Episode 300: Leadership Lessons From the People Who Helped Shape the Journey

Darrin Peppard (00:00)

Alright, my friends, welcome into the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast, episode 300. 300 episodes. Man, even saying that out loud is a little hard for me to believe. When I first started leaning into leadership, I certainly hoped that people would listen. I hoped that we could have some great conversations about leadership. I hoped maybe this show could help somebody out there.

Become a little more intentional about the way they lead. What I don't think I fully understood was how much these conversations would change me. 300 episodes means hundreds of conversations with people who have challenged my thinking, sharpened the iron, made me laugh, made me reflect, and sometimes caused me to completely rethink something I thought I already understood about leadership.

So episode 300 needed to be different. I invited six people who have been part of this journey in different ways: Jason Ryan, Katie Kinder, Todd Bloomer, Bentley Lewis, Josh Tovar, and Brandon Beck to come together for one conversation. And I'm going to tell you right now, this is a longer episode than usual. But stay with it because what happens over this next hour?

Is exactly why I love doing this podcast. We talk about what we're still learning about ourselves as leaders. We talk about how we keep growing and sharpening the iron. We look back at some of the conversations from the first 300 episodes that have stuck with us. And toward the end, I ask everyone one question that takes this conversation somewhere I didn't completely expect.

Who tapped you on the shoulder? Who saw something in you? Who opened the door? Who helped you see something in yourself that maybe you couldn't see yet? There is a whole lot of leadership packed into this conversation, but there's also a whole lot of friendship, laughter, reflection, and gratitude. Before we get there, I want to thank our sponsor, Hey Tutor.

HeyTutor partners with schools and districts to provide high impact in-person tutoring in literacy and in math, giving students targeted support alongside the great work already happening in the classrooms. If you're looking for another way to help students accelerate their learning with meaningful personalized support, check out what my friends at Heytutor can do for your school or your district. Go to Heytutor.com to check them out, or even better,

Hit that link down in the show notes because that lets them know you heard about them here on the Leaning Into Leadership podcast. All right. 300 episodes. Six incredible leaders and one heck of a conversation, folks. Let's lean into this conversation. I will see you on the other side.

Darrin Peppard (00:00)

All right, everybody, welcome back into the studio. Man, I I cannot believe that we are sitting right here at the precipice of episode 300. And for those of you watching on YouTube, look at these amazing faces that I have here in studio. For those of you listening, I will just say it really quick and I'm going to go around the horn for me. I've got Jason Ryan, I've got Katie Kinder, I've got Todd Bloomer, I've got Bentley Lewis, Josh Tovar, and I've got Brandon.

back and of course I am in in here to try and wrangle all six of these people into having some kind of organized chaotic conversation. So guys, welcome to episode three hundred. Thank you so much for being a part of this.

Katie Kinder (00:43)

gosh,

Todd (00:43)

Congratulations,

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (00:43)

Thank you, Derek.

Katie Kinder (00:43)

we're so glad to be here. my goodness.

Todd (00:44)

Darren.

Bentli Lewis (00:45)

Love

being here.

Todd (00:46)

Congratulations, Darren.

Jason Ryan (00:48)

Yeah.

Brandon Beck (00:49)

I

Darrin Peppard (00:49)

So let's let's start here. every one of you has been on the podcast, some of you multiple times. Bloomer has been on almost as frequently as I am on the podcast. But just kind of go around the horn really quick. I'll call on you one by one, just really quick who you are, and then maybe share a little bit of like how

We have gotten connected. And I'm gonna go to the top left-hand square on my view, which is Jason Ryan.

Jason Ryan (01:14)

All right. Well, thank you, Darren. Honored to be here. again, Jason Ryan. I'm I'm currently the high school principal at Papillion La Vista High School. It's a suburb of Omaha, a high school of about 1,800 students. This is year five for me in this role. And I I connected with Darren a summer of twenty twenty-two. And somehow his feed came up on my ex feed and and I started looking around and and saw that he was in Omaha.

I was heading into an interim year number one as high school principal. I was previously the activities director and they interviewed some folks and said, Hey, we don't think there's a good fit. Would you do it? And so I'm thinking, okay, and got to look at Darren a little bit and his background, similar background, assistant principal, basketball coach, and then I saw that he was in Omaha and I thought, What the heck? I'm gonna reach out to him. I don't know if it was LinkedIn or how. And next thing you know, we were meeting

downtown at an establishment and next thing you know, we were having conversations about him becoming my leadership coach. And so this will be year five that Darren has done some instructional coaching with me and and the administrative team that I work with. And so just yeah, I kind of took a risk there, which is a little unlike me, but it was one of the best moves I've made professionally and and personally. So I'm looking forward to year five with with Darren as my instructional coach.

Darrin Peppard (02:35)

It has been so much fun coming into Papio and and you know, we're Jason and I are gonna have an episode here not too far down the road. We're gonna talk about leadership teams and I'm telling ya, you know, Jason, I know I was just in in the big O here a few weeks ago and and we talked about this, but man, when I think about a high performance leadership team, I go right to your team and what what your team has developed into is just

Man, it just blows my mind. So I'm I'm I'm thrilled to have you here. I'm glad you reached out and took a chance, man. It was it it's been awesome working with you. okay,

Jason Ryan (03:05)

Wise.

Darrin Peppard (03:06)

top of the board in the center, my co-author, my friend, the teal glasses rock star, Katie Kinder.

Katie Kinder (03:14)

my goodness. Hi everyone. I'm so happy to be here. I'm Katie Kinder and I'm a little starstruck. We're like sitting here with Todd Bloomer and like Josh Tovar's

Todd (03:22)

Yeah.

Katie Kinder (03:23)

here and Brandon Beck. Like, my goodness. it's so gl I'm so glad to be here and it's so fun to see all your faces. I mean, Darren and I met in twenty twenty-three in Vegas. I believe that's right. And he actually birthed the teal glasses idea.

Like he's like, you could like have business cards in the shape of teal glasses. I'm like, yeah, yeah, that sounds good. He's like, you could even throw out fake ones and people could wear and put that selfie on there and they could win a book. I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, we should do that. And then we co authored Culture First Classrooms in twenty twenty-four. Twenty twenty-five?

I don't know, Darren. Do you even know?

Darrin Peppard (04:04)

Twenty twenty five. Yeah.

Katie Kinder (04:05)

Okay. And the rest is history. So I'm a speaker, teacher, author, instructional coach, and I'm happy to be here with with my friends.

Darrin Peppard (04:15)

All right, let's let's bounce over to the man who practically doesn't need introduction because he's on the show so much, Todd Bloomer.

Todd (04:23)

Darren Peppard, I will share that me and you have a Snapchat-like streak of middle school kids of texting each other every day, probably for the past three years. And i I if if

Darrin Peppard (04:35)

Yeah.

Todd (04:36)

I don't text by I guess before Josh Tobar, if I don't text Darren Peppard by about 6 a.m. Central Time, then something's wrong. And I like to share my workouts and catch up with what he's doing. And then lately he's been sharing pictures of the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

that are making me completely jealous. And so Darren, I'm really happy to be on here tonight. I'm happy to be with all these, you know, great people that are here. Darren published my first book, 22 or three or four, somewhere in there. And, you know, I consider him a mentor. I consider him a friend. And then to be honest, I don't know if Tovar, if you were there, but the first time I met Darren face to face was TSSP in 2024. And I've been talking to him for like a year and a half. And we're in Austin. And that was the first time. And we came in there and Darren got to present a little bit

So I live in San Antonio, Texas

Darrin Peppard (05:21)

Yeah.

