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School Leadership Reimagined
School Leadership Reimagined
Author: Robyn Jackson
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Tired of school change efforts that stall, or worse, never get off the ground? If you're a principal, assistant principal, or instructional coach who is ready have a transformative impact on the teachers you serve then School Leadership Reimagined is for you. Each week, Robyn Jackson will share counterintuitive strategies to help you dramatically improve instruction. You'll discover how to motivate your teachers, help them be accountable, overcome toxic cultures, and transform your school. No more pulling teeth with resistant teachers. No more constantly fighting fires. No more running out of steam mid-year. Regain your time, Reignite your passion, and Rethink what's possible. Stop settling for status quo. It's time to reimagine school leadership. Visit SchoolLeadershipReimagined.com to download the free resources that come with each episode
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Tier 1 may be the hot topic right now, but here's the twist: Tier 1 isn't actually the problem—or the goal. In this episode, discover the one shift Builders make that instantly changes how Tier 1 feels, functions, and flows in their schools. We'll peel back the layers on why Tier 1 becomes overwhelming, why strategies alone never fix it, and how reconnecting instruction to your 100% Vision transforms everything. If you've been trying to strengthen Tier 1 and still not seeing the consistency you want, this episode gives you the clarity you've been missing. It's time to stop wrestling with Tier 1 and start shaping it #LikeABuilder.
If you've ever felt like you're playing academic whack-a-mole—chasing one struggling student after another—you're not alone. Most teachers are trying hard, but their support is reactive. In this episode, we're talking about how to flip that script with a Student SUCCESS Plan that helps you spot problems early, act fast, and keep Tier 1 running smoothly. I'll walk you through the simple process we shared in the Supporting Struggling Students Masterclass that's already helping schools make support proactive instead of exhausting. You'll learn how to build a system that prevents failure before it happens—so your teachers stay focused, your students stay on track, and you finally get your time back #LikeABuilder.
I've spent years watching principals pour time, energy, and training into Tier 1 instruction—only to walk into classrooms and see the same inconsistencies. In this episode, I'm unpacking why that happens. Teachers understand Tier 1 in theory, but they struggle to translate it into their own classrooms, anticipate where students will stumble, and respond to the real-time data happening right in front of them. When you fix those three things, Tier 1 finally becomes doable, sustainable, and effective #LikeABuilder.
What if your school's "feedback problem" isn't really about feedback at all? In this special episode, you'll listen in on a real coaching conversation from inside the 100% Collective with member Bill Weitman. Bill came to the session looking for help giving teachers better feedback, but as we talked, we uncovered a deeper root cause that was quietly shaping his entire approach. You'll hear how to spot what's really driving resistance or inconsistency in your staff, and how a single mindset shift can transform your next feedback conversation. So tune in to discover how to uncover the real problem hiding behind "feedback issues" #LikeABuilder.
You've built the systems. You've set the routines. You've done everything "right." So why aren't you seeing results? In this episode, we unpack the surprising reason why so many principals work hard, stay organized, and still feel like their schools aren't moving forward. Predictability and consistency sound like the markers of success—but when your systems aren't grounded in your vision, mission, and core values, they create motion without momentum. You'll discover the difference between being predictable, consistent, and stable, understand which one actually builds trust and results, and get a quick three-question test to see where your school stands right now. By the end, you'll know how to turn all that effort into results you can count on #LikeABuilder.
In an age where every message is a text, email, or Slack ping, we've mistaken constant communication for real connection. This week's episode explores what our profession seems to have forgotten—the value of sitting down face-to-face. Years ago, we hid in our offices and rarely engaged. Now, we're visible, available, and endlessly talking, but not always listening. We've seem to have forgotten that the most transformative conversations still happen face-to-face. So this episode unpacks why your physical presence is still one of the most powerful tools for building trust, care, and alignment, and why sometimes the best way to solve a problem isn't another email, but a quiet five-minute conversation down the hall #LikeABuilder.
This isn't a typical episode about frameworks or strategies. Instead, I'm stepping back to talk honestly about what I see happening in our profession right now—and why it has me concerned. There are quiet forces at work, shaping how we think, how we create, and even what we believe is possible. In this episode, I share the patterns I've been noticing, why they matter, and what we can do to resist slipping into survival mode and protect the space for possibility, creativity, and a belief in 100% #LikeABuilder.
Every school drifts, but drift isn't random—it's a hidden pattern that quietly reroutes your plans, scatters your staff's energy, and erodes your influence if you don't catch it in time. In this episode, I break down the Drift Pattern and show you how to spot it before it takes over, so you can reset your clarity, realign your team, and reclaim the year you meant to build. The difference between reacting to drift and breaking it comes down to whether you choose to lead by default or Build on purpose #LikeABuilder.
If you're like most school administrators, this is the time of year that we, without even realizing it, are already starting to drift ever so slightly from the resolutions and plans we made at the beginning of the school year. We're not off track exactly, but things have started to slip a little. And, we're not too worried yet, because after all, it's only October. Which is exactly why October is such a dangerous month. It's early enough in the school year where we still feel like we have time to meet our goals so we're often lulled into a false sense of complacency. But what we don't realize is that it is the work we do now that determines whether we will actually meet our goals this school year. So on today's episode, I'm going to share with you 5 simple shifts you need to make now to keep you from drifting away from your plans and goals and finding yourself off course in January. Take these simple steps and you can get refocused, make real progress before the holidays, and set yourself up for true success this school year #LikeABuilder.
