I am digging into the archives of Principal Matters to bring you an episode from January 2018, when I had the privilege to interview Dr. Judi Barber. First, let me tell you a story. During the previous Christmas break of 2017, I had taken my family to see the newest Star Wars movie. In the […] The post Encore099: Collaborating for Results – Interview with Dr. Judi Barber appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jan 30, 2020•35 min
This week I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with a team of new assistant principals. As we talked about their first semester, they shared the lessons they’ve learned in time management, communication, and problem solving. They are finding their unique places on new teams, understanding their new roles for the first time, and […] The post PMP181: Finding Your Swing – How Leadership & Teamwork Go Hand-in-Hand appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jan 23, 2020•14 min
What does it take for small actions to produce big results? Over Christmas break, I listened to the audio-version of Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and learned some value lessons we can apply to our schools. Let me quickly summarize by saying that Gladwell painstakingly details the phenomenon […] The post PMP180: Tipping Points and Why Small Things Matter appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jan 16, 2020•17 min
Last week my family and I traveled back to Tennessee to see my parents and extended family. My parents both turned 79 this past year. Life has slowed down a lot for them now. One of my mother’s favorite past times, for instance, is walking the woods — gathering treasures like small rocks or interesting […] The post PMP179: Special Edition – Principal Matters 2019 Year In Review appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jan 08, 2020•14 min
Just like you, I can think of many reasons to worry about the future or raise concerns about trends that have developed over the past decade. Whether that includes increases in school shootings, soaring health care costs, rises in the costs of education, the number of children experiencing trauma, growing concerns in climate change or […] The post PMP178: 10 Positive Takeaways from the Past Decade appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Dec 24, 2019•12 min
A few weeks ago, I was sharing with a group of principals one of my favorite video-clips from the movie, The Incredibles. It’s the scene where Lucius, aka the superhero, Frozone, is watching as his city is under attack from his apartment window. He pushes a button on his remote control to open a wall […] The post PMP177: Cha Cha’s for Making Learning Stick with LeAnn Nickelsen appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Dec 18, 2019•30 min
Thank you @JenSchwanke for the great takeaways in this encore episode! #principalmatters #edleadership The post Encore146: Balancing Priorities with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters .
Dec 12, 2019•32 min
In October 2018, William Stubbs, an instructional leadership director at Oklahoma City Public Schools at the time, entered and won the Teach for America’s Shark Tank OKC as a contestant in the city’s Shark Tank competition. He was awarded $10,000 to implement stronger partnerships and mentoring opportunties for the city’s young men of color with […] The post PMP176: Leading Through Equity with William Stubbs appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Dec 04, 2019•31 min
Do you remember what is was like to be a middle school student? For many people, memories of those years often bring back stories filled with anxiety and awkward physical, emotional, and social changes. According to Phyllis Fagell, however, those years can be good ones. “Probably what people might be most surprised to know is […] The post PMP175: Middle School Matters with Phyllis Fagell appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Nov 27, 2019•29 min
Every person in your school is at a different level of growth. Not just students, but teachers are also at stages of growth. Leadership is not any different. Some educators are just beginning the journey. Others are finishing their first few years, and some are experiencing years of mastery in certain strategies or subjects. Over […] The post PMP174: 10 Areas to Focus on for Growth as a Leader with Chris Legleiter appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Nov 21, 2019•32 min
When I was in college, I had a blue 1981 Toyota Celica that overheated on the long trip to Oklahoma, and the engine burned up. It was my first car. I had bought it with the money I earned over summers as a shell diver in the Kentucky Lake area. But now it was toast, […] The post PMP173: Lessons in Leadership from Your Scars appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Nov 13, 2019•14 min
Thank you @johnwink90 for sharing these great takeaways for teachers and school leaders! #principalmatters @SolutionTree The post PMP172: Learning and Leading with John Wink appeared first on Principal Matters .