Todd (05:22)

now. It like like Darren said, it's a 105 degrees. It's it's a difficult time right now. But life is good. Thank you for being here. Thank you for allowing me to be here.

Darrin Peppard (05:31)

Yeah, of course, man. Thanks.

Yeah, I appreciate it. Yeah, and Tovar was there. not the first time I think I met Tovar in person though, and I have a feeling he's gonna tell that story. So Tovar, I'm gonna come to you.

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (05:44)

Well thank you. You know what? This is Sparta 300, bro. I love it. Did you invite me on the Sparta number? I love it. Thank you very much. And and man, I'm upset because I'm still at work. I had it all planned out for you, bro. I had a soccer ball that I was gonna be heading up with my

Todd (06:03)

Yeah.

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (06:03)

teal glasses on and a little Jeep in my hand doing the header sitting on a red bench. I had it all

But then the master schedule. You know how that goes right now. Starting school. But hey everybody, Josh the Wattpar Principal of Memorial Pathway Academy in Garden ISD, Garden, USA. Ready to rock and roll with the Road to Awesome guy that I started listening to him on podcast working on my chicken legs. That's right, sir. It's a sin to have shoulders this big with our legs. You cannot do that. Don't skip leg day, sir. And I started hearing him over and over and over.

And then he reached out to me. He said, You want to come on the show? And you know what? Since that moment on, we've been rocking on the road to awesome. And I value that man so much. First of all, like and share the show right now. You haven't. And if you're not following him on YouTube, follow him. Because the ultimate, I believe, my my humble opinion, and this is my 34th year. In my humble opinion, the best gift that you could give your team members at school is the appropriate PD for that campus. And I believe that that young man right there.

Darren Peppard brings the fire and I invited him to our home to make sure that he brought the road to awesome because he has the street cred. I value his not only his personality, but his leadership style that he brought to our campus, and we're much better, a much better unit because of him. So thank you very much for having me on the Spartan episode, my man, Josh out.

Todd (07:30)

Let's go. You

Darrin Peppard (07:33)

Right, yeah. I mean, who wants to follow that? I I really thought you were gonna tell the meat sweat story. I really did. And I'm glad you didn't. It may come up later. But yeah, and I think Brandon Beck was a part of that as well. yeah, brutal, brutal. But we're gonna make Bentley Lewis follow Josh Tovar

Todd (07:49)

Yeah.

Darrin Peppard (07:51)

because if there's anybody who can seriously Bentley, it's you.

Bentli Lewis (07:54)

I'm here for the challenge. yeah, so I had the privilege of meeting Darren, I think it was about four years ago at a Justin's Renaissance conference session. Darren was one of the presenters with his counterpartner Bradley Skinner, and I won a t-shirt from Darren Pefford in that in that session. It was just a session that I decided randomly to go to, and he he kind of asked for some some awesome.

Audience feedback to a thought. I don't usually share in big sessions like that, but for whatever reason, what he was asking was so thought provoking that I decided to share out, won a t shirt, and honestly, after that session, I just felt compelled to stay after and go introduce myself to Darren. I don't know if it was like a fangirl moment, but honestly, that is kind of where it started with me connecting with Darren and Road to Awesome. At that time, I was just fit.

Finishing up my first year as a building principal, and I am just now only in year five. so I feel like I am not only getting to sit in the presence of like Darren as a fangirl, but all of you because I'm like, my gosh, I am in a in a in a group right now with Katie Kinder, and I feel like I want to ask for your virtual autograph, but that's weird. but Darren has truly become someone that I just really really trust his guidance and his leadership, and and I

Listen to his podcast and I just engage with him as a friend because I trust that even if he has never been to my school, he he has the the clarity of what I need when we're talking about leadership. And even more than that, his mentorship, even getting me affiliated with the National Association of Middle Level Education not only nationally, but even in South Carolina, has been the greatest networking gift for me to be able to connect with other leaders.

In the same school level as me. So, Darren, just one, thank you for even inviting me, of all people, to this. There are so many other profound names and people that could have this spot on the screen. But for you to take the time to invest and believe in a young, young five-year principal, that really, really means a lot. That speaks a lot to me. So thank you.

Darrin Peppard (10:02)

Yeah, well absolutely. You know, it it it's been it's been amazing getting getting to know you, Bentley, and and and guys, I would be remiss if I didn't say this while we're recording. So yeah, Bentley is, you know, starting her fifth year as as a building principal, but in the last four years or so during the time I've known her, she's been named as the Jocelyn's Renaissance National Educator of the Year and just recently the South Carolina Middle School Principal of the Year. So, you know what, you

You you've earned your seat at any table that you want. There is zero question about that. So and I'm just I just love following

Bentli Lewis (10:35)

Thank you, Darren.

Darrin Peppard (10:37)

your journey. I really truly do. And I I'm excited because I know I'm gonna see you at AMLE when when we're in Nashville. It's gonna be awesome. And Katie Kinder's gonna be there, and I'm sure there'll be some some others too. So anyway, let's let's let's kick it to my buddy Brandon Beck, who

probably I have the longest term relationship with of anybody here here in the room. So Brandon,

Brandon Beck (10:56)

Wow. Wow.

Darrin Peppard (10:58)

let's go, brother.

Brandon Beck (10:59)

What an honor. Absolute honor. to be on the show with my brother from another mother. I mean, honestly, it's been we've really ridden the roller coaster together. And you know, I like I you s said earlier, you know, we just celebrated my one hundred fiftieth episode and so I was telling you, man, there's nobody else I'd rather have because we've really we met when we wrote our first books.

Together and I remember reading your book and just seeing so many similarities to the point where I also just reached out randomly like everybody else here and just said, our you know, my connection to you as a coach of athletics, but also as a a coach of people. that was our biggest draw. And, you know, we we connected over time and we were like, let's

Let's do this with other educators. Let's really do this as a team. You and me, Road to Awesome, unlocking unlimited potential on the road to awesome. I actually literally used the the packet, the workbook that we made today

Darrin Peppard (12:02)

Yeah.

Brandon Beck (12:02)

with a group of leaders with your name on it. And I said, This is my friend, Dr. Darren Peppard. So to have you there in spirit was pretty awesome.

Darrin Peppard (12:10)

Yeah.

Brandon Beck (12:10)

and the fact that that work still continues and goes on and we get to team up on the Road to Awesome authors and

The mastermind, which is just an incredible experience because it's been so unique. you know, I know you everybody gets the chance to do their thing and speak and and coach and all that, but there was something about doing it side by side for so many years just next to you, to the point where we'd text each other after and be like, dude, we're finishing each other's sentences. And so I, you know, I I really appreciate

Darrin Peppard (12:39)

Yeah.

Brandon Beck (12:41)

that. And you know, we've been connected. I talked to you more than most people in my life, and it's

it's a really honor, great honor to be here. I have shared meat with Josh Tovar. and I understand we had a you know the guy can put it down and he he knows how to treat a a person who likes the steak. So just letting you know, he keep an eye out for him. But I'm excited to be here with you all.

Darrin Peppard (13:04)

Yeah. Yeah,

if you've ever been to one of those Brazilian steakhouses, you know that they give you this this little disc that has red on one side and green on the other.

Tovar doesn't believe in the red side of the disc. And let's just say that night the meat sweats were for real

Brandon Beck (13:24)

We tried to keep up.

