Episodes
Dec. 9, 2025
Episode 52: The Principal’s Playbook: Building Trust, Retaining Teachers, and Driving Change (Unfiltered)
Send us a text Culture is not a poster on the wall, it’s the engine that determines whether any strategy, policy, or program actually works. We walk through a practical, field-tested playbook for principals who want to build trust, retain great teachers, and lead lasting change without burning out …
Dec. 1, 2025
Episode 51: Leading with Laser Focus: Dr. James Lane's Educational Leadership Journey
Send us a text A trumpet, a baton, and a blueprint for real school change. James Lane went from touring musician to teacher, principal, superintendent, state chief, and ultimately a senior leader at the U.S. Department of Education and he never lost sight of the same question: what happens the mome…
Nov. 17, 2025
Episode 50: From Disillusionment to Momentum: What I Know Now, I Wish I Knew Then: Find the Joy, Break the Silos, Build the Network.
Send us a text A single question changed the way we lead: what do we know now that we wish we knew then? From the emotional roller coaster of a school year to the small habits that keep us grounded, we unpack practical moves that help educators stay energized, avoid the disillusionment dip, and cre…
Nov. 10, 2025
Episode 49: Proud Principal: Tony Cattani's Leadership Journey
Send us a text Doors closed, minds open or the other way around? Our conversation with NASSP’s 2025 National Principal of the Year, Tony Cattani, pulls back the curtain on how a large high school built a culture where teachers learn from teachers every single day. Tony walks us through the exact sy…
Nov. 3, 2025
Episode 48: I Choose to Stay: Dr. Salome Thomas-EL’s Journey from the Chessboard to the Classroom to Leadership!
Send us a text A single question from a group of students rerouted a career—and sparked a movement. That’s how Dr. Salome Thomas-EL, widely known as Principal EL, went from TV production to a life in education, using chess to teach math, identity, and grit while building a school culture where kids…
Oct. 20, 2025
Episode 47: What They Don’t Tell You About Being a Principal: Leadership, Isolation, and the Power of Community
Send us a text The principal’s chair looks different from the inside. We pull back the curtain on the quiet costs of leadership—why accountability requires real boundaries, why the job can feel isolating even in a busy building, and how to replace that isolation with a resilient network that actual…
Oct. 13, 2025
Episode 46: Listen First, Lead with Heart: Principal Shannon Seale’s Journey from Classroom to School Leader
Send us a text What if the strongest leadership move is to listen first, decide second, and never micromanage? That’s the tought line of our conversation with Principal Shannon Seale, who went from high school social studies to leading a pre-K–2 campus, without losing her sense of humor, her humili…
Oct. 6, 2025
Episode 45: Beyond the Classroom: How a PE Teacher Became a Transformational Leader with Dr. Donovan Smalls II
Send us a text What if the best instructional leadership doesn’t start with a rubric but with people? We sit down with Dr. Donovan Smalls II to unpack how a former PE teacher and college professor became an assistant principal known for calm under pressure, disciplined time management, and a people…
Sept. 15, 2025
Episode 44: A Principal’s Perspective on Society’s Issues in Schools
Send us a text Ever feel like the weight of the world lands squarely on your school's doorstep? You're not alone. Principal JL takes a rare solo moment to speak candidly about the reality educational leaders face when national events and societal tensions inevitably filter into school hallways. The…
Sept. 8, 2025
Episode 43:The Cardinal Way: Building School Culture with Bill Curry: 2025 Nebraska Middle School Principal of the Year
Send us a text Ever wonder what makes a truly exceptional school leader? Bill Curry, recently named Nebraska's 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year, offers a refreshing perspective that might surprise you. Curry's journey into education began unexpectedly when a high school crush asked for help…
Sept. 1, 2025
Episode 42: Seen, Heard, Valued: The Leadership Journey of Jayme Braida, Iowa’s 2025 Elementary Principal of the Year
Send us a text What if the most powerful leadership quality isn't perfection, but authentic vulnerability? Jayme Braida, Iowa's Elementary Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal, demonstrates how embracing imperfection revolutionized her approach to educational leadership. Jayme…
Aug. 25, 2025
Episode 41: Creating Bull Elephants with 2025 Nebraska High School Principal of the Year: Jerry Mack
Send us a text When a rural Nebraska principal discovered a behavioral problem with freshmen students, he turned to an unlikely source of inspiration: African bull elephants. Jerry Mack, the 2025 Nebraska State High School Principal of the Year, shares how this wildlife management concept transform…
Aug. 18, 2025
Episode 40: From School Psychologist to Assistant Principal: Erin Jones’s Leadership Journey
Send us a text What does it take to truly connect with students who struggle? For Erin Jones, Assistant Principal at Sunrise Middle School, the answer lies in her own past. "I wasn't your picture-perfect student," she reveals, explaining how her personal challenges help her relate to behaviorally s…
Aug. 11, 2025
Episode 39: Out of the Trenches: Dr. Dana Goodier's Leadership Journey!
