If you find yourself stressed out about walkthroughs, it's an indication that you have some internal work to do as a principal around your thoughts about yourself and your work. The great news is that when you learn how to create psychological safety for yourself around the walkthrough process, you can do the same for your teachers. And in this episode, I show you how to banish walkthrough anxiety for good. Tune in this week as I dive deep into the reasons why walkthroughs cause so much stress a...
Dec 03, 2024•23 min•Ep. 363
“Equal value but different” is a powerful concept that has transformed the way I think about my work as a school leader and my relationships in my personal life. It's the idea that every person has inherent worth and value to offer, even if it looks different from what we typically prioritize or celebrate. Learn what the concept of “equal value but different” means, how you can apply this concept to your school community and personal life, and the impact it could have on staff morale, collaborat...
Nov 26, 2024•15 min•Ep. 361
As an educator and school leader, it’s easy to get caught up in the endless demands of the job - pleasing your staff, students, parents, and district, putting out fires, and chasing external metrics of success. We think experiencing pleasure and delight in our work is irresponsible, but this week, I challenge the deeply ingrained belief that feeling good is at odds with being a committed, effective school leader. Hear my own journey of breaking free from the "pleasure is irresponsible" mindset, ...
Nov 19, 2024•31 min•Ep. 360
Leaders are often obsessed with “doing,” and this approach comes with a certain kind of hustling or forcing energy. People forcefully create results in their lives all the time, but is that the way you want the experience of school leadership to feel? Join me this week as I explore the concept of "feel good goals" and how balancing masculine and feminine energy can help you create a more fulfilling and impactful leadership experience. I also share a powerful insight from a coaching conversation ...
Nov 12, 2024•26 min•Ep. 359
In this episode, I’m joined by Nicola Soares, president of Kelly Education: a company that specializes in providing talent services to school districts across the United States. With a background as a public school social studies teacher, Nicola understands the challenges that principals face when it comes to finding qualified substitute teachers. She’s here to debunk the myth that there’s a shortage of high-quality substitute teachers who want to work for your school. Discover how partnering wi...
Nov 05, 2024•42 min•Ep. 358
Many educators struggle with the decision to stay or go, feeling a profound sense of commitment to their work even when it's no longer serving them. That’s why this week, I explore the concept of retirement resistance and how it can keep principals trapped in a cycle of burnout and dissatisfaction. Whether you're considering retirement or a career change, this episode will help you gain clarity on your motivations and empower you to make a decision that aligns with your values and goals. I share...
Oct 29, 2024•23 min•Ep. 357
Do you ever feel discouraged or distraught by your school's performance score? As a principal, it's easy to take these ratings very personally and let them define your sense of success or failure as a leader. If you find yourself getting caught up in the trap of chasing perfection or letting a low score define your worth as a leader, this episode is for you. I provide some perspective on school scores and how they can impact your mental and emotional well-being as a principal. Your school score ...
Oct 22, 2024•20 min•Ep. 356
This week, I sit down with Dr. Jamay Fisher who brings a unique perspective to the topic of public image and school leadership. As an academic advisor and branding expert who has worked in both education and politics, Dr. Jamay sheds light on the importance of intentionally shaping your reputation and legacy to make a bigger impact in education, and what it takes to be a top-class leader. Hear how to build an empowering public image that expands your reach and impact. Dr. Jamay shares valuable i...
Oct 15, 2024•41 min•Ep. 355
Whether you're in the midst of the fall dip, dealing with a challenging situation, or simply feeling the weight of your responsibilities, empowered school leadership is all about the ability to regulate your emotions. That’s why, this week, I share a powerful practice for grounding yourself and guide you through the skill of emotional regulation. Join me in this short and sweet episode as I show you how to master emotional regulation. Hear why this practice helps you find your center and lead fr...
Oct 08, 2024•13 min•Ep. 354
In this episode, I explore the three different hats you wear as a leader: the leader, the teacher, and the student. By understanding and embracing these roles, you can expand your capacity to handle everything that comes your way and inspire others to develop their own empowerment. Learn why we slip out of empowerment when we’re mentally, physically, or emotionally exhausted, and the importance of leveraging emotions as a tool for growth. Hear how to embrace the three different identities of lea...