Darrin Peppard (13:25)

in in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. Good times. So let's do this. I I gave you guys some questions before to kind of think about, and I'm already gonna throw a curveball at you because just listening to Bentley talk, it took me back to a moment in time. I think Bentley, maybe the last time.

We were at a Renaissance conference together, I think the year that you were you were named National Educator of the Year. We were having a conversation al along with your husband, Stephen, and and I asked you a question after I asked him a question. And I and I'm gonna come to you first, but then for the rest of you, I want you to answer the same question and you can go in any order. I'm not gonna call on you when Bentley is done. But I want you to think back.

maybe in whatever role you're in now. I mean, you know, Tovar, I know you've been at at MPA for a little while. Jason, you've been at at at at Papio for a little while, but you know, certainly Brandon, you've taken on some new things. Todd, you've taken on some new things. Katie, you've definitely taken on some new things. So I'm curious, what have you learned about yourself as a leader in in what you're doing now? And Bentley, you were in a brand new school to you

And but you've heard this question before, so that's why I'm gonna go to you first. So it's all about leadership on leading into leadership. So what what are you learning about yourself right now?

Bentli Lewis (14:35)

man, I I do I remember I remember that conversation because it was it was actually so encouraging to kind of hear the answer that my that my husband shared, like from his perspective of watching me become a principal and lead school transformation. I think what I have learned about myself as a leader truly

is you know, when I first started leading that school, you know, those years ago, I thought being a good leader or a strong leader meant being able meant being able to fix things, to solve problems. and if something wasn't working, like I needed to have the plan. And I think what I have learned about me as a leader is that I don't have to be the person with all the answers, but I I need to be a

leader

that creates a place where people believe anything is possible and that if I can kind of set that tone and help others realize what we can make happen together

That's that's far greater than just being able to answer questions and solve problems for people. And so I think what I have really reflected on truly in the last four years going into this fifth year is how can I be more of a leader of people and not a leader of programs and a leader of ideas? And so that has probably been something that I have learned

about myself over the last five years is that I need I need to be a leader who invests in people. And when I invest in people, I help them maximize their potential and believe in the potential of themselves and believe in the potential of the kids in our building.

Darrin Peppard (16:13)

That's a pretty fantastic answer right there. Who who wants to follow that one up?

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (16:17)

Well, the the only thing I could say is this. This year because of national politics, our campus was really affected. whether you know or you don't know, this is a newcomer school and it's also an at risk campus. And our numbers obviously went down. it really affected to where we our district is in a financial crisis, like all the other districts across the United States. And I lost ten teachers.

Todd (16:38)

Yeah.

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (16:39)

And a whole middle school wing and an assistant principal. So at the latter part of my career, I'm back to square one, assistant principal one one. I'm relearning everything that I have not done for twelve years. Grade book, master schedule, five four paperwork that back then in the Stone Age we used to do it on tablets. And I used to do my advocacy for lep paperwork.

But now there's this thing known as computer and AI stuff? I don't know. This K-man don't get it that often, but it's relearning everything. And what I've learned right now, obviously, those of you that were pre-COVID and post-COVID, you had to readjust your approach to leadership a hundred percent. Then la that led to the exodus of educators. Then you really had to adjust with your altserts coming in and coaching them on how to be educators and myself all putting that together.

With re losing an assistant principal, the only thing that I've learned is this is that you're never too old to learn if you want to. And never forget, never forget in the belief that you have in yourself as a leader. You have to be able to trust yourself. And at that moment, now I've had to learn to let go of stuff. Yes, I am a control freak, a hundred percent, because Alpha and Omega, it's ends with a chair. And right now, because I don't have someone to lean on as a support system.

My past experiences, being able to build a culture on this campus of support has allowed us to really prosper the first three weeks. We've had zero issues, minutiae stuff obviously like any other campus, but we've had zero discipline issues. Our kids are flowing in, the culture's going up high, but it's all because of what was established before. The things that I've learned and the ability, just like Bentley said, being able to empower others to support you with what your vision is.

So it's really an evolving process as long as you never forget what your purpose is and what your vision is. And in the end it's always about student success.

Darrin Peppard (18:32)

Love it. Love it. Who wants to jump in?

Todd (18:34)

You know, Darren, one of the things that I have really learned over the last two years in my job, I went from being a high school principal for seven years to working at central office in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. So totally different structure of governance. And I've shared this with Darren in in many of our conversations. But the thing I've learned is is real leadership is influence. And you know, I can tell somebody what to do or I can model or show or I can help support people.

And I've really had her self-reflect on how can I help this person by demonstrating what I can add to them, what I can build upon with them, and how I can help support them through. And it was a challenge early on to work with people because I was a public school person coming into parochial schools and archdiocesan schools. And so there's a little bit of that outsider you know, like rivalry type thing. But through influence and being able to share with them that I'm a good listener, I can ask good questions, I can provide for them some support, I can give them scenarios.

And and and something kind of, you know, Darren shared with me once was just, you know, asking him, you know, hey, do you want me just kinda do you want me just kinda to listen? Do you want me do you want me to give me input? Or do you want me to tell you what to do? And really those three things I did it today with it with a principal that called. And she said, I want you to listen, and then I want you to tell me what you would do.

And so listened and she walked herself to what she wanted to do and I reaffirmed that. And so really, honestly, John Maxwell's twenty one laws of irrefutable leadership is is you know the law of influence and really just being able to influence personally by the way you walk, the way you act, the way you carry yourself, the way you follow up, the way you say what you're gonna do and do what you're gonna say. And at the end of the day, I think that's the greatest thing that you can do for people is just be able to be there for them along the journey.

Jason Ryan (20:09)

Yeah, I'll and I'll I'll piggy off of that. It just and and Darren talks a lot a lot about just showing up and and I'd always consistent and routines, but I probably didn't step back and look enough and listen enough. How important showing up every day, no matter what the situation, same disposition, same demeanor.

no matter what was going on, how influential that and impactful that is. And and it so that that's something I'm very conscientious of. And then and then the other thing that I've learned over the last five years, four plus years in this role is the importance of building building your bench. And I know Darren and others talk about that and pouring it at others and building capacity and others that

I you know, I I I've got the confidence to to do that, to pour in and and to help grow others, no matter what journey they want they want to go along. So those are those are kind of two things that that stick with me at this point in my career.

Katie Kinder (21:02)

this has been interesting in like leaving the classroom and be you know, becoming an instructional coach with model classrooms and then leaving that and coaching as an outside consultant and speaking

Getting to see the view from the superintendent, getting to see the view from the principal and the kids and the teachers and the like the whole thing and the best organizations that I've been a part of in the past few years have been people who hold like MPA, Josh, because I've been there too, and I love it, and people who are

Have fun, Bentley, who see people as people. They're not products, they're people. And they also hold really high expectations for both kids and teachers and themselves. And so that is really what I have learned in the past few years in this whole crazy journey I've been on. Okay, Brandon, it's your turn.

Brandon Beck (21:59)

I'm gonna pick right up where you left off. The biggest thing that I've learned and and Darren, you say this all the time, we say this all the time, is the power of third point perspective. Taking yourself onto the balcony. And what's interesting is some leadership organizations are ready to go onto the balcony. And some also resist. And

I consider myself pretty obsessed with the area of research around self efficacy, self confidence, and leadership confidence and how they're all connected. And so for me

Being able to see organizations that are ready to stand on the balcony and being able to encourage some organizations to stand on the balcony and being able to push some of them onto the balcony is is really interesting to see the give and take of it all and the influences behind that. Leadership is a day-to-day.

minute by minute roller coaster and it's some days you feel like you can climb top to the top of Mount Everest and some days you feel like you're in the bottom of the ocean. And in all places it seems like really complicated places. But what's interesting is how those challenges they forge resilience.

