative, but not every opportunity builds the skills, relationships, and leadership evidence that hiring teams want to see. This episode explores key areas of school leadership, includ

What kind of leader do you want to be when the title finally arrives? In Part 3 of the Aspiring Leaders Bonus Series, Joshua Stamper helps aspiring leaders move beyond simply naming the role they want and begin defining the values, mission, vision, and commitments that will guide their leadership. A title may change, responsibilities may shift, and your career path may take unexpected turns, but your leadership identity can serve as the compass that keeps you grounded. In this episode, you will

Leadership growth does not happen in isolation. While your experiences, credentials, and drive all matter, the right relationships can help you gain perspective, identify meaningful opportunities, and take the next step in your leadership journey. In this episode, Joshua Stamper explores why aspiring leaders need a strong network of support and introduces four people who can make a meaningful difference: a mentor, a coach, a campus advocate, and a district connector. You will reflect on who cur

If you are considering a future leadership role, have recently joined a principal preparation program, or simply feel ready to make a greater impact on your campus, this series will help you take practical next steps. In this first episode, Joshua Stamper challenges aspiring leaders to look beyond the title and recognize the leadership experiences they may already have. You will reflect on the committees, initiatives, relationships, and problems you have helped lead, while also identifying gaps

What if the strongest school cultures are not built through big initiatives, catchy slogans, or another binder of expectations, but through small actions repeated every day? In this episode, Tom Walls shares lessons from more than 30 years in education and coaching across four continents. He explains why culture must be treated as a system, not a slogan, and how leaders can create genuine buy-in by helping people feel seen, valued, and connected. Tom introduces the idea of micro-inclusions: si

What might change in your school if students felt safe enough to say they were not okay? In this episode, Ashanti Branch shares how his own journey as a student, engineer, and educator led him to create the Ever Forward Club, a nonprofit dedicated to helping young men build connection, emotional awareness, character, and leadership skills. He explains why many students learn to hide behind masks, what it takes to earn trust, and how schools can create spaces where young people feel seen, heard,

What does it really take to lead well when school life is messy, fast-moving, and full of real challenges? In this week's episode, Adam Dovico shares a grounded and practical conversation about what educators and school leaders are facing right now, from supporting new teachers and building school culture to developing future leaders and creating meaningful learning experiences. He talks about the changing realities of the teaching profession, why confidence matters in leadership, and how small

What if resistance in your school is not a sign of defiance, but a signal that something deeper needs attention? In this episode, Becca Silver shares a research-informed approach to understanding resistance in K-12 education and why it is often rooted in unmet needs rather than unwillingness to change. She explains how school leaders and instructional coaches can move from reacting to resistance to diagnosing it with more intention, clarity, and empathy. Becca also breaks down the five needs th

Why is it still so common for people to say, “I’m not a math person,” and how can school leaders help change that narrative? In this week's episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Thomas O’Brien to explore why leaders are uniquely positioned to shape math culture, support stronger instruction, and create environments where both teachers and students see themselves as capable math learners. Thomas also shares why leading math instruction does not require a math background, and h