In this powerful episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Miguel Salazar , principal of Sundown Middle School and NASSP National Middle School Principal of the Year finalist. Miguel shares his deeply personal story—from growing up in poverty and facing multiple challenges as a youth to becoming a leader determined to give every student a chance at success. Miguel explains how a single teacher, Coach Danny Randolph, changed the trajectory of his life by believing in him. Now, Miguel pays that b...
Jul 01, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 221
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin sits down with Joe LaTorre, a middle school English teacher, team coordinator, and founder of the Bridges program in Long Island, NY. Joe shares how looping, relationship-building, and culturally responsive practices help him build classroom communities rooted in trust and student empowerment. They dive deep into the origin and impact of Bridges, a student leadership and cultural exchange initiative, and explore how educators can go beyond curr...
Jun 29, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 220
In this fourth installment of our special NASSP Principal of the Year series, Darrin sits down with Terita Walker , principal of Denver East High School and one of three finalists for NASSP’s 2025 National High School Principal of the Year award. Walker has transformed East into a school where inclusivity, student empowerment, and academic excellence thrive. With nearly two decades at the school, she reflects on her growth as a leader, the intentional systems she's built to elevate student voice...
Jun 26, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 219
In this third episode of our NASSP National Principal of the Year Finalist series, we head to Ketchikan, Alaska, where Sherilynn Boehlert serves as the principal of Schoenbar Middle School. Sheri shares her inspiring leadership journey—from growing up in a family of educators to leading a Blue Ribbon elementary school and now impacting lives at the middle level. With honesty and humor, Sheri unpacks her leadership “survival can”—the key tools and values that have helped her build continuity, sha...
Jun 24, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 218
Episode Summary: Teacher evaluation has long been a source of frustration—for both educators and administrators. In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, I sit down with Craig Randall , the developer and author of Trust-Based Observations , to reimagine what teacher observation can and should look like. Craig shares how shifting the focus from ratings to relationships not only supports teacher growth but also transforms school culture. We talk about why most traditional evaluation...
Jun 22, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 217
In this inspiring episode of Leaning Into Leadership , we continue our NASSP National Principal of the Year series with Tony Cattani, a finalist for the 2025–2026 National High School Principal of the Year. For 18 years, Tony has led Lenape High School in Medford, NJ, where he's created a thriving school culture grounded in trust, reflection, and instructional growth. Tony shares how his leadership journey evolved from managing to truly leading, and how a single conference keynote transformed hi...
Jun 19, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 216
In this powerful kickoff to our NASSP Principal of the Year finalist series, Dr. Damon Lewis of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy in Norwalk, CT shares his incredible leadership journey—from paraeducator to transformational middle school principal. Under his leadership, chronic absenteeism dropped from 31% to 8%, equity-driven initiatives expanded access to gifted and accelerated programs, and eighth-grade PSAT scores outpaced national, state, and district averages. Dr. Lewis discusses the culture shift...
Jun 17, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 215
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Chris Culver brings the energy, insight, and authenticity that’s made him a rising national voice in school leadership and culture. A former principal and cabinet-level administrator, Chris now leads Orange Sparrow , a consulting practice built on the Science of Kindness and a deep understanding of generational learning needs. Chris and Darrin dive into: Why building trust, belonging, and relationships is non-negotiable Practical ways to shift fro...
Jun 15, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 214
In this episode, Darrin sits down with longtime education leader and author Todd Nesloney for a powerful conversation on leadership, culture, and hiring. Todd shares his journey from instructional aide to principal, and now as the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for TEPSA. They discuss actionable insights into how schools can improve hiring processes, retain great staff, and onboard new hires in ways that reflect school values. Todd also shares lessons from his writing career, the i...
