Episodes
April 28, 2025
Episode 28: Navigating School Leadership: Identity, Culture, and Lessons from Dr. Cynthia Rapaido
Fan Mail! From reluctant administrator to award-winning principal, Dr. Cynthia Rapaido's remarkable 30-year journey through educational leadership offers powerful insights for anyone considering school administration. What began as an academic exercise to move up the salary scale unexpectedly bloss…
April 21, 2025
Episode 27: Leadership Found Me: My Journey from Classroom Teacher to Building Principal!
Fan Mail! Becoming a principal wasn't on my radar when I was happily teaching math and coaching sports. Someone else spotted my leadership potential before I did—a pivotal moment that set me on an unexpected path to school administration. My journey from classroom teacher to high school principal w…
April 14, 2025
Episode 26: Leading with Purpose — Dr. Josh Wilken’s Journey from Classroom to Central Office!
Fan Mail! From a small-town graduate with a class of 32 students to leading innovative educational programs across multiple school districts, Dr. Josh Wilken's journey reveals how diverse experiences shape exceptional educational leaders. Dr. Wilken takes us through his remarkable evolution from te…
April 7, 2025
Episode 25: From Stranger to Team Captain — A First-Year Principal’s Culture-Building Playbook!
Fan Mail! What happens when a school truly embraces "we're all on the same team" as more than just a catchy phrase? The transformation can be remarkable. At Hastings High School, my journey as principal began with a fundamental belief that everyone—from teachers to custodians to students—plays an e…
March 31, 2025
Episode 24: Hiring & Retaining Teachers in 2025: Strategies for a Shortage Era!
Fan Mail! The teacher shortage crisis demands innovative solutions from today's educational leaders. Principal JL dives deep into practical strategies for attracting and retaining quality educators in an increasingly competitive landscape. Discover how forward-thinking schools are building their ow…
March 24, 2025
Episode 23: Leading the Transformation: Coach Tony Kimble's Educational Journey
Fan Mail! Coach Tony Kimble's remarkable journey from the football field to educational innovation stands as a powerful testament to how leadership skills transcend specific domains. What began as a young math teacher's desire to coach football evolved into a transformative career spanning over two…
March 17, 2025
Episode 22: Collaborative Response: Insights from Kurtis Hewson on Transforming Schools Through Teamwork!
Fan Mail! Kurtis Hewson's journey from classroom teacher to international education consultant reveals a startling truth about our schools: the isolation educators experience despite being surrounded by colleagues. As co-founder of Jigsaw Learning and co-author of "Collaborative Response," Kurtis s…
March 10, 2025
Episode 21: "Lead from Where You Are" – Insights from Dr. Joe Sanfelippo's Leadership Journey!
Fan Mail! Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, a retired school superintendent whose experiences and insights are transforming the educational landscape. In this episode, we explore his journey from classroom to leadership, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and…
March 3, 2025
Episode 20: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series Finale: Leading for the Long Haul: Strategies for Sustainable Leadership
Fan Mail! Are you struggling to maintain your passion in a leadership role? Join us as we explore the secrets to sustaining your leadership journey while avoiding burnout. This episode dives into practical strategies for setting healthy boundaries, ensuring you remain energized and effective in you…
Feb. 24, 2025
Episode 19: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series: Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement!
Fan Mail! This episode explores the journey from good to great in education by fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Key topics include adopting a growth mindset, the value of professional development, recognition of staff, effective communication, and collaboration for better student outc…
Feb. 17, 2025
Episode 18: Transforming School Leaders: Insights from Angela Kelly's Leadership Journey!
Fan Mail! What happens when a single conversation can redefine your entire career path? Angela Kelly, a dedicated educator and leadership coach, shares her inspiring journey from a brief stint in studying finance to discovering her true calling in education. Her story is one of transformative growt…
Feb. 10, 2025
Episode 17: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series: Data-Driven Decision Making, it's not Glamorous but Necessary!