And they forge that flame inside of people, inside of leaders. And I love being able to see leaders get excited about transformational leadership.

Darrin Peppard (23:32)

That's awesome stuff right there, man. I love that so much. you know, I I I probably oughta answer that question too, you know, if i if I think back over the last handful of years, you know, since I transitioned out of my superintendency role into this role, just listening to you guys, man, so many incredible answers. And there's just gosh, there's so much leadership, like gold nuggets in this room. Just

Absolutely amazing. But I think

th this is something that I don't know that I had in the bag probably most of my leadership career, like formal building level and even maybe as a superintendent. I got a little better as a superintendent, but

My entrepreneurial journey has taught me so much about patience. And as a school and a district leader, you know, really there's like there's like five different places that you can lead from, right? You you're gonna be the instructional leader, you're gonna be, you know, that that that strategic leader, you're gonna be the inspirational leader, and you know, and you're gonna be that management, like that organizational, you know, you know, those types of things. And, you know, sometimes

to lead kind of almost from like that HR perspective of of of leadership but patience is something that they very rarely talk about when you go through a leadership development program and and I know some of you I think are really really strong in that area.

some of you are like me and maybe aren't as patient as you'd like to be. I know, you know, certainly Bentley and I have had some conversations about, you know, her previous school that it just wasn't happening fast enough and then as it turned out, actually it really was happening pretty fast to see that turnaround. But I think for me, one of the things that I've learned, especially in in this entrepreneurial part of my life, is patience.

is so important. And as a school and a district leader, as a leader in any role, understanding that you're always playing a long game. And and even though like you know, Brandon, you said it, like, you know, leadership is a day-to-day minute by minute and so forth. But but being able to step on the balcony and understand that level of patience that's required to

you know, to to to move a school of of eighteen, nineteen hundred kids like Papillion La Vista High School from where it was when Jason took that role to where Jason is now

Mean Jason, that's a long game right there. And I mean, you're one of the best I know, at least in terms of the poker face of patience. I know you're not really patient, but you're pretty good at the poker face side of of being patient. And I I just I think for me that's one of the the pieces that I've learned so much more about myself is is that I actually can be more patient than than I realize. Because that's I mean, I want my Broncos

won the Super Bowl today and the Super Bowl's not till February, right? I mean like I'm just not patient. That's just how it is. So so so well, okay

Todd (26:17)

Well they're not gonna win anyways, Darren, so don't worry about that.

Darrin Peppard (26:19)

Todd. You you just keep you just keep thinking that. You're you're a Giants fan. We'll we'll we'll let that slide.

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (26:23)

I was wondering how long it was gonna

take you to mention the Broncos. It took thirty one minutes and two seconds. Thank you. Time stamp. The the cow sheet

Todd (26:29)

Ha ha

Darrin Peppard (26:29)

Well, there you go. There you go. That's really not too bad, right? I mean I I I did well.

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (26:34)

I lost on cow sheet up my bed went down well.

Darrin Peppard (26:37)

All right. So so my next question actually, Tovar, I'm gonna come to you first on on this next

Todd (26:41)

There you go.

Darrin Peppard (26:41)

question. And and I think for all of us as leaders, we've gotta find those things that, continue to allow us to grow. Josh, you say it on your show all the time. Iron sharpens iron, right? So I'll start with you and then I will go ahead and facilitate this one around the room But

Josh, iron sharpens iron. What do you do to continue to sharpen the iron?

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (27:06)

I just think it's crucial you surround yourself with people, like-minded people. And if your vision is exactly success for kids, then you're gonna find the best. And you're gonna beg, borrow, and steal ideas. For me, I am totally satisfied listening to an hour and 30-minute podcast or a 20-minute podcast or a three-minute one. Like Bri Brian Brian from New York. I forget his name right now. Martin, Martin, exactly. Those three-minute

Darrin Peppard (27:28)

Brian Martin. Yeah.

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (27:31)

ones, just hook me up.

And it's always making sure that I know I don't have all the answers. And as long as I know I don't have all the answers, because there's always a change in demographic in what we do in regards to kids. Generation Alpha is not Generation X. And as long as we understand that and as leaders we adapt to who they are, then we need to go get out. People like Katie. So she moves those arms. She did the arm thing already. My cow sheet I won. It was real early on that one. And you know what? That's the type of people.

It's a different way of how to judo and karate with events and situations. So you find the right person for this, the other person for this. And as long as you do it and you are open and looking, looking for people that are doing it, then you will become a better version of yourself. And that's why I I make it a point to always reach out and say, Hey, you know what? I need help with this. I need help with that. I need help on how to run around the San Antonio Avamo.

I'm gonna call only one cat right there that's sweating up a storm in the morning. Other than that, I will make sure that I do my homework. So if we tell students, do your homework, hey leader, do your homework. Find

Todd (28:36)

That's right.

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (28:36)

those people that are in your PLN, find those people that would help you, and you will grow. Because you know what? That's the problem. In education, a lot of people become stagnant water. They become the weebies. And we cannot become the weebies. You cannot become stagnant water.

And if you look for that success and you have that belief like Brandon mentioned, you had that belief in yourself and your vision because you were hired for that campus, you were hired for that chair, you were hired for that demographic, then that means win baby. Coach them. Make sure that they run the play and that means everybody, from the kids to the adults, and you make sure that your vision comes true because student success will be the only way for this country to move ahead.

Todd (29:14)

Touchdown.

Darrin Peppard (29:15)

Yeah, like like we can just like drop the mic right now, right there. You know, that's I know, right? Yeah, we're all ready to run through a brick wall for Tobar. Yeah,

Bentli Lewis (29:19)

I was about to say, like, I'm ready to go to work right now. Like we could go back to school right now. I'm re I could go to work right now at eight o'clock at night.

Darrin Peppard (29:27)

absolutely. That's awesome stuff right there, Josh. So Brandon, I'm gonna come to you. Iron Sharpens iron. What do you do to to stay sharp, to continue to grow, to continue to get better?

Brandon Beck (29:36)

You know

One of the things that happened throughout this career was a podcast. And I think that's just one of the many things that people should do. If you're thinking of writing a book, if you're thinking of speaking, practice it. Go on a podcast. Start your own podcast. It doesn't take much to do it. You have a voice, you have a story. Every single educator out there has a story to tell. Every time I speak to educators, I say, Who's gonna write a book? Three or four hands come up.

Well, you should all, because the stories that people have, if you can utilize the right ones, you can connect them to your vision and the philosophy of the education behind who you really are and what really keeps your fire going. So to keep that going, what's really awesome is just to be able to have conversations with others. I remember when I was first sp

After my first book, I was really pushing forward and and trying to dig deep into what it was behind these people who had all these amazing stories, you know, many of which on this call right here have been on the podcast and being able to share their stories and have the pre-show fifteen minutes and and learn about what they're doing and what's working and where they are and being able to see people with big followings to little followings to no followings at all, but just people that are

doing

amazing stories is just something that really fills my bucket in that

in that capacity. So and it also really helps for developing business. there's no better way to develop a business than to ask people who you admire that are out there doing amazing stuff. And so that's a whole nother piece of it too. Continue to ask those questions and continue to find places where you can learn yourself, but also be able to turn it into something that you can share with others. I mean, you have 300 episodes, think about how much research that is in the field of research and how much

credibility that gives you when you're out there. So stay sharp, sharpen that iron.