Jun 08, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 213
In this special joint episode of Leaning Into Leadership and The Assistant Principal Podcast , Dr. Darrin Peppard teams up with Dr. Frederick Buskey to explore how school leaders can take a more strategic, sustainable approach to planning for the year ahead. Together, they walk through a four-phase leadership cycle — Prepare, Perform, Refine, and Renew — with clear examples and strategies for turning vision into actionable leadership habits. From setting a focused instructional plan and building...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 212
What if the real cause of educator burnout isn’t a lack of resilience or self-care—but the workplace itself? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Darrin is joined by longtime friend and national thought leader Nathan Eklund , founder of Vital Network , to explore how schools can reimagine themselves as vibrant, sustainable workplaces for educators. With over 20 years in education, including a decade in the classroom and a career dedicated to improving adult work culture in schools, Na...
Jun 01, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 211
Episode 210 – Schools That Give an F: Clarity, Culture, and Contribution with Rob McLeod In this episode, Darrin is joined by international educator and podcast host Rob McLeod to explore a critical leadership conversation: school alignment. Drawing from his own career across three countries and multiple school systems, Rob shares how he rediscovered his passion by finding alignment between his personal values and the work his school was doing. Together, they discuss: The three distinct types of...
May 25, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 210
In this special midweek crossover episode with the Teach Better Podcast, Darrin sits down with Teach Better CEO and Co-founder Chad Ostrowski to dive deep into one of the most important leadership tasks schools face: planning professional development that actually moves the needle. Darrin and Chad unpack the mistakes too many schools make—like treating PD as a day, not a movement—and offer a practical, strategic approach to make learning stick all year long. You'll hear about: How to build clari...
May 21, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 209
What if your biggest mistakes became the very stories that helped others succeed? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Kevin Mecchella — former class clown turned classical musician, educator, and nationally recognized student speaker — to talk about the power of decision-making and how schools can equip students with tools to choose better every day. Kevin shares his personal journey from chasing laughs to chasing success, including a pivotal life momen...
May 18, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 208
In this inspiring episode, Darrin sits down with Ronn Nozoe, lifelong educator and Chief Executive Officer of NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals). Together, they explore the current landscape of school leadership, the importance of supporting new leaders, and how educators can take ownership of their professional growth. Ronn shares reflections from his journey — from a classroom in Hawaii to national leadership — and discusses how listening, connection, and collaboration...
May 11, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 207
In this powerful episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Brandi Kelly—author, speaker, coach, and founder of Spark Hope EDU —to explore what it truly means to Lead with Hope . Dr. Kelly shares her deeply personal story that led her to develop the HOPE framework: Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence. Through her new book and nationwide work with leaders, Brandi challenges us to lean into self-reflection, build our self-efficacy, and become the encouragers our schools need mo...
May 04, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 206
In this episode, I’m joined by Jimmy Casas —best-selling author, leadership coach, and former award-winning principal. Jimmy and I dive into his incredible journey from bar manager to one of the most recognized school leaders in the country. We unpack the power of origin stories, the traps of superhero leadership, and why leaders must know who they want to be in order to lead effectively. Jimmy shares how Culturize became the game-changing book it is today, why so many school leaders fall into “...
Apr 27, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 205
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with the brilliant William D. Parker—an award-winning former principal, author, speaker, and executive coach. Will is the founder of Principal Matters, LLC and the host of Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast , with over 1.5 million downloads. Through his coaching, books, and virtual leadership academies, Will empowers school leaders to improve culture, communication, and student outcomes. Together, Darrin and Wi...
Apr 20, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 204
Mid-Month Edition with Todd Bloomer & Dominic Armano This month, the Three Amigos—Darrin Peppard, Todd Bloomer, and Dominic Armano—are back with an episode that dives headfirst into one of the most common questions they get: “How do I land that principal job?” From the nerves of the interview to that surreal moment when you finally kick your feet up in the principal’s chair (even if it only lasts 10 minutes), this episode is packed with real talk, practical tips, and plenty of laughs. Whethe...