Nov 07, 2019•34 min
Six years ago, on October 31, 2013, my son Jack was eight years old. We had just finished an amazing day of trick-or-treating, and he asked if he could change back into his normal clothes. This was a big deal because he had been wearing a hosptial gown for almost ten days. On this Halloween, […] The post PMP:170 Four Lessons in Teamwork from my Son’s Hospital Stay appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Oct 31, 2019•11 min
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to spend a few hours sailing on the Chesapeake Bay with Dave Sandowich. He commanded his 42-foot sailboat, Charis, with the skill of a man who has spent the past forty years on the water anytime when he wasn’t leading his school or his family. Dave, a […] The post PMP169: Leading into the Wind – Lessons from Dave Sandowich appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Oct 24, 2019•24 min
If you are like most school leaders, time management can be one of the most difficult parts of your work. Most new school leaders I meet explain how overwhelming the list of to-do’s can be. What are the solutions? Well, Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang provide a wealth of information on resources and practices that […] The post PMP168: Managing Your Day with Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Oct 17, 2019•32 min
Last week was the first time (except for a rare Christmas holiday) that I have not shared a blog post or podcast episode update in almost five years. At first, I thought it was because I’ve been so busy. Last weekend I flew to Florida for my nephew’s wedding. Then on Monday, I flew from […] The post PMP167: Keeping Your Leadership Focused on Service, Not Self appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Oct 09, 2019•15 min
This week I’m sharing another episode from the road as I have been traveling across my state, Oklahoma, visiting principals at schools or in regional meetings. Recently, I visited Texhoma, Oklahoma, with High School Principal Connie Miller. After touring her school that serves students grades 5-12, she drove me one mile across the community to […] The post PMP166: Unique Challenges of Rural Principals and Why Your Story Matters appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Sep 25, 2019•24 min
Several years ago, I was standing in our school lunchroom watching hundreds of students eat breakfast. I was positioned in the middle section of the room, and the front doors of the school were about one hundred feet across the room from me. Dozens of students were entering when I saw one high school boy […] The post PMP165: Three Lessons in Decision Making from Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Sep 19, 2019•20 min
These last couple of week, I’ve been on the road a lot visiting schools and principals across my state. For the next couple of weeks, I plan to share some thoughts from the road – literally. This week’s episode I recorded while driving (after safely cuing my recorder before starting a long drive). 5 Takeaways […] The post PMP164: On the Road – Thoughts for New School Leaders appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Sep 12, 2019•24 min
Thank you @jethrojones for collaborating together to answer principal questions! #education #leadership #principalmatters #transformativeprincipals The post PMP163: Encouraging an Environment of Growth – Questions and Answers with Jethro Jones appeared first on Principal Matters .
Sep 05, 2019•35 min
Author David Weinberger once said: “The smartest person in the room is the room itself.” In other words, the collective power of our thinking is always more powerful than working in isolation. By connecting with others, we can stretch our thinking and be motivated to take new actions. This week I’m thrilled to bring back […] The post PMP162: Go! Community – How to Harness the Power of the Room with Danny Bauer appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Aug 28, 2019•30 min
Last week Jen Schwanke and I answered questions from podcast listeners. Listen to Part 1 here. This week we take three more questions from principals on parenting, women in leadership, and professional growth. Here’s our feedback, or you can listen to the entire conversation on the podcast: Question 1: How do you manage being a […] The post PMP161: Answers to Principal Matters Questions, Part 2 appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Aug 15, 2019•33 min
Recently, several questions came from Principal Matters community members. This week, Jen Schwanke, principal and author, joined me to answer several questions from principals or aspiring principals. Here are a three questions we take time to discuss and respond to: Question 1: Finding my first principal position… Hello! I have just completed my masters program […] The post PMP160: Answers to Principal Matters Questions, Part 1 appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Aug 08, 2019•31 min
Jesse Haynes is one of those rare people you meet in life who has dared to make his dreams come true. He is a recent graduate from the University of Tulsa who has reached audacious personal goals, published multiple books, and created podcasts with millions of downloads – just while in high school and college. […] The post PMP159: Engaging Students in Shaping Their Own Stories with Jesse Haynes appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Aug 01, 2019•28 min
In 2017, Justin Baeder, from Principal Center Radio, invited me as a guest on his show to talk to me about my book Messaging Matters: How to Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students, and Reach Communities. Justin was gracious enough to allow me to repost the interview with my readers and listeners. This week I want to share that […] The post PMP:Encore076 Messaging Matters – How to Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students and Reach Communities appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jul 25, 2019•31 min
A few nights ago I was sitting in a theater with my wife watching the movie, Yesterday, starring Himesh Patel and Lily James. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I do want to say I was completely affected by the nostalgia and its focus on the legacy of Beatles music. In fact, […] The post PMP158: Why Telling Your Own Story Matters appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jul 18, 2019•16 min
Jenny is a returning student at her high school. She has a part-time job which keeps her up late most nights. When she arrives late to school, she has already missed breakfast and she’s tardy. She stands in a long line at the counseling office until she is given her class schedule. She reads it […] The post PMP157: Preparing for the Start-of-School Year appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jul 10, 2019•29 min
When my family recently visited the Rocky Mountain National Park, we enjoyed drives through snow-peaked mountains. But my 13-year old son, Jack, was most excited about hiking and climbing. One morning, we gathered the family by Shadow Mountain Lake, and began a hike along the lake that eventually led to a 3-mile ascent to a […] The post PMP156: 6 Tips for Managing School-Wide Changes appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jul 03, 2019•26 min
Two years ago, my oldest daughter graduated from the high school where I was principal. When she headed off to college that fall, it was a mix of celebration and grief on my part. Recently, Jen Schwanke and I co-hosted two podcast episodes on Parenting as Principals. You can check them out here: Part 1 […] The post PMPEncore077: Four Tips for Parents as Principals appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jun 26, 2019•16 min
This week’s post is an encore episode I shared a couple of years ago. Since I’m enjoying some vacation, I thought I would remind you why your time away from school may help you better serve your school. Regardless of whether someone is an educator or not, or whether your vacation time is long or […] The post PMPEncore028: Four Reasons Your Vacation Matters appeared first on Principal Matters ....
Jun 19, 2019•14 min