What if your school has been giving you feedback all along and you just haven't been listening in the right way? In this episode, we'll look beyond surveys and suggestion boxes and explore the real feedback loops at play: what people say, what they do, and the results they produce. You'll learn how to read these signals like a Builder, diagnose where your systems are breaking down, and turn every interaction (even non-implementation) into useful data that moves your school closer to 100% success #LikeABuilder.
We've all been handed the same tired feedback advice: "Start with a compliment." "Ask a reflective question." "Get into 10 classrooms a week." It sounds good on paper, but in practice, it's leaving school leaders frustrated and teachers unchanged. In this episode, I'm calling out the most common feedback myths we've been told, unpacking why they don't work, and showing you how to break free from them. If you've ever felt like your feedback was landing flat—or worse, backfiring—this episode will help you see why, and what to do instead. Let's bust some myths and start giving feedback that actually makes a difference #LikeABuilder.
You give teachers feedback because it's your job, but deep down, you're not sure it's making a difference. Maybe they nod politely. Maybe they push back. Or maybe they just… do nothing. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on why some teachers ignore your feedback even when you're right. We'll unpack the three hidden reasons your feedback doesn't land, why it's not your fault, and what has to shift if you want your feedback to spark real change. If your feedback conversations feel more like a checklist than a catalyst for real change, then it's time to stop wasting words and start making feedback matter #LikeABuilder.
This week, I'm tackling one of the biggest challenges principals face at the start of the school year: how to align a fractured staff. Whether you're dealing with a wave of new hires, lingering resistance, or a team that just doesn't feel cohesive yet, I'll show you how to quickly get everyone moving in the same direction—not through team-building gimmicks or compliance measures, but by anchoring your team in a shared vision, mission, and core values. If you want practical, powerful ways to turn fragmentation into focus and confusion into clarity, this episode will help you start the year #LikeABuilder.
Every August, we make "school year resolutions"—we're going to give better feedback, protect our time, stop doing so much. But most of those resolutions fall apart by September, not because we're undisciplined, but because we made them in a vacuum. In this episode, discover why even good principals find themselves slipping back into old habits, and how one shift makes resolutions unnecessary. If you want this year's goals to actually stick, don't make another resolution. Build a 100% Vision #LikeABuilder.
The secret to a successful school year is to F.O.C.U.S. - Follow One Course Until Successful. And while that may ring true, HOW do you determine which course to follow? And, how can you stay the course in the midst of so many demands on your time, energy, and attention. We'll tackle these questions today on this episode and I'll share a really simple ONE plan you can use to identify the right things on which to focus, and drown out the other distractions #LikeABuilder.
If you've been doing everything they told you to do—giving feedback, supporting teachers, holding people accountable, working on culture—and still not seeing real change in your school, I made this episode for you. I'm breaking down why it feels like you're doing all the right things and nothing's moving and showing you the hidden trap that's keeping you stuck. So, if you've been feeling tired, discouraged, or like nothing's moving no matter how hard you work, this episode will help you see what's really going on and how to shift. You don't need to do more. You need to do it differently. It's time to stop doing leadership chores and start doing the work that actually moves your school #LikeABuilder.
In this episode, I'm talking about the double isolation that so many principals silently carry: First, the weight of being the only one in their building who can't show weakness, who's expected to solve everything, and who rarely gets support in return. And second, the loneliness of being a Builder in a district full of status-quo thinking where no one else seems to believe that 100% student success is even possible. If you've ever felt like you're the only one who wants more for your school, this episode is for you. I'll share what's really behind that isolation, why it's not your fault, and what can happen when you stop trying to do this work on your own.
It's go-time. The halls are getting decorated, the PD agendas are set, and you're knee-deep in first-day prep. But here's the hard truth: all that effort? It won't build alignment. And if you're not intentionally building alignment from Day 1, the best you can hope for is short-term compliance—and even that fades by fall. In this episode, I'll unpack: Why alignment feels impossible during the back-to-school scramble (and why it's not your fault) The hidden trap even good principals fall into this time of year 3 simple shifts that can turn your staff from compliant to committed—even before school starts If you've ever felt like you're working harder than ever and still not getting the traction you want, this episode will show you what to do instead #LikeABuilder.
Preservice week comes with a lot of pressure. You're expected to set the tone, cast the vision, get everyone excited—and somehow make it all stick. But if you've ever walked into the year full of energy only to feel it unravel by October, this episode will show you why. I'm breaking down the three subtle mistakes that quietly sabotage alignment before the school year even begins, and how to avoid them. These aren't about working harder or delivering the perfect motivational message. They're about making small but powerful shifts that take the weight off your shoulders and set your staff up to stay aligned long after the first week hype fades. If you want to start the year with more clarity and less pressure, this episode will help you prepare like a Builder.
For years, I believed that staff buy-in was the key to real school transformation. I thought that if I could just get everyone excited, inspired, and on board, the work would take care of itself. But I was wrong. In this episode, I'm breaking down why buy-in isn't just ineffective, it's actually a trap. Because if someone can buy in, they can also sell out. And that's exactly what's happening in schools everywhere. One minute your team's nodding along, and the next they're doing the opposite of what you agreed to. You're not crazy. You're not doing it wrong. You've just been chasing the wrong goal. I'll show you what to aim for instead and why it's the only path to a staff that moves with you, not against you. If you're tired of begging people to care and ready to lead with clarity, this episode will show you how. Let's stop selling the vision and start building it #LikeABuilder




Great topic.
Great show topic
I Really enjoyed this cast and reevaluating my vision and goals. Yes, im.tired of the status quo and I want to do more. Im ready to become a builder.