Oct 01, 2024•28 min•Ep. 353
The fear of insufficiency is a universal emotion that plagues everyone from leaders to students. The good news is that while our brains love to seek evidence for all the ways we’re insufficient in both school leadership and our lives outside of work, we get to redirect and reframe our thoughts, and I show you how in this episode. Learn what it means to feel insufficient and how we can overcome this debilitating fear. Hear why our brains want us to fear insufficiency, the difference between actua...
Sep 24, 2024•15 min•Ep. 352
In this episode, I talk with my long-time client Wendy Cohen, an assistant principal in New York City, about her journey of becoming a runner and how it accelerated her growth as a school leader. Coaching has taught her many lessons that have helped her navigate the ups and downs of training for a 25K trail race. But the biggest one is the power of celebrating small wins, reframing challenges as opportunities, and the importance of focusing on one area of growth at a time. Discover the differenc...
Sep 17, 2024•53 min•Ep. 351
Do you ever feel like you're constantly chasing organization but never quite achieving it? How often do you catch yourself saying, “I need to get organized”? If you’re ready to finally break free from the endless cycle of chasing organization and step into your most organized self yet, you’re in the right place. Learn what it really means to be an organized principal and leader, and how one subtle mindset shift can make all the difference. Hear practical strategies to assess your current level o...
Sep 10, 2024•14 min•Ep. 350
A conversation with a parent about a classroom assignment change doesn’t have to be contentious, anxiety-ridden, or reflect negatively on you as a principal. It’s not about your expertise, professionalism, or ability to make decisions. It’s about a parent who wants the best for their child, and in this episode, you’ll learn how to respond to these requests with intention rather than reaction. Learn how to handle even the most challenging class assignment requests with confidence and grace. Hear ...
Sep 03, 2024•22 min•Ep. 349
Today, I share my journey from feeling completely powerless in my early years as a principal to founding a program that helps school leaders reconnect with their personal power. The truth is, the current education system leaves most principals feeling burned out, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled. But it doesn't have to be this way. Discover how expanding your mind to what's possible and rewriting the script of who you are as a leader can create a magical experience beyond what you ever thought was r...
Aug 27, 2024•38 min•Ep. 348
Planning is an essential element of leadership, but too often, we develop a negative relationship with the process. We set goals that feel constrictive, scary, or disconnected from what we truly want to create. But what if instead of planning from a place of fear and doubt, we planned as though we were guaranteed to succeed? I share a powerful framework for valuable planning that will transform the way you lead. Explore the secrets to becoming a pro at creating experiences that delight your stud...
Aug 20, 2024•23 min•Ep. 347
As a school leader, it's easy to get caught up in what others are doing and feel like you're not measuring up. But the truth is, their path is different from yours, and it's important to focus on your own journey. If you’re struggling with compare and despair triggers, you’re in the right place because in this episode, I show you how your feelings of insufficiency are just thought errors, not reality. Learn how to recognize your compare and despair triggers, and more importantly, how to reframe ...
Aug 13, 2024•27 min•Ep. 346
Your identity is simply what you believe about yourself and what you're capable of learning, doing, experiencing, handling, creating, and having. You can hold firm to your identity if it’s currently serving you well, but if you feel restless or stuck on repeat, it might be time for an identity shift. Today, you will learn how evolving your identity is the key to expanding your impact, productivity, and fulfillment as a principal. Hear why intentionally redefining how you see yourself, what you b...
Aug 06, 2024•37 min•Ep. 345
In this episode, I share my insights on radical empowerment - what it means, why it matters, and how to embody it as a school leader. Get ready for a perspective shift that will transform how you lead. Discover how to balance being the boss with compassion, navigate difficult emotions, and see the potential in everyone on your campus. It's time to stop seeking external validation and step into your most empowered self. Let's go! Get full show notes and more information here: https://angelakellyc...
Jul 30, 2024•27 min•Ep. 344
The school leader’s job description often requires being an expert in it all while doing everything at once. Whether you’re making the shift from good to great or great to exceptional, you are not alone if you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why it’s my mission to make leadership development a mainstream practice in every school community, and I show you how I’m doing this in today’s episode. Learn why we desperately need leadership development for all school principals and th...