Darrin Peppard (31:37)

There you go. There you go. Bloomer, what are you doing to sharpen the iron?

Todd (31:41)

Yeah, you know three three things I think has really transformed my leadership and I wish I would have done them much sooner in my

Putting my family first, and I know we all talk about that, but it's that was that was a a lie that I portrayed to everybody. I I put everybody else first and me second. My family got the rest of me, not the best of me. And so really realized about three years ago that I needed to ensure that my family was at the forefront of of my my my career.

I turn my life over to God to make sure God, you know, I I wake up each morning, I read the Bible, I reflect on God, I thank God, I realize that God is in control, and I'm not. And He opens and closes doors, and I just have to figure out which door He wants open or why He's closing some. And then third, you know, Josh has mentioned it and Darren, I share it with you each morning, but I've worked out probably about 425 straight days. And whether it's running in a hundred and five degree heat in the morning of of San Antonio, Hot Works, which is the new generation.

And

a Josh Tovar's been rocking that, thought of him the other morning as I was at Hotworks or hitting the gym. And it's just been one of those things that if I can put myself first, you know, and and it's cliche, but the you you you can't give from an empty tank. If I'm good, if I'm good with God and I'm good with my family, I can do anything. And really if I would have had that

seven eight I was a principal thirteen years so if I would have had that at the beginning of my career I might still be a principal and so it was just one of those things that it's a grind and if you don't take care of yourself it can eat you up that quicksand can get you and so Bentley as you're rocking and rolling still still doing this and you know it and Mr. Ryan there in Omaha still doing it. You know I encourage you to make sure your physical fitness is is rocking and rolling. Make sure your spouses and your children are at the forefront and you know if you're religious ask God for guidance and you know

th we talk about books, all of us have written books on here or or close. The best leadership book I ever read was was was the Bible. Every time I open it up, there's something in it that speaks to me about a decision that I'm wrestling with. And it's God's sense of humor. It's his way of telling me this is what I'm telling you to do. And so really those things really kind of transformed my leadership and really made me a better person.

Darrin Peppard (33:43)

Love it, man. That's awesome. Katie Kinder, what what do you do to keep the iron sharp?

Katie Kinder (33:48)

Hi friends. I love everybody's answers and Josh Tovar, you just you do just make us want to run through a brick wall. I love it. I love it. so I think everybody's right that we have to surround ourselves with people who are better than us. And I tell teachers all the time, like, take five minutes and go see the teacher of the year, start her class. Go five minutes and see somebody like in their class. Five minutes. And then that also means

Like we continue as leaders to get better and better and that we're constantly studying and we're constantly reading and leery of any educator that says they've got it all figured out because none of us do. And that we've always got to be constantly

learning and growing and getting better. But I'm also gonna say that we have to you know, p I'm from public school and so we take them all. We take them all. We take our Christian kids and our Muslim kids and we take our gay kids and we take our straight kids and we take all and we love all. Whether we agree with them, don't agree with them, whatever our politics may be, we take them all, we love them all, and we make sure that we hold them to high standards.

Todd (34:57)

Sure.

Katie Kinder (34:58)

The ends.

Darrin Peppard (34:58)

I

love that so much. That's fantastic. Jason Ryan, what are you doing to keep the iron sharp?

Jason Ryan (35:03)

Yeah, just a couple things. I you know, over this is year thirty in the profession for me. So the the network that I build up as as a teacher, coach, athletic director, now principal, I I I've got a pretty good network of people that I've worked with that are in variety of leadership roles, mostly in the Omaha area. But I love Brandon's a answer about

your podcast and those people. I think about Darren Keith Wall, who we met in Kansas City last summer at a at a conference and and how I've you know we we've connected with him. I I know through your podcast I reached out to Todd a couple of times and and just for to ask questions and advice. And I'm also a reader. I've kind of

You I I about three or four books at a time, type of reader. So one of them and and not just because he's on the show, but finding your red bench. I'm in sep I I bred August and looking in September, but man, that what what an outline. and I thought, geez, I wish I would have had this five years ago when I started and and just an awesome so trying to stay connected and then podcast,

Todd (36:03)

Thank you.

Jason Ryan (36:04)

I'm a podcast junkie, some for for learning and and a lot of it is just reset, you know.

know, whether it's Nebraska football or basketball and and listening to out different coaches and yeah, there's some takeaways there, but a lot of that just r you know, yes, it helps me sharpen my saw a little bit, but also resets and and recenters me a lot as well. So

Darrin Peppard (36:25)

Yeah, excellent stuff right there. Yeah. Yeah, I love that love that a lot, man. Bentley, bring us home. What are you doing to stay sharp?

Bentli Lewis (36:32)

So I think I've got two things and I think one is at least something that I have like kind of just really, really, really tried to keep like to the forefront of my mind is I think something d dangerous that can be for a leader is that when we've experienced some sort of level of success, like we feel like, we've arrived. And

I am learning that just because things worked one time does not necessarily mean they're gonna work in every school with every community. And in a way like that has been very humbling. And it's also been I I told someone, I said, I feel like my brain has kind of just been like reignited. You know, not that I was like comfortable, but looking back, I'm like, my gosh, I was becoming stagnant because

We were able to move my last school for where we wanted it to be. And this has been so good for me to be reflective on what was working and and really be willing to seek feedback from my new school of even just even though we're just getting started, like ideas that I've felt for sure like that's gonna work here. Okay, maybe it's not, and that's okay. and it's like it's fine to say that that hey, my idea didn't work and just

Because it worked in one place doesn't mean it's gonna work somewhere else. So just really, you know, that takes me to the second thing is just staying close to the work, incredibly close to the work, especially as a building leader. Like I don't ever, we always hear like you can't lead from behind a desk. And that is just so true. Like I wanna be in hallways, I want to be in classrooms. I had a teacher say to me the other day at that I'm at my new school, it's really cool to see you at bus duty and at courtyard, which is like our version of research.

Recess

and I'm like, man, like that's where I want to be. Like, I want to be in the thick of it with people because I want to stay close to the work. I want to be able when my teachers are having a hard time with a kid, or when my kids are having a hard day, I don't want to be the stranger face that comes out of nowhere. Like, I want to I want to be the the adult on campus that they know that they recognize, and so I guess what I'm trying to do to to stay sharp is one staying humble enough to know, okay, hey, maybe all of

My ideas aren't gonna be successful and that's okay. we just gotta keep coming up with new ideas and go to the go to the drawing board together as a team and then just staying incredibly close to the work, you know, making sure that I as a leader I don't remove myself from the trenches and that I'm in it with my people. And I just want to go to something that Todd said about family because I am a mom of two young children. I have a seven-year-old and a four-year-old. so like I feel like as a building leader, like I'm also in the thick of it as

A mom who doesn't want to miss anything for my kids, and and I tell my staff all the time, I will never sacrifice being a mom to be your principal. Like I just won't. if I have to make a choice, I'm gonna be a mom first. But I try to really, really, really lead my school through the lens of what would I want for my children? Like, if when I am engaging with this child who is being difficult, or when I am engaging, you know, with this situation, if I if I were.

speaking to my own children or if I was watching a teacher speak to my children if I was watching an administrator speak to my husband as their father you know is that what I want for my own kids and if it's not then we need to have some hard conversations because I try to lead my schools through the lens of myself as a parent and and I want to love these kids out of an overflow of the way I love my own children. And if I'm ever not doing that then I need to do a heart check.

