The Modern Principal Podcast

This conversation explores the importance of sustaining a vision in education and provides practical strategies for doing so. Christy and Karen share personal anecdotes about their experiences as  principals, highlighting the challenges and successes they encountered. They discuss the role of mindset and implementation in achieving a shared vision, emphasizing the need for clear roles and frequent feedback. The conversation also delves into the importance of tackling hurdles and conducting SWOT analysis to address weaknesses and threats. Additionally, the hosts explore ways to involve families and share stories to reinforce the vision. Listen to find out more about vision sessions and engaging in collective thinking to keep the vision alive!

Creating a vision for a school is an important responsibility of a leader.In this episode, Karen and Christy discuss the process of creating a vision for a school. They provide steps for creating a vision, including gathering stories, identifying themes, and drafting a why statement. They also discuss the challenges of creating a vision and the need for ongoing communication and repetition.  Be sure to check out Part 2 of this series for tips on sustaining a vision! 

On this week's episode, Karen and Christy discuss the idea that conflict is natural - and even necessary - in a school culture.  Listen to hear more about:  - how to use personality tests to create common language and understanding - normalizing conflict - creating a safe environment for conflict to occur This episode was sponsored by Just Right Reader and Peer-Driven PD. 

Ever had a staff member who shares lots of opinions on things that maybe don't apply to her? You probably want to acknowledge her concerns but also encourage her to "stay in your lane!" On this week's episode, Karen and Christy talk about: - why you should feel grateful when staff bring complaints out of their "lane" - how to use teams to improve decision-making and reduce complaints - setting ground rules for sharing feedback This podcast is sponsored by Just Right Reader and Peer-Driven PD. 

It can be anxiety-inducing for a principal to relay negative information to parents but especially when their child has made a mistake or engaged in a major behavior. On this episode of the pod, Karen and Christy talk about:  - how to get on top of behavior communication before the behavior even occurs - tips to prepare for a calm conversation - writing communication plans into behavior plans and more!  Check out our website at www.themodernprincipal.com and on social media @themodernprincipal. This episode is sponsored by: Just Right Reader and Peer-Driven PD.

In this episode, Christy and Karen interview Dr. Samantha Keppler, Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations, who studies education operations, or the management of human and material resources, in public schools.  In this episode Dr. Keppler helps principals: - understand the current data (or lack thereof) regarding how teachers are supplementing resources in their classrooms - the correlation of funded crowdsourcing projects and student achievement - the correlation of funded crowdsourcing projects on teacher retention - the complicated role of the principal in providing physical resources to staff Samantha M. Keppler received her PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on resource operations and management in public education. Before graduate school, she was a public school math teacher in New York City. Learn more about her work at www.samanthakeppler.com or email her at srmeyer@umich.edu.

On this week's pod, Karen and Christy chat with Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr, the math instructional experts behind MakeMathMoments.com.  You'll find: - the best thing a principal can do to improve math instruction - the importance of content knowledge - offerings from Kyle and Jon that can help your school Check them out here:  www.makemathmoments.com - Math Math Moments Academy, District Improvement Planning, Courses https://makemathmoments.com/podcast/ - Make Math Moments Podcast https://makemathmoments.com/districtassessment/  - Mathematics Program Assessment Screener for Leadership Teams Kyle is the K-12 Mathematics Consultant with the Greater Essex County District School Board and Jon is a high school math teacher at John McGregor Secondary School in the Lambton-Kent District School Board in Ontario Canada. Together, they co-founded Make Math Moments where they develop professional development and classroom resources for K-12 educators and district leaders to spark curiosity, fuel sense making and ignite teacher moves.

This week's pod welcomes Dr. Danielle Ricci, a high school principal and an educational leader with an expertise in cultivating collaborative cultures. Her research focuses on how school administrators lead teacher collaboration. Her background as an athlete has helped her to keep the concept of team at the heart of her work. Danielle is a wife, a mom to five, including newborn twins, and a cold-water enthusiast who swims in the Atlantic Ocean year-round to save her principal sanity! Danielle shares with us: - scheduling strategies to optimize staff collaboration - parent engagement solutions - student culture considerations!    

The Speech Language Pathologist is an important role in any school. In this week's episode, we interview Hallie Sherman from Speech Time Fun and discuss:  - the expertise of your SLP - how to partner with your SLP - how to develop a strong working relationship - evaluation techniques for your SLP - the importance of helping your SLP connect with others - ways to retain your SLP Check out Hallie's online presence here:  Speechtimefun.com Shopspeechtimefun.com Slpelevate.com Speechretreat.com https://bit.ly/SLPcoffeetalk https://bit.ly/STF-ELLABELLABOOK Check out our sponsors: Just Right Reader's Science of Reading decodables accelerate reading achievement with decodables packaged to support both in-school learning and family engagement. Each of their 380+ decodables is filled with vibrant illustrations, engaging authentic stories, and diverse characters that represent students in America’s schools. The decodables follow a rigorous phonics progression supported by the latest science of reading research, and phonics instruction is reinforced with a QR code on the back of each decodable that links to a digital phonics lesson in Spanish and English–a great tool for classrooms and families. Peer Driven PD: We bring you candid conversations from some of the best classroom educators in the country. Get your training directly from the teachers in the trenches as current classroom teachers guide your professional learning with authentic insights and practical strategies you can try immediately.