Jul 23, 2024•29 min•Ep. 343
In this episode, I’m diving deep into how you can define what truly matters to you as a leader… but it doesn’t stop there. Consistently acting in accordance with the values you set out is the other half of the equation, and I’m showing you how to do that every step of the way. I tackle a foundational element of school leadership: aligning yourself with your core values. Learn the power of knowing you’re leading with alignment and authenticity, a framework for identifying the values that guide yo...
Jul 16, 2024•27 min•Ep. 342
Whether your PD day happens at the end of July, August, or even in September, I encourage you to start thinking about it right now. Many of you are expected to facilitate PD days for your teachers, but it can often feel like you’re being told what to do and how to do it by your district, which can be stressful. You want to lead a PD day that you believe in, and I’m showing you how. Hear why you have more agency than you might currently think when it comes to creating the PD experience you want y...
Jul 09, 2024•18 min•Ep. 341
In this Back to Basics episode, you’re hearing an interview with one of my clients that is so well-loved by The Empowered Principal podcast audience. Wendy Cohen has coached with me for several years, and in this conversation, you’re hearing her journey from classroom teacher to first-year school principal. Wendy shares her journey to becoming a school leader at 30 years old, and how our work together has not only transformed her career but her personal life too. We’re exploring the hesitations ...
Jul 02, 2024•52 min•Ep. 340
Today, I'm joined by two special guests with an important message to share. Shelly Wilfong and Ryan Donlan coauthored a powerful book, bringing hope and inspiration to school leaders everywhere. The book is called Ensuring Teachers Matter: Where to Focus First So Students Matter Most, and it's all about the topic of mattering. Tune in this week to discover how to help your teachers feel energized and valuable in the work they do. When teachers and administrators feel like they matter, everybody ...
Jun 25, 2024•55 min•Ep. 339
There’s no school leader on the planet who doesn’t ever get it wrong, misspeak, or make a decision they later regret. We’re all human, and spinning in guilt, avoiding your negative thoughts and feelings, or criticizing yourself endlessly doesn’t help. If you want to go into the new school year feeling fresh and ready to go, you must let go of any past thoughts, memories, or decisions that are weighing you down. If you’re ready to create a self-concept that empowers you in the new school year, jo...
Jun 18, 2024•19 min•Ep. 338
The reality of school leadership is that there’s always too much to do and never enough time to do it. With countless projects, events, and instructional coaching sessions vying for attention, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos. Instead of simply coaching you to manage your thoughts, I’ll be sharing actionable steps on what to do when the pressure is on and everyone is looking to you for support. Discover how to give yourself permission to stretch your boundaries when needed and how to plan your...
Jun 11, 2024•20 min•Ep. 337
The Summer of Fun 2024 is kicking off in the Empowered Principal Facebook group right now! If you want to have fun at work and enjoy your life outside of it, but having fun feels unsafe, irresponsible, or unacceptable, this is a must-listen episode. Learn what happens when you embrace having fun as a leader, and why sacrificing fun isn’t helping you become the leader you want to be. Hear how participating in the Summer of Fun 2024 will help you cultivate a new relationship with fun, see it as a ...
Jun 04, 2024•30 min•Ep. 336
I love when my clients come to me with an energy of deep desire and compelling urgency around their goals. While this lights me up, there’s a dark side to our urge to rush, and it’s causing you unnecessary pain and suffering. Learn why we often have the urge to rush and how to stop so you can truly embrace the present moment. Hear why there is absolutely no need to rush, and what happens when you learn to love where you are right now. Get full show notes and more information here: https://angela...
May 28, 2024•13 min•Ep. 335
In most cases, you’re in meetings where everyone will likely have different opinions. There might be people who are for a decision while some are against it, and maybe there are lots of options or theories presented at the table. Your job, as a school leader, is to look at the common goal and come up with a decision-making protocol that leads to a productive solution. If you find yourself in meetings where conversations get sidetracked or derailed, you worry about people feeling heard, or otherw...
May 21, 2024•17 min•Ep. 334
One of the ways you might want to create expansion as a school leader is by embracing exceptionalism. Becoming exceptional is a topic I coach on with all of my clients because it’s what will help you enjoy your life to the fullest and lead your school in the way you truly want, and I’m showing you how to begin identifying yourself as exceptional today. Learn what’s required of you to live an exceptional life, why what you focus on expands, two reasons embracing your exceptionalism might feel cha...
May 14, 2024•33 min•Ep. 333