Darrin Peppard (39:56)

Absolutely. That's yeah, one hundred percent. I I need a a button that I could push that like, you know, flames go up or whatever, because that was absolute fire right there. so so let's let let's do this. I I gave you guys some time to think about this, so hopefully you've got good answers, right? But this is episode three hundred.

Right. I mean, we have had some absolutely spectacular episodes. Let's be honest, we've had some not very good episodes, right? And usually those are solo episodes that I have done, right? I mean, the guests are always just right on point. So here's here's what I'd love to hear from each of you. A favorite episode, and no, you cannot say the episode you were on. but

What's a favorite episode that you have? And and I'm gonna let you guys decide who goes first on this. I and then I'll moderate from there. But if somebody's ready to jump, Katie Kender's got the hand up first and then Bentley Lewis is too. So Katie Kender, what do you got? What's your favorite episode?

Katie Kinder (40:51)

I mean it's gonna have to be. I believe it's episode two eighty one with Doctor Chris Colver, King of Kindness. Love him. He was just at MPA with Josh and he is precious and he really does

Like I know him as a bestie too. He lives in Oklahoma City. Like he's not just blowing smoke. He really is that nice. And him and his husband, Kelly, they embody just like character and kindness and love. And so just hearing his voice makes me really happy. So gotta be Doctor Chris Culver. Love him.

Darrin Peppard (41:27)

You know, I I c I could have I could have all but guaranteed you were gonna go with Chris Culver. you know, one, because you guys are so tight and and two, just you're right. I mean he is absolutely the king of kindness and but you had two options because he's actually been on the show twice. But yeah, two eighty one, we just we just had him on not too long ago. His his new book that released we were on, had him had him on to talk about his book and oof, Chris Culver.

Absolutely, rock star. Bentley, you're ready to jump. Let's go.

Bentli Lewis (41:55)

Okay, so it's so funny. I had two and Chris Culver was one of them, so he gets a second shout out. but the other one that I had was I believe it's I'm gonna go way back, if I remember correctly, it's episode eighty-five, but it's Allison Apsey leading the whole teacher. And when I became a principal, like my very first year, I ended up at a conference. I'll be honest, I don't even know who sent me there. I can't remember the conference name, but she was a keynote, and I left her.

session and I went to the bookstore and actually bought like four of her books that day. But leading the whole teacher was one that I just left and and highlighted and marked up and sticky noted and I still have it because I think just effective leaders have to be able to recognize the human behind any job title and that's kind of like the whole concept of of her book is leading people. And so I just really enjoyed your your episode about leading the whole teacher

and not that we just are leaders of teachers. I think that can go, you know, her message and what y'all talked about can go to leading secretaries and counselors and cafeteria workers and custodians. Like it's not just teachers, but leading the human beings inside our our schools or our businesses. so that was I really enjoyed your your podcast with Alice and Absey.

Darrin Peppard (43:07)

Yeah, that's awesome.

Yeah, Allison is absolutely fantastic and you know, just just a true teacher at heart. just a just a fantastic human being. Yeah, Todd, go for it.

Todd (43:16)

Darren, your Father's Day episode, I don't know the number, but your daughter flipped the script and and Liz was the the host. And you

Darrin Peppard (43:27)

Yeah.

Todd (43:28)

know, as we talk about family and and you know, Bentley shared about her young kids, and we you know, that really was an example of a father's love for their child. And, you know, it's evident, Daddy's girl, I think you called her, during that thing. And so I just that was probably one of my favorite episodes. and

It was fresh off TASSP and you gave Todd Bloomer a shout out at the very end of that. So that's right. How about that? That was my favorite episode. Yeah.

Darrin Peppard (43:50)

well there you go. Yeah. Yeah. That one was that

one, thank you for bringing that one up, man. That's that was that was kind of interesting and and

Jason Ryan (43:58)

Let me see.

Darrin Peppard (44:00)

you know, that was actually Liz's idea. you know, she said, Hey, what if we do this? And I mean, it's like, yeah, let's just let's just roll with it, right? And I mean, you know, when you know, and and and every one of us, you know, is is a parent and you know, when you

You have those special moments with your kids. you know, it's it it's it's pretty amazing. And yeah, to have Liz flip the flip the microphone around and and interview me for the podcast was that was a super special episode. Thanks for bringing that one up, man. I appreciate that. yeah. Who wants to jump in? Go ahead, Jason.

Jason Ryan (44:29)

I'll go down.

Yeah. So I g I've got two. My the the series with Dominic and Todd, I think there was eight to ten of those with you. that that was in the midst of me just starting on my journey in this in this role and just so practical, so beneficial. I could relate.

things I was going through and and and so those those were awesome. They were that was just it was just real, you know, real talk and and so very applicable and things that I shared with my team and and so the that those are great. And I think the first one I listened to you and got introduced to you, Darren, was episode ten with coach Jim Johnson

Darrin Peppard (45:05)

yeah.

Jason Ryan (45:06)

real realizing your dream your dreams and

just just phenomenal about about teamwork and and sportsmanship and how you treat people. And you know, that's kind of when I I started to got introduced to you and went back and listened to your first couple episodes and led me to reach out to you. So that that was impactful and it was kind of meant to be a basketball coach. He was from Rochester, New York. That's where my family's from

Darrin Peppard (45:28)

Yeah.

Jason Ryan (45:29)

and and so that's what that was one of my favorites.

Darrin Peppard (45:32)

I love that. Yeah. You know, and and Coach Johnson and I still are are are in contact. I'll get a video text message from him, you know, about every, I don't know, couple couple months or something like that. I know he does that with so many different people and and just just a genuine human being. and that story, I mean, holy cow, what an incredible, incredible story.

that one is and man all the way back to episode ten I can't believe that one was that that far back. That's that's that's insane. I just I love it. I love it. Josh, Brandon, what do you guys got?

Brandon Beck (46:03)

Okay. I'm gonna go back recent two ninety four leadership five leadership traps to avoid as the school year begins. And you know, this is something that I've been experiencing a lot in talking to leaders in schools and one of the leadership traps was trying to solve every problem personally. And that I first of all I love that you still you

create these episodes with guests, but then you still do another episode, you're on your own. So kudos to you for the energy and the hustle behind the scenes that goes on to create the podcast episode because that is not just a click and drop kind of situation. So I appreciate the heck out of that. But I think it's just one of the the the great mysteries of leadership is is how we take things personally and and how we allow things to

to kind of pierce our armor and that's always been interesting. So that was really cool to hear and and just a really short, quick, twenty minute punchy episode keeps the fire going.

Darrin Peppard (47:10)

Love it. Love it. Thanks, man. Yeah, that one, my gosh, that one has really hit really strong. I I was amazed with the the early, you know, like four days of of analytics on that particular episode. So yeah, thanks for that one. Yeah, Josh, what do you got?

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (47:24)

And you know what for me it's gonna be the opposite and I'm gonna select people. I'm gonna a couple of them because they're totally opposite of what my leadership style is. And I'm still in twenty twenty-three, brother. I'll catch up to twenty twenty-four soon or twenty twenty-five. Cause I w you know what I think when I

Darrin Peppard (47:37)

You're gonna be listening to this episode around like episode one thousand or something, right?

Todd (47:39)

Yeah.