Apr 17, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 203
Dr. Frank Rudnesky is a professional speaker, author, and educational leader known for his contagious energy and passion for leadership. He has penned several books, including Fired Up Leadership , Fired Up Student Leadership , and 50 Great Things Leaders Do: Let’s Get Fired Up . Dr. Rudnesky draws on his extensive experience as a teacher and award-winning middle school principal to deliver transformative keynotes, workshops, and presentations. Episode Summary: In this episode of Leaning Into Le...
Apr 13, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 202
On this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin welcomes Chris Dormer , Superintendent of Norristown Area School District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Chris brings nearly three decades of educational experience from diverse settings, including roles as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. Chris shares powerful insights into shifting school leadership from crisis mode—something many leaders have felt stuck in since the pandemic—to a more proactive, intentional leadership ap...
Apr 06, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 201
In this milestone 200th episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, host Dr. Darrin Peppard reflects deeply on the theme of commitment. Darrin shares personal insights and impactful stories highlighting how his commitment to delivering weekly episodes since January 2022 has shaped the podcast and his journey as a leadership speaker, coach, and author. He celebrates the community of listeners who have supported the podcast, discusses the evolution of guest selection towards more educational l...
Mar 30, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 200
Grab your copy of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools from your favorite vendor: Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get your autographed copy here . In this episode, Darrin Peppard sits down with Rae Hughart , educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Teachers Deserve It (TDI) movement. Rae is passionate about empowering educators to reclaim their time, reduce burnout, and amplify their impact in the classroom. Rae shares the intriguing backsto...
Mar 23, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 199
In this special encore presentation, we revisit one of our most inspiring conversations with educator and author Katie Kinder . Katie is the celebrated author of Untold Teaching Truths, Hallway Leadership , and now co-author of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools . She is an award-winning educator, and a dynamic professional development facilitator who has been bringing joy and practical teaching strategies to educators nationwide since 2006....
Mar 19, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 198
Get Your Copy of Culture First Classrooms! Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools launches tomorrow, March 17! This book is packed with insights from educators across the country on how to build a thriving school culture. Don’t miss out! Get it NOW on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get an autographed copy here In This Episode, We Cover: How AI is reshaping education and why schools need to embrace it The biggest misconceptions about AI in schoo...
Mar 16, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 197
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , host Darrin Peppard welcomes back David James, a 7th-grade social studies teacher at Harold E. Winkler Middle School in Concord, North Carolina. Known for his leadership both in the classroom and through his work with the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education (NCMLE), David shares powerful insights into what it takes to lead effectively as a teacher. He discusses the importance of building leadership capacity within schools, the impact...
Mar 09, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 196
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin sits down with Bobby Canosa-Carr , a leadership coach, former principal, mindfulness teacher, and author of Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School. They dive deep into how disempowerment impacts school leaders, teachers, and students —and what we can do about it. Bobby shares his journey from principal to leadership coach, the lessons he learned along the way, and why the behaviors we model as leaders shape schoo...
Mar 02, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 195
In this powerful episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with longtime friend and educational thought leader Bradlee W. Skinner to discuss the journey through failure, teacher retention, and the importance of empowering educators. Bradlee opens up about his personal struggles with burnout, stepping away from education, and the pivotal moments that brought him back—stronger and more purpose-driven than ever. Together, Darrin and Bradlee explore the role of teacher leader...
Feb 23, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 194
In this episode, returning guest Katie Kinder joins Dr. Darrin Peppard for a behind-the-scenes look at their upcoming book, Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools . They dive into the journey of co-authoring a book, the power of classroom culture, and how fostering strong relationships transforms schools. Katie and Darrin share personal stories about their paths as educators, what led them to co-write this book, and how they selected 21 amazing ...
Feb 19, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 193
In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the journey of writing Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools , my upcoming book co-authored with Katie Kinder! We dive into: ✅ The writing process—what it’s like to co-author a book and how it differs from writing solo ✅ How we identified the 21 incredible educators who contributed their insights ✅ The highs, lows, and unexpected moments in bringing this book to life ✅ What Culture First Cla...
Feb 16, 2025•30 min•Season 1Ep. 192