Send us a text What happens when a Norwegian tour guide discovers her passion for educational leadership? In this revealing conversation, Dr. Dana Goodier shares her remarkable 25-year journey through the educational landscape, from teaching world languages to navigating the complex terrain of scho…
Aug. 4, 2025
Episode 38: Be Curious, Not Judgmental: Climbing the Next Mountain in School Leadership!
Send us a text That moment when you've built a solid foundation, but find yourself staring at the ceiling wondering, "What's next?" This summer, after three years of transformative work as building principal at Hastings High, I hit that wall. We'd successfully tackled culture, transforming our scho…
July 21, 2025
Episode 37: The Street Cred Principal: Josh Tovar’s No-Excuses Approach to School Leadership!
Send us a text What does it take to transform a struggling school? Josh Tovar knows firsthand. Born in Juarez, Mexico, and growing up with learning disabilities and family challenges, Josh's journey from troubled teen to transformational principal offers powerful lessons for any educational leader.…
July 14, 2025
Episode 36: Leading with Clarity: Casey Watts’ Educational Leadership Journey!
Send us a text What happens when talented, dedicated educators feel stuck despite their best efforts? According to Casey Watts, the answer isn't about working harder—it's about seeing clearer. After two decades in education as a teacher, coach, and district leader, Casey discovered that the persist…
July 7, 2025
Episode 35: The Blueprint: Todd Bloomer’s Educational Leadership Journey on Balancing Family, Leadership, and School Culture!
Send us a text What makes a school leader decide to step away when they still love what they do? Former high school principal Todd Bloomer opens up about his nearly three-decade journey through education and the wisdom he gained along the way. Todd's story begins as a New Yorker who packed everythi…
June 30, 2025
Episode 34:Transitioning from Teacher to Administrator: Josh Rowan's Insights as a First-Year Assistant Principal
Have you ever wondered what happens when a teacher steps into the administrator's office for the first time? Josh Rowan, Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Schuyler Middle School, pulls back the curtain on his journey from broadcaster to classroom teacher to educational leader in this r…
June 23, 2025
Episode 33: Get Organized: Dr. Frank Buck’s Journey and Blueprint for Productive Educational Leadership!
What separates exceptional educational leaders from the merely competent? According to Dr. Frank Buck, it might be as simple and as challenging as reliable organization systems. His journey from band director to productivity ...
June 9, 2025
Episode 32: Emotional Schools: Leroy Slanzi's Leadership Journey on Building Student Resilience Through Emotional Intelligence!
Fan Mail! Imagine walking into a school where a principal tells a fart joke, and within seconds, students take deep breaths and self-regulate back to attention. Sound impossible? For Leroy Slanzi, this is everyday reality in schools that have embraced his emotional intelligence framework. With over…
June 2, 2025
Episode 31: The Road to Awesome: Dr. Darrin Peppard's Journey on Purposeful Leadership, Culture, and What Truly Matters!
Fan Mail! Dr. Darrin Peppard's educational leadership journey began when his college roommate asked for help coaching fifth-grade basketball. That simple moment sparked a passion that would guide him from classroom teacher to award-winning principal, superintendent, and eventually to becoming one o…
May 27, 2025
Episode 30: When Tragedy Strikes: A Principal's Guide to Navigating Student Death and School-Wide Grief
Fan Mail! Death is something no school leader wants to face, yet crisis management becomes an unavoidable reality when tragedy strikes. Drawing from the painful experience of navigating four student deaths in just three years, this deeply personal episode explores the profound challenges of leading…
May 5, 2025
Episode 29: The Principal’s Journey with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket: Leading with Joy, Purpose, and Balance!
Fan Mail! Ever wonder what transforms a passionate educator into an exceptional leader? Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket's journey from kindergarten teacher to Blue Ribbon School principal offers powerful insights for anyone navigating educational leadership. Growing up surrounded by educators—with a grandmot…