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (47:41)

retired ten years, I'm gonna listen to this one later on. But I episode five with Sandra Jogalvan, the Danny Bauer, both of those, Chris Holcomb

Episode 33, Laney Rao, episode 30, and 108 with some lady with some weird colored glasses. That though all those individuals there are totally opposite of how I approach leadership. And that provides me with balance. Does that make sense? I'm very stern over here on this, and this is the way we're gonna run the play. But I gotta be able to see it from Zandra Joe. Come on, Katie.

You know that's a different cloth in the way that I approach this right here. So it's learning from them to make sure that I become a better version of myself. So all those that there was tons more. Yeah. I I forgot my handcade, it's at home. I'm stuck at work. But it's those, Darren, that you bring to the table that have made me a better leader when I listen to you in the morning.

Darrin Peppard (48:36)

I appreciate that a lot, man. Because you know, and and there's there's kind of like this ebb and flow at times with with the podcast where I'll have a handful of of even like business leaders or entrepreneur leaders. I I interviewed somebody this morning, a guy named Ron Newsbaum, who is absolutely like a career entrepreneur.

And Ron and I actually connected through somebody else's podcast and just what he shared with his entrepreneurial journey, you know, very different than me, but you know, same thing for me. Like every one of those guests that I have on sharpens the iron for me. you know, when when I first started the podcast, I thought, hey, this is this is about let's grow the footprint, let's, you know, let's let's grow the brand, like, you know, let's, you know, whatever. That has happened. But what really this podcast is about

Is this sharpens the iron for me? I continue to grow and learn. I've learned so much about leadership in the last five years, maybe more than I learned in my formal like 15, 16, 17 years of you know, AP principal and superintendent, all that kind of stuff. So I appreciate you share that different perspective. So so we're gonna we're gonna wrap up this episode different than I normally do. Usually I'm gonna ask you how you are leaning into leadership, but I'm gonna do something a little different and I'll

to do this for for a couple of reasons. One, I still have a question that that I want to ask you guys. And two, Tovar is on here and he's the king of the lightning round. So we are going to go lightning round and you've got three questions that you're going to answer. First, a piece of advice that you would give somebody just starting on their leadership journey. Two, it's the leaning into leadership podcast. So I'm not letting you off the hook. How are you leaning into leadership?

And then I had a third one and I can't think of what it was, but I'm sure

Todd (50:18)

Mm-hmm.

Darrin Peppard (50:19)

it was really good. So we're just, totally, totally going with Tobar here. Give us who the person was that tapped you on the shoulder that brought you into leadership. Because every one of us had that leadership tap on the shoulder. So those are your three. A piece of advice that you would give to an early career leader.

Two, how are you leaning into leadership? And three, who tapped you on the shoulder? And because I know you're so good under fire, under pressure, Todd Bloomer, I'm coming to you.

Todd (50:49)

Yeah,

let's go. short and sweet, see the people. I think Bentley kind of brought it up, like you can't you can't you'd be a great effective principal from your office. And when kids are on campus, you need to be with kids and you need to be with teachers. And that also brings us great joy. So if you're starting out as a as a early career leader or just starting as your school years or just getting going, I would say get out and see the people. When when when adults and kids are on campus, you need to be out there with them and you need to be actively engaged in talking with them and like letting them see that you enjoy being there.

Like like you have to be excited about being there. second thing was how am I leaning into leadership? It's you know, every day reaching out to guys like Darren and like just talking with Darren about just life in general.

I've been able to do a little bit of speaking. I've talked to Brandon and Masterminds about it. But after one of my events that I spoke at, I called Darren and just talked to him for about 45 minutes, picking his brain on just different things going from there. And it was just, you know, kind of an awesome thing. Who tapped me on the shoulder for leadership? You know, I moved from New York, and Jason, I moved from Rochester, New York, so we can need to talk about this. But I moved from Rochester, New York to Houston, and I became a coach. And I was a fish out of water. And I had a couple coaches that really just said, if you want to do this right, here's how you do it.

And they showed me the way. And so while they weren't preparing me for the principalship, they're preparing me to lead people.

And I really there there's so many of them that God placed in my in my in my my view and in my my my wheelhouse in nineteen ninety six when I moved to Houston that without them I would probably be back in New York and not be in in San Antonio and not be the person that I am today. And so really a collective group of the people of the high school staff that I got to work with really tapped me on and said, Hey, there's this is a way to do it and you have a a career in this. If you if you follow this road to awesome. I'll steal that from you, Darren, if you follow this road to awesome.

Darrin Peppard (52:27)

Nice,

nice, I love that. Well done. Well done. Katie Kinder, three quick questions, it's on you.

Katie Kinder (52:32)

Okay, well when I first started to speak

And I started looking and being like, I think I can maybe do it. I reached out to three ladies who are like bad to the bone, they're amazing on stage, and only one of them got back to me. And it was Kim Campbell. I don't know if you know Kim Campbell, but she

Darrin Peppard (52:49)

Yeah.

Katie Kinder (52:49)

is amazing. And she said, Girl, I will help you. And so I think that is also my advice is to like open your heart to maybe your baby teachers on staff who needed

Like who is not represented on your leadership teams?

Keep an open mind and keep your heart open and keep it to where teachers feel like they can come to you. Like it's not an us versus them situation, not ever. And so that is my advice. And then I don't f remember the last question. I think I answered all three.

Todd (53:20)

Ha ha ha.

Darrin Peppard (53:20)

How are you leaning into leadership?

Katie Kinder (53:23)

just that being open and watching and studying and learning different leadership styles and knowing that there's not one right way and that we are all in here

Rolling

our sleeves up and doing the work for kids and teachers. The end.

Darrin Peppard (53:39)

Awesome. Jason.

Jason Ryan (53:41)

Yeah, I I I think my my advice for for your young leaders is is be ready and and you you never know and and and you you might have a idea of what path you might want to take in leadership, but if somebody ta does tap you on the shoulder and and they say, Hey, have you thought about this? Don't don't shut it down. Be open, be curious, be be ready. in in in that you're you're interviewing every single day and

Todd (54:05)

Sure.

Jason Ryan (54:06)

and

I I I still get razzed a little bit and they say, you know you didn't even interview for the principal job. And I said, Well actually, for the past, you know, twenty-five years I did. And and so you're interviewing every day, be ready, leaning into leadership, just things like this, the networking, be being curious, asking questions.

the the high school principal, there's two high schools in our in our district. Darren works with with the other high school principal as well. We talk all the time and ask questions and what are you doing and and just just watching and listening to others. And there's so many people that are willing to share in in this profession and which makes it a special profession and and much like this. And then several people, much like like Todd. I can think of the assistant principal when I got hired here at Papillion in 1997. he was an assistant principal.

yeah, he he he was probably one of the first that kind of tapped me on the shoulder and and asked me, Have you ever thought about administration? Have you ever thought about being a head coach? And and I went away for ten and he hired me back ten years later and and I then I took his role. And so Chuck Johnston was very instrumental in in in my career here as an educator at at Monarch High.

Darrin Peppard (55:13)

Love it. Bentley.

Bentli Lewis (55:14)

Yeah, so I think when you first step into leadership there's this pressure to prove yourself. Especially when you're first starting out, you you know, you want people to know you're competent, you wanna show that you can make changes, fix things. but I would say a piece of advice is don't be so focused on proving that you're ready to lead, that you forget to love and know the people that you're leading and you really have to make that matter.