Are you a principal who has thought about going back to school for your doctorate degree? Check out this week's pod where we discuss: - what to consider when looking at programs - if a degree is worth it for you - systems to help you get it all done - the importance of your advisor Check it out and let us know on Instagram @themodernprincipal if this episode helped you in your decision-making!  Resources:  6 Tips for Finding Balance During Your PhD This episode was brought to you by these sponsors: Just Right Reader's Science of Reading decodables accelerate reading achievement with decodables packaged to support both in-school learning and family engagement. Each of their 380+ decodables is filled with vibrant illustrations, engaging authentic stories, and diverse characters that represent students in America’s schools. The decodables follow a rigorous phonics progression supported by the latest science of reading research, and phonics instruction is reinforced with a QR code on the back of each decodable that links to a digital phonics lesson in Spanish and English–a great tool for classrooms and families. Peer Driven PD: We bring you candid conversations from some of the best classroom educators in the country. Get your training directly from the teachers in the trenches as current classroom teachers guide your professional learning with authentic insights and practical strategies you can try immediately.

We contend that retention is the new recruitment, but sometimes you still need to hire when the pool is small! On this episode of the podcast, we talk about how to hire staff when there are few applicants to fill the roles.  Check out our sponsors: Just Right Reader's Science of Reading decodables accelerate reading achievement with decodables packaged to support both in-school learning and family engagement. Each of their 380+ decodables is filled with vibrant illustrations, engaging authentic stories, and diverse characters that represent students in America’s schools. The decodables follow a rigorous phonics progression supported by the latest science of reading research, and phonics instruction is reinforced with a QR code on the back of each decodable that links to a digital phonics lesson in Spanish and English–a great tool for classrooms and families. Peer Driven PD: We bring you candid conversations from some of the best classroom educators in the country. Get your training directly from the teachers in the trenches as current classroom teachers guide your professional learning with authentic insights and practical strategies you can try immediately.

It's hiring season (isn't it always hiring season now? #neverfullystaffed)! Episodes 39, 40, & 41 deep dive the hiring process from the principal perspective, but this episode gives you a quick overview of the things to consider before hiring for a particular position to keep you transparent and get you the best candidate possible! 

Decided it's time to leave the principalship but not sure what to do? In this week's pod, Karen and Christy talk about their own experiences leaving the role and other ideas to consider, too! We talk through roles within school districts and also roles outside! NAESP Life After the Principalship by Laurel Schmidt

Feeling a little stuck as a principal? Thinking it might be time to leave your school, district, or the role altogether? You're not alone! It's normal to have those thoughts, and principal burnout is real. This week on the pod, Karen and Christy discuss how you might know it's time to leave the principalship and their own thoughts and feelings when they did the same. 

How do you know when you're ready to be a principal? This is one of The Modern Principal's most-asked questions, and on this week's podcast, we're breaking down the ways you might know you're ready for the role! The principalship is hard and grueling but also one of the most fulfilling and fun - are you ready to make the jump! Tune in this week to find out! 

It's a new year, and we can't help but talk about the new habits we are trying to cultivate. Whether it's screen time, health habits, or how you spend your weeknights, we talk all about the habits that are helping us balance our work and personal lives. Check out this week's pod!  Referenced: How a Modern Principal Plans her Day Laura Vanderkam's 168 Hours Charles Duhigg's The Power of Habit InsideOut Mastery New Year's Resolutions Stats

Is it essential for a principal to be the first to arrive to campus and the last to leave? How do you remain visible while still balancing your actual work and personal life? This week on the pod, Karen and Christy talk through how a principal can find ways to be visible that are authentic to YOU!  Referenced in This Week's Episode: Doug Reeves' Time Management for Busy School Leaders ASCD's How to Be a Visible Principal Leadership Voices' Three Characteristics of Visible Leaders

An unregulated adult cannot support an unregulated student. We know it's true, and it's up to us as principals to support our teachers and staff when student behavior is hard. Check out this week's pod all about supporting the adults in the school who are supporting our students through crisis.  Referenced:   When the Adults Change, Everything Changes by Paul Dix

Do you have several students exhibiting escalated, maybe even physical, behaviors? What is a principal to do when there are more kids than adults available? Check out this week's pod all about how to respond when your building is trying to address multiple behavior crises at once.  Referenced: Geoff Colvin and The Acting Out Cycle

Your teachers and staff are amazing. You appreciate everything they do but know you're not telling them enough. Check out this week's pod all about showing your teachers and staff how much you appreciate them! You'll find quick and easy tips to create a culture of gratitude in your school!