Fan Mail! Unlock the secrets of harnessing data to revolutionize educational leadership! Discover how effective data-driven decision-making can transform student attendance and uplift teacher performance, all while fostering a supportive school culture. This episode guides you through strategies us…
Feb. 3, 2025
Episode 16: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series: Managing Conflicts and Difficult Conversations!
Fan Mail! Unlock the secrets to effective conflict resolution and transform your leadership skills with insights from Principal JL in the latest episode of the Coach"Em Up Leadership Series. Discover how mastering the art of difficult conversations can make you a more effective leader in education,…
Jan. 27, 2025
Episode 15: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series: Motivating and Inspiring your Staff!
Fan Mail! Discover the essentials of motivating and inspiring educators in our latest Coach"EM Up leadership series episode. What if unlocking the true potential of your teaching staff could be achieved through authenticity and vulnerability? We promise you’ll walk away with strategies to cultivate…
Jan. 20, 2025
Episode 14: From the Classroom to Princfluencer: The Principal Mo Story!
Fan Mail! Can social media actually transform the way school principals connect with their communities? Join us as we uncover the remarkable journey of Principal Mo, a trailblazer in educational leadership, who is redefining what it means to be a school principal in the digital age. With prestigiou…
Jan. 13, 2025
Episode 13: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series: Leading by Example!
Fan Mail! Unlock the keys to transformative leadership in education and learn how leading by example can inspire change and growth within your school community. Imagine turning challenges into pivotal learning moments that strengthen resilience and innovation. In this episode of the Coach-Em-Up Lea…
Jan. 4, 2025
Episode 12: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series: The Art of Communication in Educational Leadership
Fan Mail! Could mastering the art of communication and feedback revolutionize your role as an educational leader? This episode promises to equip you with essential strategies to enhance your communication skills through active listening and constructive feedback. With personal anecdotes from my jou…
Dec. 31, 2024
Episode 11: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series: Building Relationships and Trust!
Fan Mail! Building strong relationships and trust are crucial for effective educational leadership. We explore actionable strategies such as active listening, empathy, collaboration, and having fun in the workplace to create an environment that empowers teachers and students alike. • The importance…
Dec. 22, 2024
Episode 10: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series: Establishing a Vision and Setting Expectations!
Fan Mail! Unlock the secrets to effective educational leadership as we explore the dynamic role of school leaders who, much like skilled coaches, inspire their teams through collaboration and empathy. Discover how to establish a shared vision, set clear expectations, and foster a culture of high ex…
Dec. 15, 2024
Episode 9: Coach'EM Up Leadership Series: Bridging Coaching and Educational Leadership
Fan Mail! Discover the intriguing connections between coaching and educational leadership as we navigate a journey that began on the football field and led to the halls of education. Inspired by a transformative conversation with my wife's grandfather and drawing from a rich military background, I …
Dec. 10, 2024
Leading Your School Like a Championship Coach with the Coach EM Up Leadership Series!
Fan Mail! Unlock the secrets to transforming your school into a powerhouse of innovation and growth by mastering the art of educational leadership. Imagine leading with the passion and precision of a championship-winning coach—this trailer is your introduction to the Coach EM Up Leadership Series t…
Dec. 1, 2024
Episode 8: Reducing Chronic Absenteeism in Schools!
Fan Mail! Unlock transformative strategies to tackle chronic absenteeism in schools, particularly within socioeconomically challenged communities. Inspired by a successful attendance policy from other schools and infused with our own insights and experiences as a principal, we’ve crafted a pathway …
June 18, 2024
Episode 7: Leading Change in Your School!
Fan Mail! Ever wondered how collaborative efforts can truly transform a school environment? In this episode, I share invaluable strategies from my own journey as both a rural and larger school principal. Discover how forming a diverse school improvement team is not just beneficial but essential. We…
June 7, 2024
Episode 6: The Gamification of Public Education!
Fan Mail! This episode discusses the Gamification of Public Education. Principal JL will "play" into this topic by discussing how public education has evolved into gamification and will provide practical solutions that the Federal and State governments have created in public education that Principa…