I say all the time, I don't I don't want people to work for me. I want people to work with me. And so that is how I'm leaning into leadership is by making sure that I am leading people well and I'm not managing them. And leading them well is making sure that I am doing life and doing the work alongside them. I always say to say to myself, like I'm in the trenches with you. but also how am I leaning into leadership in a second way is by making

Making sure that I am also trying to equip future and other leaders as well. I'm definitely not saying that I have all the answers or I have it all figured out. If anything I could probably tell you what not to do.

Todd (56:18)

Sure.

Bentli Lewis (56:18)

but I think that at some point our leadership shouldn't be kept a secret or shouldn't be just con confined to the the four walls of a building. and that education, you know, extends into other states and other locations and that leadership isn't isn't

just reserved for the school that you lead, but that our leadership can extend to others well beyond our districts or whatever we're doing. And I think that actually kind of takes me into

Who tapped me on the shoulder and I can kind of answer this question in two different ways. as a teacher, I I actually went into teaching with this idea that I knew I wanted to go into administration. Why? I have no clue, but that was just like what I thought. And so I started teaching knowing that as soon as I hit year three I was gonna apply to a master's program so that I could begin to pursue administration. And I don't know what I thought I was like doing, but that's what I did. And so after five years of teaching, I was

afforded my first opportunity to be an assistant principal. And so it wasn't really that anybody tapped me on the shoulder and said to me as a teacher, I think you should be an administrator. That was actually an idea I already had in my mind. But my first assistant principal's job, my principal Kenny Farrell, I think just he really saw something in me from the get-go and really afforded me opportunities to grow as an assistant principal. But if I want to if I

want to take that a step further because I really could I can I can accredit a lot of the type of principal, the type of building administrator that I am to to Kenny Farrell. and I'm not just saying this because this is the three hundredth episode of the Road to Awesome podcast, but if I can also think of someone else who tapped me on the shoulder, Darren, it was you. And

Getting me to see that my leadership abilities were more than what I probably thought they were and seeing in me the opportunity to share out, present at conferences, that is that is not something I ever would have just saw for myself. so I just wanna take that a step further and say thank you for tapping me on the shoulder, even though I was already a building leader and just trying to challenge me and push me to take it to the next level.

Darrin Peppard (58:16)

Ooh, I didn't see that coming. thank you, Mattley. That's that that that means the world to me. It really does. I said earlier, I'm just I'm loving, loving your journey and loving to, you know, just kind of watch it from the sidelines. So thank you so much for that. the King of Lightning Round.

Bentli Lewis (58:30)

Thank you.

Darrin Peppard (58:32)

Josh Tovar. What do you got?

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (58:33)

There

it is.

Piece of advice is this. Remember that on this journey, our Lord and Savior placed you where you're at right now. You had a set of tools that he wanted you to go to that learning community to make sure that they're successful. So making sure that you honor his path for you, his vision for you as an individual sitting in that chair, don't ever forget you have the tools to make that learning community the best because he placed you there. A lot of times we were waiting for this school, that school, this school, this position. No, it's up to

The due time when he wants you to place you right there. And when you're there, you do everything to fulfill your vision, your plan to ensure that your scholars are successful. And what do you do? You have tough conversations over and over and over, and you remove obstacles and you remove adults that get in those students success. Always believe in yourself, as Brandon says, always look forward to ensure that you create the best scholars to create the best nation because we're only gonna get better, baby. 250 down, two more to go.

leaning into leadership. Hey baby, I got a great PLN. Thanks to the PGP podcast. I try to make sure that I reach out to everybody out there. Now that school starts, I leave you guys alone with some text, but I try to connect with 20 people every day. Send up text and say, hey, you know what? I got you. I love you. You got anything else? And I scroll through social media. Get over that whole X and IG. Get over it.

Learn from other people. Your algorithm is what you choose it to be. So if you're tired of negativity, that's because you want to click on that stuff. And I have a ton of awesome educators on X and I learn from them by looking at their posts. So let's not get into politics. It's all about learning from the best. Like I'm learning with this awesome panel right here. And that's why this is part of baby. Three hundred right now. And the person that helped me out was Miss Millie Williams. If it was not for Millie Williams,

I would never be in my position. I will finish off as a middle school coach, US history teacher. But she had the wherewithal to see the diamond that was within me. She continued bringing me catalogs to go register at Sol Ross State University and she kept pushing me and she got me to go. I never believed that in myself at all. I knew what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to coach. I knew I wanted to be a awesome history teacher, but she said, No, you got more in you. She found that purpose that purpose.

He placed her in my path on my journey in life and that's where I become became principal, assistant principal, principal. She changed the master schedule twice only for me to make sure that I was able to go to Sol Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Tell me that's not an angel from our Lord and Savior. So don't ever forget, stick to your vision. You will be surrounded by successful people because he will place them in front of you and you will turn around looking back at your journey. You will turn around and look at everybody and you will go like Ric Flair.

Woo

Todd (1:01:23)

Two clubs.

Darrin Peppard (1:01:25)

I should have let Josh take the anchor. I really should have. Brandon, I've put you in a just I don't know, like such a difficult position to to bring us home, right? Yeah, here we go.

Brandon Beck (1:01:32)

Lightning round. The

lightning round. So advice. Leaders create leaders. You are a leader if you believe you can be a transformational leader. And hopefully that is what you aspire to do. How am I leaning in? The best thing and the the best

thing that's happening right now with the ability to operate a couple of different businesses while being a full time teacher requires systems. So I'm leaning in really into developing systems that allow me to be more efficient. And systems could be something as easy as a checklist or a chart or some sort of goals that keep you aligned to where you're going. And finally, who tapped me on my way into leadership

I started learning about being a leadership coach when I was fifteen years old.

And it was a guy who was a quarter quarterback coach for Villanova by the name of Craig Johnson. Rest his soul. He passed away a few years ago. But I was able to work in an environment from day one. It was a team building environment. We would have corporate teams, we'd have sports teams, we would have educators, people who that would come to develop as team players. And I learned so much.

about it in leadership and I didn't really realize how important that really was gonna be in my life and here I am today and I call myself a leadership coach and I'm on the show with another amazing leadership coach

And here we are celebrating episode 300 with you. And I think I speak for everyone, my friend, when we say thank you for providing this this show and for all the minutes that it took to make 300 episodes. So we appreciate you and thank you for the opportunity to connect with all these amazing people.

Darrin Peppard (1:03:30)

I appreciate that, man. Thank you guys so much. man, I'll tell you what, this has just been, this has just been so amazing. It's been so much fun. I mean, I I truly, truly care so much about each and every one of you. I love each and every one of you and truly am grateful to have you on on episode 300. So thank you guys so much for joining me here on Leaning Into Leadership. 300 down. We got way more than 300 to go. Josh, send us out of here with one more Rec Flair. Let's go.

@JTSPOTLIGHTS Josh Tovar (1:03:56)

We'll see you tomorrow. Woo!

I can't even begin to put into words how much this conversation with this group of people meant. I was emotional. At one point in time, I seriously choked up. I teared up at one point in time. If you watch the YouTube version, you can see some of that. these are these are not just incredible leaders, these are truly incredibly great friends and people who I love and care for deeply.

Thank you so much for leaning into leadership with me for 300 episodes. If you haven't heard some of the other ones before, go back and check those out. Normally, this is the space when I would say it is time for a pep talk, but I'm gonna be honest with you, every bit of episode 300 was a pep talk, and so I am gonna leave it right there at that. Folks, if you would please rate, review, subscribe, and share this.

podcast with others who might also enjoy leaning into leadership. Thank you again. Get out there. Have a road to awesome week.